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wuthrinheights's reviews
202 reviews
The Girl Who Cried Monster by R.L. Stine
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I don't have much to say except.. the ending. I definitely did NOT see that coming. I had to look up other reviews to see if I read that correctly.
The whole book wasn't totally great, but there was a scene or two that kept me in suspense.
The whole book wasn't totally great, but there was a scene or two that kept me in suspense.
Beware, the Snowman by R.L. Stine
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I've always been fond of this book as a kid (even before I knew how to read) and when I picked it up today, I saw that my mum had written inside, saying it was my first selection of book. Pretty cool (ha get it?).
Beware, The Snowman was actually quite good, story wise. A big city girl had to move to the middle of nowhere, only snow all around, and with very little people in that village. A village with a creepy superstition--beware the snowman.
But which one? The whole town was filled with the same looking snowman: black, beady eyes, crooked carrot nose, bright red scarf, angry raised hands made out of sticks, a scowl, and a deep scar on one cheek. In front of every house and peppered through the town: snowman, snowman, snowman.
It was creepy and it had you guessing a lot. A certain plot twist/cliff hanger had me howling with laughter because I really didn't see it coming!
RL Stine, you did it again. I'm hooked through and through.
Beware, The Snowman was actually quite good, story wise. A big city girl had to move to the middle of nowhere, only snow all around, and with very little people in that village. A village with a creepy superstition--beware the snowman.
But which one? The whole town was filled with the same looking snowman: black, beady eyes, crooked carrot nose, bright red scarf, angry raised hands made out of sticks, a scowl, and a deep scar on one cheek. In front of every house and peppered through the town: snowman, snowman, snowman.
It was creepy and it had you guessing a lot. A certain plot twist/cliff hanger had me howling with laughter because I really didn't see it coming!
RL Stine, you did it again. I'm hooked through and through.
The Ghost Next Door by R.L. Stine
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Finished in one sitting, this book was fun. Stine has always been one of my fave writers. Told in a simple language, he could always deliver a good story.
I could spot the main plot twist a mile away (clearly, since it was written for kids) but I was pleasantly surprised to find out he had one more trick up his sleeve so at least that was great to experience.
I could spot the main plot twist a mile away (clearly, since it was written for kids) but I was pleasantly surprised to find out he had one more trick up his sleeve so at least that was great to experience.
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Rereading The Maze Runner nearly a decade later and finding out it is just as good--no--is better than the first time around is such a great feeling.
It was incredibly fast paced, exhilarating, and so scary, I felt like screaming out loud whenever there was a griever jumpscare.
The characters are still so lovable and I could appreciate all of the dynamics much better now. They were all young and innocent, forced to participate in a deadly experiment. Some scenes were incredibly sad.
I was supposed to be asleep hours ago but I just had to finish up the second half of the book. I couldn't put it down. Amazing 5 stars.
It was incredibly fast paced, exhilarating, and so scary, I felt like screaming out loud whenever there was a griever jumpscare.
The characters are still so lovable and I could appreciate all of the dynamics much better now. They were all young and innocent, forced to participate in a deadly experiment. Some scenes were incredibly sad.
I was supposed to be asleep hours ago but I just had to finish up the second half of the book. I couldn't put it down. Amazing 5 stars.
El regalo perfecto by Spencer Johnson
funny
fast-paced
1.5
This was my first time reading a book solely in Spanish and although I stumbled a lot (and making my head hurt from translating), I got the gist of it. It was terribly, painfully predictable to the point of being cheesy.
It's alright though, I have nothing much to say except that I'm proud I've learned enough Spanish to roughly understand a whole book.
It's alright though, I have nothing much to say except that I'm proud I've learned enough Spanish to roughly understand a whole book.
Madness by Roald Dahl
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I remember reading some of Roald Dahl's short stories when I was younger but had a hard time understanding it. Now that I'm a little older, I get why younger me couldn't really grasp his tales.
They were written very delicately. They were told in a slow and steady voice that if you were to skim too fast, you'd miss out on the teeny tiny clues he planted here and there. They were never too on the nose. It was subtle.
And once you got used to it, you'd recognise the horror in his stories. The creepy, sinking feeling in your gut when you know something is about to go very, very wrong.
I liked his writings very much, but I'm afraid some of the plots weren't very engaging. Therefore, I can only give him a little over 3 stars.
They were written very delicately. They were told in a slow and steady voice that if you were to skim too fast, you'd miss out on the teeny tiny clues he planted here and there. They were never too on the nose. It was subtle.
And once you got used to it, you'd recognise the horror in his stories. The creepy, sinking feeling in your gut when you know something is about to go very, very wrong.
I liked his writings very much, but I'm afraid some of the plots weren't very engaging. Therefore, I can only give him a little over 3 stars.
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
adventurous
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
My copy was actually a different type of Oxford publication, targeted for kids but alas, I've picked this edition to review instead because I couldn't find what I have.
Robinson Crusoe was an exciting book to read. Surprisingly I like shipwrecked stories to read up on. It's scary and dangerous but it is also inspiring and may I say it? Fun. At this point in life, I'm in the mood for an adventure on an island, away from social media and pressures from life. Of course, I would need some kind of supplies and brush up on my survival skills.
It was brave of him to live alone on a foreign island, and he had great skills by building a life there but I found it a little iffy the way the POC characters were called savages and whenever he saved people, he immediately made them his slaves. But then again, what do you expect from an old white man published in the 1700s?
So apart from all that, I enjoyed this book as it was fast and adventurous.
Robinson Crusoe was an exciting book to read. Surprisingly I like shipwrecked stories to read up on. It's scary and dangerous but it is also inspiring and may I say it? Fun. At this point in life, I'm in the mood for an adventure on an island, away from social media and pressures from life. Of course, I would need some kind of supplies and brush up on my survival skills.
It was brave of him to live alone on a foreign island, and he had great skills by building a life there but I found it a little iffy the way the POC characters were called savages and whenever he saved people, he immediately made them his slaves. But then again, what do you expect from an old white man published in the 1700s?
So apart from all that, I enjoyed this book as it was fast and adventurous.
The Illustrated Book of Romantic Verse by E.A. Chapman
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.75
What a beautiful, beautiful book. Hardcover with glossy pages filled with love poems and old artworks. It was the perfect companion on a cold, rainy day.
Starting with a great introduction, it was lovely to read about love in all its phases. Budding love, unrequited love, eternal love, love lost, love after death, and devoted love. To see it expressed in so many ways, it brought a smile to my face many times.
But the one (or two) thing(s) I wasn't quite satisfied with was the lack of female writers in it. And some of the writers in it were recycled many times. I expected to read from a lot more.
Starting with a great introduction, it was lovely to read about love in all its phases. Budding love, unrequited love, eternal love, love lost, love after death, and devoted love. To see it expressed in so many ways, it brought a smile to my face many times.
But the one (or two) thing(s) I wasn't quite satisfied with was the lack of female writers in it. And some of the writers in it were recycled many times. I expected to read from a lot more.
Letters to Ottla and the Family by Nahum N. Glatzer, Franz Kafka
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
3.25
Finished in less than two hours, this collection of letters to Franz's family members was quite an interesting read.
From here, you get to see a different side to him. In his letters to his lovers, he was flirty--and at times, cocky--to try to woo them. In his letter to his father, he was angry, hurt, and dejected. In his diaries, he was thoughtful and most times, miserable.
But in this book, he showed a different façade, particularly when speaking to his parents. He was more polite, courteous, and somewhat superficial. He didn't really reveal himself, mostly because he didn't want his mother to be upset.
In his letters to his sister, he was kinder and softer. It was cute to see him worry about his shy but rebellious sister. The way he kept asking if she was doing well, how he had little money but he was willing to give some (or most) to his sister, and how he helped her look for jobs. His brotherly side was adorable to witness.
However, I was quite bored throughout most of the book. There weren't much to read about, but I enjoyed the touching moments and the pictures/postcards/ snippets of his handwritten letters.
From here, you get to see a different side to him. In his letters to his lovers, he was flirty--and at times, cocky--to try to woo them. In his letter to his father, he was angry, hurt, and dejected. In his diaries, he was thoughtful and most times, miserable.
But in this book, he showed a different façade, particularly when speaking to his parents. He was more polite, courteous, and somewhat superficial. He didn't really reveal himself, mostly because he didn't want his mother to be upset.
In his letters to his sister, he was kinder and softer. It was cute to see him worry about his shy but rebellious sister. The way he kept asking if she was doing well, how he had little money but he was willing to give some (or most) to his sister, and how he helped her look for jobs. His brotherly side was adorable to witness.
However, I was quite bored throughout most of the book. There weren't much to read about, but I enjoyed the touching moments and the pictures/postcards/ snippets of his handwritten letters.
The Sound of Munich by Suzanne Nelson
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Sound of Munich was such a fun, cute book. Well, at first. Somewhere between the middle and the end, I had to hold back my tears when she wrote about her family's history with the Berlin Wall.
Starting this felt perfect as I recently started picking up German. I was excited that I could recognise some words and translate it in my head before reading the printed translation. It felt rewarding, just as Sienna did when she started getting the hang of the language.
The characters were sweet and lovable, and I really felt like I was there with them in their dorm rooms. Sure, it felt a bit too touristy but they were tourists anyway. When the characters said their goodbyes in the end, my heart was hurting with them too. They felt so real.
I loved the serious parts in the book, it had just the right balance. The tragic history, the secret mission to hunt down the person who helped her dad escape the Nazis, her feeling out of place and wanting to reconnect with her roots. It was great.
The romance ticked me off a lot of times, especially in the beginning but I'm happy for her in the end anyway. I mainly loved reading about growth, her friendships, and her finding herself (and her roots). This book was randomly found but I'm really glad it found me.
Starting this felt perfect as I recently started picking up German. I was excited that I could recognise some words and translate it in my head before reading the printed translation. It felt rewarding, just as Sienna did when she started getting the hang of the language.
The characters were sweet and lovable, and I really felt like I was there with them in their dorm rooms. Sure, it felt a bit too touristy but they were tourists anyway. When the characters said their goodbyes in the end, my heart was hurting with them too. They felt so real.
I loved the serious parts in the book, it had just the right balance. The tragic history, the secret mission to hunt down the person who helped her dad escape the Nazis, her feeling out of place and wanting to reconnect with her roots. It was great.
The romance ticked me off a lot of times, especially in the beginning but I'm happy for her in the end anyway. I mainly loved reading about growth, her friendships, and her finding herself (and her roots). This book was randomly found but I'm really glad it found me.