alexander_'s reviews
229 reviews

The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen

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reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

It was fine, but it felt repetitive and overly direct with its symbolism.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Finding La Negrita by Natasha Gordon-Chipembere

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dark sad fast-paced

2.75

The plot is quite interesting, but all of the details, symbolism, and themes are over-explained to the point that they lose most of their meaning. This was fun to read as I’ve lived in Costa Rica for a year now, but it was a little difficult to slog through writing that insulted the reader’s competency. Still, because of the plot and the author’s interesting perspectives, I would like to read another book by her if she chooses to publish again.

Content Warnings

Even as We Breathe by Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

Sula by Toni Morrison

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emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

4.25

It was very good (interesting, educational, & engaging) until the last few chapters where he started describing treatments that he could, for the most part, only support through anecdotal experience. I don’t doubt they have some efficacy, but it was a hard switch from well-supported science to more theoretical ideas. I still recommend the book and look forward to a future edition that can hopefully back up more of his treatments.

Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond

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informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.75

So Late in the Day: Stories of Women and Men by Claire Keegan

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dark mysterious reflective medium-paced