elizlizabeth's reviews
223 reviews

Foundation's Edge by Isaac Asimov

Go to review page

adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

I have a love-hate relationship with this saga but it's always entertaining, if sometimes a bit convoluted.
Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

There's some heavy topics, but overall I think they were treated with care and honesty. Jayne's self-hating moods is exhausting to be in after a while but I'm glad the narrative eventually calls her out on it. Most accurate portrayal of siblings I've read in a while. Overall the message is positive but not too storybook rosy, however I did feel a bit slow and meandering at times, perhaps because it wanted to tackle so much.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Album de familia by Rosario Castellanos

Go to review page

challenging reflective fast-paced

3.5

Una discusión interesante sobre temas que, increíble o tristemente, siguen vigentes cinco décadas después de su publicación. Quizá más un ensayo con la máscara de narrativa que una novela.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Go to review page

mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

4.5

Such a genius use of language and plot. In saying so little it conveyed so much, I almost feel like I am a different person too. Already know that I will reread it many times.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Name Drop by Susan Lee

Go to review page

funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.5

Really loved the premise of this, and I appreciate that both Jessica and Elijah helped the other grow -as opposed to making one the "helpless poor girl" or the other an "aloof rich brat". In this the plot was consistent with the message until the very end, a bit delusional but hopeful about carving a place for happiness in the middle of whatever late late stage capitalism we're stuck on. Things felt a bit rushed after the third act and I would've liked seeing some off-camera stuff, but it was a comforting read. A Sally Rooney novel for the girls and boys who are done being cynical about the state of the world.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Olivia by Dorothy Strachey, André Aciman

Go to review page

challenging emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

Storygraph recommended this as "out of my comfort zone" and true because I really struggle with stream of consciousness books like this. However, the theme and topic and the melodramatic narrator was right up my alley. I haven't read Aciman's foreword but the spirit of this is definitely in CMBYN, and it has in fact made me understand it better. Quite a surprise, but most welcome!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Bored Gay Werewolf by Tony Santorella

Go to review page

adventurous funny reflective medium-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

4.0

Ending felt a bit rushed but overall it was a fun read. It's probably because I am a depressed millenial but reading about fuckups in their 30s found family-ing their way out of trouble is my cozy fantasy.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Ciudad de Ceniza by Cassandra Clare

Go to review page

adventurous funny tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Yeah... the sibling plotline gets a bit weird in this one ngl. Aside from that the worldbuilding was amazing and it has great side characters and b plots. I could read a million spinoffs -which lucky me, because they exist (:
Gilgamesh: A New English Version by Stephen Mitchell

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

It packs so much in such a short read! Dunno if it was the translation or the medium but I was hooked. Wish I'd read it earlier in life, but either way I am planning a re-read as we speak.
Disclaimer about the edition tho: I read the dramatized version that Jeremy Howe did for the BBC and which is free on Youtube (insanely good, 10/10 would recommend) but since that is not a book proper, I am listing the translation from which that adaptation was based on.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Ciudad de hueso by Cassandra Clare

Go to review page

adventurous funny tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Re-read this after several years and was pleasantly surprised to find it still as good as the first time. Even if one or two jokes aged poorly this is one hell of a book, made me laugh in publicand kick my legs like a teen in public. Successful throwback.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings