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noblememoruled's reviews
268 reviews
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
one child loses his teeth. graphic
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
overall enjoyable. i didn't like how the narration hopped from character to character: it destroyed all tension, which would have made the premise go over better. it doesn't feel like there's anything at stake for these characters. the story is very constrained, but we also know everything there is about these characters: the danger is sparse and external, but we don't get to see them face it at all. i would've loved to discover more about the state of the worldl.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
Moderate: Death of parent
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-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? No
3.5
very good reflections on theology & conscience, and satisfying worldbuilding. the style is not very pretty and it doesn't leave enough unsaid.
The Assistant by Bernard Malamud
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
very good
love how malamud depicts how helen feels she has to be polite and courteous to men who bother her, and how those men feel entitled to her time and attention.
love how malamud depicts how helen feels she has to be polite and courteous to men who bother her, and how those men feel entitled to her time and attention.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
loved how vivid and true the characters came across. i wonder why katrina was only briefly a POV character. felt like the conflict came too little, too late, like the book had a really long, slow start that might not have been necessary. the ending felt like the most appropriate outcome to the story though. feels good to read about older queer adults
Content Warnings
Minor: Miscarriage
Going to Meet the Man by James Baldwin
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
amazing. favourite: going to meet the man.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Uzumaki by Junji Ito
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror