rebekah_florence's reviews
192 reviews

Human Acts by Han Kang

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad 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? No

2.5

I learned so much about the Gwangju Uprising from this book! It was incredibly informative.  This is my 2nd read of Han Kang’s and I just can’t get into her writing style, or probably more correctly, the translation of her writing style. I found myself having to reread passages over and over again for clarity.  I think the style of writing of this book- from the viewpoint of those murdered watching from above- is creative.  I wish I could read Korean fluently so that I could read the original.  
The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense 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

4.0

The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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

3.5

The Bread the Devil Knead by Lisa Allen-Agostini

Go to review page

challenging dark reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

“And I not dead. I still here. And people love me.”  The Bread the Devil Knead’s Aletheia is a character that, throughout reading the novel, reminded me of The Color Purple’s Celie.  I like that the Allen-Agostini splits of especially heavy chapters of text by interspersing chapters of flashbacks from Alethea’s childhood.  I could see that she’s truly been fighting and burdened her whole life.  When Aletheia has moments of happiness, I wished that those could continue forever.  I felt, however, that I didn’t get to know Alethea that well.  Perhaps that was intentional, as we know that it’s difficult for her to have her own life, but I longed to feel more connected to the character.  This was not only my first Carribean author, but also my first book written in Trinidadian Creole.  I’m inspired to read more books in dialect, and further, learn more about various Caribbean cultures.  
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
A Palace in the Old Village by Tahar Ben Jelloun

Go to review page

informative reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Flowers of Mold by Ha Seong-nan

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense slow-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

4.25

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

Go to review page

challenging dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Go to review page

Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
I keep trying to make myself try fantasy…but it’s just not for me.  Even after 100 pages into the story, I felt like things were just getting started, and we kept being introduced to characters. I’m realizing that I prefer novela told from one or several characters POV rather than having an outside narrator that tells all.  Additionally, I just wasn’t captivated by the author’s writing style, and I crave that when I’m reading!
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Go to review page

dark funny lighthearted reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings