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sinvvas's reviews
292 reviews
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
“I am just an unemployed linguist with a lot of dead friends.” I think I will have an incredibly hard time not comparing any other philosophical science fiction to this. Desperate yet understanding, wanting God but being unable to believe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
If We're Being Honest by Cat Shook
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Cherry by Nico Walker
challenging
funny
medium-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
3.5
The God Desire by David Baddiel
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
4.0
This sums up my beliefs pretty well, as well as kind of reckoning with Judaism. It’s hopeful in all of the right places.
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I’m glad that I read this after the pandemic instead of when it first came out. I understand that feeling of “what if was the last time I ate an orange”. I fell like if I read this when it first came out I wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much as I did. I’m a big fan of stories that show how people kind of weave in and out of each others lives, often times with very little fan fare. This checked a lot of boxes for me.
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Being a teen is messy and confusing. I grew up with a single dad and when I turned about 12 he gave this book to me. Mostly so he wouldn’t have to explain puberty to me, but also because he wanted me to have something to relate to. I hold this story very near and dear to my heart. Judy Blume has helped foster entire generations of kids into reading, but has also given many an awkward teen a life line. She treats adolescence with the type of respect, but also tongue-in -cheek humor, it deserves. If God is listening, I hope he hears every teenage girl's prayers, because they need his help the most. I definitely did.
The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
As a human being I rarely think of all the things that make up being a human and the effect we have on nonhuman things. This book was originally supposed to be a podcast, and as someone who has now both read the book and listened to the audiobook, I can tell you that audio is the way to go. John Green as the narrator feels as though you are having a deep conversation with a friend you haven’t spoken to in awhile. John Green does what he does best, he provides witty and truthful commentary on how people interact with things and ideas without even knowing. He helpfully ranks Diet Dr. Pepper, professional tennis players, and canadian geese, based off of their merit in the human world and helpfully ranks them for us between 1-5 stars. He shows how we have changed, created, and destroyed things for better or worse, and forces us to feel both large and small on such a human centric planet. I give The Anthropocene Reviewed 5 stars.
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
4.5
As a professional dead mom haver, this book was painfully relatable. Jennette McCurdy has to watch her mom slowly pass away of cancer. All while reconciling with the fact that her mom, who was her hero, might have not been that great of a person. Though this is more than a book about grief. Jennette tackles tough subjects such as, eating disorders, child stardom, poverty, and girlhood with both humor and heart. I can only hope that she finds as much catharsis and support as I felt reading this book.
Twisted Love by Ana Huang
medium-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
2.0
This kind of felt like Batman fanfiction. A dark broody man trying to avenge his dead parents. I've been told the series gets better as it goes, but I found this book a little too long and questionably written. I also wish there was a bit more spice. I won't take any shots at the "dark romance" side, because I understand the men are supposed to be toxic. That being said some of the toxic dialogue was so over the top that it became a bit funny. I might revisit the series later, but for right now I'm going to put a pin in it.