spinningjenny's reviews
474 reviews

Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties by Camille Pagán

Go to review page

lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.0

Notes on Grief by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Go to review page

emotional reflective fast-paced

4.0

In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O'Brien

Go to review page

mysterious reflective 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

4.0

Less Is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer

Go to review page

adventurous funny medium-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

4.0

Turns out I love Less and it makes me uncertain because I don't know what I love about him. But sometimes you just love things and that's OK.

Deenie by Judy Blume

Go to review page

emotional fast-paced

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

4.0

The Searcher by Tana French

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious 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

Took me on an adventure which is I suppose all we can ask of a book. Kept me occupied and interested for a day. Beautiful prose. Felt like Ireland.

Subpar Parks: America's Most Extraordinary National Parks and Their Least Impressed Visitors by Amber Share

Go to review page

funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

3.5

Helpful information but mostly just interesting tidbits about the nps and the specific parks. Just makes me want to go even more.

Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective medium-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

5.0

I adored everything about this book. From the very beginning, one of the best books of the year so far. The movement between a lot of story lines was executed flawlessly and the storyline weaving together was immaculate.

Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed

Go to review page

emotional inspiring medium-paced

4.5

This book came for me over and over again. When I tried to stop reading it because I was just so overwhelmed by the raw nature of the reality of this book, I was scrolling on Hulu and found that it had been adapted into a series, 8 episodes. I laughed and watched 7 episodes right in a row, staying up until 3am and making myself tired for the next two weeks as I continued to devour, slowly and kindly the rest of these columns, which are really more like little gifts from the heavens about the way life is, can be, and how to get to be the best versions of ourselves.
I think Cheryl Strayed is underrated. I believe this even though I hated Wild when I first read it, felt it was flippant and unrealistic. Even as I planned my own descent into the PCT which I have not yet taken but still aspire to take.
Cheryl writes in a way that shows us the transcendence of the human condition. Maybe it just takes us a little while to accept it.

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

Go to review page

mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Scary. Captivating.