spootilious's reviews
140 reviews

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

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adventurous mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Read: July 5th, 2024
Title: Dark Matter
Author: Blake Crouch

Genre: Science Fiction

Rating: 3/5
Review:

The first this I will admit is that I hated reading this book but love that I have read it.

Crouch’s writing reminds me of a massed produced murder mystery, in which the author writes as if the book is going to be made into a movie. (Bear in mind I did not know there was a Television series of this novel until after I read it.)

That is not to say that it was bad, on the contrary I very much enjoyed the novel. However, there were a few things that I found unbelievably annoying.

1. The unending one lined paragraph.

2. First person (though I will admit Crouch manages pretty well).

3. The oddly specific details in places that don’t matter/make sense white glossing over the descriptives of important things.

Now that that is out of the way, Crouch’s descriptions are beautiful, and the novel is so reflective and thought provoking that I couldn’t put it down. Granted it was extremely predictable (in big ways not the small stuff), but the journey was so fun I didn’t mind it too much. The plot was interesting, the pacing was good… a solid read that will having you thinking about it for days.

I’d recommend this novel for anyone who loves psychological thrillers, Sci-fi, or just wants a quick but intense read.

QUOTES:
“I’ve always known, on a purely intellectual level, that our separateness and isolation are an illusion. We’re all made of the same thing—the blown-out pieces of matter formed in the fires of dead stars.”

“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious.”

“Will I keep fighting to be the man I think I am? Or will I disown him and everything he loves, and step into the skin of the person this world would like for me to be?”

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

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reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

Read: July 1st, 2024
Title: Wide Sargasso Sea
Author: Jean Rhys

Genre: Historical Fiction / Classics

Rating: 3.5/5
Review:

This book is absolutely breathtaking and very difficult to follow.

Rhys reminds me so much of Gabriel Garcia Marquez who I absolutely adore. Rhys’ use of magical realism paints such an enchanting vision that I could hardly put the book down. Rhys’ cadence and rhythm had me absolutely mesmerized.

In a way, I feel as if, because the writing was so beautiful the story was difficult to focus on. There were so many shifts and changes that at some point I had to go back and reread this or that to make sure I understood what was happening.

The exploration of many of the themes in this work also had me eager for more. The exploration of madness was fascinating, especially with the visions at the end of the book and how she had come to be known as ‘mad’. The view of the power dynamics between men and women during this time period was not unexpected but shocking in the portrayal of the abusive husband. I can imagine the scrutiny and danger writing such a realistic view of a character could be for Rhys and have the utmost respect for her bravery in doing so in the sixties.

Exploring societies notion of beauty and nonconformities, female resilience across the ages, racial inequality, the danger and nuance of the nature of colonial history are all intriguing themes throughout the novel that has made it the classic it is today.

I will admit I have not read Jane Eyre, though I have told myself for years that I planned to. Because of this, I feel as if I missed out on quite a lot of the story and plot. As a stand alone the novel falls a bit short, far too disjointed and reliant of the novel to make much sense on its own. However, it is still a book I am very glad I have had the chance to experience.

I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys magical realism, classics, Jane Eyre, or simply wishes for a unique perspective on colonial history.

QUOTES: N/A

The Pengrooms by Paul Castle

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lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.0

Read: July 1st, 2024
Title: The Pengrooms
Author: Paul Castle

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Rating: 3/5
Review:

I love this book. Though I will say that the illustrations are better than the writing. Castle’s use of color and contrast is phenomenal! The characters are all adorable and I love the premise of the story!

As for the writing, it’s secondary. It’s obvious that more attention was given to the illustrations than the cadence and rhythm of the story, the story therefore becomes a bit repetitive. I would love to have more synonyms for ‘team’ and others so that when I do read this to children it also expands their vocabulary and use of words.

Still a great book to share, since it has such great representations!

QUOTES: N/A

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

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adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.0

Read: June 14, 2024
Title: Howl’s Moving Castle
Author: Diana Wynne Jones
Series: Howl’s Moving Castle #1
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Rating: 3/5
Review:
I think I enjoyed this book more with the characterizations of the movie in my head as I read. The characters in the book are fine but I’ve loved the film for so long I have to acknowledge that I have some biases.
That being said I really enjoyed this novel. It was such a delight. It was lighthearted and whimsical, while also being well written.
That isn’t to say that I was overly impressed. The book certainly as its faults. The depiction of the romance between the two main characters is so understated that it feels very out of place by the end and there were not quite enough details to satisfy (everything felt so vague and then when there were details it was about the most mundane and unimportant things).

Still, if you’re looking for a cozy fantasy, I highly recommend.

QUOTES: N/A

Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

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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

Read: May 22, 2024
Title: Romancing Mister Bridgerton
Author: Julia Quinn

Series: Bridgerton #4

Genre: Period Romance

Rating: 2/5
Review:

I will be completely forth coming in admitting that I have not read the first three books in this series and that I read this book after the first half of season 3 came out on Netflix. That being said, I read a few reviews prior to me reading this book and went into it with the mindset that these are not the characters I am familiar with and the storyline will be completely different and that I should treat this as a completely stand alone book unrelated, in its entirely, to the Netflix series.

For any reader planning to get into the book I recommend doing the same. The only thing these characters have in common with the characters in the show is name.

All that being said here are my thoughts:

I cannot tell you how much I hated this book. I have no words. Over the last five years I have only read a single book that I hated more than this one for entirely different reasons.

So why the two stars? Well, despite my feeling about this novel I have to admit that Quinn is very talented with the pen. The way she writes and captures the beauty of a scene is stunning in and of itself. I would gladly pick up another book in her style and cadence if it were on another subject or plot.

Which brings me to what’s wrong with the novel. Let’s start with the elephant in the room… Colin Bridgerton… The reviews I read prior to the novel were that this book changed Colin and that his temper was outrageous and childish. I tend to take these perspectives with a grain of salt. A character will always change (or rather should change) when an author shifts from an outside perspective to an inside one. I chalked it up to the readers having been stuck on his personality in previous books and did not expect to have the same problem… I was completely wrong.

Colin and Pen’s relationship is toxic through and through, from bruises to emotional manipulation and general (and societal abuse and gaslighting). It honestly makes me a bit sick. In fact, there was a point, at a specific party (which I will not name but I am sure everyone is aware of), that it was completely out of hand. I believe the worst part of it all is that portrayal of Pen suffered because of it. Not in the sense that I thought less of her but simply that she was built up as a strong independent and clever woman in the first half of the novel just to turn into the ‘he’s going to kill me but it’s okay cuz it means that he loves me,’ type of woman by the end. And I understand that this could be because of some of her own trauma but if that was the case it, if it were depicted as such then perhaps I wouldn’t hate it as much, instead she’s just as empty headed as everyone else (there is not ‘cleverness’ about her). Perhaps this is harsh, but I feel it needs to be said.

So, despite Quinn’s poetic talent, her characters are inconsistent and one dimensional. The plot leaves something to be desired and the spicy scenes (at least in this particular novel) are more toxic that alluring.

Still, I will admit I loved every scene with Lady D. Her and Pen’s friendship was a saving grace in this novel. And Daphne’s explanation (and Colin’s realization) of love was refreshingly relatable, especially as a woman’ who has been married to the love of her life for twelve years (not to show my age).

“And that was when he realized that Daphne had been right. His love hadn't been a thunderbolt from the sky. It had started with a smile, a word, a teasing glance. Every second he had spent in her presence it had grown, until he'd reached this moment, and he suddenly knew. He loved her.”

That is perhaps the most realistic portrayal of falling in love that I have ever read (though there is a particular episode of Doctor Who in which Amelia Pond talks about how people’s faces become their personality, and how beautiful they are… which is neither here nor there but is just as true and what I was reminded of when reading this section).

All of these things considered, I couldn’t give the novel more than two stars and the two that I gave it was more for talent and 2 specific characters than anything else in this novel.

QUOTES:

“And that was when he realized that Daphne had been right. His love hadn't been a thunderbolt from the sky. It had started with a smile, a word, a teasing glance. Every second he had spent in her presence it had grown, until he'd reached this moment, and he suddenly knew. He loved her.”

Content Warnings

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

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reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

Read: April 6, 2024
Title: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Author: Mark Haddon

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Rating: 3/5
Review:

If I had to choose one word to describe this novel it would be… Overhyped.

It wasn’t bad by any means, but it certainly wasn’t as good as everyone that has recommended it to me has made it seem. It seems that the recommendation was more of a “You’re Autistic? You should read this book!” Kind of recommendation.

To be honest, the autistic representation in the novel is refreshing though I wouldn’t call it accurate, at least in my opinion (though accurately describing what it is like to be autistic is difficult in itself because there is not a ‘norm’ within the global experience (i.e. autism is different for each person)). Still, the fact that Christopher is not written poorly or negatively (despite how he is treated) is a nice change of pace compared to the rest of the fiction stories I have read with autistic characters. Though this says more about our standard of literature than it does about the author. Regardless, I enjoyed the novel.

From a plot standpoint, the book was a bit bland, there was no real mystery or suspense. All in all, this was a novel that is a novel whose fame comes from the fact the main character is autistic and not the story itself. There is no shame in that, and I would love to see more of this kind of representation through genres and mediums.

QUOTES: N/A

Talking to Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

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adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.0

Read: March 22,2024
Title: Talking to Dragons
Author: Patricia C. Wrede

Series : The Enchanted Forest Chronicles #4

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Rating: 2/5
Review:

As a child I loved the entirety of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles. As an adult, I feel as if more than anything I enjoy these books for nostalgia’s sake.

Recap of thoughts on each book:

I will say Wrede has a unique world and fun characters, and she can definitely put together a one of a kind plot. However, there were a lot of downfalls to this book. Wrede doesn’t seem to have any rhythm, making the writing monotonous and telling, rather than showing experience which I have mention in each of these reviews. It is good for children learning to read but not for those who already enjoy it.

Thoughts on This book:

There is very little detail in the book. It reads more like a list of what happens to the main character more than anything. I also don’t care for first person unless its done really well or adds something to the story. Unfortunately, that’s not the case here. The story being told in first person adds nothing especially considering there is no emotion or reaction from him. It makes the entirety of the story a bit cold and impersonal.

The novel is also a product of its time and could be taken offense to by individuals that have non-traditional pronouns; considering that the young dragon who has not chosen a sex or gender in the novel is referred to as an ‘it’ repeatedly.

Other than that this has the same things I do like about the other books: Fun themes, fun characters and a unique plot and setting.

Overall, I loved this book as a child and still recommend it to early readers but for learning purposes not entertainment.

QUOTES: N/A

Calling on Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

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adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.0

Read: March 14,2024
Title: Calling on Dragons
Author: Patricia C. Wrede

Series : The Enchanted Forest Chronicles # 3

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Rating: 2/5
Review:

As a child I loved the entirety of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles. As an adult, I feel as if more than anything I enjoy these books for nostalgia’s sake.

Throughout the book the reoccurring jokes seem to be twofold: Telemain not being understood and Killer being hungry. It got old very quickly. That paired with the unnecessary tangents just to set up these jokes was a bit bulky.

Overall, I loved this book as a child and still recommend it to early readers but for learning purposes not entertainment.

QUOTES: N/A

Searching for Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

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funny medium-paced

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

2.5

Read: February 13, 2024
Title: Searching for Dragons
Author: Patricia C. Wrede

Series : The Enchanted Forest Chronicles #2

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Rating: 2.5/5
Review:

As a child I loved the entirety of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles. As an adult, I realize that the stories are most certainly a product of their time. With some offensive words (like G*psy) and comedic relief stereotypes it most certainly wouldn’t have been published in todays world.

With that said, however, I still enjoyed the second installment. The unique plays on traditional fairytales and folklore, along with the whimsical humor make the novel fun. Though I will admit that the second book seems far slower than the first, the writing seems to be better. The same writing is simplistic and straightforward, ideal for any growing middle schooler trying to hone their reading skills and move to more advanced series.

Over all, not ideal for adults in the least, a bit archaic but ideal for middle graders still finding their footing.

QUOTES: N/A

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

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lighthearted slow-paced

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

2.5

Read: February 2, 2024
Title: Bookshops & Bonedust
Author: Travis Baldree

Series : Legends & Lattes #0

Genre: Cozy Fantasy

Rating: 2.5/5
Review:

I really enjoyed reading Legends & Lattes, it was such a delightful and engaging book! Although this particular book had more of a slice-of-life feel and lacked some excitement, I still managed to find some enjoyment in it. At times, it did feel a bit slow-paced, but overall it was a charming read.

I must say, I really appreciated Baldree's use of descriptive language. It's clear that he is refining his skills in this aspect, and it added an extra layer to the book. However, I personally felt that the story itself wasn't as compelling as I had hoped. The only part that truly captured my attention was the epilogue.

Nevertheless, I really appreciate Baldree's writing style, and I'm eager to see more of his work in the future. I also like him narrating his own work, it's always impressive to see him excel in both aspects of storytelling.

QUOTES: N/A

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spootilious's reviews 140 reviews

spootilious's reviews
140 reviews