Scan barcode
tessieferro's reviews
168 reviews
A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark
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
1.0
this is what would happen if you fed an AI a terry pratchett book, made it spend 2h on woke twitter and then told it to write a predictable fantasy novel
Dark Days by James Baldwin
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
4.5
"The miracle is that some have stepped out of the rags of the Republic's definitions to assume the great burden and glory of their humanity and of their responsibility for one another. It is an extraordinary achievement to be trapped in the dungeon of color and to dare to shake down its walls and to step out of it, leaving the jailhouse keeper in the rubble."
James Baldwin, besides having a great mind, is just a delight to read. His essays are otherworldly, poignant and just plain beautiful.
"The miracle is that some have stepped out of the rags of the Republic's definitions to assume the great burden and glory of their humanity and of their responsibility for one another. It is an extraordinary achievement to be trapped in the dungeon of color and to dare to shake down its walls and to step out of it, leaving the jailhouse keeper in the rubble."
James Baldwin, besides having a great mind, is just a delight to read. His essays are otherworldly, poignant and just plain beautiful.
Panenka by Rónán Hession
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
4.5
"I'm scared for you, and scared for myself, that something is already taking you away from me. But isn't that what allowing yourself be loved is all about - letting something greater than fear into your life?"
Who knew football can be sad? Brilliantly human and complex.
Who knew football can be sad? Brilliantly human and complex.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
dark
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
"Mariam wished her mother were alive to see this. To see her, amid all of it. To see at last that contentment and beauty were not unattainable things. Even for the likes of them."
Bittersweet, so bittersweet.
Bittersweet, so bittersweet.
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
“I am the sterile offspring of a race about which I know nothing, not even whether it has become extinct. Perhaps, somewhere, humanity is flourishing under the stars, unaware that a daughter of its blood is ending her days in silence. There is nothing we can do about it.”
An intriguing introspective book, full of symbolism and poignant questions, half of which I only understood after reading the introduction. The rule is: if you only understand after someone explains it, either the book didn’t do its job or you didn’t (the chances are 50/50 in this case).
An intriguing introspective book, full of symbolism and poignant questions, half of which I only understood after reading the introduction. The rule is: if you only understand after someone explains it, either the book didn’t do its job or you didn’t (the chances are 50/50 in this case).
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
"The normal world has no room for exceptions and always quietly eliminates foreign objects. Anyone who is lacking is disposed of."
critique? on point. quirkiness? present, with really interesting autism representation. concept? could've been great, had she taken it further. but I just kept waiting for a climax that simply isn't there
critique? on point. quirkiness? present, with really interesting autism representation. concept? could've been great, had she taken it further. but I just kept waiting for a climax that simply isn't there
Pereira Maintains by Antonio Tabucchi
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A subtle, subtle book, so subtle that at times it steers into boring territory. The writing style is aggravating, but the ending saved it for me (in fact, the ending made me look back at the rest of the book with more respect). Hard not to recommend: it's an interesting take on 1930s Lisbon and what moves a person; and it's so short that even if it's somewhat slow it ends fast. Bonus points for the super recognizable scenery.
Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"It didn't occur to her to start worrying. For the first eight years of her life the world had been a particularly boring place and now that it was becoming interesting Esk wasn't about to act ungrateful."
So fun! I remember now! Reading can be fun and ridiculous and unpretentious! Wow!
So fun! I remember now! Reading can be fun and ridiculous and unpretentious! Wow!