charlottesometimes's Reviews (3.33k)

There's Someone Inside Your House

Stephanie Perkins

2.0

slow-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: No

Bewilderment

Richard Powers

2.0

informative reflective tense slow-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

A first-person narrative from the POV of an absolute bore who is so self involved that he eventually absorbs his wife and son, who admittedly were barely more than metaphors to allow him to talk about himself anyway. Which might have worked as a horror story, but unfortunately I this is supposed to be a moving and thoughtful tale of parenthood and environmental issues.

Still, it managed to get on the Booker Long and Short lists before it was even published, so it clearly has someone powerful on it’s side. I expect to see it undeservedly win, but hopefully I will be proved wrong.

I Live in the Slums: Stories

Can Xue

3.0

challenging mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: N/A

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

An Inventory of Losses

Judith Schalansky

2.5

reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: N/A

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

The Dangers of Smoking in Bed

Mariana Enríquez

4.0

dark emotional sad tense 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

Hell House

Richard Matheson

2.0

dark slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

The Rich Girl

R.L. Stine

1.0

slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

RL Stine tells teenage girls not to trust their friends when they point out the number of red flags in their relationship. I don’t know whether he actually wants young girls to die, or he’s just stupid.