leekaufman's Reviews (426)

Washington Black

Esi Edugyan

4.5

adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

A Mercy

Toni Morrison

5.0

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

My Monticello

Jocelyn Nicole Johnson

4.5

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

How Beautiful We Were

Imbolo Mbue

4.5

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Cloud Cuckoo Land

Anthony Doerr

2.5

adventurous reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Cold Enough for Snow

Jessica Au

4.5

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Hamnet

Maggie O'Farrell

5.0

emotional reflective sad 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: Complicated

All the Light We Cannot See

Anthony Doerr

adventurous emotional reflective

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Scarborough

Catherine Hernandez

3.0

challenging emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Snapshots of the lives of families that attend a literacy centre in Scarborough, Toronto. The writing is not particularly interesting or beautiful, but a few of the characters really shine. It serves its purpose—portraying the vast difference in life experiences of Canadians—well.

Also, bless Edna, for loving her beautiful queer child so unconditionally and supporting Bing so fully :') the talent show scene made me smile ear to ear.

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism

Amanda Montell

3.5

dark informative reflective slow-paced

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