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postmodernblues's Reviews (465)

The Haunting of Hill House

Shirley Jackson

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

When the introduction indicated some critics had mentioned "lesbian undertones", I certainly didn't think they meant overtones. But I was pleasantly surprised.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle

Shirley Jackson

5.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Downright incredible.

The Coldest Touch

Isabel Sterling

2.0

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The Astonishing Color of After

Emily X.R. Pan

2.5

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-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

For a supposed magical realism novel, it could have used at least 40% more magical realism.

The Phantom of the Opera

Gaston Leroux

3.5

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Where Are Your Boys Tonight?: The Oral History of Emo's Mainstream Explosion 1999-2008

Chris Payne

3.5

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

An interesting read. Emo music has had a profound impact on my listening habits, and I consider Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance my favorite bands, above all others.

I would like, very much, to meet Patrick Stump just so I can tell him how much I admire his musical sensibilities. To read about how viciously Folie a Deux and his solo album Soul Punk were panned by critics and hated by fans breaks my heart. He has this incredible taste for funky, poppy music with dark and poetic lyrics. I just think he's incredible, and I think Folie and Soul Punk are two masterpiece albums. Go listen to them now, is what I'm saying.

I Loved You in Another Life

David Arnold

5.0

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

David Arnold is quickly becoming my favorite YA author. His writing is beautiful and lyrical, his characters are unique and interesting, and his premises are incredibly well-executed. Plus, all of the references to movies and books and such are genuinely relevant to actual teenagers. This book, like The Electric Kingdom, has a lovably precocious younger brother character that you'll just die for.

As Old as Time

Liz Braswell

3.0

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense fast-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

I am a well-known Beauty and the Beast hater, but this book was a genuinely interesting and subversive retelling. It's not perfect, but it was definitely enjoyable.

Maus: A Survivor's Tale

Art Spiegelman

4.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Death of a Salesman

Arthur Miller

4.0

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

"Will you let me go, for Christ's sake? Will you take that phony dream and burn it before something happens?" -Arthur Miller, Death of a Salesman, page 106

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