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raenyreads's reviews
332 reviews
Downfall by Inio Asano
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Shit man is shit, gets shitter, is the absolute worst, and then continues to be shit.
Sorry I know there's supposed to be a deep meaning to this but nothing made me care about the main character at all and I couldn't get on board with it. Not for me.
The art was good at least which is where the extra 0.5 in my rating comes from.
Sorry I know there's supposed to be a deep meaning to this but nothing made me care about the main character at all and I couldn't get on board with it. Not for me.
The art was good at least which is where the extra 0.5 in my rating comes from.
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
2.5
I really wanted to like this, especially with how popular it is, but it wasn't for me overall.
I did enjoy the main characters, I thought they were funny and loveable. I also really appreciated the themes it touched on surrounding getting older, death, and grief; I thought it was really well done and made the book a touching read in places. I also read through this book very quickly, so I think the writing style was well done.
However, I did not the plot overall. I think the way it developed was kind of messy and I don't think the ending is one you could work out yourself, and even if you could, I just didn't like how it turned out.
So yeah this one isn't for me. I might try the next instalment in the series as I have heard people enjoy that one more, but probably not for a while.
I did enjoy the main characters, I thought they were funny and loveable. I also really appreciated the themes it touched on surrounding getting older, death, and grief; I thought it was really well done and made the book a touching read in places. I also read through this book very quickly, so I think the writing style was well done.
However, I did not the plot overall. I think the way it developed was kind of messy and I don't think the ending is one you could work out yourself, and even if you could, I just didn't like how it turned out.
So yeah this one isn't for me. I might try the next instalment in the series as I have heard people enjoy that one more, but probably not for a while.
The Lotus Empire by Tasha Suri
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I've really enjoyed this series as a whole and I think this was a great final instalment. The way the characters developed made sense and I loved the world building and magic system. The relationship between Priya and Malini is one of the best I've read and I was rooting for them the whole time. I think the ending wrapped the series up well, even if I found a couple aspects a little disappointing it was still a satisfying conclusion.
Deep Sea: 10 Things You Should Know by Jon Copley
informative
fast-paced
4.0
A great introduction to the deep sea. As someone more knowledgeable it was interesting to see what the author thought was the key facts to present to a general audience. Would recommend picking this up if it is something you are interested in!
She and Her Cat by Makoto Shinkai, Naruki Nagakawa
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
This is a really nice read. Not too life changing or anything but I had a good time reading it and liked all the characters. Would recommend for a simple and fun read!
Ayiti by Roxane Gay
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I think this is one of the best short story collections I've read so far. Each story felt well rounded, even in just a few pages. The emotion in each story shined through really well and had me invested in each one.
Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I don't even know how to start explaining my thoughts. There was so much in this book but also I'm left feeling like nothing happened until the last 100 pages. Fitz is an idiot but I do love him anyway. I loved the ending though I would have liked to have it play out on page a bit more. Also Molly and Burrich? What the actual hell.
It's a much fuller conclusion to this trilogy than I thought we would get and so I am left feeling mostly satisfied. I'll definitely be continuing with the rest of the series.
It's a much fuller conclusion to this trilogy than I thought we would get and so I am left feeling mostly satisfied. I'll definitely be continuing with the rest of the series.
The Odyssey by Homer
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read this as part of a buddy read where we read two books a week until we finished. I think doing this and so being forced to read it more slowly than I would with other books really helped me enjoy the journey more. Is Odysseus a likeable lead? Not for me. But was he interesting to follow? Absolutely. This was my first book I'd read that was written entirely as poetry and I thought I'd struggle more with it than I did. I think this is at least partly due to the amazing job Emily Wilsons did with the translation. It felt very accessible and understandable as someone not versed in ancient Greece. Highly recommend Wilsons translation.
Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This wasn't a book for me. I found the plot generally interesting but the method of storytelling was really boring for me and even though this book is so short, I really dragged myself through it.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is a deserving classic. I loved the atmosphere and the characters. I expected more horror but that may be due to having a modern view on the horror genre, nevertheless I did find this book had lots of tension and the isolation felt very real. I liked the themes on gender roles and how the characters both followed and defied these.
I think this is one of those books that if you really studied it you'd be able to analyse so many more themes and different aspects.
My main reason for not having a higher rating is it was very predictable.
I think this is one of those books that if you really studied it you'd be able to analyse so many more themes and different aspects.
My main reason for not having a higher rating is it was very predictable.