sareidle's Reviews (180)

Yellowface

R.F. Kuang

4.5

dark tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The plot of Yellowface was propulsive and I found myself thinking about the different ways the story could unfold when I wasn't reading it. I was ready to be out of June's headspace by the novel's end, but the issues at the book's center have been weighing on my mind. There is clearly a disconnect over the "value" of diversity depending on one's perspective, and R. F. Kuang tackled this topic very well.

Content Warnings

The Oregon Trail: The Race to Chimney Rock

Jesse Wiley, Jesse Wiley

3.0

adventurous informative fast-paced

Selling the Dream: The Billion-Dollar Industry Bankrupting Americans

Jane Marie

4.0

funny informative fast-paced

A quick, informative read. I learned quite a bit about the history of MLMs and the factors that contributed to their success in the United States. The background about current MLMs was already familiar to me, but it was interesting to consider COVID's impact on MLM marketing and recruitment. I enjoyed Jane Marie's first season of The Dream and I recommend listening to the Life After MLM podcast by Roberta Blevins.

Content Warnings

Educated

Tara Westover

4.5

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

An extremely moving book that I will be reflecting on for a long time. Tara's voice is strong throughout the memoir and tells a clear story about the trade-offs between family and education. As a student of history, I found her approach to intellectual history and historical narratives fascinating, as she knows firsthand how difficult and world-shattering it can be to "relearn" the past.

Content Warnings

Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return

Marjane Satrapi

4.75

dark emotional funny fast-paced

Content Warnings

The Circle

Dave Eggers

dark informative tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Content Warnings

The Air You Breathe

Frances de Pontes Peebles

5.0

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of the Whole Stupid World

Matt Kracht

4.0

funny informative lighthearted fast-paced

Content Warnings

And It Will Be a Beautiful Life

Craig Lancaster

2.0

emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book felt like a chore to read and I probably would've put it down if it wasn't for book club. I found Max insufferable to be around, as his self-destructive and self-isolating habits continued to strain the few relationships in his life. I wasn't rooting for him to get better, rather the only part I looked forward to was his communication with Charles Foster Danworth, who was a compelling character with a good perspective on life. I wanted to like the novel, as I heard good things about 600 Hours of Edward and wanted to support a Montana author. Alas, this book was not written for me and my demographic.

Content Warnings

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone

Benjamin Stevenson

3.0

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book has a different vibe than I was expecting from the title and cover art. There were moments of humor, but the conspiracy surrounding the Cunningham family dominated the tone of the majority of the story. The plot itself was convoluted without all of the bait and switch from the narrator, so it was confusing to figure out what the "truth" was. I enjoyed the concept of applying Golden Age Mystery rules to a contemporary setting, but feel that it was better executed in the sequel, Everyone on This Train is a Suspect.

Content Warnings

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