Take a photo of a barcode or cover
sareidle's Reviews (180)
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tartt's writing is evocative without being overly descriptive - she is efficient in word choice that paints a clear picture of the characters and atmosphere of the story. While the page count is longer than most books I read, they seemed to fly by and I wondered what would happen to Richard and the Classics Department next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Moderate: Incest, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
An extremely important book that highlights the human cost of cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The author did a pretty good job focusing on the Congolese and their experiences as artisanal miners. It was devastatingly sad to learn of the generational suffering in the country. My only critique is that the author needed to provide a better call to action towards the conclusion. Yes, it is important for the Congolese to tell their own stories, but what can the international community do to make that possible and improve their conditions in the meantime?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Colonisation
Minor: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Pandemic/Epidemic
Chocolate Wars: From Cadbury to Kraft: 200 years of Sweet Success and Bitter Rivalry
Deborah Cadbury, Deborah Cadbury
funny
informative
slow-paced
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A fun introduction to Persian folklore and fairy tales. I enjoyed spending time with the main character, Soraya, and watching her gain confidence and a strong sense of self. The beginning and end of the book were very engaging; I felt that the middle section lagged a bit. Overall, it was a nice read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Torture, Death of parent, Murder
emotional
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
A moving portrait of a family separated by the division of Germany and their parallel lives on opposite sides of the wall. Willner demonstrates how the political becomes personal, as different GDR policies and local Communist party decisions affected her mother's communication with her siblings and parents. While most of the family survived the Cold War, a sadness lingers for all of the time lost that could have been spent together.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Death of parent
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
emotional
informative
fast-paced
This is a quick read that provides a unique perspective on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the consequences of expecting perfection from members. Heather has a strong voice and shares humorous anecdotes to lighten some of the religious trauma she experienced. The front half is much more insightful and reflective than the back half. I don't think she's fully processed her divorce and departure from the church - she's too quick to latch on to the "community" of the Real Housewives franchise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Minor: Death, Homophobia, Suicide, Grief
informative
tense
slow-paced
I enjoyed Mohr's voice and writing style - it was informative but irreverent which suited the subject matter. The stories of East German punks came to life and the photos added context and character. My only critique is the pacing of the book - it spent a lot of time on the events of 1983-84 and a bit on the mid- to late-80s but breezed through 1989. The book felt like it was building up to the fall of the Berlin Wall, but skipped over the action, instead telling the story of a band who played in West Berlin on November 9th and noticed their East Berlin friends joining the crowd.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Stalking
Moderate: Cursing, Physical abuse
Minor: Animal death
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Daphne du Maurier's writing is truly immersive, which makes the atmosphere and plot of the story work so well. The narrator lacks a name and any identifying details - we never learn her name, exact age, or family situation - which allows the ghost of Rebecca to loom large over Manderley. As I think more about how the narrator's perspective is limited and heavily informed by her insecurity, I question the retelling of events and the true circumstances surrounding Rebecca's death. I would highly recommend this book - it's even better at creating suspense than the Hitchcock adaptation!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Cancer, Incest, Fire/Fire injury
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A fun, lighthearted read. I enjoy the art style and food puns, and the story was cute albeit mostly predictable.