toreadistovoyage's Reviews (1.58k)

I have FINALLY finished this book. It took me almost five months to read (which is partly the book's fault but also partly because I have been in a major reading slump). I read the first three back to back and had to wait for this to be published. I feel so let down by this one. It just wasn't that interesting. Everything took forever and the payout just didn't seem worth it.

This is about two sisters who survive dictatorship, genocide, communism, violence, racism, and more. A slow-paced, character-driven, beautifully told story with magical realism (there are ghosts), history, tragedy, and (thankfully) slivers of hope.

Interesting premise (a take on Sherlock Holmes with animals as characters), but the mystery was not enticing. Good artwork and love the included puzzles.

Very accessible (easily read, but not easy to read as it explores a variety of difficult topics) memoir that vividly depicts a young Palestinian girl’s experiences.

A sweet story about an elderly man dealing with loneliness and grief. Not an entirely new concept, but an intriguing story nonetheless.

A slow burn mystery? horror? paranormal fantasy? This book sort of defies typical genres. Set in the 1990s (or what my seven-year-old recently called the “nine somethings”), we follow two characters as they uncover a mystery - and a curse. Solid storytelling.

A beautiful memoir.

This had drama, but it wasn't between the main love interests. The romance was mature and responsible - no miscommunication or petty fighting or late breakups. It was a lighthearted, summery romance. I like how the main character grew to know her worth. I wish there had been more development in the backstory/present story regarding the relationship between the sisters/family.

Interesting conceptually, but I felt let down by the execution. I really did not care about the characters, the pacing was uneven, and the storylines/plot points I wanted to more fully explore were underdeveloped.

I came very close to DNFing this (and I really only finished it because it was a book club selection and I try to finish all selected).

An OwnVoices murder mystery highlighting the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement. Solid story told from four alternating perspectives. While the start and end of the book were well-paced, the middle was slow.