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annaki_laila's reviews
162 reviews
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Weird. Good and bad. Once I realised each chapter was the first and last time we'd get each character's perspective, I enjoyed it more - it felt more valuable. Overall interesting. One major thing I didn't like was the last chapter - maybe could've done entirely without it, and made the PowerPoint chapter the last one (I enjoyed that one) - because the cynical take on the future really overshadowed the actual narrative and full-circle-ness, for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Death, Racism, and Self harm
The Autobiography of Kathryn Janeway: Captain Janeway of the USS Voyager Tells the Story of Her Life in Starfleet, for Fans of Star Trek by Una McCormack
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A fun read! I really liked reading about Janeway's childhood.
Dracula by Bram Stoker
slow-paced
3.0
More boring than I expected, mostly due to the terribly slow pace in most parts. The main part I enjoyed was the situation with Lucy; the pacing was pretty decent there and it did actually feel tense. But overall not really horror or thriller! Obviously standards for genres are different today though, so it's hard to really judge it that way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Minor: Racial slurs and Xenophobia
The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare
fast-paced
3.0
This is the first Shakespeare comedy I've ever read, so I didn't know what to expect. It was pretty amusing and pleasantly fast-paced.
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
slow-paced
2.0
Some interesting social commentary but it was kind of painstaking to read and also the deaths got a bit much. I think Mrs Hale's death was treated well in terms of time given to her and time spent by Margaret grieving - it was quite affecting. But the other deaths were so quick, which was fine for the first one, but then it happened again, and again... it was too much. Of course people can die suddenly and without 'reason', deaths can happen and feel senseless, but it was just a lot of death to the point that my perspective of the novel is now 'the one about everyone dying and Margaret being left alone' rather than 'the one about strikes and workers' rights and complex social ties'.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Suicide