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araowl's reviews
54 reviews
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Days of Distraction by Alexandra Chang
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering Into Peace, Joy, and Liberation by Thích Nhất Hạnh
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.5
Dominicana by Angie Cruz
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Long Bright River by Liz Moore
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really enjoyed this book! I think it has a great combination of intricate characterization and also a page-turning and compelling plot. I think that you'll enjoy this book whether you're typically a reader of literary fiction or the crime genre. I thought that the main character's story arc was very satisfying. This is definitely a book to check out if you enjoy books with strong character development. I felt like the other characters were well-written and felt very realistic, although the book definitely mostly focuses on the main character considering it's a single, first person POV. If you really like reading books where you get a deep dive into one character's psychology, I highly recommend this book.
The plot was also intriguing and kept me guessing. The reveal at the end genuinely surprised me, although I'm notoriously terrible at guessing those kinds of things. I have to admit, I cared much more about the resolution of the family dynamics in the book than the actual murder mystery.
Overall, I really recommend this book to people look for a mystery/crime novel with more of a character-driven and literary quality! It also shines such an important light on corruption in the police force and how addictions are sometimes not as simple as doing drugs or drinking - an addiction can also be the stories you tell yourself throughout your life.
The plot was also intriguing and kept me guessing. The reveal at the end genuinely surprised me, although I'm notoriously terrible at guessing those kinds of things. I have to admit, I cared much more about the resolution of the family dynamics in the book than the actual murder mystery.
Overall, I really recommend this book to people look for a mystery/crime novel with more of a character-driven and literary quality! It also shines such an important light on corruption in the police force and how addictions are sometimes not as simple as doing drugs or drinking - an addiction can also be the stories you tell yourself throughout your life.
A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Authority by Jeff VanderMeer
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I have to admit that although this book is sold to us as a horror novel, I don't think I was remotely frightened or creeped out the entire time. This isn't to say that I hated the entire thing; I thought that there were some interesting themes woven throughout the story. I enjoyed the focus on the themes of power imbalances and the ever-present feeling that it would be so easy to sink into the mental abyss that exists in us all and never return.
However, I, like many others that have written reviews for this book on this platform, found the book very slow-paced and underwhelming. It certainly lacked the mystery and excitement of the first book, although the last section of the book intrigued me enough that I do want to finish out the series to see how it concludes. I found some of the scenes and motifs that were meant to be unnerving a little bit corny or even boring, since it was a lot that we already knew from the first book.
You can obviously tell that the author is a very skilled writer. His prose is very beautiful and loaded with metaphor; it has a very highly literary quality that is very lovely. However, I did find it quite clunky and hard to read. Also, the main character, as many others have mentioned, was not nearly as compelling as the biologist from the first book. I found myself many times wishing that the book had been written from the biologist's perspective instead of Control's. I also found the character of Whitby a bit underdeveloped. I didn't really find his "insanity" that convincing. I think a lot of the characters lacked dimension.
Overall, I think that this book definitely fell pray to second-book-syndrome. It felt like a lot of filler, and it definitely reminded me why I tend to prefer standalones. However, I think it touched on some very compelling and resonant themes, and had very beautiful prose. I would recommend this book to those that were really huge fans of the first and wish to finish out the series. I'm very interested in reading the third book and seeing how the Vandermeer wraps up this story.
However, I, like many others that have written reviews for this book on this platform, found the book very slow-paced and underwhelming. It certainly lacked the mystery and excitement of the first book, although the last section of the book intrigued me enough that I do want to finish out the series to see how it concludes. I found some of the scenes and motifs that were meant to be unnerving a little bit corny or even boring, since it was a lot that we already knew from the first book.
You can obviously tell that the author is a very skilled writer. His prose is very beautiful and loaded with metaphor; it has a very highly literary quality that is very lovely. However, I did find it quite clunky and hard to read. Also, the main character, as many others have mentioned, was not nearly as compelling as the biologist from the first book. I found myself many times wishing that the book had been written from the biologist's perspective instead of Control's. I also found the character of Whitby a bit underdeveloped. I didn't really find his "insanity" that convincing. I think a lot of the characters lacked dimension.
Overall, I think that this book definitely fell pray to second-book-syndrome. It felt like a lot of filler, and it definitely reminded me why I tend to prefer standalones. However, I think it touched on some very compelling and resonant themes, and had very beautiful prose. I would recommend this book to those that were really huge fans of the first and wish to finish out the series. I'm very interested in reading the third book and seeing how the Vandermeer wraps up this story.
The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"The Rabbit Hutch" is a contemporary debut about the inhabitants of a deteriorating rust belt apartment building. Although the novel jumps around to multiple POVs, the book is mainly about a precocious young girl named Blandine and her three male roommates who all recently aged out of the foster care system.
This book deals with heavy themes related to sexual and physical abuse, trauma, and the gentrification of a dying Indiana city. As someone from Indiana, the way the author described the setting felt extremely accurate and hit close to home. These rust belt towns are places of rusty chain-link fences, random rubber shoes on the road, and broken glass covering every street corner. They're places where people born into poverty often never get a chance to leave. Blandine is extremely intelligent and had a rare opportunity to transcend this small town through academic achievement, but unfortunately, the effects of abuse and trauma make that kind of thing easier said than done.
Overall, every character in this book is ultimately searching for meaning and human connection. A current of loneliness and existential dread pulse through the entire story. The book is often satirically witty, and has a lot of commentary on the wildness of the internet and the detrimental effects of late-stage capitalism on both humans and the environment. I found the themes extremely resonant and thought-provoking, and the characters richly detailed and compelling. The only criticism I have is that some of the character's stories felt a little underdeveloped, but I definitely see how each and every character contributed to the overall meaning of the book.
I recommend this book to anyone that likes modern literary fiction, witty and irreverent writing, and intelligent social commentary. I'd definitely steer clear if you are sensitive to depictions of sexual abuse, violence, and trauma - or if you just prefer your fiction on the more lighthearted and plot-driven side.
This book deals with heavy themes related to sexual and physical abuse, trauma, and the gentrification of a dying Indiana city. As someone from Indiana, the way the author described the setting felt extremely accurate and hit close to home. These rust belt towns are places of rusty chain-link fences, random rubber shoes on the road, and broken glass covering every street corner. They're places where people born into poverty often never get a chance to leave. Blandine is extremely intelligent and had a rare opportunity to transcend this small town through academic achievement, but unfortunately, the effects of abuse and trauma make that kind of thing easier said than done.
Overall, every character in this book is ultimately searching for meaning and human connection. A current of loneliness and existential dread pulse through the entire story. The book is often satirically witty, and has a lot of commentary on the wildness of the internet and the detrimental effects of late-stage capitalism on both humans and the environment. I found the themes extremely resonant and thought-provoking, and the characters richly detailed and compelling. The only criticism I have is that some of the character's stories felt a little underdeveloped, but I definitely see how each and every character contributed to the overall meaning of the book.
I recommend this book to anyone that likes modern literary fiction, witty and irreverent writing, and intelligent social commentary. I'd definitely steer clear if you are sensitive to depictions of sexual abuse, violence, and trauma - or if you just prefer your fiction on the more lighthearted and plot-driven side.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Animal death, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Violence, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Mental illness and Blood
Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0