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beriboo's reviews
378 reviews
Swan Song by Kelleigh Greenberg-Jephcott
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Serotonin by Michel Houellebecq
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Cursing, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Death of parent
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and War
The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A story about relationships, unlikely friendship and loss set in the Reconstruction period following the American civil war.
In his debut novel, Nathan Harris tells the story of Landry and Prentiss, to newly “freemen” who have spent their lives as slaves and are now trying to work to save money so they can travel North. They come across George, a landowner in their town Old Ox, who employees them to work and live on his farm, which is shares with his wife Isabelle.
The return of soldiers from the Civil War reignites a forbidden love affair. The discovery of this affair collides with the brother’s struggle for freedom and peace, resulting in murder, persecution and a town besieged in chaos.
The characters are diverse and different in many ways. As well as the characters who’s narrative we read, there are other characters on the side-line, some are good people, some are not. Nathan Harris writes these characters with so much depth and reality that you do feel for them and are invested in their story.
My only negative on the characters is that I would have liked to hear from Landy and Prentiss more, they are often pushed aside for the other characters, all of whom are white. I think this is potentially a missed opportunity to give Landry and Prentiss more of a voice in a story they play such a big part of.
The plot twist and turns, and you never quite know where the book is heading. I didn’t think it slowed at any point, I was completely invested and wanted to know what happened to each of the characters.
Not everyone gets their happy ending, but I was not left disappointed by the end of the book. It was all wrapped up nicely, with no loose ends or cliff-hangers.
When I first read the synopsis for this book it reminded me of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café. If you like that book, The Underground Railroad, Colour Purple or Washington Black then you will enjoy this book.
Possibly my favourite book this year.
Treacle Walker by Alan Garner
fast-paced
2.0
Oof, I was looking forward to this book. I like mythical stories and anything based on folklore or fantasy, but this book was not it for me.
I would describe this writing style as the modern art equivalent of literature. It is slightly pretentious and doesn't make much sense, yet at the same time the dialogue is repetitive and childlike. It would leave people thinking 'maybe I'm not smart enough to get why this is good'. When in reality it reads like a school child's English literature assignment.
I'm sure there will be people who enjoy the book, as there are people that enjoy modern art. I'm just not one of those people.
I would describe this writing style as the modern art equivalent of literature. It is slightly pretentious and doesn't make much sense, yet at the same time the dialogue is repetitive and childlike. It would leave people thinking 'maybe I'm not smart enough to get why this is good'. When in reality it reads like a school child's English literature assignment.
I'm sure there will be people who enjoy the book, as there are people that enjoy modern art. I'm just not one of those people.
The Exhibitionist by Charlotte Mendelson
dark
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a story about a dysfunctional family, Mum, Dad and three adult children (plus a boyfriend) over the course of one weekend. Ray (dad) is an artist and a horrible narcissist who is putting on an exhibition for the first time in years. His wife, Lucia, is timid and has been emotionally abused by Ray for decades, she is carrying some secrets with her though, hoping Ray won’t find out. Their eldest daughter Leah is obsessed with her father, the youngest Jess seems to hate everyone including her boyfriend Martin. And the brother Patrick is trying to recover from a nervous breakdown but is used by Ray and floats on the outskirts of the family.
This is a strange one. None of the characters are likeable, some you pity, others you will despise. Still, I could not put this book down, I wanted to see what happened between them. Would anyone get their just deserts? Would there be some resolution.?
Throughout the story are little hints of a secret or something to come that just keeps you hooked right to the end.
This is a strange one. None of the characters are likeable, some you pity, others you will despise. Still, I could not put this book down, I wanted to see what happened between them. Would anyone get their just deserts? Would there be some resolution.?
Throughout the story are little hints of a secret or something to come that just keeps you hooked right to the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Mental illness, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5