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chaimasg93's reviews
337 reviews
A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir
adventurous
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The first book is one of my all time favorites and so it hurts me that I might have out grown this story because while this is good I have zero intrest in moving forward with this series </3
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The Originals: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.
This has been some of the most triggering 54 pages I had to read I'll come back to it when I don't have a thesis to write and a ruthless professor looming over me like a bloodthirsty monster
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was absolutely brilliant, it was incredibly bleak and difficult to read due to the subject matter but it flows very well. This book was very insightful and thought-provoking because it's one thing to know slavery was awful it's another to see how enslaved people were treated on a daily which makes this a required read in my opinion. I thought the sci-fi elements were very compelling I also loved that certain characters Rufus had great potential to do better and be the changes that their time needed but were unfortunately contaminated by their environment and the beliefs that were instilled in them from a young age which I found incredibly realistic.
The only thing that deterred this from being a favorite is the structure, the author writes in a way where she mentions an event right before it happens and it makes it feel as if you're being spoiled at every turn (she sort of tells then shows if that makes sense). I also found some characters to be a little inconsistent which made some of their decisions and actions feel as if they were made solely for the main purpose of the story which wasthe birth of Hagar and the continuation of Dana's bloodline and that took me out of the story though this might just be due to this book being a product of its time but all that being said I really loved this book I know I had a lot of negative things to say but for the most part I'm just being nitpicky, the good definitely outways the bad. I didn't mention much of what I loved about it because these are just my fresh thoughts I'd really love to go back and write an essay to try and have a deeper more nuanced understanding of the subject matter.
The only thing that deterred this from being a favorite is the structure, the author writes in a way where she mentions an event right before it happens and it makes it feel as if you're being spoiled at every turn (she sort of tells then shows if that makes sense). I also found some characters to be a little inconsistent which made some of their decisions and actions feel as if they were made solely for the main purpose of the story which was
The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-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
3.5
This is a tough one for me because while I did really enjoy it and cried my eyes out upon finishing it I still think it fell short in so many aspects. I loved the characters and cared for them immensely because I saw myself in both of them; I just wish we'd spent more time watching them develop a deeply emotional connection rather than sexual. I understand Khai's difficulty with managing his feelings but it would've been nice to have them sit together more communicate and get to know one another I appreciated those scenes so much it was a bit jarring having the main guy think about fucking her almost every time it switched povs. All that being said it was still a great and heart touching story that I think had the potential to be something special to me at least.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-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
I can't believe I DNF'ed this when I tried to read it last year but I'm so glad because I would've missed out so much had I forced myself to read it when I wasn't in the right mood this book proved to me that there's such a thing as right book, wrong time... I'm so grateful to my friend Claire for convincing me to give it another shot I'm utterly obsessed with this book and these characters Leigh's writing, plotting, and character work are out of this world everything was well balanced out which made this book incredibly bingeable. This is my first 5-star of the year and a new fav for sure I will be reading the second one very very soon <333
Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Y. Davis
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
Nothing wrong with the book it validates a lot of my beliefs but does not really provide anything new to me as an arab woman who grew up witnessing the crimes that were committed against the Palestinians...
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
4.25
Not sure how much I loved the book overall as of yet but Eve and Jacob are definitely among my favorite couples they complement each other so well I really adored them, they got me wishing for an Eve to my Jacob <33
The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I disliked this book so much it deserves the one star but I guess I appreciate the nicolibby and novacaine crumbs </3 I'm so bitter since I adore the first book I just really hate the direction the author chose to take the story it feels like a wasted potential the characters are the only reason I didn't dnf this series after whatever book 2 was. I really hope the author would work on her plotting skills because she has great concepts and has a way with words and it's a shame that that's wasted on convoluted plots..