danabrown's reviews
630 reviews

Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie

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emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I know nothing about the art of writing but i believe the way this book is written was the magic for me. I stepped into the story so easily and seriously couldn’t put the book down. It takes a lot right now to hook me in so firmly - no small feat with a personal move within days and the state of our country on my mind constantly. Fantastic story that transfers easily to my personal experiences with family. Excellent. 
Doc by Mary Doria Russell

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adventurous informative relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Americana is the last thing I expected to enjoy right now - but this book got on my TBR somehow and then popped up as available. I enjoyed it. 
How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair

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dark emotional informative slow-paced

4.0

I’ve never known anything about rasta except the surface stuff - this book led me to research and it’s fascinating. This memoir is beautiful at times, sickeningly hard to read at others. These children are saved by their intellect and the love of their mother - to see the father as the center of their world even after all his abuse is heart breaking to me. But it is what it is. 
Leonard and Hungry Paul by Rónán Hession

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funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

I adore this book. I rarely re-read so my special category is “books I wish I could read again for the first time”. This is definitely one of them.  Take some time for it - it’s so worth it.  You’ll smile and feel reassured that the world is a good place. 
Notes from an Exhibition by Patrick Gale

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

I like this book and feel like I’ve discovered a new author to follow. i heard Gale say in an interview that he hoped his readers forgot they were holding a book. I did. I was that engrossed. Good one for me. 
Mina's Matchbox: A Novel by Yōko Ogawa

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hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This is a character driven story from the perspective of a young woman. it’s thoughtful and truly captures the friendship between her and a cousin as they enjoy each other in the safety of a caring family. It’s lovely, slow paced.  And reminds me of the little obsessions with friends/cousins during girlhood - the simple experiences that help us make all important decisions as we enter adulthood. 
Butterflies in November by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir

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inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Quirky, kind, tolerant characters!  Actually, the kind of people our current world is trying to eradicate. This is another lovely book by an author I follow. 
I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott

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hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

If you have 20 minutes, listen to this short book on Libby. Beautiful and inspiring. 
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

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challenging dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

i like it. It’s a short book so I found patience with the parts that were challenging to me - the writing style, the unanswered questions. If I’d read 300 pages to get to the final result, I would have been frustrated. But….I’m not. Mr James knew what he was doing. 
The House of Broken Bricks by Fiona Williams

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
Doesn’t feel like it’s going anywhere. Maybe i’m not in the first right frame of mind for this one.