dylanlouise's reviews
182 reviews

Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Hard to put down, beautiful, sapphic, haunting. This is so much about caregiving and what it means to love someone as they change. Did not expect the twists at the end, and really enjoyed the alternative perspectives. Would recommend if you like thinking about the ocean and care ethics and if you don't mind slight body horror (not too much for me, although I skipped a couple paragraphs). 
Thin Skin: Essays by Jenn Shapland

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emotional hopeful informative medium-paced

4.75

Debating on whether this was a five star read... 
the good: I'm a slut for an essay collection, and this is a great one. Highlighted so many lines of "aha" moments and connection. This book feels like being carried through the rough waters of today's neoliberal hellscape by a gentle and empathetic river spirit. 
the not so good: I wish she stayed more on theme throughout, although I loved the way she tied each essay together. Also, this was very much written by a White Woman: even though she attempts to give credit where its due, many of these ideas have been written about in the past by WOC who recieved far less attention. 
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

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dark mysterious fast-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? Yes

3.5

I'm not a mystery girl but I enjoyed this and read it in just a few days. The characters are complicated and the setting is immersive (I LOVE A BOOK MAP). It was heartbreaking in unexpected ways and I loved the ending :) 
The Minority Body: A Theory of Disability by Elizabeth Barnes

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funny informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

Loved this as my first full philosophy book (depending on your definition of philosophy). Barnes is so funny and so smart, and she handles disability with such critical care. You will not enjoy this if you don't like drawn out explanations regarding definitional minutiae, but her footnotes made even the long sections worth reading for me :) 
Float Up, Sing Down by Laird Hunt

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lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I had high hopes and this fell flat. The characters are incredibly articulated, but I found myself zoning out most chapters and wasn’t engaged by the setting(s).. great idea, just not for me I think 
A Fire So Wild by Sarah Ruiz-Grossman

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inspiring fast-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? Yes

4.5

Really really enjoyed... right place/right time? Not as dark/depressing as I expected and I really rooted for all the characters. Would give this as a gift to friends in NorCal if it wasn't about climate change. Lol. 
Open Throat by Henry Hoke

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5.0

French Braid by Anne Tyler

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informative reflective slow-paced

3.0

This is soooo slow and slightly boring. I don't feel like I learned anything about the human experience really, it was just another generational family drama. I liked that it spanned decades in a really immersive way, but my favorite plot point was the Mom's painting arc near the end... would not recommend unless you're in the mood for a lot of information about an average white family 
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney

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emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes

4.0

Sally Rooney can do no wrong, but I liked reading Normal People better. I feel like I'll reread this when I'm in the mood and it will be one of my all-time favorites but in this moment it was a bit slow going... still, the letters were a lovely through-line and the discussion of climate anxiety was refreshing and real
The Poet's House by Jean Thompson

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emotional hopeful fast-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? Yes

4.5

This was exactly what I needed when I read it! I loved how I really fell into the book and felt like I knew all the main characters... made me want to write and do some gardening! Such a great summer book and loved the NorCal location