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evelynkonrad's reviews
382 reviews
The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The movie's better
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence and Suicide
Minor: Racism
The Shining by Stephen King
dark
sad
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
2.0
If you thought the movie was ongoing and boring, just wait til you read the book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Racial slurs
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Everything you could hope for from a gothic novel, with plenty of horrible revelations
The Mars Mystery by Graham Hancock
medium-paced
1.0
Utter dross. One of the frustrating things about books like this that are blatantly lying or deliberately misinterpreting things is that it calls into question even the more reasonable claims that they make. Aside from the wild speculation about possible Martian civilisation based on 'it kind of looks like there's a face in one of the early probe pictures' and a bunch of dubious (and dubiously meaningful) math, there's a strong focus on the possible danger of near-Earth space objects (comets and asteroids etc). What they say about that could well be accurate enough, but because it's used in aid of obvious bunk and alongside things that are I can tell are wrong there's just no reason to think any of that is accurately presented either. It compiles huge amounts of information, but it's all completely meaningless.
It also has a weirdly religious moralising conclusion about how maybe the earth is due for destruction by (totally not a god) some supreme intelligence that is upset by all the evil in the world.
It also has a weirdly religious moralising conclusion about how maybe the earth is due for destruction by (totally not a god) some supreme intelligence that is upset by all the evil in the world.
Content Warnings
Pseudoscience and crankery, bad faith arguments
Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Instead of Three Wishes: Magical Short Stories by Megan Whalen Turner
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
My flatmate and friend, Jack, read this aloud to me over an afternoon and into the evening while I knitted. V enjoyable!
Billy Liar by Keith Waterhouse
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Didn't really go anywhere; felt like it was just getting to the beginning of an actual story. Enjoyed reading it, but was disappointed when I got to the end. Kinda that's thematic though.