nanabobana's reviews
41 reviews

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

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dark hopeful mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

So. Good. 
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

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adventurous emotional hopeful slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A cozy read both heartwarming and bittersweet. Dotted with a racism and sexism that has unfortunately been the basis of the fantasy genre. Tolkien’s Anglo-Saxon inspirations are easy to spot and add to the great world building. A shame that something so thoughtfully created also reflects the disappointing beliefs of the time. 
Circe by Madeline Miller

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

4.0

The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien

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adventurous dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

My boys! The blossoming love between gimli and Legolas cleared my skin and restored my soul. 
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

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adventurous emotional 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

4.75

Why was Patroclus I fantasized and portrayed as a poor warrior? He was mortal, but very talented in cannon. I can only assume that this was Patroclus’ own perception of himself as compared to Achilles (to which anyone would seem to be weak). 

Beautifully told. A true tragic tale of love that honestly felt complete and wholesome. 
The Mist by Stephen King

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • 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

3.75

It was gripping and mysterious. I dislike how King resorts to “I’m literally beyond terrified, love me male character, make crazy tense silent live to me” in nearly every book. It’s not that sex isn’t a realistic coping mechanism, but it is annoying. Go crank one out with your hand buddy. Especially since he hadn’t really given up on his wife yet and was assuming she was alive (hoping in vain). At the end he definitely knows that this mist is much bigger and worse than he had ever feared. And so, clinging to the babysitter is believable. 
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The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

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

4.0

A comforting read. There is something cozy about this tale that makes it hard to put down. It earns a 4 for being a foundational book for fantasy, but the racism has not allowed this book to age as gracefully as it’s fans would like. When all of the villains and monsters are described as having  “sallow skin” and “slanted eyes” or “broad flat noses” the book sheds sit cozy appearance for a snapshot of racist xenophobia. 
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-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? No

3.5

Meh. Pretty language. Emotional story. An abundance of pronouns. 
The Shining by Stephen King

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

4.0

A reliance on the classic horror cliches of the 70s is what holds this book back. The delving into a broken family and the nature of evil are thrilling and terrifying. This is one of my favorite reads. 
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-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

3.75

I really enjoyed this read. What pulled me out of it was the main character’s utter lack of observation skills, but I can forgive that since if she isn’t a wide reader then I can understand missing those early vampire flags. I also felt that it fell a bit short right at the end with certain characters and their actions. The story and characterization just seemed to be pushing for a different plot twist to me. 

Overall, enjoyed it! Complex characters and an excellent & relevant villain. 
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