sleuthheroalien's reviews
138 reviews

The Late Mrs. Willoughby by Claudia Gray

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emotional lighthearted mysterious 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

I love Claudia Gray's writing. Her books always have a great blend of interesting plot with thoughtful character development. I particularly liked following along with Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy again. Even though Sense & Sensibility isn't my favorite Austen book, Gray created a world I enjoyed being in, and her play on the characters was great. My only complaint was the plot moved a little too slowly for me. I preferred The Murder of Mr. Wickham, where the big cast of characters kept things moving along. That being said, I am really looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series when they come out.
Say the Wrong Thing: Stories and Strategies for Racial Justice and Authentic Community by Amanda Kemp, Lisa Graustein

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

I listened to the audio production of Say the Wrong Thing, and it was beautiful. I loved the blend of songs, essays, and letters, along with a clear system on how to show up for conversations about race with an open heart. This was a beautifully informative and evocative book.
Before Your Memory Fades by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, 川口 俊和

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

This is the third installment of the "Before The Coffee Gets Cold" series. If you loved the first two books, then you'll love this one, too. The thoughtful narrative style is the same, and the sad but heartwarming stories are similar to the first two books. The one difference is this book takes place in a different cafe in Japan, but this cafe has the same time traveling properties. You'll see a couple characters from the first two books and meet a new cast of cafe regulars. If you love the coziness of these books for their warmth, thoughtfulness, and familiarity then you won't be disappointed. I enjoyed this one a lot, and I'm looking forward to reading book 4.
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

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

4.0

Jane Austen will always get at least 4 stars for me, because her narrative voice is compelling, witty, and incisive. However, Sense & Sensibility just wasn't for me. I found the story boring, even though I enjoyed Marianne's character for breaking the rules of polite society. I read this one because I was reading The Late Mrs. Willoughby by Claudia Gray, and it was worth it to get the background to all the Sense & Sensibility references in that book. I'm glad I read this at least once, but it won't be a re-read for me, like Persuasion and Pride & Prejudice.
Bloodline by Claudia Gray

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adventurous emotional hopeful tense 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? No

4.0

 Princess Leia is 50 and ready to quit the Galactic Senate so she can fly around the galaxy with Han. Instead, she's sucked into an investigation that leads to consequences and, eventually, to the start of the most recent Star Wars trilogy. I enjoyed Princess Leia in mid-life, balancing duty with the desire to retire. I also enjoyed the political intrigue coupled with adventure. It's a good comp to the Netflix show, The Diplomat. Give me a strong, older female lead in the midst of political intrigue any day! 
Emma by Jane Austen

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funny lighthearted reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I could've sworn I had read this book, but actually, I think I've watched the Gwyneth Paltrow movie so many times I just thought I had read it. I listened on audio, and I enjoyed the wit and humor. But, wow, Emma was not a likeable character for me. I considered dumping it, but Austen's narration is so compelling, I couldn't stop. Overall, I did enjoy this one, and it definitely works as a critique of snobby, elite culture. But my favorite Austen's will always be 1) Persuasion and 2) Pride and Prejudice.
Chocolat by Joanne Harris

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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 the original book of the movie with Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche. If you enjoyed the movie, then I think you'll love the book, too. It has the same vibe and general story line, with a couple notable differences in character and plot. It's set in France, when a woman and her daughter move to a small town during Lent. They set up a chocolaterie, igniting changes in the lives of the towns people and the priest, who is desperate to make everyone keep their lenten vows. It was an interesting exploration of self-determination and happiness versus following social rules that make you miserable. I enjoyed this one, and it made for a great conversation in my book club!
Death in Brittany by Jean-Luc Bannalec

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adventurous funny informative mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Setting is one my main reading doorways. I love to travel with my books, and this one hit the spot. This is a fun detective procedural, but what gave it high stars for me were the beautiful descriptions of the nature & culture of the Brittany region of France. There were so many beautiful ocean views! Plus it took place in a city with a big art history culture, so there were lots of fun facts about art. A delightful and fast read.
Lost Stars by Claudia Gray

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adventurous emotional reflective 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

4.5

If you love the original Star Wars movies, the ones with Luke, Leia, and Han, then you’ll enjoy this book. The time line spans the big events that happen in those movies, but from the point of view of a couple young imperial officers. It’s a love story, a coming of age story, and a look into what it’s like to believe in the goodness of the Empire, or any ruling power, only to discover the propaganda is a lie. I enjoyed Claudia Gray’s in-depth character journeys coupled with space adventures. Heads up, the first hour or so was kind of slow, but things pick up when the two main characters get older and go to the imperial officer academy. Also, if you’re a sensitive reader, I recommend checking StoryGraph for content warnings.
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The Electricity of Every Living Thing by Katherine May

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

Katherine May became a favorite author for me after I read Wintering. Then I heard her recent interview on Glennon Doyle’s podcast about adult women and autism. It was such an interesting conversation, so I picked up this book, which is her memoir about realizing she was autistic while pursuing her goal of walking the 631 mile South West Coast Path in England. This book ticked my favorite reading boxes. I got to learn a lot while being immersed in a natural landscape. I particularly loved how cranky she is for a lot of the book. This is not a story about a woman who loves walking up and down steep hills in the rain in winter. I mean, she does that, but she does not love it. This is one of the fastest reads for me in a long time. The story drew me in, and I couldn’t put it down. I was literally walking to the fridge to get more snacks while holding the book in my hands and reading.