spinningjenny's reviews
482 reviews

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Go to review page

challenging emotional informative slow-paced

4.0

This was fascinating and sad in a lot of ways. It is a good and interesting story and blends history, science, and future considerations well. 
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

Go to review page

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

3.5

The Missed Connection by Denise Williams

Go to review page

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

3.0

The Book Spy by Alan Hlad

Go to review page

tense fast-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

3.0

This was OK but the writing wad sort of bland. I would have preferred the real life story to a fictionalized account, but that's on me for choosing fiction. 
I hoped this would be more akin to The Lilac Girls, but it felt more like a pale imitation. Still, not horrible and a quick read. 
The Book That Wouldn't Burn by Mark Lawrence

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

4.0

This was great world building and drove home that we look for people to be like us and perceived differences can make us cruel. Very good. 
The Man Ban by Nicola Marsh

Go to review page

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

1.75

The Boy Toy by Nicola Marsh

Go to review page

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

1.5

This was OK but really not ky cup of tea. The humor just didn't hit for me and made me grimace a lot. It felt forced, but I really think it's just a different style than I typically go for. 
The Nocturnal Brain: Nightmares, Neuroscience, and the Secret World of Sleep by Guy Leschziner

Go to review page

Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
It wasn't originally on my tbr an  picked it up on a whim. Honestly just felt stressed reading it, think it triggered my health anxiety 😬
Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward

Go to review page

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

4.0

I was confused for at least the second half; I think it would take a reread or two for me to fully wrap my head around what happened, but it's a book written in a way that feels sort of unnecessarily confusing. I enjoyed it on some level, but I felt mostly like the first few chapters were probably a sufficient story. I think I just don't understand what the author was doing, though. 
Why Did You Stay?: A memoir about self-worth by Rebecca Humphries

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

4.75

This resonated on a soul level.