alexiacambaling's reviews
442 reviews

The Way by Swann's by Marcel Proust

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challenging reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham

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

4.0

The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo

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dark emotional mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffmann

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

2.5

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

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

3.5

Afloat by Guy de Maupassant

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informative lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.0

Rock Crystal by Adalbert Stifter

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emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes

3.0

The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

I Have the Right to Destroy Myself by Young-Ha Kim

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dark emotional reflective fast-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

3.5

A bit of an odd book that will sit with me for a while. I’m not fully sure about what I make of it but it’s certainly thought provoking. It’ll make you reflect on life and art, and what it means to choose how you go out.
The Perfect Nanny by Leïla Slimani

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

4.0

I think this is one of those books you need to have the right expectations for. It’s a deeply unnerving character study of a woman who kills the children under her care. This is told to you at the beginning if the story. It’s not a mystery thriller and it’s closer to literary fiction. It’s a good book, but there’s no mystery about it. Still, the character of Louise told through various points of views is very interesting. I also like how the book subtly touches on racial and class divides in France.