beansandrice's reviews
105 reviews

Home by Nnedi Okorafor

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

5.0

Sometimes you find a book that speaks to a part of you that you thought no one else knew, or that you've never had words for before. These books can shake you to your core, and help you build the foundation for who you'll be going forward. This is one of those books for me. 
Emergency Skin by N.K. Jemisin

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hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich

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dark reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers

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

3.0

I'm glad this book exists, but some of the philosophy felt either insufficient or like it was missing something important. As a result, it was a bit of a frustrating read, since these books still operate like a Socratic dialogue. Not because I had any big disagreements, just a bunch of tiny gripes and disagreements that added up a bunch over time. 

If you liked Monk & Robot #1 though, you'll still probably enjoy this. 
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

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lighthearted reflective relaxing 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? No

4.0

What if a Socratic dialogue was cute? If that sounds fun, there's a strong chance you'll enjoy this. 
Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers

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lighthearted reflective relaxing 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? No

4.0

Doesn't hit as hard as the first two Wayfarers books, but is still a fun read. If you read Monk & Robot and found the philosophy there unsatisfying, you might have better luck here. 
A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

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adventurous relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

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adventurous lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Amazing and incredibly soft sci-fi. It's not a masterpiece but it's not trying to be. It's just the perfect book when you need something relaxing and fun.  
Authority by Jeff VanderMeer

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mysterious tense 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

2.5

There are some neat moments in this, but it undermines so much of Annihilation. Also, it emphasizes how much Annihilation benefited from Only Women Characters syndrome, since
wow the hetero pairing in this book is supposed to be romantic but is soooo toxic. I have yet to read Acceptance but, i doubt Vandermeer really understands how toxic this is.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

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mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

One of my favorite climate books I've ever read. Unfortunately I'm in the minority of people who think the sequels are bad.