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boxcar's reviews
230 reviews
Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Very good book. I could tell it was the author's first novel in a way, but for a first novel (or any #) it was fantastic. The setting of occupied Korea was enthralling, and the relationships between characters were interesting. I liked that it didn't end with the realized love, but rather with each individual going their own way. Sad and dreary, but full of compassion. The characters weave in and out, but are always important and their actions/words feel meaningful.
Hungry Ghosts by Kevin Jared Hosein
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Very, very good. Heartbreaking, raw, emotional. Dynamics of wealth and poverty, the maltreatment and disadvantage of those from certain backgrounds. Every character felt, to some degree, alive. There is no forced happiness, just real emotion and tragedy. Mysterious and page turning, very well written. Totally puts you into each scene, into each mind. Contemplative and bordering fantastical, without ever passing the line into unreal.
The Complete Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
Some real gems in here. The very idea is something absolutely suited to Calvino: A bystander to the entirety of the universe. Cosmic and microscopic. Some stories were incomprehensible (to me), some were wonderful. He seems to have a real fascination with the moon, which is cool. Always a love interest driving these cosmic happenings--it's very neat how he takes a massive event and condenses it into an interpersonal tale. Fun, contemplative, inventive and unique.
East, West by Salman Rushdie
3.75
Some good stories, especially the last, the courter. I feel that rushdie might be better suited to the novel. he writes in a very roundabout, wordy manner, and while i love it generally, i don’t think it was my cup of tea in short form.
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
fine quick read, fun concept. Shallow characters, hollow writing, but not all that bad. some good moments, lots of cliche. Still, entertaining. I did appreciate the whole doesn’t have to end in the woman falls in love the big strong man thing. but the whole of the romance felt contrived, insincere. Frustrating. Partially that’s the point, partially the dialogue and scenario didn’t really convince me.
Also, why isn’t there more detail about the hybrids lol. I could barely picture any of them with the scant imagery and detail on their appearance! they’re like the whole schtick!
love the setting, yucatán rainforest in the 19th century. The whole mayan rebels was cool but, again, awkwardly executed.
I’m ragging on it, but i did read it in a day. certainly an element of suspense and what’s-gonna-happen to it.
Also, why isn’t there more detail about the hybrids lol. I could barely picture any of them with the scant imagery and detail on their appearance! they’re like the whole schtick!
love the setting, yucatán rainforest in the 19th century. The whole mayan rebels was cool but, again, awkwardly executed.
I’m ragging on it, but i did read it in a day. certainly an element of suspense and what’s-gonna-happen to it.
My Year of Meats by Ruth L. Ozeki by Ruth Ozeki, Ruth Ozeki
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.5
Great debut. Somehow brings a japanese housewife with an insanely abusive husband, the hormonal dangers of the meat industry and capitalistic documentary. A blending of cultures, codified by the main character being half japanese, half white american. The book is torn between both identities. The characters are well written, and there’s growth. very sad stuff. Raw, emotional, shocking. The stuff about the meat industry is (hopefully) outdated, but well sourced and researched. great book.
Bird Day: A Story of 24 Hours and 24 Avian Lives by Mark E. Hauber
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
Loved this little book. Each entry was just the perfect length, the perfect amount of information and well written. The ink illustrations were fantastic too. Just a cute little book about birds that does everything I wanted it to.
The Thing with Feathers: The Surprising Lives of Birds and What They Reveal About Being Human by Noah Strycker
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
well written, and genuinely interesting. many new bird facts. cool to apply the behaviors and lives of birds to humans, we all just animals bro
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Beautifully written. Confusing. Less confusing as it goes. Love the premise, so creative, imaginative. Jumping through time, a war fought above the level of humanity. Can't say I understand it exactly, but I understand the growing love, the prose so masterfully written.
The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
A masterpiece. I love Ruth Ozeki. Her characters are so uniquely flawed in that startlingly human way. They are lovable, I empathize with them so easily, and they are flawed. flawed flawed flawed. They'll do something and you're reading it going no.... no honey nooooooooo
A book dealing with intricate systems of living in America: housing, healthcare, mental health, the election, riots, homelessness, drug abuse, school/truancy, public transit: a sort of compilation of our country's failures. Yet, at the same time, it is a picture of hope and change in a society, of people living in a flawed system doing their damn best to make it better, one person at a time.
Like a Tale for the Time Being, this book starts and is sad sad sad for like 95% of the book, but it resolves so satisfyingly, so hopefully. And it doesn't feel forced, like wait no we gotta have a happy ending, it feels natural, uplifting.
Good stuff.
A book dealing with intricate systems of living in America: housing, healthcare, mental health, the election, riots, homelessness, drug abuse, school/truancy, public transit: a sort of compilation of our country's failures. Yet, at the same time, it is a picture of hope and change in a society, of people living in a flawed system doing their damn best to make it better, one person at a time.
Like a Tale for the Time Being, this book starts and is sad sad sad for like 95% of the book, but it resolves so satisfyingly, so hopefully. And it doesn't feel forced, like wait no we gotta have a happy ending, it feels natural, uplifting.
Good stuff.