graywild's reviews
575 reviews

On the Road: the Original Scroll by Jack Kerouac

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

3.0

Story of Sal and Dean and their travels back and forth across the US and into Mexico.  Many times they have little to no money.  Lots of travel by hitchhiking, bus and sometimes by their own car.  Based on trips taken by Jack and his friend Dean.  I can see how this would inspire young people to hitchhike across the country to gain new experiences.  Though his friend Dean at times was a terrible friend.  Just a vacation type read for me.
The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Story has alot of religious imagery and references.  Government (Throne) and Church are fighting the Heretics.  Misery seems to be some messiah told by some prophecy.  Most of the story I was trying to figure out what was going on.  Misery, for me, was a cruel character at times and a sympathetic character others times.  Got slow and more confusing as the book went on.  No recommendation from me.
Love & Saffron: A Novel of Friendship, Food, and Love by Kim Fay

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

3.0

Story is set in the early 1960s as two women become penpals.  Immy is an older woman who lives in Seattle and writes a column about her life in a magazine.  Joan is younger and lives in LA and dreams about being a food column writer.  Joan writes a fan letter to Immy and that kicks off a friendship.  The book is less than 200 pages and is in the form of letters so at times the character development falls short.  Recommend for a vacation read. 
Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

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challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

3.0

Story takes place in the 1980s and 90s in Scotland.  Agnes has 3 children but her husband abuses her and she becomes an alcoholic.  They are very poor. Much of the story centers on her youngest, Shuggie, and their dysfunctional life. Definitely not a feel good story but it is well written.  At times just hard for me to get into so only slight recommendation.
The Possibilities by Yael Goldstein-Love

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

3.0

Hannah seems to be lost between 2 worlds.  One in which her son Jack is alive and one were he is dead.  The concept of the story is decent but about halfway through it gets bogged down trying to explain what is happening with complicated science.  The ending is just ok for me.  Seems to have a complicated story that wraps up too quickly.  Borderline recommendation.
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
another DNF for me.  I read over 200 pages and just couldn't get into this story.  Difficult read with many characters sharing the same name.  Isolation, death, fate all important themes but book was too much for me.
Hospital by Han Song

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 36%.
Did not finish - I read about 1/2 this book.  The prologue is a story about a space ship going to Mars to look for Buddha.  The actual story is about a man who gets sick while on a business trip and he has to go to a hospital.  The story is a bit stream of consciousness and seems to be critical of the medical system of whatever country this is story is set in. It was just weird and I didn't want to waste any more time.
The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood

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adventurous challenging 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

3.25

Retelling of the story of Perseus but with some subtle changes.  Perseus is not a son of Zeus.  Medusa is not a horrible monster.  Andromeda is not sacrificed by her family.  Perseus is an immature, quick to temper boy who does terrible things in this version of the story.  He is not a heroic figure.  Interesting twist to the myth
N0S4A2 by Joe Hill

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

Joe Hill is definitely strongly influenced by his dad Stephen King. This book centers on an old being that feeds on children's energy.  He has a human helper (though somewhat simple).  Victoria (Vic) has the ability to understand what he is and eventually she must try and stop him when he takes her child.  The story is a decent retelling of a vampire story but at 690 pages probably could have been shortened by at least 100 pages or more.  Beyond that the story and pace is good.  Recommend for horror fans.
Sister, Maiden, Monster by Lucy A. Snyder

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

3.5

A new pandemic is occurring quickly around the world.  No one is exactly sure how it spreads.  Erin has a sudden onset of symptoms and wakes up in a specialize hospital recovering.  As the story progresses it seems that people who survive develop concerning new symptoms such as craving human blood and/or brains.  About 2/3 through the book a surprising twist occurs (that I won't reveal) and the end of the book takes a new and wild turn.  Quick read and though at times it is confusing on plot it does make for an interesting story.  Recommend.