librarydreams's reviews
544 reviews

One of the best, and most complicated, Holmes retellings I've ever read. Hall's worldbuilding is exquisite and incredibly detailed, though it could be hard to follow in the audiobook format. I love the choice to make the Watson character rather prudish and have him refuse to describe salacious scenes or use crude language (it is his memoir, after all). Not only does this make for a fun game of "guess what was really said," it also makes this the cleanest dirty book you'll ever read and adds a delightful dose of humor. The characters are true enough to their original counterparts to be satisfying, but different enough to be vastly interesting. While certainly not what I was expecting, I couldn't be happier with what I got! I hope Hall writes sequel!

Very minor spoilers:

There's a few special treats for readers who appreciate LGBTQ+ representation. The Watson character is very subtly trans, revealed only in the briefest of details and never a plot point. And everyone seems to be some variety of queer.

Through the Elder Woods by Katie Cook

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I adored this book! It had all the fluffiness of Check, Please, but with a fantasy adventure twist. Cook answered enough mysteries to satisfy me, but still left plenty for the stories to come. Plus, her illustrations are incredible and detailed! I can't wait for Volume Two!

A Face for Picasso: Coming of Age with Crouzon Syndrome by Ariel Henley

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

It takes a lot of courage to write such a raw memoir. Henley weaves the story of her life magnificently.

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Barnhill hit this one out of the park! This is historical fantasy at its finest. The fictional documentation sprinkled throughout grounded the story solidly in time and place. The narrating protagonist's voice combines a tone of scientific observation with deep emotion. Details unfold slowly and surprisingly. I wouldn't be surprised if this goes on to be a literary classic.

The Guinea Pig Diaries: My Life as an Experiment by A.J. Jacobs

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adventurous funny informative medium-paced

4.0

Funny, off-beat, and enjoyable. Plus you learn a bit along the way.

Disability Visibility (Adapted for Young Adults): 17 First-Person Stories for Today by Alice Wong

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Did not finish book.

I enjoyed what I read, so I decided to read the original collection instead of this adaptation.

The Witching Year: A Memoir of Earnest Fumbling Through Modern Witchcraft by Diana Helmuth

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emotional funny reflective medium-paced

3.75

Not what I expected, but still enjoyable. While there is a fair amount of information in the book about the history of Wicca and a little about other types of witchcraft, this book was definitely more memoir than informative. It focused heavily on the author's experiences, misadventures, and doubts. While coming at the topic as a non-believer was an interesting insight, I think I was yearning for something that at least grew into more confidence in the spiritual practice.

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librarydreams's reviews 544 reviews

librarydreams's reviews
544 reviews