mcks_picks's reviews
133 reviews

Untamed by Glennon Doyle

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hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

I know everyone hates this book but I found it enjoyable. I connected with how Doyle presented her ideas.
Erasure by Percival Everett

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challenging dark funny tense 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? Yes

3.0

I had to read this for school, but found it really enjoyable. It was funny and covered an important topic in a fresh and exciting way.
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

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

2.0

Ugh, I know everyone loves this book but I found it to be full of stereotypes. It was dull and unrealistic.
The Survivors by Jane Harper

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

2.5

This book was okay, and I think I was disappointed by the ending. I finished it quickly, as it does clip along and keep the reader interested.
When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole

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

3.0

I found this book to be closely related to the movie "Get Out," and while that's very interesting and thrilling, I felt it was repetitive. 
How Should a Person Be? by Sheila Heti

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dark reflective medium-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

1.0

I had to read this for school and found it depressing, disgusting, and explicit in a way that grossed me out.
Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman

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

4.0

I really love this atmospheric story. It is a beautiful book about love and how fleeting it can really be. It also shows the complexities of love and relationships. 
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

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

5.0

"Jane Eyre" is one of my favorite books ever. I think everyone should read it.
Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Madden

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emotional reflective medium-paced

3.0

This was an emotional memoir that I felt initially drawn to, but then once I started reading it, it sort of fell flat. 
The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-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

Meg Wolitzer writes fantastic likable characters, Greer in particular. What I like so much about Greer is her ability to be human and recognize that. In her fight for feminist ideals, she makes mistakes, sometimes hurting, or even betraying, the women closest to her. Humans make mistakes even if we mean well in the grand scheme. The thing that makes Greer a great character is her ability to recognize the mistakes she’s made and try to fix the situation. It doesn’t always work, but at least she tries. 
I really enjoyed Wolitzer’s writing. It was straightforward, but casually elegant. She’s able to communicate the situation to readers clearly without any flowery language, but is still somehow able to make her writing beautiful. I also enjoyed how Wolitzer was able to advance the story in a way that was not necessarily fast-paced, but didn’t drag either. The pacing was a lovely balance between moving the story along and being able to relish the moment. 
However, I have one major complaint concerning this novel of Wolitzer’s. The lack of diversity within her characters is so astounding that it stupefies me. The only POC within the novel is an underprivileged woman who supposedly benefitted from Greer’s workplace. Other than that, there is no BIPOC representation. How can you write a novel about women and feminism and not include a wide range of diverse characters?