pastelhellion's reviews
132 reviews

The Orange and other poems by Wendy Cope

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

A lovely little poetry book, a d now I have a physical copy of The Orange. 
We Had to Remove This Post by Hanna Bervoets

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challenging dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Wish this was longer! Otherwise a very interesting character study, and leaves you wondering where things are going to go.
The Premonition by Banana Yoshimoto

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emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing 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

4.25

I wanted more from this - more backstory etc. But it's still a very sweet and beautiful read.
I'm a Fan by Sheena Patel

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

3.75

I almost wish the narrator was more deranged, more intense than she is - to take more actions (of any kind). 

I did really enjoy this, but felt it ended so abruptly, that there was just a few little somethings missing. However, I do still recommend reading!
Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

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challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

4.25

I couldn't put this down, I just had to keep going. Extremely graphic, so do keep that in mind but the world Bazterrica created is so fascinating and horrifying that you can't look away. 
Bad Bridget: Crime, Mayhem and the Lives of Irish Emigrant Women by Elaine Farrell, Leanne McCormick

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emotional informative reflective fast-paced

4.25

Very interesting to learn about the lives of past Irish women, North America in the 19th & 20th century and the societies and laws they were restricted by. 
Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

This is so heart-wrenching, I had to put it down to give my heart a break. I have never, and probably will never experience the things that Kiara experiences - but I can know those fears. A fantastic book, I highly recommend. 
The Vegetarian by Han Kang

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I just want to give Yeong-hye a hug. 

This is a book about autonomy at its core. I wish there had been a chapter from Yeong-hye's perspective - but I believe that there wasn't one to intentionally show how everything in her life is assumed by those around her. 
Death in Her Hands by Ottessa Moshfegh

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

3.75

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

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adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

A little slow to start, but then I was hooked and couldn't put it down. A few predictable plot points here and there (I watch and read a lot of murder mysteries), but it had me second-guessing my predictions at times.