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planet_taffy's reviews
26 reviews
The Night Sister by Jennifer McMahon
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The book has just enough suspenseful elements to bring together a plot essentially about the struggles of the Slater family: haunted by their past and possibly just literally haunted. We're told the story through multiple points of view, switching between three specific points in time (1989, 1955, and 2013) to tell three stories intertwined. I quite liked the mystery elements and characterization in the 80s and 50s, but I found the modern day portion comparably plainer.
I really loved McMahon's descriptions of characters: when you meet Amy of 1989 she feels vibrant, like someone you might have known in childhood. Each character leaves a unique impression with no two cut from the same mold. My only disappointment was that, in comparison, Lou felt much more like a one dimensional prop than a person; as our link to the Slater family in 2013, I would have loved to have seen a Lou that felt as strongly like a real person as her mother and grandmother did.
I really loved McMahon's descriptions of characters: when you meet Amy of 1989 she feels vibrant, like someone you might have known in childhood. Each character leaves a unique impression with no two cut from the same mold. My only disappointment was that, in comparison, Lou felt much more like a one dimensional prop than a person; as our link to the Slater family in 2013, I would have loved to have seen a Lou that felt as strongly like a real person as her mother and grandmother did.
The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A perfectly satisfactory book with some fun plot points, though the heavy handed anti-Greek and anti-Mexican sentiments almost ruined it for me; Cora placing so much importance on being seen as White was off-putting.
Rather than a mystery, it's more of a romance. It's also an older story, so the wording can be a bit confusing at times; other than getting quite lostduring Katz's post-trial monologue it was followable.
Rather than a mystery, it's more of a romance. It's also an older story, so the wording can be a bit confusing at times; other than getting quite lost
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism
The Bungalow Mystery by Carolyn Keene
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This third book in the series is a lot more thrilling than the previous two, almost to the point where the drama can seem over the top. Nancy, for example, seems like a lightning rod, able to attract storms that develop in an instant out of nowhere; it stops just short of breaking the suspension of disbelief.
Like the second book in the series, "The Hidden Staircase", "The Bungalow Mystery" includes a secondary plot following Carson Drew's work as it intertwines with Nancy Drew's mystery. I found the Carson Drew mystery a little too convoluted, especially during the falling action; in general the falling action felt rushed, with a bunch of events mushed together with little breathing room in between.A man writes a whole story for magazine publication overnight! Frankly, I'd rather Carson Drew's cases take up less real estate in the book as it's not the Carson Drew Mystery Stories.
Personal gripes aside, it was a solid read with some real heartfelt moments at the end. Keene's writing continues to improve in leaps and bounds as the series progresses. Very little luncheon. No Bess & George yet.
Like the second book in the series, "The Hidden Staircase", "The Bungalow Mystery" includes a secondary plot following Carson Drew's work as it intertwines with Nancy Drew's mystery. I found the Carson Drew mystery a little too convoluted, especially during the falling action; in general the falling action felt rushed, with a bunch of events mushed together with little breathing room in between.
Personal gripes aside, it was a solid read with some real heartfelt moments at the end. Keene's writing continues to improve in leaps and bounds as the series progresses. Very little luncheon. No Bess & George yet.
The Hidden Staircase by Mildred Benson, Carolyn Keene
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Keene presents us with two mysteries that intertwine, both with high stakes and exciting twists and turns. I really liked the closed setting of this one, focusing mainly on Twin Elms mansion and taking us out of River Heights for a change; old colonial mansions are one of my favorite settings for mysteries (and hauntings). The quality of the mystery and of the writing itself is greatly improved from the first book. I have no complaints really, other than I'm disappointed to have misremembered George and Bess as being introduced much earlier in the series. (Still no sign of them.)
The deciding factor between four and five stars was how much of this book stayed with me since first reading it in middle school. I'm still haunted bythe idea of a face appearing in a darkened window or faint music coming from the empty second floor . Hard to deny a book that stayed with me for that long a five star rating.
The deciding factor between four and five stars was how much of this book stayed with me since first reading it in middle school. I'm still haunted by
The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Solidly average all around. I enjoyed reading through my school library's Nancy Drew collection in middle school, but I hadn't quite remembered how solidly aimed at middle schoolers the writing was. Maybe not an exciting read for an adult, but I had fun rereading Nancy's adventure with all it's "luncheon" breaks and her delightfully polite character. She's quite refreshing, compared to the broody detectives more common in adult mysteries.
Witch Hat Atelier, Volume 1 by Kamome Shirahama
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A beautifully drawn fantasy comic with deep world building that's revealed at a satisfying pace. The story focuses primarily on Coco as she, and the reader along with her, discovers the dark history of magic in the world of Witch Hat Atelier. The four young witches of the Atelier are super adorable and very charming; it's a joy to watch them find their own way as fledgling witches; Shirahama has a great grasp on the age group that he's writing, making them feel tangibly like children and in turn making the adults around them feel tangibly like watchful teachers. The magic of world is quite beautiful, too, and the lessons the children learn about their development as witches almost feels like art advice from Shirahama to his readers: things like finding your specialization and staying true to your own "magic"
Great characterization, great art, great world building, amazing little creatures. I highly recommend this not just for fans of comics, but for fans of fantasy in general: a lot of it's plot structure and visuals will feel familiar to fans of Western fantasy as well.
Great characterization, great art, great world building, amazing little creatures. I highly recommend this not just for fans of comics, but for fans of fantasy in general: a lot of it's plot structure and visuals will feel familiar to fans of Western fantasy as well.
Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 1 Volume 1 by Miya Kazuki
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
3.0
"Ascendance of a Bookworm" was originally published as a web novel. According to the author's note at the end of the copy I read, Kazuki was asked to condense Part 1 down to a single volume for physical publication but rejected the idea. 90% of this book's flaws are a direct result of it not being condensed. I sincerely believe the book would have been a solid five stars if the hook had been properly placed in the first half of the book instead of in the last two pages of the epilogue.
The other 10% of the flaws are Urano's characterization. We're introduced to Urano in the prologue as a "bookworm" that enjoys non-fiction books yet Urano lacks the wide spread of knowledge you'd expect; she instead credits her big ideas to other sources,most often her mother's hobbies or her modern-day education . Urano goes as far as to criticize the idea of learning how to do something from reading alone and, at another point, describes herself as "unimaginative" when asked to picture something she's never seen based on a description. It's frankly whiplash inducing at some points leaving me confused as to what Urano's characterization is supposed to be.
I fully expect the series to pick up in pace and quality in the next volume, based on how the first volume ended. The world building is interesting and the concepts introduced in the last two pages lay the groundwork for a more interesting story going forward. I'm glad to have tried the series, but I sincerely believe that reading further volumes will cement my opinion that Part 1 Volume 1 is the weakest link in the series by far.
The other 10% of the flaws are Urano's characterization. We're introduced to Urano in the prologue as a "bookworm" that enjoys non-fiction books yet Urano lacks the wide spread of knowledge you'd expect; she instead credits her big ideas to other sources,
I fully expect the series to pick up in pace and quality in the next volume, based on how the first volume ended. The world building is interesting and the concepts introduced in the last two pages lay the groundwork for a more interesting story going forward. I'm glad to have tried the series, but I sincerely believe that reading further volumes will cement my opinion that Part 1 Volume 1 is the weakest link in the series by far.
Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A solid story of a middle school girl coming of age without her best friend. The flow of the narrative can be a bit confusing sometimes, especially after the final reveal, but it's nothing that a second reading couldn't fix. Jackson does a great job building the setting and introducting us to the cast of characters making them feel fleshed out and whole; I would love to eat some of Claudia's mom's cooking. My only complaint, which is a huge spoiler, is how quickly the narrative glossed over poor August even though he went missing first.
I found this on a list of commonly banned books so I thought I'd take a moment to address appropriateness for school-age readers: it's a challenging read with dark themes, several sexual references, and a little underage partying shenanigans; it's a fine read for a mature high schooler, and matches in content to other books I read safely at that age.
I found this on a list of commonly banned books so I thought I'd take a moment to address appropriateness for school-age readers: it's a challenging read with dark themes, several sexual references, and a little underage partying shenanigans; it's a fine read for a mature high schooler, and matches in content to other books I read safely at that age.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Sexual content
Hostage by Clare Mackintosh
dark
emotional
tense
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? Yes
5.0
A solid thriller about a plane hijacking intertwined with the tale of a marriage on the brink of collapse. The narrative is mostly told through the accounts of Mina, Adam, and Sophia: a small family made up of a flight attendant, a police officer with a huge secret, and their adoptive daughter who struggles with an attachment disorder. The family's difficulties are well laid out and it's rewarding to see how they progress in their struggles throughout the book; each parent has a different take on how to cope with Sophia's needs (the uniqueness of bonding with a child with an attachment disorder) so the reader is given a well-rounded image of Sophia at both her best and worst moments.
On the plane and on the ground, the reader is constantly learning new things about the passengers, the hijacking, their family secrets... There's a lot to uncover, even in places where the plot seemed pretty straightforward, and Mackintosh does a great job both surprising the reader and foreshadowing what's to come.
In terms of Pete Peeves in books that, like this one, focus on disabilities, adopted children, marriages, and radical ideology: I found all topics to be respectfully covered. The author's note at the end adds important context as to how Mackintosh expects the reader to feel about the radical ideology presented by the antagonists, which I think is important in all books that have radicalized antagonists.
On the plane and on the ground, the reader is constantly learning new things about the passengers, the hijacking, their family secrets... There's a lot to uncover, even in places where the plot seemed pretty straightforward, and Mackintosh does a great job both surprising the reader and foreshadowing what's to come.
In terms of Pete Peeves in books that, like this one, focus on disabilities, adopted children, marriages, and radical ideology: I found all topics to be respectfully covered. The author's note at the end adds important context as to how Mackintosh expects the reader to feel about the radical ideology presented by the antagonists, which I think is important in all books that have radicalized antagonists.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Murder
Minor: Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
4.5
A delightful read with a relaxed pace. Smith introduces us to the charming Mme Ramotswe and takes us through several of her cases; each is a little short but revolve around helping her community. Smith does a great job immersing the reader in the setting (Botswana).
My only complaint is that I would have liked at least one case to have been handled a little more indepth; otherwise I found the cases to be clever and unique.
I look forward to reading more in the series.
My only complaint is that I would have liked at least one case to have been handled a little more indepth; otherwise I found the cases to be clever and unique.
I look forward to reading more in the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Death of parent