sarahrhanks's reviews
54 reviews

The Idiot by Elif Batuman

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reflective sad slow-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

3.25

I had high hopes for this book, and I absolutely adored the first half, but as the story continued I found the pace to be painfully slow and the musings of the main character/ narrator to be increasingly tiresome. By the final act of the book, I felt as if the central plot (or at least what I had been told by other reviewers/ what I assumed was the central plot) had been somewhat lost. 
The Awakening by Kate Chopin

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dark emotional reflective relaxing slow-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? Yes

3.0

I find this book to be beautiful- the setting, the writing, the language- and yet I still do not particularly love it and I'm not entirely sure why. 
Carmelo or Puro Cuento by Sandra Cisneros

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reflective slow-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? No

3.5

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

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adventurous tense slow-paced
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Gimme a Call by Sarah Mlynowski

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

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adventurous lighthearted medium-paced
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

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4.0

I loved this re-read more than I expected. It often gets underrated in discussions of the entire series (which makes sense, because it is the weakest, in comparison), but it’s a great read nonetheless. It’s a great mix of lighthearted fun (Lockhart), sinister dread (the basilisk & tom riddle), and incredible setup for the series (the diary as a horocrux.) If you’ve discounted Chamber, I definitely recommended a re-read!
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

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5.0

Such a great book, but even more phenomenal on re-read!