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sas_lk's reviews
275 reviews
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was the type of novel I had to digest slowly, and take the time to enjoy every chapter. I really liked the first two thirds, they felt like 4.5-5 stars at parts.
The last third is unfortunately what lost me a little, and it is also why I am giving it 4 stars instead of something higher. At the end it started feeling a little disjointed, like the author lost track of the story a little bit. We were following the POVs of way more characters all of a sudden and quite a few felt pointless - atleast the depth that the author went into. And then it felt like the author added a couple traumatic things to keep the book sad and shocking without delving into these traumatic events. It felt like at the end she was speeding through her writing instead of taking her time with the events and happenings like she did in the first 2 thirds - this made me lose touch with the characters, and I almost felt like I stopped knowing them; like they were different characters than the ones I had been following throughout the whole book.
Overall, a great book, and I would definitely recommend it, I just wish the author had sat with the last third a little longer and not tried to do too much.
The last third is unfortunately what lost me a little, and it is also why I am giving it 4 stars instead of something higher. At the end it started feeling a little disjointed, like the author lost track of the story a little bit. We were following the POVs of way more characters all of a sudden and quite a few felt pointless - atleast the depth that the author went into. And then it felt like the author added a couple traumatic things to keep the book sad and shocking without delving into these traumatic events. It felt like at the end she was speeding through her writing instead of taking her time with the events and happenings like she did in the first 2 thirds - this made me lose touch with the characters, and I almost felt like I stopped knowing them; like they were different characters than the ones I had been following throughout the whole book.
Overall, a great book, and I would definitely recommend it, I just wish the author had sat with the last third a little longer and not tried to do too much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Death, Hate crime, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Regrettably, I am About to Cause Trouble by Amie McNee
medium-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
3.5
I listened to this as an audiobook because Emma from emmie mentioned it, and it sounded cute. I definitely recommend this if you like found family, witches, and women. It was very cute and I enjoyed it quite a bit, the writing was very easy to get through and brought images to life in my head.
The only reason this is a 3.5 star and not a 4 star is because of the ending. Without spoiling anything, it just felt a bit like Amie McNee got tired of writing at the end and simply wrapped it up quickly without doing a great job at it. I enjoy open-ended endings from time to time but I wouldn’t even consider this open ended… It was simply rushed, unfinished, and unsatisfying. It left me with questions about why certain things happened and what happened to some characters. It kind of slapped me in the face and I’m actually a little mad about it.
Other than that, a good book.
The only reason this is a 3.5 star and not a 4 star is because of the ending. Without spoiling anything, it just felt a bit like Amie McNee got tired of writing at the end and simply wrapped it up quickly without doing a great job at it. I enjoy open-ended endings from time to time but I wouldn’t even consider this open ended… It was simply rushed, unfinished, and unsatisfying. It left me with questions about why certain things happened and what happened to some characters. It kind of slapped me in the face and I’m actually a little mad about it.
Other than that, a good book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity, Slavery, Abortion, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting
Twenty-Four Hours in the Life of a Woman by Stefan Zweig
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A very interesting read. It's one of those stories that definitely made me feel something, but I can't yet pinpoint what exactly it made me feel. I will need more time to let this novella simmer in my brain.
I feel like this book will probably live in my head rent-free for a little while. I liked Zweig's writing a lot, and I will definitely take a look at his other works.
I feel like this book will probably live in my head rent-free for a little while. I liked Zweig's writing a lot, and I will definitely take a look at his other works.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Minor: Infidelity and Grief
The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I-
No words. I loved it. 5 stars. Chef's kiss. Literary masterpiece. Literally can't put into words how good this series is. I hope Richard Osman lives and writes these types of books for as long as I am alive.
No words. I loved it. 5 stars. Chef's kiss. Literary masterpiece. Literally can't put into words how good this series is. I hope Richard Osman lives and writes these types of books for as long as I am alive.
The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
It was just fine. Took me wayy too long to read even though it's less than 200 pages. I just didn't have as much fun with it as I was hoping to. Might also be the fact that I am still getting out of a reading slump...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
“Men in general judge more by the sense of sight than by the sense of touch, because everyone can see but few can test by feeling. Everyone sees what you seem to be, few know what you really are; and those few do not dare take a stand against the general opinion.”
This felt a bit like the 48 Laws of Power but published in 1532. I liked it though, I'm glad I read it.
This felt a bit like the 48 Laws of Power but published in 1532. I liked it though, I'm glad I read it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and War
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, and Slavery
Hex by Jenni Fagan
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
" Do you know, Geillis, I like to think about what would happen if the women of now went out to march for the women of then. And if . . . the women of then marched with the women of now."
In Hex, a woman called Iris time travels from 2021 to 1591 to spend Geillis Duncan's (an accused witch) last night before her execution with her. She's there to soothe Geillis, and to remind her that she did absolutely nothing wrong, that she is no witch, that she is simply a woman.
I loved it. Whoever you are, you should read it.
In Hex, a woman called Iris time travels from 2021 to 1591 to spend Geillis Duncan's (an accused witch) last night before her execution with her. She's there to soothe Geillis, and to remind her that she did absolutely nothing wrong, that she is no witch, that she is simply a woman.
I loved it. Whoever you are, you should read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, and Torture
Minor: Death
Sovereign by C.J. Sansom
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This series is one I know I can always pick up to get me out of a reading slump, and this book did just that.
In this world, the world greatly expands and our characters find themselves in the middle of highly political environments and situations. I enjoyed it, however, I feel this was the least enjoyable from all the books I've read so far. It was 600 pages of basically not much happening, and then all of a sudden we had a stressful and tense ending.
I will keep reading the series because I love it, but I do hope the pacing and plot in the next sequel are a bit better.
That said, I still love these books and characters, and I believe that the author is very talented and has taught me a lot about England in that era.
In this world, the world greatly expands and our characters find themselves in the middle of highly political environments and situations. I enjoyed it, however, I feel this was the least enjoyable from all the books I've read so far. It was 600 pages of basically not much happening, and then all of a sudden we had a stressful and tense ending.
I will keep reading the series because I love it, but I do hope the pacing and plot in the next sequel are a bit better.
That said, I still love these books and characters, and I believe that the author is very talented and has taught me a lot about England in that era.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Suicide, Torture, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer, Confinement, Infidelity, and Pregnancy
Evolve Your Brain: The Science of Changing Your Mind by Joe Dispenza
informative
slow-paced
3.25
I learned a lot, and have taken a lot from this book. My only criticism is that this draaagged. Sometimes I felt as though there was a little too much repetition, which made me simply want to skip sections because I was bored.