elaba25's reviews
215 reviews

Colored Television by Danzy Senna

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funny reflective 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

3.5

So hard to review: I truly think this novel spoke about so many pertinent complex themes and certain pages captured those nuances so well. At the same time, the middle of the book got a bit repetitive and by the end I wish we had seen more of Jane’s life because it was those moments (ie: Ruby’s birthday) that made the thematic elements so rich and compelling. 
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

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

3.0

Interesting themes but not a big fan of the writing/dystopian journey style
Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

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dark emotional reflective 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? Yes

3.5

Gripping at times, the writing was inconsistent to me—sometimes poignant and other times cliche. Predicted the ending but still got chills
Bunny by Mona Awad

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dark funny inspiring mysterious reflective fast-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? Yes

4.0

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce

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challenging informative inspiring reflective 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

3.5

James by Percival Everett

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challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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? No

4.0

The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

3.0

Beautiful, important story and artwork. I just don’t like graphic novels and that’s a personal flaw of mine.
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

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

5.0

Sally Rooney can’t keep hurting me like this. In any case, we go on living. 
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

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emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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? No

4.0

I loved this novel and the characters but the ending felt so rushed. Also the communism red scare plot point was not fleshed out enough + so many other unanswered questions. I honestly think there could be a trilogy just to wrap up the stories started in this book. 
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I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

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

3.5