ajsterkel's reviews
798 reviews
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm scared of germs. If you're normal, maybe the biting is fine. Don't let it stop you from reading the book. I enjoyed this series. I'm sad it's over.
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, Blood, Death, Injury/injury detail, Mental illness, Abandonment, Animal death, Cursing, and Violence
- 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
Moderate: Mental illness, Gun violence, and Death
3.0
Moderate: Animal death, Addiction, Ableism, and Alcoholism
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, War, Confinement, and Animal cruelty
0.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Colonisation, Trafficking, Cancer, Death, Sexual assault, Violence, Chronic illness, Deportation, Abandonment, Classism, Confinement, and Death of parent
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Death, Grief, Medical content, and Kidnapping
Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, and Cannibalism
5.0
2.0
3.0
I didn't like this book nearly as much as I liked "Sense and Sensibility" or "Pride and Prejudice." Every single character in "Emma" is irritating. They are snobs, whiners, self-righteous idiots, manipulators, and busybodies. I know that the characters were intentionally written that way as a social commentary, and I do appreciate the skill that it takes to write characters who are so flawed, but it was very hard for me to get into this book. I did enjoy reading about Emma's meddling enough to finish it, but it was hard to stay motivated to keep reading when I didn't like any of the characters.
5.0
All of these stories are about tough Wyoming ranchers. None of the characters are likable, but most of them are fascinating because of their flaws. The most well-known stories in the collection are "The Half-Skinned Steer," which was featured in the anthology Best American Short Stories of the Century, and "Brokeback Mountain," which became a movie.
"Brokeback Mountain" is the strongest story in the collection. I also liked "The Mud Below" because it seemed more straightforward and less sparsely-written than the other stories. I liked the humor in "The Blood Bay." I had a hard time picking favorite stories because I liked them all. This is one of the best short story collections I've read in a long time.