araowl's reviews
49 reviews

All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

emotional hopeful sad 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

I am so impressed that this is the author's debut novel. It was beautifully written and such an eye-opening look at what's going on in Syria. I loved that the author didn't shy away from the brutality and darkness, yet also added so much light and hope. The portrayal of PTSD was also beautifully done. I did not see the plot twist coming. 

Overall, 5/5 stars. Definitely one of my favorites of 2024! I will be sure to be on the lookout for Katouh's future work. 

Praying with Jane Eyre: Reflections on Reading as a Sacred Practice by Vanessa Zoltan

inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

4.0

The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

adventurous hopeful mysterious 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

4.0

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

I loved everything about this! High-quality, yet readable writing, fascinatingly loveable yet flawed characters, and a dynamically magical historical setting! What more could you want? I can't wait to read the sequel!

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book is an insanely beautiful masterpiece - just taking off one star for the torment of reading about all that pedophilia and incest.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Pedophilia, and Rape

Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

I appreciate the premise and idea behind this series- a fascinating look into the alien beauty and terror of a landscape untouched by human destruction - but, I felt quite a disconnect while reading it. It's hard to describe what exactly is off about this series, but I feel like the characters are rather flat and the story goes off in so many random, confusing directions that it lacks a strong emotional weight. I found it difficult to follow, maybe just me, but I felt like the writing was all over the place and the story was disconnected. Overall I found this book confusing and underwhelming. However, I can see that Vandermeer is a very talented writer with an interesting imagination, this book just wasn't my cup of tea. 

Palestine Speaks: Narratives of Life Under Occupation by Cate Malek, Mateo Hoke

challenging emotional informative slow-paced

4.5

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

emotional mysterious reflective medium-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? Yes

5.0

Ilium by Lea Carpenter

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

3.0