arnoles's reviews
48 reviews

Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang

informative sad medium-paced

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

3.0

This book is interesting conceptually and sheds light on an important, horrific, and often overlooked era of America's past. But the plot was very scattered for me. It didn't seem like we got any forward momentum -- the whole plot felt one step forward, two steps back. The characters also felt very flat to me, especially the peripheral characters. I also HATED the ending -- not saying it was a bad ending story-wise, but a book that is so unrelentingly bleak and depressing isn't really for me. 

I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai

dark emotional mysterious medium-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

4.75

It was really hard to put this book down! I really enjoyed the construct of a years-old mystery being revisited through a student podcast. The commentary on the Me Too moment and the evolution in how our society views predation made the book so much more powerful and meaningful than if it had just been a straightforward dead girl mystery. 

The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

dark funny hopeful inspiring 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 absolutely LOVED this book and could barely put it down for about the last 2/3 of the story. I really liked the liberal use of dialogue, which felt so authentic and really fleshed out each character's unique personality and perspective. I cared about all the women so much by the end. it's a huge testament to the author's excellent writing that she was able to create so many vibrant, well developed characters and craft an action packed plot in just over 300 pages without anything feeling rushed or unearned. The subject matter of the book is very dark, but Schroff's writing is filled with humor and humanism. I genuinely laughed out loud throughout the book. I will be excitedly looking forward to this author's next publication!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Murder, and Gaslighting

Minor: Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infertility, Pedophilia, Suicide, Blood, Police brutality, Islamophobia, and Death of parent

The Blood of Emmett Till by Timothy B. Tyson

challenging informative sad medium-paced

5.0

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

emotional hopeful 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

4.0

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous fast-paced

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

3.75

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

dark emotional hopeful sad tense 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

It was hard for me to put down this phenomenal book. Pamela was a perfect first person narrator and her personal development intertwined with the broader story very effectively. How refreshing to get such a tense and compelling true crime story that is 100% told with a laser focus on the victims, and not just their suffering, but their lives and resilience. Be prepared to shake with rage at the author's deft storytelling around how the pain and brilliance of women is minimized, ignored, explained away, and belittled at every turn and by every institution in society. Yet despite the dark subject matter, this book is celebratory and hopeful, the homage and the vindication that the Brilliant Young Womem deserve.

White Tears by Hari Kunzru

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I sometimes really struggle with books that leave a lot of things unexplained, so at first I was leaning more toward the 4 star range. However, I have not been able to stop thinking about this book since I finished it. It was absolutely captivating, a ghost story predicated on true, real life horror. The several different timelines bleeding together were all compelling and the last 10% or so of the book tied them together in a way that was simply genius. I really enjoyed the writing style, very matter of fact and frank. Yes, there are many unexplained elements, but there's still a clear resolution to the story -- therefore, for me, this is a 5 star read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Murder, Cultural appropriation, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape

Minor: Suicide

Trust by Hernán Díaz

challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.25

As I was reading the book, I didn't think I was really feeling it and thought, ok, this is kinda dull. But, for a 400 page book, I read it in not that many sittings. When I finished, I realized I actually had really enjoyed it! It's definitely a book that takes some reflection to fully appreciate and I feel like the concept is truly unique and well executed.

The Old Place by Bobby Finger

emotional funny reflective sad medium-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

4.0

This was a very cozy, sweet, sad book with characters that felt incredibly real. I enjoyed it a lot.