auroraleighs's reviews
116 reviews

This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar

adventurous hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

I love this concept so much!!! There were a lot of really creative sci-fi concepts. However some of the prose was, I think, purple & convoluted to the book's detriment.

The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

challenging dark medium-paced

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

4.0

Once again I have no clue what is going on until I find the appendix at the very end. This is Dune all over again.

A Test of Courage by Justina Ireland

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

Man I just really love the High Republic era.

Ursula K. Le Guin: Conversations on Writing by David Naimon, Ursula K. Le Guin

informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

Like all of LeGuin's nonfiction, perfection.

Bliss Montage by Ling Ma

dark inspiring mysterious medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

This was a really solid short story collection full of memorable imagery and surrealism. I especially enjoyed "G" "Los Angeles" & "Tomorrow".

The Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell

challenging funny reflective slow-paced

5.0

For an eighteenth-century book, this was actually extremely entertaining and enjoyable (especially this abridged version). I liked it a lot more than I thought I would because who doesn't want to see enlightenment philosophers in absurd sitcom situations. And some witticisms for the ages!

Devotion by Patti Smith

inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.75

A nice short read. Interesting to see how travel & surroundings can influence fiction.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

dark reflective tense medium-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? It's complicated

2.5

I finally got around to reading this and overall wasn't very impressed with it: I think it works far better as a thought experiment than a novel. I didn't feel invested until the last fifty pages, which is where most of the book's arguments are made, anyhow. That poor little Shakespeare nerd.

When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn

emotional reflective 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

3.5

One of the better Bridgerton books, I would say. Fixed my craving while we wait for part 2 of season 3 to come out!!

A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro

dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

Another great one from Ishiguro. It's a strong, elegant, and sad first novel that showcases his future ability to hit on so many emotional themes with subtlety and grace. Haunting and lovely.