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bbethcasas's reviews
195 reviews
Tinkers by Paul Harding
challenging
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.0
Maybe I’m not smart enough to read this book. Some of the stories included in this book about the last days of George, are nice reminiscences of a son and his father. Some are confusing and sound like a crazy person’s musings. It’s miraculous that I didn’t DNF this. Another crazy thing is that the language and writing in this book is beautiful! This book was just a paradox to me!
The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
A very enchanting book! Hirasaka is the owner of a unique and magical photo shop. People visit the shop on their way to the afterlife. While they are there, they have the opportunity to choose a single photo from each year of their lives to create a short of slide show to have their entire lives “flash before their eyes.”
The book gives you the stories of three patrons to the photo studio and their very different visits and experiences there.
This book made my heart feel good! I finished it in one setting and wish it was longer! ❤️
The book gives you the stories of three patrons to the photo studio and their very different visits and experiences there.
This book made my heart feel good! I finished it in one setting and wish it was longer! ❤️
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
I was really confused by the book, as I have never read Jane Eyre. I now know that Antoinette, Bertha, as Rochester has now named her, is a character in Jane Eyre and I know how she became the crazy person she is! So now I need to read Jane Eyre at some point this year! I’m trying to read one classic per month this year!
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Bessie by Linda Kass
This book is a historical fiction of a portion of the life of Bess Myerson, particularly her childhood and young adult life leading up to being crowned the first Jewish Miss America. Set in the WWII years and after, the mindset of America is faulty. I felt really sorry for Bess as I read this book. Her life seemed hard all the time. I feel like she pushed herself so hard, feeling she needed to achieve perfection to please her mother, while at the same time really just wanting to be a normal kid. Nothing she ever did pleased her mother.
Although every goal she set for herself, she essentially achieved, Bess never seemed to make her mother proud. I just wonder if she ever truly felt like she did.
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Although every goal she set for herself, she essentially achieved, Bess never seemed to make her mother proud. I just wonder if she ever truly felt like she did.
What Lies Between Us by John Marrs
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Whew! Talk about dysfunctional! This family is the true definition of the word! Maggie and her daughter Nina live together in Maggie’s home, where Nina keeps her chained in her bedroom all day while Nina is at work. To Nina’s mind, Maggie ruined Nina’s life. What Nina doesn’t know is that almost everything that has happened to Nina has been the result of Maggie trying to protect her. Be ready for many shocking events and reveals and a final twist that will blow your ever lovin’ mind!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0
I really got into this book! I was super invested in what was going on in Rosie’s life with Chad and her writing career, even wishing I could read her book when it was published! I loved how it gave the backstory of some of the deaths that occurred in The Windermere and I was pretty caught up in those stories, as well!
I agree it went on a little longer than it had to but was really surprised by the ending when I thought it all had been tied up in a pretty little bow! Guess I forgot about that last little thing, didn’t I?
I agree it went on a little longer than it had to but was really surprised by the ending when I thought it all had been tied up in a pretty little bow! Guess I forgot about that last little thing, didn’t I?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage and Gaslighting
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
I’m a sucker for a WWII book and this one did not disappoint!
Vianne and Isabelle grew up in a very dysfunctional family, thanks to WWI. There are many wonderful fond memories until their dad went away to war… he comes back a different man. He drinks heavily and has no use for his daughters. When his wife dies of cancer, he pretty much ships the girls off to live with a neighbor woman who has no desire to raise someone else’s kids!
As a result the girls grow up with very dispositions and not terribly close. When the Germans start to impose rules of the French, the girls each have their own very different ideas about what should be done. Ideas that seem to drive an even bigger wedge between them. Even as war seems to push them further apart, they long to become closer, and pray to have the chance to tell the other how they feel as each day, things get harder and harder.
Vianne and Isabelle grew up in a very dysfunctional family, thanks to WWI. There are many wonderful fond memories until their dad went away to war… he comes back a different man. He drinks heavily and has no use for his daughters. When his wife dies of cancer, he pretty much ships the girls off to live with a neighbor woman who has no desire to raise someone else’s kids!
As a result the girls grow up with very dispositions and not terribly close. When the Germans start to impose rules of the French, the girls each have their own very different ideas about what should be done. Ideas that seem to drive an even bigger wedge between them. Even as war seems to push them further apart, they long to become closer, and pray to have the chance to tell the other how they feel as each day, things get harder and harder.
The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Beautifully written, but very sad story. Two powerful stories, told simultaneously, as Jean, a photographer, arrives on Smuttynose Island to photograph the location of a century old crime.
Jean suspects her husband is having an affair and struggles with the emotions involved with those suspicions while learning the specifics of the case that resulted in the March 5, 1873 deaths of two women - the sister and sister-in-law of Maren Hontvedt, who survived.
Jean suspects her husband is having an affair and struggles with the emotions involved with those suspicions while learning the specifics of the case that resulted in the March 5, 1873 deaths of two women - the sister and sister-in-law of Maren Hontvedt, who survived.
After the Rain by Laila Ibrahim
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Extraordinarily difficult and controversial topic! If I hadn’t pushed through the extremely frustrating parts of this book, I wouldn’t have reached the redeeming part.
Jenn and Steve are devout Christians whose lives are deeply embedded in their faith and their relationship with God and have raised their 3 children the same way. So when they return from church Sunday, and Jenn goes to check on Josh, who’d felt ill earlier, and found him unresponsive, she’s crushed to find out, after he’s received medical attention, that he’s attempted suicide.
They later find out that Josh has gone against biblical teaching in a way that he feels will make his family hate him. This was the catalyst behind his attempt. Read this unbelievable account of the havoc ignorance can wreak on your family.
Jenn and Steve are devout Christians whose lives are deeply embedded in their faith and their relationship with God and have raised their 3 children the same way. So when they return from church Sunday, and Jenn goes to check on Josh, who’d felt ill earlier, and found him unresponsive, she’s crushed to find out, after he’s received medical attention, that he’s attempted suicide.
They later find out that Josh has gone against biblical teaching in a way that he feels will make his family hate him. This was the catalyst behind his attempt. Read this unbelievable account of the havoc ignorance can wreak on your family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
The New Year's Party by Daniel Hurst
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
3.0
This short story is definitely more than meets the eye! Lots of unexpected twists. Very quick read and you get a free digital book at the end!