cinnamonmarti's reviews
120 reviews

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

"Survival is insufficient."

I was really curious to read a book about the apocalyptic consequences of a pandemic, written before Covid times. At the same time I worried it might be too bleak or anxiety-inducing. Luckily, I found the sort of story that feels like a nostalgic hug from a long-time friend. It was reflective, at times dark, yet stubbornly hopeful. 
This book reminds us that everyone walking the Earth is connected by their humanity. And being human means not settling for mere survival in the face of absolute disaster, wielding the power of empathy, seeking art and wonder through the rusty rubble, thinking fondly of people you loved and people you barely got to know.

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

lighthearted medium-paced

• Strong character development? No

2.5

This book is so quintessentially British that it makes me want to use words like 'quaint', 'blimey' or 'kerfuffle' at any given opportunity. Unfortunately that's not nearly enough to make it endearing and I'm sorry to say that this story didn't really catch my interest. At no point was I invested in the mystery or the big reveals and I found all the characters very forgettable. 
I suspect cosy mysteries aren't for me, or at least not the ones that make suspending my disbelief so blatantly hard.
I'll say this is a proper beach read, witty and funny, but even that can get repetitive very soon. Also, what's up with the super short chapters? For some reason they really annoyed me. 
I won't be continuing this series.

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

dark inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

There's an eerie, enthralling quality to a novel written 30 years ago which acts as a perfect cautionary tale for present times. I was captivated by the direct and bleak tone of the story, told through diary entries, and I couldn't help but think how prescient everything felt. 
Butler took into account many issues that are undoubtedly relevant to today's world (climate change, drug crisis, income inequality, unfair work conditions under capitalism, just to name a few) and shaped a tale that is simple, but very gripping.
I'm usually not one for overt religious themes in sci-fi or fantasy novels, but I found the idea of God seen as the unstoppable force of change to be quite apt. The concept of Earthseed as a belief and as a cornerstone for the birth of a new community is the element that truly sets this book apart for me.
Reading this also reminded me of all the great times spent playing Fallout, which is one of my favourite videogames ever :)

The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories by Angela Carter

challenging dark medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.0

Dark, sensual, labyrinthine. This was my first Angela Carter and I must say I'm in awe of her prose. Every word sounds carefully chosen, yet never pretentious or useless.

My favourite stories were The Bloody Chamber, Puss-in-Boots, The Lady of the House of Love and The Company of Wolves.

The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Wow. This is exactly the kind of book you don't want to finish because it's just so damn good.
I knew that this would be a hard goodbye, no matter what the ending, and I was right. Jemisin really crafted something beautiful and unique with this trilogy and I'll be endlessly grateful for discovering it. I'm sure I will re-read it in the future and I cannot wait to see how it feels the second time around! 
Reading The Stone Sky was challenging at times, but never in a frustrating way. I was so engrossed with the story and the characters and I could definitely feel all the emotions the author poured into her writing. This to me is speculative fiction at its finest and it has both a contemporary and classic quality, which is very hard to achieve.
I still cannot believe how well planned and executed the overarching plot is. Getting those Syl Anagist chapters was the final puzzle piece and really cemented my appreciation for the scope and the themes of this story.

I'd like to end this review with a quote by my book club friend: if all books were as brilliant as this one, maybe the world would be on its way to become a much better place.

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

Memoirs aren't generally my thing, but I heard a lot about this one, so I decided to pick it up. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the writing and by the vivid, heartfelt imagery that punctuates each chapter.
As an only daughter who has a complicated relationship with her mother (don't we all?), I found the subject matter tough to deal with. Grief is the core of this narration and the author is very good at putting it into words. There were a couple of scenes that had me pause and close the book because I was on the verge of tears. So if you need a cathartic cry definitely go for this book!

The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin

adventurous dark sad medium-paced

4.75

This second installation of the Broken Earth saga is more static, which is not to say boring. On the contrary, the author really widens the scope of the narrative as we delve into the origins of the Stillness, the factions who are at war and the first consequences of this new Season.
I keep thinking that these books could easily be the subject matter of a university course because there's so much to unpack and discuss here! I'm really obsessed with the astounding level of care and afterthought Jemisin infuses in her worldbuilding and plotting. One could say there is not enough space for in-depth characterisation in the midst of all the horrors and trials the characters face, but she manages to make it work. I really felt for all the main characters: Essun, Alabaster and Nassun in particular. Schaffa is still a big question mark for me but I love Hoa, I'm eager to learn more about his origins.
The only small note I'd make is that I really wish some scenes and pivotal moments were given more time to breathe, but I understand it wouldn't fit the narrative tone. There was a character death in particular that I'm still hurting over :(
I can't tell you how happy I am to have found this trilogy. It's already up there in my pantheon of books which have changed me (& my standards) as a reader!

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

Still a cute and fun read, but this second volume lost a bit of its traction. Which is ironic, considering that the plot deepens and we get to know the characters better. I'm convinced Stiefvater's strength lies in fleshing out these beautiful, flawed characters and describing the vivid interactions between them. I feel like I can perfectly picture Blue's scathing side looks, Adam's quiet rage, Gansey's polite and firm tone, Ronan's knife-like smile, all that and more. Sadly, as I was reading I kept thinking there was something missing in the way the story is told and I'm in no rush to read book 3 to find out if and how they'll complete their mythical quest.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

This was a fun summer read! It's young adult, but the kind of YA I personally enjoy a lot! Nothing super deep, but still very well crafted in terms of characters and prose.
This book will give you all sorts of fond and fuzzy feelings and make you reminisce on your teenage years.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

mysterious tense slow-paced

• Strong character development? No

3.5

A timeless classic that will appeal to Gothic horror fans. The epistolary format makes it quite unique for its times, but it does drag on unnecessarily on more than one occasion. 
It was an interesting read and I was curious to learn more about what it essentially the genesis of the vampire literary trope. Still, Dracula's presence throughout the story is fickle and overall I expected something more. 
A+ for the very vivid description and imagery though!