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cookieclutter's reviews
24 reviews
That Time I Got Drunk And Saved A Demon by Kimberly Lemming
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Mirjam Pressler, Anne Frank, Otto H. Frank
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read this book for a class. I'm not sure if I would have considered it otherwise but reading it in a book club-like environment helped me engage with not only the story but much of the subtext as well. While I was aware of the history, continuing the conversation about Indigenous history is crucial in any environment. It was also helpful for me to learn more vocab as there are many Dahkota words used in the book. However, I do wish there was an appendix with the meanings listed. Trying to find what each word meant was difficult as I didn't know anyone who knew the language and the sources I found online were often questionable.
The story is formatted as several stories from the past and present. There isn't a main plotline, more so a series of events that the characters go through during their lives. You see how the effects of colonialism continue to impact the main characters no matter what year they're in. Overall, I enjoyed the reading experience and would recommend this book.
The story is formatted as several stories from the past and present. There isn't a main plotline, more so a series of events that the characters go through during their lives. You see how the effects of colonialism continue to impact the main characters no matter what year they're in. Overall, I enjoyed the reading experience and would recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, and Colonisation
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Homeland by R.A. Salvatore
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
3.75
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
My rating/review will be mostly centered around my experience with the audiobook.
I'm conflicted about my experience with the audiobook. While I could tell a lot of love and heart went into the voice acting (and the use of a full cast with sound effects/music was overall very enjoyable), there were times when I was taken out of the experience or had difficulty following along. I think this audiobook would be better suited for people who are very familiar with the original story so they'd be able to recognize scenes more than I can. Prior to this, I had only watched the movies. While there were many scenes and locations I could recognize, I think having the original narrator's descriptions would have helped for me to set the scene in my mind. Moving forward, I'll likely finish the trilogy by reading it rather than listening to an audiobook.
The first book is a classic for a reason, to speak more about the actual story. The characters are well-defined and the main objective is clear. In the edition I read, exposition wasn't constantly dumped on the reader so at no point did it feel like I was reading a history book as opposed to seeing a hero's journey play out. I think this series is a definite must-read for any fantasy fans as it helped to set many standards for the genre today.
I'm conflicted about my experience with the audiobook. While I could tell a lot of love and heart went into the voice acting (and the use of a full cast with sound effects/music was overall very enjoyable), there were times when I was taken out of the experience or had difficulty following along. I think this audiobook would be better suited for people who are very familiar with the original story so they'd be able to recognize scenes more than I can. Prior to this, I had only watched the movies. While there were many scenes and locations I could recognize, I think having the original narrator's descriptions would have helped for me to set the scene in my mind. Moving forward, I'll likely finish the trilogy by reading it rather than listening to an audiobook.
The first book is a classic for a reason, to speak more about the actual story. The characters are well-defined and the main objective is clear. In the edition I read, exposition wasn't constantly dumped on the reader so at no point did it feel like I was reading a history book as opposed to seeing a hero's journey play out. I think this series is a definite must-read for any fantasy fans as it helped to set many standards for the genre today.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
In light of the upcoming remaster of the film adaptation, I felt a need to visit the movie's source material for the first time. I'll avoid making book-film comparisons but it was nice to see just how much from the book made it into the film. The audiobook narrated by the author was a treat to listen. I felt Gailman does a wonderful job of voicing each character and making them sound distinct without resorting to overly goofy impressions. I loved the added music and voice-changing effects. If I had read this book when I was much younger, I think I would have really liked it (especially considering how much I loved the movie). I did feel the pacing could have been better. I would have liked to see more of a build-up to the Other World to help amp up the creepy elements. Even though I was already familiar with the story thanks to the movie, I was very surprised at how quickly the "catch" to the Other World appeared and how Coraline already started to directly confront the main antagonist. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and I could see myself revisiting the novel in the future.