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daniel_faniel's reviews
66 reviews
The Farming of Bones by Edwidge Danticat
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
It dragged a little in the first half (before she flees), and its side characters were a bit underdeveloped. But still a really touching novel and well written.
The impending sense of dread I had when the military trucks arrived was intense. I think Danticat captured that desperation and confusion and trauma of what happened really well. It all felt very real.
The impending sense of dread I had when the military trucks arrived was intense. I think Danticat captured that desperation and confusion and trauma of what happened really well. It all felt very real.
The Tropic Of Serpents by Marie Brennan
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I just love how much of a human Isabella feels like. Her beliefs, thoughts, and actions just feel so fleshed out. I like that this series is character-centric. Although I would’ve liked more dragon stuff in this one, like the first book.
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Some of the vignettes were good, and I love how she packs so much thought into such few words. But overall, this just didn’t click with me.
It’s also tough to really rate this because there’s like almost a pretentiousness to this. Very high school slam poetry-esque. Very manufactured. But it also has really good moments. It’s a what came first, chicken or the egg, situation for me.
I do feel inspired to write. Not about my own experiences like this, I think I’m just a fan of vignette/flash fiction now.
It’s also tough to really rate this because there’s like almost a pretentiousness to this. Very high school slam poetry-esque. Very manufactured. But it also has really good moments. It’s a what came first, chicken or the egg, situation for me.
I do feel inspired to write. Not about my own experiences like this, I think I’m just a fan of vignette/flash fiction now.
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I rate on enjoyment, and while this book is fantastic there were some elements that are just too heavy for me to have I said I fully enjoyed reading this book. But I think that’s the point.
It’s tragic, but especially sickening, the effects that internalized racism drove these characters to become. Their actions don’t excuse them by any means, but it’s important to acknowledge that they’re still victims. And that these behaviors could have been prevented. But the cycle continued.
It’s tragic, but especially sickening, the effects that internalized racism drove these characters to become. Their actions don’t excuse them by any means, but it’s important to acknowledge that they’re still victims. And that these behaviors could have been prevented. But the cycle continued.
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
Not enough actual sailing/pirating, and too much fantasy for what I thought was a historical fantasy. But the author’s undoubtedly a great writer, even though much of her dialogue was cringey at times.
The second half of the book is straight up fantasy, but even before that there’s almost nothing historical about the story. Besides using real life place-names, this story had no relation to 12th century Indian Ocean. It could’ve taken place anywhere in the world, or fantasy setting. And the characters speak and act in such 21st century ways it took me out a lot. This only bothers me because I was under the assumption that this was historical fiction. She literally lists all her historical research at the back of the book.
Either way, these characters were really enjoyable and I’ll definitely be keeping up with this series.
The second half of the book is straight up fantasy, but even before that there’s almost nothing historical about the story. Besides using real life place-names, this story had no relation to 12th century Indian Ocean. It could’ve taken place anywhere in the world, or fantasy setting. And the characters speak and act in such 21st century ways it took me out a lot. This only bothers me because I was under the assumption that this was historical fiction. She literally lists all her historical research at the back of the book.
Either way, these characters were really enjoyable and I’ll definitely be keeping up with this series.
The Borders of Infinity by Lois McMaster Bujold
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
6 novels and 2 novellas into this series and Lois McMaster Bujold still surprises me with every new story.
The tone of this one wasn’t really my thing, but it was still really enjoyable. I would’ve liked to know if they made it safely or not, but I’m pretty sure Brothers in Arms is the sequel to this so maybe it’ll be explored there.
I feel like this may be a turning point for Miles as a character. Like I just can’t have as much fun in these stories anymore knowing what’s happened here. Like a piece of innocence has been lost lol. Idk. I’ll have to read the rest of the series to see.
The tone of this one wasn’t really my thing, but it was still really enjoyable. I would’ve liked to know if they made it safely or not, but I’m pretty sure Brothers in Arms is the sequel to this so maybe it’ll be explored there.
I feel like this may be a turning point for Miles as a character. Like I just can’t have as much fun in these stories anymore knowing what’s happened here. Like a piece of innocence has been lost lol. Idk. I’ll have to read the rest of the series to see.
Isabella: The Warrior Queen by Kirstin Downey
challenging
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Read this in preparation for my trip to Spain and I’m glad I did.
I like how beginner-friendly this book is, in the sense of newcomers to Spanish history (me who knew basically nothing). She provides maybe too much context. I enjoyed everything and learned so much, but there were some parts where she writes about other people, which was necessary, but I just wanted to get back to Isabella’s life because she was so interesting.
Her portrayal of Muslims is also important to mention because the author specifically says that she’s writing in the perspective of Isabella during her time. Meaning, Muslims/enemies of Spain are written about as Isabella would’ve known them to be. This provided great context to understanding Isabella’s motivations and fears, but left much to desired in terms of a nuanced depiction.
Overall, Isabella’s life is super interesting and so much more globally and historically impactful than I realized. I really wanna learn about her children now.
I like how beginner-friendly this book is, in the sense of newcomers to Spanish history (me who knew basically nothing). She provides maybe too much context. I enjoyed everything and learned so much, but there were some parts where she writes about other people, which was necessary, but I just wanted to get back to Isabella’s life because she was so interesting.
Her portrayal of Muslims is also important to mention because the author specifically says that she’s writing in the perspective of Isabella during her time. Meaning, Muslims/enemies of Spain are written about as Isabella would’ve known them to be. This provided great context to understanding Isabella’s motivations and fears, but left much to desired in terms of a nuanced depiction.
Overall, Isabella’s life is super interesting and so much more globally and historically impactful than I realized. I really wanna learn about her children now.
Captain Alatriste by Arturo Pérez-Reverte
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Maybe the translation doesn’t do it justice, but I found this book to be really boring. It’s only around 240 pages and yet feels like it drags on and on.
Every plot point can be summed up in a single paragraph. Not a summary/synopsis of the book. No, literally every single event that forwards the story. Almost nothing happens.
The very end of the book was good in all honesty. The conversation and dialogue was super enjoyable. The issue is that everything before that just felt like filler, and the ending is clearly building up to future installments.
And the characters are very flat. It also confusingly jumps between Inigo and Alatriste’s point of view at some parts I seriously didn’t know whose head we were in. I also don’t get the point of being in Inigo’s point of view since he does like literally nothing, and it seems clear Alatriste is the more interesting character and the author believes that as well.
Every plot point can be summed up in a single paragraph. Not a summary/synopsis of the book. No, literally every single event that forwards the story. Almost nothing happens.
The very end of the book was good in all honesty. The conversation and dialogue was super enjoyable. The issue is that everything before that just felt like filler, and the ending is clearly building up to future installments.
And the characters are very flat. It also confusingly jumps between Inigo and Alatriste’s point of view at some parts I seriously didn’t know whose head we were in. I also don’t get the point of being in Inigo’s point of view since he does like literally nothing, and it seems clear Alatriste is the more interesting character and the author believes that as well.
Sons by Pearl S. Buck
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.
I decided to read the plot summary and it didn’t seem interesting, which I hate because I really wanted to love this trilogy since The Good Earth is one of my all time faves.
My issue is that none of these characters are interesting at all. I don’t care about any of them in any way. She sprinkles in her masterful details about their motivations or behaviors. But they lack the emotional impact and dynamics that The Good Earth had.
The Good Earth felt like she had something to say. But Sons felt more like it was made up for the sake of having more rather than being a natural necessary progression to complete what The Good Earth started. Idk if that makes sense.
My issue is that none of these characters are interesting at all. I don’t care about any of them in any way. She sprinkles in her masterful details about their motivations or behaviors. But they lack the emotional impact and dynamics that The Good Earth had.
The Good Earth felt like she had something to say. But Sons felt more like it was made up for the sake of having more rather than being a natural necessary progression to complete what The Good Earth started. Idk if that makes sense.