edgarallenshoe's reviews
47 reviews

The People in the Trees, by Hanya Yanagihara

adventurous challenging dark slow-paced

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

4.0

I wish Yanagihara would use her incredible writing skills to create something that doesn’t make me want to throw up. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Suicide

The Great Believers, by Rebecca Makkai

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

Spoiler

This book follows the model that I personally find most effective when it comes to making the reader feel sad. In the beginning, a clear goal is introduced (proving that the art is legitimate and having it as part of the exhibit). The reader is tricked into thinking that if this is accomplished, the ending will be happy, while if he fails, it will be sad. However, as the book goes on, other problems are introduced which make the initial goal seem irrelevant. And by the end, it doesn't matter that everything worked out perfectly regarding the artworks. I'd argue that this book has a similar narrative structure to A little life, where this exact model is utilized (the initial goal being success within their respective fields).

 

The Heart's Invisible Furies, by John Boyne

funny hopeful sad medium-paced

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

5.0

This book has the best opening line of any book I've ever read, and it does not go downhill from there.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Homophobia

If We Were Villains, by M.L. Rio

4.25

The Starless Sea, by Erin Morgenstern

lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

delicious

Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes

emotional medium-paced

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

4.75

that hit hard

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.75

Lovely portrayal of friendship - a real treat

Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Katniss’ sarcasm really holds this never-ending tragedy together. There are parts that are slow and parts that are too quick - I with there had been more dialogue, especially amidst the action scenes - interactions between Peeta and Katniss, I want to hear Gale and Finnick speak, and I really wish we had some more Finnick/Annie interactions - also, was Suzanne Collins aware that she literally named the best ships Fannie and Peeniss? Was this intentional?

Anyways, ending hits harder here than in the movie

Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

It’s a very gentle story, it’s not a punch-in-the-face type of sadness, but something slower and deeper.

The last page is great - as opposed to the finishing monologue in the movie, which I don’t think makes too much sense without the whole Norfolk affair (which is one of my favourite things about this novel)

Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language, by Amanda Montell

informative lighthearted fast-paced

4.75

My only complaint is that it should've been longer - my favourite non-fiction so far