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isovector's reviews
410 reviews
Bluetick Revenge by Mark Cohen
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It's like the first book in the series, but with absolutely none of the charm. While the first book was a lovely, slow, methodical investigation, this one starts with the main character stealing from some bikers, and ends with him shooting them with a tommy gun. No detective work here, just dumb action schlock. And my god is the ending convenient --- the character's uncle shows up, crossing state lines, something he's never done before, "because of a vision" in order to unwittingly bring him, the protagonist, something he doesn't know he needs.
The Fractal Murders by Mark Cohen
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It's a fun murder mystery where nobody gets punched. Not even one time. The DREAM!
Douglas Adams's Starship Titanic by Terry Jones
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Pretty atrocious book. It's just a collection of dumb scenes without any relationship to one another, or without any payoff. The characters are unlikable and the plot points are continuously resolved via ex machina. I only finished reading it because it was short.
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The first half is incredible, but the ending doesn't do the rest of the book justice.
Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers by Grant Naylor
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Cool Hand Luke by Donn Pearce
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The Brothers Ashkenazi by I. J. Singer
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is the most delightful book I've read in years. It's the life story of Max Ashkenazi, from birth to King of Lodz, to death, as well as the history of the Poland around the turn of the century. The book takes its time to develop a huge cast of characters, many of whom seem to be minor but return twenty years later in full force. The worldbuilding and storytelling are excellent, and amazingly, the book manages to ride a high note all the way to its conclusion. Five out of five.
Peace and Good Order: The Case for Indigenous Justice in Canada by Harold R. Johnson
hopeful
informative
reflective
5.0
Practical Foundations for Programming Languages by Robert Harper
Hard af. It's a thing I'd love to read, and I'm probably much better suited to the task now, but my god was it a challenging book.