ladykatka's reviews
878 reviews

Patience & Esther: An Edwardian Romance by S.W. Searle

lighthearted 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? No

4.0

I wasn't not expecting how scandalously explicit this was. I opened the book and oh my...
The story was very sweet and I was glad to see that there wasn't a lot of hardships for the relationship to overcome. It was a nice read.

Faithless, Vol. 1 by Brian Azzarello, Maria Llovet

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.5

Unsettling and confusing. 

The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown

adventurous fast-paced

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

2.5

The weakest of the trilogy by far. Not a surprise though since the first two were basically the perfect duology.  I find this especially weak since if Roz hadn't been in the story it would have ended the same. 

Camp Zero by Michelle Min Sterling

adventurous reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

I liked White Alice the best so I wanted more of those chapters and more of that story so I am left a little wanting. Not sure what I supposed to get from that ending or what the take away was supposed to be.

There There by Tommy Orange

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The ending while some of it is up to interpretation it is a bit bleak and kinda a bummer. While the family is reunited it sucks that it is under such circumstances. Not sure what I'm supposed to take away from this book. 

The Night Ship by Jess Kidd

adventurous reflective sad medium-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

2.5

This one is over hyped for sure. I was left feeling pretty underwhelmed and didn't really care by the end of the book 

Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller

hopeful inspiring reflective fast-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

4.0

As much as I want to give this a five star, the characters are a little one dimensional and everything wrapped up a little too simply for me to do that. That being said it was still a great book that I enjoyed very much. I think it is a great book to use as a launch pad into a serious discussion about important issues 

How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question by Michael Schur

funny informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

3.5

This came up as something I might like because I liked "The Good Place". I liked the show more than this book but the book was still interesting. Probably the easiest philosophy book I've ever read so if you want to dip your toe into the pool of moral philosophy this is a good place to start.

Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come: One Introvert's Year of Saying Yes by Jessica Pan

reflective medium-paced

2.5

I feel indifferent towards this book. I neither loved it nor hated it. It just is. I thought it would be funnier. I had the audiobook and I don't think I would have finished it otherwise because it is just meh. I found that it gets a little repetitive as she keeps referring back to lessons she has learned over the year. It's a fine book but that's about it.

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

I do not know how this book ended up in my hands but I read it anyway. It is now on my short list for best book I have read this year. It was so eye opening and informative. The information is brutal at times but delivered in such a caring and gentle way. If you have ever had someone you care about in a nursing home this might make you misty eyed. I think all doctors should read this and if you have a person in your life that may need nursing care or palliative care one day then you should read it too. Changes the way I think about the late stages of life.