literature's reviews
45 reviews

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

funny lighthearted relaxing 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

3.5

Short and sweet. Book isn't trying to be too crazy. It was enjoyable.

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See

emotional informative fast-paced

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

4.0

Lady Tan's Circle of Women, a historical fiction, depicts the real harsh truths that are often not shown in modern dramas. Particularly how women were regarded as mere objects, how prominent and dangerous footbinding practices were, and how medicine and disease were seen as spiritual forces rather than having scientific origins. Women-specific medicine was highly emphasized, and I think Lisa See did a great job at highlighting how integral it was back then for a doctor to understand the bodies and minds of women. Additionally, while not entirely accurate, you can tell Lisa did a LOT of research. Depicted was a life she did not live nor ever experience, but she has written so well as if Tan Yunxian wrote the book herself. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

It wasn't super enjoyable to read tbh, and I hated the narration, but some ideas, like the "chipping away at limits" and the connections between Lily's mother, Lily, and Emerson regarding DA/DV were nice touches that highlighted the cessation of a cycle. As a side note, I think Big Little Lies dealt with DA/DV in a better way, but they're just so vastly different to really compare them. It's a topic central to IEWU's plot, and it never makes fun of it, which is understandable for the narration style and topic. Somehow though, Big Little Lies was able to make a serious topic remain so, yet it was easy to digest in a comical way. Overall, it helped me understand the POV of someone in a DA/DV situation to a deeper extent; the book was effective in that regard, but there are just so many elements that fell short for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.25

September 26 2024 - 9 months later, and I honestly can't say I even remember reading this book. Either my memory is that bad, or the book was just really that unremarkable. 😭 Probably the former tbh.

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
Did not finish book.

Dull.

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

mysterious fast-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? No

3.0

Clues were way too convenient, and every single lead she followed had given her good insight on the case, which is highly unlikely. Unrealistic outcomes, events, and conversations. Overall, just a Mary Sue version of a plot. Easy and fast read, however. Decent for passing the time.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

informative inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.

Absolute trash.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.25