luckyfini's reviews
54 reviews

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

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the mystery surrounding the carls is what kept me at least a little bit interested in this. i couldnt empathise with april at all unfortunately, which comes down to me just not connecting with the themes of fame and what it does to ones life. and i think that is why the "reveal" at the end as to what it is the carls are doing here lacked emotional impact. still glad i read it though! if i ever get the chance to read the sequel, i will probably do so
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

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dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.75

this was so cool

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

what is even up with this book
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? N/A

3.5

The Things We Don't See by Savannah Brown

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dark mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A

3.75

The Sandman Vol. 7: Brief Lives by Neil Gaiman

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mysterious reflective medium-paced

5.0

loved this immensely
Der Tod in Venedig by Thomas Mann

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challenging dark reflective medium-paced

4.0

i actually enjoyed this quite a bit. mann is obsessed, as most modernist writers, with deterioration, and this book is no exception. his writing is difficult but beautiful once you get the hang of it (sometimes reading it out loud helped me immensely, dont know why). still, i can see how it may seem too clinical or detached to invoke any kind of emotion. however, i find his musings about the nature of art, the artist, and beauty itself, and aschenbach's visions of socrates and phaidros actually rather compelling. i think if you are looking for emotion that is character based, you will be disappointed by this, frankly, sick little story. if existential reflexions get you, pick it up if youre interested. it may help to know a little greek philosophy though (and all the nasty habits that seemed to go along with it, like old men loving underaged boys).