mezzarella's reviews
736 reviews

The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi

emotional sad 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? Yes

5.0

Normal People by Sally Rooney

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

A relatable read, which was rooted in the flaws of characters who truly felt real. I found myself watching the characters struggle to find their place in the world while also realizing that the decisions they made weren’t always the best ones for them. Heartbreaking, but ends happy. 

The Gutsy Girl Handbook: Your Manifesto for Success by Kate White

hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

3.0

Perfect for what it is meant for! I read this primarily for self help in becoming a more confident and strong person, which this book does go over, but in a more corporate or CEO focused way. It’s a great read, even if you don’t go into corporate or large workplace settings. It’s a very general read without discussing much nuance, but this is clearly a taster rather than a book meant to ensure the success of every woman. 

All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami

4.0

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

5.0

Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

5.0

The Great State of West Florida by Kent Wascom

challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

4.0

Beautifully written and with a strong voice present, this is a book meant to be studied more than enjoyed. It’s  alternative reality Florida is both eerie and accurate to its modern real counterpart, but still alien to the reader. A state splitting into pieces, mad cow outbreaks in wild deer, and religious zealotry serving as a background for a coming of age western novel. 

Men Have Called Her Crazy by Anna Marie Tendler

challenging emotional reflective tense slow-paced

4.0

Knowing that this is likely a book written by someone who wrote an NDA, I wasn’t expecting to get the full story from Tendler’s book. What I was surprised was to find a person who was not the brutal fighter I had been led to believe, but a hurt, emotional, and kind person. While we will likely never know the full story of Tendler, the stories she does share and her choice (in a matter of speaking) to completely erase the person we all expected demands we look at Anna as the person she decides to be, instead of the stories men have told. 

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

adventurous emotional medium-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

4.0

I’m conflicted about this book; it is well written and I desperately wanted “a return to the golden era of romance comedies—but for a book this time.” It definitely has a queer eat, pray, love vibe. It definitely has the awkward moment and tension of a romance comedy. If it were a movie set in the 90s, in a more accepting timeline, I think it could have been an instant classic. But whether it hold up in the modern day depends on its audience and future director. 

Communication is at the heart of the conflict—and most conflicts and situations—but I didn’t mind it. Age has taught me communication IS the result of most conflicts in a relationship, and I found myself hoping both characters figured out their love and flaws and grew together. It made sense that the characters would struggle to communicate with others in another country, and they that they would become better communicators with each other. However, some of the situations (without spoilers) were so over the top I found myself groaning rather than laughing. 

I know European tours with a rich (literal and figurative) cast may feel clichè in 2024; but the research is evident. While I can not speak to the other countries, my family resides in Italy. The food, history, and imagery described in Rome and Naples was shockingly accurate and rich. If you’re a foodie and European culture fiend, this is definitely your book. 

Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin

emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.0

I have long admired Baldwin's essays, interviews, and speeches. The way that Baldwin writes with depth and compassion even towards people who worked against him is astounding. This book details religion's oppressive tendencies through the most faithful, discusses racism through the perspectives of the oppressed which help perpetuate it, discusses sexism with such honesty even though Baldwin was not a woman. There is a throughline of bold observation and truth in Baldwin's writings. While I was not personally moved by the importance of faith in this work, I was moved by the way these words encouraged me to find the shared experiences which encourage us to push forward in dark times and learn from our mistakes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Racism, and Sexism