stwriter92's reviews
435 reviews

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense

• 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

This book was lent to me by a student at the school I teach at and it was definitely a surprising read. I don't think I've read such a raw depiction of grief and depression before. At first I strongly disliked the main character, who remained unnamed throughout, which I think was a good thing because it removed a barrier between her as a narrator and myself as a reader. Watching her spiral more and more, becoming more and more dependent on sleep medication (an echo of the sort of thing that killed her mother) to keep all feelings, relationships, and truths away. 

I know that we were supposed to see her friend Reva as a pathetic person, but I think she was a better character than the narrator. Was she pushy and overbearing? Yes. However, she seemed to also be going through a similar thing to our narrator. Instead of burying herself, she reaches out. Her story, I think, was the real tragedy of the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Infidelity

Minor: Abortion, Death of parent, and Suicide

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

dark tense 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

The ending off this trilogy definitely did not disappoint! This entire story went from one girl making a decision to call bullshit on the stupid rules of a cruel game created by horrible people to becoming the reluctant mascot for an entire uprising. What I loved even more was the fact that the rebellion was also seen as a morally bankrupt organization at times. Watching her go from becoming a puppet for the Capitol to a puppet for the rebellion was depressing but so realistic. I know that the epilogue is a disputed part of the book, but I actually really liked it. I liked that Katniss was able to have a life that would have been robbed from her if she had not thought to lift those berries to her lips at the end of the first book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Child death

Moderate: Alcoholism, Torture, and Addiction

Minor: Miscarriage

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

adventurous dark emotional tense

• 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

5.0

I listened to this entire book in five days and it was amazing!! I know that most book series suffer from the "second book slump" but this series seems to just improve upon each installment! I loved learning even more about the political intricacies of the different districts and meeting other victors. The slow simmer of dissent throughout was extremely interesting to watch, especially when I know it was going to all explode in the third and final installment in this amazing series!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, and Blood

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

Minor: Pregnancy

The Whispering Skull by Jonathan Stroud

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

Okay. It has been over a month since I finished this book, so I'll try and say as much as I can, but this will be a short review. All I can remember is that I really enjoyed it. These books are just the perfect balance of comfy and creepy. I am currently reading The Hollow Boy, so hopefully I actually remember to write about it while it's still fresh in my mind!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I know it's hard to believe, but this was my first time reading The Hunger Games. After one of my students found out I had never read the books or watched the films, she immediately started badgering me to read them. I finally got the audiobook through Libby and was immediately sucked into the story. I knew that the Hunger Games were amazing but I don't think I had grasped just how amazing they were. 

Being inside Katniss's head throughout, watching her reluctantly becoming a player in the fatal hunger games, and watching her puzzle her way through everything and everyone was such an interesting thing to see. I found myself doubting everything with her.

I do think that the way celebrity is forced onto these young children is quite similar to what we see in the real world of influencers (especially influencer parents who force their children into the spotlight). Nothing is genuine and everything is meticulously tailored to cause scandal and keep the audience on the edge of their seats. I have no doubt that if the Hunger Games were a real thing, people would be watching eagerly on TV (or their phones) and placing bets. 

I already have Catching Fire on hold at the library and can't wait to start listening to it! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Grief, Blood, Violence, Murder, Torture, Death, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Medical content, Gore, Medical trauma, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Child abuse and Vomit

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing

• 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

5.0

This was SUCH an amazing ending to a truly enjoyable series! I can see why so many of my students were drawn to this series. Riordan managed to end things on such a fantastic note while still leaving a little trail for us to follow to the sister series! 

Throughout this journey, I have fallen in love with the characters and the world that Riordan brought to life. He made my drives to work even more enjoyable and I found myself being absorbed into the story! I am also so glad that I made the decision to listen to the audiobook for this series. I feel like it added just a little more immersion for me. 

Spoiler

I am also so, so, so glad that Luke was redeemed in the end. His entire storyline was such a tragic one and I am so glad he was able to be redeemed before he died. I kind of hope that we one day get a version of the series from his point of view. Perhaps in an alternate universe...

I am currently taking a break from Camp Half Blood and am diving into the very dark world of Panem. I am doing this deliberately because I know I will need the comfort of Riordan's world and words after having my heart ripped out by Suzanne Collins.

The Dagger in the Desk by Jonathan Stroud

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

I read this entire thing during a train journey back to my apartment after visiting some family and it was such a joy to read as the world was whipping by outside. I only wish I had a cup of tea whilst I read it!

This little morsel of a story takes place in the Lockwood and Co universe at a school that has seen a sudden uptick in paranormal activity. The amazing Lockwood and Co have been called in to nip the Visitors in the bud.

It has been a long time since I have read a short story and I forgot how much I like to sometimes have an entire story contained to a few pages! It's perfect for when one is waiting in line at the grocery store or is wanting to pass time on a train. The story itself kept the deliciously creepy vibes of the first book. I know that this was published after the original series, but I did like taking this little breather before diving into book two!

The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

Like many others recently, I have watched and fallen in love with the show "Lockwood and Co." on Netflix and had no idea it was based off of a series of novels until I saw the title sequence. After watching the entire show in one day, I decided to immediately borrow the first book in the series from the library. I think I can speak for many people when I say that the show did a marvelous job of bringing the book to life. As I was reading, I was finding descriptions, quotes, and narrations that had been replicated word for word in the show. It's such a thrill to find a good book to show adaptation!

The first book in the series introduces an alternative England that has been plagued by the Problem: a sudden surge of ghostly and paranormal phenomena that has been wreaking havoc across the country. To combat these attacks, agencies have been put in place to train children (who are the only ones who can sense the ghosts) to fight back. Lucy Carlyle, a disgraced agent who comes down to London from her small Northern town in search of work at an Agency, finds herself joining a ragtag team of young agents like herself who have created an agency of their own, run by the suave and mysterious Anthony Lockwood. When one of their cases ends in an inferno and a debt of £60,000, they must take any case they can in order to pay off their debt or be dissolved by DEPRAC, the governmental task force responsible for dealing with the Problem.

I absolutely adored this book. I think I have found a new favorite series! Every single page was a pleasure to read and I found myself on the edge of my seat, even though I knew how things would end! I am such a sucker for the found family trope and the way that Mr. Stroud has constructed these characters and their relationships has made my heart so happy! I still have no idea what is behind the door, but I refuse to spoil myself. I am currently reading the second book and am loving it as well!

The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted

• 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

I am so glad I have this series to listen to on my drives to and from work! It's such a great one and, while it took me a while to get used to Jessie Bronstein's narration style, I have become so fully immersed into this world. This fourth book in the series finds out heroes growing closer and closer to an all out war between the Gods and Goddesses of Olympus and Kronos and his Titans. The demigods learn of a plot to invade Camp Half Blood through a Labyrinth and enter into its dangerous mazes to stop them before they breach the borders of the camp. 

Due to the characters being older, we were able to see the development of romantic relationships, which I found to be extremely adorable. I can totally see why so many people are so giddy about Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase! Watching them blunder around each other was absolutely precious. But I loved that, while there does seem to be romantic tension there, it does not detract from the plotline. That is an issue I have with some books. If the romance removes me from the plot, it's an immediate turn-off. This one feels so natural and organic and I'm really excited to see it develop more. I also really enjoyed seeing a new side to Clarisse. Instead of just being a playground bully, we got to see a softer and more compassionate side to her. I really hope we continue to see this side of her as the series continues!

The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

5.0

I had started listening to this in December but got so busy with the holidays that my library loan expired. As soon as I got it back, I finished it as quickly as I could. It has become a tradition for me to listen to Percy Jackson on my drive to work. This part of the series finds our heroes looking for the kidnapped goddess Artemis. It also introduces the Hunters, an elite group of girls who are devoted to two things: Artemis and the general disgust of boys. However, when Annabeth is kidnapped by a Manticore and taken to Luke, Percy must team up with the Hunters to find both Artemis and Annabeth before it's too late.

I was so happy to listen to this book! The pacing was perfect and I did think that the overall story was much better than Sea of Monsters. We are inching closer to the (hopefully) final showdown with Kronos. I do find myself hoping that Luke and

Spoiler

Nico

will be redeemed in some way.

Spoiler

Nico more so as his only reason for tuning against Percy was the death of his sister. I did get to see some flicker of hope in Luke's case. He seems to be slowly realizing that he has bitten off a bit more than he can chew.

I'm just hoping it won't be too late.