teresagibbons's reviews
49 reviews

One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter by Scaachi Koul

adventurous emotional funny informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.0

pretty good collection of stories, pretty reminiscent of a modern woman version of david sedaris. not something i would normally pick up, but i do feel like i gained some insight to a different person’s life because of it. not super serious, but does go over relevant topics for a better society. very progressive themes, mostly from a first-world perspective so it feels more applicable to the populations that might be reading it. 

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.0

pretty inspiring, but not for the reasons i had initially expected. a very faith-centered read, and gives new perspective to religion that i never considered. the survival story is less interesting than that of the main character’s mental and spiritual journey, and there is much to be learned from the faith displayed 

More Than This by Patrick Ness

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective tense 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? Yes

4.0

super amazing book that gets you hooked on the mystery and through the emotion you feel from characters. had really good plot twists and a cool storyline that i wasn’t expecting to like at all. characters felt so meaningful, like each person was included for a reason. some mysteries felt untouched or neglected, and i couldn’t help but feel a bit frustrated with the withholding of information through to the last page. this is definitely a book that needs a sequel, and it’s unfortunate there isn’t one that i know of. 

Frankenstein: The 1818 Text by Mary Shelley

challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

pretty mild but definitely engrossing story. all the horror was definitely just gore, and even some of the gore was pretty predictable, but that’s what happens when a book becomes a classic. no strong opinions good or bad, but definitely got me ready for a depressing winter. 

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad 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? No

4.5

if you aren’t mad enough about gender inequalities in the world, this book will do it for you. hits on the disparities women face in the context of maternity, though other issues are delicately brought up in a way that doesn’t seem ignorant to society. so many of my fears and emotions surrounding womanhood were surfaced and were just left for me to process. if you ever wanted to actually express to a man how emotionally scary motherhood is, this is the book for it. 

Good Material by Dolly Alderton

funny reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

pretty lighthearted break-up book. the main character was pretty insufferable for a bit but then was slightly redeemed when there was a change in pov. super funny, and plot lines were silly and random. felt a little too long for the type of story it was, but there was lots of background to uncover. solid read overall, really makes me want to read more by dolly alderton

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective 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? Yes

3.5

pretty solid book that kept me constantly engaged, mostly because i genuinely just wanted to know what would happen. characters were very trope-y and calculated to fit evelyn’s story but it is in “her” pov so it makes sense. felt like there was too much buildup for the ending even though it was very predictable, and all of the big and wowing moments were throughout the story. not my favorite, but not bad, but also i didnt get much more out of it than a fiction book about a movie star who does movie star things and thinks normal thoughts. 

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

4.5

an amazing collection of stories and poetry disguised as a novel. very emotionally striking and easy to digest without taking away from the meaning. simultaneously eye-opening to how cruel the world can be and inspiring to see the beams of good. relatable, but not for expected reasons. overall lovely story and powerful main character. 

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

a rollercoaster of a story that really sets up the 70s rock scene. it’s truly hard to believe this book is fiction because the characters have so much life in them, both the good parts and the bad. what really sets the book apart is the neutrality of almost everyone. nobody is wholly good or bad, and that is reflective in nuanced relationships such as a band. writing seemed a little low effort but overall story was an emotional and heart-clenching experience. 

Tales from the Café by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

another gorgeous set of stories from kawaguchi. a deeply emotional return to the cafe gives more insight to recurring characters without taking the depth away from newly introduced characters. beautifully written and heart-aching in ways that inspire anyone to see the light in any dark situation.