trishupaper's reviews
2 reviews
Sweet Bean Paste, by Durian Sukegawa
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thoughtful, considerate and welcoming, Sweet Bean Paste is a book that is deceptively simple. It started out dull, to be honest, with its slow pace. And the sudden shift in tone by the middle can be a bit too noticeable, but what it lacks in structure, the book makes up for in thought and spirit. Reading this was encouraging and comforting. I wish I also had Tokue to talk to.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
There are parts of the book where the characters think negatively of other characters with Hansen’s disease, and it can be very mean spirited
Horrorstör, by Grady Hendrix
dark
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? Yes
3.75
This book is eventful but slow at the same time. It takes it time making the reader feel the claustrophobia and the decay of the store, which is a character in itself. The actual characters are distinct if not totally fleshed out. The main character, Amy, is not necessarily someone who’s loveable, but she’s definitely easy to root for. The scare factor in this book is a bit hard for me to pin down. It’s basically “what if the haunted house is in a store?”. It has many of the haunted house tropes, but mingled with elements that are specific to a store experience. I especially loved the extra detail to make the store believ able - the illustrations, the jargons, the scripts. It’s a fun read, that’s just scary enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Injury/injury detail
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