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coronata's reviews
273 reviews
The Giver by Lois Lowry
fast-paced
Really good! I missed this one in school as it was never assigned to me, but my partner said it was his favorite book he read in school so I picked it up. It's a really quick read as an adult, but still well worth it! I now wish I had read this as a kid. I know I would have loved it.
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-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
Firstly, I see why I gave up on reading this in high school. It's so dense! Secondly, I'm so so happy I read it now, it's incredible! I watched the show with my grandparents in high school, so I already knew the story (and I know the story from history, too), but seeing it played out in this detail and with such care is amazing. Mantel's writing is just so good! It feels so authentic of the period, which is hard to do. I don't know when I'm going to get to the other books in the trilogy, but I can't wait!
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.75
Finally read this after having it recommended by a friend multiple times. I'm glad I did! The gentleness of the book took some getting used to, since I am more used to sci-fi like The Expanse. Also, some of it was a little too twee for me, especially Kizzy, but in all it's a lovely book (and an impressive self-published debut!).
Pyramids by Terry Pratchett
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Not my favorite Discworld book so far, but I still liked it. I'm glad I decided to listen to the audiobook! The narration really brought it to life. The math and science jokes about the pyramid construction and the family working on it were my favorite part, since I found Teppic's story kind of boring. The Luke/Leia thing with him and Ptraci was a little odd, though I did like that she ended up on the throne. It made a lot more sense as an ending than Teppic remaining king.
The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-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
4.5
I found this book challenging to get into at first, but really enjoyed it once I let myself become immersed. (I can't quite put my finger on what it was that I found difficult at first, but it could be that it was a bit slower than books I've read recently.) Oddly, I liked the "tales of" chapters — characters' backstories — a lot more than the plot chapters. Grossman's take on those arthurian legends is fresh and new, but still feels old and grounded in the old myths. Overall, a good book (if a bit slow), and definitely make sure to read the author's note! It re-framed some of the anachronisms I found confusing and made them make sense.
The Gifts of Imperfection: 10th Anniversary Edition by Brené Brown
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
A very helpful book! It helped me spot some bad though patterns I get into and challenge myself to be braver and more authentic. It was especially helpful for noticing "rules" I've set for myself that don't make sense or are unnecessarily restrictive, and then helpful with finding the courage to "break" them.
Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett
4.5
My favorite Discworld so far! I love Shakespeare, so that's not surprising :)
Gallant by V.E. Schwab
4.0
Randomly grabbed this off my Illumicrate shelf because I wanted to read something short, and I'm so happy I did! It's another book I wish I'd had as a kid, since I know I would have loved it (even if it probably would have scared me pretty badly).