iliyenzio's reviews
420 reviews

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

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dark lighthearted

2.5

I know it's a memoir and it's her story, her voice, and her impression of her life, but something just felt a little bit off with the execution. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there was some critical element missing. It was almost too light-hearted at times, considering the subject matter--but I suppose any optimism results from the complex love she has for her parents. Did she really register anything that happened to her as traumatic--if she did, she certainly frame things in that way or mention any form of recovery. It just struck me as odd. That asides, it's an amazing story and I'm ultimately glad I read it.
The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
It seems like a verysimple book, which is fine, I guess. Just not my type of story. And the main character is completely spineless and unlikeable. A great deal of her problems stem from her inability to communicate with her boyfriend and best friend. It's absolutely maddening how passive and inarticulate she is. You can't whine about stuff and make no attempt solve or even voice your issues/concerns.
Meet Us by the Roaring Sea by Akil Kumarasamy

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

3.25

There were parts of this book I loved and parts I didn't think work as well. What was really well done was the prose. So much of the book was beautiful.
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

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dark emotional reflective sad tense

4.25

Fantastic and frightening speculative dystopia about our prison system. Definitely want to reread.
Hellboy: Weird Tales by Mike Mignola

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 29%.
Just not the right book for me...
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

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challenging dark inspiring mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I really love the themes of this book and how those themes interacted with the architecture of the space and characters.
I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself by Mac Crane

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.
Usually I DNF because I want to read a book and ran out of time or wasn't in the right mood. I just can't stand to read this book, which is a shame because it seeme so promising. But, I'm at 35% and just am not enjoying myself, so I'm dropping it.
Sweet Tooth Compendium by Jeff Lemire

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dark sad 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've been wanting to read this for a while. I first became interested in the series after watching the Netflix adaptation and I was surprised at how many differances there were. It was so interesting comparing the two and, also, enjoying them independently. The actual graphic novel is so much darker than the show and provides another glimpse into the world that I really appreciated.
William Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill Bryson

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funny informative medium-paced

2.5

Overall, this book was just okay. I didn't know how much we didn't know about Shakespeare. In a way, this was really a book about book about Shakespeare, rather than a book about the man himself. Fun and easy, but not particularly helpful if you want to know about Shakespeare.
Nothing Special by Nicole Flattery

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emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

There was a lot potential in the book that just seemed unfulfilled. The first half was pretty great but it really went downhill in the second half. Some of the writing was beautiful and I enjoyed the complex friendship dynamics, but felt ultimarly let down by the novel.