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orangeburrito's reviews
43 reviews
The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith
dark
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
3.0
Is it just me or did Carol and Therese have no chemistry?
Whoever says the writing is great clearly isn't referring to the prose because please figure out writing rhythm, you don't need to describe every single mundane action (She bought one can. There was coffee in the thermos. She put the beer can on the floor.)
The ending was bittersweet, I was hoping Carol's terrible husband would get run over by a thirteen-wheeler before the divorce proceedings concluded but no such luck.
Despite its flaws I only read this book in 150-page sprints, as if out of morbid curiosity.
Whoever says the writing is great clearly isn't referring to the prose because please figure out writing rhythm, you don't need to describe every single mundane action (She bought one can. There was coffee in the thermos. She put the beer can on the floor.)
The ending was bittersweet, I was hoping Carol's terrible husband would get run over by a thirteen-wheeler before the divorce proceedings concluded but no such luck.
Despite its flaws I only read this book in 150-page sprints, as if out of morbid curiosity.
The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Wasted potential the book. Sincerely, fuck this bloated, meaningless novel. There are good alt-history novels, but this isn't one of them.
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
One of the best fiction books of the 20th century. Shining proof that stories don't have to be world-spanning epics to feel deeply impactful.
Be warned: there is a deal of misogyny in this book. Not enough to be completely overwhelming but noticeable and frustrating at times (despite the time period this book is set in), and includes a graphic r*pe scene along with a few attempted ones by the main villains. The few women in this book do have agency and are complex characters, but the male gaze shows itself on occasion.
Be warned: there is a deal of misogyny in this book. Not enough to be completely overwhelming but noticeable and frustrating at times (despite the time period this book is set in), and includes a graphic r*pe scene along with a few attempted ones by the main villains. The few women in this book do have agency and are complex characters, but the male gaze shows itself on occasion.
The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Right-Wing Women by Andrea Dworkin
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Life changing. Chapters 5-6 specifically are incredible, you won't look at any political movements the same again.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Donna Tartt's first and arguably seminal work. This is a massively intricate and dark novel, with morally gray, complex characters.
The story rises to a violent crescendo, lifted along excellent verbiage as the lives of the main characters spiral into insanity, and ends on a melancholy note.
You'll feel out of sorts after you finish it, like the book has ripped something out of you and left you empty for a period. It's extremely impressive how Tartt wrote this at 29, with the numerous references to random Greek language minutiate and elaborate, winding plot.
The story rises to a violent crescendo, lifted along excellent verbiage as the lives of the main characters spiral into insanity, and ends on a melancholy note.
You'll feel out of sorts after you finish it, like the book has ripped something out of you and left you empty for a period. It's extremely impressive how Tartt wrote this at 29, with the numerous references to random Greek language minutiate and elaborate, winding plot.
The Stranger by Albert Camus
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Nihilism the book, featuring a massively autistic protagonist with about as much personality and emotion as a stone
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
fuck you writer for creating a complex, interesting female character who's bisexual even though she ends up with the creepy male protagonist old enough to be her dad