redisreading's reviews
163 reviews

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.0

Got really good in the end. I did not like Kya. Its not that the main character has to be likeable, but she was just such a mid character. Nor this nor that. I was more attached to side characters. I wish the book picked a side, it did not balance murder mystery and a character study well. I don’t really understand why this book was written and what point it is trying to make. But overall, reading it was not that bad. Wouldn’t re read it myself, but far far away from books I hated. Would recommend to people who either like the aesthetic of swamps and nature and isolated living or relate to abusive or absent parents and growing up in isolation. Or both. 

The Baltimore Boys by Joël Dicker, Alison Anderson

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad 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

4.5

Like Sally Rooney, but with a plot. 
Normalise having awesome and vibrant and textured characters AND an interesting and convoluted plot.
I love the move of building up to something, and it is done exceptionally here. The tragedy is not disappointing. Non-linear storytelling is not confusing but logical and inspiring. 

Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris

challenging dark hopeful sad slow-paced

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

3.75

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.75

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

challenging sad medium-paced

3.75

For One More Day by Mitch Albom

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.75

Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

2.0

Why was written idk

After Dark by Haruki Murakami

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

I LOVE PEOPLE AND MURAKAMI WRITES THEM TOO WELL
Didn’t feel like the fantasy aspect was necessary though. 
Loved that it is just one night, and to be honest did not mind that there is little to nothing happening. Wish it was just a tiny bit crazier and I got to know the sister a bit more

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore

challenging dark hopeful informative sad medium-paced

3.5

I wish this book was more focused and also knew what it was. It cannot decide if it wants to be a story based in reality or a documentation of events that happened in the US between 1914 and 1991 (approximately). Hence it reads quite oddly. Do not pick up if you are not interested in this story and don’t have any prior knowledge.
On the positive side the story itself is really captivating, I loved the exploration of how gender affected how long it took for justice to be ruled and everything in this book. 

Looking for Alaska by John Green

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-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

Best book ever written. Felt like it was about me, except I am all of the characters.