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writesdave's Reviews (364)
challenging
dark
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
The massive undertaking of reading a book from every country in the world fell to Ann Morgan, who went on one literary trip and ended up taking a different journey. I think some reviewers expected a different book and held the end product to that standard. In acknowledgement of the change in direction, I’ll give Morgan credit for realizing she had a new task. Instead of holding on to 196+1 reviews (which she did on her blog, ahem), she went deep on the arduous task of sourcing books, the publishing scene in some countries that don’t crank out a zillion books a week, and what constitutes a country in the first place. The writing is a little dry in spots, but I’ll give Ann five stars here because I respect the change in plans, as well as the new insights. Way to go!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
The usual mastery from the last edition. Every parent needs to read Kent Babb's obituary for Kelly Catlin. Parenting excellence through forced perfectionism is not the way.
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Excellent and harrowing account of life in pre-civil rights Birmingham from the standpoint of an 11-year-old boy in the midst of family trauma, jumping ahead to the boy as a young man in Vietnam. The prose is a little uneven at times, but the overall message of humanity and determination against the odds holds true. Underrated read on the south, too.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
I understand the hate, and I do agree that the book emerged from a good deal of privilege, but I didn’t hate it. I learned a good deal about Eastern Philosophy (which means I clearly need to read more), learned about Italian food and culture, and learned about the expat life. Based on Liz’s life now, I’d say she grew. That’s all you can ask from a year in the woods (generously funded by a publisher’s advance).
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
At this point I just enjoy Fitzgerald's work as a slice of life in the culture of the 1910s, an era I'm not familiar with. While the work is disconnected from any current events of the day, I like the descriptions of the people and society in upper-crust America, even if the characters have precious few positive qualities and you hope for their ruin.
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes