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nocturnalbookworm's reviews
75 reviews
The Great Hanoi Rat Hunt: Empire, Disease, and Modernity in French Colonial Vietnam by Liz Clarke, Michael G. Vann
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Read for my World Civilization course. Interesting combination of a graphic novel followed by a collection of primary sources. Would recommend to anyone interested in Hanoi under French Rule
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Hate crime
Loki: Nine Naughty Tales of the Trickster by Mike Vasich
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
There were a few inconsistencies that had me a little confused at times but other than that I had no complaints with this book.
This is a collection of short stories that tie together loosely at first and then more cohesively towards the end.
I found it to be a very enjoyable read and plan on checking out this authors other book about Loki.
This is a collection of short stories that tie together loosely at first and then more cohesively towards the end.
I found it to be a very enjoyable read and plan on checking out this authors other book about Loki.
A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
funny
informative
fast-paced
3.0
Read for class and enjoyed it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Slavery
Bloodchild by Andrew Neiderman
Plot 3/5
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
2.75
I’ve been wanting to read books about creepy children so I was excited to pick this up. I was a little disappointed that the horror elements were more divided among a few different characters. The other antagonists were more creepy to me personally.
Out of the cast of characters there were only two that I liked, Colleen and Audra. I was surprised to like Audra as much as I did, especially near the end.
The book kept a creepy, almost claustrophobic at times, atmosphere, which I felt did well at holding the tension. As far as enjoyment it varied, the first half I really enjoyed, the third quarter was hard to get through to the point of considering DNFing the book. And the last quarter made me glad I stuck with it to the end.
Out of the cast of characters there were only two that I liked, Colleen and Audra. I was surprised to like Audra as much as I did, especially near the end.
The book kept a creepy, almost claustrophobic at times, atmosphere, which I felt did well at holding the tension. As far as enjoyment it varied, the first half I really enjoyed, the third quarter was hard to get through to the point of considering DNFing the book. And the last quarter made me glad I stuck with it to the end.
Plot 3/5
Characters 2/5
Writing Style 4/5
Enjoyment 2.5/5
Overall Rating 2.88/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Miscarriage, Blood, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Rape, and Sexual content
Minor: Animal death and Alcohol
Meg by Steve Alten
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I found that all the characters fell under the category of actively dislike to just ok. While I can definitely appreciate stories about unlikeable characters (and I do think the unlikable ones in this were meant to be), the heroes of our story weren’t just flawed they felt on dimension and very stereotypical action move stock characters.
No real grammatical errors or situations where the wording didn’t make sense. This one definitely took a very fast paced action story style, that worked for the story. The transitions in perspective were done nicely.
I had wondered upon starting this if it would be a similar situation to Jaws with the shark being only a minor backdrop in a mostly human based conflict story. I was happy to find this not the case with Meg. It was just the thing to break me of a reading slump, fun and action packed brain candy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Minor: Vomit and Alcohol
Justice Calling by Annie Bellet
A little cringe at times and the instalove is always a pet peeve of mine but I still enjoyed it and plan to read the rest of the series.
2.75
A little cringe at times and the instalove is always a pet peeve of mine but I still enjoyed it and plan to read the rest of the series.
Jaws by Peter Benchley
emotional
tense
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? Yes
2.75
Very different than the movie and I feel like one of the rare times where the movie was better than the book. That said I did like the book, it wasn't amazing but I still enjoyed my read of it. Don't go in expecting the shark to be as big of a part as it is in the movie. It's more of a background force of nature bringing to light the very human problems amity is facing.
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Wow what a wild ride.
Also
HOLY MOTHER OF ALL CLIFFHANGERS!!!!
Where to begin with the book? Hyperion really takes the multiple character perspective chapters to build a world/story thing to a crazy and awesome level. What impressed me most was that each of the main characters stories has a distinct style so it's like you get several mini stories of various tones and almost various genres that all weave together so beautifully. Hyperion tells the tale of a group of pilgrims off to meet this crazy time bending death dealing diety of sorts right as super space war is about to break out on the very planet they are traveling on. I've seen in other reviews that this and it's sequel flow right into each other and I can't wait to read the next one because this one ends with a major cliffhanger!!!
Also
HOLY MOTHER OF ALL CLIFFHANGERS!!!!
Where to begin with the book? Hyperion really takes the multiple character perspective chapters to build a world/story thing to a crazy and awesome level. What impressed me most was that each of the main characters stories has a distinct style so it's like you get several mini stories of various tones and almost various genres that all weave together so beautifully. Hyperion tells the tale of a group of pilgrims off to meet this crazy time bending death dealing diety of sorts right as super space war is about to break out on the very planet they are traveling on. I've seen in other reviews that this and it's sequel flow right into each other and I can't wait to read the next one because this one ends with a major cliffhanger!!!
The Hecatomb by J. Edward Neill
Old Man of Tesser 5/5
Let the Bodies 5/5
Skeleton Sculptor 5/5
The Circle Macabre 3/5
dark
4.5
Old Man of Tesser 5/5
Let the Bodies 5/5
Skeleton Sculptor 5/5
The Circle Macabre 3/5