clairegour's reviews
148 reviews

What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama

hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-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? Yes

3.75

This book feels like a hug, but was slightly too slow paced for me. 

Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty by James A. Robinson, Daron Acemoğlu

informative slow-paced

2.5

First couple of chapters were interesting, but then it became incredibly repetitive, arguing the same thing in every chapter. 

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A beautiful study of grief and sisterhood. As a New Yorker and Londoner, I was charmed by Mellors’ description of both cities I love. The pages flew by!

Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Currently have no words. This book has left me speechless. A perfect mix of facts and fiction to create an emotionally informative story. 

Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

2.5

Not my type of book, but I appreciate the poetic writing.

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The ending was excellent, but the beginning dragged on for way too long. Also I hated how Imelda’s pov had no punctuation!!!

Sula by Toni Morrison

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

Morrison's writing is one of a kind. Her books are so unique and captivating. Always enjoy reading her works, despite the ending being a little disappointing in this one. 

DallerGut Dream Department Store by Mi-Ye Lee 이미예

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

Intriguing idea that was executed half-heartedly. Light read that was sometimes boring.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

emotional inspiring reflective relaxing sad slow-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? Yes

4.5

Quick and easy read. Four short stories, all connecting about regret and love. I loved the ending of each story, and it made me wonder who I'd like to visit before my coffee got cold.

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I loved Klara's childlike perspective on the world and the exploration of the use of AI to help adolescents. However, the ending was a little unsatisfying, but all around intriguing and reflective book.