Scan barcode
readingrobin's reviews
2298 reviews
Aria of the Beech Forest, Vol. 1 by Yugiri Aika
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Absolutely love the cozy, witchy vibes of this manga. It does a great job of establishing the characters as well as placing some a few plot threads that are most likely going to develop into something larger in future volumes. The recipes included with the story sound delicious and definitely make you hungry for a snack as you read.
The Haunted Bookstore - Gateway to a Parallel Universe (Light Novel) Vol. 1 by Shinobumaru
Did not finish book. Stopped at 63%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 63%.
I think, each time I picked up this book, I couldn't really find anything that was drawing me back to it. The story itself doesn't have a cohesive flow, appearing more like vignettes than a single narrative. The chapters are so fast paced that I feel like we never get a good look at who these characters are or let emotions sink in. There were moments where it was trying to have an impactful punch, but it wasn't set up in a way that lead to an emotionally satisfying ending. This feels like it would make a better manga than a prose narrative and, seeing that there is such a thing for this series, I may give that a shot instead of the books.
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I remember starting to read this book as a child, but unfortunately never got past the first chapter, as I found the language to be a bit too complicated for me at the time. Going back to as an adult, I thought perhaps with the better attention span I might fare better. Well, at least I finished it this time.
A lot of children's fiction from this era is tremendously dry and I think tries to be as sophisticated as possible when it comes to tone and word choice. A.A. Milne was able achieve this while also telling very simple stories that just happen to have that air about it. The Wind in the Willows I think would be a difficult book for many children this age to read, as it kind of flounders everywhere. There is a bit of a plot with Mr. Toad being a menace to everyone, but that takes a back seat every other chapter to focus on more domestic moments with Mole, Rat, and other animals of the community. I found myself switching off a lot while listening to the audiobook, as so much of it felt like the personification of "old rich British man grumbles."
I didn't know whether this book wanted to be more down to earth or have some fantastical aspect to it. We see Pan (where was he in the cartoon adaptation huh DISNEY??) and there are some inconsistencies regarding the heights of the animal characters and how exactly their world works. It reads as "don't think too much about it and have fun," but it really hurt the immersion.
All that being said, I did like the friendship between Rat and Mole, which had a lot of Frog and Toad/and they were roommates vibes. There was something nice about seeing a tight knit community caring for each other, even towards those that really don't deserve it.
A lot of children's fiction from this era is tremendously dry and I think tries to be as sophisticated as possible when it comes to tone and word choice. A.A. Milne was able achieve this while also telling very simple stories that just happen to have that air about it. The Wind in the Willows I think would be a difficult book for many children this age to read, as it kind of flounders everywhere. There is a bit of a plot with Mr. Toad being a menace to everyone, but that takes a back seat every other chapter to focus on more domestic moments with Mole, Rat, and other animals of the community. I found myself switching off a lot while listening to the audiobook, as so much of it felt like the personification of "old rich British man grumbles."
I didn't know whether this book wanted to be more down to earth or have some fantastical aspect to it. We see Pan (where was he in the cartoon adaptation huh DISNEY??) and there are some inconsistencies regarding the heights of the animal characters and how exactly their world works. It reads as "don't think too much about it and have fun," but it really hurt the immersion.
All that being said, I did like the friendship between Rat and Mole, which had a lot of Frog and Toad/and they were roommates vibes. There was something nice about seeing a tight knit community caring for each other, even towards those that really don't deserve it.
Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I will say, this is an improvement from the first book. Anna and Charles' relationship feels at least a bit more settled now, there are some fears and insecurities that are touched on, which I felt like the previous installment lacked. I'm glad that Anna has grown into a stronger character and can definitely take care of herself when she has to.
And yet, I still can't really get into this series. I don't think Anna and Charles are still strong enough as characters to make me fully interested or want to continue with the rest of the books. It could be fatigue from this world or maybe it was wrong book wrong time, but really not much happened in this story that, honestly, should have been a game changer for the entire world. The wolves are coming out to the world, the story revolves around delegations and how exactly they're going to approach this process. And it all seems so shoved to the back amidst everything. I know it's more covered in the Mercy series, but it feels like the buildup was still so glossed over.
Unless someone makes a really convincing argument for it, I don't think I'll be going on with the series. Just give me a Bran highlight reel from the rest of the books and we'll call it a day.
And yet, I still can't really get into this series. I don't think Anna and Charles are still strong enough as characters to make me fully interested or want to continue with the rest of the books. It could be fatigue from this world or maybe it was wrong book wrong time, but really not much happened in this story that, honestly, should have been a game changer for the entire world. The wolves are coming out to the world, the story revolves around delegations and how exactly they're going to approach this process. And it all seems so shoved to the back amidst everything. I know it's more covered in the Mercy series, but it feels like the buildup was still so glossed over.
Unless someone makes a really convincing argument for it, I don't think I'll be going on with the series. Just give me a Bran highlight reel from the rest of the books and we'll call it a day.
The Boy, the Wolf, and the Stars by Shivaun Plozza
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I think because I read this as an audiobook I sort of found my attention wandering at times. It's a decent fantasy with a great amount of adventure, emotion, and heart. The world has a lot of interesting aspects and lore, but I don't know if I was that invested in it. Not a bad book by any means. I loved the focus of feelings of abandonment, finding your own family, and the power of friendship and all that.
It may just have been a wrong book at the wrong time situation.
It may just have been a wrong book at the wrong time situation.
I Feel Awful, Thanks by Lara Pickle
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
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
3.5
Makes for very good discussions on mental health, coping mechanisms, and boundaries. Reading the physical version, the print was a little small so it felt like I had to squint to read at certain points, but the story itself is solid.
The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Had to read this for a reading challenge, so I was a bit out of my comfort zone. I think it's an interesting setup and there are definitely some stand out moments, but with the current climate I think it disheartens me too much to enjoy. Doesn't help when you read to escape only for everyone in the story to have a bad ending. It's important for sure, I can definitely see this being a book club kind of story where everyone has varying opinions, but I just kind of want to leave this one behind me.
Hungry Ghost by Victoria Ying
emotional
informative
inspiring
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
4.0
A powerful, emotional story of a teen trying to feel comfortable in a body that that is constantly being calorie curated by herself and her mother. I liked how Valerie eventually came to her own conclusions that her actions were harming her and her mother was only reinforcing the damaging thoughts about her weight and appearance. It just took a little freedom and distance for her to reflect and to see that she is truly happier when she isn't constantly fretting about eating or how it will affect how people see her.
I don't think I appreciated as much the framing of her mother's constant speculation of her weight as "love." Even when Valerie was being honest and mentioned how she was sick, how her mother was hurting her, the mother only doubled down. Love that hurts is not love, it's control. Do I think the mother had the best intentions? Yes, Victoria made that clear, but it doesn't deny the fact that her "loving" actions and comments have a serious negative effect. I think it's entirely realistic that she doesn't change and it's up to Valerie to figure out a relationship with her that's healthy for the both of them. But I wish there was a bit more nuance to the situation.
The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
3.0
Definitely the sort of lighter story I needed to read alongside some more dramatic, darker ones. If you love any sort of cheesy Hallmarky type venture then this will be right up your alley. The timeline is a bit wonky, as suddenly months would pass by at the drop of a hat without invoking a good sense of progression. This book relies so much on telling rather than showing, which make a lot of the achievements and character development underwhelming.
We don't see Daisy slowly become more open to Grace, we are told she's behaving better after hard work and meeting new friends. We aren't shown how successful the Apple Festival is, even though that's the main conflict in this book. It's like we're reading a Cliff Notes version of a larger story.
I think Grace's character development was the only thing that felt fairly fleshed out, even though the romance aspect started a bit too late in the story to really become investing.
It was a cute, charming story. I don't think I would read any others in this series, I think I got my fill with this one, but it'll at least be a comfort in hard times.
I think Grace's character development was the only thing that felt fairly fleshed out, even though the romance aspect started a bit too late in the story to really become investing.
It was a cute, charming story. I don't think I would read any others in this series, I think I got my fill with this one, but it'll at least be a comfort in hard times.
Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar
Did not finish book. Stopped at 38%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 38%.
It was a little slow going with this one. There was some immersive, beautiful writing at times, but the story itself didn't captivate me. Once I found out that Sheetal wasn't even technically the one in competition, instead she's meant to inspire the one who is, the whole aspect fell apart to me. It makes our lead character feel so secondary, like she's relegated to the wings of her own story.