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emmacb's reviews
176 reviews
Mountains of the Mind: A History of a Fascination by Robert Macfarlane
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Really interesting to learn about how our relationship with mountains has changed over the years. Fascinating to think about how intrepid and wild mountains that are now daytrips once seemed!
The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book was the first I read after being in a bit of a slump for weeks, and it was a great easy reader to get me back on the bandwagon!
I'd say this took a while to warm up, but I still got through it pretty fast! This book comes into its own once it gets past the events of 'Pride and Prejudice' and starts telling its own story.
Its definitely an 'easy reader,' and more than a little predictable at times but in that comforting sort of way where you know you're going to read a pleasant story with a bit of character growth and a happy ending. I enjoyed getting my kick of Austen-style romance in an easier-reading book!
I'd say this took a while to warm up, but I still got through it pretty fast! This book comes into its own once it gets past the events of 'Pride and Prejudice' and starts telling its own story.
Its definitely an 'easy reader,' and more than a little predictable at times but in that comforting sort of way where you know you're going to read a pleasant story with a bit of character growth and a happy ending. I enjoyed getting my kick of Austen-style romance in an easier-reading book!
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I think I would have loved this way more if I'd read it when I was younger!
I'd love to read a more adult-leaning version of this story, actually. The 'bad guys' were strongly implied to be behaving in some pretty dark ways, beyond the usual slightly cartoonish and undefined 'evil' you get in YA book villains. However, because the story is aimed at a younger audience I feel like it sort of has to skip away a bit from fully filling out the 'evilness' it suggested in those characters. Its not that I want to read a version with these characters committing all kinds of monstrosities 'on screen,' (or on page), but the way it was implied and then shied away from left it feeling weirdly superficial. That might just be me though!
I'd love to read a more adult-leaning version of this story, actually. The 'bad guys' were strongly implied to be behaving in some pretty dark ways, beyond the usual slightly cartoonish and undefined 'evil' you get in YA book villains. However, because the story is aimed at a younger audience I feel like it sort of has to skip away a bit from fully filling out the 'evilness' it suggested in those characters. Its not that I want to read a version with these characters committing all kinds of monstrosities 'on screen,' (or on page), but the way it was implied and then shied away from left it feeling weirdly superficial. That might just be me though!
The Beauty in the Beast: Britain's Favourite Creatures and the People Who Love Them by Hugh Warwick
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
I mentally planned at least 3 wildlife-related adventures just in my local area while reading this book! As an introduction to, and invitation to fall in love with Britain's native wildlife, it's a great book!
I could have done without the author's tattoo competition sub-plot running through the chapters. I get that it was the inspiration for this book, and that it's used as a way to tie each animal/expert he met together into the book. However, I think I would have enjoyed meeting each expert and learning about each animal through their enthusiasm just as much, maybe even more without the addition of the author's opinion on each of the animals.
Also, the author's own expertise is in hedgehogs and I know he's written a whole book on those, but as someone reading this book without having read his previous one on hedgehogs, I'd have loved a chapter about them as well!
I could have done without the author's tattoo competition sub-plot running through the chapters. I get that it was the inspiration for this book, and that it's used as a way to tie each animal/expert he met together into the book. However, I think I would have enjoyed meeting each expert and learning about each animal through their enthusiasm just as much, maybe even more without the addition of the author's opinion on each of the animals.
Also, the author's own expertise is in hedgehogs and I know he's written a whole book on those, but as someone reading this book without having read his previous one on hedgehogs, I'd have loved a chapter about them as well!
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The story itself was good. A beautiful but sad story of the tragedy in becoming over-reliant on nostalgia... I think. I did feel like there were things I was missing, so it's definitely a book I'd like to 'study' one day.
TheThe introduction in the version I read was long and a bit painful to get through - definitely aimed at people who have already read the book. Which I had, but long enough ago that most of the references in the introduction went over my head! It did help me pick out some elements under the story I may not have noticed without it though, which was interesting. I suspect I will come back to this book a third time in the future.
TheThe introduction in the version I read was long and a bit painful to get through - definitely aimed at people who have already read the book. Which I had, but long enough ago that most of the references in the introduction went over my head! It did help me pick out some elements under the story I may not have noticed without it though, which was interesting. I suspect I will come back to this book a third time in the future.
Fellwalking with Wainwright by Alfred Wainwright, Derry Brabbs (photographs)
adventurous
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
Since I can't get out in the mountains right now, I visited in my imagination with this book!
I loved the photography, and Wainwright's cheerful, encouraging tone of writing. I've found a lot of hiking guides seem to use this bizarrely formal language that makes the trips seem not all that welcoming. They're also sometimes a little scornful of 'the easy route,' which can make it feel quite exclusive as an activity. In contrast, Wainwright's tendency to throw in little asides and reflections, and his cheerful honesty about which parts of each hike are harder or a bit boring make the walks feel much more inviting. My to-do list of hikes has grown to include every single one described in this book!
I loved the photography, and Wainwright's cheerful, encouraging tone of writing. I've found a lot of hiking guides seem to use this bizarrely formal language that makes the trips seem not all that welcoming. They're also sometimes a little scornful of 'the easy route,' which can make it feel quite exclusive as an activity. In contrast, Wainwright's tendency to throw in little asides and reflections, and his cheerful honesty about which parts of each hike are harder or a bit boring make the walks feel much more inviting. My to-do list of hikes has grown to include every single one described in this book!
The Pirate's Daughter by Margaret Cezair-Thompson
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I nearly put this book down several times. It managed to stay just interesting enough to keep me reading. Unfortunately, I have finished the book wishing I didn't bother.
The vast majority of the relationships in the book are somewhat creepy to my reading. It's interesting because the author said in her notes that she didn't want to write her characters as naive young women being taken advantage of by powerful older white men, but unfortunately to my reading that's exactly how it came across. Don't get me wrong, they have their own personalities and are by no means weak women, but I still felt they had definitely been taken advantage of, especially Ida.
It does give an interesting, if a little one-sided snapshot of a significant period in Jamaica's history. I'd like to read more about that at some point but this book just didn't do it for me.
The vast majority of the relationships in the book are somewhat creepy to my reading. It's interesting because the author said in her notes that she didn't want to write her characters as naive young women being taken advantage of by powerful older white men, but unfortunately to my reading that's exactly how it came across. Don't get me wrong, they have their own personalities and are by no means weak women, but I still felt they had definitely been taken advantage of, especially Ida.
It does give an interesting, if a little one-sided snapshot of a significant period in Jamaica's history. I'd like to read more about that at some point but this book just didn't do it for me.
Content Warnings
Significant age gap relationships, mentions of statutory rape by one of the characters.
She Speaks: Women's Speeches That Changed the World, from Pankhurst to Thunberg by Yvette Cooper
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
I read this book in one go, and did enjoy it, but I think it might be better read bit-by-bit.
Some of the speeches were great, others were less so but overall just having a whole collection of notable women's speeches in front of me was inspiring in itself. A few of the speeches have been bookmarked for further research at some point, to learn more about the women and the circumstances that led to their speeches being made.
Some of the speeches were great, others were less so but overall just having a whole collection of notable women's speeches in front of me was inspiring in itself. A few of the speeches have been bookmarked for further research at some point, to learn more about the women and the circumstances that led to their speeches being made.
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The biggest issue I had with this book was that I didn't particularly warm to any of the central characters, nor did I fully believe in their relationships. I never really felt the emotion of the relationships between any of the characters, rather it felt more like reading a report on them.
I'm fairly sure it was intentional, but Celestial and Roy's relationship never really rang true to me in the first place, between his wandering eyes and both of their lack of honesty. As a result of that I just didn't fully feel the emotional drama that came out of its ending.
I liked the final scene between Roy and Celestial in their bed, and overall it was still a good read but I won't be rushing to recommend it.
I do admit that it might just be me - maybe it wasn't the right time for me to read this book, or maybe my long-standing habit of struggling to read books about characters I don't particularly like. My mum and sister both loved this book but sadly it hasn't done it for me!
I liked the final scene between Roy and Celestial in their bed,
I do admit that it might just be me - maybe it wasn't the right time for me to read this book, or maybe my long-standing habit of struggling to read books about characters I don't particularly like. My mum and sister both loved this book but sadly it hasn't done it for me!
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity, Racism, and Rape
The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
This is a beautifully written story of a real life couple who, after the loss of their home and livelihood decide to walk the Coastal Path around the South-West tip of the UK, a huge journey!
I've always wanted to try wild camping and longer, multi-day hikes so this was interesting and inspiring from that perspective, but it was also amazing to read about Raynor and Moth facing Moth's mortality, moving through all kinds of grief to finally reach acceptance and start the next stage of their lives together.
I've always wanted to try wild camping and longer, multi-day hikes so this was interesting and inspiring from that perspective, but it was also amazing to read about Raynor and Moth facing Moth's mortality, moving through all kinds of grief to finally reach acceptance and start the next stage of their lives together.