innerweststreetlibrarian's reviews
431 reviews

Shift by Hugh Howey

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

An excellent, but very challenging and traumatic read. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers

Go to review page

adventurous hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This is a sweet, or perhaps bittersweet, exploration of ideas about the possible future of space exploration. I enjoyed the altruistic vision of a future human society that considers the ethics and impact of colonisation. The world building is fun too! 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Speechwriter by Martin McKenzie-Murray

Go to review page

dark funny lighthearted fast-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

3.0

Well this was a disturbing book to read this week (4-8th November 2024). I don’t feel like I can recommend it to anyone even though it did have some good laughs. Would have been more enjoyable 6-12 months ago. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Wool by Hugh Howey

Go to review page

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

4.5

This was a great read. The version I have does not appear to be a collection of novellas, it’s a cohesive story told from multiple viewpoints. I did get a bit bored during some of the fight scenes, they dragged on a bit too long so I paused reading a couple of times. Aside from that the world building is very detailed and the political intrigues seem very believable. I will be reading more in the series. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Winter's Gifts by Ben Aaronovitch

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Smart Ovens for Lonely People by Elizabeth Tan

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This collection is fantastic! It took a long time to read as I needed thinking time between each story.  Some are very dark, others are very funny, still others are whimsical and quite peculiar.
I’ve seen it described as being magical realism but there’s some definite techno horror sci fi vibes as well, the team from Black Mirror could easily adapt a few of these and they’d fit right in. There’s also a strong voice throughout that is decidedly West Australian, Asian Australian, female, millennial, and maybe a bit queer, and it is very refreshing to have that perspective applied in this way. So much fun! Definitely worth seeking out! 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett

Go to review page

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I think this is the one where Sir Terry really started to hit his stride with this series. The first two were a bit slow and surprisingly dull. 
Desire by Haruki Murakami

Go to review page

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

4.0

This is a tiny collection of short stories loosely based around the theme of “desire”, they are all completely unrelated and to my great surprise one is a reinterpretation of Kafka’s Metamorphosis. I really enjoyed them all, I think I prefer his short stories more than longer fiction. The dreamy quality is still there, but there isn’t time for them to get too “out there” like some of his books. Not a bad way to end the reading year at all 🤩
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett

Go to review page

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

3.0

Another surprisingly slow read, I can see why people don’t recommend you start reading the Discworld series at book one and two. I think Rincewind & the wizards just don’t grab me like the later story arcs do. It is good to finally have some context for The Luggage though 😂