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luluwoohoo's reviews
470 reviews
Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.0
Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett
☀️☀️☀️☀️
The third (and possibly final?) instalment of this series doesn't succeed as well as its predecessors, but it is still a warm hug of a book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
As always, Emily's narrative voice is brilliantly executed, imparting academic enthusiasm and wry humour throughout. Her exploration across many realms gave wonderful insight into her confidence and surety. Wendell came into his own in this book, and their relationship as a whole was beautifully handled despite missing a lot of the banter I've come to love. The return of old favourites was a lovely touch for a cosy fantasy like this.
The plot was weaker than in previous books. The beginning felt a bit too drawn out, and all of the action packed into the second half, leaving a feeling of overall pacing issues. It didn't bother me enough to spoil the journey, but compared to the arcs of books 1 and 2 this could have used a little more developmental editing to really pave the way for that ending. As always, though, the worldbuilding is impeccable.
I adore this series and the couple at its forefront, who are both wonderfully drawn characters who balance each other so very well. The stakes are high enough to be emotionally drawn in, but there is always a guarantee of hope. If any further volumes of this series are written I'll be first in line to read them!
☀️☀️☀️☀️
The third (and possibly final?) instalment of this series doesn't succeed as well as its predecessors, but it is still a warm hug of a book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
As always, Emily's narrative voice is brilliantly executed, imparting academic enthusiasm and wry humour throughout. Her exploration across many realms gave wonderful insight into her confidence and surety. Wendell came into his own in this book, and their relationship as a whole was beautifully handled despite missing a lot of the banter I've come to love. The return of old favourites was a lovely touch for a cosy fantasy like this.
The plot was weaker than in previous books. The beginning felt a bit too drawn out, and all of the action packed into the second half, leaving a feeling of overall pacing issues. It didn't bother me enough to spoil the journey, but compared to the arcs of books 1 and 2 this could have used a little more developmental editing to really pave the way for that ending. As always, though, the worldbuilding is impeccable.
I adore this series and the couple at its forefront, who are both wonderfully drawn characters who balance each other so very well. The stakes are high enough to be emotionally drawn in, but there is always a guarantee of hope. If any further volumes of this series are written I'll be first in line to read them!
"I must write it down. For it is in writing that I will discover a way out. A door within the story. There is one. It cannot end here.
Yet some stories do."
Mullumbimby by Melissa Lucashenko
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Mullumbimby by Melissa Lucashenko (audiobook narrated by Tasma Walton)
☀️☀️☀️🌤️
A novel that marries humour and heart beautifully to paint a vivid and unflinching picture of contemporary indigenous life and culture.
It feels timely to finish listening to this on January 26. It is a tumultuous time of year for the indigenous community, so reading a book from an indigenous author set in places I grew up in was equally heartwarming and confronting.
Lucashenko's narrative voice is incredible strong and distinctive from the first sentence. I loved the localised language choices that remained untranslated. I sometimes found portions to be overwritten with too many adjectives, but overall the descriptions of country and landscape were lovely. Being white does preclude me from being a definitive authority on dialogue and voice, but from growing up in the region I found these to be authentic representation in both style and vulgarity! Walton's narration is exquisite and really does wonders with the writing.
Initially the pacing felt a bit slow, with so many threads being introduced, but as they wove together it felt much better. The tonal shift as the narrative goes on balanced lighthearted funny moments with quiet anger and heartache. I was also very impressed with the exploration of connection to country, and the instincts we have to make assumptions of people.
I didn't love the omniscient shift in POV that happened occasionally - there were possible workarounds to avoid this. I also didn't buy into the romance between Jo and Twoboy.
It was so wonderful to read a book that felt a little bit like home and childhood for me. I would strongly recommend this to anyone seeking authentic indigenous voices to expand their reading lists with - it's full of power and heart.
☀️☀️☀️🌤️
A novel that marries humour and heart beautifully to paint a vivid and unflinching picture of contemporary indigenous life and culture.
It feels timely to finish listening to this on January 26. It is a tumultuous time of year for the indigenous community, so reading a book from an indigenous author set in places I grew up in was equally heartwarming and confronting.
Lucashenko's narrative voice is incredible strong and distinctive from the first sentence. I loved the localised language choices that remained untranslated. I sometimes found portions to be overwritten with too many adjectives, but overall the descriptions of country and landscape were lovely. Being white does preclude me from being a definitive authority on dialogue and voice, but from growing up in the region I found these to be authentic representation in both style and vulgarity! Walton's narration is exquisite and really does wonders with the writing.
Initially the pacing felt a bit slow, with so many threads being introduced, but as they wove together it felt much better. The tonal shift as the narrative goes on balanced lighthearted funny moments with quiet anger and heartache. I was also very impressed with the exploration of connection to country, and the instincts we have to make assumptions of people.
I didn't love the omniscient shift in POV that happened occasionally - there were possible workarounds to avoid this. I also didn't buy into the romance between Jo and Twoboy.
It was so wonderful to read a book that felt a little bit like home and childhood for me. I would strongly recommend this to anyone seeking authentic indigenous voices to expand their reading lists with - it's full of power and heart.
"It struck her, as she watched the flow dividing around the bridge posts, that the Buddhists were right. Change was never ending. Nothing in the world stood still for long, and to be alive was to move. They were right, but they had perhaps missed something, too, something key about the Bundjalung world of water and trees and jagan which surrounded her. Everything changes [...] but not at random. There's a deep system and order to it, because everything is forever turning into its own opposite."
Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao
☀️☀️
A long awaited sequel that abandons the most captivating elements from book one in favour of a new disappointing end game.
As a highly anticipated book for me, I hoped for more of the things that made Iron Widow memorable: giant robot battles, authentic female rage, a legitimate love triangle. Instead, Zhao delivered a long, drawn out political takeover manifesto that abandoned all of the adventure and romance in favour of a new tone. This shift wouldn't necessarily have been bad, but the execution is lacking for me in several ways.
The pacing was an issue for me in the beginning, with the minimal plot being spread thin amongst repetitive scenes of the lower classes rising up against oppressors. These scenes were overall very one-dimensional and could have been edited significantly to have better effect. Conversely, the rest of the book had too much content that was rushed over or brushed off without proper exploration, for which the character arcs all suffered. Qin Zheng was interesting but ultimately disappointing; Yizhi was warped beyond recognition and underutilized; Shimin was non existent; Zetian ceased being a "good for her" character and became unlikeable and unreliable.
The worst aspect for me was the writing itself. Zhao's action writing style was difficult for me in Iron Widow but it seemed to be all throughout this book, alongside some terrible out of context language choices like "bloke" and "bugger". I also found the presence of so many modern concepts like jelly shots and menstrual cups too jarring in context to ever find this well conceived worldbuilding.
Honestly I think Zhao lost the plot with this book. There was little good left from book 1, and most of the new additions did nothing to forge a strong or interesting message. Instead we had a ham fisted and unedited narrative that left me disappointed. I don't have an interest in finishing off the trilogy after this instalment.
"Since when did we as a species abide by good sense? Why do cowardly men strike their wives after a reprimand at work? Why do mothers scream at their children after a beating from their husbands? Those unable to conquer their misfortunes take their fury out on more convenient targets."
☀️☀️
A long awaited sequel that abandons the most captivating elements from book one in favour of a new disappointing end game.
As a highly anticipated book for me, I hoped for more of the things that made Iron Widow memorable: giant robot battles, authentic female rage, a legitimate love triangle. Instead, Zhao delivered a long, drawn out political takeover manifesto that abandoned all of the adventure and romance in favour of a new tone. This shift wouldn't necessarily have been bad, but the execution is lacking for me in several ways.
The pacing was an issue for me in the beginning, with the minimal plot being spread thin amongst repetitive scenes of the lower classes rising up against oppressors. These scenes were overall very one-dimensional and could have been edited significantly to have better effect. Conversely, the rest of the book had too much content that was rushed over or brushed off without proper exploration, for which the character arcs all suffered. Qin Zheng was interesting but ultimately disappointing; Yizhi was warped beyond recognition and underutilized; Shimin was non existent; Zetian ceased being a "good for her" character and became unlikeable and unreliable.
The worst aspect for me was the writing itself. Zhao's action writing style was difficult for me in Iron Widow but it seemed to be all throughout this book, alongside some terrible out of context language choices like "bloke" and "bugger". I also found the presence of so many modern concepts like jelly shots and menstrual cups too jarring in context to ever find this well conceived worldbuilding.
Honestly I think Zhao lost the plot with this book. There was little good left from book 1, and most of the new additions did nothing to forge a strong or interesting message. Instead we had a ham fisted and unedited narrative that left me disappointed. I don't have an interest in finishing off the trilogy after this instalment.
"Since when did we as a species abide by good sense? Why do cowardly men strike their wives after a reprimand at work? Why do mothers scream at their children after a beating from their husbands? Those unable to conquer their misfortunes take their fury out on more convenient targets."
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
☀️☀️☀️☀️🌥️
A wonderful continuation of the series which brings the same cozy and whimsical vibes as its predecessor.
Fawcett has once again woven a lovely tale of academic research and adventure. The depth of mythology and worldbuilding within this series is sublime, and having Emily as a conduit of information makes it feel far less dry than it might otherwise. This volume has a much clearer plot purpose from the outset which enabled more time to be spent on character arcs - including some new characters - and adding to the slow but fulfilling romance subplot.
Though I'm sure it's a contentious opinion, I enjoyed reading the more unlikeable aspects of Emily's personality in this book. Her fundamental incompatibility with social niceties and tunnel vision for her work form important parts of her character, and they allowed for lovely growth in this book through her relationships with Ariadne and Rose most obviously, but also with Wendell, whose own failings were more obvious in book 1. The pair of them being so endearing despite their weaknesses is truly beautiful to read and a testament to Fawcett's clever writing.
My minor gripes are the pacing in act two, with a few too many repetitive beats to feel like useful progress; that the initial few diary entries are written a bit too much like regular prose; and that some of the resolutions to issues felt a bit too convenient this time.
I had a delightful time reading this - just in time to pick up book number 3!
☀️☀️☀️☀️🌥️
A wonderful continuation of the series which brings the same cozy and whimsical vibes as its predecessor.
Fawcett has once again woven a lovely tale of academic research and adventure. The depth of mythology and worldbuilding within this series is sublime, and having Emily as a conduit of information makes it feel far less dry than it might otherwise. This volume has a much clearer plot purpose from the outset which enabled more time to be spent on character arcs - including some new characters - and adding to the slow but fulfilling romance subplot.
Though I'm sure it's a contentious opinion, I enjoyed reading the more unlikeable aspects of Emily's personality in this book. Her fundamental incompatibility with social niceties and tunnel vision for her work form important parts of her character, and they allowed for lovely growth in this book through her relationships with Ariadne and Rose most obviously, but also with Wendell, whose own failings were more obvious in book 1. The pair of them being so endearing despite their weaknesses is truly beautiful to read and a testament to Fawcett's clever writing.
My minor gripes are the pacing in act two, with a few too many repetitive beats to feel like useful progress; that the initial few diary entries are written a bit too much like regular prose; and that some of the resolutions to issues felt a bit too convenient this time.
I had a delightful time reading this - just in time to pick up book number 3!
"Rose asked me why I was not more surprised by your feat. He does not understand you as I do, Em, but as you seem to consider him a friend now, I told him the truth: in order to be surprised, I could not have known already that you are capable of anything."
Single Player by Tara Tai
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-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
3.5
Single Player by Tara Tai (audiobook narrated by Natalie Naudus)
☀️☀️☀️⛅
Big thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC audiobook!
This sapphic enemies-to-lovers rom-com balances lighthearted and earnest moments with darker backstory well, though it doesn't stray from the predictable trope-laden path enough to really stand out. I found certain elements of the plot more enjoyable than others - the fake dating element felt a bit unnecessary and overcomplicated in the face of everything else going on, so it also made the second act drag quite significantly in a pacing sense. The end was a little too perfect and saccharine for me but generally I liked the tone.
Cat and Andi were well fleshed out with distinguishable characteristics (further aided by Naudus's superb narration). I especially enjoyed Andi's difficult backstory being the reason behind her grumpy exterior and narrow-minded focus on work. Cat's family situation felt a bit shoehorned in, which alongside the fake dating element didn't work for me in furthering the story when they weren't actually resolved or addressed adequately in the final act. I also found the on-page sex a little jarring with the rest of the book; it struck me as a fade to black sort of book.
There was fantastic representation for queer and non-cis and non-white folks throughout this, and although the nature of racism and sexism were addressed throughout the plot, it felt entirely natural to have a majority queer + BIPOC cast for this story.
For anyone seeking a relatively lighthearted, emotional and rewarding romance arc, this is definitely one to check out.
☀️☀️☀️⛅
Big thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC audiobook!
This sapphic enemies-to-lovers rom-com balances lighthearted and earnest moments with darker backstory well, though it doesn't stray from the predictable trope-laden path enough to really stand out. I found certain elements of the plot more enjoyable than others - the fake dating element felt a bit unnecessary and overcomplicated in the face of everything else going on, so it also made the second act drag quite significantly in a pacing sense. The end was a little too perfect and saccharine for me but generally I liked the tone.
Cat and Andi were well fleshed out with distinguishable characteristics (further aided by Naudus's superb narration). I especially enjoyed Andi's difficult backstory being the reason behind her grumpy exterior and narrow-minded focus on work. Cat's family situation felt a bit shoehorned in, which alongside the fake dating element didn't work for me in furthering the story when they weren't actually resolved or addressed adequately in the final act. I also found the on-page sex a little jarring with the rest of the book; it struck me as a fade to black sort of book.
There was fantastic representation for queer and non-cis and non-white folks throughout this, and although the nature of racism and sexism were addressed throughout the plot, it felt entirely natural to have a majority queer + BIPOC cast for this story.
For anyone seeking a relatively lighthearted, emotional and rewarding romance arc, this is definitely one to check out.
"I believe hope is our beating hearts reminding us that there is still life in this world worth fighting for. That there is still love in this world worth feeling."
The List by Yomi Adegoke
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The List by Yomi Adegoke
☀️☀️☀️☀️
A cutthroat and thought-provoking page turner on the realities of feminism, cancel culture and the undeniable power of the internet.
The plot is simple: a social media power couple are embroiled after the release of The List, a compilation of UK media's male abusers. The fallout is understandably messy from all sides. The whole narrative depicts the varied shades of gray that will never come clean across various social topics in a snappy and unputdownable way.
I appreciated Adegoke's unflinching perspective of Michael, whose point of view in particular is so uncomfortable to read thanks to his very male ability to excuse any horrible behaviour. Ola's perspective is more relatable and nuanced, but she's far from being painted in black and white. The resulting fallout is not neatly resolved but it also doesn't feel wanting of that - the harsh reality was always the point.
In spotlighting online accusations and cancel culture there are several storylines here, one of which was a grey-area false accusation. This arc in particular was interesting to read about, particularly the fallout from its resolution, which felt painfully real. I didn't find this book to be apologist in nature despite these inclusions; I think ignoring these subplots would have hurt the credibility of the concept.
This was a conflicting but rewarding read that really made me think about my own perspective on the topics at hand. If you like other social commentaries like 'Yellowface' this is another hard hitting title to check out.
☀️☀️☀️☀️
A cutthroat and thought-provoking page turner on the realities of feminism, cancel culture and the undeniable power of the internet.
The plot is simple: a social media power couple are embroiled after the release of The List, a compilation of UK media's male abusers. The fallout is understandably messy from all sides. The whole narrative depicts the varied shades of gray that will never come clean across various social topics in a snappy and unputdownable way.
I appreciated Adegoke's unflinching perspective of Michael, whose point of view in particular is so uncomfortable to read thanks to his very male ability to excuse any horrible behaviour. Ola's perspective is more relatable and nuanced, but she's far from being painted in black and white. The resulting fallout is not neatly resolved but it also doesn't feel wanting of that - the harsh reality was always the point.
In spotlighting online accusations and cancel culture there are several storylines here, one of which was a grey-area false accusation. This arc in particular was interesting to read about, particularly the fallout from its resolution, which felt painfully real. I didn't find this book to be apologist in nature despite these inclusions; I think ignoring these subplots would have hurt the credibility of the concept.
This was a conflicting but rewarding read that really made me think about my own perspective on the topics at hand. If you like other social commentaries like 'Yellowface' this is another hard hitting title to check out.
"If there's one thing Dad taught us - God rest his soul - it's to never underestimate the lengths men will go to maintain a lie," she said. "It's the only time they can multitask!"
Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Half A Soul by Olivia Atwater
☀️☀️☀️⛅
A sweet, simple tale that blends romance and fantasy relatively well, but fails to heed its own rules to its detriment.
The worldbuilding was relatively lackluster but easy enough to follow along with: Dora's interaction with a faerie as a child left her with only half a soul, which resulted in her emotional response to things being stifled to the point of awkwardness. She is the black sheep of her family and only tolerated by everyone besides her cousin. When she attracts the attention of the only magician in England who can possibly solve her curse, things get interesting.
The first half of this novel - setting off to London for the season, connecting with the Lord Sorcier, learning about the strange plague - all worked really well and I enjoyed the setup. The second half managed to lose its way in a few respects, mostly owing to the emotional growth and personality change in Dora which shouldn't have happened due to the rules laid out earlier. The moral message was lovely but a bit heavy handed, though that's common for the YA genre.
The romance was sweet overall but very rushed towards the end, particularly from Dora's perspective. I did enjoy their banter but there wasn't enough of it. Elias was moderately interesting but there wasn't enough time spent fleshing out his character to truly connect.
If you want 'Emily Wilde' Lite, this might be for you. As it stands this felt a bit underbaked and juvenile in comparison, but it's still a decent read.
☀️☀️☀️⛅
A sweet, simple tale that blends romance and fantasy relatively well, but fails to heed its own rules to its detriment.
The worldbuilding was relatively lackluster but easy enough to follow along with: Dora's interaction with a faerie as a child left her with only half a soul, which resulted in her emotional response to things being stifled to the point of awkwardness. She is the black sheep of her family and only tolerated by everyone besides her cousin. When she attracts the attention of the only magician in England who can possibly solve her curse, things get interesting.
The first half of this novel - setting off to London for the season, connecting with the Lord Sorcier, learning about the strange plague - all worked really well and I enjoyed the setup. The second half managed to lose its way in a few respects, mostly owing to the emotional growth and personality change in Dora which shouldn't have happened due to the rules laid out earlier. The moral message was lovely but a bit heavy handed, though that's common for the YA genre.
The romance was sweet overall but very rushed towards the end, particularly from Dora's perspective. I did enjoy their banter but there wasn't enough of it. Elias was moderately interesting but there wasn't enough time spent fleshing out his character to truly connect.
If you want 'Emily Wilde' Lite, this might be for you. As it stands this felt a bit underbaked and juvenile in comparison, but it's still a decent read.
"I am sure that every evil man believes himself to be charitable," she told him. "In that respect, at least, you are a true Englishman."
What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
4.25
What You Are Looking For Is In The Library by Michiko Aoyama (translation by Alison Watts)
☀️☀️☀️☀️🌥️
A charming and endearing exploration of the service librarians and the library provide to society with a sprinkle of magical realism for good measure.
This cozy little book is so unassuming at first, but it finds its way into your heart very quickly. Ms Komachi is a mysterious and intimidating figure at the Hatori Community House Library (and is described in some pretty unforgiving ways by the patrons) but she proves to be kind, knowledgeable and instinctively knows how to help each of the five characters we see journey into her library. Each of them have lost their way in some sense, needing guidance on everything from motivation, inspiration, and perceiving ourselves in society, but every chapter is resolved like a warm hug.
I enjoyed the simplistic writing style and equally simplistic premise. Each character's situation was relatable and the paths they took to overcome their issues were believable without always being predictable. The suggestions and gifts from Ms Komachi strike me as such a beautiful way to be seen by a complete stranger, and signals to the importance of such institutions existing as they do. Long story short: libraries are fundamentally important spaces and should never be underestimated!
☀️☀️☀️☀️🌥️
A charming and endearing exploration of the service librarians and the library provide to society with a sprinkle of magical realism for good measure.
This cozy little book is so unassuming at first, but it finds its way into your heart very quickly. Ms Komachi is a mysterious and intimidating figure at the Hatori Community House Library (and is described in some pretty unforgiving ways by the patrons) but she proves to be kind, knowledgeable and instinctively knows how to help each of the five characters we see journey into her library. Each of them have lost their way in some sense, needing guidance on everything from motivation, inspiration, and perceiving ourselves in society, but every chapter is resolved like a warm hug.
I enjoyed the simplistic writing style and equally simplistic premise. Each character's situation was relatable and the paths they took to overcome their issues were believable without always being predictable. The suggestions and gifts from Ms Komachi strike me as such a beautiful way to be seen by a complete stranger, and signals to the importance of such institutions existing as they do. Long story short: libraries are fundamentally important spaces and should never be underestimated!
"While I do believe that it was hard work for my mother to give birth to me, it also took me every ounce of my own strength to endure the extremely difficult process of being born. After all that time inside my mother’s belly growing into a human being with nobody to guide me, all of a sudden I was thrust into an entirely new and strange environment. Imagine what an awful shock it must have been to come into contact with air for the first time, not knowing where I was. Of course I’ve forgotten what that felt like now. But it’s why, whenever I feel happy or glad about something, I count my blessings and think to myself, Now, wasn’t that worth all the effort of being born?"
The Gentleman's Gambit by Evie Dunmore
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
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
4.0
The Gentleman's Gambit by Evie Dunmore
☀️☀️☀️☀️
A complex historical romance that lays emphasis on the history, paving a rich and beautiful path for a cross-cultural romance.
Full disclosure: I've not read the earlier books in this series, so I can't compare this to them. I did, however, discover a great appreciation for now Dunmore treats the historical elements, providing excellent commentary on colonialism, suffragettes, and late century politics in and around the blossoming romance.
Catriona is a remarkably detailed main character whose neurodivergence was a breath of fresh air in historical pieces. Her complicated feelings regarding womanhood and romance/love were wonderful foils to her relationship with Elias. His background was refreshingly spared of harsh stereotypes while still honouring his heritage. Their chemistry was well handled, though the miscommunication towards the end felt too manufactured given their joint intellect.
I was a bit let down by the heist and legal pipeline storylines losing steam so quickly and the resolution of their miscommunication, which didn't feel grandiose enough on scale, but overall I thought this was a really solid book that shifted the focus onto history with much success.
☀️☀️☀️☀️
A complex historical romance that lays emphasis on the history, paving a rich and beautiful path for a cross-cultural romance.
Full disclosure: I've not read the earlier books in this series, so I can't compare this to them. I did, however, discover a great appreciation for now Dunmore treats the historical elements, providing excellent commentary on colonialism, suffragettes, and late century politics in and around the blossoming romance.
Catriona is a remarkably detailed main character whose neurodivergence was a breath of fresh air in historical pieces. Her complicated feelings regarding womanhood and romance/love were wonderful foils to her relationship with Elias. His background was refreshingly spared of harsh stereotypes while still honouring his heritage. Their chemistry was well handled, though the miscommunication towards the end felt too manufactured given their joint intellect.
I was a bit let down by the heist and legal pipeline storylines losing steam so quickly and the resolution of their miscommunication, which didn't feel grandiose enough on scale, but overall I thought this was a really solid book that shifted the focus onto history with much success.
"Do you know how a tree changes shape to grow around an obstruction?" she asked, her voice hollow. "How it develops an unnatural bend, or ugly bulges? [...] I'm wondering how misshapen I am," she whispered. "I wonder how bent out of shape I am from these attempts to exist around some fear, instead of just growing, straight and up, as I should have."
The Boy Who Lived by David Holmes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.5
The Boy Who Lived by David Holmes
☀️☀️☀️⛅
An unflinching look at a life transformed by a single moment.
Holmes is, like most people in the film industry, a relative unknown, despite doubling for one of the most famous people alive. His stunt work across a decades worth of work is most visible in the Harry Potter franchise, which was also the site of an accident which left him a quadriplegic.
The book travels chronologically through David's gymnastics upbringing, his first unlikely stunt jobs and eventually his blissful luck at being the right size and height to be Daniel Radcliffe's stunt double on Harry Potter. He gives wonderful insights into the industry, though many stories are cringeworthy, namely the cruel hazing from other crew and reckless behaviour offset. He also doesn't hesitate to give great detail on the accident itself and what changed for his body afterwards.
The psychological healing process for Holmes is forever in motion, as is his unfortunate physical deterioration, but the second half of the book explores his life post-injury and outlines for me the power of the human spirit - even when he was spiralling and at his lowest, David pushed beyond the limits most people would expect of a person with disability. He continued to live his life (recklessly) and didn't let himself waste away. Many of his actions can't be recommended as such, but the spirit of the book remains such: a disability did not end his life, but merely changed it.
David Holmes is an open book and the journey he takes you on with this book is informative and inspirational without ever veering into trauma porn. I appreciated hearing his perspective on life and the industry.
☀️☀️☀️⛅
An unflinching look at a life transformed by a single moment.
Holmes is, like most people in the film industry, a relative unknown, despite doubling for one of the most famous people alive. His stunt work across a decades worth of work is most visible in the Harry Potter franchise, which was also the site of an accident which left him a quadriplegic.
The book travels chronologically through David's gymnastics upbringing, his first unlikely stunt jobs and eventually his blissful luck at being the right size and height to be Daniel Radcliffe's stunt double on Harry Potter. He gives wonderful insights into the industry, though many stories are cringeworthy, namely the cruel hazing from other crew and reckless behaviour offset. He also doesn't hesitate to give great detail on the accident itself and what changed for his body afterwards.
The psychological healing process for Holmes is forever in motion, as is his unfortunate physical deterioration, but the second half of the book explores his life post-injury and outlines for me the power of the human spirit - even when he was spiralling and at his lowest, David pushed beyond the limits most people would expect of a person with disability. He continued to live his life (recklessly) and didn't let himself waste away. Many of his actions can't be recommended as such, but the spirit of the book remains such: a disability did not end his life, but merely changed it.
David Holmes is an open book and the journey he takes you on with this book is informative and inspirational without ever veering into trauma porn. I appreciated hearing his perspective on life and the industry.
"I also require assistance to go to the toilet - one of my favourite jokes is that I've had more hands up my backside than the cast of The Muppet Show."