mergwenthur's reviews
87 reviews

Marie Antoinette by Antonia Fraser

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emotional informative slow-paced

3.0

Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin

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emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing tense 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? It's complicated

3.5

Normal People by Sally Rooney

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emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

3.5

I read the entire book in an Irish accent
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

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

5.0

One Day by David Nicholls

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

4.0

The Brontes by Kathryn White

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informative sad fast-paced

4.0

The Turn of the Screw and The Aspern Papers by Henry James

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mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

On Savage Shores: How Indigenous Americans Discovered Europe by Caroline Dodds Pennock

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emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

This is a must read! An incredibly interesting part of history which, as the book discusses, is often unknown.

Caroline was very honest and real about her intentions for this book and she constantly reiterates how she is not speaking FOR Indigenous people. Throughout, she also explains why she is/isn't using certain terminology which is key to discussions around colonialism. 

Personally, I know very little about Indigenous history but overall the contents were easy to follow! There were definitely times when I had to flick back because a few different people had been mentioned but I struggle with that in general (fiction and nonfiction) and I know if I read it again it'll be easier. 

Caroline pretty much uncovers a wide range of Indigenous history (in Europe) detailing both enslaved and free people which is also so important!