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peckreadsbooks's reviews
509 reviews
Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence
adventurous
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield
mysterious
sad
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? No
4.0
The Doloriad by Missouri Williams
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Mantel Pieces: Royal Bodies and Other Writing from the London Review of Books by Hilary Mantel
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Eating disorder
Treacle Walker by Alan Garner
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
dark
emotional
funny
medium-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? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Suicide
Swing Time by Zadie Smith
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.25
I finished Swing Time a few days ago. After reading White Teeth as my first Zadie Smith earlier in the year, which I didn't reaallly vibe with - I can say Swing Time has changed my mind.
The book is set in London, and centres two brown girls from Willesden - who both dream of becoming dancers. It is a sort-of-coming-of-age style narrative as we follow the two childhood friends as their lives take different paths. Tracey and our unnamed narrator have similar beginnings, but end up in very different places.
The narrative style and the plot following two female childhood friends reminded me a lot of Elena Ferrante's Lenu and Lila from the Neapolitan quarter of novels. Smith skilfully pays attention to the kindness of friendship, but also at times, the jealousy and frustration that can arise in people who are close, yet somehow far away.
when reading, it felt like a film. It has a far-reaching plot, starting from a Willesden estate to globe-trotting from country to country. I'd love to see an adaptation of this as I feel the narrative style and clever plotline really lends itself to the cinema.
I have a copy of On Beauty by Smith that i'll be trying to get to soon on the back of how much I enjoyed this.
The book is set in London, and centres two brown girls from Willesden - who both dream of becoming dancers. It is a sort-of-coming-of-age style narrative as we follow the two childhood friends as their lives take different paths. Tracey and our unnamed narrator have similar beginnings, but end up in very different places.
The narrative style and the plot following two female childhood friends reminded me a lot of Elena Ferrante's Lenu and Lila from the Neapolitan quarter of novels. Smith skilfully pays attention to the kindness of friendship, but also at times, the jealousy and frustration that can arise in people who are close, yet somehow far away.
when reading, it felt like a film. It has a far-reaching plot, starting from a Willesden estate to globe-trotting from country to country. I'd love to see an adaptation of this as I feel the narrative style and clever plotline really lends itself to the cinema.
I have a copy of On Beauty by Smith that i'll be trying to get to soon on the back of how much I enjoyed this.
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
I just didn't vibe with it. I may try again in the future, but then again. Probably not.