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thereadingmum's reviews
775 reviews
The History of Mischief by Rebecca Higgie
4.0
As a warning to other like-minded parents, this is not fully middle-grade. The second last chapter includes topics like sexual acts, teenage pregnancy, homophobia and two uses of the word that is most often corrected to duck. This swearing felt very unnecessary to me and I thought I should warn other parents. If I had known, I wouldn't have let my 10-year-old read this until she was 12 at least. Having said that, my daughter was not deeply affected by this and she loved the book. I only just read this (she's 13 now) and she kept telling me "it's really good" and was pleased I was reading it. So perhaps I'm just overly protective/sensitive, but I would still have preferred knowing.
That said, I really enjoyed this one as an adult. Jessie's voice is convincingly nine-year-old without being annoying for the most part. I loved how Higgie wove a believable fiction from historical facts and each anecdote from "The History" was engaging and characters distinct and likeable.
I got to know the author on social media before reading this book and I am very happy that I love it as much as I like her as a person. Looking forward to her next work.
That said, I really enjoyed this one as an adult. Jessie's voice is convincingly nine-year-old without being annoying for the most part. I loved how Higgie wove a believable fiction from historical facts and each anecdote from "The History" was engaging and characters distinct and likeable.
I got to know the author on social media before reading this book and I am very happy that I love it as much as I like her as a person. Looking forward to her next work.
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I get why Anne Patchett is so beloved now.
State of Wonder is a wonderfully crafted novel. She has a strong voice that draws you in and keeps you there so that I was fully invested from start to finish.
Here's the weird thing though. I was reading this and loving it up to chapter 9. Then I decided to listen to the audio so I could continue reading it while cleaning the house and I didn't love it as much. I asked myself, is it the American voice? I don't think so. I've loved lots of audio books read by Americans. So I'm left thinking some books just don't translate as well to audio despite them being well written. This then makes me wonder if I should give The Secret History another chance.
Anyway, this book is amazing and much better than Tom Lake IMO. If you haven't read Patchett at all, I'd start with this one instead. It's not an easy read and has some deep issues but I flew through this because it's so good.
State of Wonder is a wonderfully crafted novel. She has a strong voice that draws you in and keeps you there so that I was fully invested from start to finish.
Here's the weird thing though. I was reading this and loving it up to chapter 9. Then I decided to listen to the audio so I could continue reading it while cleaning the house and I didn't love it as much. I asked myself, is it the American voice? I don't think so. I've loved lots of audio books read by Americans. So I'm left thinking some books just don't translate as well to audio despite them being well written. This then makes me wonder if I should give The Secret History another chance.
Anyway, this book is amazing and much better than Tom Lake IMO. If you haven't read Patchett at all, I'd start with this one instead. It's not an easy read and has some deep issues but I flew through this because it's so good.
The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Apart from large houses, trains are probably the next favourite setting of a cosy mystery because Christie did them so well.
Ruth Kettering, spoiled daughter of a millionaire, is found strangled and her face bludgeoned, on the Blue Train to Nice and the infamous ruby, Heart of Fire, stolen. Lucky Poirot is on the scene. Again.
The way my brain told me I had read this before was my mistrust of the true murderer from the beginning. Lots of juicy red herrings though, the ruby being one of them.
Another brilliant cosy train murder from the queen of mysteries.
Ruth Kettering, spoiled daughter of a millionaire, is found strangled and her face bludgeoned, on the Blue Train to Nice and the infamous ruby, Heart of Fire, stolen. Lucky Poirot is on the scene. Again.
The way my brain told me I had read this before was my mistrust of the true murderer from the beginning. Lots of juicy red herrings though, the ruby being one of them.
Another brilliant cosy train murder from the queen of mysteries.
Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.
Partly I'm not in the mood for YA fantasy that is part magic realism, part romance. I also feel that stories like these need to be read in an English accent. Somehow the American accent makes it more tawdry. All of which are personal taste rather than anything wrong with the book.
Maude Horton's Glorious Revenge by Lizzie Pook
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
There are a few elements I need when I read historical fiction. Characters that are relatable but also at least moderately believable in context; a setting that puts me sufficiently in time and place; dialogue that is not too obviously out of time; and of course an engaging plot. As long as I have these, I will invariably enjoy the book.
Maude Horton's Glorious Revenge has all these elements. Maude's sister, Constance, stowed away on a ship going to Arctic as a ship's boy. She was murdered on the voyage and Maude is determined to find and bring her killer to justice, whatever form that may take. Believe you me, it is as exciting as it sounds right from the start where Maude confronts the stuffy, male Admiralty.
I took an instant liking to Maude because she showed great strength, resilience and intelligence. Yet, during the story we also see her vulnerable side and we mourn with her when she discovers the details of Constance's death and life.
My one criticism is perhaps that Pook made the villian's voice a bit too normal. He is obviously a psychopath and feels no remorse about taking lives. Yet, his dreams and aspirations seem too run of the mill. Or perhaps that is her point, that psychotic murders can still want a quiet life.
Maude Horton's Glorious Revenge has all these elements. Maude's sister, Constance, stowed away on a ship going to Arctic as a ship's boy. She was murdered on the voyage and Maude is determined to find and bring her killer to justice, whatever form that may take. Believe you me, it is as exciting as it sounds right from the start where Maude confronts the stuffy, male Admiralty.
I took an instant liking to Maude because she showed great strength, resilience and intelligence. Yet, during the story we also see her vulnerable side and we mourn with her when she discovers the details of Constance's death and life.
My one criticism is perhaps that Pook made the villian's voice a bit too normal. He is obviously a psychopath and feels no remorse about taking lives. Yet, his dreams and aspirations seem too run of the mill. Or perhaps that is her point, that psychotic murders can still want a quiet life.
All the Golden Light by Siobhan O'Brien
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
First off, I've never read The Light Between Oceans. However, going by the description, there are a few similarities: post WWI vet returns emotionally scarred and becomes a lighthouse keeper; he meets a lovely female distraction and they fall in love. There is one other minor shared plot point, but that's it.
All the Golden Light is about Adelaide finding love, thinking said love murdered someone, marrying someone else to save her father and herself from ruin and discovering that the man she married is a very troubled man whose demons threaten everything she loves.
I read this in conjunction with another historical fiction novel with a similar main female character. Both are strong, resourceful and have to triumph over domineering males. However, Adelaide makes a few very bad decisions, which are understandable but frustrating to spectate. I also felt the portrait of her father kept flickering between horrible and redeeming so that you get a very confused image. He was overall an unlikeable character so their reconciliation at the end was a bit unbelievable. I think perhaps if she had added in his anguish at losing his wife, Adelaide's mother, it would have gone a ways to filling in the gaps.
The ending was also rather fantastical.Just a day after suffering a miscarraige, Adelaide traipses off to confront her errant husband with a rifle?!
However, compared to the book I read just before this, it was much more enjoyable. Therefore, I've given it a slightly higher rating of 3.75/5.
All the Golden Light is about Adelaide finding love, thinking said love murdered someone, marrying someone else to save her father and herself from ruin and discovering that the man she married is a very troubled man whose demons threaten everything she loves.
I read this in conjunction with another historical fiction novel with a similar main female character. Both are strong, resourceful and have to triumph over domineering males. However, Adelaide makes a few very bad decisions, which are understandable but frustrating to spectate. I also felt the portrait of her father kept flickering between horrible and redeeming so that you get a very confused image. He was overall an unlikeable character so their reconciliation at the end was a bit unbelievable. I think perhaps if she had added in his anguish at losing his wife, Adelaide's mother, it would have gone a ways to filling in the gaps.
The ending was also rather fantastical.
However, compared to the book I read just before this, it was much more enjoyable. Therefore, I've given it a slightly higher rating of 3.75/5.
Salt River Road by Molly Schmidt
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
3.5
This was a book primarily about grief and family. Obviously, I expected it to be sad and that the characters would spiral down. Schmidt writes well and has a good voice. I liked the use of poetry for emotional effect, for about the first half of the book.
That was the point where I began to wonder when the wallowing in the characters' grief would end. I've read such books before, but they were all much shorter. It was a bit like watching Leaving Las Vegas. Brilliant but too depressing. As a reader, while I want to relate and be reminded of the negative elements of life, you also need at least a 60-40 ratio of uplift or comedy to balance the story.
I was especially concerned about the neglected sheep and was very angry that some had to die. Animal abuse is definitely an anger trigger for me.
She did manage to build that crescendo of grief, finally, which I was expecting to end with tragedy. Instead, I felt emotionally manipulated to tear a little when the characters all got along perfectly at the end, which was far too happy clappy for my liking. This is, of course, likely my own grumpy old lady view and I am certain most people would fall in love with this book.
That was the point where I began to wonder when the wallowing in the characters' grief would end. I've read such books before, but they were all much shorter. It was a bit like watching Leaving Las Vegas. Brilliant but too depressing. As a reader, while I want to relate and be reminded of the negative elements of life, you also need at least a 60-40 ratio of uplift or comedy to balance the story.
I was especially concerned about the neglected sheep and was very angry that some had to die. Animal abuse is definitely an anger trigger for me.
She did manage to build that crescendo of grief, finally, which I was expecting to end with tragedy. Instead, I felt emotionally manipulated to tear a little when the characters all got along perfectly at the end, which was far too happy clappy for my liking. This is, of course, likely my own grumpy old lady view and I am certain most people would fall in love with this book.
My Brilliant Sister by Amy Brown
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75