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theshiftyshadow's reviews
329 reviews
Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan
funny
reflective
fast-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
3.25
The Sally Rooney comparison seems lazy and obvious but, just like when I read Normal People, I'm not sure I liked anyone in this book but I was very invested in finding out what would happen to them. I'm not sure how I feel about the ending though, it felt very much like a decision that was made for Ava, rather than one she made herself, so that's probably knocked half a star off.
I loved the little notes on the Irish/Dublin way of speaking English and the many little jabs at the English in general.
I loved the little notes on the Irish/Dublin way of speaking English and the many little jabs at the English in general.
Crow Lake by Mary Lawson
emotional
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
3.5
The bits set in the narrators childhood were really engaging and I was really drawn into that year in her young life, but the framing used for it, and the reveal of the "big" point of conflict was disappointing. I think the past sections would have worked just as well on their own, and could even have been fleshed out a bit with multiple points of view.
The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I was all set to give this 5 stars and then the ending just knocked it down to 3.
There's a really good story here but it felt quite cold and detached for the most part, despite what was happening in the hospital. And weirdly enough the pandemic setting didn't bother me, but a story about the relentless trauma of being a woman is probably not something I should be reading at the moment, as the news is full of it this past week. Wrong book, wrong time, I think.
There's a really good story here but it felt quite cold and detached for the most part, despite what was happening in the hospital. And weirdly enough the pandemic setting didn't bother me, but a story about the relentless trauma of being a woman is probably not something I should be reading at the moment, as the news is full of it this past week. Wrong book, wrong time, I think.
Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book deals with the legacy of the LA Riots of 1992 for two families, one black, one Korean, and how events of the past catch up with them in 2019.
A currently very relevant read as it deals with the racial tensions between the black and Korean communities in certain parts of LA in and around the time of the riots. That's not something I was aware of but have seen several mentions of it very recently in relation to the ongoing wave of anti-Asian violence in the US at the moment.
This book does a very good job of putting the characters first. We learn about history, about the endless problems with policing, prison, racism, and violence in America, but it's almost by osmosis. We deal with the very personal stories of these families and through them we see the bigger picture.
It's a challenging read that left me with more questions than answers, and a list of things I need to read up on, but it's a worthwhile read.
A currently very relevant read as it deals with the racial tensions between the black and Korean communities in certain parts of LA in and around the time of the riots. That's not something I was aware of but have seen several mentions of it very recently in relation to the ongoing wave of anti-Asian violence in the US at the moment.
This book does a very good job of putting the characters first. We learn about history, about the endless problems with policing, prison, racism, and violence in America, but it's almost by osmosis. We deal with the very personal stories of these families and through them we see the bigger picture.
It's a challenging read that left me with more questions than answers, and a list of things I need to read up on, but it's a worthwhile read.
A Ghost In The Throat by Doireann Ní Ghríofa
challenging
dark
slow-paced
2.0
This book was so hyped throughout 2020 in Ireland and I'm really struggling to see why. The "autobiographical" bits are semi interesting, but the historic stuff labours the point a bit and I was so relieved when I discovered the last 30ish pages were just the poem and not more of the same.
Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This is a really interesting premise but the execution just doesn't work for me.
The subject matter is much too dark for the tone of the rest of the book. The rules about how the imaginary friends work seem to change to suit the plot, as does how much Buddo knows or doesn't know about certain things. It just makes it very messy, confusing at times, and personally I found it all extremely flat, emotionally. I just didn't care about any of the characters or what would happen to them.
The subject matter is much too dark for the tone of the rest of the book. The rules about how the imaginary friends work seem to change to suit the plot, as does how much Buddo knows or doesn't know about certain things. It just makes it very messy, confusing at times, and personally I found it all extremely flat, emotionally. I just didn't care about any of the characters or what would happen to them.
The Followers by Rebecca Wait
dark
tense
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
3.75
While this deals with quite dark subject matter, and is very intense at times, it's also quite an easy read. It doesn't shy away from the reality of the story it's telling but it doesn't linger on the horrors of it, and it's not overly graphic. The juxtaposition of Judith and Moses' POVs, alongside the various adult POVs, work really well to illustrate the attraction of Nathaniel and his Ark to the adults, compared to the instinctual nature of the children, even Moses who was born in the Ark, that things weren't right.
This is the second of Rebecca Wait's books that I've read and they both dealt with some really dark themes, but in a quite restrained and thoughtful way, allowing the characters to react in natural and believable ways in the face of tragedy and trauma.
This is the second of Rebecca Wait's books that I've read and they both dealt with some really dark themes, but in a quite restrained and thoughtful way, allowing the characters to react in natural and believable ways in the face of tragedy and trauma.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I enjoyed this book but I also felt like I'd read it before. There was nothing new about any of it, apart from the wonderful descriptions of the marsh and it's ecology, and how that knowledge helped Kya understand and navigate the human world around her.
The Shepherd's Hut by Tim Winton
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5