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connormills93's reviews
31 reviews
Queer as Folklore: The Hidden Queer History of Myths and Monsters by Sacha Coward
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
An amazingly put together collection of stories which helps read between the lines of many different forms of history and folklore.
This being my first history based book I found myself completely enthralled in the concept and the facts, much to the annoyance of friends as I would retell another surprising tale. Everything was formatted really well and I found myself easily being able to follow the thought thread of each case or argument on why the tale was relevant.
The only reason I didn’t rate the book 5 stars is only down to the fact as this was my first history based book I found myself slightly loosing interest when I was unsure of a topic or not easily understanding it and having to read at a slower pace, a personal gripe and in no way a reflection on the book itself.
Enjoyable and eye opening.
This being my first history based book I found myself completely enthralled in the concept and the facts, much to the annoyance of friends as I would retell another surprising tale. Everything was formatted really well and I found myself easily being able to follow the thought thread of each case or argument on why the tale was relevant.
The only reason I didn’t rate the book 5 stars is only down to the fact as this was my first history based book I found myself slightly loosing interest when I was unsure of a topic or not easily understanding it and having to read at a slower pace, a personal gripe and in no way a reflection on the book itself.
Enjoyable and eye opening.
Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly
5.0
I couldn’t have asked for more from this book. I felt such a deep relation to the characters that was only enhanced by the beautiful writing. The look at how the relationships developed through historical and current events kept me invested throughout but what stood out was the emotional core of the main characters and how this tied them together, it’s also one of the few books I found myself giggling to myself at.
Girls by Kirsty Capes
2.0
Just finished and this is such a tough book to rate, honestly there were so many times in the first 150 pages I nearly packed this in and had I not had a TBR shorter than than my patience for continual trauma dumping I would have.
The main crux of the main characters motivation for me felt heavy handed and having had experienced some of the themes of the childhood abuse and the ways you react and survive in those situations I felt the portrayal true and the ripple of those feelings into adulthood felt right, but only after two paragraphs of hand holding emotional language exposition did it feel you were ever allowed into anything on a deeper emotional interest, think more along the lines of, you’ve lost something do you feel sad or angry and not the more nuanced emotions you would come to expect from this author inparticular.
Yet when the second act of the book opens up it’s almost as if you can physically feel the author actually enjoying themselves and this book becomes a different beast altogether, the hand holding is dropped for subtle indications and every character is given a depth and a point of view that had been lacking. I laughed out loud and physically gasped and found myself being excited to jump back into the story whereas before it felt more chore than choice.
The story winds down nicely all be it again little heavy handed, almost like writing an angry WhatsApp and focusing on pointless information and ultimately ending up in a circle, a relationship I literally rolled my eyes at getting more attention than it ever needed in the first place but that’s just my opinion but it still kept me ticking along if not once again a little impatient. Do I think I’d recommend it, probably not, do I think it’s worth peoples time, sure. Think of it as a holiday read on hard mode, passing and happening but also not the centre of the universe.
The main crux of the main characters motivation for me felt heavy handed and having had experienced some of the themes of the childhood abuse and the ways you react and survive in those situations I felt the portrayal true and the ripple of those feelings into adulthood felt right, but only after two paragraphs of hand holding emotional language exposition did it feel you were ever allowed into anything on a deeper emotional interest, think more along the lines of, you’ve lost something do you feel sad or angry and not the more nuanced emotions you would come to expect from this author inparticular.
Yet when the second act of the book opens up it’s almost as if you can physically feel the author actually enjoying themselves and this book becomes a different beast altogether, the hand holding is dropped for subtle indications and every character is given a depth and a point of view that had been lacking. I laughed out loud and physically gasped and found myself being excited to jump back into the story whereas before it felt more chore than choice.
The story winds down nicely all be it again little heavy handed, almost like writing an angry WhatsApp and focusing on pointless information and ultimately ending up in a circle, a relationship I literally rolled my eyes at getting more attention than it ever needed in the first place but that’s just my opinion but it still kept me ticking along if not once again a little impatient. Do I think I’d recommend it, probably not, do I think it’s worth peoples time, sure. Think of it as a holiday read on hard mode, passing and happening but also not the centre of the universe.
Middle of the Night by Riley Sager
3.0
This book basically reads as a Jason Blum film with some A24 stylings, well in my head anyway. It takes a few chapters to get the engine up and running after that great opening but stays pretty consistent throughout.
There’s not really anything new introduced to the horror or crime genres and it does become predictable towards the end, one big reveal did leave me slightly rolling my eyes as it seemed very telegraphed but even though not revolutionary what it does do it does well which is a compelling horror tinged who done it which is easy to pick up and put down.
There’s not really anything new introduced to the horror or crime genres and it does become predictable towards the end, one big reveal did leave me slightly rolling my eyes as it seemed very telegraphed but even though not revolutionary what it does do it does well which is a compelling horror tinged who done it which is easy to pick up and put down.
Yr Dead by Sam Sax
5.0
I devoured this book greedily. It had a dream like quality that completely captivated me and made the gut punch blows of the situations and experiences that more devastating.
There were pages I had to put to memory in the way I loved them and had to recite these to my partner in order to gain a new perspective or to understand them deeper.
Some of the ways the author describes feeling, or more importantly the lack of it towards certain situations felt like a mirror and helped me even understand my self through reading the words put in another way or context.
Beautiful and hideous.
There were pages I had to put to memory in the way I loved them and had to recite these to my partner in order to gain a new perspective or to understand them deeper.
Some of the ways the author describes feeling, or more importantly the lack of it towards certain situations felt like a mirror and helped me even understand my self through reading the words put in another way or context.
Beautiful and hideous.
Survive the Night by Riley Sager
2.0
If I could 1.5 star it if I would. A great idea at times executed well, but for the most part it dragged. Also the sympathy for the devil thing really annoyed me, I don’t know why but that was one of the single most corny lines I have ever read. I’ve enjoyed other Riley books a lot more so maybe it’s me but wholly disappointing.
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
5.0
A beautifully written book which had me gripped from the start. Funny and devastating in equal measure.
Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh
3.0
My first book from this author and wow I was not expecting all of well, that. The writing style was amazing, in particular the way in which the writer was able to blend between the characters effortlessly. I just, found a certain boredom that I couldn’t shake, and when I finished the book I couldn’t really work out did I enjoy it or not. I’m glad I read it but I’m maybe not falling over myself to recommend it.