melc's reviews
1191 reviews

Spoilt Creatures by Amy Twigg

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dark reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

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dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Paris By Starlight by Robert Dinsdale

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 28%.
Loved the premise but slow and muddled.
Normal Women: Nine Hundred Years of Making History by Philippa Gregory

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informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

In Pursuit of Love: The Search for Victor Hugo's Daughter by Mark Bostridge

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 46%.
Like other reviewers I thought this would be a compelling biography about a family torn apart and interesting discussions surrounding feminism, patriarchy and the use of asylums in the 19th century. However, I grew tired of the author's rambling style and the interjections he made about his own life and experiences. I lost interest in this halfway through and DNFd.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.
Dead Man's Folly by Agatha Christie

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lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The Burial Plot by Elizabeth Macneal

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adventurous mysterious 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? Yes

3.0

Everything Is Extraordinary: True Stories about How We Live, Love and Pay Attention by Cole Moreton

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funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.5

This is a thought-provoking collection of stories from Moreton's life as a journalist reflecting on small moments of significance that helped him see life in a new way. From the rich and famous to the spiritual and political greats to a young refugee these encounters reflect on the power of story and the transformative influence of inspiration, faith and determination. Touched with moments of humour, Moreton's down to earth and, at times, vulnerable narrative is warm and humble. An enjoyable, inspiring read.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.
The People in the Trees by Hanya Yanagihara

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 51%.
I wish I hadn't wasted a week of my reading getting halfway through this book. It was an ambitious undertaking which could not be criticised for its execution. However, the reading experience was pages and pages of dull accounts I had no interest in, told by a hateful, hard to read narrator interspersed with moments of vividly described child abuse.
I could not bring myself to embark on another week towards completing this book.
Tiananmen Square by Lai Wen

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
This was a book I was super interested in as it was an historic event I was keen to look at from the lens of fiction, helping me to understand the political situation more and better moved by the chatacters' involvement with the tragedy. But the writing style of this novel was distracting. I just felt it was poorly written with a repetitive use of language, weird pacing, and patchy characterisation. I wanted to journey with these characters but could not emotionally engage due to the clunky writing.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.