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melc's reviews
1191 reviews
Breakdown by Cathy Sweeney
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
There There by Tommy Orange
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The Axeman's Carnival by Catherine Chidgey
adventurous
funny
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? No
4.0
This unique novel is by an author who seems to want to prove she can turn her hand to anything. She's so comfortable in her craft that this novel narrated by a magpie, is woven playfully darting between humour and tension effortlessly. The themes of objectification, the influencer culture and Hunan attitudes towards animals she explores here are interestingly handled and come through the plot alone resulting in me as a reader never feeling lectured to or bored by any authorial soapbox. A truly oneoff reading experience.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.
Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Coast Road by Alan Murrin
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Vulture Capitalism: Corporate Crimes, Backdoor Bailouts, and the Death of Freedom by Grace Blakeley
Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.
Just too much was over my head.
There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak
Did not finish book. Stopped at 49%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 49%.
Normally I adore Shafak and was really looking forward to this release.
However, I am sad to say this was not for me. Characteristic of Shafak it contains her usual blend of culture, storytelling and philosophy.
But there were two aspects to the flow of this novel that meant I felt removed from the characters and prevented me from connecting with the story -
1. The blend of historical and scientific fact which constantly wove around the story made me feel like I was reading an encyclopedia and disrupted the flow of the plot and the character development. It was like there could have been endless footnotes in this novel but they were contained in the prose but none the less still felt like asides all the time to me. I could see how they related but felt like interruptions which distracted me constantly.
2. I really dislike plotlines that have the kind of pacing where an event in someone's life is introduced and then we see the development and effect of this within the next few paragraphs. I prefer a slower more convoluted plot development that feels more nuanced.
I'm so disappointed and DNFd at 50% but I will still follow Shafak in the future as I think she is intelligent and insightful.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.
However, I am sad to say this was not for me. Characteristic of Shafak it contains her usual blend of culture, storytelling and philosophy.
But there were two aspects to the flow of this novel that meant I felt removed from the characters and prevented me from connecting with the story -
1. The blend of historical and scientific fact which constantly wove around the story made me feel like I was reading an encyclopedia and disrupted the flow of the plot and the character development. It was like there could have been endless footnotes in this novel but they were contained in the prose but none the less still felt like asides all the time to me. I could see how they related but felt like interruptions which distracted me constantly.
2. I really dislike plotlines that have the kind of pacing where an event in someone's life is introduced and then we see the development and effect of this within the next few paragraphs. I prefer a slower more convoluted plot development that feels more nuanced.
I'm so disappointed and DNFd at 50% but I will still follow Shafak in the future as I think she is intelligent and insightful.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.
Bewilderment by Richard Powers
adventurous
informative
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0