patrick2024's reviews
118 reviews

Songs for the Dead and the Living by Sara M Saleh

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.0

I liked reading of this family experiencing ordinary often unfair life experiences. Layered through the voice of displaced Palestinians which added authenticity rather than overpowering the story.
I felt it ended suddenly with the main voice abandoned which was unfulfilling but on reflection is part of the point.

Days of Innocence and Wonder by Lucy Treloar

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

3.0

An away win with a late goal.
Authentic Australian noir.

Stolen by Ann-Helén Laestadius

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adventurous dark tense slow-paced

3.5

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

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dark emotional funny mysterious reflective fast-paced

4.5

An amazing authentic narrative voice that makes you feel like one and the same with all the highs and all the lows.
Whilst riffing on cancel culture all the players are so archetypical that little room is left for nuance as one might experience in real life. Somewhat mocking yet whole point of the book?

Babel by R.F. Kuang

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mysterious slow-paced

2.5

The Seamstress of Sardinia: A Novel by Bianca Pitzorno

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emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

Trespasses by Louise Kennedy

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.0