Reviews

The L-Shaped Room by Lynne Reid Banks

romcm's review against another edition

4.0

I don’t know how long I’ve been carrying this book around, believing it to be one of my favorites. I thought this would be a re-read but I actually had no memory of the story at all. It’s pretty damn racist. Surprisingly so. And dated in many other ways as well. But the writing was lovely.

flamingkaty's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective relaxing sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

pnwlisa's review

So racist. Reviews promise that that will lessen but I’m almost halfway through and can’t stomach anymore. 

smayp's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

robbiiiiieeeee's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

emilybh's review

4.0

I'm so glad I found this book. Aside from its importance as a feminist text first published in the 1960s, it's just a really good read. Jane Graham is a very endearing, lovable protagonist and the cast of characters Reid Banks places around her are very good as well. More than anything, it's the portraits of the boarding house's occupants in their differently decorated rooms that sticks in your mind, and Jane's relationship with her own L-shaped room, which she improves and grows to love. Apart from the dodgy characterisation of Jane's black neighbour John (future editions could perhaps edit some of these clumsy lines out) Reid Bank's novel is one of the best I've read in a while.

eayelizabeth's review

3.0

I struggled to enjoy this book at the beginning with the prejudices in it being so blatant and blunt but I pushed through and found myself enjoying it on the whole. The friendships built between the protagonist and other characters are definitely what kept me entertained.

astrid_mills_'s review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

bethgramon's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny sad tense slow-paced

4.25

Although a product of its time (1960), I did enjoy it. There was a lot of character development and reflecting which always gets me. 

abbie_'s review against another edition

Can’t pick up a good book for the life of me at the minute!