amandat's reviews
576 reviews

Cranford: and other stories by Elizabeth Gaskell
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.

First half is delightful, but the extra stories and novellas are flat and boring compared to the ladies of Cranford. 

Peace by Chocolate by Jon Tattrie

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad fast-paced

4.0

First half is amazing but second half hits a little differently in 2024 considering the current political climate.  Just a bit too gushing and naive for my taste.

The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple by Jeff Guinn

informative slow-paced

4.0

Comprehensive and very detailed account of Jim Jones and Peoples Temple.

Safe at Home by Alison Gordon

dark mysterious fast-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? No

2.0

Outdated plot, attitudes and language.  But the author (RIP) was a fantastic writer.

The Great Halifax Explosion: A World War I Story of Treachery, Tragedy, and Extraordinary Heroism by John U. Bacon

dark informative medium-paced

2.0

There's a lot of information in this book that don't belong here.  Plus his research on the explosion and the interviews are taken from the work of other authors.  Not the best book on this very important, but somewhat forgotten topic.

Exit Strategy by Martha Wells

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

Not quite as good as the first book, but better than the last two.

A Newfoundlander in Canada: Always Going Somewhere, Always Coming Home by Alan Doyle

funny informative reflective relaxing fast-paced

5.0

Alan Doyle's love letter to Canada.  The man can really tell a story!

A Killer in King's Cove by Iona Whishaw

mysterious slow-paced

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

1.5

It's so painfully long and slow.  Way too much background about characters not central to the paper thin plot.

The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman's Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay, and Disaster by Sarah Krasnostein

dark emotional sad medium-paced

5.0

Not quite what I expected, but what a fascinating person Sandra was.  

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

1.0

Ugh.  I shouldn't have finished this book.  But I got stubborn and ignored the warnings of a terrible ending.  A mystery that is never solved.  Frustrating.