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amyvl93's reviews
902 reviews
Mr. Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo
challenging
inspiring
medium-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? Yes
5.0
I picked up <i>Mr Loverman</i> after loving <i>Girl Woman Other</i> and within a few pages knew this would also be a favourite for me!
This novel follows Barrington, a Antiguan migrant to the UK in his 70s who has settled in Hackney with his wife Carmel and has had two daughters, as well as building a respectable property portfolio. He cares about his style, his nights-out and most importantly his long-time friend and lover Morris. After decades of this affair the novel follows him grappling with what could happen if he decides to make a radical, honest change in his life.
Barrington is a great protagonist - whilst not always easy to like given his decades-long affair, his internalised homophobia towards men who are more effeminate and his at times pretty brutal misogyny - he is also someone who has battled years of confusion about who he is and how he can love the people he wants to. There was a particular passage about holding hands with Morris that nearly made me cry on the tube. Morris is drawn as a great foil to Barry, a calming presence to Barry's drama - and I also loved (though should have expected this) that Evaristo didn't make Carmel a straightforward scorned woman. Her own secrets come to the fore here, as does her sadness at having been abandoned by a man she changed her life for and her strong feelings about correct household decor (love the plastic on the sofas).
Evaristo brings every setting in the novel to life - from Antigua, to the changing Hackney over the years, to Soho - and all of our supporting characters from the daughters to his annoying ambitious grandson to the Carmel's school friends- feel vivid and real. I really recommend this.
This novel follows Barrington, a Antiguan migrant to the UK in his 70s who has settled in Hackney with his wife Carmel and has had two daughters, as well as building a respectable property portfolio. He cares about his style, his nights-out and most importantly his long-time friend and lover Morris. After decades of this affair the novel follows him grappling with what could happen if he decides to make a radical, honest change in his life.
Barrington is a great protagonist - whilst not always easy to like given his decades-long affair, his internalised homophobia towards men who are more effeminate and his at times pretty brutal misogyny - he is also someone who has battled years of confusion about who he is and how he can love the people he wants to. There was a particular passage about holding hands with Morris that nearly made me cry on the tube. Morris is drawn as a great foil to Barry, a calming presence to Barry's drama - and I also loved (though should have expected this) that Evaristo didn't make Carmel a straightforward scorned woman. Her own secrets come to the fore here, as does her sadness at having been abandoned by a man she changed her life for and her strong feelings about correct household decor (love the plastic on the sofas).
Evaristo brings every setting in the novel to life - from Antigua, to the changing Hackney over the years, to Soho - and all of our supporting characters from the daughters to his annoying ambitious grandson to the Carmel's school friends- feel vivid and real. I really recommend this.
Girl A by Abigail Dean
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Another book club pick which I don't think I would have picked up otherwise. <i>Girl A</i> is the story of Lex Gracie, who has been known in popular culture as 'Girl A', the oldest daughter of the Gracie family whose rescue from their 'House of Horrors' was a major news story in their childhood. Lex has an established legal career in New York, far away from memories of home, but when her mother dies in prison, leaving the home to the children, she is forced to reunite with her siblings.
The story splits between revealing the events that led up to the children's rescue - starting relatively innocuously and then becoming increasingly sinister as her father becomes more and more radicalised in his view of religion and what that means for the family - and the modern day, and getting a bit of a round-up as to where the other siblings are now and how they've coped (or not) with their lives since.
This was an engaging read, I was interested to find out about the different Gracie siblings and the story of their escape from the House of Horrors. There were some stereotypes here - Lex being into rough sex because of trauma, her being treated by a quirky unorthodox therapist in the hospital and the final plot twist felt a little unnecessary. There are also moments of greater darkness, namely when it comes to Ethan the oldest sibling and Lex's brother, but we don't really delve into that very much. There were also points where weirdly it felt quite American in style - odd since Dean is English - I wasn't sure if this was to speak to Lex's separation, but there were definitely times where this felt like it wasn't really set anywhere. It does feel ready for a TV adaptation - so I'd be unsurprised seeing this popping up on Netflix.
The story splits between revealing the events that led up to the children's rescue - starting relatively innocuously and then becoming increasingly sinister as her father becomes more and more radicalised in his view of religion and what that means for the family - and the modern day, and getting a bit of a round-up as to where the other siblings are now and how they've coped (or not) with their lives since.
This was an engaging read, I was interested to find out about the different Gracie siblings and the story of their escape from the House of Horrors. There were some stereotypes here - Lex being into rough sex because of trauma, her being treated by a quirky unorthodox therapist in the hospital and the final plot twist felt a little unnecessary. There are also moments of greater darkness, namely when it comes to Ethan the oldest sibling and Lex's brother, but we don't really delve into that very much. There were also points where weirdly it felt quite American in style - odd since Dean is English - I wasn't sure if this was to speak to Lex's separation, but there were definitely times where this felt like it wasn't really set anywhere. It does feel ready for a TV adaptation - so I'd be unsurprised seeing this popping up on Netflix.
Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala
informative
medium-paced
3.5
This was really compelling written and I found the passages that particularly focused on education and Akala's experience of pretty overt racism within the classroom to be shocking and a real call for change. I also appreciated Akala's honesty about what draws young black boys in particular into gang culture within our cities, coming from a place of real experience and understanding rather than some of the misguided not from the community campaigns.
My criticisms are that women feel largely absent from a book about race and class - he talks about his challenging relationship with his white mother (who I admit I felt for which may not have been the point) and makes passing reference to his sister (MS DYNAMITE!) but doesn't really reflect on how race, class and gender collide to make life even harder for women of colour in Britain. I also can't say I agreed at all with the slightly strange chapter defending Fidel Castro - he had some interesting points about messengers of change, but I'm not sure Castro - who oversaw numerous human rights abuses - is a man to celebrate, regardless of his views on social status and the environment.
My criticisms are that women feel largely absent from a book about race and class - he talks about his challenging relationship with his white mother (who I admit I felt for which may not have been the point) and makes passing reference to his sister (MS DYNAMITE!) but doesn't really reflect on how race, class and gender collide to make life even harder for women of colour in Britain. I also can't say I agreed at all with the slightly strange chapter defending Fidel Castro - he had some interesting points about messengers of change, but I'm not sure Castro - who oversaw numerous human rights abuses - is a man to celebrate, regardless of his views on social status and the environment.
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
<i>Wide Sargasso Sea</i> has been on my to-read list for ages as I've always been intrigued by this 'prequel' to <i>Jane Eyre</i> which focuses on Bertha, or the mad woman in attic.
This novel opens in Jamaica shortly after slavery has been abolished in the British Empire - Antoinette lives with her mother and disabled brother in a decaying house as they have fallen into poverty after losing their main income. Her mother remarries a wealthy English man, and shortly after the family are chased from their home by emancipated slaves, angry that wealth remains concentrated with white colonisers - and Antoinette's story largely declines from there.
Far from being the apparently romantic lead of Jane Eyre, in this novel Mr Rochester emotionally manipulates Antoinette (who he renames Bertha), allowing himself to have his opinions of her twisted by rumours of her mental ill-health and close relationship with a local woman he believes to practice black magic. This felt slightly vindicating as someone who was never a huge fan of him - and speaks to the misogynistic experience of women being married off to men who hardly know them.
Rhys establishes the sense of place really well although I did find the pace dipped in and out all over the place - there were times that this felt like a fever dream in a not so great way. Outside of Antoinette, her mother Annette and at a push Rochester, there's not great character development here either - the supporting characters feel very supporting and is some cases more like stereotypes.
This novel opens in Jamaica shortly after slavery has been abolished in the British Empire - Antoinette lives with her mother and disabled brother in a decaying house as they have fallen into poverty after losing their main income. Her mother remarries a wealthy English man, and shortly after the family are chased from their home by emancipated slaves, angry that wealth remains concentrated with white colonisers - and Antoinette's story largely declines from there.
Far from being the apparently romantic lead of Jane Eyre, in this novel Mr Rochester emotionally manipulates Antoinette (who he renames Bertha), allowing himself to have his opinions of her twisted by rumours of her mental ill-health and close relationship with a local woman he believes to practice black magic. This felt slightly vindicating as someone who was never a huge fan of him - and speaks to the misogynistic experience of women being married off to men who hardly know them.
Rhys establishes the sense of place really well although I did find the pace dipped in and out all over the place - there were times that this felt like a fever dream in a not so great way. Outside of Antoinette, her mother Annette and at a push Rochester, there's not great character development here either - the supporting characters feel very supporting and is some cases more like stereotypes.
Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? by Jeanette Winterson
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
This was the first book I picked up for my new book club, and I'm glad to have finally been able to read this. A memoir of Jeanette's childhood and adolescence, it covers the events that ultimately inspired the fiction novel <i>Oranges are Not the Only Fruit</i> which I haven't read but am keen to pick up now.
Jeanette grew up in Lancashire in the north of England, adopted into an incredibly religious household - driven largely by her adopted mother, a devout Pentecostal. This memoir reflects on her childhood, where she seeks solace in secret novels and spends hours locked in the coalhouse for various misbehaviours, into her teenage years where she begins to explore her sexuality and into adulthood, and her search for her biological family.
It's a quite affecting memoir - although I think the parts about her childhood were the most impactful for me. The timelines do jump around a lot meaning the reading experience, for me, wasn't always as engaging as I wanted it to be - and I often felt frustrated being pulled out of writing I was enjoying.
Jeanette grew up in Lancashire in the north of England, adopted into an incredibly religious household - driven largely by her adopted mother, a devout Pentecostal. This memoir reflects on her childhood, where she seeks solace in secret novels and spends hours locked in the coalhouse for various misbehaviours, into her teenage years where she begins to explore her sexuality and into adulthood, and her search for her biological family.
It's a quite affecting memoir - although I think the parts about her childhood were the most impactful for me. The timelines do jump around a lot meaning the reading experience, for me, wasn't always as engaging as I wanted it to be - and I often felt frustrated being pulled out of writing I was enjoying.
The Bread the Devil Knead by Lisa Allen-Agostini
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.0
In <i>The Bread the Devil Knead</i>, Allen-Agostini has created a really wonderful protagonist in Alethea. Alethea lives in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, where she manages a clothes store, is having an affair with her boss and is also in an abusive relationship with her long-time partner, a frustrated singer. Alethea truly jumps out of page, and whilst there are times she is incredibly frustrating, I liked spending time with her.
I gelled slightly less with the plot of this novel, which given the challenging topics it tackles, feels a little harsh. It felt as its strongest when reflecting on Alethea's abusive childhood, and when dipping into the day-to-day life Alethea had created for herself (a strong sense of style juxtaposed against her habit of wearing a uniform, her bubbly narrative voice against her being largely a closed book). The 'plot' as such felt a bit too neat and tidy for me - a woman having an affair is murdered by her lover, with the police warning Alethea she is at risk of a similar state if she doesn't either leave her partner or end her affair. Within the same days, she sheds her closed book approach and decides to befriend a shop colleague (even reflecting herself this is unlike her), has a coincidental meeting with a long-lost family member and an old school friend. Whilst this does drive the narrative forward, as it gives Alethea the opportunity to reflect on the past and think about what her possible future could be - it all felt a little bit too neat which again, I'm conscious is a strange thing to say about a book which deals with many difficult, messy things.
I gelled slightly less with the plot of this novel, which given the challenging topics it tackles, feels a little harsh. It felt as its strongest when reflecting on Alethea's abusive childhood, and when dipping into the day-to-day life Alethea had created for herself (a strong sense of style juxtaposed against her habit of wearing a uniform, her bubbly narrative voice against her being largely a closed book). The 'plot' as such felt a bit too neat and tidy for me - a woman having an affair is murdered by her lover, with the police warning Alethea she is at risk of a similar state if she doesn't either leave her partner or end her affair. Within the same days, she sheds her closed book approach and decides to befriend a shop colleague (even reflecting herself this is unlike her), has a coincidental meeting with a long-lost family member and an old school friend. Whilst this does drive the narrative forward, as it gives Alethea the opportunity to reflect on the past and think about what her possible future could be - it all felt a little bit too neat which again, I'm conscious is a strange thing to say about a book which deals with many difficult, messy things.
Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
emotional
funny
reflective
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
I wasn't expecting this to be my favourite of the Women's Prize shortlisted books - this was a novel that was everywhere but I had slightly badged as being part of the 'messy millennial fiction' trend and I feel quite bad that I nearly skipped over this.
At the centre of <i>Sorrow & Bliss</i> is Martha - a woman who has just turned 40 and has lived a, from the outside, a life of privilege. When the novel opens, her husband has just moved out of their home in a Oxford new build estate and Martha has returned to her parents home, to reflect on her life and the mental illness that has had at times, devastating consequences on the life she wants to lead.
Her narrative is at times frustrating, but ultimately moving - she's funny and heartbreaking to be around all at once. Her frustrated sculptress mother feels that Martha just demands attention, her not-really-a-writer father is loving but largely frozen when it comes to helping her - with only Patrick (her husband) and her sister coming close to supporting her. I found this to be a really compelling depiction of mental illness, and the impact it can have on those around you.
At the centre of <i>Sorrow & Bliss</i> is Martha - a woman who has just turned 40 and has lived a, from the outside, a life of privilege. When the novel opens, her husband has just moved out of their home in a Oxford new build estate and Martha has returned to her parents home, to reflect on her life and the mental illness that has had at times, devastating consequences on the life she wants to lead.
Her narrative is at times frustrating, but ultimately moving - she's funny and heartbreaking to be around all at once. Her frustrated sculptress mother feels that Martha just demands attention, her not-really-a-writer father is loving but largely frozen when it comes to helping her - with only Patrick (her husband) and her sister coming close to supporting her. I found this to be a really compelling depiction of mental illness, and the impact it can have on those around you.
Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-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? Yes
4.0
I picked up Build Your House Around My Body as it was longlisted for the Women's Prize, and although it didn't make it to the shortlist it was probably one of my favourite reads that I got to. A twisty, magical realism novel set in Vietnam - it reminded me quite a lot of David Mitchell's novels.
I can appreciate people feeling there is a lot going on in this novel, but I just really let it sweep me up into it, and whilst there were parts that didn't feel as successful as others, I really enjoyed seeing the way the different narratives twisted together. I can't quite believe this is a debut novel and I'm so excited to see what Kupersmith writes next.
I can appreciate people feeling there is a lot going on in this novel, but I just really let it sweep me up into it, and whilst there were parts that didn't feel as successful as others, I really enjoyed seeing the way the different narratives twisted together. I can't quite believe this is a debut novel and I'm so excited to see what Kupersmith writes next.
Beach Read by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I picked this up a couple of years ago and a first holiday since 2019 where I was near a beach felt like the perfect time to read this cute and fun Beach Read. The novel follows January, who has recently broken up with her boyfriend, lost her father and discovered an unsettling family secret all of which is severely damaging her ability to write the new romance novel her publisher is expecting. Living in her father's beach house for the summer, she bumps into Gus, an old college rival who is a Serious Fiction Writer also suffering from writer's block. They challenge each other to borrow each other's genres, and hilarity (and love) ensues.
Yes it was blindingly obvious how the story was going to end from the beginning, but I really warmed to this novel. January was a compelling lead who didn't overreact (too) much to the key plot devices, and her experience of grief felt real. Gus was a suitably grumpy male love interest, but never felt rude or like you didn't want him and January to work out. Henry also peppers in a cast of fun supporting characters, from January's best friend to her Mum to Pete who runs the bookstore in town. I enjoyed this much more than I expected, and will be keen to read You & Me on Vacation soon.
Yes it was blindingly obvious how the story was going to end from the beginning, but I really warmed to this novel. January was a compelling lead who didn't overreact (too) much to the key plot devices, and her experience of grief felt real. Gus was a suitably grumpy male love interest, but never felt rude or like you didn't want him and January to work out. Henry also peppers in a cast of fun supporting characters, from January's best friend to her Mum to Pete who runs the bookstore in town. I enjoyed this much more than I expected, and will be keen to read You & Me on Vacation soon.
The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
3.5
I picked up The Final Revival of Opal & Nev as it was longlisted for the Women's Prize, was in paperback and felt like it'd be a good holiday read. And it was. It is the story of a fictional rock duo made up of Opal Pearl, a black woman from the US, and Nev Charles, a white man from England who had a brief stint of fame hinging around a moment of violence at a concert, before she became relatively quiet and he went on to greater and greater success in pop music. It's told in interview format to a journalist, who has a connection to the band and who is the first black editor of a popular music magazine.
If the format and rough synopsis sounds familiar, it's because Opal & Nev has had some heavy comparison to the much-loved Daisy Jones & The Six, and I think whilst the former also deals with race and the role that played in the music scene at the time; I found myself feeling very similar about both novels. Walton did an amazing job at creating a music history that felt incredibly real; Opal, Nev, the record management, other band members, all felt incredibly real - as did the magazine that the journalist is writing for. However, like Daisy Jones, I didn't really warm to either of the lead characters, and the interview format didn't help with that, as we were just getting glimpses of them based on their own interpretation of events and the thoughts of others about them.
It's definitely a fun read, I flew through it, and I'd be interested to see what Walton writes next.
If the format and rough synopsis sounds familiar, it's because Opal & Nev has had some heavy comparison to the much-loved Daisy Jones & The Six, and I think whilst the former also deals with race and the role that played in the music scene at the time; I found myself feeling very similar about both novels. Walton did an amazing job at creating a music history that felt incredibly real; Opal, Nev, the record management, other band members, all felt incredibly real - as did the magazine that the journalist is writing for. However, like Daisy Jones, I didn't really warm to either of the lead characters, and the interview format didn't help with that, as we were just getting glimpses of them based on their own interpretation of events and the thoughts of others about them.
It's definitely a fun read, I flew through it, and I'd be interested to see what Walton writes next.