annaki_laila's reviews
164 reviews

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

slow-paced

2.0

Some interesting social commentary but it was kind of painstaking to read and also the deaths got a bit much.

I think Mrs Hale's death was treated well in terms of time given to her and time spent by Margaret grieving - it was quite affecting. But the other deaths were so quick, which was fine for the first one, but then it happened again, and again... it was too much. Of course people can die suddenly and without 'reason', deaths can happen and feel senseless, but it was just a lot of death to the point that my perspective of the novel is now 'the one about everyone dying and Margaret being left alone' rather than 'the one about strikes and workers' rights and complex social ties'.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent

Moderate: Suicide

The Immortal Soul Salvage Yard by Beth May

5.0

The Truth About Keeping Secrets by Savannah Brown

dark hopeful mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

Scary and beautiful. Reminded me at times of 'I Am Not Okay With This' (big compliment). Made me a little teary and made me scream silently when the tension was ramping up. All-round wonderful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Lesbophobia

Moderate: Homophobia, Toxic relationship

Emma by Jane Austen

3.0

The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Plays by Oscar Wilde

3.0

A mixed bag. Skipped 'An Ideal Husband' during act one because I found it boring. My favourite was 'A Woman Of No Importance'.

Blue Water by Leonora Nattrass

medium-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? No

3.5

It had tense moments, but I definitely wouldn't class it as a thriller like the blurb does. However it was still a fun read, especially after about halfway as that's when I (finally) got to grips with all the characters at play. The first-person narration in a report style was a particularly enjoyable element.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Slavery

Minor: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Racial slurs

Footprints: In Search of Future Fossils by David Farrier

informative reflective sad slow-paced

3.5

The literary links were long-winded and skippable at times, so I could've done with less of that, but overall it was an interesting - if a little depressing here and there - read.

Orlando by Virginia Woolf

slow-paced

1.0

An incredible disappointment which has put me off the possibility of reading any more Woolf. When reading Mrs Dalloway, there were plenty of moments when the writing got away from itself and I completely lost what Woolf was actually talking about, but the plot and characters made up for that by being decently interesting. Orlando severely lacked those redeeming factors for me, and so when the writing got away, it got away. By the end of it I was heavily skim-reading and it would've been a DNF, but my frustration powered me through, I guess.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Colonisation

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

dark reflective fast-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

The kind of book that just feels... solid. Like you get to the end and it feels truly complete. It was also wonderful in the way it was so easy to slip into thinking these characters were real; it scratches that itch of delving into celebrity without actually involving real-life celebrities, with all the good and the bad that comes from fame. Immersive is the word I'm looking for, essentially.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse

Moderate: Alcoholism, Car accident, Lesbophobia

Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, Racism, Suicide, Abortion

The Ruin of All Witches: Life and Death in the New World by Malcolm Gaskill

dark informative slow-paced

3.0

Some boring moments, some interesting moments. I'm not a usual reader of history books so the depth of detail on the boring bits was both unexpected and unwanted - but it's a thorough description of a moment in time, so I can still see the appeal. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death

Minor: Mental illness