bookish_things_london's reviews
152 reviews

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

adventurous emotional reflective tense

4.0

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. Suzanne collins has become my go-to author for a quick read that I can fly through, without sacrificing substance and some decent character development. This third book does raise a moral dilemma that wasn't explored too much for a YA novel but also doesn't assume the reader isn't capable of understanding deeper/darker themes.

All Among the Barley by Melissa Harrison

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense

5.0

I had never heard of this book until I spotted it in a charity shop recently, and something about it drew me to it. I read it shortly afterwards, and it blew me away! It’s a coming of age story set against the backdrop of old rural England, just as farming was becoming more modern with the wider use of machinery, but the vibe is more that of ‘The Bell Jar,’ with the main character, Edith, looking back on a short period of her life, in first person. Well worth a read.

The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence

3.0

I loved The Book That Wouldn't Burn, so I was fully expecting to love this one just as much, but unfortunately, it really disappointed.

The writing wasn't nearly as tight, with details dismissed rather than a proper attempt to explain them, and just a general lack of care. Some parts didn't wholly make sense, and there were times when the reader is told something, but there lacked evidence to give reason to believe it. 

There was also far too much ideology dumped into it, which was subtler in the previous book, and it became quite irritating at times; the characters really laid it on thick, resulting in me tiring of them, rather than empathising with their situation; Celcha was pretty insufferable. The worst part though, was that the Sci-fi element (this is not a straight fantasy book) got really convoluted and made the whole plot confusing, and it became a distraction. This book felt like someone try to mimic Mark Lawrence wrote it. Such a shame.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

4.0

The Hunger Games books are great if you want quick reads that still have substance. They’re YA but not filled with too much angst - the dystopian context helps to ground the plot and characters, so that they can be enjoyed by both younger and older readers. I preferred book one, but Catching Fire is still a solid read.

The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide

reflective relaxing slow-paced

3.0

This is a slice of life type novel from the perspective of a man who, along with his wife, befriend the neighbours’ cat. It’s fine as a gentle and quick read, but I’m not sure what point the author’s making, if any, and it meanders at times in a way that makes it a bit dry to read. 
It’s also a bit odd as the couple never had children yet react to this cat as though it’s their child. Not sure if that was intentional. I love cats (and don’t have kids) but this aspect came across weirdly in the book.

A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I picked up this randomly because I liked the title - I’ve not read anything by John Connolly before, but it sounded intriguing. If you like coming of age stories, exploration of grief, and cooing with change, then this will likely be for you. It accomplishes all of that but within a dark fantasy setting, with a bit of a Wizard of Oz vibe. I loved this book so much. Just sink into it and enjoy!

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

slow-paced

2.5

I was really expecting to enjoy this book, but I found it so underwhelming! The writing was fine, but the characters were irritating and bland, so I didn't care if anything happened to them, and barely anything scary happened. It seems to work well as a TV/film adaptation, so maybe I prefer this genre on screen?

T. Minus Tower by Derek Maitland

funny reflective

4.0

I’ll need some time to reflect on this novel, but my initial thoughts are that it’s written very well, the humour is silly but written in a way that doesn’t feel too ridiculous to grasp to connect with. If you’re interested in themes such as the military-industrial complex, and the backdrop of the Vietnam war, I’d highly recommend this! A meaty novel, without feeling heavy, and I flew through it. 

Mitosis by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous fast-paced

2.0

I've read Steelheart, and although I'm not usually into YA writing, I enjoyed the world building and premise of that book enough that I decided to continue reading the series. That being said, this novella, was really disappointing. The writing was mediocre, as though Sanderson couldn't be bothered, and the plot was so simplistic that it read more like middle grade. I realise novellas are limited because of their length, but Mitosis seems like nothing more than a cash grab.