charlieinwonder1and's reviews
42 reviews

DallerGut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.5

I loved the concept of this book much more than the book itself. I loved the novel ideas and the themes explored, but I really didn’t get on with how it was written. I find text chopped up by lots of dialogue to be stilted and it interrupts the flow in the narrative for me. It was a quick, easy read and still enjoyable, but I will not be reading the sequel. 

The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

I didn’t know anything about this book going into it and I think that made it really exciting and made me want to read on. I loved the style of prose, it reeled me in and I adored watching Maggie grow up. I think this is such an insight into all the trappings of being a girl in the era where it’s set and it makes me grateful to have all the freedom I do in the modern age. I would recommend to anyone who loves classics, love stories, family drama or beautiful writing. 

Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang

challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

This remains a 5 star read because the themes and some of the lines from this book are burned into my brain forever. Such a completely different reading experience the second time around and in audio form as well, but still just as compelling. It’s also particularly relevant to one of my university philosophy modules at the moment, which is an added bonus this exam season. 

The Ghost Ship by Kate Mosse

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

There was certainly lots of drama and suspense, which I do love in a book. However, I wasn’t totally transported to that world or captivated by the characters in the way that I wanted to be. 

MOB Veggie: Feed 4 or more for under £10 by Ben Lebus

informative medium-paced

3.0

Super helpful and really looking forward to making some of these. Love that each recipe comes with a song, I thought that was a really nice touch. 

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

I don’t know why it took me so long to finish this book. I kept returning to it, but never making much progress, until I finally finished the final half in a sprint. This was such an innovative concept and I loved how we got to explore so many places in the world during different eras through Addie’s eyes. Even if there were no huge surprises or plot twists, I still had to keep reading to see how the characters would react and I was rooting for Addie the whole time. 

The Last Storyteller by Donna Barba Higuera

adventurous inspiring 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? No

4.0

I think, at our heart, humans are storytellers and this book really shows the significance of that. It’s how we connect to each other and to our past. I found the relationships between the characters really moving and thought this was such an interesting take on what our future might look like. 

Danny, the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl

adventurous medium-paced

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

4.0

I always remembered loving this book when I was younger, but found I had forgotten most of it when I was re-reading it this time. I think this was lucky because it was like getting to experience it for the first time all over again! What a great lighthearted and fun read to start the year off. 

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

5.0

Every time I read this series again, it just gets better. There is so much depth and symbolism and it is one of the only dystopias I will read. 

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

The eldritch horror in this book is so satisfying and it is one of my all-time favourite reads.