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christinam's reviews
95 reviews
The Girl with the Hazel Eyes by Callie Browning
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Girl With The Hazel Eyes is a historical fiction novel using the country's journey towards independence, as a backdrop for discussing racism, poverty, colonialism, mental health, and patriarchy.
Browning's writing flows beautifully and evokes vivid imagery. Her descriptions of life during the 1950s and 60s in Barbados reminded me of anecdotes from my own family. So much so that many times while reading, I put the book down to call my mom or auntie to learn more about their experiences.
This book allowed me to connect with and think about my Bajan heritage in a way I hadn't before. For that, I'm truly grateful.
Browning's writing flows beautifully and evokes vivid imagery. Her descriptions of life during the 1950s and 60s in Barbados reminded me of anecdotes from my own family. So much so that many times while reading, I put the book down to call my mom or auntie to learn more about their experiences.
This book allowed me to connect with and think about my Bajan heritage in a way I hadn't before. For that, I'm truly grateful.
Sorry I Missed You by Suzy Krause
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Suzy Krause tackles ghosting and the feelings that come along with it in her second novel Sorry I Missed You. Our main characters Maude, Sunna and Mackenzie have all been ghosted by someone very important to them. Regret, guilt, abandonment and remorse are just a few of the feelings they've been grappling with as a result. A soggy, unaddressed "Sorry I missed you" letter shows up in their joint mailbox. All they can make out is a suggested meeting at a coffee shop at an unspecified date and time. The trio begrudgingly bands together to figure out who the letter was intended for with each individual hoping its for them.
"The ghost isn't the person; it's the feelings attached to the person."
These ladies are not simply looking for the people who ghosted them to come back into their lives, they are also seeking closure, understanding and even forgiveness.
I think we all experience some kind of ghosting in our lives and I think the quote above rings true. It's not just the absence that bothers us, everything that comes with it. Like not understanding the why we've been ghosted or the guilt of not saying your piece when you had the chance.
While this book is a little predictable and marches to the beat of its own drum, it is certainly enjoyable. If you like stories that go off the beaten track, I'm sure Sorry I Missed You will tickle your fancy.
"The ghost isn't the person; it's the feelings attached to the person."
These ladies are not simply looking for the people who ghosted them to come back into their lives, they are also seeking closure, understanding and even forgiveness.
I think we all experience some kind of ghosting in our lives and I think the quote above rings true. It's not just the absence that bothers us, everything that comes with it. Like not understanding the why we've been ghosted or the guilt of not saying your piece when you had the chance.
While this book is a little predictable and marches to the beat of its own drum, it is certainly enjoyable. If you like stories that go off the beaten track, I'm sure Sorry I Missed You will tickle your fancy.
The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert
4.0
It was a really fun read. Light and fun fluffy. It made me want to eat all the time! So much amazing food.
What's a Girl Gotta Do? by Sparkle Hayter
4.0
It was my first time reading something a mystery book but I loved it. I just couldn't put it down. I recently started watching "Murphy Brown" a TV show from the 80s and Robin reminded me so much of Murphy it was crazy. I found quire a few different characters and their character traits were reminiscent of the various characters on that show. Over all a really great read.
Lucky Jonah by Richard Scrimger
4.0
Scrimger has been one of my favourite authors for years. Lucky Jonah is a great coming of age novel. I quite enjoyed the slight element of fantasy to this story. It's a great way of demonstrating how one's understanding can grow and deepen when you've walked a someone else's shoes.
One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
3.0
Solid read. I appreciated the story being told from the different points of view of the characters. This novel explores Machiavellianism in an interesting way by having two contrasting views to demonstrate the complexities of this topic.
The Cook by Wayne Macauley
4.0
This was something. I enjoyed and hated it at the same time. That ending though..It's one of those books that, for a moment, made me rethink eating meat.
It took a while to get into the rhythm of the book. The lack of punctuation drove me crazy at first. But once you started to understand Zac, the easier it was to read.
This is not a book for food lovers with a soft stomach. This book is dark, filled with gore and will force you to think about all of the steps that go into your food.
It took a while to get into the rhythm of the book. The lack of punctuation drove me crazy at first. But once you started to understand Zac, the easier it was to read.
This is not a book for food lovers with a soft stomach. This book is dark, filled with gore and will force you to think about all of the steps that go into your food.
The Rathbones by Janice Clark
3.0
This is up there with one of the most difficult books I've read. Not because the topic or the plot is hard to follow but just because it feels like it goes on forever. I almost decided to give up on it altogether. Its very detailed and descriptive. I'm glad I finished it, but it wasn't nearly as satisfying as I would have liked.
A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.
4.0
I chose to read this book on the recommendation of a friend. He didn't give me much to go on other than it was a well written dystopian novel. That should have been my first clue.
I have never felt more hopeless about humanity than after reading this book. Setting aside the infuriating close mindedness of Christianity the way in which history is destined to repeat is self was soul crushing.
It takes a little while to understand exactly whats happening as each section of the story is separated by some 600 years but the theme, story, and inevitable outcome was crystal clear by the end. Some readers might find the end of the book hopeful as the monks set off to continue crusade across the galaxy, but all I could see was the destruction which was bound to continue.
I have never felt more hopeless about humanity than after reading this book. Setting aside the infuriating close mindedness of Christianity the way in which history is destined to repeat is self was soul crushing.
It takes a little while to understand exactly whats happening as each section of the story is separated by some 600 years but the theme, story, and inevitable outcome was crystal clear by the end. Some readers might find the end of the book hopeful as the monks set off to continue crusade across the galaxy, but all I could see was the destruction which was bound to continue.