ellpeck's reviews
91 reviews

Jews Don't Count by David Baddiel

challenging informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

Now, I’m not jewish. I feel the need to point this out right off the bat because I’m not a big fan of talking about political problems that I don’t have any personal experience with. That being said, I am from Germany, and the troubles surrounding antisemitism have been absolutely drilled into our heads as schoolchildren. Even moreso did it make me feel very uncomfortable about my own observation skills, as well as my own (lack of) political interest in this topic, that this book proves that antisemitism goes mostly ignored when it comes to debate around racism, religious freedom and cultural identity. 

If you want to educate yourself on political topics that you don’t have much personal experience with (as you should!), Jews Don’t Count is a great read. It’s aimed at leftists like me and probably you, and it aims to shine a light on the way that antisemitism is treated in the Western world in the current times. As it turns out: It’s treated very poorly. The book, however, treats the topic it’s about with respect, brings up a lot of current day examples to illustrate the issues, and is only about 150 pages long, making it deliver a very quick, but also very powerful, message. 

Something Like Summer by Jay Bell

medium-paced

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

2.0

Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

The book, whose title is far too long, is about Rosaline Palmer, a bisexual single mother who makes the terrible (but great) decision of joining what is essentially a not-so-trademarked version of the British Bake-Off, only with exactly the same amount of chaos and hilarity. When that isn’t currently the main thing messing up her life, it’s also about her relationship with a very, uh, lovely man, the relationship with her daughter, and the relationship with her excellent and sexy friend Anvita (her words, not mine). 

Hi Alexis, if you’re somehow reading this: I am begging you to make a second book that is just about Grace Forsythe and her life. Please. I’ll do anything.
 

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

challenging emotional funny inspiring lighthearted 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

 Boyfriend Material was the first book written by Alexis Hall that I had the pleasure of reading. And I found out pretty quickly that he is an absolutely fantastic author. His writing is incredibly funny, but also deeply emotional and touching in certain places. It’s an amazing mix. 

Boyfriend Material is about two guys who have absolutely no business falling in love… falling in love. Luc works at a charity for some sort of beetle that has (surprisingly) little significance in the story, and Oliver is some sort of fancy lawyer-type person. Luc’s friends are incredibly funny (not just their personalities, but also the way they’re presented), and the way that Luc and Oliver interact is delightfully embarrassing, but also incredibly cute. There’s also two characters called James Royce-Royce and James Royce-Royce. I promise I’m not making that up. 

The book is a great first step in discovering the amazing, witty and hilarious writing of Alexis Hall. 

The Princess Trap by Talia Hibbert

challenging emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

4.0

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

4.5

Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World by Matt Parker

funny informative slow-paced

3.75

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

emotional funny lighthearted 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

 

Talia Hibbert is also one of my favorite authors. She writes brilliantly about diverse people, be that sexuality, race, personality or illnesses. Out of the three Brown Sisters books, Act Your Age, Eve Brown is by far my favorite. 

The book is written from both perspectives on a per-scene and per-chapter basis, and it is a fantastic read. The relationship between the two main characters is hilarious, and with Eve

actually getting a job from the very guy whom she ran over with her car (yes, really)

, it is quite the rollercoaster, to say the least. 

Yum, fudge.

Men Who Hate Women by Laura Bates

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

challenging emotional funny hopeful 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