elydy's reviews
115 reviews

Hinton by Mark Blacklock

2.0

I didn't get this book at all. Some pretty passages but otherwise not for me.

Autumn by Ali Smith

2.5

I didn't really vibe with the style of this book or the characters, for the most part. Just wasn't for me I think.

There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak

3.0

I didn't love this as much as I expected! The ancient Mesopotamia themes are fun, and I enjoyed Arthur's early days in particular, as well as Narin's relationship with her grandma. But I didn't really gel with the writing style, and thought the author's stance was a bit blunt.

The Waste Land and Other Poems by T.S. Eliot

4.0

I love the Waste Land - it's a beautifully constructed poem. It's a bit obscure at points but the ache and decay of the modern world really comes through. There are some other great ones in here, as well as one or two I wasn't so keen on.

Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life by C.S. Lewis

4.0

Slightly harder work than I expected but I really enjoyed this. His definition of Joy as an aching desire for eternity really struck me, and his point about feeling joy and examining that joy being two different things. A fascinating man.

Death and the Penguin by Andrey Kurkov

3.0

Bleak and a bit too abstract for me at points, but does a great job of immersing you in the world. Absolutely love the penguin - Misha and Sonya's relationship is my favourite bit!

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

4.0

I really enjoyed this! Moody, reflective character study. I'm biased but I liked the conclusion to his theme of religion here.

The Seeds of Time by John Wyndham

3.5

Interesting ideas, some explored quite satisfyingly, and a fun range of subgenre. I especially liked Pawley's Peepholes and the concept of the dumb martian. It was all just very 1950s especially in the men/women dynamics and some of the stories were a bit dissatisfying.

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

5.0

I sobbed reading this. Faith, loss, family, gratitude. Clearly I love books about kind mild old men reminiscing on their lives. Painfully beautiful.

The Three Theban Plays: Antigone, Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocles

4.0

I really enjoyed these. Short and gripping & interesting character dynamics. Plus some really beautiful writing!