flyingfox02's reviews
264 reviews

Undiscovered by Gabriela Wiener

slow-paced

1.0

Thank goodness that's over.

What I'd Rather Not Think About by Jente Posthuma

reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

How could I have been so stupid. For 70% of this book I thought it was a memoir, but it's actually fiction 😭 It made me emotionally detach from the narrative slightly. But that it could fool me like that, I guess it was really authentic and moving? I really enjoyed it, and I don't say this about a lot of books but it could be worth a reread.

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Did not finish book. Stopped at 29%.

Superb writing but the plot and pace are letting me down. Will come back to it at some point.

A Flat Place by Noreen Masud

emotional reflective medium-paced

3.75

I don't think listening about nature works for me, it took a while to connect with the narration on flatlands. Orkney was interesting though. As for the story of the author's life, it was poignant and sad. Maybe reading the book would've been better because her writing is beautiful.

But the audiobook narrator Shazia Nicholls did a great job. I could almost believe she was the author herself.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

challenging slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No

1.75

I didn't get most of it.

On Palestine by Ilan Pappé, Noam Chomsky

challenging informative inspiring sad medium-paced

4.5

"There is a difference between a peace train that takes us all to a better destination, which is the peace process that we don't have, and the peace train that runs over everyone on the way to the so-called peace." - Ilan Pappé

"For those concerned with the rights of the brutalised Palestinians, there can be no higher priority than working to change US policies." - Noam Chomsky

Noam Chomsky and Ilan Pappé are two absolutely brilliant thinkers and activists. Their arguments are intelligent, well thought-out, and enlightening. The ideas collected in this book are so important in understanding the history behind the Israel-Palestine "issue". They also outline what must be done now and in the future to create a free Palestine state.

This book was published after the 2014 massacre on Gaza by Israel but the discussions within it are now more relevant than ever. Just change the 2014 to 2024, fifty day massacre to six month ongoing genocide, and 2200 Palestinians killed to 31000. In their discussion, Chomsky and Pappé were hopeful that "in the near future" things would get better. However here we are, a decade later, and Israel is still allowed to commit grotesque crimes with impunity. This made for a very depressing read.

I'm taking half a star off my rating because I felt the "dialogues" part of the book didn't work that well for me. It was essentially a transcription of conversations between Chomsky and Pappé, and I couldn't read their tone at times. It might've been better as an essay.

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A thrilling family drama spanning decades that explores racism, colourism within a race, classism, transgender issues, identity, and more. It was a little slow-going at first, but I think the pacing was excellent for the rest of the book, as we follow multiple perspectives from Stella and Desiree (the twins who abruptly left their hometown), their own daughters Jude and Kennedy, and other people in their lives. I really enjoyed reading this book, the author didn't dawdle at any point. I loved the story of Jude and Reese, theirs was my favourite. Which is why this book isn't perfect because I was expecting more of a spotlight on the twins and the divergence within their lives. I also think there could've been a little more emotional depth, to understand each character deeper, their choices, fears, etc. Still overall an impressive read.

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

dark slow-paced

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

1.5

Nearly brought me to tears from how dull it was.

Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

Tony, it will be okay.

Unruly: A History of England's Kings and Queens by David Mitchell
Did not finish book. Stopped at 6%.

Has the potential to be boring. I just won't try.