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frednamode's reviews
43 reviews
What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton
Did not finish book. Stopped at 49%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 49%.
Boring as all hell, too much self pity, should have stayed between her and her therapist
The Power by Naomi Alderman
challenging
dark
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Wow
The Surface Breaks by Louise O'Neill
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Feminist retelling of the little mermaid?? One hundred percent
Some of the male characters were a little two dimensional, clearly only there as plot devices, the sexism was a little on the nose: ‘if she wasn’t my daughter...’ we all know how trump finished that sentence so I can’t say the author writes unrealistic characters, but the bad guys felt wholly bad and the good guys were faultless - it would have been nice to see more dimensions and moral dilemmas for our protagonist (but assuming this is targeted as a YA novel it makes sense)
Some of the male characters were a little two dimensional, clearly only there as plot devices, the sexism was a little on the nose: ‘if she wasn’t my daughter...’ we all know how trump finished that sentence so I can’t say the author writes unrealistic characters, but the bad guys felt wholly bad and the good guys were faultless - it would have been nice to see more dimensions and moral dilemmas for our protagonist (but assuming this is targeted as a YA novel it makes sense)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Eating disorder, Sexual assault, and Suicide
Minor: Homophobia
The Witch's Way: A Guide to Modern-Day Spellcraft, Nature Magick, and Divination by Leanna Greenaway, Shawn Robbins
informative
fast-paced
2.5
More about Wicca than witchcraft, and very focused on angels.
Brings nothing new and doesn’t cover the bases particularly well either
Brings nothing new and doesn’t cover the bases particularly well either
Pride: The Unlikely Story of the True Heroes of the Miner's Strike by Tim Tate
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
5.0
This is the book that radicalised me
Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
Couldn’t keep up with so many characters, and it’s definitely aged
Groundbreaking for it’s time and it’s been recommended to me so much so I might try again next year
Groundbreaking for it’s time and it’s been recommended to me so much so I might try again next year
How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
Who doesn’t want to be Oscar Wilde’s alcoholic lesbian sister?
Moran writes such beautifully believable characters, with real hopes and insecurities.
I was totally absorbed from the first page to the last word, unable to put it down.
And having a main character who is still overweight when they become their ideal self!! Not an ounce of fat shaming to be seen! I can’t express how happy that makes me!
Moran writes such beautifully believable characters, with real hopes and insecurities.
I was totally absorbed from the first page to the last word, unable to put it down.
And having a main character who is still overweight when they become their ideal self!! Not an ounce of fat shaming to be seen! I can’t express how happy that makes me!
Stop What You're Doing and Read This! by Mark Haddon, Blake Morrison, Carmen Callil, Maryanne Wolf, Jane Davis, Nicholas Carr, Jeanette Winterson, Michael Rosen, Zadie Smith, Tim Parks
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
taught me how to fall in love with books again
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This book will always hold a special place in my heart