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libbysbookshelf's Reviews (745)
DJINN PATROL ON THE PURPLE LINE by DEEPA ANAPPARA
Women’s Prize Longlist #13
A story about children who go missing from a small town in India that leads a trio of nine year old school friends to become detectives. Aspects of this book reminded me of The Curious Incident; the childlike narration of such a serious topic, the detective/mystery storyline, the dramatic irony that comes with the reader being one step ahead of the narrator. Unfortunately, these were the elements of the book that I found tedious.
What I did enjoy about this book was the immersion in the Indian culture - I always love it when books describe food in detail
Women’s Prize Longlist #13
A story about children who go missing from a small town in India that leads a trio of nine year old school friends to become detectives. Aspects of this book reminded me of The Curious Incident; the childlike narration of such a serious topic, the detective/mystery storyline, the dramatic irony that comes with the reader being one step ahead of the narrator. Unfortunately, these were the elements of the book that I found tedious.
What I did enjoy about this book was the immersion in the Indian culture - I always love it when books describe food in detail
HEARTSTOPPER VOLUME 2 by ALICE OSEMAN
Once again I have spent the last hour smiling my til my face hurts! Is there anything cuter than first love?! I love the illustrations and I especially enjoy Oseman’s attention to detail around foot placement!
Lovely lovely lovely.
Once again I have spent the last hour smiling my til my face hurts! Is there anything cuter than first love?! I love the illustrations and I especially enjoy Oseman’s attention to detail around foot placement!
Lovely lovely lovely.
HEART STOPPER VOLUME 1 by ALICE OSEMAN
I had a huge grin on my face the whole time I was reading this. How lovely and sweet. I didn’t know it was English and set in a school so it was nice to understand all the pop and cultural references (as opposed to Pumpkin Heads, which I also loved but it was set in America).
I love graphic novels when I just need a quick boost of happiness and I love a good boy meets boy love story. Perfect little slice of happiness. I can’t wait to read the rest in the series.
I had a huge grin on my face the whole time I was reading this. How lovely and sweet. I didn’t know it was English and set in a school so it was nice to understand all the pop and cultural references (as opposed to Pumpkin Heads, which I also loved but it was set in America).
I love graphic novels when I just need a quick boost of happiness and I love a good boy meets boy love story. Perfect little slice of happiness. I can’t wait to read the rest in the series.
THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS by ARUNDHATI ROY
Winner of the Booker Prize in 1997.
This is a political book about India. This is a book about children growing up with a dysfunctional family. This is a love story. This is a tragic story of loss. It’s about many things, in fact, and it touches many nerves.
Grief and guilt play a big part in how these characters live now and this shapes the narrative which is non-linear and omniscient in its voice, enabling the reader to delve into the minds of these characters.
At times I found this book extremely uncomfortable, unfathomably beautiful and tragic.
It’s clear to see how it could have gone on to win one of the most prestigious literary prizes.
Winner of the Booker Prize in 1997.
This is a political book about India. This is a book about children growing up with a dysfunctional family. This is a love story. This is a tragic story of loss. It’s about many things, in fact, and it touches many nerves.
Grief and guilt play a big part in how these characters live now and this shapes the narrative which is non-linear and omniscient in its voice, enabling the reader to delve into the minds of these characters.
At times I found this book extremely uncomfortable, unfathomably beautiful and tragic.
It’s clear to see how it could have gone on to win one of the most prestigious literary prizes.
DANCER FROM THE DANCE by ANDREW HOLLERAN
Queer fiction is fast becoming my favourite genre and this book is no exception. It’s so wonderfully, excitingly GAY!
It’s set in New York in the 70s and I loved all of the characters and settings and language. It’s really intoxicating and flows like a memory.
The characters are all searching for that special love in their loves but none of them can quite reach it. Could it be because of the stigma surrounding homosexuality that forced these men to live “underground” and away from the front lawn and white picket fence life that most Americans strive for? Or are these a group of characters who are so passionate that their fire can never burn out?
Can anyone recommend any other queer fiction for me? Especially books written by women/from a female point of view.
Queer fiction is fast becoming my favourite genre and this book is no exception. It’s so wonderfully, excitingly GAY!
It’s set in New York in the 70s and I loved all of the characters and settings and language. It’s really intoxicating and flows like a memory.
The characters are all searching for that special love in their loves but none of them can quite reach it. Could it be because of the stigma surrounding homosexuality that forced these men to live “underground” and away from the front lawn and white picket fence life that most Americans strive for? Or are these a group of characters who are so passionate that their fire can never burn out?
Can anyone recommend any other queer fiction for me? Especially books written by women/from a female point of view.
HEARTSTOPPER VOLUME 3 by ALICE OSEMAN
What I love about this series of books is that it shows you what first love should be like. It shows us that we shouldn’t put up with anything less than Nick. We all deserve a Nick and if someone is not treating you that way, then it’s not worth your time.
I love all the extra storylines running through this book as well.
It’s a real joy reading these graphic novels/comics and I can’t wait for volume 4.
What I love about this series of books is that it shows you what first love should be like. It shows us that we shouldn’t put up with anything less than Nick. We all deserve a Nick and if someone is not treating you that way, then it’s not worth your time.
I love all the extra storylines running through this book as well.
It’s a real joy reading these graphic novels/comics and I can’t wait for volume 4.
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN by LIONEL SHRIVER
Yes, indeed, we do need to talk about this book....
... but where to start?
Judged as a piece of writing, it is sublime and articulate and descriptive and intelligent.
Judged as a story it is sinister and sick and uncomfortable. It is a marvel.
Judged as a case study in psychology, Kevin and his mother, Eva, the narrator of this epistolary novel, are both mentally ill. The question this book asks is who is responsible for Kevin committing mass murder and it leads you to consider whether it was Kevin himself, who orchestrated the whole plan, or whether it was Eva, the mother who had never really wanted or loved her child.
I cannot say that I enjoyed reading this book. It took me a little longer than it should have done to read it because it’s so uncomfortable (and not in a fun way), but I can definitely recognise that this is a literary masterpiece and I enjoyed the fact that I wasn’t just an idle reader, I was also a psychologist; I was constantly unpicking all of Eva’s and Kevin‘a behaviours. The reader is an active participant in this book and that made this reading experience unique.
Phew
Yes, indeed, we do need to talk about this book....
... but where to start?
Judged as a piece of writing, it is sublime and articulate and descriptive and intelligent.
Judged as a story it is sinister and sick and uncomfortable. It is a marvel.
Judged as a case study in psychology, Kevin and his mother, Eva, the narrator of this epistolary novel, are both mentally ill. The question this book asks is who is responsible for Kevin committing mass murder and it leads you to consider whether it was Kevin himself, who orchestrated the whole plan, or whether it was Eva, the mother who had never really wanted or loved her child.
I cannot say that I enjoyed reading this book. It took me a little longer than it should have done to read it because it’s so uncomfortable (and not in a fun way), but I can definitely recognise that this is a literary masterpiece and I enjoyed the fact that I wasn’t just an idle reader, I was also a psychologist; I was constantly unpicking all of Eva’s and Kevin‘a behaviours. The reader is an active participant in this book and that made this reading experience unique.
Phew
PAPER TOWNS by JOHN GREEN
I recently referred to John Green as the king of YA. His characters always seem so real and they’re never stereotypical - they’re always alternative and quirky in a way that allows us to see ourselves in them or to like them as friends. I really like all of John Green’s characters and I enjoyed watching Q (the protagonist of this book) develop and grow.
The story is about high school senior Q and his neighbour, Margo. Q has been in love with Margo from afar for most of his life so when she disappears he takes it upon himself to find her.
John Green books always teach me something, as all good YA books should. In this novel I learned a lot about how we project ourselves on to other people and how we judge people in the way that we see the world and not as they actually are. I must admit that I am guilty of this and I’m glad that’s it’s now something I am more aware of.
A solid read but not as affecting as Turtles or The Fault in our Stars, which are my favourite Green novels.
Have you read this? Or watched the film? Should I bother with the film?
I recently referred to John Green as the king of YA. His characters always seem so real and they’re never stereotypical - they’re always alternative and quirky in a way that allows us to see ourselves in them or to like them as friends. I really like all of John Green’s characters and I enjoyed watching Q (the protagonist of this book) develop and grow.
The story is about high school senior Q and his neighbour, Margo. Q has been in love with Margo from afar for most of his life so when she disappears he takes it upon himself to find her.
John Green books always teach me something, as all good YA books should. In this novel I learned a lot about how we project ourselves on to other people and how we judge people in the way that we see the world and not as they actually are. I must admit that I am guilty of this and I’m glad that’s it’s now something I am more aware of.
A solid read but not as affecting as Turtles or The Fault in our Stars, which are my favourite Green novels.
Have you read this? Or watched the film? Should I bother with the film?
CLOSE RANGE by ANNIE PROLUX
Let’s be honest, we all know the only reason I picked up this book was for a little saucy cowboy on cowboy action, but it’s actually more than that!
This is a collection of short stories written by the massively talented Annie Prolux. It included 11 stories about life in the Midwest of America; cowboys, bull riders, ranchers, farmers, etc. Living is hard and people die suddenly and in brutal ways. People aren’t really very nice to one another and they don’t spend much time to stop and think about feelings. It seems like all they do is exist. It was nice to end this collection with Brokeback Mountain - the best story in the book - about two sheep herders (or whatever they are) falling in love. Nothing is overwritten and mostly emotions are left to the reader’s imagination and being the big romantic that I am, I had no problem filling in the blanks.
Mostly written in a Midwestern accent, these stories felt authentic and as rough as the landscape on which they were set.
This was not really my cup of tea, but I enjoyed it for the most part. I really would have preferred to read Brokeback Mountain as a novel.
Can you believe I haven’t even seen the film?!
Let’s be honest, we all know the only reason I picked up this book was for a little saucy cowboy on cowboy action, but it’s actually more than that!
This is a collection of short stories written by the massively talented Annie Prolux. It included 11 stories about life in the Midwest of America; cowboys, bull riders, ranchers, farmers, etc. Living is hard and people die suddenly and in brutal ways. People aren’t really very nice to one another and they don’t spend much time to stop and think about feelings. It seems like all they do is exist. It was nice to end this collection with Brokeback Mountain - the best story in the book - about two sheep herders (or whatever they are) falling in love. Nothing is overwritten and mostly emotions are left to the reader’s imagination and being the big romantic that I am, I had no problem filling in the blanks.
Mostly written in a Midwestern accent, these stories felt authentic and as rough as the landscape on which they were set.
This was not really my cup of tea, but I enjoyed it for the most part. I really would have preferred to read Brokeback Mountain as a novel.
Can you believe I haven’t even seen the film?!