lizzyymackay's reviews
70 reviews

Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Was such a heart-wrenching story of a man grieving in nyc in the 1980s. It made me slightly uncomfortable that it was written entirely in the second person, so the main character making these self-destructive decisions was even more hard-hitting. Also made me miss the city a lot!! :’) 
The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? No

4.0

Did this book make me cry? Yes. It explored the Spanish flu and it’s effects in Dublin in 1918. Was beautifully written. Very intense, slightly gory as the main character is a midwife, and we really experience that first-hand. 
Ebola '76 by Emily Danby, Amir Tag Elsir, Charis Bredin

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challenging dark reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Gave me a very good understanding of how Ebola works and where it originated. Was also fascinating to talk about in seminars… for a short book there’s definitely a lot to say! 
The Calcutta Chromosome: A Novel of Fevers, Delirium & Discovery by Amitav Ghosh

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adventurous dark informative mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

Not a fan of this kind of genre but i appreciate the writing 
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

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challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad 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

5.0

First of all, the cover is beautiful. And so is the writing - it moves between fast-moving dialogue and poetic descriptions of emotion and the world. Loved the way it moved between narrative voices, and the plot just seemed to move naturally, and it didnt feel forced. Will be thinking of this story for a long time !!
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Book Lovers by Emily Henry

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funny inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

SUCH a good trash read. Think I knew that after reading you and me on vacation - Emily Henry is very good at writing lighthearted chicklit. Also just very me because the whole plot revolves around a work relationship-turn-romantic relationship. Plus they both work in publishing so u bet I am actively manifesting this book into my own reality….! 
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

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

3.0

Not a huge fan of this one… Virginia Woolf writes in very long complicated sentences, which is so fine but I kept zoning out and having to reread EVERYTHING. Liked the idea and the narrative style, even though it jumped around. She’s a very talented writer (obviously) but her style is just not my favourite 
Feel Free by Zadie Smith

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challenging emotional funny hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

3.5

Like I said before, not much of an essay reader, but I do like zadie smiths style. Managed to get into it by the end but I’ve spent such a long time reading this book because it’s so long!! 
The White Album by Joan Didion

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challenging dark informative reflective slow-paced

3.75

I love Joan Didion’s writing style - this was my first book I read by her. Just not a huge fan of essays overall. But I did enjoy living vicariously in 70s California through this book. 
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Wow this book was an emotional rollercoaster - I cried 6 times (I counted). I read it all in one day and wowww it was so beautiful!! Had me laughing out loud to full on sobbing :’) would recommend!!