lynnenad's reviews
152 reviews

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

emotional 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

3.5

What’s going on? I love everything I’ve ever read by Ann Patchett but did not understand the point this book was trying to make. In fact, as I finished the last page, I literally thought by “what was the point of that?”  
Lovely use of language and the expectation that a great reveal was imminent kept me reading. 

Milkman by Anna Burns

challenging dark funny slow-paced

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

4.0

I found this book unique. It was hard to read for the first 70 odd pages because of the unique writing style but once I had got the hang of that I really enjoyed it. It was very funny in parts. It gave me a lot to think about the Troubles in Belfast. The narrator seemed authentic and interesting. 
I guess I found it a tiny bit slow moving, with insufficient action to sustain my interest in some parts, but overall I found it worthwhile and enjoyable. 

The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson

emotional inspiring medium-paced

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

1.0

Cliched and sentimental claptrap. Romance novels are not for me. 

Seven Types of Ambiguity by Elliot Perlman

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

An extraordinary book by an extraordinary writer. It is very dense and intellectual with many profound ideas within it. It’s also, in a way, a psychological and courtroom drama. Read it when you have both time and energy to concentrate. 

The Porcupine by Julian Barnes

challenging funny reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

I generally like Barnes’ writing but I didn’t really enjoy this book. It felt dated (not the author’s fault, obviously) as we are now in our own “end of times” that has nothing to do with the fall of communism. I thought the arguments presented by the socialists and the anti-socialists were persuasive but also missed the point. Through it all, the common people continued to starve. Perhaps that was the point Barnes was trying to make. I feel like there are more ideas to be extracted from this book if I read it again at a different time. 

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

Buckets of fun. A worthy classic. I’m surprised at how well the humour stands up over the many decades since this was written. 

Conclave by Robert Harris

informative mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Terrific book. Interesting and exciting with a lovely twist in the tale/tail. The movie made in 2025 does absolute justice to the book too. It confirms my belief that it doesn’t matter at all what the topic of book is, the interest lies in the human story. Well done author!

Saving Fish From Drowning by Amy Tan

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

3.25

I found this book surprisingly funny, which I wasn’t expecting. The impact of a hapless bunch of American tourists on the troubled nation of Myanmar was cynical and satirically handled. There were too many main characters for me to develop any strong attachment to any of them except the narrator but the plot moved along with sufficient surprise and mystery to keep me engaged. 

The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

I found this book had some intriguing ideas but parts of it were hard to understand and many of the characters were odious. The philosophy embedded in the storyline will keep me pondering for quite some time. Is the act of “being” something that is unbearably light for everyone? Is the true meaning of kitsch the complete abrogation of anything undesirable (ie shit)?

Dusk by Robbie Arnott

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Very exciting and also nicely written- an unusual combination. Interesting characters and comprehensive consideration of important relationships between them, all while charging along with an interesting, unpredictable and exciting plot. Well done Mr Arnott.