lynnenad's reviews
153 reviews

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. 

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.0

It was ok I guess. There were some funny jokes. The plot had so many characters that I had trouble keeping track and in the end I stopped bothering to try to figure out who the baddy was as I knew Osman would pull some improbable candidate out of his hat. 
I preferred the Thursday Murder  Club series as I found the characters more interesting and fun. 

Not Just Black and White by Lesley Williams, Tammy Williams

informative inspiring slow-paced

2.5

Mildly interesting memoir but really the two lives (Lesley and Tammy) were not remarkable enough to have a book made about IMO.  The two women are certainly out there doing the best they can and making small changes in the unjust racist country they live in, but so are we all. The writing was prosaic and bland. 

The Tale of the Unknown Island by José Saramago

lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

Beautifully written, of course, but I didn’t really get it.

Love and a life companion is like sailing to an unknown island? But it is also sufficient unto itself?

The Fall of Light by Niall Williams

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-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

5.0

My word this man can write. This is a much darker story than the other books of Niall Williams that I’ve read but it is told so beautifully. Like a prose poem. I am intrigued by stories like this that explore ancestors who came before us and made small decisions that then changed who their descendants are, and can be. The connection through generations is moving and thought provoking. 

James by Percival Everett

dark sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.0

I don’t understand what the fuss is about this book. It’s a re-telling of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the POV of Jim the slave. Jim is shown to be smart, curious, moral, thoughtful etc. Are we supposed to be shocked by this? If so, don’t patronise. I think it has been many years since black people were considered “less intelligent “. This feels like a high school writing assignment that has been elevated because of the fame of the author or for some other less salubrious reason. 

Teacher: One woman's struggle to keep the heart in teaching by Gabbie Stroud

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

A heartfelt account of what teaching in Australia is like these days. Absolutely gripping and the first book for a long time that made genuine tears fall from my eyes. 

The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett

emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.75

I loved this book. The three main characters were interesting, loveable people just doing the best they can in the world. Not as happy about the ending which I thought was a bit wish-washy but everything else about the book was highly enjoyable. 

The Best Australian Science Writing 2024 by Jackson Ryan, Carl Smith

hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

Lots of interesting stuff. The writing is very accessible in most cases. The future of science communication is in good hands. 

Summerland by Michael Chabon

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

Look it was okay. It was very long for a YA book. The creatures and the world they lived in was interesting. I found I could not care less about whether they succeeded in their mission or not though. 
If you have a deep interest in baseball and the philosophy of baseball (if that’s even a thing) then you might enjoy it more.