lynnenad's reviews
156 reviews

Fanatic Heart by Tom Keneally

challenging informative slow-paced

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

2.0

I learned some history which was both useful and interesting but the book itself was boring and hard to read. It felt like all the sentences had been written backwards. 

Born to Run by Michael Morpurgo

emotional fast-paced

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

3.0

It’s fine for younger readers. Personally I’m a bit tired of dog adulation. 

The Outback: Anthology of Short Stories Volume 4 by Outback Writers' Festival

relaxing slow-paced

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

1.0

The writing is poor. The editing and proofreading worse

Sparrow: The True Story of Joan of Arc by Michael Morpurgo

dark informative 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? No

3.0

A very dark topic for children. 

Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut

challenging funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

2.5

Confusing. At times funny and insightful. At times weird. Often offensive (to me although the offensiveness was there to make some sound points). 

A Stroke of the Pen: The Lost Stories by Terry Pratchett

funny lighthearted fast-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

2.0

These stories are the kind of entertaining stories a clever ten year old might have written for a school assignment and should definitely have stayed unpublished as they damage Pratchett’s otherwise remarkable legacy. 

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

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

4.5

A beautifully written book with lots to think about. Do men and women use different words? Does it matter?

The Best of Dorothy Parker: Folio Society Edition by Dorothy Parker, Dorothy Parker

emotional sad 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? Yes

3.5

Dorothy Parker thoroughly explores one kind of woman in one kind of relationship. Her heroines are feisty,  tough and pitiful. Parker’s writing is lively and engaging. 

Black Sheep by Judy Nunn

emotional medium-paced

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

1.0

This book is so badly written it made me angry. There are grammatical errors, errors of historical fact, incorrect use of words (disinterested and uninterested are not the same) and no skill in the use of language at all. The book is cliched and has no unique perspective on anything. Words are used as a bludgeon to make a pointless story. 

How The Light Gets In by M.J. Hyland

emotional medium-paced

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

3.0

This book is about a dysfunctional Rotary exchange student from Australia in the USA. It shows her self-obsessed decline into drugs and promiscuity. She appears to have few redeeming features, despite being super intelligent. The author does a quick bail-out on the main premise of the story in the last few pages. It’s as though the author herself got sick of the character. Don’t waste your time.