lynnenad's reviews
156 reviews

Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O'Farrell

emotional mysterious reflective 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

3.75

I enjoyed this book. It was an exploration of family. Specifically how individuals in a family can not understand anything about each other, at the same time as they have deep and comprehensive knowledge about each other. At the bottom though is always love, even as they each realise how wrong their fundamental ideas of each other are. A small mystery that is satisfactorily solved.

And a happy ending

I especially enjoyed understanding more about the impact of dyslexia

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

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adventurous emotional mysterious 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

4.5

Another terrific book by Ann Patchett. This one is set in the jungles of the Amazon River. It is mysterious from page one but becomes even more so. There are some surprising decisions by major characters. I was kept guessing for much of the book. The language is lovely and the book is skilfully written. Most enjoyable.

The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier

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mysterious relaxing medium-paced

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

4.0

Daphne Du Mauriers work always surprises me with its modern themes. By the end of chapter one I’d read about drug addiction, homosexuality, adultery and pedophillia.
The book was intriguing and engrossing. Was the book about time travel? Or drug addiction? You decide.

The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow : A Mirror Odyssey from North Wales to the Black Sea by A.J. Mackinnon

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funny inspiring relaxing medium-paced

5.0

This delightful and funny book may be in my top ten of favourite books ever. I enjoyed it so much. It is a travel memoir but it is well written, engaging, funny, exciting and informative. And now I have SUCH itchy feet!

Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton

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emotional informative tense medium-paced

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

1.0

I hated this book so much. Repetitive. Tedious. Over-wrought.

Lethal White by Robert Galbraith

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adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Robert Galbraith continues to deliver a well crafted exciting mystery to solve.

When God was a rabbit by Sarah Winman

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emotional mysterious 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? No

3.0

Not great literature because the themes are largely non-existent or trivial but saved from ignominy because Sarah Winman the author has a beautiful use of language with unique similes and metaphors.
Often I didn’t really understand what was happening because the narrator skipped from present to past with no clear foreshadowing and after a while I became frustrated and fed up with this.
Some lovely characters.
Weird and unnecessarily magical ending

Arthur did not need to be reincarnated. The book would have worked better if he’d died

Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced