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madamelacy's reviews
144 reviews
Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I found this book a real page-turner. It dealt with some tawdry issues and wasn’t emotionally easy to read.
+ I found the MC believable; she was flawed, fallible and multidimensional
+ the subtext of nature versus nurture was interesting
+ the story itself was sadly credible
- some of the more peripheral characters were less credible. Some characters really didn’t seem to serve any function and were dropped from the story for huge numbers of pages.
- I just didn’t love the ending… it all wrapped up too quickly. For example the podcaster was an interesting angle, which was then just finished very abruptly. Amanda Herron having the last chapter seemed silly because she wasn’t a character who’d been developed.
+ I found the MC believable; she was flawed, fallible and multidimensional
+ the subtext of nature versus nurture was interesting
+ the story itself was sadly credible
- some of the more peripheral characters were less credible. Some characters really didn’t seem to serve any function and were dropped from the story for huge numbers of pages.
- I just didn’t love the ending… it all wrapped up too quickly. For example the podcaster was an interesting angle, which was then just finished very abruptly. Amanda Herron having the last chapter seemed silly because she wasn’t a character who’d been developed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Forced institutionalization, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Xenophobia, Blood, Islamophobia, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexism, and Toxic friendship
Restless by William Boyd
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
2.5
The book was well-written overall, but it was a bit slow. I didn’t really understand why Eva’s daughter seemed so unsurprised by her mum being a spy. The wartime sections were interesting, and I have learned how to lose someone following me and how to get new identities. Never know when that will come in handy.
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
3.25
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.0
This wasn’t my usual read as it was a bit Gen Z but I found the main character’s struggle with coming to terms with neglect as a child, coping with racism and realisation that she doesn’t have to put up with sexual violence very believable, as it wasn’t a smooth journey. The ending was really uplifting and I wanted to hug Queenie when she finally learned to love herself, but she’s not a hugger.
There were aspects I liked less. There appeared to be a suggestion that her life disintegrated due to pregnancy loss, but it was clearly spiralling before that. I didn’t find the amenability or the responses from the counsellor very credible.
Overall an enjoyable read.
There were aspects I liked less. There appeared to be a suggestion that her life disintegrated due to pregnancy loss, but it was clearly spiralling before that. I didn’t find the amenability or the responses from the counsellor very credible.
Overall an enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Stalking
Minor: Emotional abuse
The Raging Storm by Ann Cleeves
dark
mysterious
tense
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
3.25
Not my usual sort of read. I enjoyed it but I did get the characters confused, not least because the writer constantly swapped between using first or second names. None of the characters were very developed, but I guess the main characters are developed across the series rather than within one book. I wouldn’t rush to read another of these books; I think I prefer the tv adaptations of crime dramas.
The Skylark's Secret by Fiona Valpy
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse, Blood, Murder, War, and Classism
Less: Stop Buying So Much Rubbish: How Having Fewer, Better Things Can Make Us Happier by Patrick Grant
challenging
informative
medium-paced
4.25
Really thought provoking. As someone who sews, this has made me think about my fabrics more. I’ve also looked around me and am reassessing how much I need.
The buy it cheap attitude in the UK and the throwaway culture are thoroughly analysed in this book.
The buy it cheap attitude in the UK and the throwaway culture are thoroughly analysed in this book.
The Last Act of Love by Cathy Rentzenbrink
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
Beautifully written reflection on the aftermath of her brother’s accident, which resulted in him spending years in a vegetative state. It was sad, thought-provoking and inspiring to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Car accident
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
The Leviathan by Rosie Andrews
dark
mysterious
slow-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
1.75
This book took me ages to read and the ending was so underwhelming that I’m sorry that I persisted. It started off as a book about witchcraft, so I was really confused by the title. But when the Leviathan question is answered I think I was no less confused. It was such a melée of ideas and just didn’t work. Some characters were totally irrelevant to the story. The dual timeframes was confusing at times because I didn’t have a clue what was happening in the later timeframe initially, but then this timeframe gave spoilers so I pretty much had all the answers I wanted or needed.
My summary would be that it was interesting in parts but tried to do too much so that it became under-developed and confusing.
My summary would be that it was interesting in parts but tried to do too much so that it became under-developed and confusing.