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meghjcollins's reviews
182 reviews
Sexing The Cherry by Jeanette Winterson
3.5
This is a novel about a giant, who finds her son washed up on the Thames. We travel through their lives with them - as he takes on a voyage, we're taken on somewhat of a voyage ourselves.
Sorting through my thoughts on this book was like trying to catch air. There's a quote within which says it for me "Stop finding worrying about what is 'real' and find what is relevant. Reading is freedom, not a set of rules." I struggled to give this a rating, however I feel like anything less than 3 stars would be doing a disservice to the clear passion put into this work.
This book is bonkers and at the start I was trying to figure out what was going on and feeling SO DENSE. But if you let the story carry you and stop trying to figure it out, it's much more enjoyable. There's a lot of subtle wordplay, it's dream-like, confusing, alarming, rapid, endearing all at once.
The reader is thrown into new worlds and it feels like a visit to the circus, there are tales within the story and endless adventures. While it felt otherworldly, it's also written in such a way that it feels like everything is completely normal and mundane. Within the novel, there is a section discussing time and how people can be superconductors for time - that is how this book felt, like being whipped through time.
This book is bonkers and at the start I was trying to figure out what was going on and feeling SO DENSE. But if you let the story carry you and stop trying to figure it out, it's much more enjoyable. There's a lot of subtle wordplay, it's dream-like, confusing, alarming, rapid, endearing all at once.
The reader is thrown into new worlds and it feels like a visit to the circus, there are tales within the story and endless adventures. While it felt otherworldly, it's also written in such a way that it feels like everything is completely normal and mundane. Within the novel, there is a section discussing time and how people can be superconductors for time - that is how this book felt, like being whipped through time.
I'm sure the more complex minded will be able to find meaning within this work and it most likely says something really profound, for the more simple minded like myself, I'd recommend just letting the book take you on the voyage and enjoy the ride.
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors
5.0
The book starts by orbiting Cleo and Frank in their whirlwind meeting and relationship, however as you move through, the centre of gravity shifts and warps as we meet the other people within their universe and each one is created with a fullness and thoughtfulness I've not seen in a long time.
This book had me in a chokehold, I was reading this while queuing, in bed, whenever I had a spare 5 minutes. I was obsessed with the world Mellors had created and as you can see, found about 100,000 lovely quotes within it.
Me, HANNAH and ELLIE were lucky enough to go and see COCO talk with Jack Edwards at Hay, then get our books signed (also had a really cute micro chat about being baby sisters). During her talk Mellors said that she loves reading a book, where as a reader, you see something and think "I'm not the only one", for me, Cleo and Frank embodies that idea.
I found relating to these characters was easy, throughout each persona and perspective there are themes and experiences reflected which, although are common, are rarely talked about with such honesty.
I loved the writing style which felt so natural and felt like a comforting smooth read. That being said, the themes are not comforting (Jesus).
This novel cuts so close to the bone, I adored it, and can't wait to get stuck into Blue Sisters. Within the book, Mellors writes "New York.. it never knew what you wanted, so it offered you everything" and this book gave me everything.
Rant over, go read the book xx
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
1.0
Eh, I loved the show so wanted to the read the books. Usually I'm a book over tv show person, but in this case I just felt the book was so simple and honestly, boring. There was no real drama and just felt floppy.
The Drift by C.J. Tudor
3.0
It's a solid thriller, gory in the right way and had alot of suspense which I enjoyed. Despite that, it's not super special.
The plot was quite predictable, so while it was written well, I wasn't that engaged because I know where they were going with it. The book should have ended (in my opinion) about 70 pages earlier, to make it much more dramatic but I felt the ending let it down and made it all a bit too easy.
The gore and descriptors were excellent, and Tudor isn't afraid to make dramatic decisions.
The plot was quite predictable, so while it was written well, I wasn't that engaged because I know where they were going with it. The book should have ended (in my opinion) about 70 pages earlier, to make it much more dramatic but I felt the ending let it down and made it all a bit too easy.
The gore and descriptors were excellent, and Tudor isn't afraid to make dramatic decisions.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
3.0
Little Fires Everywhere, Celeste Ng ⭐⭐⭐
This book is a great twisty turny puzzle. Celeste is a great author and is a master at bread-crumbing information throughout the novel.
At first I found this a little slow moving, a little lacklustre. It takes a good few chapters before you start to be embedded within the story and get really gripped by it, but once it's off you want to know more and more. While I really enjoyed the character development and the plot, I did find that at times, there was too much padding and 'back drop' where it wasn't needed, and it took away from the overall pace of the book.
The ending is pretty perfect, but again dragged out where it wasn't needed and so I did start to loose interest and found myself just pushing through in order to finish. Overall, it's a great book, but a little slow and wordy for my liking.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
4.0
The Silent Patient, Alex Michaelides ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I'm late to the party here, but I recently booked to see the author at Hay and wanted something to help me out of a slump. I am soooooo pleased with this book!
I've heard mixed reviews before and I can see why, but for me it hit all the sweet spots, it was fast paced, not overly obvious on the plot and the characters are well developed.
The protagonist and Alicia change and twist in ways which suits the narrative and vibe of the book, I was peicing it together throughout like a little detective and at that shit up. The ending gave me what I wanted and I just think it's a well rounded, well executed thriller. More 👏🏼 Michaelides 👏🏼 for 👏🏼 me 👏🏼
I'm late to the party here, but I recently booked to see the author at Hay and wanted something to help me out of a slump. I am soooooo pleased with this book!
I've heard mixed reviews before and I can see why, but for me it hit all the sweet spots, it was fast paced, not overly obvious on the plot and the characters are well developed.
The protagonist and Alicia change and twist in ways which suits the narrative and vibe of the book, I was peicing it together throughout like a little detective and at that shit up. The ending gave me what I wanted and I just think it's a well rounded, well executed thriller. More 👏🏼 Michaelides 👏🏼 for 👏🏼 me 👏🏼
Fragile Animals by Genevieve Jagger
3.0
Buckle up, this is going to be a weird ranty review, much like this book (not a bad thing!). This book covers themes of guilt, rejection, sexuality, pleasure, disdain and so much more. I struggle to precisely say what i think so, my feelings about this book come in 3 waves:
1st Wave: This book is disorientating, there's no pre-tense and you're thrown into Noelle's consciousness and forced to break through the layers of memories to piece together where we are and what on earth is going on. The themes of Catholicism are strong, with the use of BC/AD being warped to fit the narrative, and Noelles fear and guilt shining through each sentence.
2nd Wave: This feels like a pot of milk simmering, boiling and spilling over onto the stove. Noelle is really not nice, she's harsh and gritty and I think I really hate her.
3rd Wave: Smut. Don't get me wrong, sex can be a necessary addition to novels and individuals stories, but I don't like it. The book took a bit of a turn for me when a chapter described sex in such a contrasting way to the rest of the book. It felt as thought the final 3rd of the book was written by several different authors, all trying to fit their own style into one narrative.
I guess I think that this book made me feel something, which is great, and I did really enjoy most of it, however the final third really let me down. It's a solid book with great themes but just not as amazing as I'd hoped it'd be.
Come Closer by Sara Gran
4.0
Come Closer, Sara Grann ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This story is scary, funny and also really sad. It's a short book, a great stop gap and will definitely lift you out of a slump, but its also just a really good book. I don't know how else to sum it up.
At first I was laughing with Amanda, I was relating, honestly I was pretty much thinking 'yeah girl, get it'. The tapping is ominous and really reminiscent of Tick Tick Scrape (anyone else remember that?!), she sums up pet peeves so well and makes sure the reader is fully relating before bringing in the crazy crazy.
This book confuses you into submission and has this frantic, unsteady pace which really adds to the horror vibe. The ending suited the book and wrapped it up nicely, but maybe I wanted something slightly more from it?
The only reason it gets 4/5 is because there's just SOMETHING missing, but I'd still reccomend to any lovers of the weird and scary.
Also, a moment for Ed, the poor bastard .
This story is scary, funny and also really sad. It's a short book, a great stop gap and will definitely lift you out of a slump, but its also just a really good book. I don't know how else to sum it up.
At first I was laughing with Amanda, I was relating, honestly I was pretty much thinking 'yeah girl, get it'. The tapping is ominous and really reminiscent of Tick Tick Scrape (anyone else remember that?!), she sums up pet peeves so well and makes sure the reader is fully relating before bringing in the crazy crazy.
This book confuses you into submission and has this frantic, unsteady pace which really adds to the horror vibe. The ending suited the book and wrapped it up nicely, but maybe I wanted something slightly more from it?
The only reason it gets 4/5 is because there's just SOMETHING missing, but I'd still reccomend to any lovers of the weird and scary.
Vampire Diaries: The Awakening by L.J. Smith
2.5
Solid YA book, but unfortunately just not for older Meg