melissa_keen's reviews
81 reviews

Naked in Death by J.D. Robb

dark funny mysterious tense 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? Yes

5.0

Best book I've read in ages. Devoured it in two days, couldn't put it down. Really easy read, with some very dark and potentially triggering undertones

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, and Murder

Lifespan: Why We Age--And Why We Don't Have to by David A. Sinclair, Matthew D. Laplante

hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

4.0

A really interesting read about how we age, and how we can slow it down. There's a lot left open that science has yet to answer, but there are several tips to help us slow down the impact of ageing in the meantime. A very interesting read, and I will definitely be incorporating the tips!

The Overstory by Richard Powers

challenging informative slow-paced

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

2.5

Oh boy, where to start. This book starts off so slowly; it focuses on 9 strangers whose lives are affected in some manner by trees. The first half of the book is solely focused on these characters. None are particularly likeable. A lot of the book waffles unecessarily and comes across as trying far too hard to be mystical and deep. The middle part of the book picks up a bit; for me, this was the easiest bit to read and the only section that didn't feel like hard work. The last part of the book falls back into trying too hard; flowery sentences with no discernible point to them. There is no satisfying ending to this book; it just ends. I was really disappointed in this book as I'd heard it was amazing - but it just wasn't to my tastes at all!

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

adventurous 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

4.5

Just finished this book. It's a slow starter, but once it gets going it's difficult to put down! The story focuses on "marsh girl", Kya, who is abandoned as a child and forced to look after herself in a swamp from a young age. Later, the book becomes a murder mystery. Its so beautifully written, and has an excellent twist... Unputdownable!

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

slow-paced

1.5

Nope, not for me. I found the story a bit too weird, and very slow in pacem it took me ages to read - I probably would have given up but a friend recommended it and let me borrow it so I felt I had to finish it! 

It's a really, really weird story about a group of rat people who live under London. Obviously there is magic involved, but there isn't really any rhyme or reason to it. Random characters are introduced throughout, but we don't spend enough time with them to really like them. 

Not my cup of tea!

Widows by Lynda La Plante

adventurous medium-paced

3.5

Overall, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. It's not to my usual style, but the story was fairly fast paced and easy to get through. I hear the film is really good, too, so I'll have to give it a watch and compare!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

adventurous dark hopeful tense fast-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

5.0

Amazing book. I must say the trilogy gets darker as the books go on - I remember feeling very deflated after finishing the series the first time I read them, perhaps because the descriptions of depression and PTSD are so realistic. However, it's a really well-crafted book, and - perhaps unusually - the films are equally as good. A great story, very dark but also full of fight and hope.

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

dark hopeful sad 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

4.0

I watched the film, and wasn't expecting the book to have such a different ending!! Both endings are great, and it was an unexpected but good twist to read the book ending. It's a very sad book, because it centers around a little girl dying of cancer. The book tackles some really complicated and difficult subjects, but it does so beautifully. A very raw, realistic, sad yet beautiful story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child death, and Death

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

Gutted I waited so long to read this! Brilliant book with a fantastic twist...

Normal People by Sally Rooney

slow-paced

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

2.0

I was really excited to read this book, but found it such a let down. The Characters are SO unlikeable. You find yourself gritting your teeth with frustration at the many stupid decisions they make. The entire plot would be pointless if the two main characters just communicated with one another. And the end really annoyed me..! I won't go into detail as I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but it's safe to say I won't be reading this book again.