nora__reads's reviews
201 reviews

Close to the Machine: Technophilia and Its Discontents by Ellen Ullman

challenging informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

I feel that Ellen Ullman is the modern Ada Lovelace, an incredible technical mind mixed with the heart of a poet - an incredible book 

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad 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

4.0

Loved it up until the end, where it felt like it could have been done more subtly, but hey ho can’t win them all 

Landlines by Raynor Winn

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

Raynor has a way of writing that makes the countryside come alive, I always want to put my books on and get outside after reading 

Pandora's Jar by Natalie Haynes

funny informative slow-paced

5.0

Who knew reading about long ago misogyny would be so revealing about modern day misogyny? 

Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen

dark emotional funny mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

Wonderfully strange and filled with love and also a lot of gore.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Clearly the subject matter of a pandemic is kind of a lot, but somehow the author navigated the subject matter with remarkable lightness, it’s a lovely story about humans on the brink, with only each other to hold them back. 

Wandering Souls by Cecile Pin

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Achingly sad and yet, sweet and even funny in places. This story casts it’s gaze on the stories of people often forgotten by history - it’s beautiful. 

The Shepherd's Life: A People's History of the Lake District by James Rebanks

funny informative lighthearted slow-paced

3.0

I’m giving this a big meh, think it could have done with some more shaping. Also maybe i just don’t care about sheep as much as this guy. 

The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

4.0

A really cool set of short stories - some better than others. 

Vehicle: A Verse Novel by Jen Calleja

adventurous challenging emotional funny sad 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

5.0

One of the most stunning books I’ve ever read, it will stay with me all my life I think.