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oliverlang's reviews
151 reviews
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I feel like I may have done this book a disservice by reading it after having already read The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller and also A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes. These both detailed the events of the war at Troy from Patroclus' perspective and the women of Troy's perspective respectively, and were incredible pieces of storytelling.
I feel like had I not read those first, I may have enjoyed this book without their influence but I just found myself annoyed at several details in Barker's book, namely the portrayal of Patroclus' character/personality.
I was really interested to read this series of events from Briesis' perspective but found it lacking, underwhelming and the modern(read: British)isation of the language frustrating.
If you're looking for a five star read, I strongly recommend the aforementioned works but sadly I cannot say I enjoyed this adaptation.
I feel like had I not read those first, I may have enjoyed this book without their influence but I just found myself annoyed at several details in Barker's book, namely the portrayal of Patroclus' character/personality.
I was really interested to read this series of events from Briesis' perspective but found it lacking, underwhelming and the modern(read: British)isation of the language frustrating.
If you're looking for a five star read, I strongly recommend the aforementioned works but sadly I cannot say I enjoyed this adaptation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Drug use
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Colonisation, and Classism
Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I found this one quite hard to get into at first but I think that's just down to the world building growing pains that generally comes with fantasy books.
The chapters undulate between 2 different characters throughout the book and at first it was confusing to pin down which character was where doing what but by the end of Part I it got easier and I found myself invested in the story and compelled to read more.
The writing style wasn't my favourite but it stopped grating on me as the book went on and actually fitted the feeling of the book. I appreciated that this wasn't a romance centric story and any parts that did illude to feelings weren't icky.
I'll probably read the next one! Would be interested to see this as a TV series.
The chapters undulate between 2 different characters throughout the book and at first it was confusing to pin down which character was where doing what but by the end of Part I it got easier and I found myself invested in the story and compelled to read more.
The writing style wasn't my favourite but it stopped grating on me as the book went on and actually fitted the feeling of the book. I appreciated that this wasn't a romance centric story and any parts that did illude to feelings weren't icky.
I'll probably read the next one! Would be interested to see this as a TV series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and War
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I read this book a number of years back and had forgotten most of it so I re-read it. I enjoy the plot of it but the awkward broody romance ruins it for me.
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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? Yes
3.25
Hurray for older queer(gay & bisexual) characters!
is this bury your gays in reverse? 🔁
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Bee Journal by Sean Borodale
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Another attempt at getting into poetry - not quite vibing with it yet.
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This book was very slow to develop the plot and I found it very hard to become interested in the storyline at all. The main element to the story only became evident at around 70% of the way through the book and I felt that the story of the neighbouring kid would have been more interesting than that of the one we are told.
The story refers to kids being "lifted" but it took a while to even vaguely explain that this meant genetically inhanced.
Idk I didn't enjoy reading this book. I expected more from it.
The story refers to kids being "lifted" but it took a while to even vaguely explain that this meant genetically inhanced.
Idk I didn't enjoy reading this book. I expected more from it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, and Terminal illness
Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0