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p4chen's reviews
106 reviews
Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff
4.5
A well written, beautifully descriptive novel with a fresh perspective on this period in history. Highlighting the circumstances people faced that they could have never anticipated - how they found the strength they didn’t know they possessed to carry on and to survive.
The interweaving of the timelines was so well crafted and the pacing was consistent throughout the novel.
Clearly informed by thorough research - the mysterious link to the necklace as a foundation for the narrative, the real-life connection to the furniture store Levitan and to Edith Piaf made this story even more compelling and captivating. A fascinating and engaging read.
A story of desperation, betrayal, loss and sorrow, but also of resilience and of hope.
A Little Trickerie by Rosanna Pike
5.0
Longlisted - Women’s Prize for Fiction - 2025
What a complete romp of a novel! Fresh and unique.
Irreverent, compelling and relevant.
A stunning debut!
Inspired by a real-life woman known as the Holy Maid of Leominster who, like the main protagonist herself, engaged in fraud and ‘trickeries’
I simply adored Tibb Ingelby and her first person POV narration.
The author makes use of the commonality of our human experience - we all ultimately want the same basic things as Tibb - a roof over our heads, food in our stomach, to love and to be loved in return. Through the characters of Ivo and Ambrose timely themes of tolerance and acceptance are further explored.
I read this as an immersive read. The audio narration is exceptional adding to the theatrics of the medieval England setting.
What a complete romp of a novel! Fresh and unique.
Irreverent, compelling and relevant.
A stunning debut!
Inspired by a real-life woman known as the Holy Maid of Leominster who, like the main protagonist herself, engaged in fraud and ‘trickeries’
I simply adored Tibb Ingelby and her first person POV narration.
The author makes use of the commonality of our human experience - we all ultimately want the same basic things as Tibb - a roof over our heads, food in our stomach, to love and to be loved in return. Through the characters of Ivo and Ambrose timely themes of tolerance and acceptance are further explored.
I read this as an immersive read. The audio narration is exceptional adding to the theatrics of the medieval England setting.
A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre
5.0
An exploration of mental health (mental chaos - author) and what it means to be fully human…to love - unconditionally, with kindness and patience.
How we try so desperately to take down our leopard skin hat, place it on top of our head, to face each new day…moving along as “expected” - trying to navigate the ups and downs - joys, sorrows and challenges of our lives.
So eloquently and bravely written and emotive.
Authentically heartbreaking…while at the same time beautiful - as is reflective of real life.
Author:
Hat, protective - Leopard, wild and dangerous.
Leopard skin fabric - old fashioned piece of fabric - worn by an older actress - playing a role.
How we try so desperately to take down our leopard skin hat, place it on top of our head, to face each new day…moving along as “expected” - trying to navigate the ups and downs - joys, sorrows and challenges of our lives.
So eloquently and bravely written and emotive.
Authentically heartbreaking…while at the same time beautiful - as is reflective of real life.
Author:
Hat, protective - Leopard, wild and dangerous.
Leopard skin fabric - old fashioned piece of fabric - worn by an older actress - playing a role.
The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami
4.0
Longlisted - Women’s Prize for Fiction - 2025
The Dream Hotel is a chilling vision of big brother surveillance where our dreams are monitored and commodified. The prose is charged with intensity and the structural shifts build tension.
It explores themes around privacy, freedom, and resistance. The main protagonist is complex and her initial compliance gradually transforms into frustrated resistance.
Her relationships with fellow detainees - particularly her close friendships, form the emotional heart of the narrative. Through their solidarity the author illustrates how human connection can flourish even under extreme surveillance and control.
That dreams can be monitored and used as evidence of criminal intent, serves as a powerful metaphor for the erosion of privacy in this digital age and through surveillance of our most intimate thoughts, dreams and experiences.
The impact of and separation from family members is difficult to read. The main character struggles to maintain her sense of self while being labeled a potential threat to them, specifically her husband, highlights further the dehumanising effects when algorithmic predictions are used.
Although the premise of this novel might seem far-fetched, the narrative is grounded in existing, real-world, technologies, which feel like natural extensions of current surveillance and AI concerns. It is unsettling. Especially the awareness of how technology reshapes privacy and human autonomy.
The prose was well crafted although sometimes unnecessarily repetitive.
The character development was nuanced, and coupled with the social commentary about surveillance and technology's growing reach make this a very compelling and thrilling read.
The Dream Hotel is a chilling vision of big brother surveillance where our dreams are monitored and commodified. The prose is charged with intensity and the structural shifts build tension.
It explores themes around privacy, freedom, and resistance. The main protagonist is complex and her initial compliance gradually transforms into frustrated resistance.
Her relationships with fellow detainees - particularly her close friendships, form the emotional heart of the narrative. Through their solidarity the author illustrates how human connection can flourish even under extreme surveillance and control.
That dreams can be monitored and used as evidence of criminal intent, serves as a powerful metaphor for the erosion of privacy in this digital age and through surveillance of our most intimate thoughts, dreams and experiences.
The impact of and separation from family members is difficult to read. The main character struggles to maintain her sense of self while being labeled a potential threat to them, specifically her husband, highlights further the dehumanising effects when algorithmic predictions are used.
Although the premise of this novel might seem far-fetched, the narrative is grounded in existing, real-world, technologies, which feel like natural extensions of current surveillance and AI concerns. It is unsettling. Especially the awareness of how technology reshapes privacy and human autonomy.
The prose was well crafted although sometimes unnecessarily repetitive.
The character development was nuanced, and coupled with the social commentary about surveillance and technology's growing reach make this a very compelling and thrilling read.
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
5.0
Broken Country - set in the beautiful British countryside was a compelling, propulsive read!
Exquisitely and expertly written - with carefully drawn, sympathetic characters. Its unique approach to time transitions drove the tension and the suspense within this mysterious and often heart wrenching narrative until the very end!
A page turner, with unexpected twists, turns and revelations.
Stunningly rendered!
An immersive story you wish would never end.
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
5.0
An exceptionally written, atmospheric and suspenseful novel about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love, even as the world around us is falling apart.
Captured within a narrative that celebrates the natural world. A defence for the many reasons to protect it and what is being lost.
The novel explores an understanding of the interconnectedness of all living things through well drawn characters, beautifully descriptive prose and a setting that comes to life on the page.
The question emerges - what are we willing to save and to protect?
Completely immersive!
Captured within a narrative that celebrates the natural world. A defence for the many reasons to protect it and what is being lost.
The novel explores an understanding of the interconnectedness of all living things through well drawn characters, beautifully descriptive prose and a setting that comes to life on the page.
The question emerges - what are we willing to save and to protect?
Completely immersive!
Here is the nature of life, we must love things with our whole selves knowing they will die.
Trespasses by Louise Kennedy
4.0
This novel captures such a sense of a particular place and time in history. It was heart wrenching and insightful - an immersive depiction of The Troubles and the schism it caused in the everyday lives of the people impacted by the conflict.
A difficult story - centred on the complex life of the main protagonist.
I couldn’t help but get caught up - getting my hopes up that everything would get better, somehow change, and be ok.
But this book unfolds during one of the most difficult periods in modern history and it was often upsetting, brutally honest and disappointing — playing out much like real life: often disappointing and brutally honest.
Yet, still, so beautiful and moving - the ending was beautifully rendered and touching.
Truly, a novel that will stay with me awhile.
The Women Behind the Door by Roddy Doyle
4.0
Irish Literature - March 25
A stream of conscious, expert study in character driven dialog.
A stream of conscious, expert study in character driven dialog.
An emotionally powerful narrative that illustrates the enduring effects of physical and mental abuse, guilt and shame and how those feelings isolate and impact close family relationships and are passed on from mother to child.
As a reader I enjoyed moments of levity, laughter and heartbreak.
Paula was a hilarious, tragic and a very relatable character. Her mothering strengths and insecurities were realistically portrayed. The friendship she shared with Mary was lovely.
Although I was unaware that The Women Behind The Door was the most recent publication within a series - it read equally well as a stand alone novel.
Crooked Seeds by Karen Jennings
4.5
Longlisted - Women’s Prize for Fiction - 2025
A difficult, yet compelling read - intergenerational trauma and socioeconomic inequality.
A difficult, yet compelling read - intergenerational trauma and socioeconomic inequality.
Set within the South African drought and political instability.
Deidre is a perpetual victim, ever complaining about her situation. She takes advantage of everyone.
Every moment of every day is a challenge for her - she is drowning in the circumstances of her life.
In her squalor and the abuse she inflicts on her own body, it was interesting that the people she took advantage of the most were people of colour.
There is a mystery playing out within this novel - further revealing the dysfunction of a family and of a nation.
It was heart-breaking from start to finish.
Yet the author leaves us with the possibility of hope for the future as a metaphor - Personal/People?
National/a Nation?
Hope for growth and renewal - even from crooked seeds (past + present) if only the rains could come to cleanse and end this season of drought and destruction.
Note: There is a Spotify playlist created by the author for this novel.
National/a Nation?
Hope for growth and renewal - even from crooked seeds (past + present) if only the rains could come to cleanse and end this season of drought and destruction.
Note: There is a Spotify playlist created by the author for this novel.
“Each book that I write has its own emotions, its own rhythms, requiring its own playlist.” KJ
Dream State by Eric Puchner
medium-paced
4.25
“If you look for a meaning, ….. you’ll miss everything that happens,”
Life was a long, incompetent search to get back to a feeling you had when you were six.
What a mystery your own children were. You gave them everything, and it was like tossing a coin into a well.
A beautifully written, multigenerational saga set in Montana which spans 50 years.
Exploring friendship, marriage, parenting, grief - and life’s many regrets. Relationship commitment and love through the many joys, challenges, disappointments, hardships and fears we must face in connection with others.
Well drawn characters - engaging and thought provoking.
Such an interesting and refreshing approach to time transitions!
Well drawn characters - engaging and thought provoking.
Such an interesting and refreshing approach to time transitions!