patrick2024's reviews
119 reviews

Wifedom: Mrs. Orwell's Invisible Life by Anna Funder

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emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

Women are written out of history. How? Patri-magic. 
The first 30 pages were challenging but once Funder dove into the subject the pace took off in succinct punchy chapters.
At its core this is about injustice in a marriage and the insidious marginalisation of Eileen, wife of a famous author whom I now am repulsed by so much I choose not to type his name. 
Funder examines the  blunt elimination of a woman’s voice from her own story and how it is to us near invisible in its execution. 
But the connection to Eileen is so finely done tears flow with hers as I read.
Songs for the Dead and the Living by Sara M Saleh

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emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.0

I liked reading of this family experiencing ordinary often unfair life experiences. Layered through the voice of displaced Palestinians which added authenticity rather than  overpowering the story. 
I felt it ended suddenly with the main voice abandoned which was unfulfilling but on reflection is part of the point.
Days of Innocence and Wonder by Lucy Treloar

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

3.0

An away win with a late goal.
Authentic Australian noir.
Stolen by Ann-Helén Laestadius

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adventurous dark tense slow-paced

3.5

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

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dark emotional funny mysterious reflective fast-paced

4.5

An amazing authentic narrative voice that makes you feel like one and the same with all the highs and all the lows.
Whilst riffing on cancel culture all the players are so archetypical that little room is left for nuance as one might experience in real life. Somewhat mocking yet whole point of the book?
Babel by R.F. Kuang

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mysterious slow-paced

2.5

The Seamstress of Sardinia: A Novel by Bianca Pitzorno

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emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

Trespasses by Louise Kennedy

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.0

The Lollipop Shoes by Joanne Harris

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funny reflective relaxing

4.0

Then she said ‘I’m fabulous’.
Blackberry Wine by Joanne Harris

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emotional medium-paced

5.0

Only Harris could write something from the perspective of a case of old wine.