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perrywolfecastle's reviews
114 reviews
Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
A charming short story collection, though in some tales even Poirot's skills seem a little farfetched in places.
I find the main takeaway of this collection wasn't in the cases, some of which are rather forgettable, but in the use of characterisation. This feels like a collection which establishes personalities. Poirot bleeds through as the egotistical and often condescending character Christie began to dislike. Hastings is illustrated as the bumbling fool, with airs of grandeur as a detective. The way the two rub together becomes a part of the story as important as the mysteries themselves.
I find the main takeaway of this collection wasn't in the cases, some of which are rather forgettable, but in the use of characterisation. This feels like a collection which establishes personalities. Poirot bleeds through as the egotistical and often condescending character Christie began to dislike. Hastings is illustrated as the bumbling fool, with airs of grandeur as a detective. The way the two rub together becomes a part of the story as important as the mysteries themselves.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A classic Christie here with a rather masterful and shocking twist at the end. The beauty of it is that you're slowly guided to the answer to where you (or at least I) understand it right before the revelation. This gives the reveal more of a shock factor. It changes from "oh my" to a "Oh my god is it—oh my it is!"
A tiny detail to read, but a narrative device that makes a tremendous difference, which really highlights Christie's mastery of the crime novel.
My only issue (which is not from the book, so won't affect the rating) is the audiobook used the same VA as Murder on the Links and A Mysterious Affair at Styles, making the narrator sound like Hastings at first, when it's not.
A tiny detail to read, but a narrative device that makes a tremendous difference, which really highlights Christie's mastery of the crime novel.
My only issue (which is not from the book, so won't affect the rating) is the audiobook used the same VA as Murder on the Links and A Mysterious Affair at Styles, making the narrator sound like Hastings at first, when it's not.
Mrs. McGilvery by Colin Gibson
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This book does a lot of things well. Children trying to understand their terror, the divisiveness of their parents to something they can’t see, and how an adult can rationalize away the things that terrify their children. The setting and tone hit the nail on the head showing the poverty of a working class council estate in the 1960s’ in its last days butting up against the move to demolition and the tower blocks of the late 60s’ and 70s’ we see today.
The only thing I wasn’t taken with, which I believe was the same for many, was the ending/epilogue. I wouldn’t call it bad, nor would I argue it needs to be happy. It felt a little too abrupt and underdeveloped. Twisty for the sake of a twist.
I wouldn’t let that put you off, though. It’s still a rather good read.
The only thing I wasn’t taken with, which I believe was the same for many, was the ending/epilogue. I wouldn’t call it bad, nor would I argue it needs to be happy. It felt a little too abrupt and underdeveloped. Twisty for the sake of a twist.
I wouldn’t let that put you off, though. It’s still a rather good read.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
A book narrated by Death, which still feels tender in places, despite the subject being anything but. It’s fitting really for a book where each character is experiencing, surrounded by or under constant threat of death. Death is merciful, they are fulfilling a task, and the author can effectively use them as an omniscient narration tool.
I’m avoiding spoilers here, which is odd, as the narrator never does. In fact, many times Death will tell you of the events coming long before it gets there. It’s an interesting tool I feel is done well here and somewhat insulates the reader from the shock of it all and draws focus to the emotion of it all.
The everyday Germans in the cast, many living in poverty, not in the Party, and living through WW2, are interesting. The focus on a single street during these huge world changing events grounds the story into a very human one, despite the supernatural narrator.
I’m avoiding spoilers here, which is odd, as the narrator never does. In fact, many times Death will tell you of the events coming long before it gets there. It’s an interesting tool I feel is done well here and somewhat insulates the reader from the shock of it all and draws focus to the emotion of it all.
The everyday Germans in the cast, many living in poverty, not in the Party, and living through WW2, are interesting. The focus on a single street during these huge world changing events grounds the story into a very human one, despite the supernatural narrator.
The Devil's Advisor by Brad Abdul
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
3.75
The Devil’s adviser grabs its premise by the horns and runs with it throughout. Often witty, it takes characters and places we know, or think we know, and subverts them to create its own lore.
The premise of hell calling in a business consultant to increase its profits (corrupt souls, in this case) is interesting and plays out rather well throughout the book.
Some twists were a little obvious in places, but all-in-all a good light read.
The premise of hell calling in a business consultant to increase its profits (corrupt souls, in this case) is interesting and plays out rather well throughout the book.
Some twists were a little obvious in places, but all-in-all a good light read.
The Tower by Simon Toyne
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The Tower feels like a fitting end to the Santus series. Face-paced, hundreds of chapters, conspiracy, thrill, and a heap of religious intrigues. I’d say this was a better book than They Key, which I felt shoe-horned in a lot of characters who weren’t needed and kept the story in a holding pattern. The Tower seems to have learned some of the lessons from that and keeps the story moving in the most part (I found the flashing back eight months a little jarring.)
I like the creations of Ruin, The Santi and the Mala, and the way Toyne builds his world around them. They give him the freedom to explore events and themes without needing to bend the real world or events to his complete needs, but he still slots them into his version of our world.
All in all, you get exactly what you would expect from a religious conspiracy/thriller and does it all well. I’m not sure if beach read is a genre, but if it is, this fits into it well.
I like the creations of Ruin, The Santi and the Mala, and the way Toyne builds his world around them. They give him the freedom to explore events and themes without needing to bend the real world or events to his complete needs, but he still slots them into his version of our world.
All in all, you get exactly what you would expect from a religious conspiracy/thriller and does it all well. I’m not sure if beach read is a genre, but if it is, this fits into it well.
The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I’m so glad I stuck with my journey in the Discworld. I wasn’t too taken with The Colour of Magic, but The Light Fantastic, is well, fantastic.
Where I found Colour hard to follow in places, the continued adventures of Rincewind and Twoflower here grabbed me. Maybe the first book was all about aligning myself to the style, because everything clicked here in the second.
Hilarious, deep world building that never takes itself seriously, and the high satire of many fantasy tropes that still masterfully fits into the world and the story. One thing I really enjoyed was characters like Cohen, who is an obvious bit of satire and a joke, still become fleshed out and lovable in their own right.
I’m now looking forward to seeing more of what the Disc has to offer.
Where I found Colour hard to follow in places, the continued adventures of Rincewind and Twoflower here grabbed me. Maybe the first book was all about aligning myself to the style, because everything clicked here in the second.
Hilarious, deep world building that never takes itself seriously, and the high satire of many fantasy tropes that still masterfully fits into the world and the story. One thing I really enjoyed was characters like Cohen, who is an obvious bit of satire and a joke, still become fleshed out and lovable in their own right.
I’m now looking forward to seeing more of what the Disc has to offer.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Gris Grimly, Washington Irving
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
How Hollywood turned this short story into the film it did I will never know!
I had to go back and re-read this after watching just to refresh my memory. The story that Washington crafts, in the highly descriptive nature of the times, is more of an ode to folklore that a ghost story or a horror tale. A small, in some places, suspenseful comment on how a folktale can be used to great effect and reinforced over the years.
I had to go back and re-read this after watching just to refresh my memory. The story that Washington crafts, in the highly descriptive nature of the times, is more of an ode to folklore that a ghost story or a horror tale. A small, in some places, suspenseful comment on how a folktale can be used to great effect and reinforced over the years.
The Age of Reckoning: Volume 1 by Thomas Anthony Lay
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
A great read for anyone who loves a bit of epic fantasy that feels familiar but has enough going for it to be its own unique world. The world building is exemplary. Too often do we see the straightforward route for a story taken where multiple races are involved to rely on old tropes. We all know the sort, the stocky gunpowder dwarves, the smart yet aloof elves, etc. None of that here. Instead, we have unique races that are still fleshed out and avoid the old tropes. Even the race of Undead (Forsaken) gets a different treatment than the average fantasy would give them.
There are twists and turns aplenty in a face paced, but never too speedy tale of war and alliances.
There are twists and turns aplenty in a face paced, but never too speedy tale of war and alliances.
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I wanted to love this book, I really did. There are areas which had me falling in love. The deep connection and exploration of a post-civil war Barcelona made the place feel alive in a beautiful way is a good example.
I believe my main issue with the book came along when I figured out the identity of the mysterious figure about 400 pages before the actual reveal. Add to this the large swathes of exposition about the past, and the story felt like it was dragging for me and, especially in the middle, became a bit of a slog to get through.
I still liked and enjoyed much of what was here. I just wish I had enjoyed it more.
I believe my main issue with the book came along when I figured out the identity of the mysterious figure about 400 pages before the actual reveal. Add to this the large swathes of exposition about the past, and the story felt like it was dragging for me and, especially in the middle, became a bit of a slog to get through.
I still liked and enjoyed much of what was here. I just wish I had enjoyed it more.