Scan barcode
raineachreads's reviews
44 reviews
A Second Chance by Jodi Taylor
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
Reread x many times. I think this is definitely in the two most devastating of the St Mary’s books (so far out of the first 13 anyway) yet it also contains my favourite jump too, the first great and successful migration of people.
Well I was not expecting any of that! This book has taken my emotions, jumbled them up and returned them to me in an incomprehensible state! I was not prepared for a certain death or in fact any death. I’m now about to start the next book in the series even though it’s 00:30 because there is no way I can attempt to sleep after that ending!
Well I was not expecting any of that! This book has taken my emotions, jumbled them up and returned them to me in an incomprehensible state! I was not prepared for a certain death or in fact any death. I’m now about to start the next book in the series even though it’s 00:30 because there is no way I can attempt to sleep after that ending!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: War
How to Raise a Happy Dog: So They Love You (more Than Anyone Else) by Sophie Collins
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.25
This is a brilliant book! Split into six sections covering everything from body language, to play, food to walks. While this would be perfect for any new dog owner, more experienced owners too may get some different ideas for enrichment for their canine friends. For the beautiful illustrations alone this book is worth a read!
Additional review from Floss, the border collie: Five out of five tail wags for this book! My human can now make me some new toys with items already in the house, bake me some tasty treats and take me on some new adventures!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age by Katherine May
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Every year I read scores of books I like, dozens I really enjoy and a handful which I love and become part of my book collection that I’m guaranteed to dip in and out of for the rest of my life. However sometimes another type of book comes along that makes you stop and think about the beauty of words. That show that letter by letter, word by word that something can be created, that ceases to be really about a plot or development, but instead creates a painting through sentences. Rundell has that rare ability and the title of her book sums up what she has created best of all, an enchantment.
‘Enchantment’ is a collection of essays on May’ experiences of the past and present, about the wonders and joy in everyday life and essentially what it is to be human. This book is very aptly timed as as we come out of the pandemic I think so many of us feel a bit lost and floating through life unanchored, something the author herself experiences. Through the fragments of memories and her current life that she writes about we realise that living is a really a collection of things; the moments we take with us into the future, our hopes, dreams and maybe fears too- these are all things that shape us.
This is very much a book to read slowly and savour. I think many people will really enjoy it, especially those who working out what life will look like in this post-pandemic world. There is lots of hope, lots of curiosity but most of all lots of wonder within its pages.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor
adventurous
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
This has become my go to series for when I need something I can escape from the world with. Jodi Taylor is a hilariously funny writer, she just knows how to use sentences and words to her advantage. Also there is a lot of plot in this with something (as the title suggests) always happening and always going wrong. Max is the most brilliant protagonist who knows her own mind, is determined and not your typical central character. These really do get better with each read!
Wilder Journeys: True Stories of Nature, Adventure and Connection by Miriam Lancewood
adventurous
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
‘Wilder Journeys’ is an eclectic anthology of travel and nature writing from a wide range of writers. There is a mixture of poems, short stories, memoir pieces and essays covering a range of continents and subjects.
One of the things I really love about anthologies is it gives you a chance to discover writers that you wouldn’t have otherwise. Reading several of the stories I found I wanted to know more about the people who had written them and learn more of their adventures. While there was no section of the book I didn’t enjoy stand out pieces for me was an essay by wildlife camera man Hamza Yassin who wrote about eagle fledglings and drew links between their experience and his own both as a refugee and following his dreams. Another interesting tale was of one person’s adventure through South America which involved spending several days floating down a river (without a boat) to make their way!
While I read this book cover to cover it would be really well suited as one to instead dip in and out of, choosing a story at random.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
One of the things I really love about anthologies is it gives you a chance to discover writers that you wouldn’t have otherwise. Reading several of the stories I found I wanted to know more about the people who had written them and learn more of their adventures. While there was no section of the book I didn’t enjoy stand out pieces for me was an essay by wildlife camera man Hamza Yassin who wrote about eagle fledglings and drew links between their experience and his own both as a refugee and following his dreams. Another interesting tale was of one person’s adventure through South America which involved spending several days floating down a river (without a boat) to make their way!
While I read this book cover to cover it would be really well suited as one to instead dip in and out of, choosing a story at random.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Measure by Nikki Erlick
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
4.5
How long is a piece of string? It turns out that it is as long as the length of your life. One morning all of the Earth’s population wakes up to discover they have an individual box outside their door. Inside the box is a piece of string that measures the length of their life. What would you do with this knowledge? How would this information change society? Would you even choose to open your box and find out how long you’ve got left to live? Does depth of life matter more than length and can that be measured? These are all questions explored through the lives of a cast of characters within this novel.
I really enjoyed reading this and was gripped to the story from the beginning to the end. Despite there being quite an array of characters I found myself able to sympathise with each one in turn. The book is really well written treading the line between dystopian, philosophical conundrums and yet remaining a light enjoyable book to read perfectly.
This is the authors debut novel and I hope, having read this book, that she will go on to write many more!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed reading this and was gripped to the story from the beginning to the end. Despite there being quite an array of characters I found myself able to sympathise with each one in turn. The book is really well written treading the line between dystopian, philosophical conundrums and yet remaining a light enjoyable book to read perfectly.
This is the authors debut novel and I hope, having read this book, that she will go on to write many more!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Each time I read this book it’s like visiting an old friend. I got given the trilogy when I was seven and they have remained in my top five books ever since. Even reading them as I’ve got older they’ve not lost that certain spark to them which few books have. Growing up I always wanted to be best friends with Anne but felt more akin to Emily, probably as she is more introverted and I connected with her a bit more. While she’s a slightly darker character it makes her more real. I think what makes these books as brilliant as they are is that Emily is a character who is completely comfortable in her own skin and happy in her own thoughts and distant imagined worlds, which is refreshing. As she said herself, ““I wouldn’t want to be anyone but myself even if I am plain”.
Weather Almanac 2023: The perfect gift for nature lovers and weather watchers by Storm Dunlop, Collins Books, Collins Astronomy
informative
fast-paced
4.0
We all experience the weather everyday, it impacts so much of our lives and, in the U.K., makes up quite a lot of our conversations. Despite this often I think we don’t always know what trends and patterns can be expected or much behind the science of it all. This almanac though is brilliant at giving that information.
Split into month by month segments and with an extensive appendix section at the back the author sets out what to expect, why certain weather happens in particular months and plenty of other facts along the way. There is plenty of practical information of both sun and moon rising and setting times and potential temperatures however my favourite sections were those that looked back on weather history of each month. Looking back sometimes several hundred years events really can and have been shaped by weather, from the creation of the London sewer system, writing of songs and music to weather causing disasters that have gone on to shape legislation.
While I read this straight through it is a book I’ll return to throughout the year to read in sections as we enter each new month.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Split into month by month segments and with an extensive appendix section at the back the author sets out what to expect, why certain weather happens in particular months and plenty of other facts along the way. There is plenty of practical information of both sun and moon rising and setting times and potential temperatures however my favourite sections were those that looked back on weather history of each month. Looking back sometimes several hundred years events really can and have been shaped by weather, from the creation of the London sewer system, writing of songs and music to weather causing disasters that have gone on to shape legislation.
While I read this straight through it is a book I’ll return to throughout the year to read in sections as we enter each new month.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
For just 300 or so pages this took me quite a long time to read! I never really got into it and didn’t particularly warm to any of the characters and yet there is something about it…
As a whole I didn’t like this book, but I did love sentences within it. They appeared dotted throughout as gems and it was worth plodding on until reaching the end for the final few pages which were the best of all. Not a book I’ll return to but I’m glad I read it. I would however definitely love read the same story but from the point of view of Camille, Mary-Lou or one of the other female characters.
As a whole I didn’t like this book, but I did love sentences within it. They appeared dotted throughout as gems and it was worth plodding on until reaching the end for the final few pages which were the best of all. Not a book I’ll return to but I’m glad I read it. I would however definitely love read the same story but from the point of view of Camille, Mary-Lou or one of the other female characters.