rebeckareads's reviews
266 reviews

We Had to Remove This Post by Hanna Bervoets

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dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Quite enjoyed this one! Unfortunately, the ending brought it down for me. It felt too abrupt. I feel this would make a good book club discussion as it's quite thought-provocing.
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

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tense slow-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? Yes

5.0

When Jack Edwards recommended this book, he described as a coil just spiralling tighter and tighter (or something along those lines) and I have to agree. It's a brilliant book exploring family dynamics from four different perspectives, ending "in the middle of the action", although I must say I'm glad that it did (no spoilers). It also uses different writing styles which I found worked really well for their intent and purpose (I'm also always a sucker for second-person perspective!).
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The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway

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adventurous reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Thieves by Lucie Bryon

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Cute, quick, queer!
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

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relaxing sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I read this book after receiving it as a Christmas present. Historical fiction isn't my usual preference, but the writing was good and Lily would present some insightful thoughts at times. I think I would've enjoyed it more if it was shorter.
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Come Join Our Disease by Sam Byers

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challenging dark medium-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

5.0

Thought-provoking and disgusting. Apart from the prose, I also liked the lack of chapters in part 2 to reflect the loss of routine in the main characters life. And contrary yo many others, I really liked the ending aftee thinking about it for a while. An ouroboros of sorts.
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We Had No Rules by Corinne Manning

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Quite literally don't know how to describe the short stories in this collection. They all just fell flat to me. It feels like I'm missing something.
Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson

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emotional reflective 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? Yes

2.0

Look, I get it. I do. I appreciate the craft. It should've been right up my alley; slow, character-driven, reflective, quiet prose... but it just wasn't.
Animal Farm by George Orwell

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challenging dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Short, punchy, a classic for a reason! I listened to the audiobook narrated by Rupert Degas and his performance of the different characters was amazing.
Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski

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emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

What I found most interesting about this book, was the way it tackles feeling othered at two different stages in your life;
due to your (frown-upon) sexuality and love for someone unable to reciprocate, and later on due to being an immigrant unable to return to your country of birth.
. I don't want to start rambling about it, but I liked the contrast and how relatable it felt to me personally.