redheadreading's reviews
2113 reviews

Shalimar: A Story of Place & Migration by Davina Quinlivan

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emotional reflective medium-paced

3.5

Reflective and introspective, this memoir largely orbits around the grief of the author's father's passing but weaves together strands from family history and personal identity with nature, travel, poetry and more. My favourite chapter was Pigeon Blood as I loved the glimpse of her relationship with her aunt and the precious connection they shared. Beautifully written but perhaps a little too directionless for my taste. 
Running That Doesn't Suck: How to Love Running (Even If You Think You Hate It) by Lisa Jhung

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2.75

A few useful bits but most of it feels very obvious? "Not a morning person? Don't run in the morning!" Etc. Humour grated a bit too but that may have been exacerbated by the audiobook's tone - I have a feeling this is much more helpful as a physical book as that seems to come with training plan and a lot of info graphics that perhaps didn't translate well! 
She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen

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emotional lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.5

Dreams in a Time of War by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o

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informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

Loop of Jade by Sarah Howe

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reflective slow-paced

2.5

Very well crafted, but I found some of the language choices clunky and I always struggle with poetry that is quite fragmented. 
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
I am so BORED!
When I Sing, Mountains Dance by Irene Solà

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

I don't really know how to feel about this little book but it is certainly unique! Because the perspective changes every chapter and some of them are very abstract, I struggled with some portions of this and felt at times that it lacked a purpose. I don't know if the latter half gets stronger or if I just settled in more but the final chapter in particular really worked for me and I felt real catharsis. I shall probably have to sit with this one to ponder it further and the rating may change!
Becoming Henry Moore by

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informative fast-paced

4.0