robyncoleman's reviews
117 reviews

Babel by R.F. Kuang

5.0

Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory: Stories by Raphael Bob-Waksberg

3.75

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett

DNF @ 44%. New Year’s resolution is to just stop reading books I am not enjoying and this book was not for me. Strange pacing and felt very forced. The narrative was all over the place and a bit confusing. I just googled the plot in the end. Time to move on.

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

adventurous mysterious reflective 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

5.0

Felt like a classic fairytale with a modern twist. I loved the characters! Really mysterious, fanatical and enchanting. Great atmosphere. I highly recommend for an escapism experience into fantasy. Only critique is - it can get very confusing at points. But kind of adds to the mystery in my opinion

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

All hail Brit Bennett. This book was a masterpiece! Wanted to savour every line, description, dialogue. The characters had a wonderful depth to them. Story was gripping and emotional. Loved that it had a lot of female and female relationships (sisterhood, mother and daughter, cousins).  Bravo I say - 5 stars!

The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Honestly this book was a bit … (dare I say…) boring and dull for the first 50%. Very bleak and dreary. But then Ged comes along and it’s great! 3 stars

Snowflake by Louise Nealon

emotional mysterious 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? Yes

2.5

This book is fine… the plot is really all over the place (in my opinion). Events happen and then they kind of… forget about it or let it simmer away. Didn’t particularly like the characters either… liked the setting though! :) 2.5 stars. 

The Girls by Emma Cline

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

I thought this was really well written. The story itself indeed echoes the Manson cult in a fictional and haunting way. The allure and intoxicating energy of the characters from the ranch, was really well portrayed.  And also the descent into madness. I think it captured the late 60’s LA Americana vibes very well. I liked it! 3 stars

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

An emotional challenging memoir, written in excellent fashion. I felt that I was with Walls the entire time! I liked that it was written from the perspective of a child, and the perspective grew and the book progressed. 4 stars

You Be Mother: The debut novel from the author of Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason

challenging emotional medium-paced

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

2.75

A book that kept me reading. Chipped away at this over a few days, and each reading session was easy and digestible. Characters weren’t very likeable (flawed and a bit hollow at times/lacking some depth). 

Short chapters juggling a number of different intertwining plots and narratives. Nothing breathtaking though. 2.75 stars