ros_scallydandler's reviews
198 reviews

The Thorn Puller by Hiromi Itō

challenging emotional funny reflective slow-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

4.25

I wish I could read this in the original Japanese. I can see that the use of references to literature and pop culture are key to her style and even a superb translation like this cannot capture that. But even without that this was a rewarding and stimulating read.

Betty Boo by Claudia Piñeiro

dark funny mysterious tense 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

4.25

So much fun to read but with an underlying darkness about Argentine society and politics. 

Bellies by Nicola Dinan

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.25

Rich and complex coming of age story.

Gabriel's Moon by William Boyd

adventurous mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

No review yet as read for the booktube prize.

Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks

challenging dark tense fast-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

4.5

Powerful drama.

Oromay by Baalu Girma

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny medium-paced

4.75

A striking novel. Once I got past the turgid speeches in chapter 4 it took off and I was caught up in events of the Red Star Campaign and the experiences of Tsegaye the journalist as his faith in the revolution and in himself is undermined by war, intrigue and love. The banning of the book in Ethiopia straight after publication and disappearance of the author a few months later add a poignancy to reading this and helped me not take offence at some attitudes that reflect the time and place it was written. 

Fish Swimming in Dappled Sunlight by Riku Onda

challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.75

I was initially enthralled but this waned somewhat. 

A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie

mysterious relaxing tense fast-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

4.5

Christie's depiction of Miss Marple is perfect in this one. A small English village, an entertaining cast of characters, the after effects of WWII and plenty of clues to keep the reader guessing. 

The Darkening Age: The Christian Destruction of the Classical World by Catherine Nixey

informative medium-paced

4.0

Enlightening and full of vivid anecdotes.  I love this sort of book that pulls together ideas from more academic studies and presents it for the general reader in an entertaining and digestible form. 

The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

adventurous lighthearted mysterious 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? No

4.0

Still a joy despite being something of a retread of earlier Holmes stories.