roshnimc's reviews
85 reviews

Hercule Poirot: The Complete Short Stories by Agatha Christie

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

3.0

Foster by Claire Keegan

lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.75

A simple tale of a couple who had lost their child being asked to take care of a girl while her mother, who has multiple children and a husband who only drinks and gambles, is at the last stage of her pregnancy. Nothing out of the ordinary, nothing to complain of either.

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

A short book but powerfully emotive. 

4.50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie

adventurous relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

The American by Henry James

reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.0

A case of old French aristocracy clashing with new American money. The novel exposes hypocrisy and parental control.

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

lighthearted slow-paced

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

3.0

Good plot - I was not able to guess the murderer. It's just that there were so many subplots so the pace was jerky and as a result, I wasn't able to read the book in one sitting, which I usually like to do for murder mysteries.

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

After a long time, I encountered a book so rich in reflection and psychological analysis. This is my first Ishiguro book and based on this, I bought several of his other books.

Longbourn by Jo Baker

lighthearted 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? N/A

2.5

It started off very well describing the servants' situation at the Longbourn estate and, wherever possible, followed the Pride and Prejudice novel. I especially liked the tie-in with the ladies of Longbourn being said to have got their shoe ribbons by proxy in P&P and the description of what that actually meant here - that Sally had to walk through rain and mud to get them. Then, the story degenerates into a Hollywood movie. The story should have gone on giving a realistic picture of the servants' lives rather than forcing a somewhat bizarre happy ending. The character of many of the central figures of P&P are necessarily changed. I understand the empathy for Mrs Bennet but here Mr Bennet and even Lizzie and Mr Darcy are not shown in a good light. I would have liked to add this book to my re-read pile based on the first half but the second part messed it up.

Leaf by Niggle by J.R.R. Tolkien

reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

Tom Shippey described how Tolkien had an anxiety-induced dream and immediately committed this story to paper the next day. It makes me very sad to know that he felt at that time that he had not accomplished much in his life. He describes himself well in the story but in the outlook of others, he is truly mistaken. Perhaps it was more his own perception driven by his perfectionism. This is the time I truly hope that humans have souls that can look on after death and that he has peace seeing how his son carried on his legacy.

Pet Sematary by Stephen King

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

It is clear why King is a masterful writer. This is my first Stephen King book and it was interesting to me that the book is not initially as fast-paced as I expected it to be. The psychological trauma of the wife as a young child was very poignantly described and the father's interaction with his child while kite-flying was touching. The second half really pumps the gas on the horror that unfolds. The pace is breakneck and I felt on the edge of my seat, often clutching my hair most of the time. The last few pages are devastating; really hard to read and to be honest, I skimmed through them just to get closure. It is not my cup of tea to be so discomfited and since that was the aim of King, he succeeded brilliantly.