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thereadingmum's reviews
815 reviews
Paris By Starlight by Robert Dinsdale
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I wanted to give up on this book about a fifth of the way in because I read reviews that the second half was a bit grim and from what I could tell, I thought it was going to be too grim for my liking. However, I had really enjoyed Gingerbread by the same author and I bought this book new, so I forced myself to keep going. Boy am I glad I did.
For me, an ending can knock off a whole star from my rating or pull it up by one. So while I felt the writing wasn't as fluid and the descriptions of the flowers and such got a bit tiresome, the ending was so satisfying I was smiling when I closed the book.
For me, an ending can knock off a whole star from my rating or pull it up by one. So while I felt the writing wasn't as fluid and the descriptions of the flowers and such got a bit tiresome, the ending was so satisfying I was smiling when I closed the book.
Elephants can Remember by Agatha Christie
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I found my mind wandering a bit while reading this.
I guessed the twist about halfway through, but not the ending. I kinda wanted one more link and for one of the characters to be a bigger villain.
Also, what happened to the dog?! ðŸ˜
It definitely felt like this second to last Poirot novel was not as tight and possibly the most rambling. Ariadne Oliver just doesn't cut it as a sidekick. Comparing this to the last Poirot where Hastings returns, that was a wonderful swan song for the Belgian detective.
I guessed the twist about halfway through, but not the ending. I kinda wanted one more link and for one of the characters to be a bigger villain.
Also, what happened to the dog?! ðŸ˜
It definitely felt like this second to last Poirot novel was not as tight and possibly the most rambling. Ariadne Oliver just doesn't cut it as a sidekick. Comparing this to the last Poirot where Hastings returns, that was a wonderful swan song for the Belgian detective.
The Burial Plot by Elizabeth Macneal
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I'm going to be honest. Wait, when am I not?
I almost dnf this one. Almost. The first third made it look like one of those stories when you can see the bad things happening to the MC from a hundred pages away and the internal cringing threatens to overwhelm.
Buuut...it totally redeemed itself or rather the MC, Bonnie, did by being a lot more resourceful and a lot less of a doormat than she appeared to be in the beginning. Boy am I glad she grew a spine. Of course it didn't stop me from getting very worried for her as the book moved towards its climax.
Unlike the last gothic thriller I read, Hare House, the ambiguity of the ending was done well and I was left with no bitter aftertaste.
I thoroughly enjoyed Macneal's The Doll Factory so I don't know why I delayed so long reading this nor why I haven't read her second book, Circus of Wonders, yet either.
I almost dnf this one. Almost. The first third made it look like one of those stories when you can see the bad things happening to the MC from a hundred pages away and the internal cringing threatens to overwhelm.
Buuut...it totally redeemed itself or rather the MC, Bonnie, did by being a lot more resourceful and a lot less of a doormat than she appeared to be in the beginning. Boy am I glad she grew a spine. Of course it didn't stop me from getting very worried for her as the book moved towards its climax.
Unlike the last gothic thriller I read, Hare House, the ambiguity of the ending was done well and I was left with no bitter aftertaste.
I thoroughly enjoyed Macneal's The Doll Factory so I don't know why I delayed so long reading this nor why I haven't read her second book, Circus of Wonders, yet either.
Half Truth by Nadia Mahjouri
emotional
informative
reflective
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? N/A
3.75
Hare House by Sally Hinchcliffe
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
One advantage of coming back to review a book a few weeks after having finished it is that you are left with what impressed you the most. If there was nothing then there really is no point writing a review is there?
What I loved:
- The adherence to a proper gothic genre, ie melancholic, almost depressing landscape, scary, looming house with creepy stuffed hare exhibits abnd every character unlikeable to some degree.
- The writing is excellent.
- The story kept me enthralled.
So why is less than 4stars? The ending. A bit too vague and a bit too much innuendo and not enough clarity. Also, I thought the withholding of the main character's name just like in Rebecca a bit gimmicky as it doesn't seem to have the same thematic use.
What I loved:
- The adherence to a proper gothic genre, ie melancholic, almost depressing landscape, scary, looming house with creepy stuffed hare exhibits abnd every character unlikeable to some degree.
- The writing is excellent.
- The story kept me enthralled.
So why is less than 4stars? The ending. A bit too vague and a bit too much innuendo and not enough clarity. Also, I thought the withholding of the main character's name just like in Rebecca a bit gimmicky as it doesn't seem to have the same thematic use.
The Whale's Last Song by Joanne Fedler
3.0
I may come across as a curmudgeon but the writing in this was just a bit too preachy. It's one of the dangers of a 3rd person POV.
Was it heartwarming? Yes, mostly. Did the bad person get his comeuppance? Sure, but there were also excuses made. Did I get a bit emotional about the whale? Yes, but animals are my weakness. It was an easy little book to read and many of my issues were my own hangups.
It will appeal to Paulo Coehlo and Mitch Albom fans.
Was it heartwarming? Yes, mostly. Did the bad person get his comeuppance? Sure, but there were also excuses made. Did I get a bit emotional about the whale? Yes, but animals are my weakness. It was an easy little book to read and many of my issues were my own hangups.
It will appeal to Paulo Coehlo and Mitch Albom fans.