violetturtledove's reviews
403 reviews

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This is a book that hits you hard and sticks with you. It seems simple and almost predictable at first, you've probably read it watched a story along the same rich vs poor, popular vs outcast lines before but this was one of the originals and it stands up.

It feels real and raw, and these characters and phrases are now going to live on in my head.

The Timewaster Letters by Robin Cooper

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lighthearted medium-paced

2.5

Well this was an incredibly silly book, and I did want to like it (the cover certainly promised hilarity) but unfortunately it just wasn't my thing. The comedy just goes to close to cringe/prank material for me, it's not in bad taste or anything it's just the sort of thing that makes me more uncomfortable than amused to read.

Candide by Voltaire

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funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

I quite enjoyed this as a light read, it's certainly entertaining with its wit and lively characters. The plot isn't up to much, but then I feel it's just intended to be a vehicle for the satire. It's a list of awful events accompanied by the unfounded optimism of the main character, digs at various groups of people and some odd, whimsical moments involving sheep and monkeys.

It reminded me ever so slightly of De Sade's 'Justine' in that it's a list of events to demonstrate a philosophical point, although in this case the point is much more understandable and there is much less sex!

End of Watch by Stephen King

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.75

So this one did veer into sci-fi territory compared to the first two books which were quite grounded (although 'Finders Keepers' did have some quite incredible coincidences). That's not necessarily a bad point for me, I just felt it was a slightly different tone to the earlier books.

Still, it's a satisfying end to the trilogy and yet again I was reluctant to stop reading at any point.

Chariots of the Gods: 50th Anniversary Edition by Erich von Däniken

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reflective medium-paced

1.0

Oh boy. So I did go into this book with a sort of morbid curiosity and a good handful of salt. I expected hilarious rubbish but to be honest the hilarity is minimal.

This actually reads more like a manifesto on the future of research rather than putting forth proof of a theory, and some of this I can get behind. I can see the value of being open-minded and not trying to make new evidence fit pre-existing theories. I'm less convinced about the 'focus all our research on space travel' idea.

The actual 'evidence' such as it is, is presented in quite a random order, scattered among lectures about the importance of space research and looking at evidence impartially. The latter of course being undermined by the authors assumption that everything we can't explain must be aliens.

There's also a strong undercurrent of all sorts of unsavoury theories (primitive people couldn't possibly have been this intelligent, space travellers 'impregnating females' to improve the race etc) so it's not entirely a surprise when the author goes to a Nazi scientist for a quote (although hilariously the nazi doesn't even agree with him - oh to be a fly on the wall for that conversation!)

So, i went into this expecting it to be bad, and it was but not quite in the entertaining way I thought it would be. Still a historical document of a sort, with all the conspiracy theories it influenced, and a demonstration of how optimistic people were about space travel at this time.

Another...: Escaping Time by Scott N Beauchamp

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

3.25

This is a sweet, funny and nostalgic story about childhood friendship and grown up responsibilities. It could do with a little polishing; I spotted a few typos and there are some bits of unnecessary dialogue/description, but it has a big heart and a good ending. For me the first half (set in 1988) was a lot more engaging, the second 'modern' segment dragged a bit but that ending pulled it all together nicely. I think it would appeal to a younger audience well (most of the 80's references would still be known to those growing up with Stranger Things etc), it touches on a couple of darker subjects but it's mostly told with a sense of childlike wonder.

A cosy and colourful adventure story.

Finders Keepers by Stephen King

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Another completely gripping book. There's an unusual timeline to this, the set up is half of the book and the characters from the last book only show up at the end, but it does make for interesting reading. Like the last book you know 'whodunnit' right from the start, and can pretty much see what's going to happen, but finding out how it all plays out is the fun part.

The character of Morris is also brilliantly done, he is of course an awful person, but you still feel for him at times (waiting 36 years to be able to finish your favourite book series...ouch).

The ending also leads up really nicely to the third book, which I have of course went straight into.

Content Warnings

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: A Sortabiography by Eric Idle

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funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.75

This book was just an utter pleasure to read. As you'd expect from one of the pythons, and the title, it's light and funny, full of one-liners (some recycled) and anecdotes.

It jumps around a little time-wise: although the chapters are in a chronological order, within a chapter a mention of one person may lead to an aside of other anecdotes featuring them years later. Not that I'm complaining, it's like having a conversation with a friend where one thing reminds you of another and another..

There are some touching moments but it doesn't get too serious, as after all, life is quite absurd, and Mr Idle's is no exception.

Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield

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dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.5

This is a book full of slow, creeping dread, unsettlingly claustrophobic and eerie, it's also a hauntingly beautiful story of love and loss, beginnings, endings and letting go.

Not one for those who like everything clearly explained at the end, but one for those looking for otherworldly atmosphere and musings on the little details and memories that make up a relationship.

Mr Mercedes by Stephen King

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

I'll keep this fairly short, because what can I say about Stephen King that hasn't been said before? I'm more familiar horror books and less with thrillers, but this is a perfect example of the genre as far as I'm concerned. Totally gripping, so well paced and plotted, and some great characters. I know it's a cliché but I honestly didn't want to put this one down.

Content Warnings

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violetturtledove's reviews 403 reviews

violetturtledove's reviews
403 reviews