violetturtledove's reviews
403 reviews

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

challenging emotional reflective 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

This book sort of throws you in at the deep end with a very grim set up, I also struggled with the language at first and the diary format made the pacing a bit uncertain.

But I love the characters; there's bad and good in all of them, although the amounts of each vary wildly! Once I got used to the style of speaking I found the descriptions and dialogue touching, funny, well-observed and thoughtful.

The plot and pacing were still a bit meandering at times, but on the whole it's a book I'm glad I read.

Firestorm by Lucy Hounsom

adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced

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

4.5

It's tricky to review the final part of a trilogy, a lot of what I'd usually say about character, wiring style etc has already been said in my previous reviews and it all seems to come down to how they nail the ending, but an ending is not a book.

I felt truly invested in these characters, and the world was a rich and original place to spend time. I found some of the romance plots a little obvious, i don't know if it's because this is aimed at a younger audience and I'm just too old and jaded! It was heartfelt though, and the other plots about military strategic, complex morals and identity were all very mature and balanced. 

I think my attention span was waning part way through this so I'm not sure if all of the magical and paradox stuff made complete sense, but the ending did and it was very satisfying.

Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

I've almost been stunned into silence by this book, it's been a day and I still don't know quite how to put it into words. It has opened my eyes and really made me think. I think in the LGBTQ+ community it's easy to be dismissive or distrustful of religion, as a source of intolerance or repression. And while Lamya acknowledges struggles, what comes across most in this memoir is a celebration of faith, love and community. 

I've read other queer memoirs where religious background is only a hurdle to overcome, but Lamya brings brings stories and characters from the Qur'an to life in a way that feels thoroughly relevant both to her story and to modern queer life in general. 

I feel like I've been briefly allowed into a very special, secret world (like the inside of a whale, as she puts it) and I can only hope I can take some of its love and hope back out into the world with me.

The Man Without Shelter by Indrajit Garai

hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

This is a strange little book, both simple and subtle. It's a moral tale, and possibly too obvious in this for some, but the way it's told has some interesting aspects. Some of the phrasing comes across as a little odd, possibly the author has English as a second language but it's quite charming for that and some of the descriptions and imagery are really quite beautiful.

I'm a bit torn on the storytelling style. Sometimes it feels like we are receiving a summary of the story, the story is being described rather than told. For instance in a conversation, we are told overall what information is exchanged but not told the exact dialogue.

Now on one hand, sometimes pages and pages of dialogue can be off-putting for readers, so maybe this is a blessing. But for me it means that, while I like and sympathise with the characters, I don't feel I know them as well, without their exact words.

Also, a lot of this plot involves legal proceedings: lawsuits, criminal courts, etc. So while I found the storytelling style a little strange and plain, it's also not an aspect of the story I want embellished as legal drama is not really my thing!

The whole it's a sweet and inspiring story, I personally didn't completely click with the writing style, but there were some lines which were beautifully poetic, and I would have liked to see more of this aspect in it.

Heartland by Lucy Hounsom

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

4.75

A brilliant second part to a trilogy with plenty of new characters and plot threads introduced: enough to keep it interesting, not so many that it gets confusing. As the scope increases this feels like a more mature story, and yes there are familiar fantasy tropes but there are also some very original ideas. The pace keeps going nicely, and while the conclusion is a bit complex it feels like the right place to end the book, and still leaves you ready to dive into the next.

The Floating Brothel by Siân Rees

informative reflective medium-paced

3.5

This was a fairly interesting bit of seafaring history. I think maybe the title and cover art were chosen to add a bit of sensationalism, but it's more of a serious look at prison, shipboard and colonial conditions and practices rather than a bawdy tale of orgies. That's not to say there aren't some lighter anecdotes or that it's all grim, it's balanced and sensibly discussed.

The Doorkeepers by Graham Masterton

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

This book is wild, ridiculous and such a weird mix of plot points... It was a great read!  The characters weren't particularly engaging but the plot definitely made up for it with its twists and turns, there's not a dull moment anywhere. One slight criticism from me (unless you count it's silliness as a criticism) is that the last couple of pages didn't end add anything to the story. It like a cheesy horror movie adding the obligatory 'ambiguous' ending to leave room for a sequel, and although some of the cheesy elements are fun, this just felt confusing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Torture, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Religious bigotry

Minor: Cursing, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Medical content, and War

Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

I'm a bit torn on this one because on one hand I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It had an interesting premise and an original magic system. The characters were likeable and interesting, or otherwise interestingly flawed, and there were some interesting moral areas in their different interactions and viewpoints. The romance was charming, if a bit over-dramatic and predictable. The supernatural plot had some impressively horrific moments and it all built to a rather gripping finale.

However, there were some points that just seemed a bit confusing. I felt like there were some questions left unanswered at the end, some history was hinted and and never fully explained. Sometimes the characters seemed oblivious to something that seemed obvious to me, then they would suddenly mention something that would seem like a revelation if they didn't say it as if it had been common knowledge all along. 

I also found it difficult to guess the time period, and I suppose the author was going for a 'timeless' feel (nothing dates a book faster than a reference to outdated technology or social media) and I can't say I have knowledge of what modern but rural Ethiopia is like, but it just seemed like some elements didn't fit with others. 

Overall I still really enjoyed this book, but I would give it a miss if inconsistencies are a deal-breaker

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

adventurous informative mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

There's something very comforting about this book, although I'm not sure that was the original intention! It might not make for the most thrilling pace, but there's something reassuring in recognising someone else who likes making lists. That is, the lists of sea creatures, shells, etc. The detailed mentions of maritime events, latitude and longitude, and other measurements were another matter, my brain doesn't work in a way that finds those interesting or easy to read. 

This was originally published in serial form so it's quite episodic: many of the chapters end on cliffhangers and a few of the solutions are a bit underwhelming, and the events of one challenge don't have much effect on the plot as a whole. 

The few characters are good, Captain Nemo is a brilliantly flawed character, enigmatic and intriguing, prone to sudden changes in mood but with a strong (if mysterious) moral code.

The main three other characters are likeable and have some quite amusing interactions (Ned is probably the least likeable but also gets the best lines). The rest of the crew remain a mystery, being seen rarely and not speaking in a known language.

For a modern reader the format and pacing of this book might be a bit dated, but I still enjoyed the journey.

Grass by Phil Sparrowhawk, Martin King, Martin Knight

funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

3.5

Overall this is a fairly entertaining book, there are some amusing anecdotes and interesting bits. I didn't find the narrator especially likeable, I suppose I find it harder to relate to someone so interested in money and business, I think I'd rather hear from people who take drugs than people who distribute them! But just the same, I was happy with the way his story ends.