visorforavisor's reviews
32 reviews

Unruly: A History of England's Kings and Queens by David Mitchell

funny informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

Utterly hilarious book from David Mitchell.

My partner (David Mitchell fan) and I (historian) read this together, and both hugely enjoyed it — it’s excellent fun whichever side you’re coming from.

Mitchell covers all monarchs of England, with good, informative explanations of what happened and why. His methods of translating centuries-old problems into modern-day understanding are effective and still true to the original stories and happenings. Really good introduction to this sort of history for anyone who doesn’t know much, and very funny for historians who already know most of what they’re being told. References to English popular culture throughout.

Thoroughly recommend.

GHOSTS: The Button House Archives by Simon Farnaby, Ben Willbond, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard, Martha Howe-Douglas, Mathew Baynton

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Very fun look into the lives of the characters.

Longbourn by Jo Baker

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

This was an utterly wonderful book.

Jo Baker’s re-imagining of the world of Pride and Prejudice, through the eyes of the servants at Longbourn, is a gripping story with a gripping hook to begin with. But the beauty of it is that it isn’t really about Pride and Prejudice at all.

Sarah, the main character, is the senior housemaid to the Bennet household, and we are told the ups and downs of the sort of drama that can be fitted in amongst a hard life of washing, cleaning, bowing, and helping. It’s excellent.

The West Norfolk Question by

funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

A very funny read for anybody who knows anything about Norfolk, politics, or both. A satirical look at Scottish devolution via a Norfolk lens.

Eight Detectives by Alex Pavesi

mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

This book is a very good read, but stumbles a bit at the end in my opinion. It tried to do a bit too much. Nonetheless it is very entertaining throughout. I won’t say anything more, for fear of spoiling it.

Some Like It Cold by Elle McNicoll

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

Elle McNicoll is excellent as always.

Jasper Montgomery is a loveable, relatable autistic character and Arthur Lancaster is the man every autistic girl would dream of. They’re bitter and witty and funny towards each other, and the book is a delight to read from beginning to end.

The Dentist by Tim  Sullivan

funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

This book is very fun and has a really good, compassionate attitude towards the main character and his autism (the book refers to it as Asperger’s, a term that is not used any more, but the author has fixed this in subsequent books). The mystery is interesting and DS Cross is very funny and sweet.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual assault

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

I read this book when I was a fairly small child and am now reading it for the first time since. It’s just as good as I remembered it.

A boy named Bod Owens grows up in a graveyard among the ghosts whose graves occupy it, and encounters a great number of other supernatural and human phenomena.

Millions by Frank Cottrell Boyce

adventurous emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

One of the most lovely, absurd books I’ve read in a long time. A very sweet story about a (not explicitly but it’s clearly what’s going on) autistic eight-year-old boy with a special interest in saints and his ten-year-old brother with special interests in real estate and money.

Damien and Anthony live in a UK that’s about to switch over to the euro, and then they find £229370 in cash and have only a very small amount of time in which to spend it.

A ridiculous, whimsical, and hilarious story of inflation, grief, and family.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent

Autism in Adults by Luke Beardon

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

This book is a lovely and non-judgemental look at autism and how it presents in the adult population. Loved it.