Scan barcode
whatsallyreadnext's reviews
621 reviews
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-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? No
4.0
I had been eyeing up this book for a little while (partly drawn in by the octopus on the cover!), so I was pleased when my work's book club picked this for one of our reads recently.
The story centres around Tova Sullivan, who takes up a job being a night-shift aquarium cleaner after her husband passes away. The disappearance of their eighteen-year-old son, Erik, on a boat over thirty years ago, still mystifies her and keeping busy has been her coping mechanism.
Tova forms a special bond with a giant Pacific octopus called Marcellus, who lives at the aquarium and is extremely clever. This is proven when he is able to deduce exactly what happened to Erik all those years ago, and now needs to figure out how to help Tova discover this herself before time runs out.
This debut novel was nothing like I'd ever read before - it is part magical realism, part mystery, with a bit of fun and quirkiness thrown in too. I particularly enjoyed reading the chapters written from the perspective of an octopus, Marcellus was a joyful character! Although the book dragged a bit during the initial setup of the characters and around the middle, the pace picked up a bit once there were a few reveals to the reader and I felt more invested in the story by then too. I think the ending improved the book for me as well as the inclusion of the octopus!
The story centres around Tova Sullivan, who takes up a job being a night-shift aquarium cleaner after her husband passes away. The disappearance of their eighteen-year-old son, Erik, on a boat over thirty years ago, still mystifies her and keeping busy has been her coping mechanism.
Tova forms a special bond with a giant Pacific octopus called Marcellus, who lives at the aquarium and is extremely clever. This is proven when he is able to deduce exactly what happened to Erik all those years ago, and now needs to figure out how to help Tova discover this herself before time runs out.
This debut novel was nothing like I'd ever read before - it is part magical realism, part mystery, with a bit of fun and quirkiness thrown in too. I particularly enjoyed reading the chapters written from the perspective of an octopus, Marcellus was a joyful character! Although the book dragged a bit during the initial setup of the characters and around the middle, the pace picked up a bit once there were a few reveals to the reader and I felt more invested in the story by then too. I think the ending improved the book for me as well as the inclusion of the octopus!
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh
emotional
sad
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? No
5.0
Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King
dark
hopeful
sad
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
4.0
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-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
3.0
Slough Horse by Mick Herron
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.0
The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan
Moving back and forth between 1930s British-occupied Malaya to 1945 Japanese-occupied Malaya, we are introduced to Cecily and her children Jujube, Abel and Jasmin as they navigate their lives through these difficult years. Unbeknownst to the children, their mother Cecily has been harbouring devastating secrets for nearly a decade and her own guilt surrounding her actions in the 1930s, which inadvertently led to the start of Japanese occupation.
The Storm We Made is a strong debut from Chan, who doesn't shy away from the brutality of this occupation, resulting in a memorable novel that certainly won't be forgotten for me anytime soon. It's a story of love, family, deceit, secrets and guilt, and it will surprise and shock you. I'm pleased to see this book feature on multiple 'Must Read Books of 2024' lists from bookshops and the media as I hope more people will read this important novel.
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
4.5
I'm often drawn to historical fiction books set in East and South-East Asia as a way to learn more about historical events that aren't usually taught in schools or spoken about much. I didn't know much about the Japanese occupation of Malaya (what Malaysia was called before it became independent) during 1941-1945 and hadn't read any books about this until now.
Moving back and forth between 1930s British-occupied Malaya to 1945 Japanese-occupied Malaya, we are introduced to Cecily and her children Jujube, Abel and Jasmin as they navigate their lives through these difficult years. Unbeknownst to the children, their mother Cecily has been harbouring devastating secrets for nearly a decade and her own guilt surrounding her actions in the 1930s, which inadvertently led to the start of Japanese occupation.
The Storm We Made is a strong debut from Chan, who doesn't shy away from the brutality of this occupation, resulting in a memorable novel that certainly won't be forgotten for me anytime soon. It's a story of love, family, deceit, secrets and guilt, and it will surprise and shock you. I'm pleased to see this book feature on multiple 'Must Read Books of 2024' lists from bookshops and the media as I hope more people will read this important novel.
Piglet by Lottie Hazell
dark
emotional
funny
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