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circesophelia's reviews
161 reviews
Slade House by David Mitchell
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
Absolutely loved the creepy body horror aspect of it all. I cared for some characters more than others, and it ran away from me at the end but overall, got under the skin
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
3.5
First surprise of 2023!
I didn't think I'd like this as much as I did- I'm not a usual romance reader (this may be my first adult romance!), but this was so great to me.
The characterisation of everyone was so deep and rich that I cared about them much quicker than I usually do, the relationship was that of plausibility, as were the issues within it (not 400 pages of avoidable miscommunication). The history and rawness brought into the book through the obvious differences between queer relationships of now and in the 70s was an unexpected element that added weight. Each character had so much time invested into their backstory and why they were who they were.
It is still a romance, its incredibly predictable and borderline cliché, but its more about the journey with these stories.
Sure, it doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it doesn't really need to.
I didn't think I'd like this as much as I did- I'm not a usual romance reader (this may be my first adult romance!), but this was so great to me.
The characterisation of everyone was so deep and rich that I cared about them much quicker than I usually do, the relationship was that of plausibility, as were the issues within it (not 400 pages of avoidable miscommunication). The history and rawness brought into the book through the obvious differences between queer relationships of now and in the 70s was an unexpected element that added weight. Each character had so much time invested into their backstory and why they were who they were.
It is still a romance, its incredibly predictable and borderline cliché, but its more about the journey with these stories.
Sure, it doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it doesn't really need to.
The Tree of Knowledge by Eva Figes
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Very bizarre read! The insights of Deborah were very well written and insightful and the prose was often rich and stunning. The use of Milton quotes was well done and subtle, while adding realism.
I did find it bizarre that it was written from the first person and the language tried to mimic that of the 17th century - despite that trying to add to the immersive aspect of the book, it completely took me out if it as I knew this was written in 1990 (despite what storygraph says).
It was also just a basic stream of conversation to an unspeaking second person, not an issue for me but may mean others struggle to engage with it.
I did find it bizarre that it was written from the first person and the language tried to mimic that of the 17th century - despite that trying to add to the immersive aspect of the book, it completely took me out if it as I knew this was written in 1990 (despite what storygraph says).
It was also just a basic stream of conversation to an unspeaking second person, not an issue for me but may mean others struggle to engage with it.
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
funny
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Genuinely funny!
Gaiman is associated in my brain with the bizarre and creepy and quite uncomfy - I like the way he does this but this novel - much more focused in a comic brotherly relationship was so welcome.
The characters are all so defined and developed and different and fantastic and the book gives you reasons to love and root and support them.
It's a great companion to the much grander American Gods.
Gaiman is associated in my brain with the bizarre and creepy and quite uncomfy - I like the way he does this but this novel - much more focused in a comic brotherly relationship was so welcome.
The characters are all so defined and developed and different and fantastic and the book gives you reasons to love and root and support them.
It's a great companion to the much grander American Gods.
The Daylight Gate by Jeanette Winterson
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Fell a little flat for me :(
I get what Jeanette was going for and it is written well, but I didn't find the characters engaging enough or defined enough for me to want to fight for them.
I get what Jeanette was going for and it is written well, but I didn't find the characters engaging enough or defined enough for me to want to fight for them.
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really enjoyed viewing the world through Klara's eyes, her wonder and rationalisation were an incredible study. The unpredictability and unreliability of the characters was also heightened by this perspective which I found engaging.
The story felt loosly engaged and lucid which was refreshing to read.
Ishiguro writes beautifully but this lacked the intense emotional pull I would need for a 5 star read.
The story felt loosly engaged and lucid which was refreshing to read.
Ishiguro writes beautifully but this lacked the intense emotional pull I would need for a 5 star read.
The Fortune Men by Nadifa Mohamed
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
reflective
medium-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
2.5
The benefit of reading viral books is being able to find them in cheap deals. Moshfeghs book is certainly a good evaluation of depression- and the feelings the narrator has toward the world are indeed immersive and believable. Unfortunately, it feels as if she lacks nuance, with a lot of her character feeling one-dimensional with only some other aspects being revealed fleetingly. This almost always happens within the relationship with Reva, yet this doesn't pick up steam until well in the second half. While the concept is intriguing and the narrator complex, the haze of drug taking and therapist lying in the first half impeded the enjoyment I had in the book - as I wished for less Tuttle and Goldberg and more development into her complex relationship with Reva.
She Gets the Girl by Alyson Derrick, Rachael Lippincott
lighthearted
relaxing
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? Yes
3.0
I'm not a great reader of YA romance, but anything sapphic is an exception. I liked the development of Alex a great deal and the chemistry was palpable (due to the authors marriage in some part) however, the characters felt very much like a trope and a replication of a lot of Bad boy/good girl lit just with 'Alex' being presumably short for Alexandra this time. It felt like she got far more development externally of the central relationship than Molly was afforded. Furthermore the culmination of Cora's storyline was unsatisfactory for me and it took me out of the conclusion.