jameslyons's reviews
80 reviews

The City & the City by China Miéville

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

4.5

I loved the prose of this engaging police procedural  set in a well-constructed and fascinating world, with a tight plot.
A rushed third act, but what’s new?
Losing Face by George Haddad

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

3.75

No Document by Anwen Crawford

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Yellow Notebook: Diaries Volume I 1978–1986 by Helen Garner

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hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced

4.0

100 Boyfriends by Brontez Purnell

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adventurous funny lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I’m glad it’s published, available, and popular — but I didn’t enjoy it very much. Too repetitive and unsatisfying — maybe that’s the point though, to drag me into the same dulled state as the protagonists? Ho hum. 
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The Spare Room by Helen Garner

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challenging emotional reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

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adventurous funny mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo

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

3.0

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

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funny lighthearted relaxing 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

3.75

:`) delightful. deserves the hype.
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

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adventurous emotional mysterious reflective tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

hmmmm i loved it so much, but the shoe-horned ending (except for the flawless final paragraph) has really stuck with me and soured the story :( everything else was exceptional. such a let down.