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andintothetrees's reviews
567 reviews
Sandwich by Catherine Newman
emotional
funny
fast-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
3.75
Plot/compellingness 3/5
Themes 3/5
Characters 4/5
Emotional resonance 5/5
Writing style 4.5/5
I loved We All Want Impossible Things so was very excited to read this. Like its predecessor, it was both a fun, funny (I LOLed a couple of times) and moving book. I am a little younger than the author, this might hit harder if you are a similar life stage (early 50s with children in early adulthood), but it still had emotional resonance. It's a 4/5 rather than a 5/5 as the pace was a bit frantic at times, and also I remember hearing Catherine Newman on a podcast saying how she can basically only write in her own voice - and I thought that showed here. It felt very similar to WAWIT and the character Willa was just like one of the daughters in that (I think both are based heavily on Catherine Newman's RL daughter). An enjoyable book but maybe a bit too samey to the previous one.
Themes 3/5
Characters 4/5
Emotional resonance 5/5
Writing style 4.5/5
I loved We All Want Impossible Things so was very excited to read this. Like its predecessor, it was both a fun, funny (I LOLed a couple of times) and moving book. I am a little younger than the author, this might hit harder if you are a similar life stage (early 50s with children in early adulthood), but it still had emotional resonance. It's a 4/5 rather than a 5/5 as the pace was a bit frantic at times, and also I remember hearing Catherine Newman on a podcast saying how she can basically only write in her own voice - and I thought that showed here. It felt very similar to WAWIT and the character Willa was just like one of the daughters in that (I think both are based heavily on Catherine Newman's RL daughter). An enjoyable book but maybe a bit too samey to the previous one.
The Night in Question: A Novel by Susan Fletcher
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Plot/compellingness 3/5
Themes 3/5
Characters 3/5
Emotional resonance 4/5
Writing style 4/5
Themes 3/5
Characters 3/5
Emotional resonance 4/5
Writing style 4/5
All Fours by Miranda July
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Apparently a lot of people have found this book life-changing. I wouldn't go that far, but it's certainly thought-provoking. There is a lot in here: sex, ageing, peri/menopause, marriage/relationships, birth trauma, family vs career/art... and many quotable sentences. It's definitely one of the best books I've read this year and one that's made me feel quite reflective (and also a little apprehensive about what my 40s might bring).
That said (not a spoiler as it happens near the start), it didn't feel realistic or understandable that the MC chose to just stay in the motel. There is a line about it that goes something like "why does anyone do anything?" but meh, it wasn't believable for me (other things about her behaviour bothered me too, but we don't have to love every character for a book to be good). I enjoyed the book much more in the later, non-motel-based, sections. I also found Sam, the child character, too good to be true. They are constantly saying funny/profound things and endlessly cute and intelligent, and whilst that side of parenthood is real, Sam never seemed to have an off-moment and as such, I will risk sounding like a horrible parent and say that this didn't feel like a realistic portrayal of parenthood.
Plot/compellingness 3/5
Themes 5/5
Characters 4/5
Emotional resonance 5/5
Writing style 5/5
That said (not a spoiler as it happens near the start), it didn't feel realistic or understandable that the MC chose to just stay in the motel. There is a line about it that goes something like "why does anyone do anything?" but meh, it wasn't believable for me (other things about her behaviour bothered me too, but we don't have to love every character for a book to be good). I enjoyed the book much more in the later, non-motel-based, sections. I also found Sam, the child character, too good to be true. They are constantly saying funny/profound things and endlessly cute and intelligent, and whilst that side of parenthood is real, Sam never seemed to have an off-moment and as such, I will risk sounding like a horrible parent and say that this didn't feel like a realistic portrayal of parenthood.
Plot/compellingness 3/5
Themes 5/5
Characters 4/5
Emotional resonance 5/5
Writing style 5/5
You Don't Have to Be Mad to Work Here by Benji Waterhouse
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
slow-paced
4.25
Really enjoyed this, I think the content could have been a little more varied (it would have been nice to hear about a larger number of patients, and some of the personal side of things got repetitive) but overall it was a very readable and thought provoking book.
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I read this as I wanted something plot-heavy & completely different to the last book I read. It fulfilled that remit! I enjoyed the "closed room" setting of a hard to reach island, and I liked the character Hannah (good name, too 😉). Ultimately though I want surprised by any of the "twists" - maybe I've just read too many books but I was able to spot all the tropes and clues from miles away.
Plot/compellingness 4/5
Themes 1/5 (this book is mostly plot)
Characters 4/5
Emotional resonance 2/5
Writing style 4/5
Plot/compellingness 4/5
Themes 1/5 (this book is mostly plot)
Characters 4/5
Emotional resonance 2/5
Writing style 4/5
Learning to Think.: A memoir about faith, demons, and the courage to ask questions by Tracy King
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
3.0
It's difficult to review a memoir as it's somebody's personal life story & traumas, but I just love this. I enjoyed the writing style but the experiences detailed here (especially the religious ones) were much less extreme than the marketing leads you to expect (which sounds horrible to say, I don't wish more trauma in the author, this just wasn't what I thought it was going to be) . Tbh I found quite a lot of book kind of boring and was relieved to get to the end.
The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey
dark
emotional
funny
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
4.0
Plot/compellingness 3/5 - I think this would have been a 5 star book for me was it not for some of the plot elements in the last quarter or so of the book. SPOILER ALERT The drunken vicar and Uncle Raymond plotlines came out of nowhere and were quickly wrapped up- especially the latter - and whilst they were wrapped up in a satisfying way they felt a bit odd compared to the slow burn of the rest of the plot. The thing that happens with Sharon at the end felt like a cliched plot device, though the undercurrents of the motivation for it were interesting. Also, it was nice that Miv's mum recovered from her mental health difficulties by the end, but to have such a sudden and complete recovery seems unlikely
Themes 5/5
Characters 5/5
Emotional resonance 4/5
Writing style 5/5
Themes 5/5
Characters 5/5
Emotional resonance 4/5
Writing style 5/5
The Garnett Girls by Georgina Moore
emotional
lighthearted
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
3.5
3.5. I picked this up as I needed something completely different and non-ranty to read after the Lionel Shriver book, and it did that. I felt quite absorbed in the family's story, and the characters were well-drawn (with a real mixture of good and bad traits, just like real people). I felt many elements of the plot were handled in a shallow way or not fully resolved. I also find it annoying when ages of characters and the year/s events are happening in are unclear. I enjoyed this well enough but probably wouldn't read anything else by the author.
Plot/compellingness 3/5
Themes 3/5
Characters 5/5
Emotional resonance 3/5
Writing style 3/5
Plot/compellingness 3/5
Themes 3/5
Characters 5/5
Emotional resonance 3/5
Writing style 3/5
Mania by Lionel Shriver
dark
slow-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
2.0
For many years I have disagreed with a lot of Lionel Shriver's views but continued to respect her as an author and enjoy her fiction writing but this book was disappointing. It reads like a rant, and nothing much happens in the first 80% except people having the same conversation over and over again. It's meant to be satire, I get it, but it is like being repeatedly hit over the head. I'm glad I got a library copy and didn't spend money on this!
Plot/compellingness 2/5
Themes 2/5 - it had one theme really
Characters 4/5 - and that's mostly for the MC's partner Wade, because he reminded me of my partner (in a nice way!)
Emotional resonance 1/5
Writing style 4/5
Plot/compellingness 2/5
Themes 2/5 - it had one theme really
Characters 4/5 - and that's mostly for the MC's partner Wade, because he reminded me of my partner (in a nice way!)
Emotional resonance 1/5
Writing style 4/5
You Are Here by David Nicholls
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
Plot/compellingness 3/5 I enjoyed reading this book but gripping it was not, though the writing style was so enjoyable I didn't mind the predictableness of the plot
Themes 3/5
Characters 4/5 (I didn't particularly like them, but they were well written and well rounded. I agree with another review that they don't really feel like millenials/(albeit elder millenials/Xenillials?) . Maybe it's because we're all in denial about becoming middle aged but they felt more like characters in their 50s than people around 40)
Emotional resonance 5/5
Writing style 5/5
Themes 3/5
Characters 4/5 (I didn't particularly like them, but they were well written and well rounded. I agree with another review that they don't really feel like millenials/(albeit elder millenials/Xenillials?) . Maybe it's because we're all in denial about becoming middle aged but they felt more like characters in their 50s than people around 40)
Emotional resonance 5/5
Writing style 5/5