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mppilk's reviews
357 reviews
Water by John Boyne
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I so wish this book had at least another 100 pages. John Boyne at his best, searching out the soul of his characters and leaving the reader with food for thought.
Vanessa retreats to a wild island off the west coast of Ireland, cuts her hair and changes her name. All in an effort to come to terms with the tragedy and scandal that has befallen her family. What was her role in the whole affair? Did she know? Could she have done anything?
This book is full of intriguing characters but unfortunately we don’t get to know too much about any of them. Maybe there is a book waiting for each one.
The only thing that jarred with me in the book and enough to knock off one star is the general vilification of men. A trend that is appearing across society, men can do no good and women no evil…….as if life could possibly be so divided. And yet, to my mind at least, Vanessa did have a case to answer. A case that wasn’t addressed in the book but perhaps should have been.
Well worth a read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for this honest review.
Vanessa retreats to a wild island off the west coast of Ireland, cuts her hair and changes her name. All in an effort to come to terms with the tragedy and scandal that has befallen her family. What was her role in the whole affair? Did she know? Could she have done anything?
This book is full of intriguing characters but unfortunately we don’t get to know too much about any of them. Maybe there is a book waiting for each one.
The only thing that jarred with me in the book and enough to knock off one star is the general vilification of men. A trend that is appearing across society, men can do no good and women no evil…….as if life could possibly be so divided. And yet, to my mind at least, Vanessa did have a case to answer. A case that wasn’t addressed in the book but perhaps should have been.
Well worth a read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for this honest review.
The Storyteller by the Sea by Phyllida Shrimpton
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is story telling at its best. It will wrap you in a blanket of community and love and break your heart all at the same time. Set on the Devon coast it centres around a community of worn out , run down houses whose ground lease has run out and eviction notices given. All has to make way for shiny new blocks of fancy apartments. Melody, who has lived her entire life in one of these houses with her mother and brother is not accepting of this. The house has become a shine to her deceased parent and sibling full of articles she collects from the beach each day and creates stories around. However this is not just a story about Melody, her difficulties and secrets, it is also about changing society and our environment. I finished the book thinking I must visit this town and do so in the most environmentally friendly way possible. Many thanks to NetGalley.Co.uk and the publishers for a copy of this ARC.
Canticle Creek by Adrian Hyland
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Jesse Redpath is a young police officer stationed in the Northern Territory outback. Jesse takes an interest in a young offender and persuades a judge to commit the youth to the care of her artist father rather than jail. Things don’t go to plan and the youth, Adam, ends up killed in a car accident in Victoria not far from the body of a female whom he is accused of murdering. Jesse and her father travel to Victoria and discover a town full of secrets.
This is a very good mystery with surprises and plot twists along the way. Certainly a page turner and wonderfully atmospheric. You can almost feel the heat coming off the pages. This is a light read, won’t stretch the brain cells too much and I don’t think will stay with you for long.
My biggest problem with the book was the number of characters, way too many and very difficult at times to keep track of them. Several of them totally superfluous to the story. Without giving away any plot lines I also found some of the situations quite unrealistic. The plot needed them but they stretched likelihood a little too far.
An enjoyable read just don’t expect anything too profound. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for this review.
This is a very good mystery with surprises and plot twists along the way. Certainly a page turner and wonderfully atmospheric. You can almost feel the heat coming off the pages. This is a light read, won’t stretch the brain cells too much and I don’t think will stay with you for long.
My biggest problem with the book was the number of characters, way too many and very difficult at times to keep track of them. Several of them totally superfluous to the story. Without giving away any plot lines I also found some of the situations quite unrealistic. The plot needed them but they stretched likelihood a little too far.
An enjoyable read just don’t expect anything too profound. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for this review.
A History of Burning by Janika Oza
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
A young boy is fooled into travelling from India to Africa to assist in building the railroad. This novel follows that boy as he grows, meets his wife Sonal, also an immigrant, and his family through several generations. It truly is an epic story of family love and difficulties amid a background of immigration and racism. The heart of the story is the plight of the Asian community in Uganda as the country moves from British rule to independence to the Idi Amin regime.
I’d have happily given this book the full 5 stars except for a couple of issues. The language was very particular to the Asian and African communities and I spent a lot of time looking up the meaning of things. I was reading an ebook version but perhaps the physical copy has an explanation given. Secondly there were large chronological jumps in the story which I felt broke the rhythm and left me, the reader, wondering exactly how things might have happened in between.
All in all, well worth a read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for this review.
I’d have happily given this book the full 5 stars except for a couple of issues. The language was very particular to the Asian and African communities and I spent a lot of time looking up the meaning of things. I was reading an ebook version but perhaps the physical copy has an explanation given. Secondly there were large chronological jumps in the story which I felt broke the rhythm and left me, the reader, wondering exactly how things might have happened in between.
All in all, well worth a read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for this review.
The Sleeping Car Porter by Suzette Mayr
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Baxter is a black, homosexual porter on an overnight train from Montreal to Canada. The white passengers call him George which is of course not his name and we never do find out his first name, only initials. He is working this job to save money to complete his dental science education. But saving money is difficult in this job, depending on passenger tips, ensuring linen and towels don’t go missing and trying to avoid demerits caused by passenger complaints. On top of that the train company does not provide sleeping arrangements or meals for their sleeping car porters.
Baxter is tired and hungry and appears to be suffering from sleep deprived hallucinations. He is dealing with an eclectic mix of passengers constantly demanding his attention.
I’m not sure how I really feel about this book, 3 stars seems a bit harsh but not worthy of 4 for me. I found it difficult at times to keep track of what was going on and what exactly was an hallucination. Indeed at the point where the passengers were organising a seance to seek out the ghost they thought was haunting the carriage it occurred to me that Baxter himself was the ghost. This is very much a character driven novel and the characters are very interesting if a little bit over the top at times. The ending is disappointing, not really an ending at all in fact.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for a review
Baxter is tired and hungry and appears to be suffering from sleep deprived hallucinations. He is dealing with an eclectic mix of passengers constantly demanding his attention.
I’m not sure how I really feel about this book, 3 stars seems a bit harsh but not worthy of 4 for me. I found it difficult at times to keep track of what was going on and what exactly was an hallucination. Indeed at the point where the passengers were organising a seance to seek out the ghost they thought was haunting the carriage it occurred to me that Baxter himself was the ghost. This is very much a character driven novel and the characters are very interesting if a little bit over the top at times. The ending is disappointing, not really an ending at all in fact.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for a review
Look Both Ways by Linwood Barclay
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.0
The Saint of Lost Things by Tish Delaney
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
I am new to this author but sought out her other writings as soon as I finished this wonderful book. Lindy was born into a catholic family in Co. Tyrone near the border with Donegal. She is currently living with her Aunt Bell in a cottage given to them by her grandfather although given is too generous a word because in reality they have been exiled to the cottage by their misogynist grandfather. This is the story of a dysfunctional family in the Northern Ireland of the Troubles.. Her grandfather Morris wanted a son to inherit the farm but got only 2 daughters and then a granddaughter born out of marriage with a traveller or gypsy as a father. Bell got away to a job in Belfast but had to return to look after Lindy when her mother died. Lindy also got away to London but also found her way back and the 2 women have a very uncomfortable relationship. Lindy is trying to uncover details about her father but thanks to the local priest finds out so much more. While the story can be upsetting and sad it can also be funny and always beautifully written. Shout out to the narrator who did a great job and made it all the more enjoyable. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for this honest review.
The Lock-Up by John Banville
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Dr. Quirke and DI Strafford are fast becoming my favourite odd couple literary figures. At different stages in their lives and careers, from very different backgrounds and with a different approach to their professions and yet their lives can interweave in a totally plausible, if slightly awkward, fashion. Rosa Jacobs’,(a Jewish student in Trinity College Dublin), body is found in an apparent suicide but Quirke isn’t so sure it is suicide. Before we know it a German father and son, living in Wicklow but possibly with business interests in Israel, are suspects. But this is 1950s Ireland so the church and government are intertwined and pressure put on to ignore any possible crime. In some ways this is an old fashioned, classy sort of Agatha Christie murder mystery but it really is so much more. The crime and the solving of it in reality is like a backstory with the characters of Quirke and Strafford taking centre stage. It is also in some ways a social commentary on a new Irish state hugely influenced by the Catholic Church and with a distrust of outsiders. Wholeheartedly recommend this novel. Looking forward to the next book already. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for this honest review
No One Saw a Thing by Andrea Mara
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book.
This was my first Andrea Mara book and if I am honest will probably be my last. There is certainly a good storyline at the heart of this book with a strong link to an incident in the past and plenty of characters.
Sive and Aaron are travelling to London for a reunion with his university pals and bringing their 3 young children with them. My question here was simply why? No one else had children with them and would you really but of course if they hadn’t there would have been no story. Then Sive, struggling with a baby in a buggy tells her 6 yr old to take the 3 yr old onto the tube ahead of her. Again…..would any mother in a strange city do that? The tube door closes, both children on it but only one gets off.
All the usual twists and turns you’d expect in a thriller and a few red herrings but to me there didn’t seem to be any real substance in them. It took me two weeks to read this as I simply got bored with it and left it down.
This was my first Andrea Mara book and if I am honest will probably be my last. There is certainly a good storyline at the heart of this book with a strong link to an incident in the past and plenty of characters.
Sive and Aaron are travelling to London for a reunion with his university pals and bringing their 3 young children with them. My question here was simply why? No one else had children with them and would you really but of course if they hadn’t there would have been no story. Then Sive, struggling with a baby in a buggy tells her 6 yr old to take the 3 yr old onto the tube ahead of her. Again…..would any mother in a strange city do that? The tube door closes, both children on it but only one gets off.
All the usual twists and turns you’d expect in a thriller and a few red herrings but to me there didn’t seem to be any real substance in them. It took me two weeks to read this as I simply got bored with it and left it down.