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rcsreads's reviews
720 reviews
There's a Witch in the Word Machine by Jenni Fagan
slow-paced
1.5
The person who borrowed this from the library before me had left their bookmark on page 4. Kind of wish I'd given up at the same point. Maybe the 3rd person who borrows it will get the bookmark to the end.
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
2.25
I felt like this ended just as it was getting interesting. I also felt like the perspective of a middle class, white man was the least needed pov for a story about the mis-treatment of women and girls.
The writing is fairly basic, and the characters felt flat. The phrase "he released a breath he didn't realise he'd been holding" was used, which is possibly the most cliche sentence in the history of literature!
It was fine, I read it in an afternoon and it brings awareness about Magdalen laundries in a way your granny could read without being shocked.
The writing is fairly basic, and the characters felt flat. The phrase "he released a breath he didn't realise he'd been holding" was used, which is possibly the most cliche sentence in the history of literature!
It was fine, I read it in an afternoon and it brings awareness about Magdalen laundries in a way your granny could read without being shocked.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
The Ruin of All Witches: Life and Death in the New World by Malcolm Gaskill
slow-paced
1.0
"The Ruin of all Witches" was incredibly boring and repetitive, and despite only being 229 pages long, it has felt like the longest book I've ever read.
If you live in Springfield and want a really dry account of the towns founding and early years then this is for you. If you want to read about witch trials or in any way not be bored to tears then give it a miss!
If you live in Springfield and want a really dry account of the towns founding and early years then this is for you. If you want to read about witch trials or in any way not be bored to tears then give it a miss!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Colonisation
The Sad Ghost Club 2 by Lize Meddings
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
My Life in Sea Creatures by Sabrina Imbler
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
It's another nature memoir. I love this random genre!
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"My Life in Sea Creatures" by Sabrina Imbler is a non-binary coming of gender tale combined with fish facts. Given fish have a tendency to randomly change gender they're a pretty good analogy. Imbler tends to anthropomorphisise a little which I know makes all the science people mad but it just made me want to cry about octopi! There are lots of interesting facts and I thought the way the essays tied each sea creature into an aspect of Imbler's life was really well done.
Trigger warning for the essay "Beware the Sand Striker" as it is heavy on the sexual assault content and I found Imbler's tone weirdly flippant when talking about rape. There are also mentions of eating disorders and racism.
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"My Life in Sea Creatures" by Sabrina Imbler is a non-binary coming of gender tale combined with fish facts. Given fish have a tendency to randomly change gender they're a pretty good analogy. Imbler tends to anthropomorphisise a little which I know makes all the science people mad but it just made me want to cry about octopi! There are lots of interesting facts and I thought the way the essays tied each sea creature into an aspect of Imbler's life was really well done.
Trigger warning for the essay "Beware the Sand Striker" as it is heavy on the sexual assault content and I found Imbler's tone weirdly flippant when talking about rape. There are also mentions of eating disorders and racism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Eating disorder and Racism
I Was Born for This by Alice Oseman
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Cringe
Our Haunted Shores: Tales from the Coasts of the British Isles by Emily Alder, Jimmy Packham, Joan Passey
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0