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rcsreads's reviews
720 reviews
Kisses for Jet by Joris Bas Backer
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
2.5
Both the art style and writing are really confusing. I was frequently unsure about what was happening. The actual story of Jet being trans felt kind of rushed in amongst a load of sub plots that never got resolved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Outing
Exiles by Jane Harper
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I was more invested in whether or not Falk was going to do kissing than in the actual crime!
There's a missing woman and an unsolved hit and run and Falk is helped out in solving both by some meddling kids! It's a bit Scooby Doo, I really wanted Luna the dog to find an important clue.
The mystery of the missing woman is well done and I didn't even consider the conclusion in my guessing. The answer to the hit and run is kind of rushed and tacked on the end.
As a whole the book is far more focused on Falk and his life choices than on the actual solving of the crime. I preferred this as I'm more a kissing book person than a crime person. If you're here for some crime noir then you'll probably be a bit disappointed.
There's a missing woman and an unsolved hit and run and Falk is helped out in solving both by some meddling kids! It's a bit Scooby Doo, I really wanted Luna the dog to find an important clue.
The mystery of the missing woman is well done and I didn't even consider the conclusion in my guessing. The answer to the hit and run is kind of rushed and tacked on the end.
As a whole the book is far more focused on Falk and his life choices than on the actual solving of the crime. I preferred this as I'm more a kissing book person than a crime person. If you're here for some crime noir then you'll probably be a bit disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Motherland Fatherland Homelandsexuals by Patricia Lockwood
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- 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
Read aloud for bedtime. I quite liked it but the children thought it long and boring and Tabby actively hated it.
There was some racist language I had to edit as I read, including the N word.
There was some racist language I had to edit as I read, including the N word.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Violence, Blood, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
The Redemption of Isobel Farrar by Alan Robert Clark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book is the literal definition of a tear jerker! I kept reading it in coffee shops and having to hold it in, I was so glad I read the end in the house so I could do the crying!
Set in 1926, Frank Brodie is a sad young man suffering from the traumas of WWI, his abusive, adoptive parents and years of living on the streets selling himself. His birth mother Isobel has always regretted giving him up. This is the story of how they find each other and try to forgive the traumas of the past and come together.
.
It is at times a little Dickensian in it's coincidences and in it's need for our orphan to face all the hardships before they come good. The side characters are lovable stereotypes: the jolly prostitute; the aging, gay, music hall singer; the farm girl; the nasty adoptive parents. As with Dickens though it provides the perfect backdrop for us to root for our hero and the secondary characters had such colourful back stories that I couldn't help love them (apart from the adoptive parents). I wouldn't say no to a young Arthur spin off! Given the, occasionally very dark, subject it was surprisingly easy to read and enjoyable.
The one thing I particularly disliked though is that, while Frank appears to be bisexual, all his relationships with men are abusive or transactional. While his relationships with women are always very idealistic, rose-tinted and loving.
.
Trigger warnings for rape, domestic violence and child abuse.
.
Thank you to Fairlight Books for sending me a copy for review.
Set in 1926, Frank Brodie is a sad young man suffering from the traumas of WWI, his abusive, adoptive parents and years of living on the streets selling himself. His birth mother Isobel has always regretted giving him up. This is the story of how they find each other and try to forgive the traumas of the past and come together.
.
It is at times a little Dickensian in it's coincidences and in it's need for our orphan to face all the hardships before they come good. The side characters are lovable stereotypes: the jolly prostitute; the aging, gay, music hall singer; the farm girl; the nasty adoptive parents. As with Dickens though it provides the perfect backdrop for us to root for our hero and the secondary characters had such colourful back stories that I couldn't help love them (apart from the adoptive parents). I wouldn't say no to a young Arthur spin off! Given the, occasionally very dark, subject it was surprisingly easy to read and enjoyable.
The one thing I particularly disliked though is that, while Frank appears to be bisexual, all his relationships with men are abusive or transactional. While his relationships with women are always very idealistic, rose-tinted and loving.
.
Trigger warnings for rape, domestic violence and child abuse.
.
Thank you to Fairlight Books for sending me a copy for review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Rape
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Dementia, Grief, Abortion, and Pregnancy
Minor: Child death and War
Making Sense of the Troubles: a History of the Northern Ireland Conflict by David McKittrick, David McVea
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
Difficult Women: A History of Feminism in 11 Fights by Helen Lewis
informative
medium-paced
2.5
The history was interesting. The transphobic personal opinions and dead naming was not.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming and Transphobia
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racism, and Rape
The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag
adventurous
emotional
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
5.0
Milkman by Anna Burns
challenging
dark
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Minor: Child death
Conference at Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
slow-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? It's complicated
1.0
This was a disappointing sequel with none of the charm or humour of the original. Occasionally one of the Starkadders would show up for a chapter and there was a glimpse of what made the first book good. The main plot with the symposium just didn't work.