hellymp's reviews
54 reviews

The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

A hug of a book - this is a touching and uplifting read about friendship, love, community and the power of books. The characters and atmosphere are delightful and left me with a warm and fuzzy feeling. 

The Ghost Cat by Alex Howard

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

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

2.5

Smut by Alan Bennett

challenging emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

Homecoming by Kate Morton

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

House Arrest: Pandemic Diaries by Alan Bennett

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

3.5

Tin Man by Sarah Winman

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

Study for Obedience by Sarah Bernstein

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

1.75

Lyrical, unsettling prose that rather left me feeling too dim for such heavy metaphor and vocabulary. The themes of abuse, racism, isolation and blame are woven into such complex prose solely from the pov of an unreliable narrator with almost no dialogue or active interaction with other characters. I stuck at it but I’m glad it’s done. Ultimately not an enjoyable read. 

Orbital by Samantha Harvey

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

What a wonderful short, yet enormous book! Its language and the depth of thought is beautiful - capturing the minutiae of the astronauts’ day, the personal thoughts and the enormity of being small in the vastness of space, the beauty and fragility of our own planet and humanity, love and loneliness. Not a boom or subject matter that I would usually choose, this book will remain with me long after closing the final chapter. 

North Woods by Daniel Mason

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Beautifully written and the audio book has great narration. I was happily lost in these mysterious woods with Mason’s multitude of characters. Spiritual, atmospheric and magical, with some characters that I really loved (Alice and Mary). Oh and the love and desire conveyed in the epistolary section is moving and tender.  Mason links the journey through time so adeptly rooted with such a wonderful sense of place. 

The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney by Okechukwu Nzelu

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

2.75