mh_books's reviews
998 reviews

Legends & Lattes, by Travis Baldree

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

3.75

Queen Bee, by Ciara Geraghty

funny hopeful informative lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

4.5

I loved it - who knew menopause was so funny.

The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually, by Helen Cullen

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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

4.5

A wee family epic set mostly on the Aran Islands off the West coast of Ireland.  If you like Maggie O'Farrell you almost certainly will love this.  Bring plenty of tissues!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts

The Stepford Wives, by Ira Levin

adventurous dark informative mysterious reflective relaxing tense fast-paced

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

4.5

My first time reading this and bloody hell was it fun.  I wonder what it would have been like to read it before "Stepford Wife" became a common expression?  Also, think of writing a short horror novel that gives rise to a common expression. 

Bhí sé go hiontach!

The Butchers, by Ruth Gilligan

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

I adored this meandering Dark tale even more on the second telling.  I am basically jealous of Ruth's storytelling ability and oddly with that the Butchers were a real legend that I could research and read about.

Not My Father's Son, by Alan Cumming

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

Bookworms, by Bernard Farrell

funny informative lighthearted mysterious relaxing fast-paced

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

4.5

At first, I thought some of the plots were a little contrived but it really picked up towards the end and was so much fun!

Mythical Irish Beasts, by Mark Joyce

challenging informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.75

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

How to Write Horror Fiction, by William F. Nolan

informative inspiring medium-paced

4.5

I really enjoyed this.  

How to write Horror Fiction was written in 1991, which is at the very end of the Heyday of the 1970 and 80's mass-produced horror paperbacks.   Think of the early works of Stephen King, Anne Rice, Frank Herbert, et al from this period.  Aren't they some of their best works?   

So it was really interesting to read William F. Nolan's (author of Logan's run) opinions on what this horror was, and how it works.  

I would recommend this to readers (almost certainly inspired by Grady Hendrix Paperbacks from Hell) of 1980's horror novels - who would like to understand more about what makes these books tick.  As well as a new writer thinking about going into creating darker speculative fiction.  To be honest 95% of what he has written still holds true today.  

Now I am going to see if I can find a portable cassette recorder to take notes on as he recommends :)

 PS some of the attitudes, toward authors that are not white males, and also toward mental health issues, come straight from 1991 - interesting in themselves!