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Melanie Caldicott (6 KP) rated The Vanishing Half in Books

Apr 29, 2021  
The Vanishing Half
The Vanishing Half
Brit Bennett | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
  
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Melanie Caldicott (6 KP) rated You People in Books

Apr 29, 2021  
You People
You People
Nikita Lalwani | 2020 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Beautiful constructed prose (1 more)
Challenging issues
Lack of depth in relationships and characterization (0 more)
Well written but needed more development
Challenging themes and well-written prose but disappointing in lack of depth to plot and characters. Left feeling like this passed me by.
  
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Melanie Caldicott (6 KP) rated Goodnight, Brian in Books

Apr 29, 2021  
Goodnight, Brian
Goodnight, Brian
Steven Manchester | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry
2
2.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The concept of this book originally interested me and I found the first few chapters where the tragedy that caused Brian's disability is uncovered takes place moving. However, I quickly grew tired of Mama and found her a very manufactured, unrealistic character who was just too "perfect". Her "clever" answers in how to bring out the best in Brian and the myriad of problems the rest of the family faced seemed to serve no other purpose than to allow the author a platform from which to preach at us. This, in my opinion, was painfully unsubtle and fiction should not be used as a vehicle for moralising, but to merely describe the experiences of characters, their feelings and reactions which provoke thoughts and empathy within the reader. I did not finish this book as the sermonesque style ultimately became unbearable!
  
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Melanie Caldicott (6 KP) rated The Betrayal of Trust (Simon Serrailler #6) in Books

Apr 29, 2021  
The Betrayal of Trust (Simon Serrailler #6)
The Betrayal of Trust (Simon Serrailler #6)
Susan Hill | 2011 | Contemporary, Crime, Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
  
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Melanie Caldicott (6 KP) rated Essential Oils (Neal's Yard Remedies) in Books

Apr 29, 2021  
Essential Oils (Neal's Yard Remedies)
Essential Oils (Neal's Yard Remedies)
Susan Curtis | 1996 | Health & Fitness
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
  
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Melanie Caldicott (6 KP) rated Fleishman Is in Trouble in Books

Apr 29, 2021  
Fleishman Is in Trouble
Fleishman Is in Trouble
Taffy Brodesser-Akner | 2019 | Humor & Comedy
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
  
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Melanie Caldicott (6 KP) rated Afterlove in Books

Apr 29, 2021  
Afterlove
Afterlove
Tanya Byrne | 2021 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Young Adult (YA)
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
*thank you to NetGalley for providing an eArc in exchange for an honest review* You can also read my review at my blog - roamingthroughbooks@wordpress.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://roamingthroughbooks@wordpress.com

Afterlove is the story of Ash and Poppy and so powerful is their love for each other that it can transcend everything, even death!

I have mixed feelings about this book.

Ash and Poppy were likeable characters who Byrne depicts authentically with gorgeous, small details which helped to bring them to life. However, there were aspects of them that were opaque and I felt that some of the events they shared needed to be explored in more depth as sometimes I felt it made them seem a little shallow. For example, their family lives are explored in certain parts of the book but it felt to me like they were ignored when it was convenient for the author.

Their relationship was at times beautifully depicted, yet I also felt it had a tinge of Romeo and Juliet to it where it felt a little bit too all-consuming, too tragic and didn't reflect the other parts of who Ash and Poppy really were. I think love stories that constrict the meaning of a person's life to this one relationship can feel a little unrealistic and over-simplistic. I would have preferred to have the complexity of the grief the characters must have felt for the the loss of life explored more broadly than just how it related to the love of each other.

It was obvious that Byrne had a lot to say about grief and loss in this book and this was handled well, exploring their pain with tenderness and the emptiness loss leaves with hope. However, whilst the device of Ash becoming a grim reaper was novel I felt it left me a little dry and, along with the conclusion of the novel it did not adequately cover the depths of loss or what it can feel like to be left alone when someone dies.

I'm sure that there are many readers who will enjoy this YA book both for its exploration of teenage lesbian romance and for the way it grapples with grief and loss. Overall, I found the book enjoyable and engaging, but with a few flaws which led to the plot not quite melding with the themes it was trying to explore.

You can also read my review and others at https://roamingthroughbooks.wordpress.com/
  
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Melanie Caldicott (6 KP) rated The Proposal in Books

Apr 29, 2021  
The Proposal
The Proposal
Tasmina Perry | 2013 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating