Search

Search only in certain items:

Wishful Drinking
Wishful Drinking
Carrie Fisher | 2009 | Biography
9
7.5 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
Actually quite sad reading it post-death
This is almost a bittersweet memoir about the great Carrie Fisher who battled mental health issues, substance abuse, and being brought up in a slightly dysfunctional family. It is witty, snarky and sarcastic despite all the upheavals. It begins with her experience with electroshock therapy and her subsequent loss of memories. The book is also short and filled with interesting images from her life, so it's a treat to read.
  
40x40

Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Hot Milk in Books

Jul 28, 2017  
Hot Milk
Hot Milk
Deborah Levy | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Well written but too long and fluffy
Deborah Levy is a wonderful writer and is able to explore characters in a detailed way.

Unfortunately the storyline is a little too convoluted, rather emotional with little substance about an adult daughter's relationship with both her parents. It could be cut down to half the length and even then it may be too long. This may appeal to drama lovers but be warned - the story can be summed up in a sentence.
  
Free Fire (2017)
Free Fire (2017)
2017 | Action, Comedy, Drama
I've been wanting to watch this movie for a while now, and was sad that I missed it in theaters.
After seeing it, I feel better about missing it. The movie was largely ok, it was funny, and the action was good. But, I did feel like it was so drawn out for the concept. The cast is strong, and I enjoyed the performances, aside from Larson (I'm not a huge fan of her). This film is definitely style over substance.
  
Mothering Sunday
Mothering Sunday
Graham Swift | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
4
6.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Fluffy period melodrama, not my cup of tea
Graham Swift is an eloquent writer as his descriptions are vivid however the story itself is rather flaky. It's pretty much about an old woman looking back at her life to a particular point where she had an affair with her master while she was a maid. There are far too many descriptions about bodily fluids which only a man would deem to care about. While the sentiment is there, there wasn't enough substance or point to the novel.
  
The Essex Serpent
The Essex Serpent
Sarah Perry | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
8
7.1 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
Period gothic drama on superstition v science
A very good modern period gothic drama about how a town can convince itself about a mythical beast while confronting contemporary science.

In the centre of the entire story is a beautiful but complex relationship between a woman of science and a priest who on most occasions disagree with one another but learn to come to terms with each other's viewpoints. And in between their relationship is a withering wife and her autistic son. A multilayered novel rich with substance.
  
40x40

AT (1676 KP) rated The Flatshare in Books

Sep 19, 2019  
The Flatshare
The Flatshare
Beth O'Leary | 2019 | Contemporary, Romance
8
8.7 (9 Ratings)
Book Rating
I loved The Flatshare. It's a perfect light, romantic, beach-read type of novel. I hadn't read a full-length novel in awhile, so I wanted something fun and generally easy to get into. The Flatshare was a great pick. It is a romance, but not an overly sweetsy, ridiculous one. I didn't get any cavities from it. Lol The way it was written made the story flow smoothly and quickly, but it still seemed like I was reading something that had some substance. I enjoyed it!