ros_scallydandler's reviews
69 reviews

The House in Paris by Elizabeth Bowen

challenging dark funny reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.75

Intense and beautifully written novel about love, friendship, children and loss. 

Hagstone by Sinéad Gleeson

dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.0

This nove  had enormous promise but didn't quite deliver. Great description of place and of artistic vocation. Became a bit obvious.

James by Percival Everett

adventurous dark funny tense 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? No

4.5

Clever and bitterly funny. 

Normal Women: Nine Hundred Years of Making History by Philippa Gregory

informative reflective slow-paced

4.0

A tour de force full of fascinating detail. Gregory shows how the position of women has moved forwards and backwards over the centuries. She illustrates the imposition of a binary view of sex/gender and how the "nature" of women has been endlessly redefined suit men and the current status quo. 

The Last September by Elizabeth Bowen

challenging funny sad tense 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

5.0

I am stunned to see so many mealymouthed reviews of this brilliant novel. Perhaps some modern readers find Bowen's finely wrought prose and elliptical dialogue off-putting. This was just as good on a third reading as when I first encountered it.  

The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

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

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

4.0

A reliable translation to support reading the original in. Middle English 

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

4.25

A beautiful book full of interesting information, moving personal material and inspirational ideas. Perhaps a little long so becoming repetitive by the end, although it feels churlish and insensitive to say that.

The Canterbury Tales: (original-Spelling Edition) by Geoffrey Chaucer

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

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

5.0

Not a book one can sum up in a few lines.  Challenging to read in the original Middle English but a wonderful experience and far more rewarding than any translation as Chaucer's greatest strength is in his use of language. 

Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan

challenging dark emotional informative 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? It's complicated

4.75

Strong stuff. Reads like personal testimony although it is fiction.  

Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.25

I have not yet read There There but this stood alone successfully.  Loved the first half which established the context of intergenerational trauma for the more detailed present day story of the second half.