elliecarr97's Reviews (368)

Stephen Fry breathes life into some of our oldest stories, skillfully retelling The Odyssey in a witty and charming way that feels fresh and accessible to a contemporary audience.

What the f*ck did I just read?
I’m not sure what I was expecting but it wasn’t this. Some of the descriptions were so graphic it made me feel sick - also has anyone checked on the author because is he okay? I just thought some of it was so gross and unnecessary, so any underlying messaging was drowned out. Giving it 3.5 stars because wow the author knows how to write a character to be fair.

This is a good book for learning the basics of investing, especially if you’re completely new to the topic. However, I wanted it to delve a bit deeper into some areas. A few of the analogies were a bit cringey, which occasionally took away from the overall message.

That said, I’d still recommend it for anyone who knows nothing about investing—it’s a solid starting point.

Ali Smith’s Winter captures the starkness and emptiness of the season, with death lingering on the periphery. The writing is beautiful — poetic yet bare — with every reference carrying weight and poignancy.

One character unexpectedly shifts the relationships between three family members, bringing warmth and reconnection from an unexpected place. While I didn’t enjoy the characters as much as those in Autumn, I warmed to them by the end, which I think was the point. It falls short for me in that respect, where I enjoyed Smith’s political commentary and writing style, I didn’t care much for the characters in the novel.

Overall, this was a reflective and meaningful read that perfectly embodies winter’s stillness.

Nettle & Bone felt like a Frankenstein’s monster of a story, cobbled together from familiar fantasy tropes and bits of other books I’ve read before. While the premise initially intrigued me, I quickly found myself disengaged. The narrative relied heavily on clichés, and the plot lacked originality, making it difficult to stay invested.

The characters didn’t leave much of an impression either. I struggled to care about their journeys or outcomes, as they felt more like archetypes than fully fleshed-out individuals. Rather than offering a fresh take on fantasy, the book leaned into predictable elements, which gave me an overwhelming sense of déjà vu throughout.

Ultimately, it wasn’t gripping enough to hold my attention or offer anything new to the genre. While I can see how some readers might enjoy its familiarity, it just wasn’t for me.

Born to Run was an interesting read but didn’t quite live up to my expectations. The pacing felt quite slow, especially in the first half, which made it hard to fully immerse myself at the beginning. However, I appreciated how the author described the people involved, particularly in the context of the final race, which was one of the highlights for me.

At times, I found myself getting into the flow of the story, only for the topic to abruptly change or drag on for too long, which disrupted the experience. I also expected the book to delve more deeply into the science of running, but that aspect felt underexplored.

Overall, while it had some enjoyable moments, it lacked the consistency and focus I was hoping for.

While this book has been praised for its storytelling, it falls short in providing an authentic or responsible portrayal of racism. Instead, it perpetuates outdated white saviour themes and fails as a tool for educating readers on the ongoing realities of modern racism.

Written in the 21st century by a white woman for a predominantly white audience, the book seems designed to make readers feel good about ‘how far we’ve come’ rather than confront the persistence of systemic racism. It perpetuates damaging stereotypes and includes deeply offensive language. For example, a black character is compared to a cockroach and as being ‘black as asphalt’. While the author might claim these reflect the era, such descriptions dehumanise and harm.

Viola Davis, who starred in the film adaptation, has since expressed regret about her involvement, saying she ‘betrayed myself, and my people,’ because the maid’s voices weren’t the ones that were heard.

Though Kathryn Stockett is undoubtedly a skilled storyteller, it’s problematic to tell a story about experiences she can’t imagine living. We should instead focus on centring black lives and reading widely from black authors.