The Weight of a Thousand Feathers by Brian Conaghan

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

This book was interesting and bland at the same time. I loved the relationship between Bobby and his mum - who was absolutely amazing by the way - and Bobby and Danny. The MS stuff was well-written and appeared to be well-researched which was in stark contrast to Danny. It was like "Hey here's my headcase brother who is bad enough to go to a special school but we don't want a diagnosis for him." What was that about?

Bobby's friendship with Bel seemed quite hollow and under-developed and feelings or not how do you not tell your best friend that you're gay? Also the group stuff was very weak and seemed like just an awkward way to meet Lou. I didn't like Lou, he was a manipulative liar who used Bobby.

I hated the ending and how Bobby involved Danny, everything after seemed kind of muddled. How did they handle the authorities, especially with Bobby still being under 18?

Stef Out x

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

This was a tricky one. I loved Xiomara and her fiery attitude. I loved that most of the cast were non-white. I loved Xiomara's relationships with her friends and even - though strained - her family, it was so authentic and there was clearly love in the struggles between them though that does bring me to the main reason that I struggled with this book - the religion stuff.

I am not religious and honestly it all freaks me out a little. Also I'm a big supporter of free will and Xiomara's lack of it was sad. I disliked that she just called her twin "Twin", it was de-humanising in my opinion.

The writing flowed and pulled me along but the poetry stuff went over my head a little. I'm never sure what counts and what doesn't.

Stef Out x

P.S. Considering this blog is 99% book reviews these days I've decided to remove the 'Book Review' clarification from post titles. I will only add it if it's an exception e.g. a film review.

Book Review: From Twinkle With Love by Sandhya Menon

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

I loved how authentic this book was. The Indian stuff was really cool even though I didn't understand most of it, it was just really nice to have a novel that wasn't completely white-washed. In fact I think most of the main characters were characters of colour which is awesome! We even had G and B of the LGBT crew and the G half was a black guy!

I loved Twinkle's voice and I loved seeing her growth through the novel and that she was willing to learn and admit her mistakes. I also loved her naivety regarding life and love and Sahil. Oh Sahil, what a sweetheart, it was so obvious from the start that he liked Twinkle yet she was so oblivious! The ending was perfect as well.

Stef Out x

Book Review: I Still Dream by James Smythe

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

This was an interesting book. I loved that the main character was a female computer programmer. I loved that we watch her grow up. I found the rise of SCION fascinating. I enjoyed all the computer stuff even though a lot went over my head - talk of coding and suchlike - and Organon both fascinated and scared me. The whole thing seemed too real, too possible...

I did think the sections cut off a little too abruptly, I would be thinking "this is interesting, what's going to happen next?" and then it would move forward another 10 years. Some of the sections also had different narrators which confused me at first because there wasn't any difference in the voices.

I loved the section written by Laura's father, seeing the origin of it all was fascinating. That ending though... If you can call it that. I didn't understand any of it. I think the author was trying to do a Christmas Carol type thing but it was about as clear as mud and there was some disconnected rambling about a neanderthal. The conversation between Laura and Organon was also hard to follow due to the lack of quotation marks. Overall I struggled with the lack of clarity in the ending.

Stef Out x

Book Review: Wonder by R.J. Palacio

This was a lovely heartwarming story that all kids should read. It's true kids struggle with people who look different but hearing the perspective of someone who is and what they feel and go through should help a lot.

Auggie was so genuine and beautifully written, his voice was young but mature and I loved his growth throughout! Only a few things bothered me, while I loved Via's chapter, her boyfriend's (whose name I've forgotten) and Miranda's seemed more pointless, and Jack's, honestly it would have been better being single persepective.

I wish they'd been more specific regarding Summer's background, she's physically described as being blonde if I recall yet mention is made, referencing a photo, that she's biracial. I feel like it would help kids who struggle with dual identity to know what she is specifically. Summer is such a great character, kind and implied to be smart, that she'd be a great role model for kids reading this book.

Overall I loved this book and it's writing and I wish it had been longer but I understand it covers a single school year.

Stef Out x

Book Review: Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Barnard

I really enjoyed the book but more for the story than the characters themselves.

Caddy was a little too blank and too much of a pushover, if she didn't want to go to private school why wasn't she honest with her parents? Rosie was quite brash and harsh and didn't seem like a very good best friend. She was also selfish and started to act up as soon as things weren't about her.

I loved Suzanne's character and her friendship with Caddy was so pure. Suzanne was selfish and reckless and vibrant and brave and sad. She was both everything and nothing and I loved her story arc and the way she changed everything, she was like a storm blowing through town.

I didn't understand how Suzanne and Rosie became friends, they're similar enough that I can imagine them clashing strongly even at the start. I did love how Suzanne's story didn't end with everything being fixed and perfect because real life isn't like that. It's a process that takes time.

Stef Out x

Book Review: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

This was a very interesting novel. I found Eleanor fascinating as a character and her story really drew me in.

I can relate to her feelings of loneliness in routine and being annoyed if things change. The way her character developed over the course of the novel was so real and remarkable and the way she realised that she was allowed to participate in life, not just watch it pass her by was lovely.

I loved her friendship with Raymond, it was unexpected but so sweet and I'm glad they appeared to be staying as just friends, romance would complicate things too much. The gradual revelation of Eleanor's past was so sad but so well done. Overall beautiful writing.

Stef Out x