Search through all of my reviews. Tap on a cover to bring up the review:
I had really wanted to read the Lord of The Rings for a while, because I knew that the world which Tolkien created was meant to be incredible and I had been given the set for my birthday. At first, I was actually suprised by just how readable it was - The Fellowship of The Ring starts with a birthday party, and this slow beginning makes the novel really accessible and much less intimidating than I initially thought it might be.
I spent a while getting through the Fellowship due to unneccessary disruptions (exams and other activities that don't involve sitting in the sun reading), but I was fascinated by the amount of time spent on small sections of the story. By taking us through every in and out of the journey, before the group of hobbits even reach the rest of the fellowship, Tolkien draws us into the story and really made me believe in the world of the hobbits, as opposed to merely getting from plot point to plot point.
There is a LOT I could say about the rest of the Fellowship, and then the Two Towers, and the Return of The King, but I'll focus on what runs through them that made me enjoy the book. The language used across the books is amazing - the vivid descriptions of Lothlorien made me mournful of a place I'm never going to be able to go, and the webs of stories and histories and detail that laced the pages created a world I was sad to leave. The story itself is brilliant - as the plot becomes more complex in the Two Towers, it's like watching Tolkien move pawns around the board to set up for the final moments - Merry and Pippins split to different sects of Men made me very anxious as to their fate, and then made me cry. A lot.
I think, though, that it is the characters who really make the books. The world they live in is made real by their presence, and despite thick fantasy plot, it is never at odds with really three-dimensional characters. The dramatic end to their journey in the Return of the King was brilliant, and incredibly emotional, but I think that by then its purpose was served - I was so entrenched in the world that I really, really didn't want to leave. I would definitely reccomend the Lord of the Rings as a must-read for anyone!
I read Monday's Not Coming after seeing a review online, and not long after finishing The Hate U Give. The book explores similar themes of societal disregard for black young people who need help, although through a very different lense, and I actually found it much more enjoyable and interesting as a book. The format is confusing, switching between "before", "after" and other narratives which make no sense until the devastating conclusion, so it's definitely one you need to stick with. However, I loved the nuance in the imperfect main character and was terrified by the uncomfortable revelations that creep in slowly, thriller-like but with much more character development and social themes. Although it's hard work, it's an enjoyable read that is discomforting and powerful. I would definitely reccomend!
I initially read this book because my dad bought it for me for Christmas, having read it himself. The author, J.B. Priestley, also wrote An Inspector Calls which I reallly enjoyed studying at school. I was surprised by the book, because it was a completely different tone to his other work. The Thirty-First of June is a nonsense book about an employee of a London advertising agency who, through the actions of a damsel in another universe, becomes embroiled in a world of Arthurian adventure via the portal in the pub. I found it really funny and entertaining in its simplicity. It was really enjoyable to read a shorter book that was published in 1961 and where there is very little plot to keep in you head - the book races between dragons and satire, and takes the idea of a childrens story but makes it completely entertaining to adults.
I found this book for about £1.50 in my local charity shop, and picked it up for an entertaining read after seeing the Netflix adaption. The plot revolves around a group of retirees in a village for the elderly, who solve crimes every thursday lunchtime (to avoid the Knit and Knatter club schedule). I found it really funny, with the narrator, Joyce, going on extended anecdotes and doing her best to keep up with the changing world. The plot was entertaining and suspenseful, but I think that the characters and their backstories were definitely the most interesting part of the book and I'll definitely read the rest of the series.
These are reviews I unearthed from when I was 6 (the first is about a computer-generated reality based on binary code!):
