Hello again!
It's time for the final 2021 monthly reading wrap-up. Another year of reading down. Let's get straight into it.
Throughout November and December, I read:
'Nutshell' - Ian McEwan
'A Prisoner of Birth' - Jeffrey Archer
'Dreamers Pool' - Juliet Marillier
'Isolation' - Bex-Chan (through Wattpad)
To begin my rankings:
4. 'Dreamers Pool' - Juliet Marillier
3. 'Isolation' - Bex-Chan (through Wattpad)
2. 'Nutshell' - Ian McEwan
1. 'A Prisoner of Birth' - Jeffrey Archer
. My reviews:
4. 'Dreamers Pool' - Juliet Marillier I picked up this novel from Dymocks (along with the next two books in the series) as I was interested in starting a new fantasy series. The plot sounded simple enough, a girl wrongfully condemned who is saved with an exception that she must follow a set of rules for a period of seven years, one of which is refusing to seek vengeance. Add a tinge of magic and I'm interested.
It was entertaining enough and I enjoyed the plot but my largest gripe was that I found the characters a bit too distant for my taste. My favourite aspect of reading (and writing for that matter) is character development. I want to feel like I am completely aware of the protagonist, who they are, their story and why they do the things they do. I didn't get that so much with the protagonist in this novel. I'm hoping the next two books in the series will improve. I still have faith!
Overall : 6/10, interesting enough story, well written.
3. 'Isolation' - Bex-Chan (through Wattpad)
I have absolutely no shame in admitting I was once a regular Wattpad reader (and writer but we should leave those tragedies hidden!) But I confess that I haven't spent much time on the app since One Direction broke up as a band and the fanfiction died off with them. But I decided to venture back to read this one as it was recommended by a friend of mine.
This is a fanfiction set after Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and follows a different tale.
Now, I will warn you its unlikely to be many people's cup of tea but I thoroughly enjoyed it. With a read time of 22h (listed by Wattpad) it was an easy enough read and I enjoyed the writing and pacing of the love story.
Overall : 7/10, enjoyable book - I love a good romance and this ticked all the boxes.
2. 'Nutshell' - Ian McEwan
This was a curious little book that I received in one of my NovelTea Book Club packages. I was intrigued from the moment I read the blurb:
Trudy has betrayed her husband John. She's still in the marital home - a dilapidated, priceless London townhouse - but John's not here. Instead, she's with his brother, the profoundly banal Claude, and the two of them have a plan. But there is a witness to their plot: the inquisitive, nine-month-old resident of Trudy's womb.
As I'm sure you can imagine I was a bit perplexed at a novel told from the perspective of a foetus. But to be completely honest I seriously enjoyed it. The plot was delicious and the musings of a foetus who seems to have the mental capacity of an adult was hilarious and captivating in its own way.
Overall : 8/10, not for people who don't enjoy a little bit of the weird and wonderful. Very clever and concise story!
1. 'A Prisoner of Birth' - Jeffrey Archer
If I had to sum up this book in a single word it would be 'wow!' This was an incredible novel! Though the beginning was a little slow as the characters were built and shaped the second half of the novel was impossible to put down. I found myself on the edge of my seat constantly, even making random noises of shock or yelling out to my sister 'surely not!' across the room as I read a particularly shocking paragraph.
From start to finish I was entranced, I demanded justice for the protagonist and I was there every step on his fight. There were twists I never saw coming and characters who I loved. This is truly a masterpiece thriller.
Overall : 10/10, brilliant book, an absolute must read!
And that's a wrap on my reading for 2021!
Keep an eye out for my 2021 full reading review and my reading goals for 2022.
Till next time,
Rhi xx