"I wanted to see the place where Margaret grew to what she is, even at the worst time of all, when I had no hope of ever calling her mine.
5/5 stars
"I wanted to see the place where Margaret grew to what she is, even at the worst time of all, when I had no hope of ever calling her mine."
I think I found a favorite. North and South !
Last year it was Gone with the Wind, this year it is North and South , if any other book doesn't move my heart as much as North and South did.
I'd heard so much about Elizabeth Gaskell. I was ignorant of the author until I crossed my path with a few of her books when I visited a book fair event. I was like- is this a sign? Is this a sign to read and find out for myself what I've been missing all this time? You know when they say, you don't find the book, the book finds you.
Elizabeth Gaskell got me into her story from the very first page. She has such a way with words. I got so quickly immersed in the lives of the main characters that I kept flying from one page to the other.
North and South is just not a love story. It is also about the clash of southern and northern ideas and the clash of the working class and their masters. Gaskell beautifully expressed these clashing views of both ends through the main characters- Mr. Thornton and Margaret Hale.
Margaret is such a strong and self determined woman. John Thronton! He was my favorite character. The whole drama on the doorstep where Margaret gets hit by a stone was chef's kiss. That scene is everything. It is the heart and soul of the story. If you know you know.
It's very rare to find stories that take such a deep look into the emotions of the male love interest. Why is North and South as famous as Pride and Prejudice? The answer to which I will never know.
With this, completing 8 of 339 from The Rory Gilmore Reading List.
5/5 stars
"Hardships make or break people."
Scarlett O'Hara doesn't hold herself lWith this, completing 8 of 339 from The Rory Gilmore Reading List.
5/5 stars
"Hardships make or break people."
Scarlett O'Hara doesn't hold herself like every other girl. Full of spirit and courage, she can climb onto trees like other boys. She doesn't find interest in girly conversations. Scarlett is unlike other girls. She loves herself. Yes, we all should. The stubborn Scarlett O'Hara. When she wants something, she gets it anyhow. She is soft in one instance and bold in the other. I want to applaud you for certain things you did. For most parts, she is stupid, selfish, and spoiled.
It takes guts to write the main character like that. I can see why this is a classic. The book is a monster.
Before I go further with my thoughts, I want to address the fact that the unjust treatment of black, the description of racism, and other Civil War-era activities made me really sad. There were times when I felt why is this happening and how long is this going to happen. Reading about it meant feeling about it.
"Most of the misery of the world has been caused by wars."
Honestly speaking, Gone with the Wind stands to be the most tragic, disturbing, engrossing, and epic piece of literature I've ever read.
The book was 800 pages long, and I was expecting something good to happen in the story. At least somewhere in the story. To my disappointment, the way the story turned in the last part was upsetting. I read the last 50 pages with my jaws wide open, unable to believe that it was going to be THAT tragically sad. It never got happy. There wasn't any redemption.
I finished reading Gone with the Wind last week. It took me a few days to absorb the story. To gather my shattered thoughts to sit back and write about it. No matter how unlikeable the main character was, I'm still thinking about her days after I've finished reading Gone with the Wind. This book deserves the highest rating for creating that strong effect on the reader. Besides, who doesn't like an emotional roller coaster ride?
War destroys not only a region but an entire civilization for thousands of people. Gone with the Wind. And you can see Margaret Mitchell mourning for the lost era on every page. I think I'll pause for a while every time I hear about Gone with the Wind.
I think everyone should read this book at least once in their lifetime to understand the loss that envelops the lives of people affected by war. If you haven't read this Pulitzer Prize winner, go read it, because it could very well be one of the best books you've ever read.
Review Posted: 13 July 2022.
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Thanks to the publisher -RB Media for providing ARC in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley
5/5 stars
I heard the audiobook version of the book nThanks to the publisher -RB Media for providing ARC in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley
5/5 stars
I heard the audiobook version of the book narrated by Mia Barron. I didn't know Erin Bartels would blow my mind with her writing. This was my first introduction to her work. After finishing with the book, I immediately went and looked up her other books and added two of her most praised books to my tbr list. Because, honestly, I'm not stopping with just one.
The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water by Erin Bartels starts with the protagonist, Kendra, a writer, whose debut novel - That Summer is a big hit. But, she is stressed. The reason behind her stress is one letter she received from one of her readers who begged to differ in his/her opinion about Kendra's first novel, criticizing the things she mentioned in the book, calling her a selfish opportunist. Her disappointed reader was angry with her for telling the story she shouldn't have. She is trying to put the pieces together in finding out who this person is.
She is also coping up with personal grief that has something to do with Cami and Tyler. Cami was her childhood best friend whereas Tyler, (who happened to be the inspiration of the character of Blake in 'That Summer') was Cami's elder brother. Kendra's trouble with Tyler and Cami started when she was twelve and thirteen respectively. So, she has decided to confront Tyler, probably for a closer. There are so many things going on in Kendra's life. She has got a contract for her second book which she is on a deadline for, even though, she hasn't started writing it. Therefore, she goes to her grandfather's old house on The Hidden Lake(where there is no cellphone, no internet, and hence, no distractions), hoping to start with her writing on the second book without any distraction. Now, the question is will she be able to complete her second book?
The story, set in northern Michigan, is written from the first person's point of view. Although the story is a bit slower-paced, I loved every bit of it. It is beautifully well-written. The plot got me hooked from the very beginning. One of the important aspects of the story deals with molestation. So, I understand if this is a difficult and uncomfortable read for some people. BUT BUT BUT. Don't be scared to pick this book because there is so much more you'll find as you delve into the story. This is more of a character-driven novel which to me, is the best part of reading a story. This story just like an onion has so many layers. As the story progresses and the layers start getting peeled off one after the other, I got emotionally attached to the character. I was so invested. Kendra says the story is fictional which is not true. Although the characters were fictional, the story reassembled her story. The relation that Jackie, Kendra's mother, and Beth, Cami's mother was the same relation that Kendra and Cami shared.
'Truth has a way of working itself into any story whether the writer means to or not.'
What's not to like in this book? There is friendship. There is sacrifice. There is love. There is romance. There is loss. There is trauma. There is a twist. There is a mystery. And, surprises are waiting for you. I loved the side characters too. They were there for a purpose. Although, I wish we had more part of Andreas in the story. I would have loved to know more about him as a character. It is a heartbreaking and unforgettable story by all means. Highly recommended.
Release Date : 04 Jan 2022
Review Posted : 11 Jan 2022
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