Was the book a little weird here and there *cough Shirin *cough*? Yes. Did I like it anyway? Also yes.
I know it's tempting to close the book at the stWas the book a little weird here and there *cough Shirin *cough*? Yes. Did I like it anyway? Also yes.
I know it's tempting to close the book at the start, but I promise it's worth getting through. Especially if you're listening to the audiobook. Your time will just fly by as you're swept away by this generational, multi-PoV tale.
I'm not huge on literary fiction, but this one worked for me (clearly). I loved the characters, my favourites being wacky auntie Shirin and grandma Elizabeth, their PoVs were the most compelling. I also loved the glimpses we got into Persian culture and Iranian history, as well as the writing.
For once I'm thankful that Goodreads created those mini banner-collecting reading challenges, because I'm not sure when I would've gotten to this book if it wasn't for them....more
I bought The Rainbow on sale for less than 2 Euros right before a trip at the start of July, because I needed something to read while waiting for the I bought The Rainbow on sale for less than 2 Euros right before a trip at the start of July, because I needed something to read while waiting for the bus to actually take off.
I ended up reading only 100 something pages during the trip, about another 100 when I got back home, and then I took another trip that I just came back from yesterday, where I actually finished the book. Hurray!!
I've never read this author before, and my main takeaway is that his style is so wordy. As in, the descriptions of characters doing certain things tend to repeat, like say x character was in agony, then he'll say why they were, and then say something like oh what agony it was. Like yes, I got that part, thanks, no need to repeat.
Lawrence really loves his details too, it felt like absolutely everything was described to the tiniest detail and sometimes it just wasn't necessary.
I picked it up because I love family sagas, and it was that, in a way. But I kind of got sick of everyone being terrible to their partners throughout the generations.
But!! I did enjoy it overall, the pacing was pretty good, the storyline mostly engaging (I loved Anna/Will, even though they were so toxic), and I would buy/read the sequel.
Bonus points for that one sapphic relationship, wasn't expecting that at all....more
A Whimsical Notion took a while to pick up, and the audiobook confused me a little at the start, because A LOT of attention was given to potential roA Whimsical Notion took a while to pick up, and the audiobook confused me a little at the start, because A LOT of attention was given to potential romances between side characters, instead of the one between the main leads.
I was sitting there wondering who the actual main character was supposed to be, Honoria or Arabella...and actually, Arabella seemed more interesting, so I am considering continuing this series to see how her story will turn out.
Eventually though, when Honoria and Philip started interacting more, the book got better. As a whole, the second half was more engaging than the first, the last third being the best of all.
There were some cute moments, but not enough for me to give this a 4 star rating. So I'm settling on a 3.5...more
(view spoiler)[Raoul (hide spoiler)] pissed me off so much from the beginning, I found him incredibly annoying and I DID NOT want to see him have a happy ending.
Ok, that's a bit harsh, lemme rephrase. I would be okay with him having a happy ending, just not with Christine, there we go.
So, this was extremely readable, once I got into it (it took a few chapters), it didn't even feel like a classic in the way some others do. Maybe it's due to the translation, which was excellent, or the book itself, either way, it was hard to put down.
It's a bit odd I never picked it up until now, and the only reason why I did so is because I'm seeing the musical live for the first time this week. That was the push I needed to finally read it, I'm glad I did, even though I'll always be mad at the ending, hah.
I also haven't seen the movie(s), I'll probably try to see at least one before the musical, but yeah I literally went into this blind, knowing only minimal info and a few stills I've seen from the 2004 movie, that's it.
Now can we talk about how I imagined the Phantom based on how he's described here vs how he looks in the movie stills? Because I imagined a living skeleton with shiny eyes, and that's...not the case in the movie I'm assuming?
Either way, I loved the mystery aspect, the YEARNING (we all know from who), the setting, I'd absolutely read this again, maybe in English next time.
So messyyyy, and yet so fun. The characters are mostly unlikable (the male ones, in particular), which was kinda the point. The only thing I minded isSo messyyyy, and yet so fun. The characters are mostly unlikable (the male ones, in particular), which was kinda the point. The only thing I minded is that it took a while for things to start happening, but I was interested in seeing where it would all go.
Country Place is different from The Street, not in a bad way, just not what I was expecting after reading the former. It was still good though and I'm glad I read it.
I've had my eye on this book for a while, and when I finally picked it up, it blew me away. The night I started reading, it was so hard to stop becausI've had my eye on this book for a while, and when I finally picked it up, it blew me away. The night I started reading, it was so hard to stop because I was instantly drawn into the story, saying "just one more chapter" over and over again.
It's a dual PoV story, and both PoVs were equally compelling. I loved piecing the puzzle together with the characters, and going through an emotional roller-coaster with them along the way.
The exploration of grief, and what a family of a missing child goes through, might make this a heavier read for some, but for me it was so worth it.
I'm glad I trusted my gut and bought a physical copy, because The Berry Pickers is one of the best books I've read this year, and I'd recommend it to everyone....more
I actually started listening to Persuaded to Sea first, because I thought it was a standalone, then I went to log it and saw An Uncharted Devotion camI actually started listening to Persuaded to Sea first, because I thought it was a standalone, then I went to log it and saw An Uncharted Devotion came before, so of course I had to read it. Luckily I didn't get far into chapter one of book two, so we're all good.
It's a second chance romance, in a way, but not the kind that annoys me (they break up and then meet up in the future and get back together again). Instead, we got a husband who went off to war, returning a different man, so his wife has to try to bring him back to himself and save their relationship.
It was a hard journey for sure, James was NOT having it for the entire first half of the book, but you could see him gradually opening back up again. He absolutely needed that wake up call when Sarah went to London. I love how she stood up for herself, but was still so kind and understanding.
This book WILL pull at your heartstrings, you've been warned!! Some of the action scenes reminded me of the way Arlem Hawks writes hers, so I feel like if you're a fan of her books, you'll love Amanda Taylor's as well. Now on I go to Persuaded to Sea, I'm sure it'll be just as good. ...more
This one was even better than the first book, and an even quicker read. I looooved Patrick, he's the type of character I normally gravitate to, so no This one was even better than the first book, and an even quicker read. I looooved Patrick, he's the type of character I normally gravitate to, so no wonder. My only issue with this is that it took him and Harriet until the end of the book to finally resolve something, and I wish it had happened earlier on. But other than that, I had fun and will be reading whatever Amanda Taylor puts out next. ...more
I will never get tired of reading about this region. Or listening, since I did decide on the audiobook for this one.
I found Twilight in Hazard to be I will never get tired of reading about this region. Or listening, since I did decide on the audiobook for this one.
I found Twilight in Hazard to be really insightful, I feel like I understand Eastern Kentucky better now that I've finished it. The amount of love Maimon has for the people there is apparent, his portrayal of them and their problems never felt exploitative, and his outsider perspective was interesting.
I'd definitely reread this one in the future....more
I love the whole series, but this might be my favourite book in it, I adored little Shawnee (view spoiler)[(I was kinda hoping Cash would adopt her (hI love the whole series, but this might be my favourite book in it, I adored little Shawnee (view spoiler)[(I was kinda hoping Cash would adopt her (hide spoiler)]), and all the character development we got. I can't wait for the next one!
I started listening to this and thought "huh, Cash sounds different, the narrator isn't putting on that gruff voice for her anymore" only to realise..I started listening to this and thought "huh, Cash sounds different, the narrator isn't putting on that gruff voice for her anymore" only to realise...they changed narrators for this book for some reason?
I don't mind it, even though I was getting used to the previous one, I feel like that one probably suited the story more, but this one makes it flow better, if that makes sense.
Sinister Graves isn't too different from the past two books, Cash is still front and centre, but we do get to learn more about her abilities, and meet a potential love interest who might be sticking around for longer.
As for the mystery, when I heard "fundamentalists" I was like "oh no" haha, I knew I'd have a good time with it then, and I definitely did. There was even a scene where my eyes bugged out of my head, it was that out there.
I'm really enjoying this series, I hope it never ends....more
I sped through this book much like the first, I'm anticipating I'll finish the next two by the end of the week, and then I won't know what to do with I sped through this book much like the first, I'm anticipating I'll finish the next two by the end of the week, and then I won't know what to do with myself until more books come out.
I really appreciate the focus the author put on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, there aren't nearly enough books doing the same.
This time around, Cash gets drawn into yet another case, and helps solve it in her own, unique, way.
Girl Gone Missing was even sadder than Murder on the Red River, some scenes near the end in particular, which made me want to take a break from listening. Luckily though, everything turned out okay and we got a little preview of what we can expect in the next book.
The mystery was still kind of in the background, and the story mostly focuses on Cash, but I like that, it's a nice change of pace from your average detective novel. We also saw Long Braids again, which is a huge plus for me, I'm hoping he'll become a "true" love interest, so we can see him more often.
I probably wouldn't have read this if the movie wasn't coming out, but I'm glad I did, the last chapter was worth it.I probably wouldn't have read this if the movie wasn't coming out, but I'm glad I did, the last chapter was worth it....more
Broken was both an interesting listen, and a hard one. Interesting because you get to see Kray's determination to give Alydar a voice and find out whaBroken was both an interesting listen, and a hard one. Interesting because you get to see Kray's determination to give Alydar a voice and find out what really happened, and hard because hearing what this poor horse (and some others mentioned) went through is incredibly sad. I really don't understand people who hurt animals for any reason, least of all greed.
The book is well-researched and full of interviews from every person you could think of that had anything to do with Alydar (who did say yes to the interview, that is).
I feel like I learned a lot about horse racing, Alydar's life and the investigation into his death. The only flaw of this book, is that it could get a bit repetitive in the interviews, and the pacing wasn't the best. But I really appreciate the lengths Mr Kray went through to get the truth out there. JUSTICE FOR ALYDAR!!!...more
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!! IT CAN'T END LIKE THAT I REFUSE!!!! I'm truly heartbroken, nobody talk to me.NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!! IT CAN'T END LIKE THAT I REFUSE!!!! I'm truly heartbroken, nobody talk to me....more
The history was indeed interesting, I learned some things I didn't know before, and the passion Jim Webb has for his heritage shows. However...I'm notThe history was indeed interesting, I learned some things I didn't know before, and the passion Jim Webb has for his heritage shows. However...I'm not so sure I'd recommend this.
There's a very obvious bias, and like, I too would agree that the English are to blame for everything ever (I'm kidding), but I'm not the one who's supposed to be objective here, Webb didn't even try to be.
I also wasn't a fan of him glossing over very obvious elephants in the room, and the fact that this felt more like him exploring his own family history than anything else.
I'm sure there are better books on the subject out there somewhere....more
A bit different than the rest of the series (main character wise), but still such a great listen. I love how Hunt tied everything together with her reA bit different than the rest of the series (main character wise), but still such a great listen. I love how Hunt tied everything together with her remarkable storytelling.
Her books are always so well-researched and detailed, they make you feel like you're really there (I was totally in Nero's Rome with the characters and you can't convince me otherwise). I particularly enjoyed Calandra's faith journey, and would recommend this series to everyone who enjoys Biblical fiction....more
Every book by this author turns into my favourite, but this one!!! The romance was romancing from the start, I was giggling and kicking my feet and smEvery book by this author turns into my favourite, but this one!!! The romance was romancing from the start, I was giggling and kicking my feet and smiling all over the place, it was perfect!!! I know I'm going to have a blast when I do a reread someday.
The treasure hunting took a bit of a backseat in favour of Tilda's family storyline, but I didn't mind because it was equally intriguing.
As always, it was lovely catching up with the other characters from the first book, and learning new historical tidbits along the way. Book three can't come soon enough!!...more
I haven't read the other series some of the characters appear in (I would've, if I'd known), but I don't think it affected my reading too much. I did I haven't read the other series some of the characters appear in (I would've, if I'd known), but I don't think it affected my reading too much. I did feel like I missed a bit of context, but as the book went on, it didn't seem to matter.
I'm a bit obsessed with Mary Connealy's books, every time she comes out with a new one I rush to listen to the audiobook, especially when it features Barbara McCulloh's amazing narration.
This time we have *drum roll* A TREASURE HUNT, some runaway (pretend) orphans, and a a lovely romance (was there ever any doubt?).
Brody and Ellie's first meeting was so iconic, it had me giggling. I gotta say that I wasn't really sure about him at first, but he grew on me. I loved him and Ellie together so much.
Most of the book is about the treasure hunt itself and searching for the boys, so it's as adventure filled as you can imagine. Lock and Thayne are probably my favourite characters, their shenanigans were so fun to follow, as was their bond with Brody.
Like any other Connealy book, there's lots of humour, and a good amount of faith content included. All in all, an excellent start to a new series, I can't wait for book two. ...more
I read this mainly so I could watch the movie, and reread A Christmas Carol with a new perspective on the author.
I must confess that I didn't know thI read this mainly so I could watch the movie, and reread A Christmas Carol with a new perspective on the author.
I must confess that I didn't know that much about Dickens before starting this, so most of the information was new to me. And there are so many details!! It was a bit overwhelming.
I did like it, and I learned something for sure, but the writing style wasn't my favourite. The pacing also wasn't the best, and the timeline could get jumpy. I also felt like this was more about publishing books in Dickens's time than the man himself. But it did have a few funny moments.
Overall, not a bad read, but could've been shorter and more to the point.