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40x40

Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Midwife of Auschwitz in Books

Jun 21, 2022  
The Midwife of Auschwitz
The Midwife of Auschwitz
Anna Stuart | 2022 | History & Politics
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is one of those books that hits you and stays with you for a long time and although it is a work of fiction, the author has clearly done her research and there is a lot of this book that is based on fact.

As you can imagine, this is a hard book to read; it's a story filled with despair, death and unimaginable suffering but it's also a story filled with hope, the power of friendship and love.

Ana and Ester are the two main characters and oh what characters they are; strong and with a will to continue to do good whilst all around them descends into chaos and madness.

This book had my emotions in a constant state of flux; angry, sad, tearful, horrified but also hopeful and in awe and wonder of the people who went through such despicable crimes but continued to keep their humanity unlike the Nazis!

Like I said, this is a difficult read but, I think, an essential one and I must thank Bookouture and NetGalley for enabling me to read it and share my thoughts.
  
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David McK (3721 KP) rated Scoundrel (the sailing thrillers, #5) in Books

Nov 29, 2023  
Scoundrel (the sailing thrillers, #5)
Scoundrel (the sailing thrillers, #5)
Bernard Cornwell | 1993 | Fiction & Poetry
3
3.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
It's been a long time since a book has made me this angry.

Maybe because I'm *from* Belfast, Northern Ireland and have relatives who lived through the period of history colloquially known as The Troubles (I was a teenager in the 90s, when they 'ended', and when this is set), so know exactly what the IRA and their loyalist counterparts were/are like.

It made my blood boil to read passages in this where they were treated as heroes by some in Boston (and, yes, I know it's a fiction book): surely to goodness nobody could be that naive??

Anyway, I normally like Bernard Cornwell (Author) novels.

I know he spent a bit of time here (the BBC, I believe?), before moving to the States.

His knowledge of landmarks does show.

I would have thought he would have known better, though, in how he portrays the tangled mess that is politics and history that went on in this fair isle.

Sorry, Mr Paul Shanahan: you're unlikeable as a lead character; no match to a Richard Sharpe or an Uhtred of Bebbanburg.

(his other stand-alone sailing thrillers - those I have read, at least - are all much better)
  
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ClareR (6106 KP) rated Madam in Books

Jan 13, 2023  
Madam
Madam
Phoebe Wynne | 2021 | Gender Studies, LGBTQ+
7
6.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Rose Christie is a young Classics teacher who gets a teaching post at an elite public boarding school in Scotland: Caldonbrae Hall.

But this school isn’t as it first appears. Rose loves her subject and wants to share that love: the girls don’t want to learn, and they frankly can’t see the point. Frustration radiates off the page - or perhaps as an ex-teacher I was just projecting! Honestly, this part nearly made me stop reading! I was so angry with the students behaviour!

It would seem that the senior management team at the school very much agree with the girls though, and want Rose to become more like them.

Not likely!

And then there was Rose’s predecessor and her strange disappearance, which of course Rose has to find out more about.

I’m so glad that I read beyond my 3 chapter cut off, because I did enjoy this. I will say that there’s a fair bit of age-inappropriate sexual behaviour, so if you find this problematic, it may be best to steer clear. But it was all in keeping with the ethos of the school - I KNOW!!