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ClareR (5784 KP) rated The Poison Bed in Books

Jun 17, 2018  
The Poison Bed
The Poison Bed
E. C. Fremantle | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Murder and Intrigue in the Jacobean Court.
Based on a true story, this is set in the Court of James I of England and Wales (James VI of Scotland). Robert Carr is a favourite of the King. There has long been much discussion about how far his favouritism went, and about how he possibly had homosexual tendencies.
Anyway, this story is based around the true story of how Frances Howard and her husband Robert Carr were charged with the murder of Thomas Overbury, and kept in the Tower of London for quite some time. This whole story illustrates the power of the Howards (particularly Frances' Great Uncle) and the intrigue of the Royal Court. Everyone has great aspirations, and will do whatever it takes to achieve them.
The characters, I felt, were well drawn and either unpleasant or terribly naive - no middle ground. I do like historical fiction, especially when it appears to be well researched, as this does. It's important to give the characters life as well, and that's what this book does really well. An exciting, intriguing story. Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and the publisher for the chance to read this book.
  
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Janeeny (200 KP) rated The Binding in Books

May 8, 2019  
The Binding
The Binding
Bridget Collins | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.5 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
Not enough 'Magic' (0 more)
Emmett is a boy with a gift, he doesn’t realise it but he is a natural ‘Binder’. Binders are people who can take any memory you wish to forget and bind it in a book. So Emmett is sent as an apprentice to a local Binder, but this story isn’t about Binding, this is about Emmett and something he may have forgotten.

I do appreciate a good-looking book, and this is one good looking book. The cover art just draws the eye and the marbling effect on the inside cover is just beautiful. Then you have this little blurb

“Imagine you could erase grief.
Imagine you could remove pain.
Imagine you could hide the darkest, most horrifying secret.
Forever”

Captures the imagination, right?

 The Binding is categorized as 'Magical Realism', although it doesn’t totally deliver on it’s promise.
The story starts out around Emmett, and you know there is a deep secret there which will eventually unravel. He is sent to an old Binder as an apprentice to learn the trade, which basically involves laying your hand on the person who wishes to forget as they tell you their memory. That is essentially it for the Binding aspect of the book. This story is predominantly about Emmett and his past, and ‘Binding’ plays a very small part in that. Don’t get me wrong I did really enjoy the direction that the book took, but as somebody in my book club pointed out, we would have liked to know more about The actual Binding and the books. Maybe if Bridget Collins releases more books based around this I may get my wish!
  
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Books&Football (34 KP) rated Big Little Lies in Books

Jan 19, 2018  
Big Little Lies
Big Little Lies
Liane Moriarty | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.6 (97 Ratings)
Book Rating
At the end, I figured it out before the story finished unfolding (0 more)
The Lies are Pretty Big..
At the recommendation of a friend, I dug into this book right away. I really enjoyed the characters and I kept waiting for the surprise that was promised. Having read some of this author's other books, it did not take me long to figure out how the characters came together. I really enjoyed the story and would recommend this to anyone who wanted to get swept away in the story based on a PTA like group. Their original purpose was to improve the school, but the mothers become mafia-like in their power moves
  
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BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) rated The Haunting of Hill House in Books

Oct 15, 2018  
The Haunting of Hill House
The Haunting of Hill House
Shirley Jackson | 2009 | Fiction & Poetry, Horror
8
7.5 (29 Ratings)
Book Rating
Such a great ghost story!
I really can't get over that I've never read this book before I'm such a huge horror fan, I absolutely love ghost stories, and I've seen the movies that are based on this book so many times it's not even funny, I really can't get over I've never read the book. I really enjoyed Shirley Jackson's writing it had a very dreamy quality to it she has a absolutely amazing talent at writing atmosphere most of the time you really felt like you were in Hill House along with the characters who were all really well written even though I do wish we would have got to know some of them a little more. All in all I really enjoyed this book and I'll definitely be reading more of Shirley Jackson's work since I can't get over I've never read anything by her before.