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The Lives of the Great Gardeners
Book
Throughout history great gardeners have risen from all walks of life. Some have been aristocratic...
A Brahms Reader
Book
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) was prominent not only as a composer but as a pianist, conductor,...
DO
Diary of a Tokyo Teen: A Japanese-American Girls Draws Her Way Across the Land of Trendy Fashion, High-Tech Toilets and Maid Cafes
Book
A book for comic lovers and Japanophiles of all ages, Diary of a Tokyo Teen presents a unique look...
ClareR (5879 KP) rated The Confession in Books
Jun 13, 2021
The Confession centres around three women in different times: it’s the 1980’s, and Elise meets writer Constance. So begins an intense relationship between the two women. When Constance’s new book is bought by a studio and they start to film, Constance takes Elise and goes over to watch her novel become a film. It’s a very different life to Hampstead, and Elise struggles.
We meet our third protagonist, Rosie Simmons, in 2017. She lives in London with her boyfriend, and she’s starting to question their relationship. She seems very discontented with her life in general, and this is perhaps partly because she never knew her mother. Her father, Matt, never talks about her. However, during a visit to France where her father lives, he tells her about the woman that her mother had once lived with: Constance Holden.
When Rosie returns to London, she decides to find out more about Constance. And through a set of strange circumstances, Rosie becomes Constance’s assistant - under another name.
I did wonder how Rosie was eventually going to explain her way out of the situation she had got herself in to, and the resolution didn’t disappoint me. I was completely enthralled by this book: the complicated relationships, the love of both parents and lovers, and the strong women, all made this a really satisfying read for me. A recommended read!
We meet our third protagonist, Rosie Simmons, in 2017. She lives in London with her boyfriend, and she’s starting to question their relationship. She seems very discontented with her life in general, and this is perhaps partly because she never knew her mother. Her father, Matt, never talks about her. However, during a visit to France where her father lives, he tells her about the woman that her mother had once lived with: Constance Holden.
When Rosie returns to London, she decides to find out more about Constance. And through a set of strange circumstances, Rosie becomes Constance’s assistant - under another name.
I did wonder how Rosie was eventually going to explain her way out of the situation she had got herself in to, and the resolution didn’t disappoint me. I was completely enthralled by this book: the complicated relationships, the love of both parents and lovers, and the strong women, all made this a really satisfying read for me. A recommended read!
60-Second Brain Teasers Pencil-Free Puzzles: Short Head-Scratchers from the Easy to Near Impossible
8.0
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Book
Nathan Haselbauer's amazingly clever book of 201 pencil-free brain teasers isn't your typical puzzle...
Logic Logic Puzzles Math Problems
Reece (The Hawks #5)
10.0
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Book
She’s everything he doesn’t want. Honorable. Beautiful. Strong… wait, what? Reece lost...
Adult Fantasy Romance
Micky Barnard (542 KP) rated The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn in Books
Dec 6, 2018
Sublime writing, surprising story
This book has blown me away from start to finish. More than that, from about 30%, this book moved me deeply with not only the 'forbidden love' element but the deep connections between friends, lovers and progeny.
Monique and Evelyn narrate this story, Monique as the writer who will document the truth of Evelyn's life as shes about to hit her 70s and Evelyn, as she is finally able to be real to the world about who she is. On the one hand, the backdrop of 1950's Hollywood onwards is compelling but in some ways, that context is rather inconsequential as the characters steal each scene. The fame of Evelyn, her husbands and the friends only matter as an inconvenience. Evelyn has such character growth from her teens to contemporary times. So much happens in her life and the majority of it is spellbinding as she yearns for what she can't have. The focus of this story is forbidden, hiding is essential and acting is required in and out of the studio.
The side characters to this story made me feel so much, Harry especially was wonderful; a friend, a soulmate and he loved unconditionally. Connor although a smaller part, brought such growth in Evelyn. Celia in some ways was hard to love as a character. The twists and especially the final twist were such a gut punch and that element to the story was superb.
I am a staunch fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid but this may be my favourite of her books yet. This book is brave and bold and I love how the book summary was written so as not to expose too much of what is between the pages. It is so beautifully written and vividly crafted that THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO is utterly memorable.
"Celia smiled brightly and did exactly as I did. We stood there, in black and green, redhead and blonde, one of us all ass and the other all tits, waving to the crowd as if we ruled them."
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through netgalley in return for an honest review.
Monique and Evelyn narrate this story, Monique as the writer who will document the truth of Evelyn's life as shes about to hit her 70s and Evelyn, as she is finally able to be real to the world about who she is. On the one hand, the backdrop of 1950's Hollywood onwards is compelling but in some ways, that context is rather inconsequential as the characters steal each scene. The fame of Evelyn, her husbands and the friends only matter as an inconvenience. Evelyn has such character growth from her teens to contemporary times. So much happens in her life and the majority of it is spellbinding as she yearns for what she can't have. The focus of this story is forbidden, hiding is essential and acting is required in and out of the studio.
The side characters to this story made me feel so much, Harry especially was wonderful; a friend, a soulmate and he loved unconditionally. Connor although a smaller part, brought such growth in Evelyn. Celia in some ways was hard to love as a character. The twists and especially the final twist were such a gut punch and that element to the story was superb.
I am a staunch fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid but this may be my favourite of her books yet. This book is brave and bold and I love how the book summary was written so as not to expose too much of what is between the pages. It is so beautifully written and vividly crafted that THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO is utterly memorable.
"Celia smiled brightly and did exactly as I did. We stood there, in black and green, redhead and blonde, one of us all ass and the other all tits, waving to the crowd as if we ruled them."
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through netgalley in return for an honest review.
Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated Why I Loathe Sterling Lane in Books
Jan 23, 2020
<b><i>I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i></b>
I'm still in a reviewing funk of sorts, so I'm playing with style to keep my funk at bay. The funk is a horrible, horrible thing. It's crawled into my life like Medusa and turned my reviewing styles into stone.
Weird analogy. Anyways.
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><b>Three Reasons to Read <i>Why I Loathe Sterling Lane</i></b></h3>
<b>Kendall's dynamic with Harper</b> - they're two completely different people who hate each other at a distance by the mere idea of the person. Seeing Kendall and Harper getting thrown together and their friendship develop is personally my favorite part of reading the book.
<b>Enemies to Lovers</b> - I'm usually not a fan of this trope, but I'm not really complaining since Sterling makes Harper less of a stick in the mud as she may appear to be early on in the book.
Admittedly, I'm also watching <i>Boys Over Flowers</i>, which is way too cute and hilarious.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="http://bookwyrmingthoughts.bookblog.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/317/2017/06/swan-boys-over-flowers.gif"; width="320" height="209" border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="500" /></div>
<b>The format</b> - Each chapter is based off a rule Harpers that she came up with from early in her life. I think it gave a better understanding of who Harper was and what kinds of rules she had in her life (that would definitely be something I would want to know if they weren't mentioned).
<b>Overall:</b> <i>Why I Loathe Sterling Lane</i> is a slow book to love, but the story picks up after a few rough patches and is perfect for those who enjoy a love-hate relationship between love interests.
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/blog-tour-why-i-loathe-sterling-lane-by-ingrid-paulson/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
I'm still in a reviewing funk of sorts, so I'm playing with style to keep my funk at bay. The funk is a horrible, horrible thing. It's crawled into my life like Medusa and turned my reviewing styles into stone.
Weird analogy. Anyways.
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><b>Three Reasons to Read <i>Why I Loathe Sterling Lane</i></b></h3>
<b>Kendall's dynamic with Harper</b> - they're two completely different people who hate each other at a distance by the mere idea of the person. Seeing Kendall and Harper getting thrown together and their friendship develop is personally my favorite part of reading the book.
<b>Enemies to Lovers</b> - I'm usually not a fan of this trope, but I'm not really complaining since Sterling makes Harper less of a stick in the mud as she may appear to be early on in the book.
Admittedly, I'm also watching <i>Boys Over Flowers</i>, which is way too cute and hilarious.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="http://bookwyrmingthoughts.bookblog.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/317/2017/06/swan-boys-over-flowers.gif"; width="320" height="209" border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="500" /></div>
<b>The format</b> - Each chapter is based off a rule Harpers that she came up with from early in her life. I think it gave a better understanding of who Harper was and what kinds of rules she had in her life (that would definitely be something I would want to know if they weren't mentioned).
<b>Overall:</b> <i>Why I Loathe Sterling Lane</i> is a slow book to love, but the story picks up after a few rough patches and is perfect for those who enjoy a love-hate relationship between love interests.
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/blog-tour-why-i-loathe-sterling-lane-by-ingrid-paulson/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
The Style Your Modern Vintage Home: A Guide to Buying, Restoring and Styling from the 1920s to 1990s
Book
Style Your Modern Vintage Home is an inspirational book for all vintage enthusiasts. It encompasses...
Eleanor Luhar (47 KP) rated Anything That Isn't This in Books
Jun 24, 2019
Well this was a surprising read. Not just a typical YA dystopian novel, but a peculiar, artistic novel complete with illustrations throughout.
For some reason, I wasn't expecting the strange world that Priestley created in this book. The Grey is suffocating Frank, the Ministry controlling his every decision. Most people are okay with it, comfortable in the routine provided. But Frank wants more.
First, Frank is obsessed with a girl from his school. Even after they graduate, he is desperate to be with her - he believes they're 'fated'. But after a while, he realises that maybe she's not quite right for him.
This combines two typical YA romance plots - the "unpopular boy gets the cool girl" and also the "childhood friends become lovers" plot. I think it's a bit unusual to mix the two, but I didn't find anything spectacular about this aspect of the novel.
The whole book has a very strange abstract sort of feel to it; I was unsure at times whether to actually take what he was saying at face value or take it as a metaphor. There are loads of weird myths that are thrown around, many of which play a big role later in the book.
The friendship with Scape was interesting; it kind of just happened out of the blue and ended in a similar way. And Mr Vertex was a weird character - it was obvious there was something strange about him, and I felt he really added to the abstract feel created.
The book kind of felt grey, but not in a bad way - as in, I felt how Frank felt about his life. I was pretty shocked by how dark it got at the end, quite suddenly. The ending was a bit of a whirlwind, followed by a moment of calm. The calmness was nice, an interesting ending that left your imagination running wild.
I didn't really enjoy this book at first but I did eventually get into it, and quite liked it. I definitely liked the unique feel it had, almost like Coraline. 3.5 stars.
For some reason, I wasn't expecting the strange world that Priestley created in this book. The Grey is suffocating Frank, the Ministry controlling his every decision. Most people are okay with it, comfortable in the routine provided. But Frank wants more.
First, Frank is obsessed with a girl from his school. Even after they graduate, he is desperate to be with her - he believes they're 'fated'. But after a while, he realises that maybe she's not quite right for him.
This combines two typical YA romance plots - the "unpopular boy gets the cool girl" and also the "childhood friends become lovers" plot. I think it's a bit unusual to mix the two, but I didn't find anything spectacular about this aspect of the novel.
The whole book has a very strange abstract sort of feel to it; I was unsure at times whether to actually take what he was saying at face value or take it as a metaphor. There are loads of weird myths that are thrown around, many of which play a big role later in the book.
The friendship with Scape was interesting; it kind of just happened out of the blue and ended in a similar way. And Mr Vertex was a weird character - it was obvious there was something strange about him, and I felt he really added to the abstract feel created.
The book kind of felt grey, but not in a bad way - as in, I felt how Frank felt about his life. I was pretty shocked by how dark it got at the end, quite suddenly. The ending was a bit of a whirlwind, followed by a moment of calm. The calmness was nice, an interesting ending that left your imagination running wild.
I didn't really enjoy this book at first but I did eventually get into it, and quite liked it. I definitely liked the unique feel it had, almost like Coraline. 3.5 stars.