Amy Curtis (49 KP) rated Pride and Prejudice in Books
Dec 31, 2018
Most people know the rough story of this novel but I will give a little recap anyway. You are introduced to a middle-class family with 5 young girls that are ready to be married off. The mother is a hysterical kind of woman that cannot keep herself out of her daughter’s business. The eldest daughter Jane is a very shy individual and she falls in love with a wealthy man Mr. Bingley. When Mr. Bingley arrives in town, he brings with him his friend Mr. Darcy who is constantly described as a disagreeable fellow particularly as he does not enjoy the social norms that were custom in this era. Jane’s sister Elizabeth finds something curious about this man and spends the majority of the narrative expressing her dislike of him. Eventually though, he wins her round but the journey is what is so beautiful about this novel.
When I read this, I really thought it was going to be a cliché novel and I was pleasantly surprised as to how much I enjoyed it. You can see parallels between the relationship with Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet and Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester. Looking back on this, there are quite a lot of similarities between these two novels and the characters that make them.
Austen has created an incredible classic novel that highlights what life was like in this era and how people behaved. You could look at this novel as a study of personalities. The romance between the two is incredibly sweet especially when it seems as though it would be such an unlikely couple. Both characters have to have internal battles before they are both ready to open up to each other and declare how they really feel.
I can now understand why this novel has been such a fascination for literary scholars. It is beautifully written and contains the modest kind of romance that leaves you wanting more. It will be going up there as one of my favourite works of literature.
Kaz (232 KP) rated The Night Circus in Books
May 16, 2019
'The Circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it, no paper notices on downtown posts and billboards, no mentions or advertisements in local newspapers. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not.'
This sense of mystery and intrigue is the thing I liked the most about 'The Night Circus', along with the vivid and beautiful descriptions throughout the book.
I'm not usually the type of reader who enjoys a lot of descriptive prose, but the way in which Morgenstein describes the circus and its inhabitants was sensual, magical and totally swept me away with the story.
I'm also not a fan of romance in novels. Most of the romantic writing I have ever read, has either been slushy, boarding on nauseating, or devoid of any chemistry whatsoever. However, the romantic elements within this novel were passionate and believable.
The characters within this novel were believable too, even though most of them were rather quirky. The atmosphere within this novel reminds me of those mysterious classics such as 'Around the World in 80 days' or 'The Invisible Man', not so much in the way of plot, but in essence. There is a old fashioned quality to 'The Night Circus' which I thought was endearing and also, a refreshing change from more modern stories.
The only observation I could make about this novel, is that I felt that the conclusion to the novel was slightly rushed. Although, maybe I felt this because I didn't want to 'The Night Circus' to end.
If you enjoy a story with magic, beautiful description and a plot which unfolds slowly, then this is the novel for you.
I already can't wait to re-read 'The Night Circus'.
My Rating: *****
Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated A Shade of Vampire (A Shade of Vampire, #1) in Books
Jul 10, 2018
You can tell that Bella Forrest is a new author. The writing is not perfect, nor is story. This novel is filled with the typical "Twilight" feel. It is filled with vampire angst, and all of the other vampire cliches ("I was a lamb - a lamb ready for slaughter" etc.). I do have to say that there is some potential that I saw in the author and in the story line.
I felt that the characters needed more depth to them. I really wish that this novel was longer because I would have loved to see what the author would have done if she added depth to the characters. When reading this novel, I kept wanting to get invested in the characters but they just lacked that certain something. They lacked depth, and in all honesty... they kind of lacked emotion. It could also be that i lacked investment and thus I didn't feel any of the emotions.
The plot line was interesting, a young girl is kidnapped and made to be the vampire king's slave. It's something that has been done over and over but I did enjoy the quick read. I do wish that we would have gotten more. I wanted more emotions, I wanted more depth to the characters, and I wanted more to the story.
When reading, I kept hoping that there would be something that would make this novel stand out above other Kidnapped humans in a world of vampires novels but it didn't really make the cut.
All in all, this was an Okay novel. Nothing spectacular but it filled my time and was a very quick read.
Books Editor (673 KP) shared own list
Sep 22, 2017
This season is going to be awesome for book lovers. Entertainment Weekly has put together some irresistible new books from some of our favourite authors.
Artemis
7.6
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Book
Jazz Bashara is a criminal. Well, sort of. Life on Artemis, the first and only city on the moon,...
Science fiction
After the Eclipse: A Mother's Murder, a Daughter's Search
4.0
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Book
A fierce memoir of a mother's murder, a daughter's coming-of-age in the wake of immense loss, and...
Biography memoir true crime
Renegades
8.3
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Book
From #1 New York Times-bestselling author Marissa Meyer, comes a high-stakes world of adventure,...
Fantasy Young Adult
Ali: A Life
Book
When the frail, trembling figure of Muhammad Ali lit the Olympic flame in Atlanta in 1996, a TV...
A Loving, Faithful Animal
Book
It is New Year’s Eve 1990, in a small town in southeast Australia. Ru's father, Jack, one of...
historical fiction
and 15 other items
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Great Gatsby in Books
Jul 25, 2017
Jarom Solar Norris (186 KP) rated Cards Against Humanity in Tabletop Games
Sep 6, 2018
Becs (244 KP) rated The Extended Summer of Anna and Jeremy in Books
Jan 2, 2020
This is honestly the cutest little novel I've ever read. I was not expecting to fall in love with the adorableness of Anna and Jeremy's relationship. I wouldn't complain if there was a sequel
Grandpa's Great Escape
Book
The brilliantly funny novel from David Walliams, Number One bestselling author! The much anticipated...
James Whiteside recommended Stranger in a Strange Land in Books (curated)
