Search

Search only in certain items:

The Limehouse Golem
The Limehouse Golem
Peter Ackroyd | 1994 | Fiction & Poetry, Film & TV, History & Politics
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The blurb gives out all the necessary information about this book, leaving some mystery for the reader to figure out. The star of this novel is Lizzie Cree, an actress and a wife of well-known reporter John Cree. This novel is told from multiple perspectives: Lizzie’s life story, “Limehouse Golem’s” thoughts during the killings, and other character’s views and life stories. The most interesting to me was Lizzie’s life story, I think it was the most intriguing, complex part of this novel. I am really grateful that Peter Ackroyd added the murderer’s thoughts to this book. Even though they were really graphic, I always love to have an insight into what’s happening in a psychopath’s head. There is a wide variety of characters to choose from in this book, and I think that everybody can find their favourite. My pick would be Lizzie, she is such a well composed and intriguing character!

The narrative of this novel was very well written and researched. I did enjoy the story which author was sharing with the reader, however, there were many philosophical parts in this book, which I found boring and unnecessary. It reminded me of all the dull books I had to read while in school, so I just skim read those parts. 😦 I would like to throw in a disclaimer, that there are graphic violent parts in this book, and it is not suitable for sensitive readers. 😉

The writing style of this book is impeccable. Peter Ackroyd is a master of his craft and truly gifted writer. This novel was first published in 1994, but it feels like it was written in the 19th century. I could clearly see the author’s knowledge in this book because it was shining through the pages. The language used in this novel was very sophisticated but not very difficult to read, and the chapters where decent length, so it did not leave me bored. I really enjoyed the ending of this novel, I think it was well deserved and rounded up the story very nicely.

The film actually surprised me, it had a completely different approach to the whole story and told it through Inspector Kildare’s perspective. In the book, the whole police investigation was very vague, so it was a real surprise to see this approach, and I didn’t really mind it. The acting was marvellous and Mr D. Booth (Dan Leno) was absolutely amazing. He had the charisma and the skill to be a star of this movie. The whole movie was not a full representation of the book, they used some parts from the book and amended it to fit their story, but I liked it nevertheless. This movie is not suitable for children under 15, as it has some really gross scenes in there.

So to conclude, this book is very well written and amusing read, with well rounded and charismatic characters, and the narrative is twisty and always changing, keeping the reader interested. I do recommend to experience Lizzie’s journey and to watch the film afterwards. They do compliment each other, offering different perspectives and different interpretations, so give it a try and I hope you will enjoy it 🙂
  
40x40

Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Mountain Between Us in Books

Nov 25, 2017 (Updated Nov 25, 2017)  
The Mountain Between Us
The Mountain Between Us
Charles Martin | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
6
6.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Claustrophobic and interesting at the beginning but far fetched
Given there's only two real characters in this novel, author Charles Martin does a not bad job developing their roles.

The story surrounds Dr Ben Payne and writer Ashley Knox, who get caught up in a plane crash in the remote icy mountains of the High Uintas Wilderness. Both quite seriously injured, they attempt to battle all odds to survive.

Although the setting is well laid out, the actual plot and dialogue is slightly hyperbolic, and the long-winded explanations of love are rather sappy. The female characters are written as if swooning at Dr Payne's every beck and call. So while the novel began as a gripping survivalist plot, it falls into a wishy washy romance trap and ultimately ends up on the ash heap of almost good stories.
  
Take Me With You
Take Me With You
Nina G. Jones | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Relatable characters (2 more)
Dark, intense thriller
Almost no stagnant "filler" parts
Makes you want to know what happens after the book ends (0 more)
Great serial killer novel! Gotta love The Crazies!
This was a difficult book to put down. It has a great mix of features that makes an intense story; deep character development, detailed world building (but not too detailed because, you know, imagination), interesting backstories, mysteries, horror, a little (very little) humor, psychologically thrilling and it sticks with you for a time after the last page. This is the type of novel to read when you are sick of the typical happy-go-lucky, boy-meets-girl romance and you're looking for something dark but not too dark. On a darkness scale between Christian Grey and Black Sabbath, I'd give this a solid M. Night Shyamalan. (Whatever that means)
  
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing
Hank Green | 2018 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.2 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
remarkable
did i expect hank green to be a great writer?
no.
was he?
i suppose so.
and did he live up to the expectations i set on this book?
yes.

this book was genuinely an amazing observation on fame and culture. it accurately depicted how change in terms of popularity can affect a person regarding both their relationships and how they percieve themselves. starring a queer lead, this book was quite frankly incredibly well done. i've gotta say, i didn't expect this level from a debut novel. I feel like the only reason i took off some points was because the story dragged a bit or sped up too much at points. there was never a constant, perfect pace to this story, though maybe that just added to the peculiarity of this novel.

also, gotta say;
certainly not YA
  
40x40

Sam (74 KP) rated Let it Snow in Books

Mar 27, 2019  
Let it Snow
Let it Snow
8
6.9 (9 Ratings)
Book Rating
Three stories that slowly merge into one? I need more of this in my life. Why can’t more books be written like this? Because I love that you get three different points of view and you get to see the turn of events that means that all three stories merge in the most unlikely way.

Every character is quirky, and I can’t say I would expect anything less from this group of authors. They are all so individual and really developed. It read like a perfect novel, with no plot holes or nothing left unexplained.

And I loved that it is so unique! There isn’t a Christmas novel out there that is quite like this, and I’m still hoping that one day it will get turned into a movie. It would make the most amazing film to snuggle up with.
  
If I could kiss Ingrid Hahn I would! There are legitimately no words to describe how happy her hero made me in this novel. Despite some of his stupid actions due to his hurt pride, it was refreshing to find a male in a historical romance put faith in his wife and defend her. Not because he is in love with her or because she his wife, but because he truly believes the opposing party was wrong. Seriously. Bless you Hahn.

But moving on, I enjoyed this novel as a whole. There were certain things that aggravated me like the male lead not being able to see past his hurt pride at times. But their love can naturally rather the forced. It was a delight to read and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
  
TG
The Ghoul Next Door (Monster High, #2)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I loved this one just as much as the first, if not more because of how many more characters are involved. I don't expect anything from this series, so maybe that it why I am not disappointed by the lack of originality and that it's clearly written for a generation younger than me.

It is my guiltiest of guilty pleasures in the reading world. I am not afraid to admit it. The book is filled with stereotypical teens (minus the whole monster factor) that live in a stereotypical world (minus the humans trying to destroy them). Once you accept that this novel is not meant to be the next great American novel filled with thought provoking passages and a great original plot, than you can sit back and enjoy all the ridiculousness. I love it because I take it at face value.
  
TW
Taran Wanderer (The Chronicles of Prydain #4)
Lloyd Alexander | 1967 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
9.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
If the third of the series is my favorite, I love this novel infinitely more. I forgot what it was like to read such great literature that each pages inspires you to think and wonder. No body writes literature like this anymore, such thought provoking, enthralling books that bring you so close to the characters that you almost don't want to finish the novel for fear of losing such a friendship. You share their pains, triumphs, frustrations, and joys that it's almost heartbreaking to finish.

Taran Wanderer starts out with Taran setting out to search for his lineage so that he will have no doubts about asking Eilonway to marry him. Instead, he creates one of the greatest tales about finding ones self. If Taran existed here and now, I would demand that we be friends.
  
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t think it was capable for the series to get better. Haskell is such a talented writer and story teller that the second installment not only expands on the first, it enriches it. In this novel, we are treated to more in-depth look at the world and mythology, which are both intricate and original.

Plus I absolutely love Rio. She is a solid character, it’s hard to not like her. She has such a strong, dynamic personality, and yet we are allowed to see the inner workings of her mind where her insecurities are evident.

A steady paced novel with an interesting world and entertaining characters, Sanyare is an immediate favorite that I tend to follow to its end.
  
40x40

ArecRain (8 KP) rated The Bride Gift in Books

Jan 18, 2018  
TB
The Bride Gift
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This novel was a delightful surprise. I really wasn’t in the mood for historical romance, but after reading this, I am stuck in historical romance mode trying to recapture the feeling I received from this novel.

The plot isn’t anything new to historical romance: heroine is married to hero against her will in order to protect her from someone/something and she eventually falls for him. Definitely not anything new by a long shot, but the characters and writing are what made this story for me.

I love the hero and heroine. They felt unique compared to characters in other historical romance heroes/heroines. They were tangible with realistic thoughts and actions. The male wasn’t misogynistic and, while the female was hot headed, she wasn’t annoyingly stubborn. They worked well together and I adored them.