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On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
Book
Poet Ocean Vuong's debut novel is a shattering portrait of a family, a first love, and the...
The Beach Club
8.0
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In this juicy first novel by a talented newcomer, a series of personal dramas are played out during...
Saving Grace
8.0
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Grace Pierrepoint Rendell, the only child of an ailing billionaire, has been treated for paranoia...
Psychological Thriller Domestic Suspense
The Fortune Keeper (Tofana #3)
Book
Count your nights by stars, not shadows ~ Italian Proverb Winter in Renaissance Venice Mia...
Historical Fiction Renaissance Italy
David McK (3623 KP) rated Ready Player Two in Books
Oct 30, 2021
This is a direct sequel to Ready Player One, picking up not soon after the events of that previous novel.
It also follows the same characters, told in the same first person point of view as previous - I must admit, I initially found that a bit jarring, as I would have expected (with a title such as it is) that it would follow a different character - after all, how often IRL is Player Two the same person as Player One in a computer game?
Anyway, Wade Watts.
Still an obsessed geek; still fan-worshipping the creator of the Oasis James Halliday (at least initially). However, with the release of new technology by the company he now owns that not only allows its user to control an avatar, but to *feel* like they actually are that person - sight, taste, hearing, sensations and all - and with further experiences (I don't want to give too much away), Watts finds his hero-worshipping lessening somewhat.
If I'm honest, I did also find parts of this novel to drag somewhat, especially in the lengthy section where Cline goes into great detail around the Oasis world dedicated to 'The Artist Formerly Known as Prince' (which just made me uncomfortable). I also had to shake my head at just how some of the characters behaved ...
(yes, I know they're not real. Still need to to be believable, though!)
It also follows the same characters, told in the same first person point of view as previous - I must admit, I initially found that a bit jarring, as I would have expected (with a title such as it is) that it would follow a different character - after all, how often IRL is Player Two the same person as Player One in a computer game?
Anyway, Wade Watts.
Still an obsessed geek; still fan-worshipping the creator of the Oasis James Halliday (at least initially). However, with the release of new technology by the company he now owns that not only allows its user to control an avatar, but to *feel* like they actually are that person - sight, taste, hearing, sensations and all - and with further experiences (I don't want to give too much away), Watts finds his hero-worshipping lessening somewhat.
If I'm honest, I did also find parts of this novel to drag somewhat, especially in the lengthy section where Cline goes into great detail around the Oasis world dedicated to 'The Artist Formerly Known as Prince' (which just made me uncomfortable). I also had to shake my head at just how some of the characters behaved ...
(yes, I know they're not real. Still need to to be believable, though!)
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated Anne of Green Gables in Books
Oct 4, 2022
It’s Hard to Imagine a More Romantic Story
Orphan Anne Shirley is thrilled when she is sent to live with the Cuthbert siblings, Matthew and Marilla. The problem is, they were looking for an orphan boy, someone who could help Matthew around the farm. Still, they begin to fall for Anne and agree to let her stay. This book follows her adventures of the next five years as she grows to become a sixteen-year-old. What will happen over that time?
I’ve never read this well-loved classic, and I decided it was time to fix that. It came out in 1908, so some of the language is dated, although there is nothing offensive here. I think I needed to be a pre-teen girl to fully enjoy this book. There were certainly parts I did enjoy, but overall, I found the book more episodic than a real novel. That tends to happen to me when a novel covers such a span of time. Also, the events in the second half of the book got to be too much for me. Having said that, I can see the appeal. The characters definitely grew on me, and I laughed at various events along the way. I’m curious enough about what happens next that I might go on with the series.
I’ve never read this well-loved classic, and I decided it was time to fix that. It came out in 1908, so some of the language is dated, although there is nothing offensive here. I think I needed to be a pre-teen girl to fully enjoy this book. There were certainly parts I did enjoy, but overall, I found the book more episodic than a real novel. That tends to happen to me when a novel covers such a span of time. Also, the events in the second half of the book got to be too much for me. Having said that, I can see the appeal. The characters definitely grew on me, and I laughed at various events along the way. I’m curious enough about what happens next that I might go on with the series.
ClareR (5991 KP) rated We Are Not Like Them in Books
Mar 28, 2022
We Are Not Like Them is a really timely novel about racism in America.
Jen (white) and Riley (black) have grown up together, and are like sisters. Colour has never been an issue between the two of them. But when Jen’s Police Officer husband is involved in the shooting of a black teenaged boy, and Riley is given the job of covering the story as a TV reporter, things become difficult and strained between them. Is their past enough to keep the friendship going? I did wonder on many occasions throughout the book.
Themes include racism, prejudice, white privilege and police brutality. It’s a pretty hard-hitting book, and could be set anywhere in the US at the moment. We have our own issues and institutional racism to deal with in the UK, and it was interesting to see how this panned out. I did think that Riley worried more about Jen. Jen was completely wrapped up in her own problems, using Riley as someone to lean on, whilst not being at all curious about Riley’s feelings on what had happened to the boy. But then, Jen has some pretty huge things going on in her life, too.
I can see this being an ideal book for a book club - so much is going on, there’s so much to unpick.
It’s a powerful novel. Recommended.
Jen (white) and Riley (black) have grown up together, and are like sisters. Colour has never been an issue between the two of them. But when Jen’s Police Officer husband is involved in the shooting of a black teenaged boy, and Riley is given the job of covering the story as a TV reporter, things become difficult and strained between them. Is their past enough to keep the friendship going? I did wonder on many occasions throughout the book.
Themes include racism, prejudice, white privilege and police brutality. It’s a pretty hard-hitting book, and could be set anywhere in the US at the moment. We have our own issues and institutional racism to deal with in the UK, and it was interesting to see how this panned out. I did think that Riley worried more about Jen. Jen was completely wrapped up in her own problems, using Riley as someone to lean on, whilst not being at all curious about Riley’s feelings on what had happened to the boy. But then, Jen has some pretty huge things going on in her life, too.
I can see this being an ideal book for a book club - so much is going on, there’s so much to unpick.
It’s a powerful novel. Recommended.
Merissa (13358 KP) rated Return of the Runaway Bride in Books
Jul 21, 2021 (Updated Jul 17, 2023)
RETURN OF THE RUNAWAY BRIDE is part of the Last Chance Beach Romance series but can also be read as a standalone. In this one, Emily left Chase at the altar five years ago but has now returned to try and mend bridges. Not only is it time, but she also needs to let her friends and family know what she's been up to as her novel is being made into a movie, and no one knows.
This is a well-paced novel that not only gives the reader what is going on now, but also allows them to catch up on what happened five years ago, and why. There is a good group of characters, both main and supporting, that help to move the storyline along.
The only problem I found was that sometimes the time would jump from one sentence to another. I found this to be slightly jolting but became accustomed to it as the author's writing style.
A great summer story about second-chance romance and recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 21, 2021
This is a well-paced novel that not only gives the reader what is going on now, but also allows them to catch up on what happened five years ago, and why. There is a good group of characters, both main and supporting, that help to move the storyline along.
The only problem I found was that sometimes the time would jump from one sentence to another. I found this to be slightly jolting but became accustomed to it as the author's writing style.
A great summer story about second-chance romance and recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 21, 2021
ClareR (5991 KP) rated A Passage North in Books
Jun 21, 2022
A Passage North is a book rich in the description of a journey from the capital of Sri Lanka (Colombo) to the Northern Province, which is still affected by the Civil War.
Krishnan is on his way to the funeral of his grandmothers carer and companion. She had returned to visit her daughter in the North, and had died after tripping, falling down a well and breaking her neck. However, after we learn some of her background, there is some doubt that it’s actually accident. Rani had suffered a great deal during the war, and had been left with mental health problems. Krishnan thinks about how her losses affected her life.
Krishnan has experienced loss as well. His father during the war, and the breakup of a significant relationship that he had whilst studying in India.
There’s no dialogue in this novel, it’s all Krishnan’s thoughts about his past and present and Rani’s past. When I started reading, I honestly didn’t think I’d enjoy this. But I was happily mistaken. I’ve never been to Sri Lanka, but it sounds beautiful. The funeral was moving and was a reminder of the deaths of many, many innocents during the civil war, and also those who survived them.
This is a powerful novel, that I still think about after reading it.
Krishnan is on his way to the funeral of his grandmothers carer and companion. She had returned to visit her daughter in the North, and had died after tripping, falling down a well and breaking her neck. However, after we learn some of her background, there is some doubt that it’s actually accident. Rani had suffered a great deal during the war, and had been left with mental health problems. Krishnan thinks about how her losses affected her life.
Krishnan has experienced loss as well. His father during the war, and the breakup of a significant relationship that he had whilst studying in India.
There’s no dialogue in this novel, it’s all Krishnan’s thoughts about his past and present and Rani’s past. When I started reading, I honestly didn’t think I’d enjoy this. But I was happily mistaken. I’ve never been to Sri Lanka, but it sounds beautiful. The funeral was moving and was a reminder of the deaths of many, many innocents during the civil war, and also those who survived them.
This is a powerful novel, that I still think about after reading it.
