Search

Search only in certain items:

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
J.K. Rowling | 2014 | Children, Fiction & Poetry
5
9.1 (271 Ratings)
Book Rating
Originality (0 more)
Style of writing (0 more)
Ok
I must be one of only people in the world that didn't really enjoy the book. When I first read it I really struggled to get past the first couple of chapters as I just couldn't get on with the style of writing and felt that there were so many other better books that I could be reading (I was very much into epic fantasy authors at the time and was reading Trudi Canavan). I tried it again when I was older and did end up finishing it this time around but I still only thought it was ok and could have done with being edited another time or two before publishing it.

I thought that the premise was really interesting and the world was well constructed but it didn't seem to flow as well as I thought it could have, some of the characters were very 2 dimensional and some of the events didn't really seem to be necessary for the progression of the story.

Overall, it wasn't a bad book but I just didn't enjoy it.
  
The Wrong Side of Right (Grey Areas #3)
The Wrong Side of Right (Grey Areas #3)
Brad Carl | 2015 | Contemporary, Crime, Romance, Thriller
9
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
The third book of the four part saga continues directly from the shattering events of the second and doesn't let up on the pace, or the twists.

Barrett Grayson is in custody, awaiting his long avoided FBI interview. But all he wants to do is get home to see his father before he dies. Meanwhile Sergeant Jackson's deal with the cartel means that someone is going to pay a heavy price.

The story follows all the protagonists from the saga as they each face their own struggles and make their own choices - for good or bad. As with the saga as a whole the writing is gripping and intense. There are many different plot strands interwoven here from police procedural to romance but each one is given time and space to develop and the reader is drawn into each one and pulled along.

As with the other books, the writing is superb. I would strongly recommend the Grey Areas saga to anyone. It is an extremely accomplished work of fiction.
  
Going into this book, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to get into it or not. I haven't actually read Ronan Farrow's articles in general, so I didn't know how his writing style was. Journalistic writing is sometimes hit or miss in book form.

Honestly, now I'll read his articles. This book encompassed the Weinstein scandal, and other creeps like him. It was thorough, and engaging throughout. In the author's note, it is stated that the violence these women were subjected to was presented exactly how they told it, with all the details. My stomach hurt after reading the descriptions, and I read very violent Nordic Noir novels. I like being presented with everything, so while it made my stomach hurt, I feel like it was all completely necessary as part of this story.

I also really liked his journey to get this published, and now... honestly, I don't even want to watch NBC News (as I sit here watching Dateline).

This is, by far, one of the best books that I've read this year.