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Kaz4ray (17 KP) rated The Wonder in Books

Feb 5, 2018 (Updated Feb 5, 2018)

The Wonder

Emma Donoghue | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry

8.3

(6 Ratings)

Book Rating

This book tells the story of a young girl who declares she no longer needs to be nourished by food. It is said that she hasn’t eaten for 4 months. The town committee employs two nurses, one a nun and the other a ‘professional’ trained by Florence Nightingale herself to mount a round the clock vigil for 14 days to ensure that no food is consumed by the girl and that she is telling the truth. This is set in a highly religious Ireland just after the potato famine. The towns people are very superstitious and are guided and influenced by the parish priest. No spoilers, but I didn’t expect the ending which for me is the sign of a good book. I empathised with the main characters and throughout the book changed my mind several times as to whether or not she was telling the truth. The book flowed really well and I enjoyed Emma Donaghue’s style of writing very much. I read it in one sitting.

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Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated The Trees in Books

Mar 15, 2018

The Trees

Ali Shaw | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry

5.0

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

There is no warning. No chance to prepare. The trees arrive in the night: thundering up through the ground, transforming streets and towns into shadowy forest.

When Adrien wakes to the thundering of trees coming up from the earth and destroying his home, he has no idea what happening, but neither does anybody else. Confused, scared and afraid, Adrien sets out to find some answers, primarily is his wife, in Ireland, still alive? On his journey he comes across nature lover Hannah and her teenage son Seb who group together to tackle what the forest holds.

The reviews plastered all over this book are what got me really excited about picking this up, talking about Hitchcock, Tarantino and McCarthy’s book The Road (which I haven’t read yet but am really looking forward to picking up), all appealed to me so much that I put Room down and bought this one instead (or, rather, my boyfriend bought it)...

Read my full review here: https://bookbumzuky.wordpress.com/2017/01/16/the-trees-by-ali-shaw/

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David McK (3587 KP) rated Warriors of the Storm in Books

Jan 28, 2019

Warriors of the Storm

Bernard Cornwell | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry

6.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Ninth(1) book in [a: Bernard Cornwell|12542|Bernard Cornwell|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1240500522p2/12542.jpg]'s Warrior Chronicles (or Saxon Stories, if you live in the U.S) series about the founding of England.

I don't think I'm giving anything away when I say that we're now (well) past the death of Alfred (the only English monarch to ever be given the epitaph 'the Great'), with Uhtred now in late middle-age (for us), and still eager to reclaim his ownership of Bebbanburg.

The novel, however, concerns itself more with raids made by Ragnall Iverson, with his motives initially unclear: does he come to rape and pillage? To attack Chester? To take control of the Danish kingdom of Northumbria?

Ragnall, however, is related to Uhtred through marriage, so his loyalties remain in doubt to the rulers of the land, with Uhtred eventually disobeying orders and sailing to Ireland (and back), for reasons that become clear in the plot.

Another strong entry in the series; perhaps not the strongest, but still pretty good.

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Merissa (13123 KP) rated Sinking (Sinking Trilogy #1) in Books

Dec 17, 2018

This is a Historical Young Adult Fantasy that starts off in Ireland, but travels to China and India. Jocelyn is washed up on the beach with no memories of her own. She is completely naked and clutching a locket. She is found by a lady, who decides that she will take the locket for herself as she orders her servants to take care of the girl.

As the story progresses, you learn more about Jocelyn at the same time as she learns about herself. She has two human men who show interest in her, but the ocean also speaks to her and she feels an amazing pull to return - to what or to whom, she doesn't know.

This story moves smoothly throughout, building to the cliffhanger ending that will leave you wanting to know more. This is a wonderful story of mermaids and magic with a historical twist. Recommended.

* I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!