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ClareR (6230 KP) rated The Hiding Game in Books
Sep 8, 2019 (Updated Sep 9, 2019)
A completely engrossing novel about Weimar, Bauhaus and complicated relationships
The Hiding Game is set mostly in the period between the two World Wars at the Bauhaus art school. This was a time of great change in Germany, both politically and artistically. Paul Beckermann starts his study at Bauhaus in 1922, and forms one of a group of six friends. He falls in love with the unobtainable Charlotte, a young woman from Czechoslovakia, but she loves Jenö, who in turn is loved by Paul’s best friend Walter. It seems like an impossible love triangle (or even a square?!). These strong feelings lead to betrayal in a time that it was very easy to utterly destroy lives. The six friends drift apart, mainly out of necessity (Bauhaus was not liked at all by the traditionalists in the National Socialist party), but also they just couldn’t be together anymore.
Paul, as an older man living in England, looks back at this period in his life and how it went tragically wrong. Not all of the six friends were as fortunate as he was.
It’s a heartbreaking and also a suspenseful novel. Someone with only a limited knowledge of this period will know of the kind of tragedy that could befall people then. Paul’s guilt and sadness are palpable throughout the book, and I really felt for him. This isn’t really a book where the characters find some sort of forgiveness for themselves - there is none to find. Terrible things happened, and the survivors had to find a way to live with themselves afterwards.
I loved the details about Bauhaus. I did some study on it during my German degree, and it filled in some gaps in my knowledge (there are quite a few gaps to fill when you did that degree 25 years ago!), and I’m always on the lookout for books set in Germany, especially those with a good helping of history (this has it in spades!). And for me, this really didn’t disappoint. I loved it, and I’ll be recommending it to friends (ex-German degree friends as well!).
Many thanks to NetGalley and Picador for my copy of this wonderful book.
Paul, as an older man living in England, looks back at this period in his life and how it went tragically wrong. Not all of the six friends were as fortunate as he was.
It’s a heartbreaking and also a suspenseful novel. Someone with only a limited knowledge of this period will know of the kind of tragedy that could befall people then. Paul’s guilt and sadness are palpable throughout the book, and I really felt for him. This isn’t really a book where the characters find some sort of forgiveness for themselves - there is none to find. Terrible things happened, and the survivors had to find a way to live with themselves afterwards.
I loved the details about Bauhaus. I did some study on it during my German degree, and it filled in some gaps in my knowledge (there are quite a few gaps to fill when you did that degree 25 years ago!), and I’m always on the lookout for books set in Germany, especially those with a good helping of history (this has it in spades!). And for me, this really didn’t disappoint. I loved it, and I’ll be recommending it to friends (ex-German degree friends as well!).
Many thanks to NetGalley and Picador for my copy of this wonderful book.
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This book held me in its spell from start to finish. Is that a bit too corny, considering it’s about witches? Actually, I don’t care, because it’s true!
It’s spellbinding, in fact.
Three generations of witches tell the stories of how they came into their power despite the interference of society and men (mainly men though 🤷🏼♀️).
In 1619, Altha Weyward is on trial for witchcraft, and whilst she’s in the towns prison she reminisces over her mother, her life before, everything she has learnt and the circumstances that led up to her incarceration. Altha had the knowledge needed to help people, but that same knowledge put her in danger from the church and general ignorance (and we can’t have women knowing more than men, can we!)
In 1942, Violet Ayres lives a very restricted life, tucked away from the rest of the world in her family home. She has only two clues about her heritage: her dead mothers locket with a “W” inscribed and the word “Weyward” scratched into the skirting board under her bed.
2019, Kate Ayres escapes a violent relationship in London and flees to Weyward cottage - the house her Aunt Violet had left her in her will. It’s a wild, unkempt, rundown house and garden, but it’s what Kate needs. She finds Altha’s diaries, some writings from Violet, and begins to learn about her true inheritance.
I just loved this book so much. Women taking control of their lives away from the men who would control them. Nature and magic is woven throughout, and nothing feels far-fetched or unbelievable.
I loved the alternating chapters between the three women, and this was probably the main reason why I couldn’t put it down. I needed to know what was going to happen to each of them next.
What more can I say? This WILL be high up in my favourite books this year. And to have read it in February!! How lucky am I!
I can’t wait to see what Emilia Hart writes next.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for my ebook copy of this book to read and review. Of course these are my own opinions!
It’s spellbinding, in fact.
Three generations of witches tell the stories of how they came into their power despite the interference of society and men (mainly men though 🤷🏼♀️).
In 1619, Altha Weyward is on trial for witchcraft, and whilst she’s in the towns prison she reminisces over her mother, her life before, everything she has learnt and the circumstances that led up to her incarceration. Altha had the knowledge needed to help people, but that same knowledge put her in danger from the church and general ignorance (and we can’t have women knowing more than men, can we!)
In 1942, Violet Ayres lives a very restricted life, tucked away from the rest of the world in her family home. She has only two clues about her heritage: her dead mothers locket with a “W” inscribed and the word “Weyward” scratched into the skirting board under her bed.
2019, Kate Ayres escapes a violent relationship in London and flees to Weyward cottage - the house her Aunt Violet had left her in her will. It’s a wild, unkempt, rundown house and garden, but it’s what Kate needs. She finds Altha’s diaries, some writings from Violet, and begins to learn about her true inheritance.
I just loved this book so much. Women taking control of their lives away from the men who would control them. Nature and magic is woven throughout, and nothing feels far-fetched or unbelievable.
I loved the alternating chapters between the three women, and this was probably the main reason why I couldn’t put it down. I needed to know what was going to happen to each of them next.
What more can I say? This WILL be high up in my favourite books this year. And to have read it in February!! How lucky am I!
I can’t wait to see what Emilia Hart writes next.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for my ebook copy of this book to read and review. Of course these are my own opinions!
Merissa (14013 KP) rated The Last Dragon Rider (The Wild Realms of Véneanár #1) in Books
Sep 21, 2017
The Last Dragon Rider (The Wild Realms of Véneanár #1) by Errin Krystal
The Last Dragon Rider starts off with a child being read a bedtime story. It quickly changes to become THE story, and you learn first-hand about the love between Flintathriël and Sairalindë. There is additional action, both of the battle and romantic kinds, between Flint's sister and the Captain of the special guard. Although this is only a short novel, you get a lot of background knowledge, but it isn't just 'info-dumped' on you. You find out more snippets as the story progresses, the characters develop, and situations turn tense.
This is very well written, with excellent descriptions throughout. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. The ending, whilst not expected, certainly left me wanting to know more. Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This is very well written, with excellent descriptions throughout. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. The ending, whilst not expected, certainly left me wanting to know more. Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Southern Today (21 KP) rated Pathfinder (2007) in Movies
Dec 26, 2017
This movie, staring Bones from the new Star Trek movies, follows a viking boy who was left behind in America and raised by natives 600 years before Columbus. 15 years later, and the vikings are back to try and settle America. And who else to fight them but another viking who has made these people his family?
Okay, I enjoyed this film but
A) it was very gorey
B) while the time line is linear because the environment is constantly changing it gets a little hard to follow
C)I see why this film, to my knowledge, wasn’t very popular when it came out in 2007. The pacing isn’t great for the average TV goer.
I am also unsure about how they portrayed vikings in this movie. Would they bring horses with them? Would they go to this extent when trying to settle a place by killing everyone and not taking any slaves?
The plot line was interesting if a bit slow, and if you enjoy fight scenes this could be a good movie for you.
Okay, I enjoyed this film but
A) it was very gorey
B) while the time line is linear because the environment is constantly changing it gets a little hard to follow
C)I see why this film, to my knowledge, wasn’t very popular when it came out in 2007. The pacing isn’t great for the average TV goer.
I am also unsure about how they portrayed vikings in this movie. Would they bring horses with them? Would they go to this extent when trying to settle a place by killing everyone and not taking any slaves?
The plot line was interesting if a bit slow, and if you enjoy fight scenes this could be a good movie for you.
E Riley (6 KP) rated The Kindness of Enemies in Books
Feb 7, 2019 (Updated Feb 9, 2019)
The older I become (currently 41) the more I clamour for knowledge so a book that allows a reader to experience learning as well as emotion and enjoyment comes high on my list.
The book skips between two time periods but is so well woven that it feels seamless - indeed as I found myself tiring of one character and keen to revisit another, I would turn the page and there they were.
Curiously there is much to dislike in the personalities and actions of the three main figures; their thought processes and choice of actions often unwise. And yet this is where the real strength of the book lays - to care for a protagonist enough to be disappointed in them is quite a feat, to be anxious of what they may do next and relieved, or not, at what they do.
A favourite for me (a white non-practicing Christian) was the opportunity to see into the Muslim religion from the viewpoint of many different people and points in history.
A book to own and lend.
The book skips between two time periods but is so well woven that it feels seamless - indeed as I found myself tiring of one character and keen to revisit another, I would turn the page and there they were.
Curiously there is much to dislike in the personalities and actions of the three main figures; their thought processes and choice of actions often unwise. And yet this is where the real strength of the book lays - to care for a protagonist enough to be disappointed in them is quite a feat, to be anxious of what they may do next and relieved, or not, at what they do.
A favourite for me (a white non-practicing Christian) was the opportunity to see into the Muslim religion from the viewpoint of many different people and points in history.
A book to own and lend.
Bubblesreview (110 KP) rated The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared in Books
Mar 13, 2019
Farcical (2 more)
Political and history based
Name dropping
Disappointing.
I really really really thought this was going to be a good book, a funny book, an adventurous book and I tried so hard to enjoy this... but it was so utterly boring and I really can't understand what the hype was about.
Some of the present day parts in it were admittedly funny... SOME. However, the majority of the book was about his past which involved too many very unlikely events and coincidences, too much name dropping of historical leaders and politics and wars and bla bla bla... If you want to learn about European history and gain some knowledge on some historical leaders and events then sure read this book, but I personally didn't pick this book up expecting to be in a history lesson. It got so unrealistic it wasn't even the slightest bit funny anymore, I just wanted it to end ? I can't say I'll put myself through watching the apparent 'major motion picture'.
Some of the present day parts in it were admittedly funny... SOME. However, the majority of the book was about his past which involved too many very unlikely events and coincidences, too much name dropping of historical leaders and politics and wars and bla bla bla... If you want to learn about European history and gain some knowledge on some historical leaders and events then sure read this book, but I personally didn't pick this book up expecting to be in a history lesson. It got so unrealistic it wasn't even the slightest bit funny anymore, I just wanted it to end ? I can't say I'll put myself through watching the apparent 'major motion picture'.