The Sun is Also a Star
8.5
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The New York Times and internationally bestselling love story from Nicola Yoon, author of...
Americanah
8.0
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SHORTLISTED FOR THE BAILEY'S WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2014. From the award-winning author of 'Half...
The Stranger
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'Immersive, gripping, will pull at your heartstrings' Gilly Macmillan, international bestselling...
The Raw Shark Texts
7.3
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Eric Sanderson wakes up in a house one day with no idea who or where he is. A note instructs him to...
The First Time I Saw You
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Beautifully observed, tender and genuinely funny' Josie Silver 'Funny, original storytelling, an...
The Authenticity Project
4.0
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"A story about a solitary green notebook that brings together six strangers and leads to unexpected...
Her Good Side
10.0
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Love this cover and I am so happy to have won a copy from bookish first to review. I used to play...
Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated The Miniaturist in Books
Mar 15, 2018
It fell short when it came to the Miniaturist story line. It feels like Burton began the book with this story in mind and as she continued to write forgot what it was she was supposed to be talking about and so began a new story and then was reminded right at the end of her original plot and lazily bought it all together.
I'm not normally a fan of books set from years ago, but the plot of this mysterious miniaturist intrigued me. As I went through I began to realise this story line was being forgotten and thought that maybe I would begin to grow bored of the story however I was extremely mistaken. I was so involved in the characters lives that I almost forgot about the miniaturist myself!
Burton pulls at heart strings with her characters and I can admit I did have a little cry to myself over this book. I fell in love Johannes, he was a good man who was trying his best to keep his unconventional family going and he did not deserve the fate that was brought to him.
I'd recommend this book to those who enjoy a long and fufilling read.
ClareR (5906 KP) rated The Penelopiad in Books
Apr 1, 2018
This is Penelope's side of the story, told by her and her 12 unfortunate handmaidens. It shows how men ruled all aspects of life, even when they disappeared on their adventures for 20 years.
It's a very theatrical retelling - the handmaidens deliver their chapters in poetry, song and little plays. Penelope has a very modern turn of phrase (let's just say that I don't picture an ancient Greek!), perhaps something she has learnt in the fields of Asphodel, perhaps!
Penelope comes across as very clever, cunning even. She distracts and holds off the attention of the many suitors who are sponging off her riches. She has no love for her cousin, Helen of Troy, either. She is to blame for Odysseus disappearing for 20 years, after all.
A funny, insightful retelling of Penelope's story, and the story of the injustice suffered by the 12 poor handmaidens. The men don't come out of this story at all well, by the way!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this.
Merissa (12963 KP) rated Concealed in Books
Oct 19, 2018
Lexi and Gavin's story is a Beauty and the Beast tale, with a vampirical twist. Not only are there vampires and courtesans in this story, but this vampire can also get sick. Sickness not crossing over to vampires is purely a myth. ? Gavin has his issues, Lexi has hers. You hope they will end up together, but the fun part is seeing just how they do.
This is a fast paced long-novella, with plenty of back history given at the right times - no info-dump here. The characters are nicely rounded out, and the situations believable. Going along with my experience of Rosalie Redd, there were no editing or grammatical errors in this story that disrupted my reading flow.
For the romantic, for those who love a good vampire story, I can highly recommend this!
* 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!