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Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Naïve. Super in Books
Aug 27, 2017
Can't empathise with main character, seems a bit pointless
This is one of those random quirky Scandinavian books that leaves you scratching your head, asking what was the real point of it. The book called "Super naive" pretty much sums up the main character, a 25-year-old university dropout who is contemplating the meaning of life. He seems to have some difficulty grasping his existence and time, coping by playing ball and using a hammering toy to stay calm. I felt his sense of privilege made him slightly irritating, jetsetting, buying cars on a whim - you can't really sympathise with his plight, he just seems like a layabout. But I think he had some underlying mental health issue that was never explored. There could be a translation issue causing it to lose its original tone.
April Rose Mossow (93 KP) rated Garden of Shadows (Dollanganger, #5) in Books
May 20, 2019
I just love how V.C. Andrews delves into her characters deepest buried demons, and explains what brought them to become who they are. I don't fault Olivia as much as I did when reading FitA. I still think she should have opened up to he children though. Also, They focus too much on the old testament in these books. Peoples love for god was out of fear not love. Had they kept faith in mind and left gods wrath aside it would have turned out differently, I think. But then again, the read would not have been as good. You really pity Olivia after reading this book. On a side note, I gave this book 3 stars because it dragged in some places and I would have liked to read more about Corrine's youth, not just the basic stuff.
Milleen (47 KP) rated How to Stop Time in Books
Nov 14, 2018
Matt Haig has written a variety of books for children and adults as well as a memoir that topped the bestseller list for almost a year. Now he has delved back into adult fiction and delivered a delightful novel that will leave you pondering. Tom Hazard may look like an ordinary 41-year-old, but owing to a rare condition, he's been aging slowly over centuries. From Elizabethan England to 1920s Paris and further afield, Tom is forced to change his identity to stay alive. He is forced to abide by one rule, to not fall in love. Tom finally gets the ‘ordinary’ life he craves and finds work as a history teacher in a modern London comprehensive but how much longer can he keep this secret? ‘How to Stop Time’ is a bittersweet story about life, loss and change.
Gripping Scandinavian Crime
This is Dean's second novel featuring reporter Tuva Moodyson.
Set in the northerly town of Gravik, death arrives in the shape of suicide: the owner of the town's main employer - a liqourice factory - throws himself to his death one morning.
It's solid piece of crime fiction with a plot that weaves around and throws out plenty of misdirection, keeping the reader on their puzzle-solving toes.
What gives this book edge is the characters. Dean has delivered some of the most believable female characters I have ever read, and chief amongst them is Cece. That old woman is an absolute delight and should have books all of her own. I don't know if she is modelled on a flesh and blood person, but Will gets full marks just for writing her in.
Set in the northerly town of Gravik, death arrives in the shape of suicide: the owner of the town's main employer - a liqourice factory - throws himself to his death one morning.
It's solid piece of crime fiction with a plot that weaves around and throws out plenty of misdirection, keeping the reader on their puzzle-solving toes.
What gives this book edge is the characters. Dean has delivered some of the most believable female characters I have ever read, and chief amongst them is Cece. That old woman is an absolute delight and should have books all of her own. I don't know if she is modelled on a flesh and blood person, but Will gets full marks just for writing her in.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Three Things About Elsie in Books
Dec 26, 2018
A heartwarming read
My manager gave me this book to try out as she really enjoyed it, and as it turns out I really enjoyed it too, despite never having heard of it before.
This is a very heartwarming and slightly poignant tale of Florence and her past, seen through the eyes of a number of different characters. The plot itself is interesting and very written, it gets very confused at times - but then considering Florence’s mental state, this is kind of the point. It’s a very easy read and one that keeps you gripped. The ending itself for me wasn’t entirely unpredictable, probably because I’ve read too many books myself, but despite this it was still a very satisfying ending. This is an excellent venture into old age, dementia and memory and a very good read.
This is a very heartwarming and slightly poignant tale of Florence and her past, seen through the eyes of a number of different characters. The plot itself is interesting and very written, it gets very confused at times - but then considering Florence’s mental state, this is kind of the point. It’s a very easy read and one that keeps you gripped. The ending itself for me wasn’t entirely unpredictable, probably because I’ve read too many books myself, but despite this it was still a very satisfying ending. This is an excellent venture into old age, dementia and memory and a very good read.
saheffernan (157 KP) rated All the Ugly and Wonderful Things in Books
Jan 17, 2019
All time favorite book
Contains spoilers, click to show
Beautiful, honest, heart breaking. If you want to understand someone who grew up living with a mentally unstable drug addict parent or two this is the book you should read. This book shows all the ugly underbelly of living life like that and anyone who hasn't had to live like that should thank their lucky stars. I know many people despise and feel very much like Brenda does about Wavy's relationship with Kellen. Wavy was more mature then her mother and father so to say that she wasn't old enough to make that decision is taking Wavy's power away from her. She was smart, willful and she knew exactly what she was doing. Anyone who truly understands this story will understand their relationship. This will be one of my all time favorite books.
ClareR (5879 KP) rated There But for the in Books
Dec 21, 2018
There but for the.....
I don't know what it is about Ali Smith's books, but whatever it is, it keeps me coming back for more. Is it the wit? Because there's plenty of that in here. Perhaps it's the way that she looks at people's lives? Because she writes from a female child's perspective as well as a 59 year old gay man's and an elderly woman's with equal believability.
And let's face it - who hasn't wanted to walk upstairs and shut the door on the world from time to time? That's what Miles does in this book. His actions affect not just the homeowners, but also those in the wider world: neighbours, friends and complete strangers who feel that they understand his motivations (or they don't understand them, but they feel they should support him).
I loved this book.
And let's face it - who hasn't wanted to walk upstairs and shut the door on the world from time to time? That's what Miles does in this book. His actions affect not just the homeowners, but also those in the wider world: neighbours, friends and complete strangers who feel that they understand his motivations (or they don't understand them, but they feel they should support him).
I loved this book.
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