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Alice (117 KP) rated The Song of Achilles in Books
Mar 3, 2021
<blockquote>"I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world."</blockquote>
The vivid imagery encapsulates you inside it's pages and it is a true testament to the ten years that Madeline Miller spent writing this modern day retelling of one of the most famous stories ever told.
I had seen people praising this book for a long time and only now got round to finally seeing what all of the fuss was about and let me just say that it is well worth it. I can't remember the last time that a book made me feel like this, so beautiful in plot and in prose that it leaves you hanging on every last word. The intricacy and delicacy of the language makes even the most gruesome and explicit of scenes dance on the page and imprint themselves into your mind and will likely remain with you long after you've read the final page (which in my mind is one of the most beautiful parts of the whole book).
My emotions were stolen from me at every stage there's not one part which didn't have some sort of pull on my heartstrings although each very different.
In summary, I could be stabbed 700 times in the stomach and it still wouldn't be as painful as the song of achilles. Well done Madeline Miller, well done.
The vivid imagery encapsulates you inside it's pages and it is a true testament to the ten years that Madeline Miller spent writing this modern day retelling of one of the most famous stories ever told.
I had seen people praising this book for a long time and only now got round to finally seeing what all of the fuss was about and let me just say that it is well worth it. I can't remember the last time that a book made me feel like this, so beautiful in plot and in prose that it leaves you hanging on every last word. The intricacy and delicacy of the language makes even the most gruesome and explicit of scenes dance on the page and imprint themselves into your mind and will likely remain with you long after you've read the final page (which in my mind is one of the most beautiful parts of the whole book).
My emotions were stolen from me at every stage there's not one part which didn't have some sort of pull on my heartstrings although each very different.
In summary, I could be stabbed 700 times in the stomach and it still wouldn't be as painful as the song of achilles. Well done Madeline Miller, well done.
Wyatt (The Son Series Book Two)
Book
~Wyatt~ Something happened last year that changes how I approach my life. I told no one about it....
multicultural African American African-American Leanne Davis series Wyatt
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Lost (Jonah Colley #1) in Books
Nov 14, 2021
Oh my goodness!! This is one of my reads of 2021; it grabbed me round the neck from page 1 and didn't let go right to the very end.
This is one very, very clever and exceptionally good story that had me absolutely hooked from the beginning and devouring every page with a voracious appetite for more.
The characters are excellent, all of them have a part to play and all play it well. Of particular note are the main character of Jonah, who I quickly became attached to, and the investigating officer, DI Fletcher, who I quickly disliked (there's got to be a story there for a future book ?!?); I didn't feel there was one character that was surplus to requirements.
It's full of atmosphere, tension, suspense, anticipation and is totally gripping from the very start. I was desperate to find out if there was any connection to Jonah's missing son and the carnage Jonah discovers at the bleak Slaughter Quay and was extremely satisfied with the outcome and how it was reached.
I can't wait for the next instalment in this new series and have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this to lovers of crime thrillers but be warned, it is a difficult read in parts and there is violence and numerous scenes of peril so if you are of a nervous disposition, then this might not be the one for you but if not, go and buy it ... now!
Many, many thanks to Orion Publishing Group via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
This is one very, very clever and exceptionally good story that had me absolutely hooked from the beginning and devouring every page with a voracious appetite for more.
The characters are excellent, all of them have a part to play and all play it well. Of particular note are the main character of Jonah, who I quickly became attached to, and the investigating officer, DI Fletcher, who I quickly disliked (there's got to be a story there for a future book ?!?); I didn't feel there was one character that was surplus to requirements.
It's full of atmosphere, tension, suspense, anticipation and is totally gripping from the very start. I was desperate to find out if there was any connection to Jonah's missing son and the carnage Jonah discovers at the bleak Slaughter Quay and was extremely satisfied with the outcome and how it was reached.
I can't wait for the next instalment in this new series and have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this to lovers of crime thrillers but be warned, it is a difficult read in parts and there is violence and numerous scenes of peril so if you are of a nervous disposition, then this might not be the one for you but if not, go and buy it ... now!
Many, many thanks to Orion Publishing Group via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
Merissa (12919 KP) rated Unapologetically Me (Offbeat Shifters #3) in Books
Mar 25, 2021 (Updated Aug 2, 2023)
UNAPOLOGETICALLY ME is the third book in the Offbeat Shifters series, but the first one of Charlie and Austin. Charlie was the unreliable pop Divo, who wouldn't take any nonsense, and Austin was Jesse's dad, who made more than a few mistakes when raising his son. This is their story.
And what a story it is!!! I really enjoyed Jesse and Isaac, I did. But these two, wow! I loved their story. It made me smile, it made me laugh, and it also made me cry. I NEED their happy ending! Part of what I loved though, was seeing Jesse and Isaac with the twins, through Austin's eyes, and seeing how he felt about his past.
This is an incredibly well-written story, that has an open ending designed to leave you hanging on for the next book, which I need, like yesterday! The characters are all amazing, with their own interests and foibles to make them more 'human'. I loved how Charlie bakes when he's stressed! And I do so love a flapjack.
This really is a fantastic addition to the series, and I can't wait for more. It was brilliant seeing Jesse and Isaac again, but now I need to know Austin and Charlie get their HEA!
* 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!
Mar 25, 2021
And what a story it is!!! I really enjoyed Jesse and Isaac, I did. But these two, wow! I loved their story. It made me smile, it made me laugh, and it also made me cry. I NEED their happy ending! Part of what I loved though, was seeing Jesse and Isaac with the twins, through Austin's eyes, and seeing how he felt about his past.
This is an incredibly well-written story, that has an open ending designed to leave you hanging on for the next book, which I need, like yesterday! The characters are all amazing, with their own interests and foibles to make them more 'human'. I loved how Charlie bakes when he's stressed! And I do so love a flapjack.
This really is a fantastic addition to the series, and I can't wait for more. It was brilliant seeing Jesse and Isaac again, but now I need to know Austin and Charlie get their HEA!
* 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!
Mar 25, 2021
I don't know why, but for some reason I've never really taken to Stephen King's novels all that much.
I don't know whether that's because he's best known as a horror writer (with that being my least favourite genre), or whether because as a UK native I don't have quite the same cultural touchstones as King himself (or other American readers/writers), but there you have it.
(And, as an aside, I find that date format of 11.22.63 to be very disconcerting - I'm more used to dd/mm/yy i.e. 22/11/63 instead of 11.22.63)
Anyway, with all that said, I decided to give this a chance after it was recommended to me by a friend as 'a bit like Quantum Leap. I would have thought it was right up your street' (and I'm paraphrasing there somewhat).
I can see where he was coming from - this is a time travel novel, after all, here dealing with the JFK assassination - with the hero of the piece out to stop that assassination after finding a 'wormhole' back in time to the late 1950s.
Now that I've read it, I can say that it is definitely immersive with some solid world building, but boy does the middle section draaagggg: I was tempted, at one point, to just skip forward a good chunk (I didn't) to see if anything of note would happen ...
In short? Enjoyable enough, yes, but not enough to make me want to change my outlook on other King novels.
I don't know whether that's because he's best known as a horror writer (with that being my least favourite genre), or whether because as a UK native I don't have quite the same cultural touchstones as King himself (or other American readers/writers), but there you have it.
(And, as an aside, I find that date format of 11.22.63 to be very disconcerting - I'm more used to dd/mm/yy i.e. 22/11/63 instead of 11.22.63)
Anyway, with all that said, I decided to give this a chance after it was recommended to me by a friend as 'a bit like Quantum Leap. I would have thought it was right up your street' (and I'm paraphrasing there somewhat).
I can see where he was coming from - this is a time travel novel, after all, here dealing with the JFK assassination - with the hero of the piece out to stop that assassination after finding a 'wormhole' back in time to the late 1950s.
Now that I've read it, I can say that it is definitely immersive with some solid world building, but boy does the middle section draaagggg: I was tempted, at one point, to just skip forward a good chunk (I didn't) to see if anything of note would happen ...
In short? Enjoyable enough, yes, but not enough to make me want to change my outlook on other King novels.
Brutal Reign (Shadow Heirs #5)
6.0
Rate It
Book
Both of us loved River Jacobsen, and both of us were bound to lose everything if we acted on it. So,...
Cassie Osbourne (6 KP) rated The Toymaker in Books
Nov 9, 2018
As a kid who was into books with a dark, almost gothic feel to them when I picked this up at the age of thirteen I really loved it. What wasn't to like? Very creepy cover, exciting concepts, dark scenes and mortal peril - it had all of those boxes ticked. Yes, I can safely say that teenage me thought this book was excellent. So when I found this book under my bed a few weeks ago, I decided to give the book another read to see if it was as good as I remembered.
Sadly it wasn't. Don't get me wrong, this is still a good book (although three stars it is the higher end) but reading it eight years on there are particular aspects of this book that my adult brain has picked out more than my teen one.
The characters are alright; I suppose, but they are incredibly simplistic with very little character development. Katta (a joint protagonist with Mathias) is the only character who feels like she could be more interesting and have a little more about her than the rest, but I was still very unsure about whether I liked her or not (and the way she speaks really annoyed me). I would also have liked to see some more complex relationships - especially between Koenig and Stefan and Katta and Stefan (whose relationship was a very simplistic 'I hate you because of X' but nothing beyond that so got quite boring after a while). However, this is a kid's/young teen's book and didn't bother me too much when I first read it so I guess I can cut it a little slack.
The atmosphere was the thing that I most remembered this book for (there still being a couple of chapters fixed in my mind for how creepy they were), and I'm glad to say that this really held up. The book is dark most of the way through, and the sections/chapters where de Quidt really sees how dark he can be are the best and most memorable parts of the book. Any chapter with Marguerite is brilliant and I absolutely loved the carnival sections. Any bit where it's just Katta on her own away from the rest of the group is really dark (a little seedy perhaps) and just great. The one thing that is perhaps a little too far for me personally is the very vivid and graphic descriptions of the injuries/wounds (and there are a lot) and how they feel which, for someone like me who is a bit squeamish, can be a bit much. It was really nice that the thing that I most remembered the book for is still as great as when I first read it.
For the most part, the writing style is good. There are, however, occasional moments when the wording/phrasing and punctuation are a bit off or clunky. This makes it quite confusing at times and is a little distracting but I think this might be a translation (maybe) so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. This is the only thing that I can really remember bugging me when I was thirteen.
The plot is pretty good for what it is (four people solving a mystery about a blank piece of paper while villains follow and try to stop them) but I felt like this was more a sort of vehicle for creating a creepy atmosphere, which is no bad thing really. I have to say that when I found the book after so many years, I honestly couldn't remember the plot and I daresay I'll have forgotten it again in a few months time.
The intrigue with which this book grips the reader is, in no small part, down to the atmosphere that is created. I am someone who gets distracted very quickly, especially when reading, but when I picked this book up, I would find myself not able to put it down unless I was called away from it or found that it was 1 am and I should probably get some sleep. This is an excellent sign in any book but especially one aimed at teenagers.
The logic in 'The Toymaker' is hit and miss at best. The characters are wounded for what seems like forever but they don't really succumb to them apart from getting a little paler and being in pain most of the time. There are also lots of things that are not explained or just flat out make no sense. Yes, there is a bit of magic in the story but there still has to be some kind of logic or explanation for it rather than it being used as a kind of jarring deus ex machina to quickly (and a bit clumsily and lazily) move the story along. I can't really say whether or not this bothered me when I read it eight years ago because it's all tied up with the plot and, like I said earlier, I didn't really remember much of it.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. I enjoyed delving back into Jeremy de Quidt's dark and creepy world and it was great revisiting, what I call, a nostalgia read but I think that now it is time to give my copy to a charity shop so another younger teenager can find and enjoy it while it's space on my bookshelf can be given to a book that I will enjoy as an adult.
Characters: 5.5/10
Atmosphere: 9/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Plot: 6/10
Intrigue: 8/10
Logic: 4.5/10
Enjoyment: 7/10
Sadly it wasn't. Don't get me wrong, this is still a good book (although three stars it is the higher end) but reading it eight years on there are particular aspects of this book that my adult brain has picked out more than my teen one.
The characters are alright; I suppose, but they are incredibly simplistic with very little character development. Katta (a joint protagonist with Mathias) is the only character who feels like she could be more interesting and have a little more about her than the rest, but I was still very unsure about whether I liked her or not (and the way she speaks really annoyed me). I would also have liked to see some more complex relationships - especially between Koenig and Stefan and Katta and Stefan (whose relationship was a very simplistic 'I hate you because of X' but nothing beyond that so got quite boring after a while). However, this is a kid's/young teen's book and didn't bother me too much when I first read it so I guess I can cut it a little slack.
The atmosphere was the thing that I most remembered this book for (there still being a couple of chapters fixed in my mind for how creepy they were), and I'm glad to say that this really held up. The book is dark most of the way through, and the sections/chapters where de Quidt really sees how dark he can be are the best and most memorable parts of the book. Any chapter with Marguerite is brilliant and I absolutely loved the carnival sections. Any bit where it's just Katta on her own away from the rest of the group is really dark (a little seedy perhaps) and just great. The one thing that is perhaps a little too far for me personally is the very vivid and graphic descriptions of the injuries/wounds (and there are a lot) and how they feel which, for someone like me who is a bit squeamish, can be a bit much. It was really nice that the thing that I most remembered the book for is still as great as when I first read it.
For the most part, the writing style is good. There are, however, occasional moments when the wording/phrasing and punctuation are a bit off or clunky. This makes it quite confusing at times and is a little distracting but I think this might be a translation (maybe) so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. This is the only thing that I can really remember bugging me when I was thirteen.
The plot is pretty good for what it is (four people solving a mystery about a blank piece of paper while villains follow and try to stop them) but I felt like this was more a sort of vehicle for creating a creepy atmosphere, which is no bad thing really. I have to say that when I found the book after so many years, I honestly couldn't remember the plot and I daresay I'll have forgotten it again in a few months time.
The intrigue with which this book grips the reader is, in no small part, down to the atmosphere that is created. I am someone who gets distracted very quickly, especially when reading, but when I picked this book up, I would find myself not able to put it down unless I was called away from it or found that it was 1 am and I should probably get some sleep. This is an excellent sign in any book but especially one aimed at teenagers.
The logic in 'The Toymaker' is hit and miss at best. The characters are wounded for what seems like forever but they don't really succumb to them apart from getting a little paler and being in pain most of the time. There are also lots of things that are not explained or just flat out make no sense. Yes, there is a bit of magic in the story but there still has to be some kind of logic or explanation for it rather than it being used as a kind of jarring deus ex machina to quickly (and a bit clumsily and lazily) move the story along. I can't really say whether or not this bothered me when I read it eight years ago because it's all tied up with the plot and, like I said earlier, I didn't really remember much of it.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. I enjoyed delving back into Jeremy de Quidt's dark and creepy world and it was great revisiting, what I call, a nostalgia read but I think that now it is time to give my copy to a charity shop so another younger teenager can find and enjoy it while it's space on my bookshelf can be given to a book that I will enjoy as an adult.
Characters: 5.5/10
Atmosphere: 9/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Plot: 6/10
Intrigue: 8/10
Logic: 4.5/10
Enjoyment: 7/10
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Robert is an ex-FBI agent who's now the VP of Security for a foreign market firm in NYC. On September 11, 2001, he finds himself in side one of the Twin Towers as they are attacked, and he helps guide people down the stairs to safety. He's hailed as a hero, even has his picture shown all of the media, but this is just the start of a major turn of events for him.
All Robert wants to do is move past that day, but nobody will let him. Not even himself, considering he's now found himself infatuated with a woman he helped that day. She's half his age, has two kids, and he's married, for Christ's sake, but that doesn't stop the growing bond between them. How will all these new feelings affect Robert, especially when, whether he wants to admit it or not, he's still dealing with the stress of the attacks?
I must say, this story provides an insightful perspective on September 11th, as you get to see it through the eyes of someone who was not only there, but who also had to deal with the constant praise and pats on the back, even though so many others died around him. Not to mention, it's the start of what is probably a mid-life crisis; probably not such a great time to have it. The characters are interesting, as is the story, and you can definitely tell when Robert's starting to crack under everything going on. An interesting read, and I look forward to other works by this author.
4 stars
Robert is an ex-FBI agent who's now the VP of Security for a foreign market firm in NYC. On September 11, 2001, he finds himself in side one of the Twin Towers as they are attacked, and he helps guide people down the stairs to safety. He's hailed as a hero, even has his picture shown all of the media, but this is just the start of a major turn of events for him.
All Robert wants to do is move past that day, but nobody will let him. Not even himself, considering he's now found himself infatuated with a woman he helped that day. She's half his age, has two kids, and he's married, for Christ's sake, but that doesn't stop the growing bond between them. How will all these new feelings affect Robert, especially when, whether he wants to admit it or not, he's still dealing with the stress of the attacks?
I must say, this story provides an insightful perspective on September 11th, as you get to see it through the eyes of someone who was not only there, but who also had to deal with the constant praise and pats on the back, even though so many others died around him. Not to mention, it's the start of what is probably a mid-life crisis; probably not such a great time to have it. The characters are interesting, as is the story, and you can definitely tell when Robert's starting to crack under everything going on. An interesting read, and I look forward to other works by this author.
4 stars
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Heaven's Gate (1980) in Movies
Sep 1, 2018
Masterpiece or disaster? I think a little of both.
The controversy around the production, editing, release and financial and critical disaster around Heaven's Gate is long over now. The destruction of director Michael Cimino's career and the almost bankruptcy of United Artists over this film are several of the endless stories you can read about surrounding this western epic, but now it is 38 years later. How does the film stand up?
I'd say pretty darn well.
The essential story is a semi love triangle between a rich sheriff, a lawless brute and a prostitute/madam set against the American west in 1880s Wyoming. The story involves the decision by the government to kill anyone stealing cattle for their own purposes even if it is only to feed their starving family. (Kind of hard to explain). The main characters have to decide which side they are on for the slowly building eventual bloodbath standoff climax.
I had always heard about the film and it's extremes, including its length of almost 4 hours, but had not seen until today.
The movie does quite a bit right, but the shining star is the sprawling vistas depicting the American west including Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. Cimino filmed extensively during the "magic hour" meaning he could only film for a few minutes per day during that few minute period between sunset and night.
The film does go on a bit long, but the payoff is worth the wait and I would still highly recommend any film fan give it a try. You will not be disappointed.
I'd say pretty darn well.
The essential story is a semi love triangle between a rich sheriff, a lawless brute and a prostitute/madam set against the American west in 1880s Wyoming. The story involves the decision by the government to kill anyone stealing cattle for their own purposes even if it is only to feed their starving family. (Kind of hard to explain). The main characters have to decide which side they are on for the slowly building eventual bloodbath standoff climax.
I had always heard about the film and it's extremes, including its length of almost 4 hours, but had not seen until today.
The movie does quite a bit right, but the shining star is the sprawling vistas depicting the American west including Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. Cimino filmed extensively during the "magic hour" meaning he could only film for a few minutes per day during that few minute period between sunset and night.
The film does go on a bit long, but the payoff is worth the wait and I would still highly recommend any film fan give it a try. You will not be disappointed.
LilyLovesIndie (123 KP) rated Little Town on the Prairie (Little House, #7) in Books
Nov 5, 2018
I must say that this book was so markedly better than the last one that I have my faith fully restored in the Little House series and is easily one of my favourites so far.
This book covers quite a large spell of time and gives a lovely insight to the life in the town that the Ingalls family have to spend half the year in to avoid being caught out by a bad winter that never seems to materialise. It follows Laura developing into a lovely young lady, her attachment to Almanzo deepens and she finally gets her teaching certificate. Meanwhile, Carrie and Grace continue to develop into sweet girls and Mary finally gets a chance to go to college, a heartwarming piece of good news for the family.
The book is a great improvement on the last one, the writing and flow is much more established, characters are much easier to relate to and also have a greater depth. Grace and Carrie are no longer minor characters mentioned by name only, they are now properly part of the family and as a result the story, adding a much needed new element to the family now that Mary has gone.
I thoroughly enjoyed the growing attentions of Almanzo Wilder. They were a delight to read and it is so touching to see Laura getting what would seem to be the perfect life for her, and the perfect man! I can't wait to see how this develops in the final two books, it would be so lovely to see them all get the happiness they so deserve after fighting for so long.
This book covers quite a large spell of time and gives a lovely insight to the life in the town that the Ingalls family have to spend half the year in to avoid being caught out by a bad winter that never seems to materialise. It follows Laura developing into a lovely young lady, her attachment to Almanzo deepens and she finally gets her teaching certificate. Meanwhile, Carrie and Grace continue to develop into sweet girls and Mary finally gets a chance to go to college, a heartwarming piece of good news for the family.
The book is a great improvement on the last one, the writing and flow is much more established, characters are much easier to relate to and also have a greater depth. Grace and Carrie are no longer minor characters mentioned by name only, they are now properly part of the family and as a result the story, adding a much needed new element to the family now that Mary has gone.
I thoroughly enjoyed the growing attentions of Almanzo Wilder. They were a delight to read and it is so touching to see Laura getting what would seem to be the perfect life for her, and the perfect man! I can't wait to see how this develops in the final two books, it would be so lovely to see them all get the happiness they so deserve after fighting for so long.