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ClareR (5779 KP) rated Nasty Little Cuts in Books
Feb 24, 2022
I learnt a new phrase today: Domestic Noir. My ignorance is probably down to the fact that I would never normally read a book in this category. I’d avoid it. I’m glad that I didn’t let it put me off this time though, and after reading Tina’s previous book ‘Call Me Mummy’, I knew that I was going to be in for one hell of a good read.
This book is phenomenal. It’s read-it-thorough-your-fingers-with-your-eyes-shut kind of phenomenal.
Reading it on The Pigeonhole, one stave a day for 10 days was a feat of endurance - the wait between staves was tortuous. This is NOT an easy read, and should probably come with some sort of trigger warning. It’s dark, emotional, visceral. It’s violent and frankly traumatic.
Debs and Marc should probably have never got together, never mind got married and had children. They’re both emotionally scarred from terrible childhoods and have never confronted, or been treated for, these psychological and physical injuries. And now they just seem to vent their feelings on one another with physical violence.
There’s loads of backstory that explains why they are in their current predicament, and honestly, I did feel some sympathy for them. But then, and Tina Baker does this so well, she gives with one hand, and snatches away with the other. Every past revelation of abuse or trauma, is bookended by domestic violence.
Honestly, it sounds horrendous, doesn’t it? But I couldn’t stop reading. As I said on The Pigeonhole: What a reading experience this has been. I’ll leave a review, but what can I say that will do this book justice?
Well, I can say this: Read It.
This book is phenomenal. It’s read-it-thorough-your-fingers-with-your-eyes-shut kind of phenomenal.
Reading it on The Pigeonhole, one stave a day for 10 days was a feat of endurance - the wait between staves was tortuous. This is NOT an easy read, and should probably come with some sort of trigger warning. It’s dark, emotional, visceral. It’s violent and frankly traumatic.
Debs and Marc should probably have never got together, never mind got married and had children. They’re both emotionally scarred from terrible childhoods and have never confronted, or been treated for, these psychological and physical injuries. And now they just seem to vent their feelings on one another with physical violence.
There’s loads of backstory that explains why they are in their current predicament, and honestly, I did feel some sympathy for them. But then, and Tina Baker does this so well, she gives with one hand, and snatches away with the other. Every past revelation of abuse or trauma, is bookended by domestic violence.
Honestly, it sounds horrendous, doesn’t it? But I couldn’t stop reading. As I said on The Pigeonhole: What a reading experience this has been. I’ll leave a review, but what can I say that will do this book justice?
Well, I can say this: Read It.
Book Divas (227 KP) rated Queen of Someday (Stolen Empire, #1) in Books
Dec 12, 2017
What an impressive start to a series that many have already read. What rock had I been living under is what I'm asking myself?! I was so enraptured with this book that I read it all in one sitting. There are moments were I want to slap Sophie across the face because she is a strong female but she seems to forget that at times and behaves like an impudent child but overall her character is simply amazing.
Peter is definitely a young man who should have been swatted across his bum the minute he started misbehaving because then maybe now he would be a different type of man but unfortunately he was coddled.
The author's writing style puts you right smack in the center of it all and you feel as if you are there witnessing it all as it occurs. I simply cannot wait for the next book to arrive in the mail.
Peter is definitely a young man who should have been swatted across his bum the minute he started misbehaving because then maybe now he would be a different type of man but unfortunately he was coddled.
The author's writing style puts you right smack in the center of it all and you feel as if you are there witnessing it all as it occurs. I simply cannot wait for the next book to arrive in the mail.
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Iron House in Books
Jan 15, 2018
First off I have to admit that I wasn't at all sure whether or not to read this book. I read Hart's The Lost Child. I thought it was just okay, but not exactly my thing. A friend won Iron House on Goodreads & offered me the book when she'd finished it. I can now say that I am VERY glad she did!
This book was much more satisfying than The Lost Child! The characters were very well developed & seemed to me to be much deeper & less predictable. The plot was still very dark which seems to be a Hart trademark, but the story was engrossing. It tore at your heart, but managed to gross you out & keep you on the edge of you seat at the same time. All the hallmarks of a great book in my eyes.
I don't know what the future will bring, but for me I sure hope John Hart continues writing in the style of Iron House. It was a winner!!!
This book was much more satisfying than The Lost Child! The characters were very well developed & seemed to me to be much deeper & less predictable. The plot was still very dark which seems to be a Hart trademark, but the story was engrossing. It tore at your heart, but managed to gross you out & keep you on the edge of you seat at the same time. All the hallmarks of a great book in my eyes.
I don't know what the future will bring, but for me I sure hope John Hart continues writing in the style of Iron House. It was a winner!!!
Sarah (7799 KP) rated Notes on a Nervous Planet in Books
Apr 27, 2020
Nothing but the truth
After having read Matt Haig's previous book Reasons to Stay Alive, this was a future recommendation to try and considering the current climate in the world right now, it seemed like a wise choice!
This is definitely very relevant to today's society and it really is fascinating. Nothing Haig says in this is particularly surprising - it's all really just plain and simple common sense - and this is my sole criticism. However it's well written, engaging and full of interesting and intriguing facts. It really is the truth about modern society and it's all rather scary. And worst of all its depressing how true this is. This is a wonderfully straight and open commentary on modern life and it's refreshing to read something so brutally honest.
This has definitely made me think again about all of my social media usage and reading news apps. It really isnt helpful for your mental health!
This is definitely very relevant to today's society and it really is fascinating. Nothing Haig says in this is particularly surprising - it's all really just plain and simple common sense - and this is my sole criticism. However it's well written, engaging and full of interesting and intriguing facts. It really is the truth about modern society and it's all rather scary. And worst of all its depressing how true this is. This is a wonderfully straight and open commentary on modern life and it's refreshing to read something so brutally honest.
This has definitely made me think again about all of my social media usage and reading news apps. It really isnt helpful for your mental health!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2269 KP) rated Halloween Hoedowns Can be Deadly in Books
Nov 1, 2022
That Corpse Isn’t a Decoration
New friends Levi Blue, a former tween actor, and Sho Tanaka, a disgraced nurse, are helping out at a Halloween hoedown in town. However, things take an unexpected turn when they find the dead body of the town’s librarian in a trunk. Since it’s doubtful she crawled in by herself, can the dynamic duo figure out what happened to her?
When this author crossed my radar a couple of weeks ago, I decided to read this short story right away since it fit the season. I’m so glad I did. While it may be a short story, it is packed with fun. I laughed multiple times, and at one scene in particular. I really liked the characters, and they felt strong even though this was a short story. And the plot was good with a nice twist and a great use of clues. I read it in under an hour, and now I can’t wait to see Levi and Sho again.
When this author crossed my radar a couple of weeks ago, I decided to read this short story right away since it fit the season. I’m so glad I did. While it may be a short story, it is packed with fun. I laughed multiple times, and at one scene in particular. I really liked the characters, and they felt strong even though this was a short story. And the plot was good with a nice twist and a great use of clues. I read it in under an hour, and now I can’t wait to see Levi and Sho again.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Cut in Books
Jul 24, 2022
129 of 230
Book
Cut
By Marc Raabe
⭐️⭐️⭐️
The serial killer thriller that took Europe by storm.
At 11 years old, Gabriel Naumann is witness to a horrific crime. Twenty-nine years later his girlfriend is taken. Then the messages begin. 'If you want to find her, then you'll have to find me.'
Somebody knows the truth. Somebody knows what he did. And now his girlfriend will pay for it - unless he can find her in time. When you've spent decades running from your past, what do you do when it finally catches up with you?
This was an enticing cover!
I was told how gory and scary this book was and I was kinda expecting more! It was a good read but just that a good read. When I’m told to expect gore and horror then I want it to hit me in the face and this didn’t. The story was ok and well told but yea I wanted so much more!
Book
Cut
By Marc Raabe
⭐️⭐️⭐️
The serial killer thriller that took Europe by storm.
At 11 years old, Gabriel Naumann is witness to a horrific crime. Twenty-nine years later his girlfriend is taken. Then the messages begin. 'If you want to find her, then you'll have to find me.'
Somebody knows the truth. Somebody knows what he did. And now his girlfriend will pay for it - unless he can find her in time. When you've spent decades running from your past, what do you do when it finally catches up with you?
This was an enticing cover!
I was told how gory and scary this book was and I was kinda expecting more! It was a good read but just that a good read. When I’m told to expect gore and horror then I want it to hit me in the face and this didn’t. The story was ok and well told but yea I wanted so much more!
BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) rated Sadie in Books
Mar 26, 2019
Sadie freaking broke me.
“I wish his darkness lived outside of him, because you have to know it's there to see it. Like all real monsters, he hides in plain sight.”
Sadie freaking broke me.
I’ve never wanted to give up on a book and not put a book down so bad in my life.
This book was one of the few times I was really glad I didn’t know what I was getting into because if I did I probably wouldn’t have actually read it because of the subject matter (CW: pedophilia) it’s just one of those topics I really don’t like to read about. And while Sadie was a hard book to read it was amazingly written with characters you can’t help but feel for…. Whether those feelings are good or bad now that was what really made Sadie an amazing book.
I really liked the format of the book, switching between the podcast on Sadies POV was really unique and kept me reading because I was hooked on both POVs and could wait to get back to the other one.
Sadie freaking broke me.
I’ve never wanted to give up on a book and not put a book down so bad in my life.
This book was one of the few times I was really glad I didn’t know what I was getting into because if I did I probably wouldn’t have actually read it because of the subject matter (CW: pedophilia) it’s just one of those topics I really don’t like to read about. And while Sadie was a hard book to read it was amazingly written with characters you can’t help but feel for…. Whether those feelings are good or bad now that was what really made Sadie an amazing book.
I really liked the format of the book, switching between the podcast on Sadies POV was really unique and kept me reading because I was hooked on both POVs and could wait to get back to the other one.
We Were Liars
Emily Jenkins and Emily Lockhart
7.6
Rate It
Book
A Zoella Bookclub title 2016 1. Read this book. 2. On reaching the final page, you may experience an...
Kate (493 KP) rated Idol Star School in Books
Jul 8, 2020
I loved this book and I wasn't sure I would. It took me a couple of chapters to get in but once I did I was hooked. This became a book I could not put down and read it at every opportunity and now it has finished I NEED to read the second book in the series. I would recommend this book to anyone.
I really invested in Honey as Hamin and admitted her strong personality and never being beaten. I wasn't sure how much more she could take. I felt like I was on the journey with Honey. Not many books take me on that kind of journey.
I really felt like I could hear the characters and I got a really good insight into what type of person they were based on the author's writing.
As I mentioned I was not sure I would like this book from reading the blurb and I am so glad I did.
I can't wait to read the next book
I really invested in Honey as Hamin and admitted her strong personality and never being beaten. I wasn't sure how much more she could take. I felt like I was on the journey with Honey. Not many books take me on that kind of journey.
I really felt like I could hear the characters and I got a really good insight into what type of person they were based on the author's writing.
As I mentioned I was not sure I would like this book from reading the blurb and I am so glad I did.
I can't wait to read the next book
Dana (24 KP) rated Ruin and Rising (The Grisha #3) in Books
Mar 23, 2018
This was such a great book. If you have yet to pick up this series, I highly recommend it. Leigh Bardugo does an excellent job in keeping the audience entertained throughout the series. Where there is normally a kind of slump in the second and third books in other series, there is no such thing in these novels. I am now trying to get all of my friends and family to read this series. What a great end to a great story. But, there are more stories to come out in this world. Super excited about that!!! Please READ THIS SERIES!!! YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!!! There will be minor spoilers ahead, so be aware.
****MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD****
There were quite a few times where I just had to put down the book because of the stuff that went down. When there were too many sad parts, which there were a ton, I was devastated, so I couldn't read on. That's why it took me about a month to finish it. (well, also because of finals and other factors, but that was a main one)
****MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD****
There were quite a few times where I just had to put down the book because of the stuff that went down. When there were too many sad parts, which there were a ton, I was devastated, so I couldn't read on. That's why it took me about a month to finish it. (well, also because of finals and other factors, but that was a main one)