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Eleanor Luhar (47 KP) rated Finding Grace in Books
Jun 24, 2019
Yesterday I finished Finding Grace, a short historical fiction book I was given the chance to read thanks to NetGalley. It follows Grace, a thirteen-year-old girl living in a Belgian convent in 1975. She was left on the steps as a baby, along with her disabled sister, Dotty. But Dotty recently died, and everything is changing.
Grace is moved to the girls' boarding school dorm. She soon becomes close with Fran, but also has a few run-ins with the stuck up Deirdra. While helping Fran with a history project Grace discovers an old journal kept by one of the nuns at the convent during the war. It tells her horrific story of abandonment, rape and loss.
All the while, the girls are trying to find out more about Grace's past, and avoid the wrath of the horrible Sister Francis. Eventually Grace does get some anwswers, but they were certainly not the ones she was looking for.
I'm not usually very interested in historical fiction but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Even though it was short, the characters were well developed and the plot was exciting and intriguing. I felt immersed in the setting, and felt empathetic for Grace. I actually felt quite invested in her and her search for knowledge.
There were a few typos and such, but as this is only a review copy I can't be sure whether the final publication will include them. It was a quick, interesting read, a good introduction to historical fiction. 4 stars!
Grace is moved to the girls' boarding school dorm. She soon becomes close with Fran, but also has a few run-ins with the stuck up Deirdra. While helping Fran with a history project Grace discovers an old journal kept by one of the nuns at the convent during the war. It tells her horrific story of abandonment, rape and loss.
All the while, the girls are trying to find out more about Grace's past, and avoid the wrath of the horrible Sister Francis. Eventually Grace does get some anwswers, but they were certainly not the ones she was looking for.
I'm not usually very interested in historical fiction but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Even though it was short, the characters were well developed and the plot was exciting and intriguing. I felt immersed in the setting, and felt empathetic for Grace. I actually felt quite invested in her and her search for knowledge.
There were a few typos and such, but as this is only a review copy I can't be sure whether the final publication will include them. It was a quick, interesting read, a good introduction to historical fiction. 4 stars!
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class in Books
Oct 1, 2017
Detailed at times, but loses thread in the end
This is an important read in terms of understanding how the current generation of the working class has continued to be victimised especially after the rule of Margaret Thatcher.
From the miners' strikes and Hillsborough, to the modern day label of Chav, the working class have been vilified in order to divide, rule and exploit. Owen Jones explains the ideology fairly well but falls short in providing detailed figures.
And while I agree with most of what he says, including the working class should all stick together, there were some elements that he defends including racists such as Jade Goody, that I could not get on board with. Good, but slightly disappointing.
From the miners' strikes and Hillsborough, to the modern day label of Chav, the working class have been vilified in order to divide, rule and exploit. Owen Jones explains the ideology fairly well but falls short in providing detailed figures.
And while I agree with most of what he says, including the working class should all stick together, there were some elements that he defends including racists such as Jade Goody, that I could not get on board with. Good, but slightly disappointing.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated His Bloody Project in Books
Jul 25, 2017
Well written, realistic penny dreadful
The author has done quite a spectacular job of researching this piece of historical fiction, bringing to life a gruesome episode in 1800s Scotland. Expect to read a documentary type book and not a particularly suspenseful thriller. It took a long time to get into this book, mostly because the performance was quite dry and dull, hence I struggled to concentrate. During the crux of the story, in which Roddy is in court, the story picks up slightly, sounding more like a courtroom drama. He attempts to explore the idea of moral insanity, but falls short mostly because of the lack of understanding they would have at the time the book is set.
Well written and researched but a bit bland.
Well written and researched but a bit bland.
Chris Hooker (419 KP) rated Down at the End of the River: Stories in Books
Jan 12, 2018
[Down at the End of the River] by [Angus Woodward] is a compilation of short stories, which usually are not the type of thing I like to read. I did enjoy these and if I did not know they were the same author I would have thought they were penned by many different people.
[Woodward] does an excellent job in creating characters and using those characters to drive the story. More than a few even caused me to feel the nervousness or anxiety of the characters.
I was disappointed that the setting of Louisiana was not highlighted more that it was just a passing reference. I believe the south has a character all it's own and could have added even more to the stories.
[Woodward] does an excellent job in creating characters and using those characters to drive the story. More than a few even caused me to feel the nervousness or anxiety of the characters.
I was disappointed that the setting of Louisiana was not highlighted more that it was just a passing reference. I believe the south has a character all it's own and could have added even more to the stories.
Samantha (67 KP) rated Another Day in the Death of America in Books
Jul 10, 2017
How many more days before things change?
This book is incredibly valuable. Whilst focusing on the lives of ten young individuals whose lives were tragically cut short Younge also focuses on the history of gun violence in those communities as well as research on this dilemma. Together, these elements create a compelling novel which open the eyes of the reader to the injustices that occur due to gun violence, whilst also ensuring that common assumptions and misconceptions are brought into the limelight. Due to the nature of this novel it is my belief that it should be read a chapter at a time to allow for contemplation and reflection on the disastrous events contained within its pages.
ClareR (6256 KP) rated Love Bites in Books
Apr 6, 2018
This is a collection of short stories that follow various people who are not where they started out. They are immigrants, eccentrics and those who really don't want to be where they are. Themes include loss, isolation/ loneliness and difference.
Stories that particularly stood out for me, were the story about a girl who loses her leg, the elderly woman trying to escaper her old people's home if only she could remember what she's supposed to be doing, and the woman who goes to see a 'Sheikh' for family relationship advice.
All of the stories made me stop and think - mainly about what I would have done in their circumstances. Very thought provoking.
This was another book read on 'The Pigeonhole' social reading platform.
Stories that particularly stood out for me, were the story about a girl who loses her leg, the elderly woman trying to escaper her old people's home if only she could remember what she's supposed to be doing, and the woman who goes to see a 'Sheikh' for family relationship advice.
All of the stories made me stop and think - mainly about what I would have done in their circumstances. Very thought provoking.
This was another book read on 'The Pigeonhole' social reading platform.
Cumberland (1142 KP) rated The Lost Sisters in Books
Mar 11, 2019
This is a short story that shows Taryn's POV of the events that took place during The Cruel Prince. This should be read after The Cruel Prince, but before The Wicked King.
I didn't like Taryn during the first book and honestly I hate her character even more after reading this. I was also disappointed that no new information was included. Instead the story just gives the reader a few more details about things that had already been established. It still a good story, but at $3 its a little pricey for what you get. Something like this should really only be $1. I like Holly Black so I don't want to call this a cash grab, but I was definitely left a little disappointed.
I didn't like Taryn during the first book and honestly I hate her character even more after reading this. I was also disappointed that no new information was included. Instead the story just gives the reader a few more details about things that had already been established. It still a good story, but at $3 its a little pricey for what you get. Something like this should really only be $1. I like Holly Black so I don't want to call this a cash grab, but I was definitely left a little disappointed.
Miguel Covarrubias (143 KP) rated Time and Again (Time, #1) in Books
Apr 30, 2019
I love time travel stories, and this one falls incredibly short for me. This was written for a 1970's audience with a 1960's mindset. It doesn't do much for 2010's sensibilities. The themes are very lacking in their strength. The ideas seem a little haphazardly put together. I didn't like the main character, the plot getting up to the time travel was quite boring, the time travel itself was a bit intriguing. The whole motivations for the entire book were a bit suspect at best.
It was enjoyable which is why I gave it 3 stars. It, by far, is not the worst time travel novel I've ever read, but it certainly isn't the best. It's clearly middle of the road.
It was enjoyable which is why I gave it 3 stars. It, by far, is not the worst time travel novel I've ever read, but it certainly isn't the best. It's clearly middle of the road.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2644 KP) rated Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle (Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Meet Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. All the kids love hanging out at her house since she serves tea and cookies and is lots of fun. And the parents love her, too, because she has cures that will get kids to take baths or stop being selfish or fighting or not putting toys away….
This book is filled with fun short stories as the kids quickly realize why they wouldn't want to have their own way all the time. These cures are a bit more realistic than some in later books, so I love the later books better. Still, this is a fun introduction to a charming character.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/09/book-review-mrs-piggle-wiggle-by-betty.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This book is filled with fun short stories as the kids quickly realize why they wouldn't want to have their own way all the time. These cures are a bit more realistic than some in later books, so I love the later books better. Still, this is a fun introduction to a charming character.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/09/book-review-mrs-piggle-wiggle-by-betty.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Roxanne (13 KP) rated Nyctophobia in Books
Nov 14, 2018
<b>2 Star Rating</b> __
This ended up being quite a difficult read for me as I found it very slow paced, there was so much build up to pretty much nothing in my opinion.
I found each character quite annoying and fairly dim to be honest as who really buys a property without seeing half of it? Not a lot of the storyline made a lot of sense and there were quite a few errors in the writing which was pretty distracting.
It wasn't all bad as there were a couple of chilling scenes but unfortunately they were very short lived, I wanted more scenes like that.
The idea for the story is indeed very original but in my opinion isn't very well executed.
Nevermind...
This ended up being quite a difficult read for me as I found it very slow paced, there was so much build up to pretty much nothing in my opinion.
I found each character quite annoying and fairly dim to be honest as who really buys a property without seeing half of it? Not a lot of the storyline made a lot of sense and there were quite a few errors in the writing which was pretty distracting.
It wasn't all bad as there were a couple of chilling scenes but unfortunately they were very short lived, I wanted more scenes like that.
The idea for the story is indeed very original but in my opinion isn't very well executed.
Nevermind...