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LucyB (47 KP) rated Three Daughters of Eve in Books
Jul 23, 2017
Powerful, thought-provoking story
I was really happy to receive Three Daughters of Eve on Netgalley, as I'd recently read an interview with the author and thought the book sounded fascinating.
It certainly lived up to expectations. The book is set both in the past and the present, focusing on Peri as a student in Oxford, and as a wealthy wife (14 years later) in Istanbul. It starts with something of a red herring, focusing on Peri's attack (and almost rape) by a beggar, then develops into an exploration of her past, as a Turkish Muslim at Oxford University.
She's flanked by Shirin, a non-believer, and Mona, a devout Muslim - making them 'the sinner, the believer and the confused'. They're united by a man called Professor Azur, who has a major influence in their lives, both positive and negative.
The book is an intriguing exploration into religion, belief and culture-clash - and in particular, the scenes detailing Peri's past, with a non-believing father and a devout mother, worked particularly well. A few moments jarred slightly - for example, the sudden revelation about the twin brother towards the end, and the abrupt shift in perspective from Peri to Professor Azur (again, towards the end), but for the most part, this book was masterfully executed and beautifully sustained throughout.
I think Shafak has a strong, resonant style, combined with a philosophical approach - which works really well. I'd definitely like to read more of her books
It certainly lived up to expectations. The book is set both in the past and the present, focusing on Peri as a student in Oxford, and as a wealthy wife (14 years later) in Istanbul. It starts with something of a red herring, focusing on Peri's attack (and almost rape) by a beggar, then develops into an exploration of her past, as a Turkish Muslim at Oxford University.
She's flanked by Shirin, a non-believer, and Mona, a devout Muslim - making them 'the sinner, the believer and the confused'. They're united by a man called Professor Azur, who has a major influence in their lives, both positive and negative.
The book is an intriguing exploration into religion, belief and culture-clash - and in particular, the scenes detailing Peri's past, with a non-believing father and a devout mother, worked particularly well. A few moments jarred slightly - for example, the sudden revelation about the twin brother towards the end, and the abrupt shift in perspective from Peri to Professor Azur (again, towards the end), but for the most part, this book was masterfully executed and beautifully sustained throughout.
I think Shafak has a strong, resonant style, combined with a philosophical approach - which works really well. I'd definitely like to read more of her books
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Angelic Retribution in Books
Nov 8, 2019
I thought the the first two installments of the Afterlife saga, following the exploits of human-turned-angel Aurora, were absoluately terrific. With this third installment I feel like I need to invent some new superlatives as all the existing ones seem somehow inadequate.
There's not much of the story I can discuss without giving things away, but this very much continues following the trend for the themes to get darker as the series has gone on. The angels are becoming desperate as the demon hordes press in relentlessly. After her actions in the second book Aurora is viewed with a great deal of suspicion by everyone and Abaddon is still focussed on getting her join the demon ranks.
The story that Cope tells here begs to be read; the stakes have been raised and it's really not clear what is going to happen next, and there are a number of shock twists and developments that take the plot in all sorts of directions I hadn't expected at the outset. As usual the writing and characterisation is flawless, smoothly flowing off the page throughout, effortlessly following the changes in pace as the story twists through its chapters.
If you enjoyed the first two books and want to find out what happens next to Aurora and her friends you will not be disappointed. If you have not read any of the series and are looking for something interesting, thought-provoking and pacey to read then I can't recommend these books highly enough.
There's not much of the story I can discuss without giving things away, but this very much continues following the trend for the themes to get darker as the series has gone on. The angels are becoming desperate as the demon hordes press in relentlessly. After her actions in the second book Aurora is viewed with a great deal of suspicion by everyone and Abaddon is still focussed on getting her join the demon ranks.
The story that Cope tells here begs to be read; the stakes have been raised and it's really not clear what is going to happen next, and there are a number of shock twists and developments that take the plot in all sorts of directions I hadn't expected at the outset. As usual the writing and characterisation is flawless, smoothly flowing off the page throughout, effortlessly following the changes in pace as the story twists through its chapters.
If you enjoyed the first two books and want to find out what happens next to Aurora and her friends you will not be disappointed. If you have not read any of the series and are looking for something interesting, thought-provoking and pacey to read then I can't recommend these books highly enough.
TravelersWife4Life (31 KP) rated Fatal Memories in Books
Feb 23, 2021
I think one of my favorite things about this book was the importance of our memories and how they define us. Tanya Stowe painted a vivid picture of what it would be like to wake up and not know who you are or what you believe. Its the first time that I personally stopped and really thought about what it would be like to wake up one morning not knowing who I was or why I was in that particular place. Great thought provoking moment for me.
The characters in this story work well together, they make eachother laugh (and me too). They both are driven, hard working and struggling to do the right things with the problems they’ve been given. Tanya gives good backround on the characters and really helps you feel apart of the characters decisions and lives in general.
I felt that in this book, as with all love inspired suspense books, that I was left with a great HEA, characters that have good moral compasses and a wonderful sense of not having to read another book to find out the ending to the mystery. Tanya Stowe did a great job at keeping me guessing as to what happened and why it happened to her characters. I am thankful I read this book. Tanya Stowes writing style reminds me of Colleen Coble, and Diann Mills in her style and and way with words.
I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars for the creativity, mystery, and overall story premise.
The characters in this story work well together, they make eachother laugh (and me too). They both are driven, hard working and struggling to do the right things with the problems they’ve been given. Tanya gives good backround on the characters and really helps you feel apart of the characters decisions and lives in general.
I felt that in this book, as with all love inspired suspense books, that I was left with a great HEA, characters that have good moral compasses and a wonderful sense of not having to read another book to find out the ending to the mystery. Tanya Stowe did a great job at keeping me guessing as to what happened and why it happened to her characters. I am thankful I read this book. Tanya Stowes writing style reminds me of Colleen Coble, and Diann Mills in her style and and way with words.
I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars for the creativity, mystery, and overall story premise.
Sarah (7799 KP) rated You Will Be Safe Here in Books
Jul 10, 2019
Moving and thought provoking
I can’t lie, history isn’t a strong subject of mine so I knew very little about the South African concentration camps and these New Dawn Type camps when i first started this book. So for me, the events detailed and unfolding in this book are a disturbing revelation. It might be fiction, but it’s based on historical true events so I know it’s not far from the truth. It’s shocking and immensely moving, reading about the plight of a number of characters from 1901 to the present date. At first I didn’t understand why this started off in 1901 and worked it’s way through different characters to the almost present day, but it all makes sense and intertwines in a way as the book goes on and it’s a great way to tell a story. This is wonderfully written, bringing out a number of reactions and the emotions in the reader as it goes on and I felt a mixture of sheer anger and frustration and sadness reading this. The characters are all well developed, with their own flaws and traits that make them both intriguing and sometimes frustrating (but in a good way) to read. My only criticism would be that the ending seemed a little rushed in comparison to the rest of the book, and I wouldn’t have minded a slightly longer book at the benefit of a less rushed ending.
This isn’t a book I would have ordinarily thought of reading, but I’m glad I did and would highly recommend reading it!
This isn’t a book I would have ordinarily thought of reading, but I’m glad I did and would highly recommend reading it!
Hazel (2934 KP) rated After Dark in Books
May 15, 2022
What an interesting and different read that was!
In a country that has decided that enough is enough when it comes to violence against women, a radical solution is put in place - men are electronically tagged and are not allowed outside between the hours of 7pm and 7am. Women are no longer afraid to go out at night and it appears to be 'working' when, one morning, the badly beaten body of a woman is found in a park. It couldn't have been a man ... could it?
The premise of the story is an interesting one but, for me, it didn't really deliver how I thought it would; I was hoping there would be a balanced view but it felt to me like is was very anti-male and the overwhelming thought is that all men are evil. We know that is not the case but there wasn't one male character in this book that provided another viewpoint and this was disappointing for me. I do, however, recognise that I have never been subject to male violence and therefore may have come at this from a different frame of reference and because of this, I can certainly see why some may think the future world described in this book would be utopia but, for me, I don't like tarring everyone with the same brush.
Told from different points of view and in two timelines, this book moves along at a good pace. The characters, both male and female, are not particularly likeable with the teenage daughter being the most irritating and, annoyingly, stereotypical and this caused me to not care about any of them particularly so the mystery around who was murdered wasn't that intriguing but I did like how we didn't find out until towards the end.
Overall though it was an interesting and thought-provoking read but not as good as I think it could have been but I must thank Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book and share my thoughts.
In a country that has decided that enough is enough when it comes to violence against women, a radical solution is put in place - men are electronically tagged and are not allowed outside between the hours of 7pm and 7am. Women are no longer afraid to go out at night and it appears to be 'working' when, one morning, the badly beaten body of a woman is found in a park. It couldn't have been a man ... could it?
The premise of the story is an interesting one but, for me, it didn't really deliver how I thought it would; I was hoping there would be a balanced view but it felt to me like is was very anti-male and the overwhelming thought is that all men are evil. We know that is not the case but there wasn't one male character in this book that provided another viewpoint and this was disappointing for me. I do, however, recognise that I have never been subject to male violence and therefore may have come at this from a different frame of reference and because of this, I can certainly see why some may think the future world described in this book would be utopia but, for me, I don't like tarring everyone with the same brush.
Told from different points of view and in two timelines, this book moves along at a good pace. The characters, both male and female, are not particularly likeable with the teenage daughter being the most irritating and, annoyingly, stereotypical and this caused me to not care about any of them particularly so the mystery around who was murdered wasn't that intriguing but I did like how we didn't find out until towards the end.
Overall though it was an interesting and thought-provoking read but not as good as I think it could have been but I must thank Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book and share my thoughts.
Suswatibasu (1702 KP) rated Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow in Books
Jan 10, 2018
An interesting theory undermined by flimsy argument and unconvincing evidence
@Yuval Noah Harari once again returns with another thought-provoking anthropological book, similar to @Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, however, this time he turns his focus toward humanity's future, and our quest to upgrade humans into gods.
The implications for the developments in artificial intelligence and genetic engineering - and the combining of the two are mind-blowing and we ignore them at our peril. The same applies to the amount "the system" knows about us from how we use the internet. It is alarming how willingly we have walked down that path.
While Sapiens had a few historical tenets and facts that Harari was able to access with a clear argument, given his historian background, there was a tendency in this volume to set up unrealistic false dichotomies, and 'creatively' misinterpret belief systems in order to bolster his increasingly thin argument.
The thrust of what Harari is saying may well be true, but what I would have liked to see him do is to discuss the implications a bit more thoughtfully and, in effect, set an agenda for discussion.
The implications for the developments in artificial intelligence and genetic engineering - and the combining of the two are mind-blowing and we ignore them at our peril. The same applies to the amount "the system" knows about us from how we use the internet. It is alarming how willingly we have walked down that path.
While Sapiens had a few historical tenets and facts that Harari was able to access with a clear argument, given his historian background, there was a tendency in this volume to set up unrealistic false dichotomies, and 'creatively' misinterpret belief systems in order to bolster his increasingly thin argument.
The thrust of what Harari is saying may well be true, but what I would have liked to see him do is to discuss the implications a bit more thoughtfully and, in effect, set an agenda for discussion.
Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated My Big Book of Bible Heroes Devotional in Books
Jun 16, 2018
My Big Book of Bible Heroes Devotional by Glenn Hascall is a wonderful devotional. I am a teacher at a private Seventh-day Adventist school. I read this devotional to my students and they really enjoyed it. This devotional is colorful and easy-to-read, focusing on 50 Bible characters; such as, David, Mary, Ruth, Daniel, and Samson and something heroic about their lives. There are also some less familiar people included which will teach children their stories, too. The format is nicely laid out with a Scripture reference, devotion, and a short prayer followed by five questions to encourage individual introspection.
This is an educational and encouraging devotional for girls and boys aged 7 to 12. The reading level is 2nd/3rd and the message is not only interesting but thought provoking. This devotional shows kids that heroes are everyday people. God uses and loves us all. It would make a great devotional for grade school children and even lower middle schoolers. The book could be very useful in shaping the character of young lives as they look at real heroes from the Bible.
This is an educational and encouraging devotional for girls and boys aged 7 to 12. The reading level is 2nd/3rd and the message is not only interesting but thought provoking. This devotional shows kids that heroes are everyday people. God uses and loves us all. It would make a great devotional for grade school children and even lower middle schoolers. The book could be very useful in shaping the character of young lives as they look at real heroes from the Bible.
Sarah (7799 KP) rated Triangle (2009) in Movies
Jun 21, 2018
Intriguing, disturbing & original
I watched this entirely based on the review from @Lee and I'm pretty glad I did.
I probably wouldn't class this as a horror as it's not nearly gory or scary enough, but its a very thought provoking and disturbing thriller. It's one of those films that has you wondering "WTF" right from the start - may not appeal to everyone but I love films like this. I love the confusion and the intrigue, but there is a lot of pressure on films like this to get the ending and explanation just right otherwise you wind up unsatisfied and confused. Triangle does very well as the twist ending wraps up a lot of the earlier queries, but it does still leave a slightly ambiguous ending.
If I'm being honest, maybe slightly too ambiguous an ending as I had to look up fan theories online afterwards. And my only disappointment is that halfway through the film i said "this is going to turn out like Lost isn't it?" and on reading the online theories, I wasn't far off!
Slightly dodgy cgi aside, this is a pretty good film and definitely worth the watch. Thanks for the recommendation @Lee
I probably wouldn't class this as a horror as it's not nearly gory or scary enough, but its a very thought provoking and disturbing thriller. It's one of those films that has you wondering "WTF" right from the start - may not appeal to everyone but I love films like this. I love the confusion and the intrigue, but there is a lot of pressure on films like this to get the ending and explanation just right otherwise you wind up unsatisfied and confused. Triangle does very well as the twist ending wraps up a lot of the earlier queries, but it does still leave a slightly ambiguous ending.
If I'm being honest, maybe slightly too ambiguous an ending as I had to look up fan theories online afterwards. And my only disappointment is that halfway through the film i said "this is going to turn out like Lost isn't it?" and on reading the online theories, I wasn't far off!
Slightly dodgy cgi aside, this is a pretty good film and definitely worth the watch. Thanks for the recommendation @Lee
Sarah (7799 KP) rated Love...Under Different Skies in Books
Aug 22, 2018
Another fun instalment
As ive said before, Nick Spalding will never win any literary prizes for this series of books, he really does well to sum up real life situations and emotions. The writing is good but what really makes this story entertaining is the characters. Laura and Jamie are a very relatable couple and their diary/blog entries are so down to earth and realistic. I doubt anyone could read this book (or any others in the series) and not find a handful of comments, thoughts or situations that they’ve experienced in their own life. This story is also pretty funny and I found myself laughing out loud on many occasions.
It may not be the most thought provoking or insightful of reads, but this is a great fun and lighthearted story that is refreshingly short. There are parts in this book that are a little far fetched and scepticism does sink in at times, but I that’s really what you expect from a work of fiction. This kept me highly entertained when I had to get public transport into work this week, although I did have to restrain my laughter at times!
It may not be the most thought provoking or insightful of reads, but this is a great fun and lighthearted story that is refreshingly short. There are parts in this book that are a little far fetched and scepticism does sink in at times, but I that’s really what you expect from a work of fiction. This kept me highly entertained when I had to get public transport into work this week, although I did have to restrain my laughter at times!
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