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karenluvstoread's reviews
192 reviews
Under the Greenwood Tree, Or, the Mellstock Quire by Thomas Hardy
Honestly, this one was a bit of a disappointment. Still, that doesn’t detract from the other Hardy books I’ve read and loved so far. And I look forward to reading another one at some point. When I’m in the mood. 😉😁
2.5
I found this book confusing and harder to follow at times. It also felt kind of silly sometimes. I saw a lot of similarities between it and Far from the Madding Crowd; then I realized that all the Hardy books I’ve read so far look like they have the same love triangle trope. And that is absolutely fine! But it also means I don’t want to read Hardy back to back.
Hardy writes beautifully descriptive prose which does put it above the cut of a typical romance type book. In addition, some of his novels I’ve read have deep themes as well. I haven’t read Tess of the D’Urbervilles or Jude the Obscure which may not have a love triangle at all in them. It seems I've heard they are more depressing. Hmm....
Anyway, this book was only Hardy’s second novel; so one can see how it may not have been more fleshed out like, say, Far from the Madding Crowd or even The Woodlanders. I think we just didn’t get the chance to get to know the characters as in-depth in this one.
To be honest, I thought the movie adaptation was far better. In my opinion, the best part of the book was the opening paragraph:
Hardy writes beautifully descriptive prose which does put it above the cut of a typical romance type book. In addition, some of his novels I’ve read have deep themes as well. I haven’t read Tess of the D’Urbervilles or Jude the Obscure which may not have a love triangle at all in them. It seems I've heard they are more depressing. Hmm....
Anyway, this book was only Hardy’s second novel; so one can see how it may not have been more fleshed out like, say, Far from the Madding Crowd or even The Woodlanders. I think we just didn’t get the chance to get to know the characters as in-depth in this one.
To be honest, I thought the movie adaptation was far better. In my opinion, the best part of the book was the opening paragraph:
“To dwellers in a wood almost every species of tree has its voice as well as its feature. At the passing of the breeze the fir-trees sob and moan no less distinctly than they rock; the holly whistles as it battles with itself; the ash hisses amid its quiverings; the beech rustles while its flat boughs rise and fall. And winter, which modifies the note of such trees as shed their leaves, does not destroy its individuality.”
Honestly, this one was a bit of a disappointment. Still, that doesn’t detract from the other Hardy books I’ve read and loved so far. And I look forward to reading another one at some point. When I’m in the mood. 😉😁
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
5.0
This book is fantastic! As I read, I kept thinking how it was such a weird story written so well that I just wanted to keep reading. There’s this odd house, with the ocean and tides on the first level, men and animals on the second level, and the third level was the clouds and sky. Piranesi navigates this house on his own but also for assignments from the Other to find things out for him. As you continue reading, a mystery unfolds and little by little, you start piecing together what’s going on. Wow – it is just so well done! The ending was so emotional and it brought tears to my eyes.
I loved Piranesi’s character – his love of and connection to nature and the world around him, his positivity. And at times later in the book, I felt such a sadness for him which I can't explain further without giving spoilers. 😉
I don’t know for sure what Clarke might have been trying to do with this novel beyond writing a great fantasy (and it is a fantastic fantasy story!); but something I took from the book was how it felt like it was very much about the loss of oneself and trying to find oneself again - and all the grief and reckoning and beauty that can come in that journey all wrapped together. There seems to be a thread of longing to leave the chaos and negativity of the world to be in the beauty and harmoniousness found in the House.
I loved this one and I plan to read it again! The audiobook was also fantastic. Susanna Clarke is quickly becoming a favorite author!
From the book:
“The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.” (p. 5)
“The House is valuable because it is the House. It is enough in and of Itself. It is not the means to an end.” (p. 60-61)
“One sentence puzzles me: The world was constantly speaking to Ancient Man. I do not understand why this sentence is in the past tense. The World still speaks to me every day.” (p. 154)
I loved Piranesi’s character – his love of and connection to nature and the world around him, his positivity. And at times later in the book, I felt such a sadness for him which I can't explain further without giving spoilers. 😉
I don’t know for sure what Clarke might have been trying to do with this novel beyond writing a great fantasy (and it is a fantastic fantasy story!); but something I took from the book was how it felt like it was very much about the loss of oneself and trying to find oneself again - and all the grief and reckoning and beauty that can come in that journey all wrapped together. There seems to be a thread of longing to leave the chaos and negativity of the world to be in the beauty and harmoniousness found in the House.
I loved this one and I plan to read it again! The audiobook was also fantastic. Susanna Clarke is quickly becoming a favorite author!
From the book:
“The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.” (p. 5)
“The House is valuable because it is the House. It is enough in and of Itself. It is not the means to an end.” (p. 60-61)
“One sentence puzzles me: The world was constantly speaking to Ancient Man. I do not understand why this sentence is in the past tense. The World still speaks to me every day.” (p. 154)
Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie
4.0
In Five Little Pigs, Poirot is asked to go back and investigate a murder that happened 16 years prior. He is asked to try to prove innocent the person convicted and imprisoned for the murder.
I really liked the structure of this one where Poirot tries to prove a party innocent in a cold case. The unraveling of the story was excellent! I didn’t guess correctly; but trying to figure it out was fun. 🙂 I thought Christie did such a good job of positioning the guilty party as one you might suspect but also didn’t suspect at the same time.
There were also elements of the story that reminded me of an old classic movie called The Thin Man.
Overall, a well done mystery by Christie once again.
I really liked the structure of this one where Poirot tries to prove a party innocent in a cold case. The unraveling of the story was excellent! I didn’t guess correctly; but trying to figure it out was fun. 🙂 I thought Christie did such a good job of positioning the guilty party as one you might suspect but also didn’t suspect at the same time.
There were also elements of the story that reminded me of an old classic movie called The Thin Man.
Overall, a well done mystery by Christie once again.
When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro
5.0
This book. Wow! Ishiguro writes in such a meditative style in many of his books I’ve read. When We Were Orphans combines that same meditative style with moments of fast moving plot, all amidst the backdrop of the Sino-Japanese War. There is a haunting feeling to this book, a melancholic haunting, that doesn’t really settle in until you get into the book a bit.
This book is so brilliantly written. Part of the brilliant writing is the structure of the story that Ishiguro presents us. We go into the story thinking there’s a mystery to be solved. So as we read, we are right there with the main character trying to unravel the mystery. Then Ishiguro throws us a major plot twist.
Yet the book is about so much more than the mystery. There is a deep exploration of the soul in the pages of this book, from the main character to his friend to his parents to his uncle to other secondary characters. The concept of memory is a big theme – what do we remember and how do we remember, do memories reflect full reality or do memories change themselves from the reality of what was?
Ishiguro also uses alternate timelines through the median of the main character sharing things from the past. This is a set up I often like in books when it’s well done. And Ishiguro certainly did it well! This is definitely a book I want to read again!
This book is so brilliantly written. Part of the brilliant writing is the structure of the story that Ishiguro presents us. We go into the story thinking there’s a mystery to be solved. So as we read, we are right there with the main character trying to unravel the mystery. Then Ishiguro throws us a major plot twist.
Yet the book is about so much more than the mystery. There is a deep exploration of the soul in the pages of this book, from the main character to his friend to his parents to his uncle to other secondary characters. The concept of memory is a big theme – what do we remember and how do we remember, do memories reflect full reality or do memories change themselves from the reality of what was?
Ishiguro also uses alternate timelines through the median of the main character sharing things from the past. This is a set up I often like in books when it’s well done. And Ishiguro certainly did it well! This is definitely a book I want to read again!
More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
2.5
Last year, I read Days at the Morisaki Bookshop and really enjoyed it; so I was looking forward to reading this sequel for #januaryinjapan. Unfortunately, it was a bit disappointing. I definitely thought the first book was better. Here's my thoughts, which might be just a wee bit spoilerish in general but not in the specifics of the actual storyline.
What I did like:
*being able to revisit the characters of this story
*being able to revisit the bookshop and its community
What Was Disappointing:
*I was hoping to see Takako spending more time at the bookshop than she did. I actually was anticipating that she would be working full time there. So admittedly, it was a bit disappointing to see that wasn’t the case. In fact, though she now kept up the relationship with her uncle and aunt, she really didn’t have a lot of involvement with the bookshop overall.
*It felt like for the most part of the book, the reader is just floating along with not much happening. I actually really enjoy a well written slow novel; but I felt this one was sorely lacking, even though it did briefly touch on the topic of grief and loss. *At times it felt a bit juvenile in its writing. I really only found one passage to tab in the story itself.
Overall, I was disappointed with this sequel and hoped for so much more from it.
What I did like:
*being able to revisit the characters of this story
*being able to revisit the bookshop and its community
What Was Disappointing:
*I was hoping to see Takako spending more time at the bookshop than she did. I actually was anticipating that she would be working full time there. So admittedly, it was a bit disappointing to see that wasn’t the case. In fact, though she now kept up the relationship with her uncle and aunt, she really didn’t have a lot of involvement with the bookshop overall.
*It felt like for the most part of the book, the reader is just floating along with not much happening. I actually really enjoy a well written slow novel; but I felt this one was sorely lacking, even though it did briefly touch on the topic of grief and loss. *At times it felt a bit juvenile in its writing. I really only found one passage to tab in the story itself.
Overall, I was disappointed with this sequel and hoped for so much more from it.
“Listen, life is short. In the story of your life, you’ve got to avoid people like that. Choose to be with the people who really choose you, people who see you as irreplaceable. That’s the story you want…” (p. 46)
Aria's Travelling Book Shop by Rebecca Raisin
4.0
This is a perfect spring or summer read. I really loved this book for the story; but it really needs an editing job. It was annoying seeing the grammatical errors throughout the book. But I tend to have an eye for details and grammatical type errors tend to just pop out at me whenever I read. 🤷♀️
Despite that though, I found this to be a well written, heart-warming romantic story that I really enjoyed escaping off to. I felt the author crafted the story really well, managing to give it a light feel while also dealing with harder themes. It touches on grief and loss; and I thought the author did an excellent job navigating those issues.
I definitely want to read more by Rebecca Raisin! Let's hope her other books are edited better. 😉 I already have Rosie's Travelling Tea Shop on my Kindle waiting for me.
Despite that though, I found this to be a well written, heart-warming romantic story that I really enjoyed escaping off to. I felt the author crafted the story really well, managing to give it a light feel while also dealing with harder themes. It touches on grief and loss; and I thought the author did an excellent job navigating those issues.
I definitely want to read more by Rebecca Raisin! Let's hope her other books are edited better. 😉 I already have Rosie's Travelling Tea Shop on my Kindle waiting for me.
Address Unknown by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor
4.5
What a powerful book! It gives a portrayal of how Hitler and his regime was able to worm its way into the lives of many in their own country, wooing them into supporting and loving Hitler; but that quickly turned to oppression, persecution, and domination. This small book tells its story so effectively through letters back and forth between two best friends, one a Jewish American and the other a German.
This story was originally published in Story magazine in 1938. When it was published, it became a sensation internationally. I read that it was credited for exposing the dangers of Nazism to Americans early on.
This story is so well done and in my opinion should be required reading. It is short enough to be easily read in a day or maybe even in one sitting.
This story was originally published in Story magazine in 1938. When it was published, it became a sensation internationally. I read that it was credited for exposing the dangers of Nazism to Americans early on.
This story is so well done and in my opinion should be required reading. It is short enough to be easily read in a day or maybe even in one sitting.
The Last Witch of Scotland by Philip Paris
4.0
Set in 1700s Scotland, this novel is based on the true story of the last person to be executed as a witch in Britain.
The story is well written, engaging, and kept me turning the pages. The writer pulls you in right away and you become invested in the characters. It has a bit of romance, it has the theme of found family, and it has a strong female main character.
It would pair well with other books that explore the witchcraft accusations and witch trials that swept different areas in that time in history, such as The Crucible by Arthur Miller and Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese.
The only complaint I have with the book is that there were so many grammatical errors. They just jump off the page at me, which can be distracting at times. 🤷♀️😂 Despite that though, I really enjoyed this book. It is haunting and compelling; a book you won't want to put down once you start reading it.
Quote:
The story is well written, engaging, and kept me turning the pages. The writer pulls you in right away and you become invested in the characters. It has a bit of romance, it has the theme of found family, and it has a strong female main character.
It would pair well with other books that explore the witchcraft accusations and witch trials that swept different areas in that time in history, such as The Crucible by Arthur Miller and Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese.
The only complaint I have with the book is that there were so many grammatical errors. They just jump off the page at me, which can be distracting at times. 🤷♀️😂 Despite that though, I really enjoyed this book. It is haunting and compelling; a book you won't want to put down once you start reading it.
Quote:
“I remember him once saying that stories tell us where we have come from. Without them we don’t truly know who we are and it is only with that knowledge we can understand where our future lies, what paths we must take in order to find our destiny.” (p. 322)