4 stars. When I first heard of this book, I was immediately intrigued. I love allegories! It wasn’t until I was posting the blurb to my social media f4 stars. When I first heard of this book, I was immediately intrigued. I love allegories! It wasn’t until I was posting the blurb to my social media for the cover reveal that I suddenly realized the blurb spoke of elves. With all the times I read it, I don’t know how I managed to not notice that little detail but anyways… So that did have me a bit worried, since I don’t read magical fantasy, but it turned out fine. There is no magic in this lovely little novella. ;)
All the same, I don’t know why the elves were added, because they weren’t needed… they might as well have been humans, for all the difference they made to the plot… but whatever. I enjoyed the other fantastical/allegorical elements, even if it took me forever to understand them, lol. I felt like the characters were a little wooden, but I liked them, especially Ronan.
As for the allegory part, I really appreciated it. I had a few theological quibbles, but I enjoyed seeing an allegory of Jesus’ time on earth, and I really loved seeing what the Mist finally was (what a great allegory!) and I like how the stars was woven into the story. This was a good, well-written debut and allegory, and I look forwards to more by this young author!
A Favourite Quote: “Many battles have yet to be fought, but the war is already won. Darkness will not reign forever. One day, the Mist will be destroyed.”
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*...more
5+ stars (6/10 hearts). To be honest, it was the cover (and maybe the title) that drew me into this book. The synopsis had me a little worried. But wh5+ stars (6/10 hearts). To be honest, it was the cover (and maybe the title) that drew me into this book. The synopsis had me a little worried. But when I considered how much I’d enjoyed most of Hannah Linder’s works so far, I decided to give this one a shot—and am I ever glad I did! It might be my favourite yet.
For some reason, the book really clicked with me. I love the forest and the beautiful, mysterious mansion, and how almost everything takes place in these two settings. I love the writing style—Eliza’s narration specifically. It was so much sweeter than I expected! Still Gothic and mysterious, but more light and soft. Really, I think Eliza was my favourite thing in the book. She was so innocent and pitiful and strong, and her love for nature + her fanciful imagination was awesome. Felton was pretty epic too—the perfect opposite to Eliza, and with such a splendid character arc. I liked the Captain, even if he never appeared, and the Earl, too. And Felton’s parents were very interesting to think over. Also, the villain was terrifying and awful—but not TOO much—just short of the over-intense line for me!
And the plot was great! The Christian theme is pretty subtle, but I love the message about names and being worthy in your own right. Felton & Eliza’s romance was the sweetest, cutest thing—specially once he buckled down and admitted it, haha—and I loved how it developed from such a deep friendship and protectiveness. Everything was revealed so slowly, and you were interested in the past AND the present at the same time. I LOVE how Eliza’s memories + PTSD was developed and explained. The story was more mystery than suspense, I think, but both sides were well done. I couldn’t put the book down—read until eleven P.M. and I was too tired to continue, and picked it up first thing when I awoke! Things were very twisted and NOT what I expected (but so cool!). It was all rather different from Hannah Linder’s other books, especially as far as the climax goes, which helped it stand out more.
I’m so glad I read this. <3 It was just so SATISFYING!! The perfect blend of light and dark.
Content: Hint that a girl might be as*aulted by the villain; a side character is revealed to have frequently been a*used by a warden; a minor widowed character is caught being with another man to earn her + her children’s living; mentions of drinking; language—de*il, bl**dy, etc; 1-2 kisses; mention that dead side characters had been having an affair (false); on-screen violence involving knives and blood—personally bothered me because of the coldness and deliberateness of the villain. Much less content than I expected, overall!
A Favourite Quote: How long had he been carrying a burden that should have belonged to all of them? That did belong to all of them? Now that a new burden was upon them, should he not trust his parents were strong enough to shoulder the weight? A Favourite Beautiful Quote: How many times had she snuck out in the middle of the night, crept to the stream without candle, and sat on the Lady’s Throne to watch the moonlight on the water? The blue light flickers were moon tears, she used to pretend. She’d read in books that the moon was a man, but she couldn’t believe it was so. Anything so lovely must have been a woman. A sad, lonely woman in a sphere of blackness, who shed light tears onto the earth because not even the stars would befriend her. A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Ellis, indeed. Now that seems a bit familiar. Sort of ugly thing, was he, with missing teeth? No, no, that would be my wife’s father.”
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*...more
**Featured on the historic fiction podcast The Gibson Girl Review! Listen as my cohost Amy Drown & I discuss this novel at https://www.gibsongirlrevie**Featured on the historic fiction podcast The Gibson Girl Review! Listen as my cohost Amy Drown & I discuss this novel at https://www.gibsongirlreview.com/seas...
5+ stars (6/10 hearts). Silver Sandals is the story of Thornley Colton, a blind amateur detective in NYC. It opens in a crowded hotel restaurant, where a man and a woman walk in and request a table. The woman leaves soon after, and then it is discovered the man has been dead for hours… and so begins a very complex tale.
This novel was apparently written after a bunch of short stories that are referenced throughout the book and which I really want to read. It also starts with a prologue defending the author’s choice to have a blind detective, citing all sorts of evidence including a blind surgeon who was very active in NYC. Apparently Stagg also interviewed and researched with Helen Keller and the Association for the Blind for this novel. Absolutely fascinating information.
I really enjoyed the writing style here—unique and strong and vivid, and setting the atmosphere so well. There were times when it was a bit weak—the mystery was super complex, even a bit too much at times, and it was so hard to piece together all the clues, even if they were given, because they didn’t make sense or fit together. And the action scenes were a bit muddy sometimes—so much going on you have trouble keeping up. But those quibbles aside, I thoroughly appreciated the mystery and it definitely kept me hooked. As a Sherlock Holmes nerd, I definitely had strong Sherlock feels from this, especially in how Colton found his clues, got information, and kept everything to himself.
And speaking of the characters, as a huge fan of vintage mysteries, the first thing that stood out to me is how they’re old tropes stood on their heads. You’ve got the brilliant detective in the prime of health–who’s blind. You’ve got the devoted assistant… who ends up not being able to help much in the end. You have the beautiful girl… who’s not a love interest. You’ve got the wild young man who turns out to be not as as he seems. Every time I thought I knew a character and what they’d do and be, they surprised me. Over and over again! That’s what made it so hard to pick out the suspect, because everything kept twisting and changing radically. I think the girl actually surprised me the most, because her story is just SO complex and interesting. And as for REVLIS SLADNAS, the victim… he just kept pulling punches until you didn’t know if he was dead or alive, good or bad… a most unusual victim. The only character who stayed the same throughout was McMann, the bulldog policeman… and even he surprised me at the end when I had to grudgingly admire him. And finally, the actual bad guy/killer–I still have to wrap my head around that, because it is SO unexpected.
I know I stated above that the story was a bit too complex at times, but for the most part it was well done, and I loved the complexity. The victim was an archaeologist who was obsessed with Ancient Egypt and his death is steeped in Egyptian mythology, but the story takes place in bustling, modern New York. There are just so many layers and so many DIFFERENT layers going on at the same time. The author really builds his mystery into a full novel–it’s not just a mystery, it’s a real story. And another fascinating thing about this book is how much primary source info it holds about the early 1900s, from things like unaccompanied women not being allowed into restaurants, to the Egyptomania common at the time (long before King Tutu’s tomb was unveiled).
All in all, it’s a fascinating mystery, a fascinating bit of historic fiction, and a fascinating glimpse into the world of the blind in the 1900s. I look forwards to reading this again and reading more by the author!...more
I’m not sure what to say about this book. I know what to expect from Hannah Linder. 17/1800s England Gothic vibes, romance, mystery… This book was a lI’m not sure what to say about this book. I know what to expect from Hannah Linder. 17/1800s England Gothic vibes, romance, mystery… This book was a little less Gothic and more sunny, which I liked. It even had Jane Austen feels for me sometimes.
I liked William & Isabella. I liked them best when they thought they were siblings, to be honest, but their romance was cute. The dark lord whose name escapes me was intriguing—till he was revolting—and I felt sorry for H. Isabella’s father was a complicated fellow as well… I didn’t like him, but I couldn’t help but understand his situation a little… Also, the Earl was splendid.
The plot fell a bit flat for me. It felt somewhat like a mashup of Beneath His Silence & When Tomorrow Came, what with the formerly-believed-brother+sister-romance and the dark lord love triangle, and the kidnapping, and a couple other bits. But it reminded me of several of my favourite Brontë novels (specifically, Wuthering Heights and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall… go figure) and I really liked the aesthetic and the messages, even if they aren’t too deep. While I wish that the theme of forgiving God had been deepened to a realization that He doesn’t NEED to be forgiven, I liked the thought of letting go of bitterness against Him and understanding He does everything well. And the message about forgiving people in general and about social classes was well done.
However, while the author’s first two books also included almost-r*pe scenes, this one was a lot more intense and triggering. I enjoy everything else about the books but the s*xual scenes are getting to be troubling for me. A girl is kidnapped and under hourly danger of being assaulted. (A side character was kidnapped and used by the same man—off-screen). Nothing happens to the first girl but there’s some intense scenes, especially one where she’s stripped to her underclothes before a group of robbers, which was perturbing and removed a star for me. I don’t object to necessary discussion of sin but this felt a lot more sensational than anything else. I liked the whole rest of the book—but that part just really had me uncomfortable and disappointed.
I’d like to read more by Hannah Linder, because like I said I enjoy everything else about the books, but… well, we’ll see. Maybe I’ll skip those parts and just enjoy the rest. Anyways, for this one personally, I’d give it 4 stars for everything else I liked but I have to remove a star for the s*xual content. I’d reread it, but I’ll definitely skip those parts. But I do reiterate the rest of the book I did like. ;P
Content: several uses of “bl**dy.” A MC is believed to be illegitimate and a SC is considered to be the father. Probably a semi-detailed kiss or two. Better content list found in Lindsey’s review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A Favourite Quote: How long did William think he could go on like this, tangled in his own bitterness, suffocating in pity as if he were the only person in the world to suffer injustice? A Favourite Humorous Quote: “I think I speak in truth when I say you were the best hostess I ever had.” The only one too, but he would spare her that detail.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*...more
Front Porch Bakery by Christy Ash 4 stars. Such a super cute story! May’s a doll and Harlow is such a great father. The bakery sounds like such a n Front Porch Bakery by Christy Ash 4 stars. Such a super cute story! May’s a doll and Harlow is such a great father. The bakery sounds like such a nice place, too. ;) Evan & Carter were sweet, too, and I love the twist at the end! I’m repeating myself, but this is such a cute little story with a great little message. ;)
“He had mercy on me to send the children to us. He knew we needed them.”
Autumn Everly After by Abigail Kay Harris 4 stars. Aw, the conclusion to the Everly stories! It’s so adorable and I’m so happy for Caleb & Everly! I really enjoyed seeing more of Justice’s brothers… I wish he had his own series… hint, hint. ;) And the Romans 8:28 twist on the “mercy” theme is good.
He didn’t know where life would go from here, but somehow, having seen the love of these two, the faith, and knowing God had gotten them all there... Well, he knew it would all work out somehow.
Mercy’s Ride by C.K. Heartwing 5 stars. Yeah, it’s Olivia again! I loved getting to see her backstory. This story is just so sweet and wholesome—I love the tween cowgirl retreat—and the message about God’s mercy when we mess up is SO powerful. I needed it right now. Also, that ending is awesome. ;)
“God never promised us that things would be easy, but He did promise us that He would never leave nor forsake us. Even when things are bleak or we stumble, He still has mercy on us and helps us. He knows we are but dust…. But He makes us to grow. And isn’t that a mercy that He doesn’t leave us as we are?”
Miséricorde by Elisabeth Joy 4.5 stars. Oo, well, THIS was unexpected! I enjoyed London feels, spy adventures, and somehow WWII-era atmosphere? Also, the enemies-to-friends banter of Isabelle & “the Yank” was fun. Somehow, I was reminded by The Lies We Live by this! The “mercy” theme is simple, but a good reminder.
“Mercy is a gift,” Amélie continued, steadily holding Isabelle’s glower. “The Lord shows mercy to us all, and He tells us to do the same to others.”
In the Multitude of His Mercy by Katja H. Labonté This book took four months to write because I was in so much writing depression. But it was worth it. It’s one of the stories closest to my heart—which is saying a lot, because they all are. But this one holds so much of my summer in it. There are so many personal Easter eggs, and so many references to my friends and loved ones. And it holds the message that God taught me through all the struggles of this year… every season is needed and beautiful; and I don’t have to prove my worth by keeping up with the rat race and all the “accomplishments” of this modern life.
Life may be crazy, even too much at times, but there’s still so much loveliness. When I live constantly in the present moment, enjoying what it has to offer or seeking the blessings scattered throughout... then, life is irresistibly beautiful. Filled with a multitude of mercy.
Infinite by M.L. Milligan 5 stars. I love the sarcastic humour in this short-story collection… and this book didn’t disappoint. :P I was so sorry to say goodbye to these characters! This story had a lot going on, but I liked how everything was wrapped up from all the previous stories, and Levi’s character growth… Also, I gotta mention that the story titles and the messages are all epic and so well done. The message here was particularly poignant, no matter how often you hear it.
Forgive him? The very thought sent his lungs to spasming. That man had taken everything from him—his career, his dream, his buddies—all of it. How was he supposed to show mercy for such a thing? Then he heard it. A still whisper. ‘Haven’t I forgiven you?’ The truth had never been so clear.
Mercy in the Storm by Autumn Nicole 5 stars. Love the title, love the characters, love the story plot… I just loved this story! It’s so fun, so simple, so happy, so girly… yet with a deep undercurrent. It covers so many aspects, all of which hit me hard. I just couldn’t help tearing up. And that ending is PERFECT.
“Mercy IN the storm.” … “We see Him in storms all the way back in the time of Noah. He sent that storm as a form of judgment—this was before He sent His Son to take that judgment—but also as a way of refining. But He didn’t leave Noah alone in that storm, He was there the whole time, guiding the ark safely though the waters.”
For the Undeserving by Lucy Peterson 4.5 stars. I like stories with odd, unusual settings. This one took me forever to understand because the backstory is kind of hard to piece together, but I really enjoyed it, and once again, the message is just solid. We all need a little mercy, and maybe all the more when we are most undeserving.
“He doesn’t deserve it.” I couldn’t forgive him. Not with everything he’d done. “That’s why it’s called ‘mercy,’” Alienor whispered, squeezing my arm. “It’s given as a gift. To the unworthy. The undeserving.”
Broken by MillyJoy Peterson 3 stars. This little story just hurt! Madi was so cute, and I felt so sorry for Stephen and Allyssa… The message of mercy wasn’t strongly stated here, but I liked that, once again, there was a new twist on the theme…
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Depth of Mercy by Angie Thompson 5+ stars (6/10 hearts). Aw man, is this the end of the Anna & Lev stories too?? I’m not ready for all these goodbyes! But this was the PERFECT wrap-up. Lev is so, so sweet and sensitive, and Anna so strong and sacrificing. And River broke my heart. I kept tearing up through the whole story… it’s so powerful and poignant…
“Yes, we’re messed up. All of us. Most of it by our own choices. But He doesn’t quit caring. Just like today. Do you have any idea what Lev’s done for you, River? How much he’s sacrificed? Right now, he’s sitting alone on a mountain, in darkness that’s never going to lift, with no protection and no way out[.]And that’s after everything you did to hurt him. Because he sees you the way God does—seriously messed up sometimes, but still worth caring about in spite of it all.”
Bench Seat Buddy by Cate VanNostrand 4.5 stars. I love me some college stories. This one was delightful! I really liked Arthur and Kasey was sweet. The message, though, was my favourite part. Another one about forgiveness, but with a the angle that forgiveness doesn’t fix mistakes, but it can build new things you never dreamed of.
“That’s the sad fact of sin—its stains will never fully disappear. But with God’s help, the sting will slowly go away with time. And … God can help you both in this new phase of life.”
A Moment Redeemed by A.M. Watson 5+ stars (6/10 hearts). A POLICE STORY!! Yessss!!! Of course I loved that angle. But I also deeply related to the message of accepting God’s mercy, letting go of mistakes & failures, and going forwards instead of wallowing in guilt… okay, so I cried again. I needed that reminder.
But this...the chance to hold onto Kaylee and the kids, to redeem moments lost...this was mercy in its fullest. In spite of the time lost to the guilt and regrets of the past year, there was still mercy.
Past, not Future by Jewel Windall 3 stars. We all know I love WWII stories. I haven’t read many, if any, about returning German soldiers… I would have loved to hear more about Theo and his issues after escaping the army! Anyhow, I enjoyed his backstory. And Leah’s arc was well done. We don’t all have to go break our legs to discover this message now, thankfully. ;)
“I’ve...changed in the past few hours.” Funny how that was almost exactly what he told me. Yet I withheld the mercy from him. “I know you probably hate me after...everything, but can you...forgive me?”...more
5 stars. I have been looking forwards to this since reading the author’s debut Beneath His Silence and ended up enjoying it even more than BHS. Wh5 stars. I have been looking forwards to this since reading the author’s debut Beneath His Silence and ended up enjoying it even more than BHS. While the latter struck me as having a few anachronisms or sometimes jostled me out of the time period, this one was much more of a smooth read for me. The late 1700s-early 1800s England setting was quite fun; and I really enjoyed the Great Expectations feels that came with the prison ship. I even felt some Henty “vibes” with the outlaw and all that jazz.
The characters were probably my favourite part. Gilbert was pretty epic all around, and a very realistic character while still being super sweet and amazing. Nan wasn’t the type of heroine I usually appreciate, but I ended up liking her and her whole arc made a lot of sense to me, although sometimes I felt like she was just a leetle bit oblivious. Heath was simply darling (even if sometimes I wish he’d stiffened his spine a little… he broke my heart by his calm hopeless acceptance of terrible things!!), and Temperance was super cute, and Charlotte was… well, Charlotte—cute and trouble. And Mr. & Mrs. Stanhope were amazing, while the marchioness gave me strong Lady Catherine de Bourgh feels. Lord Somerset was freaky while Lord Humphries was just sorta… despicable… in a tolerant and indifferent way.
The plot was my second favourite thing. The beginning was heartbreaking but really set the dramatic stage well with the children in the street. I adore stories of found family and adoption and I loved seeing Heath and Nan growing up in their respective homes. Both storylines were amazing and I loved learning of both equally. There were any number of twists and turns, and just the right mixture of angst and sweetness. Although it’s supposed to be a chilling Gothic mystery, I found it very warm and wholesome somehow—just because the characters were almost all so sweet and loving. And I loved the whole PTSD addition.
The romances were super cute (although it took me a bit to warm up to one in particular because I LOVE family relationships—IKYK) and the mystery + suspense was carried out to the end, with so many different layers and clues! (THAT ENDING THOUGH. I just couldn’t decide what would happen and I was hooked.) There were two things I wasn’t a fan of (check the content list) and I felt that the spiritual message was rather weak; but overall I quite enjoyed it—much more so than BHS, as I said—and I look forwards to more by Hannah Linder.
Content: I was NOT a fan of how there are several “close calls” (to two different girls) drawing tension up for an attempted r*pe scene, although the scene itself is actually super brief and undetailed—I had been keyed up for way more; nor was I a fan of how much sexual tension appeared MAJOR SPOILER (view spoiler)[between G.S. & N.D. Especially since they’d been raised as siblings. It took me a while to get over feeling a bit grossed out by G mooning over what had just been his sister. Although eventually I found myself rooting for them. There wasn’t anything wrong morally in their falling in love… I just didn’t personally like it. (hide spoiler)] END OF MAJOR SPOILER And also the kisses were just a wee bit too passionate for me—they were brief, but I was still skipping lines because it just felt indecent to me. Personal opinion. Besides some kissing, hugging, & hand-holding, there is one brief scene where a married couple wake up on the morning after their wedding night—no details really, at least not that I can recall, but it is there. Finally, there’s child abuse; mentions of prostitution several times; language (frequent uses of devil, bloody, etc); and one minor character is a drunkard.
A Favourite Quote: They had clung to it, that thought, and survived on little more than its hope. Maybe sometimes along the way they’d stopped believing. So many hurts, so many things that went wrong, so many times it seemed tomorrow would never come. Maybe it was here. Right now. Or maybe it would never come. Maybe there was just today. Nothing more, nothing less. Just the present, with all its pleasures and hurts, with the future just always out of reach. Perhaps tomorrow had never been meant for them at all. Perhaps tomorrow belonged to God. A Favourite Humorous Quote: “You know what Mr. Puttock said.” “He also said once he heard his pig conversing with his cow.” “A Bansbury tale, I’m sure.” “Indeed, but should one trust such a fellow? … He was either top-heavy with too much gin, unstable in the mind, or is simple enough to imagine such a story could garner anyone’s amusement.” “It obviously garnered yours, as you’re still talking about it.”
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*...more
4.5 stars (5/10 hearts). I wasn’t sure what to expect of this book, but classic gothic is my guilty pleasure (aka the Brontës), I loved the cover, and4.5 stars (5/10 hearts). I wasn’t sure what to expect of this book, but classic gothic is my guilty pleasure (aka the Brontës), I loved the cover, and I knew the author was very talented, so I was eager to read this. I wasn’t disappointed.
The aesthetic was really enjoyable. Storm, rain, seashore, silent semi-abandoned mansion, a lonely lord cut off from the world, a fiery Lizzie Bennett type of heroine, a sweet and silly friend, an adorable little boy, gossip, dancing, a haughty love rival, and plenty of drama—plus a suspected murder and a haunting personage. Jane Eyre meets Pride & Prejudice with a twist. I admit I am very harsh on historical fiction, especially regency, and personally I was a little disappointed with what I felt was a slightly modern flavour, but that’s my own opinion. The dialogue was well done, and I enjoyed the different accents woven in!
The characters were definitely interesting. Ella made me think of a couple Austen heroines mashed into one. I didn’t relate to her very much—our characters don’t mesh—but she was well done and very alive. I really liked Henry, though. I related to his struggles and his pain, and I loved his character arc, and how mysterious and hard to figure out he was, and what a strong, upright, loving man he was (and he was such a sweet father!). Peter was a doll, and all the side characters were so nice and living! E. was terrible, and I ended up heartily disliking L. by the end.
The plot was quite the ride. I couldn’t figure out where it was going, and began to experience the “there’s only 10% left and so much to happen!!!” problem (avid readers will understand). I did get a little tired of the back and forth “he loves me, he loves me not” or “I love her, I love her not” and all the angst, but I couldn’t put the book down and I was so anxious to see how everything turned out. I liked the governess angle combined with the undercover investigating trope.
I particularly love the beginning—Henry was so at odds with how everyone saw him, and I was desperate to discover if something had or hadn’t happened, and all the secrets and questions—it was awesome. I was a little less a fan of the ending because it seemed just a wee bit too far-fetched/modern/not regency, but it wrapped up everything satisfactorily. And the themes of the novel—learning to love & trust, learning to relinquish control to God, and learning to let go of guilt and self-hurt—were so well done. I look forwards to more by this author!
Content: adultery, an illegitimate child; accusation of murder; some violence + wounds; a mentally ill character in whose head we are (a little creepy); kidnapping; strong gothic feels. MASSIVE SPOILERS! (view spoiler)[ A woman cheats on her husband with his brother and a child is born. (hide spoiler)] END OF MASSIVE SPOILERS Some non detailed hugging/kissing/touching. Several uses of “bloody” + mild language (dash, etc).
A Favourite Quote: “I have very little appreciation for assortments that will only die tomorrow. I should rather devote time and attention to things that never change.” “Flowers are not meant to last forever.... Yet for every one that dies, God supplies a new one.” A Favourite Humorous Quote: Mr. Fitzherbert’s comment on the weather could be heard from the hallway, followed by the vicar’s monotonous praise of the view from his church bell tower, from which point he could detect an upcoming storm. “Yes, yes, storms are much better borne when one is made aware,” answered Mr. Fitzherbert.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*...more
5 stars. I love Beatrix Potter’s longer works. They’re just so clever and witty! I love how she shows the animals in their natural self, but with the 5 stars. I love Beatrix Potter’s longer works. They’re just so clever and witty! I love how she shows the animals in their natural self, but with the outward trappings of civilized Victorian life. (I mean, those rabbits act like real rabbits. Those little descriptions and details she gives—they’re how real bunnies act. We have two pet bunnies—Flemish giants—and boy do I ever recognize them in Peter and his family!)
Mr. Tod is a menace, and Tommy Brock is disgusting; Benjamin Bunny and Peter Rabbit grew up very well and are an awesome pair; Flopsy is very relatable, and Mr. Bouncer is annoying but humorous; and they’re all very realistic and alive. It’s not the stereotypical bunny and fox and badger, but real characters crafted from the traits that created the stereotypes.
There’s atmosphere (gloom and doom aplenty), there’s humour (understated British humour is my favourite), there’s thrill and anxiety (who’s gonna die in the end??), and there’s simply fantastic illustrations (few people can makes foxes so majestic and frightening at the same time!). It’s absolutely amazing to read aloud, and I highly recommend the Audible version by Penguin, narrated by Gary Bond, Michael Hordern, Rosemary Leach, & Janet Maw. Such great reading of all the BP stories, and such beautiful music to accompany them!...more
2 stars. This is a dark, wild, Gothic story, more so than Jane Eyre... more along the lines of Rebecca. Actually, it reminded me quite a bit o2 stars. This is a dark, wild, Gothic story, more so than Jane Eyre... more along the lines of Rebecca. Actually, it reminded me quite a bit of that book. It’s a sad story, full of misery and wrongdoing, beautifully written and rather haunting, with strong characters and a good little message or two tucked subtly away… but I can’t get over the fact that it’s told by a grandma to her grandchild… or the fact that the grandma was a grandchild herself when she witnessed all this…
Content: Married woman in a very immodest dress & husband is displeased. Lots of passion and hatred. Murder. (view spoiler)[ married woman is caught by her husband + the narrator kissing/hugging/sitting on her lover. Woman later murders her husband and flies with her lover. (hide spoiler)]...more
I’m not sure what to think of this or what to rate it. It did so much—was so very unexpected in so many ways—made me so angry and so happy at the sameI’m not sure what to think of this or what to rate it. It did so much—was so very unexpected in so many ways—made me so angry and so happy at the same time… I can’t hate it and I can’t love it and I don’t know how to feel.
I love the setting. I love Manderley—it’s so beautiful, so perfect. I love the very, very English characters and dialogue. I love the heavy, abundant, obvious symbolism (I adore symbolism and it was CONSTANT). I love the gorgeous descriptions of Nature and the constant deep, real, pertinent narration of trivial but very important events and feelings—about the past and present, about routine, about reactions. It made me notice things about life and the world that I had never considered before. And the writing style is amazing. Vivid, brief, expansive, clear—“she never speaks but she says something.”
The characters fit in perfectly. They’re real, and raw, and loveable—or despicable. Beatrice and Giles, clumsy and kindly. Horrible, broken Mrs. Danvers. Stiff Frith and young Robert. Jack Favell, the handsome cockroach. Poor Ben; foolish Mrs. Bishop; wondering, worn-out Grammy; awful, amusing Mrs. Van Hopper; gallant Colonel Julyan, so very British. And Frank, dear, sweet, perfect Frank. They were all so ALIVE. So fascinating, however inconsequent. The Narrator, whose name is never known… childish, lonely little Narrator, learning through many buffetings to have a stiff upper lip, to gain confidence, to understand life. I grew with her—I related to her in so many ways. Rebecca, so evocative, so passionate, so beautiful and so wicked. She disgusted me almost as much as Favell. And then there is Maxim—poor Max, the hardest to make up my mind about. He was so lovely and so terrible. I loved him so much—I felt for him so much—but he made me so angry, so sad. I can’t forgive him—and yet, must I? I don’t know which is right.
The story is so relentlessly gripping. The first few chapters were delicious—happiness, love, imagination, everything fascinating and enjoyable. Then things became very painful—I cringed again and again, feeling the Narrator’s fear and unease so much that it hurt. I had to take breaks because it angered and distressed me. Then things evened out—became hopeful—and THEN came the crisis, slowly, steadily, inflexibly mounting until it was just endless chapters of tenseness. The ending was almost like a snapback—so unexpected and such a release of strain. I know it all sounds very poetical and silly, but that’s how it made me feel. I haven’t had a book make me FEEL so much and so strongly in a very, very long time. I find it interesting that the Narrator and Max are so little described. I heard somewhere that Hergé intentionally made Tintin without backstory, family or any ties—almost no personality—so that readers could identify with him easily regardless of who they were. I wonder if it’s the same for Max and the Narrator—you’re supposed to fit yourself into them, s relate with them, and see your own antagonists in Rebecca.
I love the way the book talks of confidence and standing up for oneself. About communication and sharing burdens. And it has much to think about in relation to marriage. But sometimes the darkness and hopelessness of the story was almost too much. I thought this was comparable to Jane Eyre, and while it has several similarities, I feel like it’s the opposite in theme. JE is about trusting God and doing the right thing. Rebecca is about the mess humans get themselves into when they go by their passions and reject right. Rebecca, Max, Favell—they made wrong choices that impacted and disrupted SO many people, and they did not repent. While I appreciated seeing real life and thinking about the deep messages the book brought up, I struggled with the hurt and dark. It’s the immersion in the story that made it seem so much more awful, I think. Things were handled rather briefly, flippantly—very Britishly—and it didn’t feel gratuitous, nor was it depressing or overwhelmingly evil—but it made me so sad, because people live like this and I wish they didn’t… I wish they didn’t hurt like that.
And most of all, I struggled with Max. The book made me love Max. I wanted him to be free, I wanted him and Narrator to have a full, happy life—more for her than for him, but yes, for him too, because I loved him. MAJOR SPOILERS: (view spoiler)[But I couldn’t accept the lack of justice. Even if it turned out not as bad in the end—even if Rebecca made him do it, even if circumstances were not as she said they were, STILL, he snapped and murdered her and did not regret it… and until informed otherwise didn’t care about the supposed second victim of the tragedy. I would have forgiven it, if he’d repented—but he didn’t, and it frightened and saddened me. And forgiveness or not, he deserved justice. Even if Rebecca was horribly wrong in everything she did, what Max did was NOT right, and it was wrong—it was dangerous and WRONG to let him go. And yet there I was, hoping he’d get away until I caught myself, and then hoping again. It was very disconcerting to have my feelings manipulated like that. Daphne du Maurier is certainly a great writer. (hide spoiler)] END OF MAJOR SPOILERS.
This made me fall in love with life. It’s a portrayal of real life, with all its beauty and evilness, its pain and joy. It hurt a lot—it was messy and confusing—it was brutally honest. And I love that… but I don’t know if it’s wise to read it again… It was a profound book and a well-written book and a very moving book, but I don’t know that it was a good book, exactly. I’ll round it up to four stars for now…
And the main point I came away with is “the truth will set you free.”
Content: Lots of language, ranging from bl**dy to de*il to h**l to absolutely blasphemy, which really bothered me. Several mentions of intimacy and adultery; talk about birth control. Two secondary characters engage in adultery; murder, attempted murder by suggesting suicide (on screen). Discrimination towards an intellectually disabled character; plenty of lying; smoking & drinking. Possibly more, I forget. Recommended age: 18+
5+ stars (9/10 hearts). I LOVED this book. Wow. I did not expect to love it so much! I read it several times as a kid and was profoundly impacted by t5+ stars (9/10 hearts). I LOVED this book. Wow. I did not expect to love it so much! I read it several times as a kid and was profoundly impacted by the setting and storyline. Rereading it as an adult, I was impacted by the themes, messages, and characters.
Jane Eyre is often seen as a dark book. I, instead, found it very beautiful and hopeful. I loved Jane. She was so wise and strong and loving. Really, she became one of my favourite female characters ever. Her story is so sad and yet it is hopeful too. I would love to be a Jane—so willing to help, so eager to love, so strong in trial, so full of faith. The way she combats suicide and depression, grief and pain, pressure and cruelty to live the life she knows God wants for her, is wonderfully inspiring.
Mr. Rochester was another character I loved. I related to his weakness and his desire to do good but his lack of willingness to try to be good. After all, he had a good heart. He could have done any number of things to the woman he was chained with and yet he did do her the best he could—as he thought. I loved seeing his redemption arc so much. And as a man, he was just a very entertaining, fascinating, interesting person….
St. John I strongly disliked. What a hypocritical, supercilious Pharisee. He was a “good” man and yet he was not a good man. He was certain that he and he alone was right. He even tried to play God with Jane. If she had obeyed him, she would have killed herself (no use at all to the Lord) and have run right by her true calling. And he was cruel and harsh to her—while pretending to be as merciful and long-suffering as Christ Jesus. I couldn’t stand St. John. Yet his sisters were lovely!
The plot was fascinating. Twisty and unexpected all the way to the end, and so varied—from the luxurious but abusive Reed home to Lowood, first cold and cruel, then warm and nurturing; from Thornfield Hall, so dark and gloomy, haunted by a sinister secret, yet blossoming with love and happiness; to the moors, stern and beautiful, and the little village, simple and hearty… and then, the ending place—damp, lonely, and full of human joy. The messages are wonderful—so many reminders about the seriousness of marriage; about not putting up idols in your heart instead of God; about being yourself but in a holy, temperate way; about true charity, about the foolishness of ranks and caste; about the meaning of true love… While there is sadness and ugliness presented in this book, and Brontë does not shy away from portraying sin (see content list below), everything was well handled and was only used to make redemption and Light stand out. The writing style is simply brilliant and the humour excellent; the other characters are all so alive and varied and interesting; the setting is fascinating and so well detailed… it’s a simply beautiful book with a really beautiful message.
Content: drinking; smoking; kissing, touching, hugging, between Jane & Mr. R. before engagement; Mr. R. had many mistresses & an illegitimate child; he tries to get Jane to live with him without being married; attempted bigamy; some language; some theology I don’t necessarily agree with. Recommended age: 18+
A Favourite Quote: “I hold another creed … in which I delight, and to which I cling: for it extends hope to all: it makes Eternity a rest—a mighty home, not a terror and an abyss. Besides, with this creed, I can so clearly distinguish between the criminal and his crime; I can so sincerely forgive the first while I abhor the last: with this creed revenge never worries my heart, degradation never too deeply disgusts me, injustice never crushes me too low: I live in calm, looking to the end.” A Favourite Beautiful Quote: I saw the fascination of the locality. I felt the consecration of its loneliness: my eye feasted on the outline of swell and sweep—on the wild colouring communicated to ridge and dell by moss, by heath-bell, by flower-sprinkled turf, by brilliant bracken, and mellow granite crag. These details were just to me what they were to them—so many pure and sweet sources of pleasure. The strong blast and the soft breeze; the rough and the halcyon day; the hours of sunrise and sunset; the moonlight and the clouded night, developed for me, in these regions, the same attraction as for them—wound round my faculties the same spell that entranced theirs. A Favourite Humorous Quote: “What age were you when you went to Lowood?” “About ten.” “And you stayed there eight years: you are now, then, eighteen?” I assented. “Arithmetic, you see, is useful; without its aid, I should hardly have been able to guess your age.”...more
5 stars. What a masterpiece this mystery is! Of all the Sherlock novels & mysteries, this one is the most complex and mysterious—and perhaps even the 5 stars. What a masterpiece this mystery is! Of all the Sherlock novels & mysteries, this one is the most complex and mysterious—and perhaps even the most fascinating and memorable.
The setting is gorgeous—the wild Darbyshire moor. Doyle’s writing style is excellent, and he was fantastic at description, really making the place come to life, with its craigs and cairns and bogs, its butterflies and ponies and legendary devil hound. The mood of the book is rain and clouds, gloom and fear, yet sunbeams cross it and slowly rise after one terrible foggy night…
The characters are even more striking than the setting. Hot-tempered, soft-hearted Sir Henry, the last of a great race. Kindly, enthusiastic Dr. Mortimer; anxious, exotic Beryl; keen, unprediactable Stapleton; pugnacious, boisterous Frankland and his broken daughter; the sad Barrymores and the wicked convict; hardworking, sensitive Watson and sharp Holmes, pushing himself to the fullest to end the career of a terrifyingly intelligent and daring criminal—one of the most frighting villains in literature.
The plot is an absolute succession of twists. Things are constantly being enlightened, yet remain as dark as before until Holmes draws back the veil—which even he cannot do fully until the very end. The humour, as always, is fantastic, and the deductions are brilliant. The book can be creepy upon the first read—especially if read by a sensitive reader, and even more especially at night—yet Holmes’ stories, like cookies, improve by keeping. Each reread finds me liking the stories better and appreciating the brainwork more.
Again, as a mystery, this is one of the very best I’ve ever come across—a delightful autumnal read.
Content: Drinking & smoking; a murder; mentions of leaving your husband and divorce; swearing. An old story of a Cavalier wanting a girl and locking her in a room, then visiting her “to carry food and drink—with other worse things, perchance.” Not finding her, he chases her across the moor. She dropped dead, and he is discovered killed by a dog. There is thenceforth belief that a certain hound is a devil/a family is haunted by a demon hound. Some slightly gruesome references to being killed by a hound. Violence against a wife. Recommended ages: 16+.
A Favourite Quote: “The more outré and grotesque an incident is the more carefully it deserves to be examined, and the very point which appears to complicate a case is, when duly considered and scientifically handled, the one which is most likely to elucidate it.” A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “Rolling pasture lands curved upwards on either side of us, and old gabled houses peeped out from amid the thick green foliage, but behind the peaceful and sunlit countryside there rose ever, dark against the evening sky, the long, gloomy curve of the moor, broken by the jagged and sinister hills.” A Favourite Humorous Quote: “But these, of course, are afterthoughts. At the moment I was simply conscious that I was in the presence of a very handsome woman, and that she was asking me the reasons for my visit. I had not quite understood until that instant how delicate my mission was. “I have the pleasure,” said I, “of knowing your father.” It was a clumsy introduction, and the lady made me feel it.”...more
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