Anyone new to Japanese fiction / mysteries should be aware that these books tend to contain lengthy descriptions ... about everything. Having read a nAnyone new to Japanese fiction / mysteries should be aware that these books tend to contain lengthy descriptions ... about everything. Having read a number of Japanese mysteries this was something I was well aware of - and yet, I was thoroughly disengaged with both characters (Rika Machida and Manako Kujii) and the narrative to the point that I would consider myself utterly bored. After 100 or so pages of a story that was three parts too long in the telling and one part mystery, I literally gave up - and this being despite the fact that this story was "inspired" upon real events (a theme I tend to find engaging).
If you are interested in cooking and butter then by all means, read on. If you are interested in the "real events" that inspired this particular work, then head over to good old wikipedia and read about Kinae Kijima....more
Despite the premise, I did not find myself engaged in the narrative. I am not really a fan of supernatural fiction but thought I would give it a go asDespite the premise, I did not find myself engaged in the narrative. I am not really a fan of supernatural fiction but thought I would give it a go as it's set within an historical fiction context. I did not finish this. I am sure there are others who will more fully engage with this tome....more
Sad to say that I did not finish this - after fourteen chapters, I put it aside, and found that West's blog was much more interesting. Sad to say that I did not finish this - after fourteen chapters, I put it aside, and found that West's blog was much more interesting. ...more
I did not finish this - I liked the premise which did remind me of "The Italian Job" however, I got bogged down and lost in the narrative that despiteI did not finish this - I liked the premise which did remind me of "The Italian Job" however, I got bogged down and lost in the narrative that despite putting down and picking up multiple times, I made for the nearest exit. I may come back to this one later....more
"Former Long Island Congressman, Steve Israel has firsthand knowledge of the cynicism and corruption at the heart of our political system. Big Guns wi"Former Long Island Congressman, Steve Israel has firsthand knowledge of the cynicism and corruption at the heart of our political system. Big Guns will make you laugh, will make you angry, and will make you think as you flip the pages faster and faster to find out what happens next.."
Unfortunately not for me - just could not get into the story, and barely made it to 20 pages. Didn't even both to skip to the end. Put it down, metaphorically speaking, and promptly forgot all about it....more
I didn't finish this one - it jumped too much all over the place in setting up the scene. Even with notes, I couldn't focus on what was relevant to thI didn't finish this one - it jumped too much all over the place in setting up the scene. Even with notes, I couldn't focus on what was relevant to the story line and what wasn't....more
I never made it to the end despite that fact that the description intrigued me. I guess not having read the previous five mysteries, there was just noI never made it to the end despite that fact that the description intrigued me. I guess not having read the previous five mysteries, there was just no connection with the characters, and the plot actually left me a little ambivalent. May come back to this series, but with book one....more
Knowing already the story of Elfrida, I was in two minds when I decided to read this one. The subtitle - the Tenth Century Anne Boleyn - whilst raisedKnowing already the story of Elfrida, I was in two minds when I decided to read this one. The subtitle - the Tenth Century Anne Boleyn - whilst raised eyebrows, should have sounded alarm bells; and the fact the this was the first in a trilogy worried me whether things would be too slow in kicking off and maintaining my attention.
Nevertheless, I was intrigued> Having a copy of Elfrida by Elizabeth Norton on my shelves, I was curious as to how this author would be their spin on this Anglo-Saxon noblewoman.
Told in the first person narrative, this comes across as a more romaticised version of Elfrida's life. This should come under the banner of historical romance as this is how it plays out (rather clumsily) in the first few chapters.
Unfortunately, for me, that is where I left Elfrida. Sorry to say - not a fan....more
As much as I tried, I really could not get into this. I wanted to, and persisted then put it aside and came back to it. But after 50 or so pages, the As much as I tried, I really could not get into this. I wanted to, and persisted then put it aside and came back to it. But after 50 or so pages, the spark was just not there - and it remains unfinished....more
I found the storytelling very disjointed; I wasn't sure there was any real structure apart from positing the narrator into various historical scenarioI found the storytelling very disjointed; I wasn't sure there was any real structure apart from positing the narrator into various historical scenarios strung together on some invisible thread that at various times flirted with past-life regression and astral travel. Too many themes crammed together. that the narrative felt like it was tripping over itself.
I have the second in the series and won't be reading or reviewing it....more
To be honest this really was just not for me. Whilst the premise of exploring the mythology surrounding James IV of Scotland was what drew me to this To be honest this really was just not for me. Whilst the premise of exploring the mythology surrounding James IV of Scotland was what drew me to this book, the delivery failed to hold my attention. I felt that it was at times repeatative, convoluted, and disorganised. It assumes a prior knowledge of both Scottish and royal history (which I have); however, I guess I was expecting something a little more chronologically presented - dealing with specific themes (birth, life, death, afterlife) individually rather than collectively. I am sure others will like this - just not for me and I left it unfinished....more
To say I was finding this challenging would be misleading - though I have come to a complete stop - such a promising start .. such an interesting topiTo say I was finding this challenging would be misleading - though I have come to a complete stop - such a promising start .. such an interesting topic to tackle ... thinking maybe this could have been tightened up a little or serialised earlier ... on the backburner for now...more
Read via kindle, but the story, the characters held no charm, no spell over my attention, which wandered greatly to the point that it wandered to anotRead via kindle, but the story, the characters held no charm, no spell over my attention, which wandered greatly to the point that it wandered to another tome and left this one unfinished....more
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