Jürgen Thorwald and Henry Hartmann were a great duet. Full of knowledge, priceless information, and with a voice that was compassionate, yet straight Jürgen Thorwald and Henry Hartmann were a great duet. Full of knowledge, priceless information, and with a voice that was compassionate, yet straight and sharp too.
Properly written Regency romance, with an original (historically true) idea for a story.
The reading went smoothly, but there was no "wow". I am sure tProperly written Regency romance, with an original (historically true) idea for a story.
The reading went smoothly, but there was no "wow". I am sure that the same story written by G. Heyer or M. Chesney would have sounded much better, and more enjoyable.
The weakest point was the hero. I didn't see his transformation or even motivation for the book he wrote. Suzanne Allain should have thought it better through. I understand the author needed to make him likable, but it could have been done more credibly.
Also, I liked the idea of "rewriting the rules", but it was obvious from the beginning how it would end. It was stupid they didn't anticipate what would happen. They could have anticipated it but did it nonetheless. It was an unnecessary dramatization by the author....more
let me not say of my Dead that it is dead! I will believe all else, bear all else, endure all else!
A powerful book.
It was hard to believe that was
let me not say of my Dead that it is dead! I will believe all else, bear all else, endure all else!
A powerful book.
It was hard to believe that was written in the Victorian era because the literature of that period I associate with different styles and topics.
Your immortality is annihilation, your Hereafter is a lie
There were two or three moments when philosophical arguments dragged a bit. Nonetheless, the messages about immortality and women's rights were brilliant and valid. Neither new nor original to me, but still important and truthful.
Our fathers had their dream; we have ours; the generation that follows will have its own. Without dreams and phantoms man cannot exist.
A gem worth reading.
Only then, when there comes a pause, a blank in your life, when the old idol is broken, when the old hope is dead, when the old desire is crushed, then the Divine compensation of Nature is made manifest
The sentimentality was way too much for my taste. I skipped many sentences; otherwise, I would have abandoned the book. Sadly, the epilogue made it evThe sentimentality was way too much for my taste. I skipped many sentences; otherwise, I would have abandoned the book. Sadly, the epilogue made it even worse. I didn't like that two characters were shown as evil. Was it necessary? Could they be more complex?
Nonetheless, the idea and questions asked by the author were interesting.
The main topic of the book was snobbishness and class prejudice in the middle class (or more precisely among classes in the middle class). Because of The main topic of the book was snobbishness and class prejudice in the middle class (or more precisely among classes in the middle class). Because of it, I felt awful numerous times. Yet, Mrs. Oliphant wrote the story wonderfully, with wit and understanding that made it, at the same time, real, and enjoyable.
Moreover, the author's study of characters was brilliant. It was only the second book by Mrs. Oliphant I have read so far, but I understand why some readers call her a brilliant though neglected Victorian novelist....more
A good historical fiction, I think with enough historical accuracy. I learned something new about everyday life in a Polish town in the German partitiA good historical fiction, I think with enough historical accuracy. I learned something new about everyday life in a Polish town in the German partition, just before Poland regained independence.
But the plot and the stories of fictional characters were too obviously chosen for modern readers. I don't say such people couldn't live then. They just sometimes sounded too modern. The author tried to get the vibe of an old language and habits - it was nice. Yet, that "XXI century voice was too loud".
Still, I will try to read another part of the series.
An enjoyable reading. Regency romance that didn't make me annoyed (like many others of the genre). Without Heyer's and Austen's depth, but nice to reaAn enjoyable reading. Regency romance that didn't make me annoyed (like many others of the genre). Without Heyer's and Austen's depth, but nice to read.
As often in Marion Chesney's books, there was a subtle satire of the times (in this case the Edwardian era) and the upper class in the background. ThrAs often in Marion Chesney's books, there was a subtle satire of the times (in this case the Edwardian era) and the upper class in the background. Through it, the sad, unfair aspects of that world were visible. The love story, which is "officially" the main plot of the book, is often the weakest addition for me. And so it was this time.
Chesney could afford to have such fun without worrying about the unrealistic plot, creating comic characters, and at the same time being a critic of the eras she chose as the background of her novels.
My favorite books by the author are those where the romance was more engaging than in this case. But it's also not the worst of those I've read so far. [2.5-3 stars]...more
It was a well-constructed story showing the fascination and allegory between boxing (a brutal sport) and a love story (a love game). The main characteIt was a well-constructed story showing the fascination and allegory between boxing (a brutal sport) and a love story (a love game). The main characters were innocent, moral, etc., and through them, London showed how much of our animal nature is in us and that, although it is natural and often unavoidable, it sometimes brings a brutal ending.
Jack London was great at describing animals and their nature, which is why this story was so vivid and true.
But only such legends, which were not true, had prepared her for the strangeness of life.
A great novel. Well-written historical fiction. A psychol
But only such legends, which were not true, had prepared her for the strangeness of life.
A great novel. Well-written historical fiction. A psychological study. It isn't easy to say what genre the book was. There was political intrigue, philosophical reflections, a bit of mystery and adventure, quite thorough thoughts about Russians (between centuries, the XIX and XX).
The dialogues and monologues of the characters totally gripped me.
What was beauty, what was ugliness? Only existence mattered.
Perhaps not every reader would be able to follow the story and characters. I had enough knowledge (and understanding) of Russia to enjoy it enormously.
The river has broken its dams and it's made mud of all our land. Your grandfather and I and all Russians have to stay where the flood waters have cast us, where we were sucked down into the marsh, we can't free ourselves, we've just go to wait there.
The story was fictional, but it was also similar to many other real stories (not only about Russia). Treachery and idealism, greed, power, and cluelessness are parts of many social changes (not always for good).
In this collection of three theater plays, Mateusz Pakuła used nonsense and insolence in the best style to show us, or rather to ask us the importanceIn this collection of three theater plays, Mateusz Pakuła used nonsense and insolence in the best style to show us, or rather to ask us the importance of science.
There are too many people in the world who want to be right and too few who just want to know.
I adore his wit, and the way his mind works, although I can't tell I understand it fully. But definitely, in many ways, it is similar to mine, so I am always resonating with his "fantasy world".
I can't get out. From a black hole. My insignificance.
There is a chance that I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't listened to it at an accelerated pace and if I wasn't often tired and sleepy listeningThere is a chance that I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't listened to it at an accelerated pace and if I wasn't often tired and sleepy listening to it.
Still, it was an interesting and well-paced story....more
It was probably one of the most beautiful homages of nature (and the old way of living) in literature. The flora and fauna of Transylvania sang througIt was probably one of the most beautiful homages of nature (and the old way of living) in literature. The flora and fauna of Transylvania sang through the pages the poignant story of the past. Of people who lived then and don't live anymore, of wildlife that had to change, and some parts even died, because humans saw (often still see) Mother Nature as an obstacle to progress.
The language the author used in the descriptions was brilliant. I regret I had a copy from a library, not my own copy or ebook - I would have marked hundreds of quotes. Look at examples (my own translation from Polish):
...it was raining outside and the evening was leaving on its thin threads.
Time cuddled the silence.
The deep blue funnels of gentian tried in vain to make the forest believe in summer; the forest didn't believe them anymore. In the depths of the ravines, in the shadow of the valleys, the ground was already ready to receive the first frost. And the air was pure and cold as steel, as if the winds had drained the last drops of summer from it.
Something that had no beginning has begun.
The characters were memorable and remarkable too. I don't think I ever forget Ivan, Birtalan, Wolf Dumitru, Toderic, Fur-eared (the Armenian bartender), Rotter Abraham, Nátu and Indrei Sándru, Juon, to name a few. Their stories were heart-wrenching to the core of the soul. The two main characters Nuca and Gáspár were in comparison less fascinating than the rest.
What to add, I am speechless, the words I have in my mind are like fairy-tale realism, a hypnotic image of a 19th-century land, a delightful be-gone world.
I am so enchanted by this book that I will search for a copy of the novel to buy for myself.
PS The third part of the book was not as great as the first two. And not because it was the saddest one (which it was). But because in two parts the magical/fantasy bit was more subtle. In the third one, that thread was too plain, too unbelievable. And the fatalism of it was too heavy. Nonetheless, before I could feel too much disappointed in it, the book ended....more
This story had a few well-written characters and a few interesting insights into the Victorian world.
I am not sure how much I would have enjoyed it whThis story had a few well-written characters and a few interesting insights into the Victorian world.
I am not sure how much I would have enjoyed it while reading it by myself but an audiobook on LibriVox was adeptly done, and the novel was enough absorbing.
This book was even more shocking, it rocked to the core.
First of all, it is a must-read for everyone who values human rights, humanity, etc.
Then, it is a must-read for everyone interested in the history.
Also, it is a must-read for everyone who loves literature.
And, lastly, everyone should at least know the message and Sven Lindqvist's understanding of genocides.
To me, it was one of the most impressive and the most important books I have ever read.
It allowed me to better understand Joseph Conrad and his novels (especially Heart of Darkness), and a few other writers, e.g. H.G. Wells.
It showed me the parts of history that most people (with help from some historians) are trying to not remember.
First of all, it put into my head questions that I want now to ask everyone:
Which guilt and debts the new generation should inherit, which not, why and who (and why) decides about it? Who started the idea of genocide? How did and does the Western world hide so efficiently the genocides of the XVI-XIX century? And many others.
In other words, it is one of the books that changes the reader. There is no way to not feel impacted. Even, if (almost impossible) one doesn't agree with Sven Lindqvist....more
Well, Marion Chesney did manage to add something a bit different (Aunt Augusta), although, of course, it wasn't a fully original character. And I did Well, Marion Chesney did manage to add something a bit different (Aunt Augusta), although, of course, it wasn't a fully original character. And I did go through it and had a little fun. Still, I would say it was one of the worst by the author. Michelle summarized it perfectly....more
On the first level nice, but nothing great. A typical Chesney's Regency romances, but without something that made some of them wonderful.
Still, becausOn the first level nice, but nothing great. A typical Chesney's Regency romances, but without something that made some of them wonderful.
Still, because it was Chesney I found many (important) observations, censure of that time. It was between the lines, on the second level. This is why I always value more Chesney's romances than many other authors of the genre - her love story can be flat, but I always see her pen, even in the worst of her novels.
Mattie, a sixty-year-old dreamy spinster, was charming. The rest characters were also promising - I just regret that the author didn't use them more, better, deeper. Instead of focusing on a mystery she could have focused more on characters - I would have liked it much more then.
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