I love it. Maciej Kowalik, who read the Polish version of the Discworld series, is brilliant. His witches (like many other characters) have personalitI love it. Maciej Kowalik, who read the Polish version of the Discworld series, is brilliant. His witches (like many other characters) have personalities and lives. I probably wouldn't have loved the series as much if I had read it by myself.
What to add. Wit, fun, and many wise thought. ...more
This was my second try with the series. The first one, with The Hooker and the Hermit didn't go well - I abandoned the book. This time, I went throughThis was my second try with the series. The first one, with The Hooker and the Hermit didn't go well - I abandoned the book. This time, I went through it, but around the middle, I started mostly skimming and skipping paragraphs.
The idea for a love story wasn't original, but I hoped (with Penny Reid as a co-writer) it would be funny and smart. Building the setting was entertaining. Sadly, when came time for the development of the story it was too typical, too repetitive. And the last misunderstanding was too far-fetched. I understand that such an "angry twist" is a part of the pattern, but in my opinion, at that point in the character's relationship, it didn't fit.
It wasn't a great ending of the series. I hoped for more, not sure for what, but it was the worst part of the series. It was still a good novel, just It wasn't a great ending of the series. I hoped for more, not sure for what, but it was the worst part of the series. It was still a good novel, just not as satisfying (especially the second half of the book)....more
I think this series is one of the best feminist novels. Yes, the women were here show harshly, but one can't tell it wasn't true. I don't like what thI think this series is one of the best feminist novels. Yes, the women were here show harshly, but one can't tell it wasn't true. I don't like what they did. I would like them to be sometimes more modern, sometimes more moral, etc. Yet, in this cruel reality, I watched the essence of a woman, who we are, how we differ from men, and how we do not differ....more
This part of the series was a picture of a young marriage and other young adult relationships, dreams, and decisions in Neapol in the 1960s. I can't sThis part of the series was a picture of a young marriage and other young adult relationships, dreams, and decisions in Neapol in the 1960s. I can't say I approve or like them, but I can say I believe in the reality of them. I got also the feeling that it had many autobiography elements, I almost felt the author's emotions because of it. But perhaps I am wrong, and it was so just because Elena Ferrante is such a good writer.
I had some reservations about all those political, social, and philosophical discussions, or rather just mentioning them. Yet perhaps it was supposed to show the gap between the classes.
There were moments when I was a bit annoyed with the "love-dramas", almost like from the TV series when everyone slept/was in love with everyone (I mean, not at the same time).
And I am not a fan of cliffhangers at the end of the book. The previous novel had it too, but very subtle. This one ended like a chapter, not as a book.
Yet, despite the mentioned reservations, it is hard to give it less than the previous one. One of the reasons is the way the author portrayed women. Like brilliantly put it Violet wells...a dazzling display of a writer removing all the paint and powder from a woman's face mask and showing us the naked truths beneath (...) She dispels all the fog, unravels all the knots of a woman’s deepest feeling and elucidates in simple language the fount, the hidden motive. She always knows the secret as to why her women are doing what they do. She once said in an interview that her ambition was to make the facts of ordinary life gripping.
I needed it to remember why I appreciate Penny Reid so much. Her latest books (since the Knitting in the CitI didn't know how much I needed this book.
I needed it to remember why I appreciate Penny Reid so much. Her latest books (since the Knitting in the City and Winston Brother series - the original ones) were enjoyable, but none of them was a "wow" to me.
I needed it to regain faith in the genre, modern romance with wit and a deeper topic, where characters develop, where is a bit of action, some swoony moments, and something to think through.
I have big hopes and anxieties about Ava and Des' story. So big, that the ebook waited for me since its premiere on my Kindle. I was afraid I would be disappointed. But I wasn't, far from it. Penny Reid gave me the story that I fell in love with, that we, fans of the above-mentioned series, deserved. The author managed perfectly the characters in the background (not overwhelming with old friends, but also not writing like they were not important). And those few talks between Des and Quinn - simply perfection.
I could praise here how brilliantly Penny Reid captured (again) mental illness. How wonderfully she created an enjoyable and mature love story. How funny were some scenes, how much fun I had. But I won't. You read it, and I will dream thinking of it ;-)...more
I thought it would be some kind of a call to not eat eggs, meat, etc. but it was a tale about prejudice, unfairness of life, segregation,A nice story.
I thought it would be some kind of a call to not eat eggs, meat, etc. but it was a tale about prejudice, unfairness of life, segregation, and also a bit about freedom, love, and parenthood. It can be inspirational, and did capture my attention, yet, there was no "wow"....more
One of the best of the series, so far. Of course, I am biased because I loved the character of Death.
It was funny, wise, thoughtful, ironic - you nameOne of the best of the series, so far. Of course, I am biased because I loved the character of Death.
It was funny, wise, thoughtful, ironic - you name it. I am sure I lost many of Pratchett's winks and many allegories. I could read it instantly again I would have as much joy as I just had....more
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.
A gripping novel. Not from the first page, but when the childhood memories started I was fully in.
I liked the description of childhood and growing up A gripping novel. Not from the first page, but when the childhood memories started I was fully in.
I liked the description of childhood and growing up in Canada after the IIWW the most. Not only everyday life things and happenings but also the relations between people, and their views.
The relationship between girls, their friendship, and abuse were fascinating.
Some parts about feminism, the roles and rights of women are today (happily) not valid, sadly some others still are.
My scientific part liked the bits about physics, biology, etc., yet, there was nothing new or revealing. The novel was written almost forty years ago, and then, I am sure it was more thrilling.
It was my second try with the author. The first one, The Handmaid’s Tale, I ended with abandoning it. It was probably the wrong moment for that story. I must try more by Margaret Atwood.
Well, my beginnings with the author weren't great. I liked An Unsuitable Attachment but not as much as I hoped. Then I tried, but didn't finish ExcellWell, my beginnings with the author weren't great. I liked An Unsuitable Attachment but not as much as I hoped. Then I tried, but didn't finish Excellent Women - the novel considered as her best. So, I was starting to think, something was wrong with me, because I am a fan of the genre (British humor, cozy, small societies, etc.). But "Crampton Hodnet" gave me back the hope.
It was funny, observant, and enjoyable. I adored the characters and watched them with bated breath....more
It's really hard for me to describe the book. Horrible, important, unforgettable.
Repeating after GR description: One of the most important testimoniesIt's really hard for me to describe the book. Horrible, important, unforgettable.
Repeating after GR description: One of the most important testimonies of a gulag and at the same time one of the most important works in the history of Polish – and world – literature of the 20th century.
A shocking vivisection of the mechanisms of Soviet totalitarianism and a picture of human nature exposed to the hardest of tests. In a word: a book that – as Albert Camus stated – “should be published and read in all countries of the world.”
I understand why the book isn't more known in the Western world. People know much about Nazi concentration camps, but almost none about the gulags. It is sad because (according to estimates, unfortunately, there is no exact data) almost 20 million people were in gulags and almost 3 million died there. And what the system did with those people (physically and psychologically) was beyond imagination.
If you are able to read such stories - do what you can to get to read this memoir....more
There are so many bad (awful, untruthful) books about IIWW, the Holocaust, etc., we can not forget about those priceless.
Hanna Krall's reportage, her There are so many bad (awful, untruthful) books about IIWW, the Holocaust, etc., we can not forget about those priceless.
Hanna Krall's reportage, her interview with Marek Edelman - one of the few survivors of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising was like a blow to the heart. I felt the same reading it for the first time, in High School.
On those hundred pages, you don't get a chronological list of events, names, dates, etc. You get the point of view, struggles with what happened, no definitive answers, many questions, and most of all the feeling that there is no way to fully understand people who had to cope with that horrible reality.
Perhaps some readers will find it difficult to read because it was a bit chaotic. But let me remind you, that not only Edelman was recounting events from about 30 years, that in a way he wanted to forget probably, but also simply because he recalled life, surviving that was chaotic.
If you think about yourself as a reader who is interested in IIWW, the history of Jews, etc. - you have to know this book....more
I have read it (only skimming many pages). I needed some light story, even if unrealistic. But there were too many repetitions and "Harlequin sentenceI have read it (only skimming many pages). I needed some light story, even if unrealistic. But there were too many repetitions and "Harlequin sentences" to my taste (or mood). I didn't buy Vince's better site - he was too brutal initially. I can understand the romance has fans - it was written for a specific target. Yet, to me, the hero was too awful and all that angst was overused.
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.
...lifting him from the certainty of turmoil and dropping him in a turmoil of uncertainty.
A gripping story about people and culture I know little
...lifting him from the certainty of turmoil and dropping him in a turmoil of uncertainty.
A gripping story about people and culture I know little about. I have no idea how representative the characters were, but they were fascinating and moving. The sentence: For you, a thousand times over will stay forever with me, and it will probably always wrench my heart.
The last part of the story seemed to me a bit too sentimental, and, when I think about it now, the whole book had such an atmosphere. But, Khaled Hosseini squeezed my heart in a way, that didn't feel melodramatic (save the mentioned last part) when I read it.
It is not probably for all, because at times it was awfully brutal. Yet, the world it described was/is cruel.
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).
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