3.5 stars. There was a lot that I enjoyed about this book. Mainly, the realistic way marriage was portrayed and the drama that unfolds in the plot.
Hav3.5 stars. There was a lot that I enjoyed about this book. Mainly, the realistic way marriage was portrayed and the drama that unfolds in the plot.
Having said that, this book did not need to be just under 500 pages long. It also did not need such a big cast of characters. It consists of 6 couples, their children and step-children which were way too many characters to keep track of. My heart sank when I opened the book and saw the character list at the front (never a good sign in my experience). Half the couples had no development or purpose at all so omitting them would not have changed the plot at all and could have reduced the length of the book considerably.
However there was enough entertainment to keep me reading. The secrecy of the affair followed by the fall out was well written and had soap-opera vibes. The ending was a bit too idealistic for me but it wrapped everything up nicely. This would be a good beach or holiday read which was exactly the reason I bought it in the first place. ...more
I really loved How Much of These Hills Is Gold as I found the writing beautiful and much of the imagery stayed with me long after finishing it. TherefI really loved How Much of These Hills Is Gold as I found the writing beautiful and much of the imagery stayed with me long after finishing it. Therefore, I had high hopes for this book but was sadly left disappointed.
The story is set in a dystopian world where a fog has descended on earth, killing crops and leading to a global famine. We follow an unnamed chef who is hired by a wealthy and mysterious employer in a remote area in Italy where some produce is still able to survive.
C Pam Zhang's descriptive and often poetic writing works well when she writes about food and the preciousness and importance of it. However, other than this, I found the flowery language to be a hindrance to the story to the point where it felt quite tedious to read.
The characters did not feel authentic and plot felt all over the place so I spent a lot of the time wondering what was going on.
There is no doubt that C Pam Zhang is an excellent writer. I think it just needs the right story and atmosphere to showcase it and unfortunately I don't think this book was it. ...more
Having now read all of O'Farrell's novels, this one certainly felt like a departure from her usual style of writing. Gone were the shifts between diffHaving now read all of O'Farrell's novels, this one certainly felt like a departure from her usual style of writing. Gone were the shifts between different character's perspectives which are a feature of so many of her books, and instead we focus solely on Lucrezia's point of view.
Also gone was the "less is more" writing seen in Hamnet which was so emotionally powerful in its simplicity. Instead, in The Marriage Portrait, the writing is rich and descriptive in a way that I have not seen before in O'Farrell's work. It was beautiful to read, and captured the historical setting, however as the story progressed it took away from some of the dramatic tension and mystery.
I only had a vague recollection of My Last Duchess from my university days going into this book but I liked the reimagining of that story. Lucrezia was a fascinating character in her childhood with her natural intelligence and affiliation with animals. It was sad, though not surprising, to see her personality diminish after her marriage to Alfonso. The desperation and hopelessness of her situation, particularly as a woman at that time, was both infuriating and heartbreaking to read about. The story was often bleak yet atmospheric as the tension is maintained throughout.
Overall I enjoyed this book, even though the subject made it difficult at times, and am curious to see if this style of writing will continue in O'Farrell's next book. ...more
After reading It Happened One Summer I wasn't really that interested in Hannah and Fox's relationship. However I am glad I gave this sequel a chance aAfter reading It Happened One Summer I wasn't really that interested in Hannah and Fox's relationship. However I am glad I gave this sequel a chance as I ended up really loving their story and dynamic.
In keeping with the "friends to lovers" trope, there is a lot of angst, sexual tension and near-misses in their romance. I liked Hannah and Fox's banter and the slow-burn of their relationship and actually found their characters were more likeable and less irritating than Piper and Brendan from the first book.
There were still things that bugged me about them individually though. Firstly, Hannah's main struggle is that she doesn't see herself as a "main character" in the story of her life. This was fine the first three times it was mentioned but it quickly started to wear thin and felt very self-pitying when she comes from a very privileged background. Fox's main issue is that he has slept with a lot of women and has a reputation as a "ladies man" which he doesn't like, even though he plays up to that image to mask his insecurity (I think). Sorry but my sympathy was non-existent. Also, as a side note, where did he meet all these women when he lives in a tiny fishing village? Conveniently none of the women from his past ever make an appearance to humanise these women he has slept with and then cast aside.
Anyway, despite these minor irritations, this was a great story with lots of humour and decent spicy scenes. Hannah's love of music added a fun component to the story so you could listen to the songs mentioned if you wanted to add to the vibe of the story. Over the course of both books I really feel in love with the setting and Tessa Bailey's writing. I am looking forward to reading more of her books. ...more
Malibu Rising follows a family of four grown up siblings in the 80s, who are the children of a famous rock star, as they host their annual summer party. The dramatic events of the party where secrets come to light are told alongside flashbacks to their childhood and the history between their parents.
This was a perfect "beach-read" type of book where the pace was good and the storyline was easy to follow. Taylor Jenkins Reid once again shows her considerable knowledge and clever observations of life in Hollywood too.
There were some touching moments in the book however I can't say I felt overly invested in any of the characters. I don't think this will be a particularly memorable book but I enjoyed it enough while I was reading it. ...more
I never imagined I would enjoy a western this much, especially enough to give it 5 stars, but this book was incredible. I am so glad I took a chance oI never imagined I would enjoy a western this much, especially enough to give it 5 stars, but this book was incredible. I am so glad I took a chance on a book outside of my comfort zone.
The first thing to say about Lonesome Dove is that it has a bit of a slow start. You need patience for the characters and plot to become established before you get to the heart of the story. I think the general rule with this book is to give it 100 pages and you will be hooked.
The plot is rich with memorable and interesting characters and as we follow them on their journey you quickly realise that nothing is guaranteed and no one is safe in the harsh and brutal landscape they are travelling across. There was never a dull moment in the book as all the character's stories are woven together beautifully and we are given time to really get to know them and become invested in their lives.
The writing is phenomenal in the way it brings the setting alive, especially for readers like myself who have never been to the places described, and creates deep and believable characters in a subtle and nuanced way.
I absolutely loved this and will be racing to read the other books in this series. ...more
This was such a disappointment, although looking at some of the reviews, I am not the only one who thought so. I love elephants, as anyone who walks iThis was such a disappointment, although looking at some of the reviews, I am not the only one who thought so. I love elephants, as anyone who walks into my home would know instantly, so was excited to read this but it wasn't quite what I was expecting.
Hannah Mumby takes us along on her journey of observing and researching elephants. There are a lot of personal details about Hannah and her background and experiences which felt like unwelcome tangents away from the topic that made me pick up this book in the first place - elephants.
I don't want to undermine Hannah's knowledge and enthusiasm however there was a noticeable lack of insightful information about elephants, so the title just doesn't fit. I feel like anyone with more than a passing interest in elephants would already know most of the things included in this book e.g. how to tell the difference between African and Asian elephants. The blurb promises answers to fascinating questions but I must have missed those as they got buried in the convoluted writing which seemed to lack structure and focus.
This feels like a wasted opportunity to publish an accessible and well organised book that is genuinely about the lives of elephants. I wouldn't have minded a few personal observations thrown in from Hannah, but it became more a book about her than elephants. I will end on a positive note though by saying that the photographs included in this book are beautiful. ...more
This is the first book by Tessa Bailey that I have read and I am so glad I enjoyed it as much as I hoped to.
The characters were brilliant and vibrantThis is the first book by Tessa Bailey that I have read and I am so glad I enjoyed it as much as I hoped to.
The characters were brilliant and vibrant and there was plenty of witty dialogue to enjoy along the way. The connection between Piper and Brendan was well developed and I liked seeing their growth throughout the book and how their relationship prompted both of them to make positive changes in their lives. As expected, the plot did follow a typical romance structure, however something about the setting and direction of the story still felt fresh.
The spicy scenes were very good, however this does lead me to my one criticism of the book and that is the "dirty talk". I have heard that Tessa Bailey is known for this, but it just didn't work for me. More often than not it just made me cringe as I couldn't imagine anyone saying such things in all seriousness without laughing. Similarly, Piper repeatedly throughout the book refers to hugs from Brendan as being a "recharging station" which instantly gave me the ick ...more
This is a really lovely story about a young girl's life from girlhood to womanhood. The book is an epistolary novel which works perfectly for the plotThis is a really lovely story about a young girl's life from girlhood to womanhood. The book is an epistolary novel which works perfectly for the plot. Judy is writing regular letters to an anonymous man "Mr Smith" who is paying for her to attend college. She nicknames him "Daddy-Long-Legs" as she has only seen a shadow of him where it looked like he had long legs.
We quickly learn through the letters that Judy is very witty and we follow her emotional ups and downs which, over time, reflect the growth in her from a child to an adult. She dreams of being a successful writer and the letters are like a diary for all her thoughts and feelings.
We do find out the identity of Daddy-Long-Legs by the end of the book which I won't reveal here. I have to say I didn't predict it and I am not entirely sure how I feel about it. However it has made me want to read the book again knowing the identity to see how that changes the reading experience. ...more
I have read quite a few books that explore the issue of rape, sexual assault and consent and this one really stands out as one which handles the subjeI have read quite a few books that explore the issue of rape, sexual assault and consent and this one really stands out as one which handles the subject incredibly well.
Our protagonist Emma, from the offset, is not a likeable person. She is selfish, vain and doesn't treat her friends well. However, starting the book portraying Emma's confidence and self-obsession, makes her downfall all the more devastating as it makes a sharp contrast to who Emma is by the end of the book. It also makes the message super clear... no one deserves what Emma was put through.
We see events entirely through Emma's eyes so the confusion and lack of memory about the night she was raped plays out in front of the reader's eyes too. We are taken along with Emma through her journey of discovering what happened and experience the shock with her. The prose captures Emma's internal thoughts, which are often repetitive and spiraling, and depict her turmoil and struggle to process what has happened so well.
I genuinely felt anger and frustration at the lack of support for Emma in the story. Her parents are awful and the authorities seem useless. The only characters who seem to care at all are powerless to do anything. And ultimately the sadness is realising just how realistic this is. I understand why lots of readers don't like the ending. I hoped for a different one too but I admire the way O'Neill really went there in terms of depicting the harsh reality of cases like Emma's rather than trying to wrap everything up in a neat bow. ...more
This is likely to be an unpopular opinion based on how well rated this book is, but this didn't do anything for me.
The subject matter is very heavy soThis is likely to be an unpopular opinion based on how well rated this book is, but this didn't do anything for me.
The subject matter is very heavy so I was expecting to be hit with a lot of emotion while reading this, especially because I thought Here Is the Beehive packed a real emotional punch. However the whole concept fell a bit flat for me. The characters were lifeless (perhaps not the best word to use but you get the point) so it was difficult to feel invested in their plight and the writing felt a bit lackluster to me. Stories written in verse can often lend themselves well to portraying complex emotions and fragmented thoughts but I didn't really get a sense of that from this book. ...more
This book really showcases what Liane Moriarty does best, and that is creating believable mystery stories with a big cast of well developed charactersThis book really showcases what Liane Moriarty does best, and that is creating believable mystery stories with a big cast of well developed characters who come to life off the page.
I really liked the central mystery of this, which is the sudden disappearance of Joy Delaney. As her husband and four grown-up children try to figure out what has happened to her, suspicion between them starts to grow.
This is not a fast-paced mystery/thriller type of book so may not appeal to fans of that genre. However if, like me, you enjoy family-centered stories with interesting and dynamic characters that have a thread of mystery running through them, this might be right up your street. Moriarty manages to create a whole history of the Delaney family which truly informs the events happening in the present.
There were some times where the plot dragged a bit but I was always keen to keep reading and find out what has happened to Joy. There were unexpected revelations in the plot but I liked that these were handled in an understated way rather than for shock value. This book further solidified why I love Moriarty's novels. ...more
Having read almost all of Maggie O'Farrell's books by now, a prominent feature of her books is that you often don't know where the story is going, or Having read almost all of Maggie O'Farrell's books by now, a prominent feature of her books is that you often don't know where the story is going, or what the purpose of the story is, until you are quite far in. You really have to embrace the characters and the plot and just let them take you on a journey. Sometimes this pays off and it all slots nicely into place at some point, and other times it doesn't. Unfortunately this book fell into the latter category for me.
There is a huge cast of characters and lot of family dynamics and relationships to keep track of, along with multiple perspectives and timelines, so certainly a book that requires concentration. For the most part I liked the characters, particularly Claudette whose background in the film industry and decision to run from it all was very interesting. The mystery in Daniel's past keeps you guessing and questioning his character too.
While there was a lot in the plot that I enjoyed, and O'Farrell's writing is always a treat to read, I didn't really understand the point of it all at the end. At about 400 pages in length, there was a lot that could have been cut out to improve the pace and give the story more focus. ...more
I have to start by saying that the description of this book is very misleading but in a good way. I was relieved to find that it wasn't trying to condI have to start by saying that the description of this book is very misleading but in a good way. I was relieved to find that it wasn't trying to condone an affair between an adult and a minor and it actually portrays the devastating effect of this "relationship" on Sarah throughout her life.
This story is not for the faint-hearted as it is controversial, brutal, and raw and leaves you with many emotions from shock and horror to sadness and hope. The themes dealt with in the book reminded me of My Dark Vanessa in lots of ways where the protagonist is not as aware of the situation they find themselves in as we, the reader, are.
As horrifying as parts of this story were, it made for a compelling read as the characters were unpredictable and I couldn't guess where the plot was going to go.
This was an enjoyable historical fiction novel, set in 1890s Atlanta that felt quite fresh in lots of ways with the themes that it touches on.
The stoThis was an enjoyable historical fiction novel, set in 1890s Atlanta that felt quite fresh in lots of ways with the themes that it touches on.
The story follows a young Chinese woman, Jo, who lives secretly in the basement of a print shop. In a world where she experiences a lot of prejudice and racism, she finds her outlet in a newspaper advice column, which she writes under a pseudonym, where she can be as witty and opinionated as she wishes. My curiosity about this advice column was the main draw of this book for me however it was actually only one part of a much bigger story.
This leads to my biggest issue with the book. It simply tries to do far too much and therefore never feels like the individual threads of the plot get enough time or attention. Alongside the advice column and Jo's struggles to hide her identity, we also have a mystery around her parentage, a shady figure who is chasing a debt they are due, Jo's experience working as a lady's maid to a spoilt and demanding young woman, one or perhaps two love interests... the list just goes on and on.
I feel that if the book had more focus and direction, it could have been amazing. But sadly many of the subplots felt unnecessary and took away from the parts of the story I really enjoyed. Having said that, most of the plot threads are wrapped up quite satisfactorily by the end. There are only a few that don't go anywhere which further emphasises my point.
Overall there was a lot to enjoy here in the sections that piqued my interest and I wouldn't rule out trying another book from this author. ...more
I was really surprised to see that this book had such a low rating on here. I thought the writing and atmosphere was brilliant. It is not made entirelI was really surprised to see that this book had such a low rating on here. I thought the writing and atmosphere was brilliant. It is not made entirely clear when the book is set but the story takes place in a remote coastal village in Cornwall where the poor residents regularly raid shipwrecks and steal belongings from the dead who wash up on the shores. The arrival of Methodist minister, Gideon, causes a huge upheaval in protagonist Mary's life as she faces the consequences of her theft and experiences falling in love for the first time.
There is a dark and gothic atmosphere that runs throughout the book and maintains the tension as the plot unravels. As a debut novel, the plotting did have its faults, mainly that the pacing was off at times and the character development could have gone a bit deeper. But overall I really enjoyed this book and would be interested in reading more from this author.
I don't mind a slow burning story but after getting over half way through this book I lost interest and realised I didn't care enough about the characI don't mind a slow burning story but after getting over half way through this book I lost interest and realised I didn't care enough about the characters or the story to continue with it.
I previously enjoyed And When She Was Good by Laura Lippman and generally do like her style of writing. There was something in this book though where I kept thinking I had missed something and I don't know if these were deliberate things that didn't make sense in the plot, or a fault of the writing.
The main characters, Polly and Adam, had the potential to be very intriguing but I think the book should have revealed a bit more about them sooner in the book as I didn't know them well enough to care what happened to them. I was also hoping that the central love story would be more intense but the chemistry just wasn't there for me. ...more
I disliked this book within the first few pages which pretty much says it all.
The writing style really wasn't for me. It is written in a kind of streaI disliked this book within the first few pages which pretty much says it all.
The writing style really wasn't for me. It is written in a kind of stream-of-consciousness style that I very rarely like. The narrative flow was all over the place and brushed over things very quickly before jumping to something else. When you are trying to get into a new book and find your feet with the characters and story, I find this style very inaccessible and distancing. Within a few pages my interest was gone so I decided to save myself the struggle of continuing.
This review is not based on the story as I didn't get far enough into it but is solely based on my first impressions. ...more
I was pleased to discover that this book was much darker in tone than the previous two books. The storyline was gripping and tense in places too so I I was pleased to discover that this book was much darker in tone than the previous two books. The storyline was gripping and tense in places too so I enjoyed it for that. It genuinely kept me guessing too which is always a sign of a good thriller/mystery story.
A couple of things that bothered me in the previous books felt magnified in this one though. Firstly, Jackson is not very good at reminding you of characters and events from the previous books. It is unlikely someone would read all three books back to back, so there really needed to be a better summary or mention of what came before. I spent a lot of time questioning who characters were and what they did in the previous books.
Secondly, the trope of a teenage girl always knowing better than the police, and indeed everyone around her, wore very thin by this book. I started to detect an arrogance in Pip's character that put me off her, and the extent of her detective skills became increasingly far-fetched. She also does some incredibly stupid things that feel inconsistent with her character.
Overall, this was a satisfying end to what has been a good trilogy. I am still not sure what I feel about the resolution to the case in this one as it raises a lot of moral questions, however it was a decent end to Pip's story arc. ...more
Not my favourite Maggie O'Farrell novel but still lots here to keep me engaged when reading.
The book follows the Riordan family who all come together Not my favourite Maggie O'Farrell novel but still lots here to keep me engaged when reading.
The book follows the Riordan family who all come together to get to the bottom of the sudden disappearance of father Robert. The three grown up children of the family all have their own issues going on so coming back to the family home brings lots of time for reflection and also brings historic resentments between them to the surface.
I love a family drama story that gets beneath the skin of the characters and this book certainly does a lot of this. We learn a lot about the characters through the eyes of other characters and O'Farrell is really good at switching seamlessly between their perspectives.
Based on the blurb, I was expecting the disappearance of Robert to be more central to the story but it really only serves as a catalyst for the family coming together. The explanation for his disappearance, which felt a bit like a rushed after-thought at the end, was weird and didn't make a lot of sense. Similarly the way a lot of the sibling's issues were wrapped up felt brushed over and a bit too neat.
Having said that, I always enjoy O'Farrell's style of writing. It is just the plots that can be a bit hit or miss for me. ...more
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