This was my second read by Anne Tyler, and I instantly knew that I loved it as much as the first one. However, it wasn't until the very last pages untThis was my second read by Anne Tyler, and I instantly knew that I loved it as much as the first one. However, it wasn't until the very last pages until I realized what it is exactly that I love so much about her stories: They speak the truth! From the two books I've read by her so far (this one and "A Spool of Blue Thread" ), I can gather that Anne Tyler writes about family life and the dynamics between family members. She's a master at creating a clever plot that hides things and leaves you wanting more. Some might say that her books are boring because they focus more on the characters than they do on action, but I disagree: Anne Tyler's books are amazing exactly because they focus on the characters. Her depiction of ordinary life is so spot-on that it's kind of scary. She doesn't leave out anything - she tells you the truth as it is, and that combined with her wonderful prose makes for beautiful stories....more
Wow, having disliked a lot of Dickens' novels in the past I'm surprised how much "Little Dorrit" appealed to me. While I was a bit confused as to theWow, having disliked a lot of Dickens' novels in the past I'm surprised how much "Little Dorrit" appealed to me. While I was a bit confused as to the ending and the several characters and all their relations (I had to look up an analysis online just to make sure I got it all right), I still think that this is a really telling, humorous and interesting story. What I liked the most about this 1000-page-novel was the story of Little Dorrit and how she was raised. I have never read of a character like hers before, and I found it hugely entertaining to dive into her story and also see how she develops over the 1000 pages. I was also amused with the satiric paragraphs that are very typical of Dickens and which worked, in my opinion. It was funny and it was sarcastic, and I appreciated it a lot for that. All in all, it's hard to cover all of the 1000 pages and all of the underlying storylines in just a few words. Let's just say that this is, in my opinion, one of Dickens' better works because it is more simple, original and overall very much entertaining and typical for the Victorian literary era....more
This conclusion to the Emily trilogy was in my opinion the best book in this series. Emily fascinated me because she made some questionable decisionsThis conclusion to the Emily trilogy was in my opinion the best book in this series. Emily fascinated me because she made some questionable decisions that I didn't immediately understand, but as the story continued I grew to understand and appreciate her. This series has all in all been such a great surprise to me because it beats "Anne of Green Gables" in so many ways. We get a main character who develops, who has hopes and who grows up over the span of three books. Emily goes from being a young orphan to an adult, reflective woman who doesn't just go with the flow. The setting changes throughout the trilogy as well as the characters, and all of that is was makes it the better series in my opinion....more
This was amazing! Much more than I had hoped for! As a semi-fan of Stephen King and his writing (I love some of his books, I feel like a lot of the otThis was amazing! Much more than I had hoped for! As a semi-fan of Stephen King and his writing (I love some of his books, I feel like a lot of the others are dragging), I didn’t really know what to get out of this non-fictional work on writing. I was curious to hear about this craft from one of the most prolific and popular authors out there, but mostly I wanted a behind-the-scenes look on what it’s like to write a book. I was surprised to find myself immersed from the very beginning, where Stephen King talks about his childhood and what formed him to become a writer. This was really good and very interesting, and I devoured that part whole-heartedly. Then I came to the Toolbox-part on writing, and wow! That was fascinating! Even though I’ve always said about myself that I’m a reader, not a writer, Stephen King really gave me an urge to sit down and try and write my own book (it should be mentioned, I never actually made it that far, but the thought felt good). Reading this section of the book was a unique experience, and it inspired me in many ways - for instance, I had to take a break at some point and go watch the movie “Misery” just because I was too excited to wait for the book to arrive (the movie “Carrie” is next up). I was trying to save the last section of the book in order to have something to look forward to, but after half a day of thinking about it I had to succumb and read it. This section is about the accident Stephen King was in that nearly cost him his life. This book made me feel close to Stephen King as a writer, and I loved it for that. What does it really mean to be a writer? What does it take? What are some of the things you need to know and avoid? This book gives you a whole lot of answers and I can’t recommend it enough; whether you’re an aspiring writer or just a fan of Stephen King....more
Wow, this story managed to be both fascinating and disturbing at the same time! Throughout the pages, I couldn't fathom how spot-on George Orwell wasWow, this story managed to be both fascinating and disturbing at the same time! Throughout the pages, I couldn't fathom how spot-on George Orwell was in his predictions. Big Brother exist, and many passages in this book were scary but also true of our world today (or at least, they could quickly become true). I loved this, simply because it was amazing to read about a society in which everyone is watched. You can't even have your thoughts for yourself - Big Brother is watching over you. Even though this novel was written decades ago, I think it is extremely important that people of today still read it, simply because it touches on universal topics that will always be true and relevant. I think that everyone could learn from reading this story; it definitely leaves you with lots of things to think about and consider. This is a masterpiece! Simply read it; I'm pretty sure you will not regret it....more
The first time I started reading this, I read about 50 pages and wasn't much into the story - so I quit it. I recently decided to pick it up again, anThe first time I started reading this, I read about 50 pages and wasn't much into the story - so I quit it. I recently decided to pick it up again, and this time I was blown away! This is a beautiful story that I think depicts the Jazz Age perfectly, and it contains some amazing themes such as love, popularity, friendship and how a person can impact you for life. I loved it, and I especially loved how F. Scott Fitzgerald weaves every detail together beautifully. There are no loose ends and you can't help but smile once you finish reading the last page. One of the things that appealed to me the most about this story was how it was told in reverse. You know that the narrator looks back on the things happening, and it leaves you with a tense feeling because you know something big and dramatic is going to happen. I also love how this story comes with its share of surprises, and I especially love how it captures the mood of the Jazz Age. Even though I didn't live during that time, I clearly felt the ambiance of that era through the pages. After finishing this book, I immediately ordered a new book by F. Scott Fitzgerald: "Tender Is the Night" - simply because I needed more! I'm excited to see if I'll like that one as much as "The Great Gatsby", because if I do, I might have found a new favourite classic author of mine....more
Sometimes, when reviewing a book, it's easier to explain the experience you had while reading it - so that's what I'm going to do with "We Were the MuSometimes, when reviewing a book, it's easier to explain the experience you had while reading it - so that's what I'm going to do with "We Were the Mulvaneys". This is a family saga that spans over several years. At first, the dense language made me feel like there was a ditch between me and the story. I had to get used to the prose, and I did so surprisingly fast; however, I still noticed the dense language every time I picked up the book, and if I was tired and just wanted to read to relax, I had to convince myself to keep on reading. Which means that while I was reading this novel, I didn't think that I was reading a 5-star book. That IS the case, however, now that I look back on it. Because "We Were the Mulvaneys" is simply too epic a tragic family story to not be a 5-star read. It's one of those books that I know will stay with me for months to come; especially because of the members of this family... Rarely have I come across a set of characters that I was so engaged in as I was with the Mulvaneys. Michael Sr., Corinne, Mike Jr., Patrick, Marianne, Judd - their names are tattooed to my brain and I feel like I'm now part of their family because I've been following them so well. Especially Corinne turned into one of those fictional personnages that is and will rest very close to my heart. Furthermore, the long years that we get to follow them come with engaging anecdotes - and when those anecdotes are referenced back to several hundred pages later, you get the feeling that this is a JOURNEY (with capital letters) you've been on - I liked that feeling. This is my review of "We Were the Mulvaneys". I haven't touched at all upon the plot; only on my feelings. I hope you can use this in some ways, because sometimes what you remember from a book is how you felt while you were reading it - not much of the actual plot itself (which I do remember vividly as well, but I want for YOU to experience it for yourself). Good luck, and say hi to the Mulvaneys from me when you encounter them!...more
BEAUTIFUL! "Mariana" has become one of my favourite books of this year so far! It deals with Mary, an impressionable, creative child living in LondonBEAUTIFUL! "Mariana" has become one of my favourite books of this year so far! It deals with Mary, an impressionable, creative child living in London with her mother. Mary is a daredevil, but she also has a fascination for life and everything surrounding her, and her fascination is contagious. Reading the chapters about her childhood kind of reminded me of the childhood scenes in "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, simply because they brought back the nostalgia of my own childhood and what it feels like to be little and free. "Mariana" continues the narrative of Mary as we follow her into young adulthood and later adulthood. By that time, my heart was sold and I was eager to stay with Mary and find out what would happen to her. This was one of those books that made me think about it when I wasn't reading it, and when I was reading it, it was with a persistent smile on my face. Monica Dickens, the granddaughter of Charles Dickens, masters the craft of writing really really well. "Mariana" is kind of written like a jigsaw puzzle in which you get small bits and pieces, but it's not until the very last page that you get to see the big picture. Alongside that, "Mariana" is funny, honest and insightful. It basically tells the story of young girl who grows up to become a woman, and it does so very well. I loved this book! I cannot praise it enough! And I'm thankful that I have another book by Monica Dickens waiting for me on my bookshelves:)...more
Finishing this book leaves me almost breathless. Throughout all of its 560 pages, I was kept captivated. My heart was in my throat and my feelings werFinishing this book leaves me almost breathless. Throughout all of its 560 pages, I was kept captivated. My heart was in my throat and my feelings were on edge. Paullina Simons' love story between Tatiana and Alexander, combined with their fatal lives during World War II, drags me in and leaves me completely anxious inside. Even though the storyline in this book is quite different from the first book, I loved it so much! I needed to know what would happen to our two main characters and I cared deeply for them. Yes, I still have a problem with the way Alexander sometimes behaves but that's a slight error in a big and beautiful masterpiece. I can only say: Read this story! You will not regret it:)...more
This was an absolutely wonderful first installment in a Hungarian, classic trilogy that I didn’t even know about a year ago. The thing about Miklos BaThis was an absolutely wonderful first installment in a Hungarian, classic trilogy that I didn’t even know about a year ago. The thing about Miklos Banffy’s trilogy is that it seems to be quite forgotten despite its depth and compelling storyline, and that’s a shame! I went into this first book, “They Were Counted”, with a desire to read a big classic that would take me to a different world, society, and culture, and that would introduce me to a cast of characters that I wanted to spend pages and pages on. That’s exactly what I got! Right from the beginning, we are introduced to a heavy cast of characters which seems overwhelming, but luckily this book comes with a character list. Once you get through the first 40 pages, the story takes off and takes you through everything from epic Hungarian carnivals and balls, disturbing duels, to heated love affairs. This was a comfy read, and I must admit that I adored it from beginning till end. Even the political parts of the book were written in an entertaining way that kept me enthralled and amused. If you have any interest in reading a grand classic set in a different country from most of the books we (I assume!) read, then I highly recommend “They Were Counted” which left me happy to know that there is much more to come in the second and third books....more
Contrary to a lot of people's opinions, I loved this book! The first couple of chapters were unpredictable and refreshing, and the rest of the book waContrary to a lot of people's opinions, I loved this book! The first couple of chapters were unpredictable and refreshing, and the rest of the book was an amazing story about family life, marriage problems, racism, growing up, and beauty. I loved every single character, and while especially one of them behaved irrationnally, it was entertaining and informative to read about his decisions and the ensuing repercussions. "On Beauty" was one of those books that grabbed me from beginning till end, and while I've only read one other novel by Zadie Smith, this one has been my favourite so far. It was easy to read and yet a very universal book that I think everyone can benefit from reading - even though it does seem that some people don't really like this novel at all....more
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