Having never read a book by Hannah Kent before, I wasn’t entirely sure what I would make of this one, but I had heard so many good things about her woHaving never read a book by Hannah Kent before, I wasn’t entirely sure what I would make of this one, but I had heard so many good things about her work that I knew I wanted to give it a go. But sadly this one didn’t hit the spot for me in ways that I wanted it to, which while obviously a little disappointing, is not entirely unexpected.
The book is split into two parts, part one focuses on Hanne and her family whilst they live in Kay, the beginning of her friendship with Thea and the beginning of the emigration to Australia. The second part takes place after a pretty major twist occurs and takes on a much more supernatural elements, with magical realism coming to the foreground. Now, I am not the biggest fan of magical realism in my books, so from that perspective it isn’t surprising that I didn’t enjoy the second half as much as the first.
I would have happily taken a whole book of Hanne and Thea living in Kay and taking on the world together there. Seeing how they would come to terms with their new feelings for each other, whilst still living in a relatively oppressive environment as well as the strain of the religious persecution would have made for an interesting novel. I know why Kent had the community emigrate to Australia, this book is incredibly historically accurate, but there was such a rich ground created in the first half that I was sad to see it go.
I loved the first half, but the second is where it started to fall flat for me. And it does make me sad that it has affected the review in such a way, but it hasn’t made me less likely to pick up other books by Kent, these seem to be the more popular ones. ...more
What do this book and the band Rednex have in common? They both ask the question of “Where did you come from?” (I know, cheesy)
This again, isn’t the hWhat do this book and the band Rednex have in common? They both ask the question of “Where did you come from?” (I know, cheesy)
This again, isn’t the height of literature but it is entertaining. I even think it’s more entertaining than some of the books that have come previously which is quite a statement since I seemed to veer wildly between confused and annoyed with them at any given moment.
If I’m right, this is the last Langdon book that Brown has written but he could always surprise us and hit us with a new one in the future but if he does, I won’t be reading it. I’ve done my time. ...more
I still absolutely adore this series and I don’t think I can wait for the next book to come out! I need it and I needOooooh, it’s all kicking off now!
I still absolutely adore this series and I don’t think I can wait for the next book to come out! I need it and I need it now!
I’m intrigued to see how Mo Xi is going to deal with the fact that he now knows more of the context around Gu Mang’s defection to their enemy, and how he’s going to go about trying to get to the bottom of the whole story. But at the same time I’m intrigued to see how their relationship is going to change and be affected by what happened in the Time Mirror.
I genuinely still think about these characters at least once a week so I think it’s only going to get worse now that I’ve finished this one as well! I need the next book!...more
Guys, I’m really struggling because why on earth has it taken me nearly a whole entire month to read this book?! Who knows.
What I can tell you, is thGuys, I’m really struggling because why on earth has it taken me nearly a whole entire month to read this book?! Who knows.
What I can tell you, is that this is maybe one that I shouldn’t have forced myself to finish. Maybe this should have been one that I did put down and come back to at a later date, but I didn’t. And here we are.
Maybe I will come back to it when I’m in a better headspace but for now, I don’t really know what to make of it all. ...more
I don’t fully know what to make of this one. On the one hand, it was an interesting look at the world of America at the turn of the century but at theI don’t fully know what to make of this one. On the one hand, it was an interesting look at the world of America at the turn of the century but at the same time I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would do, or at least I wasn’t as interested in it as I thought I would be.
I understand that the “diary” is meant to be an observation of this new country through the eyes of a foreigner but there were many instances of almost casual racism, that surprised me, they seemed so modern and out of place but at the same time, I know that those sentiments have existed for a very long time.
It was also painfully obvious in places that this was written by a man. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone, either American or Japanese, that’s as obsessed with their looks as Miss Morning Glory is. ...more
I genuinely don’t know what is wrong with me at the minute, but I’m struggling to get through any of the books that I’m picking up. And unfortunately,I genuinely don’t know what is wrong with me at the minute, but I’m struggling to get through any of the books that I’m picking up. And unfortunately, this one was no exception. Now, I don’t know whether that’s down to the way that I’m feeling at the minute or the subject matter of this particular book, but yeah. It’s all a bit meh.
I’ve seen other reviews of this book that have said that there isn’t anything particularly groundbreaking in here and I have to agree with them. While it was interesting to read about the backgrounds to some of the issues that are almost cornerstones of modern feminist arguments, nothing substantial was really offered outside of a few pages.
A lot of the previous texts that are referenced in this one are actually quite old, from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s which was surprising as I expected there to be more modern references, especially given some of the more modern discussions that were happening in the book. Now, whether that’s just because those texts don’t exist I don’t know, but it was a bit jarring to see an essay from the 70’s being referenced so often.
One of the only parts that actually grabbed my attention the most was when the book steered away from the “academic” feel and actually allowed the authors voice and opinions to come out, or when there were comments from women about the topics at hand. But they didn’t come often enough to alleviate the quite dry, academic feel to it. ...more
So, my first book of 2024 is actually the 4th book in a series that I was not sure that I was going to continue. And one that I actually enjoyed more So, my first book of 2024 is actually the 4th book in a series that I was not sure that I was going to continue. And one that I actually enjoyed more than some of the previous ones in that same series.
The stories all follow a very similar formula, and I don’t know whether it’s just me or not but I don’t always find them as heartbreaking as other people seem to, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But it’s part of the reason that I felt like I wouldn’t continue the series.
But I don’t know. Maybe I was just in a better place to read this one, but I actually ended up enjoying the this one the most of the four in the series. Maybe because it feels a little more like the world is beings expanded upon, I’m not sure. But yeah.
I don’t know what it is about works from Priest, but they always seem to take me longer to read than any of the others in the danmei genre, but I genuI don’t know what it is about works from Priest, but they always seem to take me longer to read than any of the others in the danmei genre, but I genuinely could not tell you why that is.
I also don’t really know what I thought of this one. I don’t know whether it was the steampunk elements of it, or the pseudo father/son relationship between the two main characters or what but I don’t think I actually enjoyed this one as much as I have enjoyed others in the same genre.
I think the integration of the steampunk elements with the traditional Chinese world is a really interesting concept but I don’t know whether it is one for me. I will probably read the others in the series just so that I can form a proper opinion of it, but I’m not holding out a great deal of hope at this stage. ...more
Oh, god I love Natalie Haynes! I know for a fact that I’ve said this a number of times before but it bears repeating because I do genuinely love her. Oh, god I love Natalie Haynes! I know for a fact that I’ve said this a number of times before but it bears repeating because I do genuinely love her.
I knew going in that this was going to be a read that would bring up some difficult feelings for me and it definitely did bring those feelings up but it was a beautiful retelling that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Natalie has such a beautiful voice that I didn’t even speed up the audiobook for this one because I could listen to her read the back of a cereal box and be happy!
I also really appreciated that this retelling didn’t shy away from the vulnerability of Medusa when she is attacked by Perseus, the repetition of the fact that she was asleep when he cuts off her head and the focus on the grief of her sisters afterwards. It really highlights that she didn’t stand a single chance against him with the fact that he had Athene on his side.
This might have taken me a while to get through but I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. ...more
Oh god, how does a book with such a pretty cover manage to absolutely destroy me with every new chapter?! What is this sorcery!?
But seriously, I need Oh god, how does a book with such a pretty cover manage to absolutely destroy me with every new chapter?! What is this sorcery!?
But seriously, I need volume three like right now because why did it end there?! Mo Xi you say sike right now or I swear I will riot! I’m glad that Gu Mang is starting to get his memories back but hoo boy is this going to be a painful journey back for him and Mo Xi.
I’m intrigued to see where this is going to go, going forward as well. I imagine the threats to Chonghua haven’t just disappeared overnight but what is coming next?! And why did Gu Mang suddenly appear in the capital all of a sudden? I need answers people and I cannot believe that we have to wait until March to get them! I’m getting a preorder in, I don’t even care!
But definitely this is tied for first place in my favourite danmei series so far, tied with MDZS for sure! ...more
Do you ever read something that people are raving about and get to the end of it and come to the conclusion that you might actually just be stupid? BeDo you ever read something that people are raving about and get to the end of it and come to the conclusion that you might actually just be stupid? Because that’s a fun little revelation I’ve had to have with myself on this fine Monday evening.
Don’t get me wrong, there are parts of this book that are very well written and really beautiful to read but then at the same time I wanted to just skip to the end because it turns out it is not my cup of tea.
And then when I did skip to the end, and the big twist was revealed, I couldn’t actually care about it because I was that done with the book as a whole.
Give me my dumb fantasy books, I’m clearly not clever enough for literary fiction lmao. ...more
What, and I cannot stress this enough, the actual fuck is this?!?! What did I just read?
Agustina, do we need to conduct a welfare check?
I haven’t reaWhat, and I cannot stress this enough, the actual fuck is this?!?! What did I just read?
Agustina, do we need to conduct a welfare check?
I haven’t read Tender is the Flesh yet but thought that this would be a good way to introduce myself to this authors style of writing but now I’m ….. concerned. That’s a word we can use, sure.
Oh my god, I can already tell that this is going to be my new favourite series! I’m always going to have a soft spot for MDZS as it was the first seriOh my god, I can already tell that this is going to be my new favourite series! I’m always going to have a soft spot for MDZS as it was the first series that I read and introduced me to the genre, but oh I’m already obsessed with these characters and this world.
I’m so intrigued by the relationship between Mo Xi and Gu Mang and I wish I could tell what had happened to Gu Mang during the time that he had defected but I assume all of that will be answered in the later books in the series.
I wish I’d had more time to actually devour this book like I wanted to but unfortunately I had to be a responsible adult and actually log on for work but now I’ve got the weekend so I can probably devour the second one! Bring it on!...more
I’ve got a serious soft spot for retellings of myths, of Welsh myths and legends, and for the writing of Owen Sheers, so as you can imagine this one mI’ve got a serious soft spot for retellings of myths, of Welsh myths and legends, and for the writing of Owen Sheers, so as you can imagine this one managed to tick all of those boxes for me in one fell swoop!
I loved the modern reimagining of this particular story from the Mabinogion, and even loved the time setting of around the outbreak of the foot and mouth disease in Wales. It lends itself really well to the feeling of desperation that the characters can feel.
I think Sheers might have ended up becoming an auto buy author for me, which is funny because I usually never want to read anything from any of the authors I studied in school or college for as long as I live.
How nice to have an exception to that rule!...more
Awwwww, I can’t believe that I’ve actually finished this series now! I kind of want to go back to the beginning and start all over again, but at the sAwwwww, I can’t believe that I’ve actually finished this series now! I kind of want to go back to the beginning and start all over again, but at the same time I want to see what the other series that MXTX has written are like!
I loved the political intrigue that this brings to a close, how the different sects try and one up each other, the betrayals and the heartbreaks are just delectable! Who would have thought that Nie Huaisang would be the mastermind behind it all? But what a revenge plot though!
I’m kind of not surprised that Jiang Cheng has ended up as a favourite character of mine from this series, but I do kind of wish that MXTX had written a scene where Wei Wuxian finds out exactly why Jiang Cheng lost his golden core. That broke me when I read that part! How Wei Wuxian saw it as repaying a debt, but Jiang Cheng did it to protect his remaining family?! Yeah, tears were shed.
And those extra scenes that were included! Aw, so cute! I’m kind of sad to leave it behind but at least I can come back to it in the future! ...more
I think this might be the first time I have read a collection of poetry and taken so many screenshots of the different poems! And that’s actually greaI think this might be the first time I have read a collection of poetry and taken so many screenshots of the different poems! And that’s actually great because there were so many in here that I actually really enjoyed and was moved by.
It’s also nice to see the names of poets that you might know, but to see different poems than the ones that are more well known. Like with the Wilfred Owen ones, whilst he is undoubtedly a war poet, it was nice to see his less well known ones that have a slightly different feel to them. At least, they weren’t as well known to me.
And I loved the one at the end called “Pride”! What a gut punch that one was!...more
I think it’s a testament to how much I’m loving this series that I haven’t even finished it and I’m already planning on buying physical copies of the I think it’s a testament to how much I’m loving this series that I haven’t even finished it and I’m already planning on buying physical copies of the books! I am just so surprised that I’m enjoying it as much as I actually am! Although, I don’t know why I’m so surprised by that, it’s got loads of things that I love; fantasy elements, moral dilemmas, complex characters and an absolute disaster human being as a main character.
I’m even really enjoying the way the flashback sequences are handled and how even though they can take up large portions of the story, it’s still easy to follow the general gist that MXTX is setting up. The world is such a fascinating one that I really wish there were more books in this series.
Also, can we take a minute to appreciate that the last 25% of this volume is Wei Wuxian essentially pulling a Nick Nelson and having “a full on gay crisis”! Fellas, is it gay to fall in love with the one person you’ve been utterly obsessed with over the course of two lifetimes? Probably, but we forgive him!...more
So, I didn’t know a lot about David Baddiel except for having a vague idea of who he was from the TV and having then gone on to read his other non ficSo, I didn’t know a lot about David Baddiel except for having a vague idea of who he was from the TV and having then gone on to read his other non fiction book ‘Jews Don’t Count’, but I have to say I think he’s the type of person I would like to sit with and pick his brains.
This is, essentially, an essay about not believing in God despite having a warring feeling that you should. It’s an interesting look at how Baddiel can come from the Jewish faith and yet still not be a believer. How being an atheist is not a new phenomenon, despite what social media and media in general would have you believe.
The title says it all really, the desire to believe in a god despite the fact that your brain keeps telling you that he doesn’t exist. And how that can affect your life. ...more
I am so enjoying this series! It might have become a slight hyper fixation but that is not a problem, I can stop at any time! Ha ha ha.
Anyway! I’m alI am so enjoying this series! It might have become a slight hyper fixation but that is not a problem, I can stop at any time! Ha ha ha.
Anyway! I’m always amazed by how much I am actually enjoying this series, like I always expect it to get to a point that I stop liking it but I don’t actually think that is going to happen. There’s been moments that have actually made me laugh out loud which I absolutely was not expecting but there we have it. And the whole world of cultivation is so interesting, that I actually like reading about the history that has been created for this series.
One of my friends asked me who my favourite character is so far and I don’t think I can answer her honestly. I love them all for different reasons but I think if I absolutely had to choose it would be Wei Wuxian or Wen Ning. My babies. ...more
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