"Just as there are heartbreaking memories that need to be erased if you want to move forward, there is also the pain that is a kind of fuel that keeps"Just as there are heartbreaking memories that need to be erased if you want to move forward, there is also the pain that is a kind of fuel that keeps us going. Sadness can sometimes give you strength."
The Marigold Mind Laundry is a philosophical book told through whimsical stories. Jieun has special powers. She can make things come true by dreaming about them and she had the power to heal others' pain. Her parents disappear after she dreams so. It is after this that she lives many lifetimes. I was really unsure as to how she did this because it really wasn't clear. Did she die and then get reborn? Did she just turn into a different person overnight? She is a broken person who cries about her parents every night and is always looking for them.
Jieun manifests the Marigold Mind Laundry into existence. She gets customers who come to tell her their stories and she washes away their 'stains' - their pain from existence. Yet, she is unable to wash away her own pain.
This is a book about overcoming obstacles and self-healing. I found the various characters' stories interesting but there were parts when the writing wasn't very straightforward and felt quite confusing by frequently going off on a tangent.
NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review....more
What a unique premise! With it's vivid description, the town that felt like home but3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
"Sometimes a book can change your life."
What a unique premise! With it's vivid description, the town that felt like home but didn't exist, captured my heart from the very first page.
On her way to a solo book retreat, Elsy's car breaks down and she comes across the fictional town of Eloraton - a town with residents she KNOWS as she is obsessed with a book series which is set there. All the residents are fictional; all their stories having being written by Rachel Flowers, the author who created them. Flowers was unable to complete the book series due to a fatal car accident. Because Flowers wasn't able to finish the series, the characters' lives and stories have become stagnant. It is Elsy who sets their stories in motion again. Being in Eloraton heals Elsy from a past relationship and sets her on a path of self-discovery.
Elsy is star struck by all the residents apart from 'minty eyes' Anders, the bookshop owner. He wasn't written into the books, so who was he?
Within a matter of days, Anders and Elsy become romantically involved. He seems to be the only other person to know that the town was fictional. This is where things got a bit strange for me. If they both knew that the town was fictional, why didn't Elsy question him more?
The fantasy part kind of messed with my head. I was half-expecting Elsy to be imagining all this was happening whilst being in a coma.
There was a definite lack of chemistry between Elsy and Minty Eyes. There seemed to be much more chemistry between Elsy and her best friend Pru, who Elsy seemed quite fixated by. A major letdown for me was towards the end when Elsy was about to leave Eloraton. Seriously, what was that?
In fairness, despite the loopholes, A Novel Love Story proved to be quite entertaining and created a longing for book lovers to be a part of their favourite stories.
NetGalley and HQ provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review.
Only those who are asleep can enter the DallerGut Dream Department Store. Themed dreams are sold on various floors. The employees as well as the the oOnly those who are asleep can enter the DallerGut Dream Department Store. Themed dreams are sold on various floors. The employees as well as the the owner, Dallergut, are all quirky characters.
Penny lands her dream job at the store. She quickly settles into her job and learns the ropes of being in the dream business. Dreams are advertised and those who are asleep, 'buy' the dreams. The dreams are created by renowned dream makers. The themes to these dreams are vast and the customers get to choose what they wish to dream about.
The real world is also seen through the eyes of the dreamers whilst they are awake. Their circumstances lead them to have their dreams and their dreams end up enriching their lives.
The content of this book is unique, brilliantly unusual and will keep you hooked.
NetGalley and Headline provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review. ...more
"It's never a matter of time, but a matter of timing."
I absolutely loved this book! It made me smile, it made me swoon and it made me cry. Fate, desti"It's never a matter of time, but a matter of timing."
I absolutely loved this book! It made me smile, it made me swoon and it made me cry. Fate, destiny, kismet; whatever you wish to call it, this is what this book is about.
The time travel scenario worked - it was cleverly executed. The characters; Clementine AKA Lemon and Iwan were fantastically written - Poston brought out their vulnerabilities; there was a rawness to their characters.
The Seven Year Slip is definitely a book that leaves you with a lasting impact, a book that you will think about endlessly after reading it and a book that you would gladly reread.
My thanks to NetGalley and HQ for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review.
But nevertheless she persisted - I'm talking about myself whilst reading this book. I was deeply disappointed with this read for which I had high expeBut nevertheless she persisted - I'm talking about myself whilst reading this book. I was deeply disappointed with this read for which I had high expectations for. Ever wonder what on earth the author is rambling on about and you have no idea what is going on? This is one of those books.
The story had potential but it completely fell flat for me. The characters were just plain weird and odd. There was too much time and detail spent describing furniture; if only the author had put in more effort with Myra and Alex's relationship instead. There was no chemistry and the ending was rushed.
Perhaps my biggest issue was that there was no actual explanation between whole miniature/real mansion thing.
NetGalley and Pan Macmillan provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review....more
"She can't be a medium," said Mom. "She graduated from Harvard!"
After growing up in the US, Jess moves back with her parents to her home country Malay"She can't be a medium," said Mom. "She graduated from Harvard!"
After growing up in the US, Jess moves back with her parents to her home country Malaysia, more specifically to Penang Island. She leaves behind everything and everyone she knows, including her girlfriend Sharanya. It is in Penang that her dead grandmother begins to communicate with her.
This eventually leads Jess into a sinister world of ghosts, gods and goddesses, crime and violence. Belonging to a genre that I don't normally read-fantasy; I really enjoyed that particular element of this book. I loved Jess' conversations with her dead grandmother and there were several laugh out loud moments when Jess' mother and Aunt hysterically tussle over their respective religions and end up taking Jess to the Monkey God.
However, I have mixed feelings about this book. This book dragged. There were lengthy dialogues; so lengthy that they became boring and were hard to follow. Also, Jess' character lacked personality. Had Black Water Sister been more concise, there would have been more of an oomph factor.
NetGalley provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review. ...more
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