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Always a Witch (Witch, #2) by Carolyn MacCullough | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Witch #2 Always a Witch Carolyn MacCullough 3.94 6,854 ratings 647 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book The adventures of Tam and Gabriel continue with more time travel, Talents, spy work, and of course, the evil Knights. Since the gripping conclusion of Once A Witch, Tamsin Greene has been haunted by her grandmother's prophecy that she will soon be forced to make a crucial decision—one so terrible that it could harm her family forever. When she discovers that her enemy, Alistair Knight, went back in time to Victorian-era New York in order to destroy her family, Tamsin is forced to follow him into the past. Stranded all alone in the nineteenth century, Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady's maid in the terrifying mansion of the evil Knight family, avoiding the watchful eye of the vicious matron, La Spider, and fending off the advances of Liam Knight. As time runs out, both families square off in a thrilling display of magic. And to her horror, Tamsin finally understands the nature of her fateful choice. Genres Young Adult Fantasy Witches Paranormal Magic Time Travel Romance ...more 276 pages, Hardcover First published August 1, 2011 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Carolyn MacCullough 13 books 688 followers Carolyn MacCullough received her MFA in creative writing from the New School and lives with her husband in Brooklyn. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.94 6,854 ratings 647 reviews 5 stars 2,161 (31%) 4 stars 2,560 (37%) 3 stars 1,750 (25%) 2 stars 314 (4%) 1 star 69 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 647 reviews Ahmad Sharabiani 9,564 reviews 155 followers June 28, 2019 Always a Witch (Witch #2), Carolyn MacCullough Since the gripping conclusion of Once a Witch, Tamsin Greene has been haunted by her grandmother’s prophecy that she will soon be forced to make a crucial decision—one so terrible that it could harm her family forever. When she discovers that her enemy, Alistair Knight, went back in time to Victorian-era New York in order to destroy her family, Tamsin is forced to follow him into the past. Stranded all alone in the nineteenth century, Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady’s maid in the terrifying mansion of the evil Knight family, avoiding the watchful eye of the vicious matron, La Spider, and fending off the advances of Liam Knight. As time runs out, both families square off in a thrilling display of magic. And to her horror, Tamsin finally understands the nature of her fateful choice. تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز بیستتم ماه جولای سال 2016 میلادی عنوان: همیشه یک ساحر: جلد دوم سری روزگار یک ساحره؛ ا. شربیانی Like Comment ☆ ĄňŊǡƂėƮĦ ☆ ŞŧŎŋė 154 reviews February 6, 2016 I was a little hesitant going into this book because all I remember saying to myself the first time I read it, was that it wasn't as good. After reading, I've decided that it was pretty good. I still think that Ms. MacCullough could've just written a longer and single book instead of two. Since the ending of the last book, Tam and Gabriel realize that they have to time travel and find the Knights, the family that is trying to ruin their own. Tamsin is still thinking about the prophecy that her grandmother has told her about; that she will have to make a very important choice. Tam, while going after the Knights in the 19th century New York, is concerned about this. To spy on Alistair and the other Knights, she disguises herself as a lady's maid and works in the heart of the evil family. She has to pretend that she is Talentless, hide from La Spider, the head of the family, and to ignore Liam's dangerous advances on her. Toward the end, Tam realizes her horrific choice and protects herself against the Knight's with a lot of Talent. There were many things about this book that I liked. One was the action. Tam was always hiding or using different personalities to stay in the house with her fake name of Agatha. Tam was also a strong leading women. Instead of whining, giving up, and loving other men, she is determined and very level headed. The ending of the book definitely continued to how her character. One of the things that I didn't like was that there wasn't more development of the characters. The reader just went on the what they learned about her peculiar family and Gabriel. I would've liked to see more of Gabriel or more love between Tam and him. Gabriel was one of my favorite characters so that would have been good. Another weakness that I saw was how adjusted Tam seem to being in the 1880's New York. She blended right in and talked the same as everyone else. This wasn't that believable. The ending was not what I expected and I was a little disappointed. I felt bad for Tam but I sort of did like the outcome. Overall, Ms. MacCullough did write a very good historical fiction novel as the second installment of this series. re-read young-adult 13 likes Like Comment oliviasbooks 782 reviews 533 followers March 5, 2011 I confidently predict that readers who loved Once a Witch will also love the second half of the story about the seemingly talentfree, teenaged witch Tamsin Greene, her wacky, magic family, her hot and talented boyfriend Gabriel and their joint fight against the super evil and humans-hating Knight clan, because it is basically composed using the same elements: - an imperfect and insecure but likable, courageous and strong teenaged heroine. - a cute and devoted love interest and side-kick. - a slightly nutty familiy of bickering but well-meaning witches who provide both surprise elements and entertainment. - physically dangerous time travel. - action and a little thrill. - throroughly evil black witches lacking a conscience and compassion but filling the gaps with cool calculation, greed and gruesome practices like human sacrifice. - decent writing. For me personally, „Always a Witch“ dropped half a star from the 3.5 stars I doled out to Once a Witch (out of a total of 5), maybe mainly because the sequel is exactly that: The second part of the story, one which did not add new elements, take the romance to a further level, or make the heroine’s otherness stand out – apart from her developing quite angelic traits in the end. All in all, a sequel that is almost as good as its precessor is an unexpectedly positive thing, for the nature of paranomal sequels seems to have this natural gravitation thing, that drags them down, built in. Still, I nonetheless irrationally hoped for - Tamsim to have more difficulties to adapt to her life in the past (the struggle of nowadays’ people with the customs and the mechanisms of everyday life in past centuries is what makes time travel stories so attractive to me. But Tamsin takes over the life and the tasks of a lady’s maid within a day and without blinking an eye or getting scolded for being clueless.) - Tamsin’s and Gabriel’s shared time not to be wholly consumed by witchy business matters (i.e. saving the Greene family) instead of occasionally letting some hot sparks fly. (I really expected Tamsin, who is different from her family, not to be so hesitant and/or old-couplish. Apart from one misunderstanding Gabriel interprets Tamsin’s invitation to her room as taking the initiative to a good rolling in the hay , all of the young couple’s actions consist of heroically saving each other, planning together, trying to exclude each other from overly dangerous acts. „Always a Witch“ is a paranormal targeted at girls. And in the end I could not even remember what Gabriel looks like.) - the villains (members of the Knight family) to be less than 100% evil.( Yes, there are some specimen that turned out to belong to the good side, but those who didn’t, were painted a shiny black without any hints of gray.) - Tamsin’s heroics to be a little more real and believable. (Sure, Tamsin did the right thing and it is consistent to show her being courageous, but I expected her to be more afraid, more desperate to find an alternative solution in the end and to be a little more spunky and inconventional altogether.) I really did enjoy reading „Always a Witch“, but I have to summarise that I am a little disappointed and that I did not feel compelled to write a review in order to persuade all my friends not to miss this book. On the contrary: I shoved writing the review from day to day, getting a worse and worse conscience, because I had been kindly provided with the opportunity to read the book before it was published by NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcout, the publisher. e-version historical-fiction love-story-romance ...more 12 likes Like Comment Vinaya 185 reviews 2,113 followers February 18, 2011 Wow. Just wow. I did NOT see that coming. After I read Once a Witch , I remember saying that MacCullough's writing was pretty decent. Now I'm forced to swallow my words. It's not just decent, it's pretty damn good! In this sequel to Once A Witch, Tamsin must journey back in time to the New York of the 1880s to stop her family's enemies from regaining their power and destroying what the Greenes have spent a hundred-odd years building. MacCullough seems to have a talent for historical fiction. The story moves much more smoothly in Always A Witch. The pacing is fast, the writing is tight and the plot is absorbing. I'm not saying that this book is a great work of literature. But I am saying that it's a worthwhile read. Tamsin is a likeable heroine who doesn't whine or angst or fall in love with multiple men at the same time. For someone who is supposed to have great powers, she seems remarkably level-headed. Also, on a side note, can I mention that, apart from Rowena, who does a good job of being the sister from Hell, Tamsin's family is adorable. I would actually have loved it if this book had taken a few extra pages and focused a little deeper on Tamsin's family dynamics. I want more Uncle Morry! Gabriel, however, seems to be strictly supporting cast, as in the first book. In fact, that is one of my minor complaints with regard to Always a Witch. In the interests of fast pacing, MacCullough seems to have sacrificed a certain amount of characterization, so we see very little of the family, or the conflict that Tamsin's super-powers are causing, and there is no fleshing out or deepening of her relationship with Gabriel. There are several aspects of this book that are a little too smooth to be believable. Deus ex machina plays a big role in Tamsin's fortuitous entry into the Knights' house and her subsequent discoveries. "Of all the gin joints in all the world..." as Bogey would say. Also, her transition from modern-day New York to the New York of the 1880s is practically seamless. Please. If someone moved me from the city into a village, I would have trouble adjusting, but our heroine just breezes into another era and faces no constraints? Overall, however, this is a book I would recommend for anyone looking for a well-written, fast paced read that's not too taxing on the brain. It all wraps up neatly, tied with a big, shiny bow and the reader is left feeling satisfied and positive. MacCullough's second offering trumps her first hands down. I received this ARC from the publishers via Net Galley. No monetary or other considerations ahve affected this review, yadda yadda. arc-galley books-i-liked ya-fantasy 10 likes Like Comment Kate 171 reviews 49 followers March 16, 2024 More reviews can be found at my blog Nomalicious Reads Always A Witch was a thrilling, sigh worthy read; a fantastic conclusion to Once a Witch. Carolyn MacCullough tied all the ends off very nicely, and I'm sad that Tamsin's journey is now over :( But it ended so well that I can't complain. Tamsin dealing with the social norms and bad guy,s in the nineteenth century definitely had its amusing moments as well as its heartwarming and shocking ones. The bad guys, La Spider and Liam were amazingly, chillingly evil; Carolyn did an amazing job with them. At some moments, she had me on the edge of my seat anticipating what would happen next, hoping that Tamsin would survive working in their lair. Gabriel.. is just so yummy! I would have loved to have seen even more of him and Tamsin, but really that's just me fangirling. And Tamsin? She's just an amazing, down to earth, kick-ass heroine. I'm really sad to see this book come to an end, but I'll be eagerly awaiting Carolyn's other books, she's won me over as a fan for life. I give Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough 5 noms. own reviewed 8 likes Like Comment Patty 1,601 reviews 102 followers June 25, 2011 Loved this even more than the first book in this series...my question is...will there be a book three? I am not quite ready to say good bye to Tamsin and Gabriel. Always A Witch By Carolyn MacCullough From The Book… Since the gripping conclusion of Once A Witch, Tamsin Greene has been haunted by her grandmother’s prophecy that she will soon be forced to make a crucial decision---one so terrible that it could harm everyone she loves. When she discovers that her enemy, Alistair Knight, went back in time to Victorian Era New York in order to destroy her family, Tamsin is forced to follow him into the past. Stranded all alone in the nineteenth century, Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady’s maid in the terrifying mansion of the evil Knight family, avoiding the watchful eye of the vicious matron, La Spider, and fending off the advances of Liam Knight, As time runs out, both families square off in a thrilling display of magic. And to her horror, Tamsin finally understands the nature of her fateful choice. My thoughts… This book was fabulous. The author managed to write a sequel that I thought was even better than the first book. The danger and mystery and fear were accented by Tamsin’s offbeat 16 year old mannerisms and sarcasm. Tamsin loves second hand clothes and her BFF Agatha and lattes and fun…her hair is pretty much always a mess…she is irreverent to say the least and has a typical 16 year old disregard for any and all authority. So she finds herself in practically medieval times (for her) trying to secure pins in the hair of the daughter of her family’s evil enemy. She knows she is the only one who can fix all of the awful things that the Knight family has done to innocent people and to the Greene family. And because of her grandmother’s warning…she knows that she may not come out of this unscathed. So…it was a breathtaking reading experience for me…nail biting even. I literally finished it overnight. I cheered Tamsin. She is a fun and an amazing heroine… Now…I yearn for book three. 6 likes Like Comment ~Tina~ 1,092 reviews 158 followers December 2, 2010 It took the return of an old family enemy, two episodes of time travel, and one very dangerous love spell that nearly killed my sister before I learned three things. First, I can stop anyone from using there Talents to harm me. Second, I can absorb a person's Talent if they attempt to use it against me three times. Third, I apparently have a choice ahead of me. Since this book isn't released till Aug 2011, I don't want to say to much since I want others to just read.this.book. Always a Witch is such a quaint, engaging and genuine story filled with so much spirit, magic and heart. I love these stories and it's characters. It's just a really fun book. I loved going back in time with Tam and Gabriel and meeting new villains along the way. I love that Tam doesn't always have the answers, but it doesn't stop her from trying. What she did for her family was amazing, such an incredible character and I simply adore Gabriel! Bottom line, Great adventure, lots of twists I didn't see coming and lovable character that will keep you entertained from minute one. I adore this book to pieces and I can't wait to get a copy to treasure always! I'm pretty sure this is the ending to this series which makes me sad, but I can't wait to see what MacCullough comes up with next. Her books will always have a special place on my shelf;) Thanks to Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcout for giving me the opportunity to view an early copy! arc hocus-pocus netgalley-edelweiss ...more 6 likes Like Comment Annie ⚜️ 511 reviews 21 followers February 26, 2020 I really didn’t like the end at all and the lack of sense, common or otherwise, in this story was a big reminder of why I shy away from YA. That being said, it was a quick, pleasant enough read and I do like a witch family story. It’s only a duology not a trilology so at least it’s short. fantasy magic ya 6 likes Like Comment Wendy Darling 1,804 reviews 34.2k followers June 10, 2011 What started out as a cute book became a really good one in the end. Full review to come. 2011-favorites paranormal-general pn-witches ...more 6 likes Like Comment Lauren 143 reviews 20 followers July 13, 2012 Always a Witch is the sequal to Once a Witch . In Once a Witch, Tamsin Greene grew up in a talented family of witches believing herself to be ordinary. Her own family were rather awful to at her times considering their deception. We find out part of the reason why they treated her this way in Always a Witch. Her Grandmother knew that Tamsin would have to sacrafice her own talent; stopping others from using their talent on her, so she wanted her to learn to live without having one. Her family still could have treated her more kindly. Her dad was obnoxious. I found that ending too pat so the sequel was much needed. Both novels handled the complicated matter of time travelling rather well. Tamsin has to go back to 1889 New York to stop Alistair Knight from preventing her own ancestors from defeating the Knights. Tamsin goes undercover as a ladies maid. This could have had much more potential. Tamsin had it much too easy maneuvering her way around a time she did not belong in. She missed breakfast once, but the hardships of the times weren't felt by her character. The Dark Shadows revival came to my mind. Victoria was accused of being a witch because her clothing said machine wash on them. Tamsin was prepared somewhat with an outfit but, she didn't plan her excursion into the past all that well. She should have fallen on her face some. Tamsin from Once a Witch made a few mistakes and lied. Perhaps, if the writer had borrowed a page from Iva Ibbotson's The Countess Below Stairs things might have been more compelling. Life as a ladies maid was hard. She could have been expected to actually use the equipment of those times and burned someone's hair off. Liam was creepy lite. He hit on her and murdered people but again, the missing maid was not utilised as it could have been. She found out straight away that Rosie and Horace had lied. I will overlook that it was too convenient she met Horace who got her the job in the first place. The book would have been bogged down with detail if everything was explained. Liam wasn't used to his full potential as a pervert. She never wanted him. There just wasn't much tension or stakes in this book. Alistair was more insidious in Once a Witch when he put a love spell on her sister. If she had been a governess instead to the weird child Edmund things could have had more drama. No romantic feelings towards the perverts? Oh well, Gabriel is a nice love interest. I can't blame MacCullough for keeping their relationship intact. I kept thinking of Hugh Jackman in Kate and Leopold during her excursions in 1889 New York. "This sir, is not New York!" Always a Witch shared more in common with Kate and Leopold's New York than Gangs of New York. blood-suckers fantasy supernatural ...more 5 likes Like Comment Gonca Özgül (Evetherneyse) 104 reviews 122 followers October 4, 2016 Ne olduğunu hatırlamıyorum lakin kitabın sonu beni çok üzmüştü, o yüzden 2 puan... 5 likes Like Comment Kate McMurry Author 1 book 109 followers August 9, 2011 Book 2 of the Witch Urban-Fantasy Series for Teens Note: Please do not read this review if you have not read Book 1 of the Witch series, Once a Witch, because there will inevitably be spoilers for that book. Once again 17-year-old Tamsin Greene’s life is strongly influenced by one of her grandmother’s prophecies, in this case that she will soon have to make a huge decision that could affect her family’s very survival. After the events of Once a Witch, Tamsin has become fully aware of her enormous Talents as a witch. Other witches’ magic has no affect on her (a common motif in many traditional fantasy novels, as well as an ability of Bella in Twilight, but still quite intriguing here), and if other witches use their magic against her three times, she absorbs, but does not steal, their ability (much like Peter Petrelli in the TV series, Heroes). She also knows that the evil witch family, the Knights, have a long-time blood feud with the Greenes, because the Greenes found a way to inhibit their magical power. The Knights are determined to get their magical power back, and they will stop at nothing, including murder, to accomplish their goal. The action begins in Book 2 when Tamsin discovers that the villain from Book 1, Alistair Knight, has traveled through time to Victorian-era New York in order to help his ancestors wipe out Tamsin’s before they can halt the Knight family’s magical crimes. Tamsin is determined to go back in time just prior to Alistair’s arrival and cut off his scheme, but she refuses to let anyone else get involved. If someone is going to be killed in this overwhelming mission, she is determined that the only loss of life will be her own. Unfortunately, without her boyfriend Gabriel along as he was in Book 1, she can only manage a one-way trip to the past. She also doesn’t have the assistance of his other crucial Talent of being able to find anything in her quest to locate and warn her Greene ancestors about Alistair Knight. As a result, Tamsin has no luck in her search for the Greenes, but she stumbles on the Knight family when she is offered a job as a lady’s maid in the Knight mansion in New York City. Tamsin quickly shifts direction and sets herself up as a mole within the Knight family in order to prevent the vicious matriarch of the Knight family, La Spider, from connecting with Alistair. Unfortunately, her task is made much more difficult when she is forced to resist the seductive charisma of the magnetically handsome and magically compelling Liam Knight, the eldest son of the family. This book is not only a worthy successor to Once a Witch, but actually in many ways even better. Tamsin continues to be a dynamic heroine who is extremely sympathetic because of her willingness to sacrifice herself for the greater good. She is also a true survivor, as evidenced by her willingness to improvise and persist against overwhelming odds as she deals with the horrible Knight family in the 19th century, completely out of her element, cut off from all support. The writing throughout this book is very well done, both as to the actual words on the page and the content of those words. The urban fantasy world-building continues to be well executed, the time travel element in particular. Tamsin’s relatives and magical enemies are very convincingly portrayed, particularly Liam Knight. He is the best kind of villain, a multilayered one who is both attractive and repulsive at the same time. In this book, unlike Book 1, Tamsin doesn’t smoke, and though she does drink a beer that is offered to her in the 19th century, it is more as a thirst quencher rather than a mood-altering substance. However, Liam’s sexually seductive attitude toward all females, including Tamsin, may cause some parents to judge this book less suitable for pre-teens and younger teens than Book 1. The age range for YA extends from age 11-19 according to YALSA (the YA portion of the American Library Association), and I would personally peg this book as appropriate for the more mature end of that range, for teens 16 and above. I grade the novel this way: Heroine - 5 stars Subcharacters - 5 stars Fantasy World-Building - 4 stars Writing - 5 stars Magical Thriller Plot - 4 stars Romantic Subplot - 4 stars Overall – 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars witch witches ya-fantasy ...more 4 likes Like Comment Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids 1,952 reviews 209 followers July 30, 2011 Reviewed by Sophie for MM's- Well established weaknesses for me include: time travel, magic, stubborn girls and boys who always, but always do the right thing. Need I go on to add that yes, Carolyn, hit them all. Let me start by saying that I completely admire Carolyn's ability to plot a two story arc and then gracefully execute it until the very last page when that one thing mentioned in the first book (that was oh so important) comes back full circle. Yes, I'm trying hard to keep this spoiler-free so forgive a true, fan-girly moment here. But this is not just a well written story with characters I want to spend time with in real life (remember the fan-girl warning) but it packs an unexpected action plot line and draws in characters from the first book with new ones from the second in such an elegant way that I couldn’t help finishing the book in a day. I think the only word I had left when I closed the cover was “whoa”. I was in shock at how Carolyn brought all these wonderful, detailed elements from Once A Witch around to the sequel and quietly led me down the path of her plot until piece by piece every single thing made sense to Tamsin and well, to me. And don’t worry, Mundie Moms, one of my favorite fictional boys ever, Gabriel, is still there. In fact here he is from page 12 when he and Tamsin are tempted to taste some of the sweets her mother is preparing for Rowena’s wedding: “Mhmm,” I say, licking the icing from the corner of my mouth. “It’s good. Even if it’s probably poisonous. Go on, I dare you.” Gabriel narrows his eyes a me, then takes the remainder of the cake from my fingers and eats it in one gulp. “Some of it,” my mother answers, inspecting a fork. “And stop hanging on the door,” she admonishes absentmindedly. “It’ll break again and I’m tired of having Chester fix the refrigerator. The last time he fixed it, it sang ‘I’m a Little Teapot’ every time opened it. It drove me insane.” Gabriel inhales on a laugh, then begins choking on cake crumbs. Alarmed, my mother whirls aroud. “Which one did you eat?” she cries. “The chocolate flower one,” I say, “Will he live?” I help myself to another cake, this one covered in sugar violets. “Is this one okay?” I ask, and then pop it into my mouth. My mother closes her eyes briefly, “Yes.” “Yes I’ll live or yes the second cake that she just ate is okay? It’s kind of important that you be specific here,” Gabriel says. This quote also illustrates how much of this book is about family – past and present. They are all around Tamsin. They are part of who she was and is and well, they’re definitely her mystery to solve. I can’t emphasize how much I love them and their fierce loyalty to one another. It reminds me of my own family and I swear we have an Uncle Chester, too. If you haven’t picked up this series, don’t wait, you’ve got to meet Tamsin, Gabriel, Rowena and yes, even the Knights. A huge thank you to Carolyn for making this Mundie Mom stay up way past her bedtime. It was worth every hour of lost sleep. 2011-release arcs books-i-own ...more 4 likes Like Comment Sandy 291 reviews 190 followers May 14, 2011 More like 3.5...better than the first with a thriller of an ending. Fans of Carolyn MacCullough's Once a Witch will absolutely devour this sequel, Always a Witch. MacCullough has upped the action and the plot, and the second half of this novel is utterly gripping. It's one of those sequels that's better than the first with an absolute thriller of an ending. In Always a Witch, Tamsin must travel back to the 1880s to stop Alistair and the Knights from destroying her family. Readers who love time travel stories will enjoy Tamsin's adventures in nineteenth century New York. I personally would have no idea how to be a Victorian-era lady's maid--how do you do those complicated up-do's?? no clue--so it would have been nice to see Tamsin struggle with acclimating to the past, not to mention things were a little too coincidental at times. But Tamsin? She's the strong, loyal, independent heroine we met in Once a Witch, but now she's on a dangerous quest to save her family...will she be willing to make a devastating choice and face the consequences? Paranormal romance fans who like their books with more PARANORMAL and less ROMANCE will enjoy this series. Gabriel is present and supportive in both books, but his romance with Tamsin definitely takes a back seat. I personally wish there could have been a few more swoony moments, but those wishing for more kicking and less kissing will like the de-emphasis of the romance. Two things really set this series apart for me: that zany family and the uniqueness of the "talents". Tamsin's loving family is always entertaining, and some of the best scenes of this series include moments with her wacky family. Such a present, supportive family is refreshing for YA literature. The concept of a "talent" opens the way for such creativity and surprise in the story, and I loved seeing everyone's talents and how they affect the conclusion. And that ending? So did not see it coming. It made me want to use one of Tamsin's Grandma's "Ah"s once everything was revealed. All of a sudden, it all made sense...the predictions, the secrets, the choices. The real driving force of this sequel is the sequence of events barreling towards that harrowing conclusion, and WOW the conclusion delivered. What a thrilling end to this series! (At least, I think it's the end? We'll see!) add-some-stars-endings read-in-2011 4 likes Like Comment Kelly 616 reviews 156 followers August 24, 2011 Alone among her relatives, Tamsin Greene grew up believing the family’s Talents had skipped her over, and learned to get by without magic. But in Once a Witch , Tamsin learned that she was far from powerless. Rather, she was one of the strongest of the Greene witches. Always a Witch concludes her story. Tamsin is still getting used to having magic, and her sister Rowena is annoying her with her bridezilla antics. These concerns take a backseat when the family learns that the sinister Alistair Knight has altered the past and restored his ancestors to power. Tamsin travels back to the Victorian era to set things right, excluding her boyfriend Gabriel from her plans because she believes he’ll die if he comes along. Once there, Tamsin is hired by the decadent, sadistic Knights as a lady’s maid, a position that gives her an inside view of their schemes but also puts her in great danger. The time-travel element here is stronger, in two senses of the word, than in the previous book. There’s more of it (Tamsin spends the vast majority of the book in 1887), and it works better. And the Knight house, though populated by creepy people, is a fun setting filled with secret passages — and maybe a few new allies as well. Tamsin works out what needs to be done to stop the Knights once and for all. She learns the nature of the terrible choice that was prophesied in Once a Witch. This did lead to a slight “how did that happen?” moment, since according to the spell’s logic, I think it should have affected all of Tamsin's blood relatives too . Yet the scene is an effective dramatic moment, heroic and bittersweet. Afterward, we learn the real reason the family kept Tamsin’s Talents a secret. Though I was occasionally confused by the way some of the magic worked, I would gladly recommend Once a Witch and Always a Witch to young adult readers. This is an enchanting, quick-moving, spooky duology with a likable heroine. Originally written for FantasyLiterature.com 4 likes Like Comment Tarryn 165 reviews 45 followers August 13, 2023 This has been such a nice little surprise of a random decade old duology! It makes me really wish the author was still writing. adventure-is-out-there body-swapping-fun great-ends-for-great-series ...more 3 likes Like Comment Andrea at Reading Lark 955 reviews 84 followers April 1, 2013 Review Posted on Reading Lark 6/24/11: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2011/... I read Once a Witch awhile back after it was first released and remembered really enjoying it, but this one blew it out of the water. It may be cheesy to say that this book put a spell on me, but that is exactly what it did. I was unable to put this book down for long. Every time I closed it to do something other than read, my Kindle kept whispering my name urging me to pick it back up and dive into the story. This edition in the series is so fast paced that there are hardly any lulls in the action. My heart was pounding as I read chapter after chapter. Tasmin and Gabriel are back for more adventures of the witchy variety. In the first book, they have to travel back in time to find a family heirloom that left in the wrong hands can spell disaster for the Greene clan. In this follow up novel, Tasmin and Gabriel will once again have to use their Talents to track down Alistair Knight as he seeks to protect his family from losing their magic. Will Tasmin and Gabriel be able to stop him a second time OR will Alistair prevail and destory the Greenes once and for all? I love Carolyn MacCullough's take on magic and witches. Each of her characters has a special talent that they can wield for both good and evil purposes. Some have the power to heal, others have the power to manipulate the weather, and some can even steal the bodies of others to use for their own purposes. Tasmin is more special than all the rest - she has the power to resist Talents and if someone uses a Talent against her three times then she takes on their powers. Just like they say in Spiderman - with great power comes great responsibility. Tasmin must use her unique Talents to save her family before the Knight family erases them for all time. Fans of witch novels and historical fiction are sure to be delighted by this tale. The writing is solid and the characters come to live as the story unfolds. I have to admit that I have quite the crush on Gabriel at this point. He sacrifices everything to make sure that Tasmin is safe. That is pretty swoon worthy if ya ask me. I also enjoyed getting a break from the whole love triangle plot strand that seems to be dominating YA books these days. One Last Gripe: I didn't like that the ending left me feeling hollow. I am just not happy with how things were left for Tasmin. I just didn't get a strong sense of closure with this one. My Favorite Thing About This Book: The fast paced action that begins as soon as Tasmin goes back to the 1800's - the momentum rolled through the novel and kept me enthralled First Sentence: I was born on the night of Samhain. Favorite Character: Gabriel Least Favorite Character: Liam 5-stars arc fantasy ...more 3 likes Like Comment Kristi 944 reviews 242 followers August 3, 2011 THE FAERYS VIEW After Tamsin Greene’s horrific encounter with the wicked Alistair Knight in Once a Witch, Tamsin is just starting to get comfortable with her new found Talent and finding her place within her extraordinarily Talented (magical) family. Tamsin’s happy and relieved to have found her Talent yet struggling with her grandmother’s prediction that she will soon make a decision, a decision so vital it will affect her entire family’s future. Life has finally settled down a bit for Tamsin; her sister, the lovely Rowena is getting married, she has Gabriel, the boyfriend of her dreams and she’s back at school in her dorm room with BFF, Agatha. She deserves a little peace, right? Well-- not quite yet—there’s a bit of a problem with the future. It seems that Alistair did indeed travel back to the Victorian era; warning his ancestors of the Greene’s intent to compile the Knights power into the Domani thus disabling them from causing harm and doing ‘blood magic’. It’s up to Tamsin to travel back in time and stop Alistair from warning the Knights of the Greene’s intent. When Tamsin travels back to Victorian era New York ahead of Alistair she finds a position in the Knight household as a lady’s maid for Jessica Knight; daughter of the cruel calculating matriarch La Spider and sister to charming Liam Knight. The Knights are powerful witches and along with their extended family, they use their Talents for increasing wealth and personal gain at any cost. Add Alistair to the picture and things start to get a little hairy. Tamsin finds herself caught between her wary ancestors and the vicious Knights in a struggle to save her family--past, present and future, all while trying to protect the innocent’s that are caught in between. It’s through other’s love and sacrifice that she learns how every move she makes and every word she utters impacts the fateful decision her grandmother predicted. She can only hope and pray that she doesn't lose her future along with that of her friends and family along the way. Carolyn MacCullough spins a spellbinding story of magic, time-travel, suspense and adventure. The story flows fluidly from chapter to chapter and the characters are richly defined. The history of Victorian era New York is fascinating and visually descriptive. witches 3 likes Like Comment kari 851 reviews October 10, 2011 Well, now I kind of wish that I hadn't wished for a sequel to Once a Witch . I hate to say it, but nothing much happens in this one until the very end and the evil person is eliminated off-screen and without any fanfare. Although there are plenty of other evil people, I'm not sure that the villain should meet his end without it being shown. That feels like it's unfinished in some way. Also, most of what I enjoyed in the first book is completely missing here. There is very little interaction between Tamsin and her family (that quirky bunch were such fun in the first book) and hardly more than that with Gabriel who I'd have liked to know more about. Tamsin is an interesting heroine. She's been kept in the dark a great deal about her own life and abilities and we finally get to learn why. I'm not quite satisfied with the ending, but I wasn't quite satisfied with the whole book. If you've read the first one, you'll likely want to read this one. I think it would be somewhat confusing if you haven't read the first book. It's an okay read. 2011 ya 3 likes Like Comment Saf ST 106 reviews 6 followers June 5, 2020 3.5 rounded to 4 ✨ I liked this second book very much. It grabs the attention and the plot has so much action, I couldn’t let it go. Perhaps there wasn’t a need to make it a duology. Since the two parts are short, I would have liked it to be one single book. They probably decided to publish it in two parts because it was a debut novel. I think it would have worked better as a whole to balance out the slower first part and the non-stop action in the second. This second part is fast and follows Tamsin in her time-travels in order to save her family. As characters go, there are new ones that appeared in the past, but I didn’t care for any of them. I wished there were more of Gabriel, since he was my favorite character. I understand as the MC, Tamsin should be the one fixing the problem, but I missed her side kick for pretty much the whole book. Overall, it was a nice quick read! Let’s not forget though, I am biased as I’ve loved this kind of stories about witches and covens since I was a little girl. 3 likes Like Comment Crystal 449 reviews 95 followers December 3, 2010 I have to say that I really enjoyed this one. Tam and Gabriel continue on in their quest to stop Allistair from his plot to save the Knight family from destruction. I really liked the time travel aspect of this one. I haven't read many books with that in it and it is refreshing twist to the story. I missed Gabriel in the first part and would have liked to have seen Tam reach out a little more for help even though I know why she didn't. I was very sad in the end but it was expected and completely the right choice for Tam. I don't want to say too much as this one doesn't come out until August so I will leave with if you enjoyed the first one you should definitely pick this one up and if you haven't read either these are quick fun reads so give them a try. Thanks Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcout=) 2010 3 likes Like Comment Kiki Z 1,055 reviews 53 followers October 11, 2019 I still don't like Gabriel or his so-called romance with Tamsin. In fact, it makes even less sense in this book. There's also absolutely no reason why this book and the first one couldn't have been one book. It would have flowed better AND easily explained why Tamsin's gift was truly kept a secret instead of the ridiculous reason that we're given in the first book. It genuinely feels like book one was an entire prequel event rather than part of the main action when you're finished with this one. 2-5-stars underwhelming 2 likes Like Comment Sarah 62 reviews 16 followers November 22, 2018 2.5/5 2 likes Like Comment Shelley 5,358 reviews 482 followers January 6, 2011 Synopsis: Tamsin Greene has been haunted by her grandmothers prophecy that she will soon be forced to make a crucial decision - one so terrible that it could harm her family's future. When she discovers that her enemy, Alistair Knight, went back in time to Victorian Era New York, Tamsin is forced to follow him into the past. Stranded all alone in the 19th century, Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady's maid in the terrifying mansion of the evil Knight family, avoiding the watchful eye of the vicious matron, La Spider, and fending off advances of Liam Knight. As time runs out, both families square off in a thrilling display of magic. And to her horror, Tamsin finally understands the nature of her fateful choice. This is is the follow-up story to Once A Witch by Carolyn MacCullough which I truly enjoyed. Tamsin comes from a long line of very powerful witches. During the previous book, it was revealed that she had Talent all along, but it was hidden from her by her mother, father, sister, and Grandmother. Her sister Rowena can compel anyone to do their bidding just by mesmerizing them with her voice. Her father compels the weather, while her mother and grandmother offer up spells. Her grandmothers sister can freeze someone by simply touching that persons head. Gabriel, her bff, can find any object anywhere. Tamsin found out in Once A Witch, that if someone uses magic on her, she is uneffected. She also has the ability to steal that persons abilities; like fire from her hands, or the ability to freeze someone just by touching them. When we open the story, Tamsin is reading herself for Rowen's (her sister) wedding and refusing to wear the gawd awful dress Rowena has picked out. Then a mysterious man disguised as her Uncle Morris shows up and Tamsin is unable to use her powers of fire. He then gives her a dire warning for her boyfriend Gabriel. Her grandmother realizes that her powers are good for three days only, which is why she couldn't use fire against the intruder. She can, however, still use her ability to freeze people. Tamsin and her Grandmother soon realize that she has to travel back to 1887 and find Alistair and save her family. Tamsin travels back in time and finds herself in a park in New York 1887. She runs into a man named Horace in a bar who offers her a job at the Knight household as a lady's maid. Using the name Agatha Smithsdale, she runs into Liam Knight, the same person who showed up in her house under the guise of Uncle Morris. Alas, who should also show up at the same time? Alistair Callum himself. Tamsin becomes a lady's maid to Jessica Knight who is so unlike the rest of her family. She seems not to care for the Talent that she has, and dislikes the choices her mother La Spider has tried to set for her. Jessica is in love with a William Finnegan, but she is also to be married to another man who she dislikes. Tamsin soon discoves that the Knights, especially Liam, have been experimenting with their maids and using their blood as drinks to extend their powers and their longevity. One of those experiments ends up being Alistair himself. Gabriel makes an appearance and is not too happy with Tamsin. He shows up and becomes Jessica's new music teacher. After they reunite, they escape from the Knight household and end up at the Greene's ranch where they tell her thanks for the warning, but be gone with thee! When Tamsin and Gabe reach the Greene's, they are unwilling to help her and want her to go back to where she came from. The proble is, Gabe can't locate any of Tam's family. It is as though they have never been born. In the final battle between the Greene's and the Knights, Tamsin sacrifices herself, and her Talents to save Jessica Knights life. In doing so however, she also created the Domani and took away the Knights Talents. After traveling back home, she is distraught over losing her powers, but her grandmother calls her the Family Beacon. Thoughts: I love this story. I love the fact that the author takes us back to 19th century New York, and does a wonderful job of world building. She has a really good character in Tamsin Greene, and it will be interesting to see if this series continues. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review favorites witches young-adult-fiction 2 likes Like Comment Alisha Marie 897 reviews 91 followers July 21, 2011 I loved Once A Witch. Seriously, it was one of my favorite books read last year (or was it the year before?) and not only was it the PERFECT Halloween read, but it was also a fairly unique read. You don't see many YA novels written about witches (or at least many that have been done well...or at least I haven't). Therefore, I have been anxiously awaiting the sequel, Always A Witch. While I didn't think the sequel was as good as Once a Witch, it was still a really entertaining novel. Always a Witch had more thrills, adventures, wit, and sarcasm then it's predecessor, Once A Witch. And I loved the whole Elizabeth Bathory type of storyline that it used. Tamsin is still a strong heroine that never grates. In fact, NONE of the characters in Always a Witch grate (and that has to be an absolute first for me). In fact, Always a Witch is as much fun as Once A Witch was. It might even be more fun as Tamsin stays in the past more than a matter of minutes (like she did in Once A Witch). The sense of danger was also more prevalent in this novel, so that made it that much more intriguing to me. So why the four stars while Once a Witch got five full stars? I felt that Always a Witch was a bit...rushed. While I did feel that sense of urgency as Tamsin did in wanting to accomplish her goals and destroy the Knight family, I felt like we got to that point extremely quick. I didn't feel that there was enough development in the first few chapters for Tamsin to decide that she has to go right at that particular moment. I would have liked more build up to that. Also, a huge reason why I loved Once A Witch is because I loved Tamsin's wacky, zany, and endlessly entertaining family. Unfortunately, in Always a Witch, Tamsin's family is barely a footnote. They are there for a few pages in the beginning and a bit in the end. That really wasn't enough for me. So, in the end, I really did like Always a Witch. I just didn't think it surpassed the awesomeness that is Once a Witch. I am, however, still saddened that this seems to be the last in this series. While some authors take their series to the extreme and keep churning one novel after the other even though it's clear to everyone that the series should have came to a close some novels ago, I feel Carolyn MacCullough should at least write one more novel to wrap the series up. Anyway, I recommend Always a Witch. Like it's predecessor, it is an amazing, light read. arc-s books-i-own-that-i-ve-read fantasy ...more 2 likes Like Comment Rashika (is tired) 976 reviews 713 followers January 13, 2014 *This mini review has also been posted on Tangled in Pages This year I want to get the reading I've been avoiding done. I want to complete series' that I refuse to finish and read sequels I once awaited eagerly. I thought this would be a good place to start seeing that I read the first book in this duology back in 2012. I cannot remember exactly what put me off but I decided not to read the sequel and let things be. Perhaps it was fear of a love triangle (how I hate those) but I have to say, whatever the reason, my fear was unfounded because the sequel turned out to be rather pleasant. It was not particularly special but there is something satisfying about it. Tam is a refreshing female lead. She does make some stupid decisions but she is also mature. Of course, she also happens to be a teenager so she does have certain insecurities but it worked out just fine. It's never bothered me. Her love interest, Gabriel, was adorable. The romance between the two is nice and doesn't overshadow the plot. In fact, it's more in the background than anything else. The plot was actually decent too. This plot basically flies by so I cannot say much about it but it all ties back nicely. As someone who loves time travel and the science behind it, I must say, it was done pretty damn well in both books. I haven't felt this satisfied by a conclusion in a while. I really did enjoy this book and it's nice that it flew by. Sometimes you just need a book that flies by instead of one that makes you think a lot. I recommend this series to anyone who just wants to take a break and read a nice slow book. cute-love-interests decent-female-leads pnr-witches ...more 2 likes Like Comment JeanBookNerd 321 reviews 40 followers December 14, 2011 Always a Witch is a marvelous and pleasing continuation to Carolyn MacCullough’s Once a Witch. It started right where it left off and another adventure began. The outline of the story was planned out well and MacCullough definitely knew how everything was going to happen. This time around, Tamsin must make a choice that can change the fate of her family’s entire future. Usually when a story involves time traveling, it can tend to be confusing and get the reader out of place, but I found it to be easy to follow. It takes the reader to the 1800’s in which the author does a wonderful job describing what New York looked like. You can definitely tell that she has done her research. It was a quick read but it was full of fantasy and magic. I thought the plot was wonderful. Tamsin takes the reader into an adventure where she is thrown back in time to save her family. The characters, old and new, are brilliantly crafted and it was fun reading how Tamsin playing a different person back in time. The process of her time traveling reveals many secrets about not only the Knight family, but her family as well. Tamsin has become an incredible and tough main character that isn’t afraid to do what is right and what needs to be done, however how difficult it is. All of the characters seemed to be well written and fleshed out. The Talents each character introduced were fascinating and amazing. The setting mainly occurred in the 1800’s but the outlook was different inside the mansion. The story was fun, carried enjoyable dialogue, built interesting characters, created likeable protagonists, and produced a fulfilling ending. reviews 2 likes Like Comment Kristy 598 reviews 92 followers December 15, 2011 Dare I say I enjoyed this one more than ?? Yep, I enjoyed this one more. It had a clean historical fiction vibe going that I completely enjoyed. It is very much age appropriate for the YA crowd. Spoilers and complaining ahead: I want more relationship between Gabriel and Tasmin. I love that their love-story is not the main element in the book, but I feel like the scenes they do share could have been a bit more romantical..... Honestly, I feel like this was super-fast paced and over too quick. I needed just a bit more information and time to process what was going on. I would like to have seen Tasmin use her powers more. I feel like she just got them and BAM, now they are gone.... really?!?!?!? And, I really did not like Rowena in the beginning of the book. Why was it even neccessary to have all that about her wedding in there? And, why is she SUCH a diva? What does that have to do with anything?!?!? Props to the author for creating a completely different witchy world. They're not the voo-doo, warty or cackling kind. They are just different and all their talents are interesting. I would like more of that. Bottomline: People who enjoyed the first installment will probably like this one. I did enjoy it more than book #1, but I am not frothing at the mouth for me. I'm not blown away, but I'm not put-off either. I'm a couple notches above meh. 3 stars And, yes... I am aware this is a sham of a review... supernatural 2 likes Like Comment Ferdy 944 reviews 1,247 followers May 29, 2012 The plot centers on two family of witches, the Greenes and the Knights. Every witch has a talent be it speed, fire or being able to find lost things. Tamsin always believed she had no talent but recently found out that she does in fact have a powerful talent, she is immune to all other talents and can take other peoples talents if it used on her three times. The Greene family in the 1800's discovered the Knight family using their talent for evil so they created the Domani, the Domani stops the Knights having any talents. So Alistair Knight travels back in time to try and destroy the Greene family. When Tamsin finds out about Alistair's plans she also travels back in in time too stop him destroying her family. I like that Tamsin was focused on trying to save her family, instead of thinking about boys and other angsty nonesense. Her relationship with Gabriel was pretty good,it's not front and centre in the book like most YA novels - where the heroine obsessesively obsess about their love interests and nothing else matters to them except having the hot, mysterious, powerful boyfriend at their side. Tamsin and Gabriel aren't really like this, they both have their own lives but are still committed to one another. Tamsin's relationship with her perfect older sister Rowena and her grandmother was what I liked most, I liked that her family was a big and ever present part of her life..most YA novels suffer from absent parents/families. The ending had a surprise twist of a sort but I ok with the way it end that way, everything was more or less resolved by the end. 2 likes Like Comment Amber 349 reviews 110 followers January 5, 2011 I'm going to start off by saying that I am so so lucky not to have a sister like Rowena...aka Bridezilla!! The protaganist in Always A Witch, (aka Tamsin Greene) is faced with many challenges and finally pieces together the path she was chosen for. I admire the courage throughout the story she exudes and the selflessness that leads her on her journey back in time to when it all began. I really enjoyed Always A Witch by Carolyn MacCullough. At times I felt it was a little slow but when it started to regain my interest it didn't back down. I was very pleased with how well the story flowed and the little pieces that weren't left unfinished such as making the promise to "Cook" to change back "Mary". Don't want to give it away, but more importantly the author took the time for small details. I think the story really started to evolve once Gabriel entered the scene. There's something about him, but it's totally something good ;) and once again that connection between Tamsin and Gabriel was fresh and exciting once again. I love that you can feel the love between them. I would really like to see more of those two together in the future. Overall, a very clean and enjoyable read. Thank You Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt! arc netgalley witches-sorcerer-ess 2 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 647 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 1 quote 7 discussions 2 questions Can't find what you're looking for? 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Vita Brevis (Gaius Petreius Ruso #7) by Ruth Downie | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Gaius Petreius Ruso #7 Vita Brevis Ruth Downie 4.12 1,341 ratings 150 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Ruso and Tilla and their new baby daughter have left Roman-occupied Britain for Rome, but their excitement at arriving in the city is soon dulled when they find that the grand facades of polished marble mask an underworld of corrupt landlords and vermin-infested tenements. There are also far too many doctors – some skilled, but others positively dangerous. Ruso takes on a reputable medical practice only to find that his predecessor, Doctor Kleitos, has fled, leaving a dead man in a barrel on the doorstep and the warning, "Be careful who you trust." Distracted by the body and his efforts to help a friend win the hand of a rich young heiress, Ruso makes a grave mistake, causing him to question both his competence and his integrity. With Ruso's reputation under threat, he and Tilla must protect their small family from Doctor Kleitos's debt collectors and find allies in their new home while they track down the vanished doctor and find out the truth about the unfortunate man in the barrel. Genres Historical Fiction Mystery Historical Mystery Fiction Historical Crime Roman ...more 371 pages, Hardcover First published July 12, 2016 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Ruth Downie 18 books 739 followers Ruth is the author of nine mysteries* featuring Roman Army medic Gaius Petreius Ruso and his British partner Tilla. The latest is a novella, PRIMA FACIE. She lives in Devon, England. A combination of nosiness and a childish fascination with mud means she is never happier than when wielding an archaeological trowel. She is sometimes called R.S. Downie, but she isn't the person with the same name who writes medical textbooks, and recommends that readers should never, ever take health advice from a two thousand year old man who prescribes mouse droppings. *The first four books have all had two titles. Ruth is still wondering how this ever seemed like a good idea. Since she is unable to wind back time, British readers may find it useful to know that: Medicus was Ruso and the Disappearing Dancing Girls, Terra Incognita was Ruso and the Demented Doctor, Persona Non Grata was Ruso and the Root of All Evils, Caveat Emptor was Ruso and the River of Darkness - but SEMPER FIDELIS, TABULA RASA, VITA BREVIS, MEMENTO MORI and PRIMA FACIE only have one title each - hooray! Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.12 1,341 ratings 150 reviews 5 stars 467 (34%) 4 stars 612 (45%) 3 stars 229 (17%) 2 stars 25 (1%) 1 star 8 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews Kathleen 1,500 reviews 114 followers October 21, 2018 This is Downie’s 7th offering in the Medicus Investigation series. Gaius Ruso and Tilla have recently moved from Britannia to Rome under the impression that his friend Accius is offering him a thriving medical practice and wealthy client to provide some much-needed financial security. Hah! Ruso and Tilla find that the previous doctor left his lodgings in shambles and Horatius Balbus is soon murdered. Gaius Ruso, a good doctor and honest man, finds himself in the middle of a swirling maelstrom of Romans only too willing to take advantage of his naivety. Various groups demand money, or attempt to take away the meager possessions that Russo and Tilla have left. Oh yes, and then he is asked to help solve various mysteries—like who killed Horatius Balbus. There are certainly plenty of suspects. Fortunately, he has Tilla at his side. This is another excellent historical mystery by Downie. Recommend. 12 likes Like Comment Camilla Monk Author 14 books 668 followers August 17, 2016 I have waited so long for this! Ruso is back, and as usual, the more he tries to become the reputable, successful doctor his ex-wife once hoped he'd become... the more everything falls apart around him. :) When we left Ruso and his wife (and former slave), Tilla, in Britain, they had just welcomed a new addition to their family: Mara, their adopted baby daughter. (I'll never forget how Ruso calls Mara's young biological mother in book #5 "The pregnant tart from Eboracum" -- before welcoming her under his roof nonetheless). This time, Ruso is about to make it big in the heart of the Empire, Rome. Offered a position in the eternal city by Accius a young former tribune, Ruso packs his little family, crockery and all, to answer the call of destiny! Destiny, however, is on voicemail: once in Rome, it turns out that there is no prestigious position awaiting. Accius, who, to his great dismay, is now in charge of overseeing the cleaning of Rome's streets, has nearly forgotten about Ruso. Our hero and his family are reduced to renting a cockroach-infested flat while looking for a better opportunity. Such an opportunity presents itself when the personal physician (and tenant) of a certain Horatius Balbus disappears, leaving his most important patient in immediate need of medical advice, and a practice to run. Recommended by Accius, Ruso takes on the job. Things are looking up for our bumbling medicus, if we except the fact that a barrel has been abandoned at the door of his new practice, and that there's a dead man inside. I'll stop spoiling here. ;) Once again, what makes reading the medicus series such a pleasure is the realistic portrayal of the society Ruso evolves in. In Vita Brevis, Rome is experienced rather than described, and a ton of historical details color the story, like paint daubs, vivid yet unobtrusive. As Ruso and Tilla attempts to track the missing doctor and find our who's the dead man in the barrel and how he ended there, new threads are added to the plot, dealing with medical ethics, real estate and housing politics in 130 AC, stars-crossed lovers, secret Christian communities (I LOVE Downie's treatment of this particular topic. her christians are realistic, and only she could make a persecuted sect funny), ... Each element bring a piece of the complex puzzle the heroes must figure. Again, like in previous books, the stakes quickly become personal for Ruso, who finds himself accountable for the dead man in the barrel, and who's being pressed by Accius and Horatius Balbus to solve the case of the disappearance of Balbus's doctor. The cement to the plot is of course the wonderful relationship between Ruso and his wife, made of mistakes, misunderstandings, exasperation, but ultimately a deep mutual love. There are new challenge to Ruso's domestic life in this book, in the face of baby Mara, who changes his and Tilla's lives, and the acqusition of two slaves. (Well three, but one ran away). This also adds an interesting angle, as the slaves are briton, like Tilla, who used to be Ruso's slave herself. This conflict is handled skillfully, and manages to make the practice understandable to our modern eye. I kept thinking as I read, that this is one of the complexities of writing about the Roman empire: slavery was an integral part of their culture, and it's a tight rope to walk than to have your main character own slaves -- something inconceivable to our modern sensibilities -- and yet makes the character relatable and likeable, all without giving into the temptation to portray him as a social justice warrior whose fight might seem wildly out of place under Hadrian's reign... Now, before I conclude, there is one thing that left me wanting: the plot's conclusion. I won't spoil, but I felt that too much happened off-screen, giving me the impression that things came together almost too easily at a point where the situation seemed desperate. Last word: I loved Squeaky in the last scenes... ancient-rome 10 likes Like Comment Emma 2,603 reviews 1,000 followers July 6, 2018 It’s been a while since I picked this series up, so was really thrilled to see the next book on a kindle deal. It was immensely enjoyable and set in Rome rather than Britain. Having recently been less than impressed with a Flavia Albia book (Lindsey Davies) and mourning the end of the Falco series, this book has restored my faith in Roman historical fiction. Poor Ruso and family get off to an unpromising start to their new life in Rome and from there it’s downhill all the way. Will the family take to life in Rome? Read it and find out! british-hf crime historical-fiction ...more 9 likes Like Comment Jane 1,620 reviews 216 followers October 22, 2019 3.5/5 rounded down to 3. Another delightful mystery in the Medicus Gaius Ruso series. This time the outing finds Ruso and Tilla in Rome at the behest of ex-Tribune Accius. Two mysteries to be solved this time around: a dead body in a barrel; also the death [murder?] of Accius's patron, a wealthy real estate magnate cum slumlord. Ruso has come to Rome under false pretenses; Accius has led him to believe the practice he has temporarily taken over is perfectly ordinary, whereas it has its dodgy side. The previous doctor, a Dr. Kleitos, has fled, taking most of his possessions. Why? Debts he's being dunned for? Is the doctor taking dead bodies for illegal purposes, e.g., anatomy? Or? Ruso also finds himself as matchmaker between the lovesick Accius and the dead man's daughter. I enjoyed the trajectory of the mysteries and how everything fit together logically at the end. Ruso and Tilla make a good team. I especially like their dialogue with each other--a typical married couple--and their coping with a new baby. The scene buying a nanny for the baby at a slave auction was priceless. Recommended. ancient-rome gaius-petreius-ruso-fiction mystery ...more 7 likes Like Comment Assaph Mehr Author 6 books 385 followers January 15, 2018 Ruso is making an attempt at better life in the centre of the empire, but his stay in Rome is marred by the usual - a corpse laid at his doorstep. While Ruso is trying to navigate the complex politics of life as a doctor in Rome, his wife Tilla is trying to build a home in this new (and smelly) city, while aiding in medical practice. What to Expect A great description on life in Rome, in particular the patronage system. We get a ground-level look at the workings of daily life: accommodations, food, medical practice (and its associated fields), social engagements, and a touch of public life. As usual, Downie's writing is full of charm with excellent characterisation and research. One cannot help but like and relate to the people in the story, and follow them in the twisting plots and sub-plots as they try to build a life and resolve deaths. The POV of view alternates between Ruso and his (British) wife Tilla, and Downie does an excellent job in describing how these two very different people view the eternal city. What I liked This goes for the whole series. The absolute charm of the writing. All characters are fully fleshed, believable, with their own motivations. The writing is witty, the setting is rich, the plot thought-out, and the mysteries engaging. These are the kind of books where you care for the characters. Downie has a knack to depict the world-views of the characters realistically, switching viewpoints from a Roman medical officer to a British peasant woman. It is clear that each character - from main to support cast - is a fully realised person, with their own agendas and biases. The plot of the stories grips you till can't put the book down. Downie is masterfully building up the investigations through sub-plots, distractions, daily lives, grand events - till you just have to know what happens next. Ruso may be a reluctant investigator, but he has that nagging voice in his head when things don't quite fit well, and it keeps him following and digging for the truth. Tilla has her own sense of fairness, and views on what makes the world tick. Downie locates each book in a different town, mostly around Roman Britain (with only two exceptions). She has clearly done her research for each location and they all come alive, with the latest modern archaeological understanding of life there seeping through her writing. What to be aware of These aren't the noir mysteries I normally read and recommend. While there are certainly some gruesome bits (he's a medic, after all), these aren't your typical first-person hard-boiled detective. Rather, the stories are told in a lighter vein, in third person perspective from either Ruso or Tilla's POV. Happily, Tilla gets a lot of page-time in this novel. Ms Downie has experience with archaeology and Latin history, and it shows in her writing. She has elected to translate most Latin terms into modern English (e.g. calling a master 'my lord' rather then 'domine', or using 'doctor' for physician), which may sound a tad weird to those used to Latin terms from similar series. Be aware that while it's not strictly necessary to read the books in order, it certainly helps. Summary I absolutely love this series. I have no idea why it took me so long to get back to it, but I am glad I did. If you've read the previous books, this is a great continuation. If not, go back to book one (Medicus) and start reading today! -- Assaph Mehr , author of Murder In Absentia : A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy. 6 likes Like Comment S.J.A. Turney Author 68 books 443 followers November 22, 2016 The seventh novel in Ruth Downie’s Ruso and Tilla series takes us from Roman Britain (the setting for the majority of the books) for our first glimpse of Hadrianic Rome. Adn what a glimpse it is. If you follow my reviews at all, you’ll be well aware by now of my opinion of this series and Ruth Downie’s awesome talent for storytelling, so you’ll be unsurprised to know that this is one of my highest rated books. Following a former commander from Britain, Ruso brings Tilla and their new baby to Rome, seeking the good old ‘streets paved with gold’, only to find out that they are, in fact, paved with charlatans, criminals, gawpers and cockroaches. Oh, and barrels with bodies sealed inside. Yes, Ruso’s getting himself involved once again, entirely through atrocious luck, with a mystery. He receives an offer he cannot refuse: a ready made medical practice with patients, including a rich patron, and accommodation, all just waiting for him. But entirely apart from the delivery of the body in a barrel, he starts to worry that something is wrong because the former doctor has vanished without trace. Cue once again a truly complex, labyrinthine plot. As Ruso and Tilla battle debt collectors, wicked morticians, medical con-men, angry patrons, credulous neighbours, Christians and so many more, Ruso finds his life spiralling once more out of control, his reputation hanging on knife edge, Tilla trying to hold things together. As with all Ruth’s plots, Vita Brevis is a masterpiece of subtlety and complexity intertwined. As with all her books, character, colour, detail, pace and humour are prime movers. The characters are so well constructed, and we’ve known that since book 1, but the fact is they have have 6 books to grow, and they are now old friends. Well, the main characters are. The supporting ones are new, obviously, but are instantly dislikeable. Oh, some are likeable, but the majority are unpleasant, oily, corrupt Roman city-folk. And colour? Well, you just won’t believe the colour of the Rome Ruth paints until you read it. Detail? Well there are very few writers I have read who have anything close to Downie’s knowledge of her era. She is skilled as an author but also knowledgeable as a historian and archaeologist. I always feel confident with her work that I am experiencing the closest thing to actually being there. Pace is easy. It is almost impossible to put down a Ruth Downie book. They drag you in and then pull you along until you blink in disbelief that you’re at the end. and finally, humour. Well, there is so little light-hearted or humorous material to be found in the genre, that to see the ongoing quirky humour of Ruso and Tilla is always a heartwarming thing. Gods, but Vita Brevis (Life is Short) is the latest in the series. This is the first time I’ve finished a Ruso book without there being another one waiting to be read. Come on Ruth. Maybe we can somehow push the calendar forward a year? In short: buy this book. Read this book. 6 likes Like Comment MB (What she read) 2,393 reviews 14 followers August 2, 2016 8/2/16 3.5 stars I enjoyed the reading experience--I love this series-- but found myself bothered by how craven and powerless Ruso was throughout this book. Even Tila's spark was dimmed (somewhat and to a lesser degree). I found the mystery itself confusing. (The stakes seemed way too high for what seemed to be an incredibly minor slip.) I liked the additions to the Ruso household and am glad that they left Rome. I really hope they make it back to Britain or elsewhere where they can blossom and be less downtrodden. I thought Metellus' character seemed very oddly subdued in comparison to his previous appearances...yes, I assume there's another plot building...but, still. I also think the reading experience may have been dampened by the fact that most of the action and drama occurs off the page. What readers get is only the repercussions on Ruso and Tila. Other than two dramatic scenes, everything driving this story happened before, or away from, the main characters. Maybe that made the difference? Still, I'm longing for the next installment. I do enjoy Ruso and Tila! historical-fiction mysteries read-in-2016 ...more 5 likes Like Comment Jean 1,756 reviews 766 followers October 19, 2016 This is book seven of the series. In this story Gaius Petreius Ruso, his wife Tila and baby daughter Mara, have arrived in Rome from Britain. Former Tribune Accius has offered Ruso the home and medical practice of a Doctor Kleitos. Kleitos has vanished. Horiatis Balbo, a patron of Kleitos’s is convinced someone is trying to poison him and only Kleitos’s mysterious medial prescription will protect him. Balbo suddenly dies. Ruso and Tila are trying to solve the mystery of Kleitos and Balbo. The book is well written and the move to Rome adds a new excitement to the story. Downie, as always, provides a realistic view of ancient Rome and provides historical insight to the story. The characters feel real, the plot is complex and the suspense builds throughout the story. As with all Downie books there is a subtle dry humor which I enjoy. I am always amazed at the detail of Roman life that Downie works into her story. The squalid conditions and corruption that was Rome is vividly portrayed by Downie. Simon Vance does an excellent job narrating the story. Vance is a British actor and award winning audiobook narrator. audio-book fiction historical-fiction ...more 4 likes Like Comment Mary Heron 884 reviews 13 followers May 20, 2023 Tilla in Rome trying to be a good Roman Wife. God help Ruso. Ruso has travelled to.Rome with Accius his Tribune from the twentieth legion. It seemed a good idea when in Brittania but now he is actually here Rome is not at all what he exoected. It's crowded, dirty, everything costs too much and nobody is friendly........in fact the locals are downright nasty. Tilla hates it, she's trying not to complain of make a fuss but she's not sleeping and she's losing weight (not that she had any to lose) but worst of all after persuading him to travel with him here Accius seems to not know what to do with Ruso now. But fortune smiles on the small family for once and Ruso is offered the chance to stand in for a doctor and run his medical practice while he's been called away, the job even comes with housing. But as ever with Ruso with the good comes the bad, there was a barrel blocking the way into the premises and when Tilla takes a blade to it she finds a body inside. Everyone around denies any knowledge of where the barrel and the body inside may have come from but word quickly spreads and the locals blame Ruso and Tilla for bringing bad luck to the neighbourhood. That's not the worst of it though Ruso's patron (a wealthy landlord) and only client died in mysterious circumstances and Accius, who is in love with the man's daughter wants Ruso to do what he is so good at and investigate the death................. 4 likes Like Comment John 2,063 reviews 196 followers January 27, 2018 Ruso and Tilla finally get to see the great City for themselves, and couldn't wait to leave fairly early on it seemed. Terrific parallels given with modern day places such as London or New York: crowded, noisy, no one knows their neighbor, etc. The mystery angle was well done as I had no idea of the bad guys until the revelations near the end. Here, I felt Tilla came off better as more independent than just a cardboard British figure. As usual, these stories are funny without resorting to dopey slapstick. Simon Vance's narration really adds quite a lot to the dimension of the tales. audiobook library_books mystery 3 likes Like Comment Eden 1,987 reviews April 30, 2020 2020 bk 151 I so enjoy Tilla and Russo's quests to work out their marriage (and now parenthood) while at the same time being involved in some of the more puzzling mysteries. When a Roman businessman is murdered (after using some of Russo's salve), he is called upon to find out 'who dunnit' and he does, but not without some damage to his own body and general disillusionment with life in Rome. Excellent read. mystery-and-suspense time-ancient-empires-and-kingdoms 3 likes Like Comment Natalie aka Tannat 671 reviews 7 followers March 7, 2021 3.5 stars ebook fiction historical-fiction ...more 2 likes Like Comment Steven Kuehn Author 6 books 27 followers June 15, 2016 In VITA BREVIS, Gaius Ruso and Tilla (and baby Mara, of course) have left Britannia for Rome, where Ruso has been promised a respectable and potentially lucrative medical practice. The excitement of a new life in the heart of the Roman Empire, however, is tempered soon after their arrival. The grandeur of the city fades as Ruso and Tilla encounter a mix of unfriendly neighbors, squalid living conditions, corrupt officials, debt collectors, some disreputable doctors, and additional troubles as they try to set up housekeeping. As if that were not enough, Ruso receives an ominous note from the doctor he has replaced, warning him to be careful who he trusts, which takes on even greater significance when a dead body in a barrel is left on their doorstep! Once again, Ruso and Tilla are drawn into an overlapping series of crimes that challenge them both. This is the seventh novel in the Medicus series, and author Ruth Downie continues to impress. The strength of her Roman Empire crime novels lies in the complex and lively interactions between Ruso and Tilla, and between them and the surrounding characters. The interplay between Ruso and Tilla is filled with conflict, love, humor, and more than a bit of exasperation on both sides; rarely do you find such a realistic couple in the pages of a novel. Downie’s Medicus series has three great strengths: excellent characters and character interactions, detailed historical research that is subtle yet effectively transmitted to the reader, and well-conceived mysteries that entertain and enthrall the reader to the very end. I am particularly impressed by her detailed historical research; the reader is provided with a wonderful sense of place, be it the frontier of Roman Britain or Rome itself, without the awkward narrative descriptions that bog down the plot in some historical fiction. I’ve enjoyed every book in the Medicus series, and found VITA BREVIS to be an excellent addition to this series. Very much looking forward to her next book! In full disclosure, I received an advanced reading copy of VITA BREVIS through Goodreads, but this has in no way effected my review. 2 likes Like Comment Rebecca 3,623 reviews 71 followers July 1, 2016 I won this book in a giveaway, although it then took me a stupidly long time to get to reading it. Downie's Medicus series is one of my favorite in historical mysteries, not just for the Roman setting, but also for the way she makes it feel so real and modern even as it remains recognizably historical. Her characters are people rather than Ancient Roman Beings, and the light, dry humor in the novels makes them easy and fun to read. This volume in particular, which takes place in Rome itself rather than Roman Britain or Gaul, was a little clumsier in its mystery plot than previous entries in the series, but well-written enough that I found that I didn't mind - I just wanted to see what Ruso and Tilla were up to. I am glad that they're leaving the city, however, as it felt like Rome itself was a distraction for the plot and the characters. It is the people of Downie's world who make it. Tilla is one of my favorite characters in any book, and I'm looking forward to what she and Ruso (and now Mara) get up to next. historical-fiction mystery 2 likes Like Comment Mary 768 reviews 19 followers July 13, 2017 Apparently the series is usually set in Roman Britain. This one is a complicated story set in Rome and it doesn't hang together too well. Ruso, his British wife Tilla and their baby Mara are newly arrived in Rome, looking for employment as a doctor. His patron finds him a practice to take over while Dr Kleitos is in the provinces caring for his aged father. But left on the doorstep that morning is a large barrel for Dr Kleitos and it is soon discovered that the barrel contains a corpse. This gives you a good idea of how far fetched the plot is. Not recommended. crime historical-fiction 2 likes Like Comment Kate 1,631 reviews 381 followers January 3, 2018 Thoroughly entertaining and absorbing Roman mystery. Each time I read one of these books I fall ever deeper for Ruso and Tilla. favourites-read-in-2016 out-in-2016-and-read 2 likes Like Comment Italo Italophiles 528 reviews 34 followers July 12, 2016 Ruso, a doctor, and Tilla, a midwife, are the protagonists of this crime series set in Ancient Rome. They are at first glance a mismatched couple, he being a Roman from Gaul (France), she being a Celt from northern Britain, a relatively recent addition to the Roman Empire at the time of the stories. But in this couple's case, appearances are very deceiving. They are perfect together. Rough-edged military doctor Ruso barely manages to hide his weakness: a deep sense of humanity and justice. In the sadistic world of the Ancient Roman Empire, those are not considered assets. His “foreign” wife values his character and shares his burdens in a way a traditional Roman wife would not. In fact, Ruso once had a very traditional Roman wife but she, fed up with his good nature, sought a divorce. To date, this very entertaining series follows the couple's meeting through to their start of their own family. I enjoy the books very much for their quality writing, deep humanity, realistic portrayal of couple and family life, complex protagonists, and the camaraderie of military life portrayed around Ruso. The accurate historical background to the stories is a bonus, since I enjoy historical novels. Being a fan of mystery and crime novels, the central crime plot is entertaining as well. If you have similar interests, you should enjoy the series too. Another aspect I appreciate is that the slavery of Ancient Rome is shown for what it was (and still is): evil. Vita Brevis, book 7 in the series, begins in the empire's capital city, Rome, in our year counting 123 a.d. under the Emperor Hadrian. Ruso and Tilla are out of their native Gaul and Britain, and out of their depths much of the time when the provincials attempt to set up life in the big city. That adds some fun to this book, seeing the two trying to cope with new challenges. They are not city people, especially not in such a harsh city as Rome at that time, which was probably in many ways comparable to India's Mumbai today. Crime and Ruso always find each other, and his well-developed conscience makes him feel compelled to get involved. He fights that feeling because the city of Rome is so full of vice that if he tried to fix it all, he would never have a life! But he is ordered by his patron, the man who vouched for him to come to Rome, to investigate more than one death. Doctoring in that era is always part of the story, since Ruso and Tilla are both medical practitioners, and there is plenty of that in Vita Brevis (Brief Life), too, but it never overshadows the story. Ruso is a fascinating character. He is cursed to be a deeply human and moral man living in a deeply sadistic and amoral society. Tilla's love and presence gives him a reason to carry on. With a child now, the need to make a decent living is a feeling other parents will recognize. The joy of parenthood pared with the enormous weight of responsibility for another human life, besides the lives of their patients, weighs on both Ruso and Tilla. When they make the decision to purchase slaves to help them cope with their hectic life, it is fascinating to see how they quickly understand that in exchange for the labor, they have taken on responsibility for even more lives, the lives of people who have nothing to live for. Reading Vita Brevis felt like catching up with old friends. I got to see how they got on in the Empire's capital. I got to see how they dealt with the stresses of new parenthood and trying to set up life in a new place. I got to see if their humanity and decency remained intact in the face of Rome's great evils. I got to step back in time to see the new, despised Christians living side by side with the Empire's respected pagans. I spent several hours being entertained by a quality novel. The books in the Ruso Medicus Roman Crime Series: 1 - Medicus 2 - Terra Incognita 3 - Persona Non Grata 4 - Caveat Emptor 5 - Semper Fidelis 6 - Tabula Rasa 7 - Vita Brevis The illustrated review is at Italophile Book Reviews. http://italophilebookreviews.blogspot... 1 like Like Comment Amanda 1,424 reviews 33 followers February 21, 2017 There is a verse from a John Gorka song, Always Going Home , that kept running through my mind as I read Vita Brevis . It's like that old expression All roads lead to Rome You see he comes from trouble And he's always going home. Ruso, Tilla, and baby Mara are in Rome, which is nothing like home for either of them. It may be the center of the Empire, but it is large, dangerous, and frightening for people with no cash, no influential contacts, and no idea who they can trust. The naive and unwary can find themselves in all sorts of trouble. Ruso just wants to practice medicine. Tilla just wants a home. What they find is violence and treachery. As usual, our doctor and healer do find some allies, but in the end, they realize that while all roads may lead to Rome, those roads can be travelled in both directions. 1 like Like Comment Mary 767 reviews 16 followers July 20, 2016 "What is that mysterious ticking noise" (Potter puppet pals). "What is that mysterious barrel?" (everyone at the beginning of "Vita Brevis") I love this series! It keeps getting better and better, and the characters are loveable, decent, and also fallible. In this one, our unfortunate army doctor, Gaius Petraeus Ruso, has to live with two mistakes. He has brought his young family to Rome, a great city with a lot of poor housing and very little in the way of secure employment. And, as the story goes on, he's also fearful that he may have poisoned a patient. Both these things contribute to a crisis in morale for our beloved doctor. His feisty young wife, Tilla, tries to snap him out of it while struggling with her own problems. The young family desperately needs money, and she would like help with childcare. Also, the contents of the barrel left on the doctor's doorstep are deeply disturbing. And no one seems to know where the previous doctor has gone, or even if he's still alive- If you've read any of the previous volumes, you will need to read this one. It introduces some very likeable new characters and, as always, it's well-plotted and dryly funny. If you haven't read the earlier volumes, I'd advise you to start with the first, because the evolving relationships between the characters is one of the pleasures of the series. But I can imagine someone new to the series reading this as a stand-alone and enjoying it. Great fun for fans of historical mysteries, and also surprisingly touching and thought-provoking. As I said, I love this series. I hope there will be an eighth book. 1 like Like Comment Larry 245 reviews 4 followers July 30, 2023 Ruth Downie seems to have adopted a comfortable pattern for her Ruso novels. First, there is an opening scene from the POV of a minor character which sets up the central object of the mystery. In this case, it is a body in a barrel. At the end there is a final chapter from the same secondary character's POV. In between the POV alternates between Ruso and Tilla. Ruso is insecure about his relationship to Tilla as husband, and Tilla seems torn between being a good Roman wife, and being herself. Marriage is hard, and they seem to both be approach it with good will to make it work out. Tilla is developing skill in medical matters, particularly as pertain to "women's" matters. Russo relies on her more and more. In the end her strength of will and perseverance turns the tide in the investigation. In a familiar pattern, Ruso comes to the end, has no more clues, and appears to give up. At the last moment, he stumbles onto one additional clue that puts the pieces together and he solves the case, just as he and his household are packing up to go out of town. There is realistic difficulty in communication. Not just between Ruso and Tilla, but between each of them and everyone they talk to, because no one had a deep interest in speaking clearly and openly. It is on the boarder of being irritating, but Downie seems to make it work. I liked it. rome 1 like Like Comment Jamie Collins 1,462 reviews 310 followers August 18, 2016 These books are great fun, and I love Ruso and Tilla. For this latest adventure they have moved to Rome with their adopted baby, where they are horrified by the egregiousness of medical quacks and the apathy of slumlords. The mystery is okay, providing just enough plot to give our characters something to worry about and argue over. The historical setting is great, as usual. They need some slaves to help run their household (Tilla still can’t cook, although she can clatter crockery while singing songs of the glorious victories of her ancestors) and of course Tilla chooses a bedraggled group of Britains, leading Russo to observe that he is living in a house full of barbarians. He’s noticeably fond of his own barbarian, though. ancient-rome historical-mystery 1 like Like Comment Julie 335 reviews 9 followers July 24, 2016 Russo and Tilla have arrived in Rome only to discover that the promised physician's job doesn't exist. When he is asked to cover for a doctor who had to leave town on a family emergency, he jumps at the opportunity. But almost immediately he begins to regret his decision when a body is discovered in a barrel on his new doorstep. mysteries 1 like Like Comment Lisa 537 reviews July 22, 2016 Although I certainly did enjoy the book, this latest addition to the Medicus series - one of my favorite historical mystery series - was a weaker entry than the ones it followed. For me, the main flaw was moving the Gaius Petreius Ruso family from Britannia (123 A.D.) to the great city of Rome itself. I am hoping to see their future adventures....in Britannia! 1 like Like Comment Colin Smith 129 reviews 7 followers July 6, 2016 My spoiler-free review is on my blog: http://www.colindsmith.com/blog/2016/... 1 like Like Comment Baelor 171 reviews 47 followers September 9, 2018 Probably my favorite entry in the Ruso series. Ruso and Tilla finally make their way to Rome, and Downie's illustration of life among the lower classes in the imperial city was fantastic. I especially appreciated her depiction of the complexities and occasional absurdities of the Roman patronage system, the willingness of freedmen to have slaves of their own (which itself reduces to intellectual rubble the all-too-frequent-in-the-modern-era theory that sympathizing with the oppressed or experiencing it oneself is guaranteed to lead one to opposing it), Roman urban Christianity, the frequent thuggery and intimidation in the city, and more. It is easily the most vivid fictional portrayal of life in the city that I have encountered in any medium. The mystery itself was pretty good, and the reappearance of familiar faces like Accius and Metellus manage to tie closely into the story. As usual, the investigation seems almost secondary and few clues are provided throughout the story, but at least most of the plot involves Ruso (and Tilla) actually trying to make progress on the case. The ending and solution, namely that Firmicus, Horatius Balbus' steward, murdered Balbus out of jealousy and building resentment over unfulfilled annual promises of freedom, and employed Balbus' bodyguard Latro as help and subsequently murdered the latter to cover up the crime , occurred a little too quickly for my liking. I suppose I appreciate the fuller explanations in front of the cast of suspects à la Agatha Christie. That aside, this was a great book. 2018 british historical_fiction ...more Like Comment Shannon 943 reviews October 30, 2016 This was a great read! Unlike many series, this one has gotten better since the first one, although "MEDICUS" was enjoyable too. It seems that author, Ruth Downie, is now more confident of both the form of these books as well as the who the characters are. I especially like that they are set in the Rome of about 150 AD. I think they are quite true to this time period, without being overly pedantic. It is doubly interesting to me as I am currently editing Rod Warren's book: "The Praetorian & the Vipers," a story laid just at the time of Christ, about 35 AD. It is amusing to me to realize that while Rod is writing about Romans as though they reflect American culture and speech patterns, Ruth Downie's Rome is clearly British! The book is definitely a mystery, but it encompasses everyday Roman life as it might have been lived. She strikes just the right note of modernity laced with plenty of antique atmosphere. I happen to know from my editing trials that this is NOT an easy trick! (although, there are some words and usages in "Vita Brevis" I would run a red pencil through!) I did finally see the murderer through the maze of red herrings, but I was unsure for quite a way through the book because the solution relied on the oldest cliche in the detective novel! Her plot, however, made the device seem fresh and logical. Bring on more of self-deprecating Gaius Ruso, doctor to the legions! Like Comment Marlowe 927 reviews 20 followers October 20, 2017 Ruso and Tilla head to Rome, their new baby in tow. I like that Downie changes up the scenery every now and then. Britain is great, but it was nice to see Gaul in Persona Non Grata , and it's lovely to see Rome here. And while Downie doesn't exactly do vivid detail, the city certainly managed to come across satisfyingly noisy, dirty, and smelly. As usual, the mystery is something of an afterthought. The main attraction is Tilla and Ruso, and now their expanded household. Adding Mara and the two slaves creates a whole new dynamic - not to mention nearly tripling the number of people Ruso has to support... somehow. Narina has a lot of potential as a character, particularly with her tribal background. In Rome, Tilla seemed willing to ignore the traditional dislike between their tribes because Narina was, at least, from Britain. By the end of the book, the two women seem to have formed something of a friendship as they co-parent and face the dangers of Rome together. But I imagine that going back to Britain will highlight their tribal differences, and perhaps put a strain on their relationship. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out. The series is still going strong, and I can already see the threads of many new interesting plotlines starting, so I don't see me losing interest any time soon. 0owned history mystery Like Comment Helen 995 reviews 12 followers May 29, 2017 I don't know about "amazing" but it was better than the usual "really liked". MS Downie allows her military doctor to drift through life with a rather slowly operating analytical sense which would be dangerous if it operated at that speed in medical matters. In this story, which appears to take only a week, it nearly does. Ruso has come to Rome with Tilla his wife and their adopted daughter and takes on a job as locum for a doctor who has vanished. Things become very confused as a patient dies going home from a dinner, Ruso fears his own compounding skills are inadequate, poison is suspected, housing projects run rampant and tenants complain about insects, slow repairs, and rent increases. It all sounds very familiar except for the presence of all those slaves. Apparently there is a book called "The Roman Guide to Slave Management (also published as How to Manage Your Slaves) by Marcus Sidonius Falx with the modern assistance of Jerry Toner. Tilla gives a Roman lady a quick background in life tragedies and she and Ruso sell their most valuable possessions: their wedding china and Ruso's military kit. What will he do if he ever decides to go back to the Legions? Very fond of this series. fiction historical-fiction historical-mystery Like Comment Lisa Author 3 books 57 followers February 3, 2021 Another entertaining mystery featuring legionary medicus Ruso and his independent, British-born wife, Tilla. In this installment, Ruso and Tilla find themselves in the big, bewildering city of Rome, a place neither of them belongs. Their unfamiliarity with the city gave it a unique angle, because neither of them was used to how things work there. Also, the dual POV's allowed the author to show how each character thought about the other, which added another layer of tension and interest. The mystery was satisfying. I'm not a big fan of I-had-a-dream-and-it-was-suddenly-all-clear, but Ruso's poppy-induced dreams added a touch of humor and so they worked. I also enjoyed Tilla's interaction with the slaves they purchase. She had been a slave herself, so being the mistress of slaves is something she has to figure out, and the author did a good job of showing that. And when all else fails, mention baby Mara and all the world rights itself again. Ruso's self-doubt sometimes gets a tad annoying, but that is just who he is. The portrayal of the Christian neighbors felt pretty realistic, seen from the dubious and concerned POV of Ruso, who is ever aware of the hazards of associating with illegal religious groups. ancient-rome mystery Like Comment Katherine 690 reviews 30 followers April 24, 2018 One of my favorite series--a Doctor of the Roman legions who served in Britannica and married a former slave. This is the 7th installment. Ruso, the doctor always seems to get himself involved in some mysterious situation, missing people, unexplained deaths etc. Interspersed with his patients are his superiors, who always seem to find fault with him, the natives, who are sometimes suspicious of him and his wife, Tilla, who with her barbarian ways either embarrasses him or gets him into further trouble. In this installment, they have moved to Rome. Tilla, like most country folk relocated to a big city is a fish out of water and unhappy. Ruso, who thought his former superior in Britannica, who urged him to come to Rome, intended to find him a position, is frustrated at the seemingly uninterested man and his efforts. As usual, after much confusion and false leads all is resolved and Tilla and Ruso with their adopted toddler make plans to move on. While the book is interesting and fun, and can certainly be read as a stand alone, it really is much more interesting if the reader starts the series at the beginning with the first book. reviewed Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 1 quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Rough & Ready (Notorious Devils #5) by Hayley Faiman | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Notorious Devils MC #5 Rough & Ready Hayley Faiman 4.19 1,215 ratings 142 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Cleo Hill is a married woman, in love with a man she's never really known—her husband, whom she hasn't seen in eleven years. Paxton "Torch" Hill is a Notorious Devil, a man who's been wrestling with his personal demons since before he knew the horrors of war. When a threat against his club means danger could be lurking around his estranged wife's door, Paxton is determined to protect her. Yet, one look at the woman he left behind, and he knows his plans are about to change. The past is not an easy thing to forget, especially not for a woman scorned. While Cleo isn't the innocent catch he once knew, there's something about that rough and ready man she's not sure she can deny. After all—they promised each other forever. *Recommended for readers 18+ due to Language, Sexual Content, and Violence Genres Romance Suspense Crime Military Fiction Erotica Motorcycle Marriage ...more 394 pages, Kindle Edition Published June 16, 2017 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Hayley Faiman 106 books 1,690 followers Hayley Faiman was born and raised in the Central Valley in California. She and her husband met when they were still in High School. They were married a few years later. They lived in Oregon while her husband was in the US Coast Guard. After living in Hill Country, Texas for eight years they have made the big move to East Texas. They spend their time with their two teenage sons at all their events, screaming from the stands, as they swim their hearts out! Visit my Linktree: https://linktr.ee/AuthorHayleyFaiman Visit me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorhayleyf... Visit my website: http://hayleyfaiman.com Sign up for my Newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63e6bf... Professional Inquiries: I am represented by SBR Media. For inquiries regarding foreign rights, audio, and other media outlets, please contact Laura Pink with SBR Media at - laura@sbrmedia.com Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.19 1,215 ratings 142 reviews 5 stars 554 (45%) 4 stars 410 (33%) 3 stars 194 (15%) 2 stars 36 (2%) 1 star 21 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews Jamie 878 reviews 175 followers July 6, 2017 I don't think I've ever read a book with a more disgusting hero. Literally makes me want to break something. Good thing he's not a real man because some poor girl would have to put up with his disgusting mess. disgusting-hero weak-heroine 16 likes Like Comment Hayley Faiman Author 106 books 1,690 followers Read August 3, 2017 10 likes Like Comment Sabrina 3,666 reviews 2,303 followers February 15, 2021 Get it here: Amazon US * Amazon UK yummy-bikers 9 likes Like Comment Joelle 1,636 reviews 17 followers October 3, 2023 Rough and Ready Let's start off by saying that we loved our first story by this author. For some time I have had her books on my Kindle and I can't wait to read more of this series as I know I am really going to love them. This story had an interesting plot as well as having great characters and I have to say I loved them all. I try to always pick a favorite character in the story that I am reading and mine is going to be Cleo, I Chose Cleo as she was truly innocent even after the knocks life gave her. She was sweet and kind as well as generous and the type of girl who once gave her heart it's for a lifetime. I loved the strong and independent person she had become. Paxton was her husband who left her many years ago without even a glance backward. Now several years later he has turned up in her life stirring up all hurts and sorrows. Paxton reached out to her as he seems to think her life is in danger and now wants to play the protective husband. He left her without a by-you leave so why bother now? The MC has made enemies of the Cartel and things are heating up and they are going after the women and children to settle the score. How do you protect a woman who wants nothing to do with you? Paxton is up to the challenge as he realizes he has never stopped loving his beautiful wife and plans to make her his all over again. I have to say I loved Paxton even after he deserted his wife but as the story progressed I wondered who proved to be the greater threat to Cleo's safety himself or the Cartel. This story was a bit of an emotional journey for this couple who were learning about forgiveness, trust, love, and second chances. Cleo was my favorite character but Paxton got under my skin and I could not help but love him too. Paxton turned out to be a really complex character and we understand why he was that way as the story progressed. One of the things I loved about him as he always owned up to the mistakes he made when It came to Cleo's past and present. He never made excuses other than having regrets and how he should have gotten treatment sooner. This was a powerful love story that stood the test of time. I loved the chemistry this couple had as it burned even brighter than it had years before. I loved being on this couple's journey of rediscovering one another but I have to say that I worried more than once that Cleo was not going to be able to handle the life that comes with being with a man like Paxton. We were rooting for them both hoping after everything that was said and done there would be a happily ever after for these two. They truly belonged together. A great read that had tons of surprises and a cast of interesting characters that kept you turning the page until the story was done. I'm so looking forward to getting to know even more of these bad-boy MC members. 5 stars from us 2019 bad-boy-romance books-read-for-2019 ...more 6 likes Like Comment Nerdy Dirty & Flirty 3,985 reviews 350 followers July 4, 2017 Everytime I finish a book in Hayley Faiman's Notorious Devils series I immediately decide it is my favorite, and Rough and Ready is no different! I have never been a big fan of second chance novels because there is always so much pain for the one left behind and I can never understand why someone had to leave. But with Cleo and Pax, I can understand why a damaged Pax made the decision he felt he had to. They were too young and too new to weather the storms that laid ahead for them. But what bugged me is he had so much love for Cleo he never checked on her? And after 11 years he comes back because of a threat to the Notorious Devils? Pax might have been damaged all those years ago but his leaving broke Cleo where she couldn't move on emotionally. Pax made me question the stupidity of men everywhere because of his actions once Cleo was back in his life. But what saved this book and my opinion of Pax was his actions when he finally got his act together. He righted the wrong with Cleo that put this shattered woman's self esteem back together. He definitely freed her sexuality and made this shy innocent bolder! No complaints with Pax's take charge bedroom behavior. This is an amazing series and I am loving each book even if I can't decide on a favorite! 6 likes Like Comment Tammi 1,967 reviews 31 followers June 23, 2017 This was a great second chance story. We first learned of Paxton /Torch's situation in the last book. I  just new it was going to be a good one and it was. I went back and forth on wanting this couple together so many times it was almost frustrating. Most times I wanted Cleo to leave him and never look back he was such an a##hole. God love her she never got over their young love even though he broke her. She couldn't move on and he had horrific demons that he wanted to shield her from so he stayed away. When he finally came back for her, she had to stay he was honestly protecting her from real danger. When he finally got his head right and realized how he felt it turned into the type of story I love a badboy changed by love. Funny thing is he loved her all along he just had to accept it. They fought through all there personal issues to be happy and live a life together. I loved watching, I loved watching him fall, loved watching his walls come down and accept her love! They worked it out only to have those original dangers rear their ugly head making for some intense final chapters. The next one looks to be a very interesting story!! Can't wait! I am loving each Notorious Devil I meet. 5 likes Like Comment Terri Moore 405 reviews 9 followers August 5, 2020 The h has no backbone and is the typical asshole H that is the norm in this series. The h knows nothing about the life and was understandably upset when she learns about the “whores”. She attempts to talk about it with the H but he keeps dismissing her concerns. Remember, she hasn’t seen him in over a decade and knows nothing about the life. Then he says this: “Is your self-esteem that fucking low that you think I’m going to run right over to them? Is it so low that you can’t see the way I look at you? So low that you can’t understand why I would want to build a life with you again, pick up where I stupidly left off? Christ, Cleo. You aren’t eighteen anymore. You’re a fucking thirty-year-old woman. If I wanted a self-conscious eighteen-year-old, I could have one. Fuck, I could have ten. Figure out what the fuck you want and do it fast,” That’s some grade A manipulation right there. Noped out at that point. And oh yeah, he calls her sweetheart 162 times in this book. 4 likes Like Comment Flavs is Mrs David Gandy♥~♥’ 3,150 reviews 2 followers June 21, 2017 I Voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book Seriously what's not to like Everything you would from beginning to end. Frustrating biker, but also you can't help but want to slap and love him And Cleo, brave women! Completely had a crappy situation but she picked herself up and did what she had to, and she didn't let anyone walk all over her. A awesome second chance love story that you will not want to put down alpha-male arc bikers 3 likes Like Comment Cheryl 1,656 reviews 48 followers December 27, 2020 Danger Paxton or Torch is his road name. I actually didn't like him in the beginning. He comes back on leave from the service practically rapes his wife and than he leaves for almost 11 years. Paxton decides he needs to find her to protect her from the cartel. By the way that is not the only Danger though. She goes through some stuff. They have a traitor in their club. In the end he gets better however his excuse to bail instead of talking in all those years was not an excuse. He should have traveled A LOT! 3 likes Like Comment Tiffany Readz 1,943 reviews 49 followers June 8, 2017 I. Am. Torn. And I want to cause slight pain to Hayley Faiman for creating such a frustrating character. From one chapter to the next I didn't know if I loved or hated this guy. Honestly, this entire series has been hit or miss for me, mostly hit, but sometimes I'm not sure about these bikers proclivities. Now with Torch/Paxton, it was the most difficult decision by far. We've met Torch over the years and knew there was something amiss about him. We knew he was ex-military and carried a pretty big chip on his shoulder from his past. He is a loyal brother to the club and helps keep an eye on the Old Ladies. The only lady he hasn't been taking care of is his own. "Those demons aren't simply feelings, Torch. They're living, breathing things. If you're not careful, they will grow inside of you and kill the remainder of the man you once were." Wise words. Ones that sooner or later Torch needs to abide by. He's gone eleven long years without the love of his life. He's a bitter man. A man that doesn't think he's good enough for her anymore. At twenty and eighteen, thier love was all he needed, once he came back, he was afraid of himself around her. "Paxton Hill is going to obliterate me." Cleo stands no chance against the bossy, yet charming Paxton "Torch" Hill. She's loved him since she was eighteen and the eleven years past hasn't done much change that fact. No matter how much she tries to convince herself that he isn't what she needs in her life, she falls right back in. Okay, so round and round we go with these two. Like the hypocritical brothers, Pax can't handle that Celo tried to move on from him with others, even though he's been with all kinds of dirty club whores. That is the one thing the really bothers me in these books, the double standard of these bikers. Annoying. Cleo tries to hold strong, but eventually gives in. Similar to the previous relationships, learning the life of the MC isn't easy and poor Cleo is thrown head first into the crap pile. No matter how many times Torch says he's going to protect her, we all know how it's going to end. The book is well written and these two solve most of thier problems with some steamy sex. Another thing that didn't thrill me about Pax, the way he went about "things". To each his own I suppose. Either way, this was an awesome addition to the series and we delved a bit further with the whole cartel mess and of course other stuff. Bring on the next one! Reviewed for Renee Entress's Blog. annoying-but-i-keep-reading mc-romance series-romance ...more 2 likes Like Comment Tammy Cole 368 reviews 11 followers June 18, 2017 This is by far my favorite in this series! I was instantly hooked from the very beginning. I can't even describe accurately enough how much I loved Cleo. This is a woman who doesn't have any family and her husband, the one she waited for to return from war, breaks her completely. She picks herself up and makes a life for herself. Torch has been traumatized by his past and what he's lived through. It's been over a decade but he's never forgotten his wife. When these two are together the chemistry is still there. What I freaking loved about Cleo is that she wasn't going to be walked all over. She was strong and knew what she needed to do. This was one of the best second chance love story I've ever read. I honestly couldn't stop reading this. I can't wait to read the next book in this series!! 2 likes Like Comment Michelle Claypot_Reads 2,333 reviews 61 followers May 11, 2020 Loved this second chance NC Romance. It’s witty and hot with a complicated story that had me hooked. 2 likes Like Comment Elizabeth Horbaczek 765 reviews 6 followers June 24, 2017 he author is looking for an honest review. 3 stars I love an angsty type of book. One that the man think he is doing right by his woman and leaves, but then realizes he is a stupid man. That is what you get in this book, well sort of. Pax was the love of Cleo's life. She only had a few months with him before he was deployed, but those months meant everything to her. What happens at the beginning makes me sad, mad, sad and even madder at Pax, throughout this book. Eleven years goes by and now he is back in her life because she is in danger. Here's the thing, he is just a jerk and I couldn't get past it. I know that is on me and that is what made the book just a good read for me. I don't want to get into to many specifics of the book, but I need to break some things down. Cleo is this naive girl at eighteen, but the thing is, she never grew out of that. She is thirty and she seems to have the mentality as when she was a teenager. It weighed on me a lot, not because of the things she did, but when Pax came back into her life, she just basically let him. Yeah you got a little bit of a struggle, but not one that was worth even commenting about. Pax, well all I have to say is that I hated him at the beginning, and it didn't get much better throughout the book. I didn't like the mood swings, how at times he treated Cleo and how he was always just leaving her unattended, even thought there was a threat. He kept on saying the same things through the book and it just became repetitious at times. I did love Cleo's best friend, he was just awesome during the book. There is a great story here, don't get me wrong. I loved the layout, what was going on and how it affected everyone in the book, its just the characters were just some that I couldn't connect to this time. The drama that unfolds in this book is intense at times, and there is a surprise, that I didn't even see coming in who is involved in everything, but at the end of the day, it just wasn't one of my favorites. I love reading new authors and this no different. Her style of writing is intense at times, and I would like to read another one of her books. 2 likes Like Comment Jaymie 673 reviews 11 followers June 23, 2017 3.5 Stars! (5 Stars for the writing) So here we go again. My first book in this series was Rough and Ruthless (book 4) and I was really torn by it because the H pissed me off quite a bit. Still, I enjoyed it and the writing was very well done so I just brushed my agitation for the H aside and went with it, giving it 4 Stars. However, with Rough and Ready I can't do that. I'm sorry, Ms. Faiman, but I'm throwing in the towel. Your brand of Bikers are not for me. My rating of 3.5 stars is purely based on the writing because I will never say that Hailey Faiman can't write. Nope, she's incredibly talented at storytelling and capturing the essence of her characters. For that alone, she definitely gets 5 Stars from me. But where I couldn't climb on board is the characters. I don't expect to fall madly in love with every character I read about, I know Bikers can be grade A jerks. However, Torch/Paxton pretty much takes the cake for me. I can not stand him. I may have wanted to throat punch Max in the previous book but I wanted to hammer fist Torch in the throat then Axe-kick him two or three times for good measure. He disgusted me from page 1 and while some may think he redeemed himself a little, I say "too little too late, buddy boy". He needed a blow-up doll, not a wife. Cleo could have been lovable to me if it weren't for the one humongous flaw she had, giving into Torch. Sorry, honey, but I don't understand the attraction. You can do better and frankly, deserve better. Unfortunately, this seems to be a trend in this series. The men are a-holes and the women put up with them. So, overall, do I recommend Rough and Ready? No! Having said that, if you're a fan of this series, you probably won't be surprised by Torch and might love the story. Who am I to say you won't. For those who haven't read this particular series yet, be prepared and don't say I didn't warn you. ***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*** arc bayoubookjunkie bikers-and-mc-s 2 likes Like Comment Brianna at Renee Entress's Blog 3,816 reviews 116 followers June 21, 2017 5 Stars! When I pick up a Hayley Faiman book, I've come to expect a few things.... insane heat, crazy angst, loads of drama, page gripping suspense, damaged characters, and irresistible heroes that make you want to slap then ravage them. So far her gritty and raw Notorious Devils MC series has lived up to each and every one of those expectations. But this book.... totally surpassed them and some... giving me the best of this series to date! Rough and Ready was an incredible book in the most twisted ways. Ugly. Dirty. Steamy. Intense. Passionate. Heart-pounding. Yet completely beautifully in the most broken ways. Paxton "Torch" and Cleo's story was perfectly executed in a way that is indescribable quite honestly but was just.... everything. Their love story never truly stopped... just paused. I know what I'm getting into with this author each and every time but like a drug she has me addicted to what will come next. Sure this isn't my usual cuppa tea and she always pushes my boundaries.... making me cross lines that leave me squirmy yet glued to those pages.... I never regret the journey once it is over. If you life suspense, angst, drama, and loads of heat then give Hayley a try.... you definitely won't regret it. I highly recommend this book and series. Reviewed for Renee Entress's Blog 2 likes Like Comment Renee Entress 5,285 reviews 75 followers June 21, 2017 5 star I was pulled right into this story. This story contains heartbreak, pain, secrets, danger, and suspense. If you have not read the below I would recommend reading those books(s) first Rough and Rowdy (Notorious Devils MC, #1) Rough and Raw (Notorious Devils MC, #2) Rough and Rugged (Notorious Devils MC #3) Rough and Ruthless (Notorious Devils MC #4) This is Cleo and Torch‘s story. Cleo is in love with her husband who she has not seen in eleven years. Torch has not seen his wife but when danger threatens her he knows he is going to protect her. But one look and he knows protecting her is not going to be enough. He needs to have her as his for now and the future. But does she want him? Can he make her see that even without the danger he wants her? Can he get her to believe that this time he is going to keep her forever? Or has she already moved on? I loved these characters and the side characters. I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for the next story from this author. arc mc-book read-2017 ...more 2 likes Like Comment Judy 1,064 reviews July 24, 2017 DNF at 24%...Just too many inconsistencies and questions. First he didn't know she was pregnant, then he knew she was pregnant when she ran. So many confusing points that had me questioning WTH was going on. dnf kindle-unlimited 2 likes Like Comment Mandie Foxylutely 948 reviews 96 followers June 23, 2017 This is the fifth book in the Notorious Devils MC series and is Torch and Cleo's story. Paxton and Cleo were married young before Paxton takes off to do his first tour of duty. When he returns he is a different person and is no longer the loving boy she fell in love with, but a man with haunted eyes. After a night of alien behaviour from Paxton, Cleo wakes up alone and confused. When Paxton doesn't return she tries to move forward with her life without her husband but he has always been there in the background of her heart and mind. Fast forward eleven years and Paxton is back and again he is totally different to the man she remembers. His hulking body, his broody eyes and a leather cut omits a persona of a man not to be messed with. Even more surprising he says he is back to protect her and wont take no for an answer. Paxton is a man with many dark demons which started even before his many tours of war which have only added to the many burdens he carries on his shoulders. One of his biggest regrets is shutting Cleo out and taking off so she no longer had to deal with his darkness. Now a brother with the Notorious Devils, The Cartel are closing in and the biggest threat they have is to target the families and wives of the MC. Still married on paper at least, Paxton, road name Torch, knows they can easily link him to Cleo and hunt her down so he makes the decision to do that first and make her safe and more importantly make her his again. This was a decent second chance MC romance which started off good with the young newly weds being branded by war. However one thing that didn't change was Cleo's doormat behaviour which you could expect from an nineteen year old but now thirty I would have expected her to have some backbone. This eventually does transpire but it was frustrating in the beginning with how she easily falls in with her estranged husband with no recriminations of his past behaviour and desertion. I haven't read all of this series but it was easy to pick up on the other characters and their involvement to date. For those who have not read any of this series it would be easy to read as a standalone anyway as Torch is a new transfer to the MC from another chapter. Overall I did enjoy this MC read which although not as dark and gritty as I like, it did give a realistic portrayal and was not a sweet and innocent storyline. Much better than the first book I read in this series and I did eventually fall for the pair. Lots of hot sex and some brooding drama for added tension. Four stars. * ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review alpha-kick-ass-mofos arc mc ...more 1 like Like Comment Michelle Austin 2,751 reviews 41 followers June 17, 2017 http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab... Rough and Ready was a great 5 star read. We get pulled in right from the beginning and my heart just broke for Cleo and what she went through. She wanted to be there for her husband so bad, she loved him. Paxton ends up leaving Cleo. He did something unspeakable to you, and then he left you high and dry. He’s not worthy of you. We jump ahead about 11 years, Paxton (Torch) is now a brother of the Notorious Devils MC and their families are in danger. Concerned for Cleos safety Paxton has to find her before it’s too late. Cleo has tried to move on but she can’t get Paxton out of her heart or mind. Plus she was used by her boss who is now being a jerk to her. She fears for her safety but yet doesn’t want to quit. She had really great support from Lisandro and Theo. When Paxton shows up on her doorstep she is shocked but yet the connection between them is undeniable. Paxton is angry with where Cleo is living, it’s not a safe neighborhood. Something happens that causes Cleo to run, Theo and Lis help her and stage her apartment. When Paxton returns to see the place abandoned he is determined to find her. Paxton of course finds Cleo and takes her to the club house with him. Lets just say this poor girl had quite the shock when she walked in. Cleo ends up giving in to Paxton and I have the say the scenes these two had were hot, steamy and panty melting. Oh my Paxton knows what he’s doing. There is so much more to this great read. Several ups and downs, twists and shockers. We do get a HEA but it wasn’t an easy road. The secondary characters were great. Once I started I couldn’t put it down. Rough and Ready is book 5 of the “Notorious Devils MC” series, it can be read as a stand alone. I highly suggest that you 1-click and get started today. This is a great series and I definitely look forward to “Rough & Rich”. Thank you Hayley for another great read, Notorious Devils MC: #1:Rough and Rowdy, #2: Rough and Raw, #3:Rough and Rugged, #4: Rough and Ruthless, #5 Rough and Ready, coming soon #6 Rough and Rich. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Reviewed by MAustin from Alpha Book Club author-arcs 1 like Like Comment Tanya Santiago 119 reviews 1 follower June 21, 2017 ***4 Stars!*** This was really a good read and just the way an MC book should be! It was my first read from this author and she did not disappoint! Cleo and Paxton “Torch” Hill were married young before Torch went into the service. When Torch returns, he is a changed man with demons that are too much to endure. Torch hurts Cleo in the worst possible way and ends up leaving her as if she never existed. Fast forward to 11 years later, Cleo is living her life, but not really. She is a shell of a woman and still heartbroken. She has made two great friends Lisandro and Theo who will do anything for her and I loved the friendship that these three had. Torch is a member of the Notorious Devils MC and when trouble comes knocking at their door, he realizes that Cleo may be in danger and decides to heal old wounds and protect Cleo at the same time. Torch realizes that Cleo is not the gullible teenager she was back then and also realizes that he left a good woman behind instead of dealing with his demons together with Cleo as a couple should. With trouble knocking and Cleo’s reluctance to give Torch another chance, Torch makes it his mission to make Cleo his once and for all whether she likes it or not. But will Cleo accept the biker life Torch is offering or will she be stuck in the past always thinking that he will leave her again the way he did so many years ago?? This was really good read and I didn’t realize it was the 5th in the series, but this can be read as a standalone. I’m really looking forward to Genny and Sloane’s story which I know will be just as good this one! ARC given in exchange for an honest review. For more reviews by Philly Book Blog, please visit: http://phillybookblog.blogspot.com arcs-reviewed read-for-honest-review 1 like Like Comment Avidez Literaria 534 reviews 26 followers January 21, 2020 Cleo did not have the love of her parents and after her grandmother's death she met Paxton Hill, who some time later will be her husband. He's everything to her. But war can change everything. In just one night, she will be hurt, learn to forgive and try to open her heart to a fresh start. Only to be abandoned again. And eleven years later, she will discover the fine and fragile line that exists between anger and love is about to break, with the return of her husband. Paxton Hill is a man haunted by the ghosts of the past and the horrors of war. Today known as Torch, he has a secret that his brothers from Notorious Devils MC do not know: he is married and eleven years ago he abandoned the only woman who made him know what it was to love and be loved. And when the enemies of the motorcycle club can threaten his wife's life, he is forced to protect her. But keeping her safe may not be the only problem, when Torch rediscovers that his love for her has never ceased to exist, the desire to win her heart will be uncontrollable. However, regaining her confidence can be more difficult than it looks. Two lives marked and hurt in different ways. The story of the protagonists is intense and revolves around trust, abandonment and self-love. Poor decisions and the consequences of the choices they have made will also be a crucial point in the narrative. There will be many mishaps on the way to Cleo and Paxton's happiness. They will have to prove that, this time, they are strong and ready to face any adversity that appears. An intense story about forgiveness and second chances, filled with suspense, uncertainty, romance and also many dangers. A great book for MC Romance lovers. 1 like Like Comment Kali McQuillen 1,802 reviews 38 followers June 16, 2017 This author can write MC and Bratva to where you want to read every book!! I'm picky when it comes it to these genres but this woman gets it right for me every time. Torch - a man who fell in love with Chloe before he left to go overseas to fight for his country. When he came back, he was a different man. He did what he thought was best for Chloe but he broke her heart. Chloe is a strong independent woman now. She may not be rich in money but she is with friends. When she see's Torch again, she remembers how it used to be and she's still in love with him. I do like that she's not a real pushover and will fight for her independence. She's going to make Torch fight for them and not just fall in line with what he wants. Will he be able to open up to her about why he left and stayed away, will she be able to forgive and give them a second chance? 2017-arc 2017-read mc 1 like Like Comment Helen Oakes 252 reviews 32 followers July 11, 2018 I think this one is my favourite story in the series so far. I loved Torch having to prove to his wife that he disappeared on ten years ago that he’s changed and wants her back. He was still a brute like the rest of the guys but it was nice to see one of them realise they were the problem. I also loved the added bonus of one of the minor characters in this novel bonus chapters at the end so we knew what happened to them - great touch! kindle-unlimited 1 like Like Comment Amanda Adams 484 reviews 65 followers June 24, 2019 Not my favorite Not my favorite but I’ve read lots worse. I didn’t like Pax’s ways I was so worried once things got tough he was gonna run to the club whores again. There was a lot more suspense in this one compared to the others. But all in all Cleo tamed him. And helped him fight his demons. mc-motorcycle-club 1 like Like Comment Teresa Lara 3,149 reviews 48 followers April 8, 2018 loving Pax and Clees amazing emotional 2nd chance.Love this series. 1 like Like Comment Irene Kiew 562 reviews 58 followers June 1, 2023 She forgives him way too fast. He didn't contact her at all during the three years he was in prison, he left her to struggle on her own without his protection nor the help of the club, but the moment he kisses her, her body's melting and literally two seconds later they're having sex. Horrible case of Betraying Body Syndrome. She never made him grovel nor prove himself to her. Should have held off on the sex until he did something to prove that he cared. Should have held her ground about keeping her job and her independence until he did something to ensure she would have a financial safety net for any future calamity. If he could afford to pay cash for a Camaro, he could have put money into a trust for their son or have the house switched over to her name so she never needed to worry about being homeless again -- something like that. I really didn't like him. He was right that he fucked up and failed her in every way. Though he said he was sorry, he never did anything to make it up to her other than buy her a Camaro to replace the one that she had to sell off when he went into prison. It's such bullsh*t. He refused to let her continue working in the strip club, making her completely financially dependent on him and thus vulnerable should anything happen to him again. She wasn't even a dancer, she was a waitress! But he gets all sanctimonious about the way she's dressed and is like, "Why are you working in a job like this?!" Like, what business is it of his what kind of job she's doing when he hasn't bothered to speak to her for three years? Sniper/Bates, one of the brothers in the club keeps telling Fury/Pierce (our supposed "hero") that Kentlee is strong. She is strong in the sense that she would do anything she could to protect and provide for her son. But she is PATHETICALLY WEAK when it comes to her relationship with Pierce. She suffered abandonment and fear and brokenheartedness that he didn't want her, why would she continue loving and wanting a man like that?? Okay, so you can't turn love off so easily but at least she should acknowledge in her head that this is not the kind of man she ought to be wanting. He literally treated her like sh*t and she just took it. She was a total DOORMAT for him and I couldn't stand that. As for our supposed "hero", he was a selfish b*stard. He said he didn't want to make her his old lady because it was too dangerous for her, but throughout his stay in prison all his thoughts were selfish. When Sniper/Bates visited him in prison every week, Sniper would tell Fury/Pierce to contact Kentlee. He even told Fury/Pierce that she needed reassurance and she was lonely and struggling. Never once did Fury/Pierce ever think about Kentlee's feelings or needs. It was all about himself and how he wasn't ready or he didn't want an old lady and blahblahblah. Later he tells Kentlee he didn't call her in prison because he didn't want to fall apart and seeing or hearing from her would have made him weak. Oh yeah, seriously f*cking selfish. He never saw her point of view on anything. He called all the shots and he did it when he wanted to, whether she liked it or not. She had zero say in anything, and worse still, she didn't even try to assert herself or stand up to him. He was like, "I love her so much" but the way he treated her was like she was a convenience to him. When it worked for him, he was with her, and when it didn't work for him, he didn't bother to have anything to do with her. If that's love, that's a f*cking weak version of it. It's not the kind of love I'd want if I were Kentlee and it's not the kind of love I like reading about. I wished she could have ended up with Sniper/Bates, who showed like 200% more love, care, and support to her than Fury/Pierce ever did. Even when Pierce gets out of prison, what does he do to show that he cares, apart from buying her a Camaro? Nothing, that's what! A whole lotta sex until she gets sore (which the author makes sure to mention each time -- how sore Kentlee is from all the dick). He's not even taking care of her physically, let alone emotionally nor in any other way. Sheesh. Apart from his dick, he was an utter waste of space. Hard pass. 1 like Like Comment Brandy Roberts 2,082 reviews 60 followers June 16, 2017 Hayley Faiman has written some of my most favorite reads rough and ready is one of them , we have seen most of the secondary characters from past books in the Notorious Devils MC and was so excited every time the Russian Bratva are mentioned witch is another amazing series that this author has written . Adored the characters , the story line kept me on my toes could not look away , always love a good second chance love read , and the mini story at the end I'm so happy she put that in along with the little tease for the next story in the series . My heart broke so many times for Cleo she is such a beautiful heroine inside and out , she has a back bone , and the more she got to reintroduce herself to the hero she began to blossom into a new kind of biker babe and her Best friend is just a dream friend . Now Paxton / Torch gave me mixed feelings but once he puts it all in to building something with the heroine I started to love him and when we get to know along with Clee what was in his head when he does the does and says certain things my heart went out for his damaged self . They are perfect for each other even though they have grown a lot and the experience that they went through have changed them they end up falling even more in love with one another , it's also awesome to get both point of views it's enjoyable to read what they are thinking and doing . copy provided for honest review **************************************** hero =9 heroine = 10 secondary characters = 10 Chemistry = 10 steam = 10 romance = 7 humor = 4 darkness level = 6 enjoyment = 10 angst = 4 action = 5 story line = 10 mystery = 4 character development = 10 pacing = 10 Plot = 10 cover = 10 stars = 5 author = 10 would I recommend this book = yes would I re read this book = yes would I read future books by this author = yes 1 like Like Comment Renee 1,204 reviews 24 followers February 16, 2022 I loved the characters in this book. Cleo and Paxton are one hell of a match. The author brings young love and then slams me with a huge dose of PTSD. What the military service members go through for our country is amazing. I enjoyed the depiction of ptsd. The author was very accurate with the Pax- Torch character. The interactions with Pax over almost ten years is non existent. Cleo just goes about her life, content with being alone. When the Notorious Devils are threatened by a rival group, Paxton needs to find her, thus beginning the chase. Another great book. Bravo 1 like Like Comment Wendy 903 reviews October 29, 2021 I have never disliked a H as much as I do Torch. He shows up and expects everything to be ok. He takes her to the clubhouse and pretty much drops her off to fend for herself. Then gets mad at her for questioning him. I hate him. Once they got back together there was no ow drama. She deserves so much better. I hate that she is so weak. She ends up getting kidnapped by club VP Drifter. He betrayed club and was in on kidnapping mc members wifes/gfs. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review almost-a-3 cheating evil-friends ...more 1 like Like Comment Laura Wolf 1,123 reviews 8 followers June 19, 2017 Still enjoying these books!!! Can't wait for the next one! 1 like Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Emerald Green (Precious Stone Trilogy, #3) by Kerstin Gier | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Edelstein-Trilogie #3 Emerald Green Kerstin Gier , Anthea Bell ( Translation ) 4.20 101,583 ratings 6,967 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Gwen has a destiny to fulfill, but no one will tell her what it is. She’s only recently learned that she is the Ruby, the final member of the time-traveling Circle of Twelve, and since then nothing has been going right. She suspects the founder of the Circle, Count Saint-German, is up to something nefarious, but nobody will believe her. And she’s just learned that her charming time-traveling partner, Gideon, has probably been using her all along. Emerald Green is the stunning conclusion to Kerstin Gier's Ruby Red Trilogy, picking up where Sapphire Blue left off, reaching new heights of intrigue and romance as Gwen finally uncovers the secrets of the time-traveling society and learns her fate. Genres Fantasy Young Adult Romance Time Travel Historical Fiction Fiction Science Fiction ...more 451 pages, Hardcover First published December 8, 2010 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Kerstin Gier 57 books 7,866 followers Kerstin Gier is the bestselling author of the Ruby Red trilogy, as well as several popular novels for adults. http://us.macmillan.com/author/kersti... Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.20 101,583 ratings 6,967 reviews 5 stars 45,873 (45%) 4 stars 35,424 (34%) 3 stars 15,984 (15%) 2 stars 3,387 (3%) 1 star 915 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,966 reviews Kai Spellmeier Author 7 books 14.7k followers January 29, 2021 “You mean he's not afraid of me because I'm a woman? He ought to see Tomb Raider sometime. For all he knows, I could have a nuclear bomb under my dress and a hand grenade in each cup of my bra. I call it antifeminist!” This was the best book in the trilogy. I call it an outstanding finale. More excitement, more thrill, more fun, more emotions and so many unexpected twists and turns. I love this whole series so much, it has exactly what I look for in books: a fantastic way to escape reality for a few hours and be absolutely and totally captured by the story. But really, this is one good example of a conclusion done right: no loose ends, well plotted story, acquainted and loved characters facing new challenges and a 100% satisfying ending without overdoing it. I loved every page in this trilogy. Find more of my books on Instagram favorites owned 274 likes Like Comment Ferdy 944 reviews 1,247 followers October 14, 2013 Spoilers What's what: Time travel, vague prophecies, silly heroine, douchey hero, evul Count with nefarious plans, oh noes, can silly heroine/douchey hero stop evul Count? -Gwen was a mopey cow, all she did was whine about Gideon, jump to conclusions about him, and get jealous whenever he was around other girls. She should have been concentrating on her time travel or on finding a way to stop that evul Count guy instead of acting all melodramatic about a guy she'd only met a couple of weeks ago. Gwen's love for Gideon was so pathetic, he treated her like utter rubbish but she was still desperate for him. Any awful thing he did was forgiven and forgotten because he was just that sexy, ugh. She was so immature, needy, and silly… I rolled my eyes at the amount of times Gwen cried or nearly cried whenever she saw or thought of Gideon. I was sick of how much she obsessed over him, most of her thoughts revolved around him and how attractive he was. It was sickening. She seemed more like an idiotic 13 year old instead of a 16 year old. -I hated Gideon, he had no personality apart from being arrogant. He fucked over Gwen and acted like a dick towards her every time he saw her, he was horrible. I hated how he twisted everything around to make himself look like the misunderstood-good-guy, and Gwen the bad guy. Was I actually meant to believe he had strong feelings Gwen? It would have helped if he 1. Treated her with some respect 2. Didn't act hot and cold with her all the time and 3. Didn't flirt and spend all his time with Charlotte and Lavinia, he seemed far more into them than Gwen. -Yea, I didn't buy the romance and love between Gwen and Gideon at all, they'd only known each other for 2 weeks, and they'd done nothing but argue, lie, and hate each other in those 2 weeks. How could they have possibly fallen in love?! -I was more interested in the potential romance between Gwen's mum and Falk. Did they get together or what?! -I didn't like Gwen's attitude towards other female characters who were around her age. Apart from Lesley, she didn't like any of them, and was constantly calling them names and looking down on them. Ugh. -So Gwen's butler (Bernard) was actually her secret nephew? Did Bernard know he was related to Gwen? Why was Bernard a butler when Lucy/Paul ensured their kids/grandkids would have loads of money? - I liked Gwen's relationship with her immediate family, also her friendship with Lesley was really sweet. -Gwen's cousin, Charlotte, was the typical mean girl that hated the heroine/Gwen because she wanted the hero/Gideon all to herself. You'd think Charlotte would have a better relationship with Gwen since she'd grown up with her, if not that, then you'd expect Charlotte to at least have some loyalty towards her. But no, Charlotte had zero loyalty or love towards the cousin she grew up with. It was so unrealistic that Charlotte wanted to get Gwen in serious trouble, they were family and even if they didn't get along, Charlotte would have realistically looked out for Gwen. Ugh, I'm so sick of all the over the top mean girls in YA. -Why would Gwen want to date Gideon when she didn't even know the details of his relationship with her cousin? Did they date? Did Gideon have strong feelings for Charlotte? Did they have sex? How serious were they? Why didn't Gwen ask him exactly what sort of relationship he had with Charlotte? That would be one of the first things anyone would ask if they started to date someone that had previously been in some sort of a relationship with their close relative. -The time travel, the chronographs, and prophecies were all rather confusing. I didn't know what was going on most of the time. -Every time Gwen/Gideon or anyone else did something/had to do something in the past it had already happened before they'd actually gone back in time and done that thing. So by that logic if Gwen went back and saved James (the school ghost) from dying then he shouldn't have even been a ghost in the first place. Yea, it didn't make any sense. -Gwen's reunion with Lucy and Paul after she found out they were her parents was underwhelming. Where was the drama? The angst? The emotion? -Lesley's little romance with Raphael was miles better than Gwen/Gideon's romance. -I found the Count's master plan really cheesy, everything he did was just so he could be immortal? Yea, I wanted something more original. All in all, I was mildly entertained by some of the characters and certain aspects of the story… But for the most part I was frustrated with the weepy heroine, the cheesy hero, the silly romance, the cliched bad guy, and the non-stop time travel. awful-love-interest bastard-hero boring-crap-hero ...more 171 likes Like Comment Fenia 275 reviews 483 followers January 19, 2015 No.its over. no. I NEED MORE!!! :''( I will never get over these books!!! SO GOOD!!! Okay lets review this bitch. Ready? Ready when you are. *crying* These books were so magical,funny,enlightening,dark,mysterious,tear-making,ground-breaking..addicting!!! ♥ I love love love Gideon and Gwen..orrr shall i say Gwenny?? *starts crying again* Even if their relationship was formed in only a couple of weeks,maybe a month, i really loved them together. They were meant to be and they are perfect for each other!!! :'') ♥ Xemerious,Lesley,Caroline and Nick,Gwen's mum, Lucy and Paul,Mr Bernard, untie Muddy or whatever her name was xD Well even Charlotte..i'm going to miss them all. They've been my friends and companions these past days. Have you ever felt so horrible and so alone that you thought nothing and no-one could fix a situation? Well that was me these past few weeks. and Precious Stone books were really there for me. If you're a true book lover you will understand what i mean. They are my miracle. my salvation. etc. ♥ As i've already said in my Ruby Red review,i love Doctor Who and my heart belongs to anything Jane Austen and Victorian..and i love YA books like Cassandra's Clare books, so Ruby Red trilogy just had it all for me. I couldn't help but getting so obsessed over it!! Normally when my real life sucks,i can't really get into a book or anything for that matter, but these books just owned my heart and soul. Love them ♥ Sooo the ending. Spoilers. Mr Whitman?? WOW!! I did NOT see this one coming :O I usually do!! I was rooting for Mr George to be the evil one since he was our friend. and as Lesley said in the movies its the guy you're least expecting! I haven't suspected the school teacher xD I have to re-read the entire trilogy to see if there were any signs at all or i just missed them!!And what about Raphael and Lesley? Are they an item or what?? Ohh this ended so soon . i wanted more!!! Another thing i really loved. You know what makes my heart melt? that word. FOREVER. Forever is such a great word,but mostly nothing lives forever. But in Stardust,or Twilight, they lived happily ever after. FOREVER. Maybe thats just me being romantic but the ending in Emerald Green did something to me!!! :') They're going to be together FOREVER. ..I'm off to cry to my corner again. or maybe re-read the whole trilogy!! ♥ books-like-drugs favorites forever-re-reading ...more 121 likes Like Comment Marianneboss 228 reviews 11 followers March 14, 2014 This is the story of how a potentially good premise and a relatively good and entertaining first book turned into a disappointing sequel and a friggin' mess at the end. Seriously, I'm utterly surprised at how quickly it all went downhill since the moment those two kids kissed at the end of first book. From that on, it was all about Gwendolyn's raging hormones and how she just lost her senses around plain and bland Gideon (those descriptions making him seem like a greek god don't live up to how actually he delivered), and even in the most important moment she could only think of making out with him, that was really annoying. Then, the time travels were even more confusing than ever, that insistence that they had to elapse at a certain time to meet with the count with no explanation wasn't really well founded, given that they always asked how did that matter if they could elapse any other time at that same exact date they were supposed to, but never got a REAL AND COHERENT answer. But the thing that mostly upset me about this book was how anticlimatic it turned out to be. All of the most important revelations (even though we already know since the first book what's the real deal about Paul and Lucy)are not even shown! They just happened 'off paper', like Gwendolyn facing Paul and Lucy about they being their parents, or what happens once the count drugs her to finally gain his immortality, how in the hell did the count get the 'philosophal dust'?? wasn't he supposed to wait for Gideon in the past? He should have see then what had he done with Gwendolyn and...oh, nevermind, I don't even care anymore...It's like the author decided to flinch at the thought of elaborate those scenes and prefered to cast them aside to give it more 'screen time' to grandilocuent scenes like...that green party scene where nothing important happened, just to show Charlotte make an embarrassment of herself. And the stuff with James the ghost-notsoghostanymore was also irrelevant, it brought nothing to the plot. And the abrupt ending with the reveal of the grand villain also lacked of thrill and emotion, it was too rush, and the addition of that ghost at the end was pointless, it felt like a punchline for Xemerius saying all the time about how he could eat ghosts. The whole thing was emotionless actually, didn't feel anything about the characters getting hurt or even fear for them, one could see miles away that Gideon was gonna end eating that immortality dust and being Gwendolyn immortal companion for eternity, even if the prophecy clearly said that immortality from that dust was going to be canceled since the birth of Gwendolyn, but hey, rules are made to be broken, right? ...Even if you are the author who wrote that gibberish in the first place... GOSH! I'm so disappointed of this trilogy, and I took it more personal especially because I was really invested in the plot in the first book, not so much for the second one but still I had hope, and finally seeing how it all ended made me feel like I was let down by the author, with the level of writing going down with every book. I can't blame anyone but the author herself... 85 likes Like Comment paige (ptsungirl) 719 reviews 1,002 followers May 22, 2022 "Odd that a broken heart can beat at all, come to think of it." °•*⁀➷ This was such a wonderful trilogy. Such a wonderful ending. Such a happy few books. I can understand why so many people think of them as their comfort books. This was my favorite of the trilogy. So much was happening the entire time. I was never bored, nor agitated. I loved when they came back from the ball onto to find out Gwen was immortal and Gideon explained to her why he said he just wanted to be friends. It was so clear to me he didn't want to be, and I loved learning why he acted the way he did with her. They're such a sweet little couple. I can't get past how happy Lesley makes me, and hope to find a ghost friend as aggressively honest as Xemerius. Thank you, Nele, for recommending me your favorite series. I loved them almost as much as I adore you. I'll be your Lesley if you be my Gwen. - Paige 2022 58 likes Like Comment Regan 469 reviews 113k followers June 9, 2023 3.5 I really enjoyed this book and the series overall. However, I found the story (especially the end) a tad too convenient. Also insta love was SO present. And Gwen was a drama queen and didn't really have her priorities straight. books-owned-read 55 likes Like Comment Elise ✘ a.k.a Ryder's Pet ✘ 1,314 reviews 2,990 followers December 16, 2022 ⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Glad To Be Done*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱ Re-read: 08.01.2022 Since I had re-read book one and two, I had to re-read this one as well. I skimmed most of the book mainly because it has too much information and the rest is filled with immature teenage drama. On top of that, the author gave us a such an anti-climatic ending. I was like "that's it?" Overall, I don't regret re-reading book one, however, after that, the series got really boring and immature and I started skimming and regretting. That said, I have come to the conclusion that YA just doesn't work for me; as I've now said for years I believe. Quick basic facts : Genre : - (Young Adult) Fantasy, Science Fiction > Time Travel (M/F). Series : - Series, Book Three. Love triangle? - No. Cheating? - No. HEA? - Yes. Favorite character? - I'm guessing Gideon de Villiers? Would I read more by this author/or in this series? - Already have. Would I recommend this book/series? - Only, if you like time-traveling and YA. Will I read this again in the future? - No. Rating - 2 (weak) stars. First read review : Rating : 4 stars. 2-stars fantasy historical-fiction ...more 46 likes Like Comment Ashley 836 reviews 558 followers November 1, 2022 Star Rating : —> 5 Stars OHMYHEART! TRÉS FANTASTIQUE! WHAT A HIDDEN GEM OF A TRILOGY ( pun intended ) !!! It is the kind that you cherish & will re-read time & time again, & that steals a piece of your heart forever ! Time travel is a truly tricky trope for me— Definitely a hit or miss one... and this series was A BLAST ! Def a hit! Wooot woot! This final installment kept me guessing at every turn; what a ride it was! The whole of the ending was one I never could’ve POSSIBLY figured out! This truly is amazing as well, because it is a translation from German, as the original version is by a German author, which I love about it! Always down to venture into stories written in places other than the US, Canada, the UK, or Australia, haha. This really is a massively underrated series that needs more hype ! Pleaseeee give it a try; Especially if you like historical fiction SFF, because a lot of it takes place in different periods in the past. It is a consistently fast paced story, with fated/ star-crossed lovers fighting the odds, secret societies, amazing quirky family dynamics, & an undercurrent of nefarious mystery. 100% recommend !!! awesome-friendships book-buyers-anonymous-bought demons ...more 45 likes Like Comment Nadia Karen 165 reviews 55 followers December 4, 2013 Ahhh qe horror, como se le ocurre a Kerstin Gier dejar las cosas así? Esa ultima frase, que DEMONIOS SIGNIFICA? Dios Mio! Hasta lo soñé! Soñé que tenia mal mi libro y que le hacia falta algo! ¿CUAL ERA SU MALDITA PRISA POR TERMINARLO? QUE DEJO TANTAS COSAS INCONCLUSAS! Leslie&Raphael<3 aaah tan lindos y tan Sherlock&Watson los dos juntos! la Charlotte... pobrecilla, 8 lenguas y nunca le toco ninguna, suerte para la próxima, Mister Marley le queda mejor, jajaja. Ya sabia que sus comentarios sobre ella y Gideon eran más que falsos! Robert, mi vida *o* me encanta ese niño! Xemerius y sus ataques de nervios, me matan de risa! Lucy&Paul, me encanta cuando están juntos. El Conde versión 2011! JAMAS ME IMAGINE ALGO ASÍ!!!! Ahhh *suspiros* y Gideon y sus frases de amor, me harán suspirar muchísimo tiempo! MUCHÍSIMO! Al menos eso quedo en muy muy buenos términos. Gwen ha pasado a ser de mis chicas favoritas entre cientos de libros! S P O I L E R S - S P O I L E R S - S P O I L E R S - S P O I L E R S No puedo terminar esto sin decir mis 3 frases favoritas 1. "Con un poco más de barba que por la tarde, pero con unos ojos terriblemente luminosos y vivos. Y tan increíblemente, desvergonzadamente, inconcebiblemente guapo…" 2. "Cuando me besas, Gwendolyn Shepherd, es como si perdiera el contacto con el suelo. No tengo ni idea de cómo lo haces ni de dónde lo has aprendido. En todo caso, si ha sido en una película, tenemos que verla juntos". 3. "¡Mierda, estoy tan terriblemente enamorado de ti que es como si hubieran volcado una lata de gasolina en mi interior y le hubieran prendido fuego!" No tengo problemas en releer la saga muy pronto! my-babies 38 likes Like Comment MELISSA *Mel Reader* 1,400 reviews 1,468 followers August 13, 2015 4 Stars! (BR with Lexie) -We can't stop time, but it will sometimes stand still for love. PEARL S. BUCK Emerald Green is the final book in the story of the two in love time travelling teenagers Gideon de Villiers & Gwyneth Shepherd. Gideon is this gorgeous cool guy all the girls are after & Gwen is the 16 yr. old normal girl in HS who is thrown into the world of time travel, & can also suddenly see ghosts. Gideon & Gwen are part of a secret group of twelve time travelers. They are forced by the guardians to travel together back in time to the eighteenth century & beyond & in the process fall in love. They get to wear all these costumes from other periods & go to fancy balls. This book has bad guys, action, mystery, & love, & is full of secrets & lies. There is a traitor among them, & they are trying to figure out who they can trust. -I couldn't get enough of the sight of him. -At last he looked at me. Oh, my God, those eyes! I instantly felt weak at the knees again. -Would my heart ever stop beating faster at the sight of Gideon? Would a time ever come when I didn't feel I was dazzled by something incredibly wonderful every time I set eyes on him? Probably not. -All I knew was that I loved him, and I always would, and I wanted him to go on kissing me forever. I really enjoyed this series & adored Gideon!!! I especially enjoyed this book since I BR it with my sweet daughter Lexie! I had so much fun talking book boyfriends with her! Lol, she was crazy for Gideon & was obsessed with this series! This is a fabulous YA series that teens & adults can both enjoy! :D -You only have to be in the same room and I need to touch you and kiss you. -"When you kiss me, Gwyneth, I feel I'm losing touch with the ground. -When you kiss me, all I want is to feel you and hold you in my arms. -Without you, there'd be no sense in my life. 34 likes Like Comment Constantine 960 reviews 264 followers March 25, 2022 Rating: ⭐⭐ Genre: Fantasy + Romance + Young Adult I’m not sure how I will review this book. All the problems I had with books one and two are still present here. I still couldn’t tell the timeframe differences and there was nothing to distinguish those periods from each other, at least in the way people behaved or talked. All were similar to me. The same thing goes for a dumb protagonist who everybody wants her to do things for them without giving her enough information to help her achieve those goals. The chemistry between Gwen and Gideon is almost nonexistent which kills the romance aspect in the book altogether. The main character is too whiny especially when it comes to her love interest. It got on my nerves on many occasions. Again I don’t know if this is how originally the author wanted her to be or if the characterization was lost in translation. She felt like a child more than a teenager. The ending was predictable and convenient as I expected it to be, the girl and her guy live happily ever after! When I picked up this series, I was not expecting a masterpiece in literature. Nope, I had my expectations in check. I was expecting something as fun and light as The Selection series. This turned out to be just too shallow. The series itself is easy to read so you can finish it fast, provided you are loving the books. Honestly, other than the beautiful covers I hardly have any kind of praise for this series. x-2-star z2022-03 35 likes Like Comment Ecmel Soylu 143 reviews 2,570 followers May 10, 2015 Ben çok sevdim bu seriyi, yazarı, karakterleri ve özellike Xemerius'u. Gwen de en sevdiğim kız karakterlerden biri oldu ve denilenin aksine hiç de onursuz, gurursuz gelmedi bana. İlk iki kitapta sevmiştim ama yorumları okuyunca bu kitapta soğurum sanıp korkmuştum biraz. 16 yaşında bir kız zaten başka nasıl davranabilirdi ki olaylar ve hissettikleri karşısında? Tepkileri gayet gerçekçi ve eğlenceliydi. Bir günde okuttu valla kendini. Zaman nasıl geçti anlamadım çünkü aşk tüm zamanların içinden geçrdlfkjdl şaka şaka yapmicam tamam sabahtan beri ders de çalışmadım zaten bunu okuyacağım diye. 29 likes Like Comment Trina 898 reviews 3,902 followers October 5, 2018 This was the best of the trilogy because it played with time travel the best. I read them all back to back and I'm not sure how the books would really stand up on their own because there was definitely only one arc that you had to wait until book 3 to see any twists or payoff. One twist was soooooo transparent though, and I felt like this just could have done more with the cool premise. Caution - LOTS of fat shaming throughout. I remember chapter 9 being pretty full of it. Descriptions like "his 15 double chins were wobbling," being likened to large animals, and fat characters always being out of breath. It was extra infuriating because the main character is so demeaning to fat characters (who are good guys, who she likes!), but when her cousin calls her fat she recognizes it as hurtful and is offended. 2018 audiobooks historical ...more 29 likes Like Comment Ms. Smartarse 631 reviews 316 followers October 10, 2022 Published in English as Emerald Green . Greetings from your friendly neighborhood masochist, who's once again selflessly suffered through yet another cringey YA, to bring you the last installment of the Precious Stone Trilogy ... some 12 years after its first publication. Yes, I'll wait until you stop laughing... or rolling your eyes. If you thought you've seen the worst of Gwendolyn's doormat impressions in Saphirblau , just wait until you get a load of this. So the second book ended with Gwendolyn getting heartbroken/pissed off when Gideon admits to lying about being in love with her. *cue aggravated sigh from the audience* Our protagonist then swears off any more friendly behavior towards the guy. Or at least, she will... just as soon as she can stop "melting" at the mere sight of the guy. Oh... and the completion of the cause seems to inch steadily closer, which has the fearsome Count of Saint-Germain cackling and sneering in people's general direction every few pages. For all that, in theory, the stakes are now sky-high with the two time travelers running around in attempt to circumvent the Count's diabolical plans, somehow or other the action keeps getting diverted to Gwendolyn and Gideon's near-passionate encounters. Yes, once they finally get the chance to talk things through, they start working together (instead of pulling in opposite directions), and their adventures get marginally more exciting... bla, bla, bla. The secondary storylines however, are mostly forgotten midway through. There's Raphael, Gideon's supposedly delinquent younger brother, whose worst transgression is him going out once with a girl he doesn't fancy, despite his constant flirting with Gwen's bff. Then, there's that party where Charlotte gets heavily drunk and starts telling everyone about time travelling... and the next day has to miss school to nurse her hangover. To say nothing of the "will they, won't they" dance enacted by Gwen's mother and Gideon's uncle. The grand finale, with the final confrontation was both predictable, and somewhat intriguing, only to eventually fizzle out following a cringe-worthy set of predictable clichés. Score: 1.7/5 stars I don't get the hype for this series. Most of the characters are either flat or forgetful, and unanimously cringe-worthy. The protagonist's main asset is endless babbling, Gideon has a savior complex, and the whole storyline is just soooo predictable that none of the twists and turns contain an ounce of surprise. Xemerious' ironic remarks were the only bright spot in this otherwise dull cringe-fest. If you want a comedic YA romance with fantasy elements, go for the author's Silber trilogy instead. Yes, I have reviewed it , and yes it's been translated into English as well. You're welcome! =================================== Review of book 1: Rubinrot Review of book 2: Saphirblau Book #15 of my "read at least 20 books in German" challenge. action-adventure audible comedy ...more 30 likes Like Comment Sarah 237 reviews 1,159 followers October 17, 2018 Gwyneth “Gwen” Shepherd is in a race against time—past, present and future. She’s the last in a long line of time travelers, tied to the infamous Comte de St. Germaine, hunted through the ages by a rival secret society called the Florentine Alliance. The time travel gene only appears in one family member per generation, and up until a few weeks ago, everyone assumed it was Gwen’s overachieving cousin Charlotte. Now our awkward, rather goofy heroine has days to cram a lifetime’s worth of education. She must also put aside a broken heart—a monumental task for a teenage girl—after the apparent betrayal of her crush and fellow time traveler, Gideon de Villiers. An evil plan incubated for centuries is finally about to come true. The plan depends entirely on Gwen, and only she can prevent its unfolding. If only she had any choice… Content Advisory Violence : A young woman is stabbed and has an out-of-body experience before magically healing. A young man is shot repeatedly and left for dead, but heals (off-page) the same way. These scenes are slightly gory, but not bad compared to the stagecoach shootout in Ruby Red . Sex : Gideon and Gwen exchange several snogs, as do Raphael and Leslie . A girl is doing karaoke at a party and a drunk boy hollers at her to strip (she doesn’t). At this same party, a girl is caught canoodling with a much younger boy, and a drunk girl remarks that Gideon has a cute butt. Xemerius makes a joke or two about Gwen losing her virginity, which doesn’t happen. Language : The word “sh**” is used a handful of times. Milder profanities include “hell” and “bloody.” Substance Abuse : Racozky is always in an altered state. Everyone at Cynthia’s party except the four main characters get decidedly sloshed and look quite ridiculous. Nightmare Fuel : St. Germaine is still a creepy character. But there’s nothing here like the random demon at the end of Sapphire Blue . Conclusions Kerstin Gier’s Precious Stone trilogy is what you’d get if you threw The Princess Diaries in a blender with the Stravaganza series and sprinklings of the Bartimaeus Sequence, Doctor Who and the Italian Renaissance conspiracy plotline from The Da Vinci Code (although this series has no interest in space opera, aliens or religious vendettas). It’s hard to follow and very silly indeed. It’s also thrilling, cute, and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny. My only gripes with this final installment: 1) Too much time spent worrying about relationships 2) The book jacket lied—the book didn’t answer all my questions Gwen is actually a realistic sixteen-year-old girl—scared and whiny with no sense of priorities. The book knows this about her and doesn’t sport with our intelligence by pretending that she’s a great leader, or smart, or brave, or even particularly useful. I thoroughly enjoyed her narrating style and could occasionally even relate to her. Gideon, Leslie, and the rest are also allowed to be flawed and awkward, which makes them seem much closer to real kids than the average cast of a YA book. I found Charlotte’s fall from grace a little too close to something that would happen in a Disney Channel movie, but your mileage may vary. I counted forty-eight pop culture references, although alas, Gwen never namedrops her favorite bands, Queen and ABBA. I thought that her reliance on their music to keep herself afloat said a lot about her character—she’s a bit old-fashioned, likes to sing and dance, and is almost proud of her dorkiness. She can be poppy and fluffy but also knows when to say, (*stomp-stomp-CLAP*) “You got blood on your face/You big disgrace/Somebody better put you back into your place…” To me, the main difference is that Queen are indisputably one of rock’s greatest bands, while ABBA…aren’t. But it was really cute that Gwen liked them both. The weakest part of the series winds up being the world-building. Why Gwen sees ghosts is never really explained. The horrifying fiend from the end of book two is never integrated into the story or even mentioned again. Then what was the point of that whole scene? . Overall, this trilogy is the literary equivalent of a milkshake. It’s sugary and insubstantial and I wouldn’t want a steady diet of it. But it makes a nice occasional treat—sweet, harmless, and fun. Recommended, especially to anyone who liked the Stravaganza series or The Selection . sidekicks-run-amok so-much-british the-end-my-only-friend-the-end ...more 37 likes Like Comment ♥ Rebecca ♥ 1,412 reviews 472 followers March 24, 2020 This was such a great series. I might have to add this one to my physical collection. I love Gwyneth and Gideon as characters and as a romance. And the story is very intriguing. But I do wish it was a little better explained. Like where did the chronograph come from and why did it work the way that it did and why did it create a philosopher's stone? And where did the prophecies come from? Someone from the future who knew all that happened must have traveled back and made them, but who and why? While reading this series I decided to watch the German movies as well and I really enjoyed them. I love the two leads. Gideon is super hot, and Gwyneth is lovely and suits the 18th century clothing even better than our own. The first movie was better than the second. And the timeline is a little different so there was an overlap with book 3 that included spoilers. You probably shouldn't watch the movies until you have read all 3 books. I can watch the last one now which I will hopefully do this weekend. Update: I watched the last movie and it was bloody awful! So they get consecutively worse as they go along. And the last one is by far the least accurate. They change a whole lot of major things regarding Gwyneth/Gwendolyn and the prophecy and how the story ends. At least I got to see more of Gideon's pretty face. Too bad I'm not likely to ever see the actor again. mystery-suspense own-physical-copy paranormal ...more 25 likes Like Comment Ana Banda 482 reviews December 14, 2012 SI NO LO HAS LEÍDO; CRÉEME NO QUIERES ENTRAR AQUÍ; LO DIGO ENSERIO! Robert me encanta & odie que saliera tan poco :/ Xemerius TE AMO<3 ame sus relatos cuando los G's estaban juntos & sus ataques de nervios en los momentos preocupantes fueron lo mas jajajajaja "Me compras un gato?" Ame cuando se puso todo celosio con Robert jaja *.* Gideon de Villiers pequeño rebelde me e n c a n t a s *.* yo te como enterito algodón de azúcar <3 jaja asombroso como siempre el G! ;) Gwenny un poco lenta como siempre; salio al papa :3 Esa ardilla nunca me llego a caer bien del todo -.- el modo en que le hablaba a Gwenny siempre era como despectivo & como tirandole a que no descubriría nada pero COMETE ESA ARDILLA! ;)) Me debieron una escena al final :/ me encanto el giro que dio todo al final; el hecho de que en este estuvieras suspirando por los lindos comentarios de Gideon & que después chillaras como loca jaja! 25 likes Like Comment Feyre 1,186 reviews 115 followers October 16, 2023 Ich liebe diese Reihe einfach. Von Anfang bis Ende, obwohl ich altersmäßig an der Zielgruppe vorbei bin, genieße ich es jedes Mal wieder. Gwen, Leslie und Xemerius sind einfach nur zum Verlieben. Gideon hat einfach zu lange den Unnahbaren gespielt, daher kann ich mich nicht zu 100% begeistern, aber ich mag ihn trotzdem. 24 likes Like Comment Denise 582 reviews October 29, 2017 4.5 ⭐ Was für ein schönes Ende 😍😁. Nachdem mir "Rubinrot" und "Saphirblau" schon so gut gefallen haben, war ich richtig neugierig auf das Finale (denn bisher habe ich auch nur die ersten beiden Filme gesehen 😁). Zur Handlung möchte ich nichts verraten, falls es tatsächlich noch Leute (wie mich) gibt, die diese Reihe nicht bereits vor Jahren gelesen haben. Insgesamt spielt die gesamte Geschichte innerhalb von wenigen Wochen und von daher ist es auch nicht überraschend, dass sich die Charaktere nicht groß weiterentwickeln. Trotzdem war mir Gideon in diesem Band um einiges sympathischer als in den beiden Vorgängern. Das Ende habe ich so nicht ganz kommen sehen, aber es hat mir wirklich gut gefallen und bin sehr zufrieden 😍😍. Der Schreibstil war wieder humorvoll, spannend locker und flüssig und gerade die Kommentare von Xemerius waren einfach zum schießen! Solltet ihr diese Reihe noch nicht gelesen haben, kann ich sie euch wirklich empfehlen! Nur rate ich euch, dass ihr die Filme erst seht, wenn ihr alle Bücher gelesen habt, da in den Filmen nicht unbedingt alles in der "richtigen" Reihenfolge geschieht (und natürlich einiges geändert wurde) 😊. 24 likes Like Comment Gwen 94 reviews 172 followers April 2, 2016 I really enjoyed this book, in fact, the entire trilogy has been amazing . I think all the problems I had with Gwen's age or whatever, did not matter so much because this story is very, very good. It's true that perhaps, this could have been better as a standalone or a bilogy, but anyway... I think, my only objection is that the story takes place on a couple of weeks, maybe two in total. And so, the love story felt quite rushed. But, we need to see the positive side, there is no love triangles here. I repeat, LOVE TRIANGLE FREE. The ending was a little bit disappointing compared to how exciting is the story in general. Anyway, I can say that this series became one of my favorite trilogies. 2016 cover-love fantasy ...more 23 likes Like Comment Avada Kaddavra 392 reviews 65 followers May 12, 2020 Ein gelungener Abschluss🥰🥰🥰 25 likes Like Comment Nikoleta 699 reviews 322 followers November 21, 2015 Αχ μολις τελειωσα μια ακομα αγαπημενη τριλογια, μπορω να πω οτι περασα πολυ καλα με την παρεα των απολαυστικων βιβλίων της Kerstin Gier. fantasy romance 23 likes Like Comment Giulia 178 reviews 260 followers August 13, 2023 How am I so behind on my reviews? How? *deep sigh* Emerald Green was disappointing. I might as well get this out of the way really quickly, because while I really enjoyed reading both Ruby Red and Sapphire Blue - they were funny and light-hearted and extremely entertaining - I was thoroughly unimpressed with this one. The writing style was the same as always - not particularly flowery, but it flowed nicely nonetheless - but most of the things that made me excited about the first two books were gone. Gwyneth, the main character, goes from hilarious and relatable to downright whiny. There were also some times she got on my nerves during book two, but she was overall a very good MC, and a realistic teenager. This time around, however, she made me roll my eyes all the time whenever she was speaking, and the same happened with her love interest, Gideon. I loved them both individually and as a couple in the first two books, and then... I don't know. Maybe it was the unnecessary angst that made me lose interest in them, but I can't hope for two people to finally be together if I find them both annoying. Gwyneth was a crybaby. And Gideon was, frankly, kind of an asshole. Sadly, things were not better plot-wise. There were still some funny and mildly exciting moments, but the third book in a trilogy is supposed to be fast-paced and impossible to put down, and this one was just underwhelming. Hardly anything happened, and I was often bored. Again, it wasn't all bad, hence the two stars, but it wasn't what I expected either. Most of the book was really slow, and then the ending felt extremely rushed and left me feeling unsatisfied, as if I needed more answers but none were provided. That is not how you wrap up a trilogy. I think the keyword for Emerald Green might be... underwhelming. I finished reading the book only two weeks ago, and already I remember very little of what happened in it, which is definitely not a good sign. Another thing that irked me quite a lot was the amount of girl-on-girl hate on Gwyneth's part. She was rude and insulting to every other girl who even dared approach Gideon. She actually judged a girl solely on her appearance - and for having big breasts of all things. I mean, those are clearly a sign of evil, right? *eye-roll intensifies* Still, I also have some positive things to say. Sometimes the pacing got better, and we got some of the exciting moments we'd had so often in the first two books, and Gwyneth was still funny when she wasn't too busy crying over her lost love or hating on other girls. Perhaps I would've liked this one more if it had been the second book instead of the third and last, but it was a very unimpressive way to end the trilogy. (2016 read) disappointing german-austrian-swiss-lit ghosts ...more 24 likes Like Comment Zoe 338 reviews 1,915 followers July 15, 2022 Well that is that im never getting back. If this series is on your TBR take it off. Now. I mean it. there are spoilers in this review, you have been warned, however, since you wont be reading this book i doubt that will be of much concern You know, you can tell that this book was written in 2013, it just has that feel, and how boring it was. There is just so much wrong with this book Lets start off with how bad of a main character Gwen is. Honestly, I have never read about a more annoying character, and ive read some bloody annoying characters. All she does is whine about how a guy she meet a week ago doesnt love her. Yup, totally makes sooo much sense because someone could totally fall in love with someone in a week, let alone HER. And talking about that talk about freaking unrealistic. Shes having temper tantrums over a guy talking talking to other girls. Like gurl you've KNOWN him for a WEEK. Calm the fuck down. Its not that deep. Talk about over reacting. And the thing is that the boy she is obsessing over is 19. When she is 16. I smell something illegal going on. AND the fact that somehow they must be related. See Gwens parents are Lucy and Paul DE VILLIER right. And the boy she is obsessed with is Gideon DE VILLIERS. Soo the de villiers are one big family right, so somehow Paul and and Gideon are related and so that means that somehow Gwen and Gideon are related and they are in love? Sounds illegal once again. Don't you just love it. Also, the entire time they were going on about how since time travel is in the past events have already happened but the people in the present will travel back in time and make that true because in the past they have already done whatever but they will travel back in the future to do that, so its pretty confusing. Anyways onto the point, this rule had been doing pretty well UNTIL fucking Gwen decided she would give her ghost frind in the past a vaccine to make sure he would not die. But the thing is if she went into the past he shouldent exist in the present right because he didnt die of small pox and didnt become a ghost? i know its a bit of a brain twister but like if the author has been writing about this surely she should be able to figure it out right? ANDDDD, i know im going on but i have to say this, Gideon is the worst book guy ever. What the actual hell. Im so done with him. i honestly hate this book and the only reason that i read the entire book series was to see if my theories from book one were correct. they were this book was so predictable i hated it dont read it goodbye characters-that-annoy-me dumpster-fire no-god-please-no 24 likes Like Comment Suzzie 924 reviews 165 followers July 20, 2017 I really enjoyed this series! This book was a good conclusion to the series. I was expecting a bit more but in the end I have no complaints. I read this trilogy pretty quickly because I was so entertained with plot. I am currently in the process of reading the author's Silver trilogy, which is also very good! 22 likes Like Comment Lauriie 176 reviews 53 followers February 1, 2018 Ist auch nach dem gefühlten 10 mal gelesen mein Lieblingsbuch in der Reihe. bookshelf favorite-books german-books ...more 22 likes Like Comment leynes 1,159 reviews 3,204 followers October 25, 2021 I am supposed to have an online class now. It started 40 minutes ago (it’s now 8:45 AM …) and all I’ve learned so far is that everyone is having technical problems … so might as well write this review now. Smaragdgrün is the last book in that series and rereading it made me realise how much the movie has overshadowed it. The plot of the book is so much simpler and I honestly prefer it to the movie, because the movie was just wild. Also, James plays such a smaller role in the books than in the movies… Anyways, as always we start with a prologue from Lucy and Paul’s POV, and the plot basically picks up where the epilogue of book 2 left off. After the handover of documents, Paul jumps back to Lucy wounded. SO this bitch has the nerve to come back to her with his blood all over his body and then even has the audacity to call her “Mrs Überängstlich” - bitch, you almost died had Gideon not shown up. And then when he’s being reprimanded for giving Gideon the documents, Paul is all like “Das war vielleicht ein bisschen voreilig.” I LOVE HIM. In general, I would’ve loved reading a book from their perspective. (Same goes for the time travelling twins Timothy and Jonathan de Villiers as well. They’re such interesting characters because they were the ones who did all the experiments figuring out the limitations of time travel. These misfits transported a 4m long table across times just to see if it would work. :D) But now back to Smaragdgrün . After the grand revelation of the last book that Gideon was given the order to make Gwendolyn fall in love with him, she is, OF COURSE, a puddle of tears but Leslie is having none of it and is all like “bitch, can we please focus on not dying”. And Xemerius is also imitating Gwen’s whining in the most ridiculous manner, it’s awesome. Leslie and Xemerius are truly an iconic duo that keep Gwenny in check. She needs it. And because Leslie knows how lovesick Gwen actually is, she’s all like “Ach, und Gwenny? Mach’s Gideon nicht zu leicht, ja?”, and I died. What I found interesting this time around is that Kerstin Gier (the author) actually addresses the fact that Grandpa Lucas must have known that Gwen has the time travelling gene and not Charlotte … but it kinda makes sense now: he probably shut up about it because he wanted Gwen to grow up independently from the Temple to ensure that she would not be indoctrinated. Also, Mr Bernhard supporting Gwendolyn at all cost “because her grandpa isn’t here to do it” made me all soft. We love a queen who can dug a hole into a tapestry. Gwen basically figured out that her grandpa hid the time travelling machine in their own house for Gwen. I was pretty shook that Leslie and Rapha’s relationship wasn’t explored much but then when Gwen is with her in the school corridor, Raphael just put his arms around Leslie’s waist … and I was shook. But of course, Leslie was having none of it and was so mean that even Gwen took pity on Rapha. Gwen thinking Gideon might have actually fallen in love with her during the process —and me knowing what’s coming next, I am all like GURL DON’T GET YOUR HOPES UP. Because, of course, what follows when they both talk it out is that Gideon is all like “I’m sorry, let’s stay friends”. YIKES. Afterwards, he is trying to be so offensively nice to Gwen and she’s having none of it, and I’m having all of it. What I noticed during this reread is that Mr George is just so soft and he’s always consoling Gwendolyn and telling her that he always has an open ear for her. And then, later in the book, when they finally go to the ball and Gwen is all dressed up, Mr George compliments her look by saying she looks like she sprung out of an 18th century painting. Like, that’s so soft. I love my dad. (Speaking of soft men, Falk asking Gwen if her mom is single IS A MOOD. lmao) Anways, let’s keep track of the plot of this hellhole of a book. It’s so simple, I cannot even. So, basically Gwendolyn keeps having these special meetings with her grandpa where they figure out everything about the old time machine… and since in the past, it’s still in the possession of the Temple, they actually decide to put Gwendolyn’s blood in it (she uses her Japanese kitchen knife to cut her arm open - ICONIC), so that Lucas could depose it for her for the future, so that she could travel with it without any problems. And since Gwen has to figure all of these mysteries out, she needs more time (in the present timeline) and is all like “sorry I’m sick can’t go to the ball today” (and what’s funny about it is that Dr White actually backs her up on it??? And until this day I don’t understand why). And so, she jumps to 1993 to see her grandpa for the last time and he gives a copy of Anna Karenina filled with all the information he has collected over the years. SO SMART. And when they’re reading passages from Lucas' book that they don’t get Xemerius is just like LET’S SKIP THAT … and I never related harder to anyone in my life. But since Gwendolyn is an idiot sandwich, her behaviour is highly suspicious and Charlotte figures out that she has the old time machine and tells on her. What a bitch! I was really hoping for a Charlotte redemption arc … and I am mad she stayed the same bitter bitch. WHY??? But her plan doesn’t work because Gwen already hid the machine on the roof (Charlotte has a fear of heights). Anyways, Gideon and Gwen keep butting heads and they have this huge confrontation scene which actually fuelled every bone in my body … because Gideon just calls Gwen out for all her hypocrisy and it feels like Kerstin Gier’s big FUCK YOU to all YA authors and their cheap plot devices. (“Warum stehen Mädchen auf Typen, die sie scheiße behandeln? Die netten Jungs sind offensichtlich nicht mal halb so interessant. Manchmal fällt es schwer, da den Respekt vor Mädchen zu behalten.” - UFF, Gideon sent me with this one.) He’s basically yelling that he never forced Gwen to fall in love with him, in all actuality, he treated her like shit .. which is TRUEEE! And Gwen has no arguments whatsoever and dares to call him superficial and he’s all like “Zumal sich Jungs mit Segelohren und Pickeln lange nicht so viel rausnehmen dürfen.” WOOP WOOP! CALL HER OUT! But of course, when Gwen is all crying and telling him that she fell in love with him despite him being a shithead, he actually started kicking the goddamn wall. WOW. Okay so far, the plot of this book was really thin and halfway through we already get the BIG BALL SCENE. My favorite moments where when Gwen actually saw James while dancing the menuett and she was like “bitches, let me through I need to talk to my son” because that was such a MOOD. I don’t remember Racokzy harrassing Gwendolyn at the ball (absolutely hated that) but then Gideon came barging in with Lavinia (who actually then fainted - A MESS). Gwen’s all upset because Gideon wants to help her (lmao) but then we get THE KISSING SCENE of all kissing scenes and life was all good in the world. “Für ein paar Sekunden fürchtete ich, Gideon würde mich von sich stoßen, aber dann stöhnte er leise auf, legte seine Arme um meine Taille und zog mich noch enger an sich.” Oh wow, I love them. Also, afterwards, Gideon is utterly confused because Gwen was all mad with him before the ball and now she’s kissing him as if her life depended on it and then he’s all like “Glaubst du vielleicht, ich sei aus Stein?” I CRY. Of course, the ball turns completely to shit when Alastair shows up and stabs Gwen (lmao, the drama) but what can ya do? Gideon is so hysterical that when they jump back in time (with Gwen bleeding all over him) that Dr White gives him a whiskey. LOL. Anyways, that’s how they figure out Gwen is immortal (Bella is quaking in her seat). Before we continue recapping this book, let me mention some of my favorite moments. At the beginning, when Gwen is flirting with a barista, Rapha shows up and yells “she has a boyfriend” - I LOVE HIM. Also, Caroline and Nick call Gideon “Gollum”, which is also a MOOD. But whilst Caroline becomes absolutely obsessed with Gideon (telling him that he is “totally pretty”. GURL, you’re ten. She shows him her stuffed animal and goes “Du darfst es ruhig streicheln.” - I WAS WHEEZING), Gwen’s little brother Nick stays a little possessive, and it’s hella cute. Anyways, back to the hellhole of this plot. After the ball, Gwen overhears the confrontation between Falk and Grace where she learns that Lucy is actually her mom. 14-year-old me was shook. Gwen’s all hysterical and Gideon tries to console her. They plan on secretly meeting Lucy and Paul with their own time machine. Madame Rossini helps both of them out when she catches them stealing some clothes from her workshops for the secret mission. I love her. I absolutely hate the fact that we didn’t get the confrontation scene between Gwen and her biological parents. I wanted to see Lucy and Paul and how they would handle that situation. Argh. And because this is a YA book where no one has their priorities straight, Gwen and Gid actually show up to Cynthia’s motto party. Also, Charlotte going absolutely wild on that party is a MOOD. Have some fun, girl! And Gideon actually looking after her was the only right thing to do in that situation. Gosh, it was heartbreaking. (“Wenn du mich anrührst, breche ich dir das Genick. Ich kann Krav Maga, weißt du.” - “Ich auch, schon vergessen?” -> THEY’RE SUCH A MATCH. I love Charlotte more than life itself… even though she’s a bitch in the books, I still stan.) Leslie’s “grobes Handlungskonzept” on how they can trick the Count. LMAO. I also died when I realised that Gideon was the one who clocked himself. ICONIC. Mr Whitman shooting Gideon multiple times in the chest was ICONIC as well… but of course that boy had swallowed that damn potion and became immortal himself. The fact that Dr White was actually the one who knocked Mr Whitman out with a pistol in the end is just everything. Also, way less dramatic than in the movies. And so we end this crazy book series with Gwen and Gideon actually being immortal (I cannot even). The only thing that makes it better is that Xemerius was like “I’ll be here for you when Gideon will get bored of you in 200 years.” I RESPECT THAT. Also, MR BERNHARD IS LUCY AND PAUL’S GRANDCHILD and I love that for him. And lastly my favorite quotes from this series: “Wenn ich noch einmal das Wort Saphir-Ei höre, dann schreie ich.” “Es ist immer wieder erfrischend, mit euch Kindern des 21. Jahrhunderts blasphemische Themen zu erörtern. Ihr zuckt bei Häresie nicht mit der kleinsten Wimper.” “Ganz hervorragend”, sagte ich, obwohl ich gern sein Gesicht gesehen hätte, wenn ich “beschissen” gesagt hätte. 21 likes Like Comment Odette Brethouwer 1,587 reviews 284 followers February 25, 2021 Wauw, wat een serie. Een deel van de ontknoping wist ik niet meer, heel leuk om daar naartoe te lezen. En de rest van dit verhaal... Nu al zin in de volgende reread, ik denk niet dat dit weer 5 jaar gaat duren (: De humor, het verhaal, de baljurken... IK WIL MEER 2016 Dit boek! Deze serie! Gideon! My god. Gisteravond in bed uitgelezen. The feels omdat dit nu uit is.. ik wil nog duizend boeken uit dit universum! Een van mijn favoriete series ooit, echt. Binnenkort lekker de films kijken! Ik wil hier nog geen afscheid van nemen. Dat wil ik nooit. Oef. Zo blij dat deze mooie serie in de boekenkast staat! Heb jij m nog niet en wil je m wel? Ben slim en heb nog even geduld en wacht op de prachtige jubileumeditie die BlossomBooks later dit jaar gaat uitgeven.. ;) 2016 2021 inbezit ...more 21 likes Like Comment autumn ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ 128 reviews 468 followers May 3, 2024 ꒰💌 ₊˚⊹ ᰔ 🕰️꒱ review for the whole series I’ve read this series for the first time five years ago and after multiple rereads and watching the (atrocious) movies, I’m still not bored of it AT ALL. The plot is basically that Gwen discovers that she has this so-called “time travel gene”, so she gets drawn into a mysterious club. At the beginning she has no idea what’s going on but as the story goes on she uncovers more and more secrets. The plot is well thought out. Additionally, there’s romance. I have to admit that with my last reread I think it’s a little underdeveloped but I don’t mind tbh since I’ve read it so many times that it’s more developed in my mind, if that makes sense. The dialogue is funny, sometimes a little too silly, so if anyone decides to read this series, don’t expect the most beautiful written story! It’s definitely well written and complex, but still lighthearted, I would say. I also love the family relationships very much and no matter how many times I’ve already read about them, they made me tear up this time. I’ve said this in all my reviews now but I love love love Lucy and Paul so much and I need a book only about them!!! Overall, the ruby red/precious stone trilogy is a mysterious, fast and witty read and I highly recommend it, especially if you need to get out of a slump! Every time I read it, it inspires me to write my own book. This series truly is my comfort series and I already want to reread it again. ┄ This book in particular is my least favorite, I wanted more closure and some people’s reactions to certain things, that took place. I think the ending is amazing, but too short. Also sadly, some (to me at least) important scenes and conversations were skipped over. I’ve read this in its original language, but if anyone is interested in reading (hopefully lol) it’s available in English and many more languages! :) I think people who like The Inheritance Games will really like this series!! favorites 21 likes 18 comments Like Comment zainab 121 reviews 70 followers Read June 22, 2021 Gwendolyn finds the second chronograph and can thus travel into the past, without the box. In time, she realises, that Gideon is on her side and together with Lucy and Paul, they plan to silence the Count once and for all. Gewondolyn and Gideon can be together forever through the secret and magic of the Raven. The third and final book in the Gemstone series, has it all. Once again, Kerstin Gier enchants readers with wit and suspense. I find, the ending a bit of a shame, as I had imagined the end with Gwendoly and Gideon.... 19 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,966 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 70 quotes 17 discussions 24 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Fearless Love: Anthology by Vikram Kolmannskog (ed.) | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Buy on Amazon Rate this book Fearless Love: Anthology Vikram Kolmannskog (ed.) , Stefan Storm (ed.) 4.40 5 ratings 2 reviews Want to read Buy on Amazon Rate this book On 6 September 2018, the Indian Supreme Court delivered a very progressive verdict on LGBTQ+ rights. In celebration of the one-year anniversary, Mohini Books has created an anthology with texts focused on fearless love. The verdict shows inclusiveness in both form and content, a value that is arguably the best of both Indian culture and queer culture. Inclusiveness has also been a guiding value in the creation of this anthology. The contributors self-identify as men, women, cis, trans, gender non-conforming, gay, straight and with various other sexual and gender labels. Many are Indian or Indian-origin, but there are also contributors with Scandinavian, Pakistani, Sudanese and other national backgrounds. Texts are in the form of poetry, essay, short story, song lyrics, and letter. These are interspersed with quotes from the beautiful verdict. The anthology is available digitally for free – and as a printed book at production cost. 86 pages, Kindle Edition Published September 5, 2019 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Vikram Kolmannskog (ed.) 1 book 1 follower Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.40 5 ratings 2 reviews 5 stars 3 (60%) 4 stars 1 (20%) 3 stars 1 (20%) 2 stars 0 (0%) 1 star 0 (0%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews Pretty Little Bibliophile 771 reviews 115 followers July 22, 2020 I read this for the Reading Rush 2020 (June20-26) A superb anthology of works revolving around the LGBTQIA lives. These poignant and close-to-the-heart pieces from a variety of writers, in the ways that they expressed them in (short story, poetry, song lyrics, research essays, etc), throbbed with the resonance of their lives and the ways in which they matter, despite how society says otherwise. lgbtq modern-classics-lit-fic 1 like Like Comment Vishnu Baher 84 reviews 16 followers June 13, 2020 On 6 September 2018, the Indian Supreme Court delivered a very progressive verdict on LGBTQ+ rights in celebration, @mohinibooks have created this anthology. The contributors self-identify as men, women, cis, trans, gender non-conforming, gay, straight and with various other sexual and gender labels. Many are Indian or Indian-origin, but there are also contributors with Scandinavian, Pakistani, Sudanese and other national backgrounds. Texts are in the form of poetry, essay, short story, song lyrics, and letter. These are interspersed with quotes from the beautiful verdict. It's a masterpiece I have no words to say about this beauty, even I was thinking that I will try to explain this as much as I can but sorry I can't. You (Mohini books) guys really help me with this masterpiece to understand Pride community more. And a big thanks to Vikram who share this anthology with me. Let's talk first about the cover and believe me this is one of the astonishing cover I had ever see. This cover is an illustration by Balbir Krishan. Every story, poem, essays, letter and song lyrics give a totally different angle to my view about love, life, world, etc. My View:- Language is lucid and understandable. And there are interspersed quotes by our Judges benches who take a huge decision to amend Article 377 which is like Cherry on top. With every page, you will get a new perspective on life in respect of LGBTQ+. Recommendation - This book is recommended to everyone who wants to understand the brief insights about the LGBTQ+ community. Since I like this book and right now this book is available for free on @mohinibooks go and get this you gonna thank me later. 1 like Like Comment Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

Return schema.org Entities and their Properties in JSON-LD format as an array strictly based on the text below. Don't add any information that is not stated in this text.

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Dear Heart, How Like You This by Wendy J. Dunn | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Dear Heart, How Like You This Wendy J. Dunn 3.89 344 ratings 30 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book May, 1536. The poet Sir Thomas Wyatt, released from imprisonment in the Tower of London, is in his father's custody. Almost from almost the beginning of his life, Tom has loved his cousin Anne Boleyn, content to sit at her feet while she sang her love songs to another, if doing so gave him just a moment in her company. Now he is heartsick and despairing, having witnessed her juridical murder by Henry VIII. Only wanting to escape from the recent memories now rending his heart, Tom recounts his story, a story which also narrates the tragic tale of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII. Genres Historical Fiction Historical Tudor Period Fiction 16th Century 372 pages, Paperback First published January 1, 2002 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Wendy J. Dunn 12 books 199 followers WENDY J. DUNN is an award-winning Australian writer fascinated by Tudor history – so much so she was not surprised to discover a family connection to the Tudors, not long after the publication of her first Anne Boleyn novel, which narrated the Anne Boleyn story through the eyes of Sir Thomas Wyatt, the elder. Her family tree reveals the intriguing fact that one of her ancestral families – possibly over three generations – had purchased land from both the Boleyn and Wyatt families to build up their holdings. It seems very likely Wendy’s ancestors knew the Wyatts and Boleyns personally. Wendy is married, the mother of four adult children and the grandmother of two amazing small boys. She gained her PhD in 2014 and loves walking in the footsteps of the historical people she gives voice to in her books. Wendy also tutors writing at Swinburne University of Technology, Australia. Henry VIII’s True Daughter: Catherine Carey, A Tudor Life is her first full-length nonfiction work. Follow me at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorwendyj... Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/wendy... Twitter: @wendyjdunn Instagram: wendyjdunnauthor Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.89 344 ratings 30 reviews 5 stars 130 (37%) 4 stars 98 (28%) 3 stars 78 (22%) 2 stars 24 (6%) 1 star 14 (4%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews Elizabeth(The Book Whisperer) 389 reviews 50 followers March 17, 2013 Lets start by saying, I love Ann Boleyn. I love her story, I love Tudor history in general. This book is told from the point of view of Sir Thomas Wyatt. He was her cousin and had loved her his whole life through. The book shows her in a different light then most I have read of her. Usually she is portrayed as an scheming, overly ambitious vixen who cares only for her own ambition. This novel shows her in a more sympathetic light, and I enjoyed that. The only problem I had with this book was the excessive use of the word "love" and the word "yea," (which seemed out of place for the time period). Over than that, I completely was impressed by this novel, the writing and story was well done. I recommend it to all Tudor lovers! 4 likes Like Comment Alex Stark 2 reviews 1 follower September 10, 2017 This book gave me a unique insight into the much gossiped of relationship between Queen Anne and the poet Tomas Wyatt. Despite all of the different historic opinions flying about, it is comforting and enchanting to read a book which harbours such raw, encapsulating emotion. Indeed, Wendy Dunn has accomplished what many writers seek to, and many fail to grasp, which is an evocative relationship with Wyatt. This story reads, to me, as a genuine and loving conversation between the writer, the main characters, and the readers. If Anne Boleyn and Tomas Wyatt appeal, consider this a humble and passionate testament to love and friendship which existed between these unique individuals 3 likes Like Comment Denise O'Hagan Author 9 books 28 followers August 10, 2020 A detailed and compassionate fictionalised account of the story of Anne Boleyn, told from the viewpoint of Sir Thomas Wyatt. We are offered a rare insight into the lives of people in Tudor times, and especially the frequently compromised situations in which women, including high-born women, found themselves. All in all, a soundly researched narrative, and heartrendingly compelling story. Highly recommended, especially to anyone with an interest in history (especially of Tudor times) and the role of women. 2 likes Like Comment Charlie Fenton Author 5 books 48 followers September 22, 2017 I liked it until the end, in which several inaccuracies came up. Anne Boleyn's last miscarriage was not of a deformed child, that was not mentioned until years after her death and even Eustace Chapuys, who had no love of the woman and knew all that happened at court, didn't mention it. Jane Boleyn's portrayal is the standard one of an evil woman who caused her husband and sister-in-law's downfall, although there is no evidence of this and it was thoroughly disproved by Julia Fox's biography on her. If anything, we have evidence that Jane and Anne were very close. The worst part was the end, in which there was a block at her execution, which unfortunately spoiled the book for me, as that is a basic error, the others I could forgive. The rest of the story I really enjoyed, even if sometimes I was annoyed with Wyatt repeatedly saying 'yea' and changed from Anne to Anna in the same paragraph. I much preferred Dunn's book on Katherine of Aragon, it shows how much she has grown as a writer. 1 like Like Comment chucklesthescot 2,974 reviews 127 followers May 11, 2018 I found the writing style of this book so annoying that I couldn't get into the actual story. It was written in that dramatic, overly enthusiastic 'hey I'm a poet!' kind of way, with exclaimations of love and adoration and shouts of 'Oh Anna!' every paragraph. It was somewhat nauseating as well as overly descriptive to the point of wondering what he was talking about. We can't do three lines without Wyatt reminding the reader that he loves her. Yes, I get the point, no need to hit me over the head with it twenty times per page! The author also has the annoying habit of switching between Anne and Anna whenever the urge occurs and for no obvious reason. It is really annoying when we have both names in one sentence. Why??? What does this add to the story? Surely in his private writings he would use one version all the time? We get overdosed on the old fashioned language which I do not like in my Tudor novels. OK some may like it because it is an authentic representation of how they would talk or write, but I feel the story flows better when this is kept to a minimum. I was getting annoyed at the constant verily's and yea's that were all over the place and it made me grind my teeth. There was also no real flow to the story. Wyatt is rambling on about his love for Anne, telling a story about her being the love of his live at 2 years old, then he jumps ahead to them being parted, then he is talking about a story when she was 3. There was no order to it and it was full of inane declarations of undying love and how they were soulmates. Ugh. We get endless school lessons about Socrates and the Greek writings in endless details, with his love declared all through it of course. This was so tedious to read and I was getting very bored with it. Dull, repetitive and yawn inducing! fiction historical monarchy ...more 1 like Like Comment Patricia Wesslink 21 reviews 1 follower June 13, 2015 Oh so beautifully written - the words truly flow like poetry - very apt since this is the story of Anne Boleyn as told by her cousin, the poet Thomas Wyatt. This account of her rise and fall dares to challenge some of the more traditional beliefs pertaining to some of the supporting characters - for example Elizabeth Boleyn, Anne's mother is presented as weak and not at all involved in the lives of her children. Although the story's outcome is well known, the writing style keeps the reader intrigued and turning the pages for more. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by Wendy Dunn 1 like Like Comment MBP 217 reviews February 17, 2008 Disappointing - I wanted to like this book, because I loved the idea of the story of Anne Boleyn and Thomas Wyatt. I had trouble getting past the writing style, though - very flowery, with lots of "yea" and "verily." The author also switches between Anne and Anna frequently (sometimes within the same paragraph) for no apparent reason. I think the book could have used better editing. I did enjoy the story, though, especially toward the end - the plot and the writing seemed to improve as the book progressed. historical-fiction medieval-renaissance read_2008 ...more 1 like Like Comment Sarah 193 reviews 33 followers April 24, 2017 Totally loved it. (Another one I read in one sitting on a huge-ass train journey!) I loved the different angle taken when presenting Anne, and their childhood seemed so magical and blissful. The only criticism I could possibly have is that Anne is presented as too Saint-like, too good and almost too one-dimensional - she doesn't seem to be flawed in any way and she seems slightly less believable because of this... But this is only a small, small criticism and overall I really loved this book. historical-fiction 1 like Like Comment Amanda 119 reviews 8 followers April 9, 2008 This is a truely lovely telling of the sad tale of Anne Boleyn. Seen through the eyes of Thomas Wyatt who loved Anne from early on, and watched her trancedence to Henry VIII's queen with romantic longing and her downfall with grief. anne boleyn fiction ...more 1 like Like Comment Kathleen 797 reviews 31 followers November 21, 2014 A fine book by a very good historian, but The Light in the Labyrinth remains my favorite of the two. Maybe the choice of character and very possibly what their lives consisted of, or just that each author's books become better than the one before. Both of them are MUST READS! 1 like Like Comment Mary Walterman 120 reviews August 10, 2016 A different perspective I liked this book because it told Anne Boleyn's story from a different perspective. Tom Wyatt was a male friend who delivers this perspective for us. Enabling us to see Anne and her life in a different light. 1 like Like Comment Kristie Author 14 books 10 followers January 18, 2009 This is an excellent book (and despite the fact that I call the author a friend, I can still be unbiased!) about Anne Boleyn. It will keep you going! 1 like Like Comment Rosie Lee 668 reviews 2 followers August 9, 2019 Another brilliant read by Wendy J Dunn about Anne Boleyn written through the eyes of Sir Thomas Wyatt......you might have to have a box of tissues near by..........hoping for more from this author 1 like Like Comment ece karadag 19 reviews June 8, 2022 This is an evocative and engaging story of love and friendship that blossoms from early childhood bonds only to be torn apart by a selfish king’s sensual desires. The heartbreak of Thomas Wyatt’s mostly unrequited love for his cousin, Anne Boleyn, is told in the first person by Wyatt. The scenes, colored with contrasting images – from the glittering gold and jeweled coronation gowns of the Tudor Court to the cold, grey confines of the Tower of London – are presented through the poetically written prose of Thomas Wyatt. Furthermore, Wyatt’s depiction of Anne, from childhood to adolescence, to her tragic demise, serves to remind the reader that this English Queen, with all her dreams and fantasies, was flesh and blood, not just a name on a family tree. This is a touching and tragic story that I admit I have yet to read because I was distracted by its title. I was worried because the entire book was written in an old English style. This demonstrates the importance of never making assumptions. Like Comment Nicola Niemc Author 3 books 1 follower January 19, 2019 I am a huge fan of the Tudor period and its characters (especially the Boleyns), and this book is one of the most interesting, and in places, heart-wrenching accounts of the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn. It was interesting in that it comes from the view of Sir Thomas Wyatt, one of her supposed lovers, and depicts an unusual account of her actions. Anne is shown in a sympathetic light for once and you can't help but feel sorry for her inability to bear a son. Henry VIII is portrayed as a spoilt child who has never grown up and has no qualms about sending his wife to death. All in all, this is a moving book that makes you want to weep yourself with the injustice of it all. Like Comment A. L. 182 reviews 3 followers July 15, 2020 I enjoyed this book in that it gave me a better appreciation of Sir Thomas Wyatt’s poetry. I like the kinder viewpoint of Anne Boleyn. And while the narrator’s constant switching between ‘Anne’ and ‘Anna’ seemed to bother a lot of people, that didn’t bother me at all. Probably because my family LOVES nicknames, and we nickname each other’s nicknames. However, starting nearly every third sentence with ‘verily’ or ‘yea’ quickly grew tedious, and actually served to knock you out of the scene. There were parts that drug on too long (the tears after the love scene...would it ever stop?!) and certainly parts that needed tighter editing, but overall an enjoyable and pleasant book. great-britain historical-fiction Like Comment Fiona Andrew 767 reviews 16 followers June 21, 2018 Enjoyable A different point of view of the time of Anne Boleyn. The narrative by Sir Thomas Wyatt tells a tragic story of a young girl who was sweep along by the lusts of men. Her beauty and innocence catch the eye of the King and her life is never the same. I totally enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. Like Comment Lesly! 226 reviews 4 followers October 20, 2020 This novel is a slow burn however, I really enjoyed it! Written in poem like style told from the Perspective of Thomas Wyatt, Anne Boleyn's cousin. I feel that Anne has always beem portrayed as a power hungry woman. And in this book we get to know her as more innocent young woman who wanted a normal life. Recommended for all fans of the Tudor era! Like Comment Georgiana R 65 reviews 7 followers September 27, 2021 A Richly researched book told from the perspective of Sir Thomas Wyatt and his life long love for Anne Boleyn. For anyone who loves the Tudor times in history, you will thoroughly enjoy this book with its rather warm telling of Anne Boleyn’s inner personality from a different perspective. This will most certainly not be the last book I read by this author! Like Comment Chasity Gaines 78 reviews 2 followers January 11, 2022 Beautiful and Heartbreaking Dunn captivates the senses as she gives us a look at Anne Boleyn's life through the eyes of Thomas Wyatt. She weaves a tale of beauty and heartbreak. I have read many books about Anne and I thought this was a wonderfully written. I look forward to reading Book 2 in this series. Like Comment Ellen Young 5 reviews March 15, 2021 A good read I found the beginning of the book slow to catch my attention but was determined to read on and glad I did. Two things: if Anne gave herself to anyone, it would have been Hal Percy and I'm not a fan of Tom Wyatts poetry. Still, I enjoyed this book and do recommend it. Like Comment Donna Pingry 217 reviews November 23, 2021 This is the second book I have read by this author. I'm truly on the lookout for more. Interesting new view of Thomas Wyatt. History tells us he loved her and never forgot her. This fleshes that out a bit more. Like Comment Stephanie Author 8 books 12 followers August 10, 2018 Verily, this is badly written, aye. Like Comment Sara G 1,744 reviews August 9, 2016 DNF. I couldn't get past the author's writing style. It's overly poetic in that sort of fake old fashioned way, using "verily" and words like that for no real reason. There were points where historical detail is added in a very jarring way, too. It sounds like our narrator is quoting Wikipedia. "Only as I grew older did I understand that families of our status customarily sent their offspring to homes of relatives or friends to gain the beginnings of their education and strengthen attachments already formed." It's also distracting when Anne and Anna are used interchangeably for the same person, with no rhyme or reason as to why one is used. Lots of dashes and awkward sentences were too distracting, too. The research was clearly done very well, I just can't get over the style on this one and I don't have the patience for it. did-not-finish Like Comment BookAddict 1,119 reviews 4 followers December 31, 2013 I'm not sure how I felt about this. Part of me swears if the author tossed the word "certes" in there one more time I was going to toss this in the fireplace. Between that and the notion that Anne's marriage to Henry was fueled by an Amanda Clark-like "Revenge" made this whole thing a bit hard to swallow. Combined with the writing which I found a bit too high-school I was struggling with whether I liked this or not. Then I read the information in the back. There was real intelligent history there and I was surprised to find it written in a completely different voice, a voice that didn't appear in the novel. So the novel was just okay for me. I'd so looked forward to a Thomas Wyatt's version of the much-maligned Anne that expectations I fear were too high. How Like I This? Eh - just okay. kindle-edition Like Comment Victoria 124 reviews February 21, 2016 I liked this novel. I liked the point of view of Thomas Wyatt; it certainly made for a different story. I also like Dunn's portrayal of Anne Boleyn as a pawn in a game played by powerful men who put her in Henry's way. I think she was a strong woman in her own right and desired to change England's church, but I do not believe she got to the position of Queen without much coaching from her father and uncle, both of whom turned against her when Henry tired of her. Although I liked this take on Anne's story, I think her other novel The Light in the Labyrinth is more powerful and better written. Like Comment Helen Azar Author 19 books 97 followers December 15, 2009 Yet another Anne Boleyn novel, this time written from the point of view of Thomas Wyatt - her cousin and brief lover - who wrote lots of poetry dedicated to her. Not a bad read, but due to endless professions of love on the main character's part, it does get somewhat tiresome [Yes, we get it already, you are in love with Anne Boleyn!:]. Some historical revisionism, but it is historical FICTION after all, although accurate for the most part... Like Comment Rose 16 reviews May 31, 2008 This is an excellent novel of the tragic story of Anne Boelyn. Well written with impeccable research. A must read for anyone interested in the history of Tudor England. Like Comment Nicole 58 reviews Read August 7, 2008 good book kindof reminded me of the secret diary of anne boleyn. but still good. Like Comment CLM 2,755 reviews 194 followers Want to read July 4, 2016 How could I have missed a book that uses a Thomas Wyatt sonnet as its title? 16th-century historicalfiction not-owned-by-bpl Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

Return schema.org Entities and their Properties in JSON-LD format as an array strictly based on the text below. Don't add any information that is not stated in this text.

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Beast at Every Threshold by Natalie Wee | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $8.49 Rate this book Beast at Every Threshold Natalie Wee 3.76 411 ratings 94 reviews Want to read Kindle $8.49 Rate this book An unflinching shapeshifter, Beast at Every Threshold dances between familial hauntings and cultural histories, intimate hungers and broader griefs. Memories become malleable, pop culture provides a backdrop to glittery queer love, and folklore speaks back as a radical tool of survival. With unapologetic precision, Natalie Wee unravels constructs of “otherness” and names language our most familiar weapon, illuminating the intersections of queerness, diaspora, and loss with obsessive, inexhaustible ferocity—and in resurrecting the self rendered a site of violence, makes visible the “Beast at Every Threshold.” Beguiling and deeply imagined, Wee’s poems explore thresholds of marginality, queerness, immigration, nationhood, and reinvention of the self through myth. Genres Poetry LGBT Queer Fiction Contemporary Canada Asian Literature ...more 102 pages, Paperback First published April 5, 2022 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Natalie Wee 4 books 79 followers Natalie Wee is a queer creator. She wrote two poetry collections, Our Bodies & Other Fine Machines (San Press, 2021) and Beast At Every Threshold (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2022). Her work explores themes of race, gender, queerness, and nationhood, and is deeply informed by grassroots communities. Born in Singapore to Malaysian parents, she is currently a settler in Tkaronto. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.76 411 ratings 94 reviews 5 stars 113 (27%) 4 stars 140 (34%) 3 stars 116 (28%) 2 stars 30 (7%) 1 star 12 (2%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews Jack Edwards Author 1 book 239k followers January 1, 2023 3.75 stars rounded up -- so many gorgeous, tender poems (my personal highlight was In My Next Life as a Fruit Tree) but I'm not sure all the experimentation worked 100% of the time. Overall, though, I enjoyed this poetic exploration of "otherness". 721 likes Like Comment Seigfreid Uy 155 reviews 677 followers October 23, 2022 beast at every threshold was SUCH a joy to read. when @arsenalpulp reached out to send me an ARC all the way from canada — i was cautious, ocean vuong is my absolute favorite writer of all time and has allowed me to learn and appreciate poetry. but how well can i process a whole other collection from a poet i didn’t yet have the pleasure to know? spoiler: i fell in love with this collection, and i do not mean that lightly. let me count the ways — it is a poetry collection that explores themes of queerness and identity from a southeast asian perspective with chinese heritage. it looks at the feeling of otherness and connection from this point of view. let me continue — it utilizes pop culture references that i hold near and dear to me, namely: ocean vuong, the avatar franchise, phoebe bridgers, mo dao zu shi (okay, more the untamed), and studio ghibli. and to close — natalie brought elements of her background and heritage and a beautifully intimate way, integrating chinese characters and malay words (that are similar to filipino) that made the reading experience more intimate since i had the pleasure of having my own background to source from but beyond all of this — natalie wee brilliantly mixes inspiration and originality. from the pop culture references that she injected a unique point of view on (she cites the different works that have inspired some of her works at the acknowledgments part), to the wonderfully original stylistic choices and word choices she makes — you have poems done in cross-words, read three-ways, creative breaks, etc. that make an already engaging poetry collection, so much more. i have far more thoughts on this and i’m excited to do a multiple-part review/annotation dump on the many times this collection made me feel. it is beautiful and worth all of your time. 20 likes Like Comment CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian 1,221 reviews 1,668 followers December 13, 2022 A truly incredible collection of poetry. Themes include queer love and desire; pop culture; immigration; racism and being othered; pets and plants; diaspora; myth and folklore; parenthood and childbirth. Intertextual in nature, the poems often explicitly reference other poet's work, from Sappho to Ocean Vuong, as well as musicians including Mitski and Phoebe Bridgers. They are delightfully and fiercely innovative in their form, style, and word play. One poem is written as a crossword with clues. More than one is written in multiple columns/stanzas justified left and right so it's open to being read straight across both columns or one column at a time -- or both, of course. Wee has a talent for clever line breaks that appear to end on one word only to supply the second part of the word on the next line, changing the meaning as you first read it. For example: "I understand how one mistakes the kind / -ling of lovers for a fuse." Her word choice is often delightfully uncanny, making mundane words strange and wonderful in their unexpected use. I'm not surprised to see the collection has a blurb from Billy-Ray Belcourt, who has a similar ease and play with language that makes the old and familiar look new and curious. I loved this and highly recommend it! 5-stars canadian east-asian ...more 18 likes Like Comment naviya 293 reviews 7 followers January 8, 2023 - what a lovely collection!! i love so many poems - this collection has some shape(?) poems and read-three-ways poems which i enjoyed alot - alot of sensory images, a lot of violence, a lot of detail : excellent - my fave poems: in defence of my roommate's dog, bordersong, in my next life as a fruit tree, 10 years after diagnosis, the korrasami poems and the one with the phoebe bridgers title 6 likes Like Comment Jennifer 1,164 reviews 70 followers August 2, 2023 Arsenal Pulp has become one of my favorite publishers, and when I was looking at their spring releases, I knew I needed to pre-order this one. The cover already had me set up for an easy sell, but then the blurb had phrases like "familial hauntings and cultural histories," "glittery queer love," "folklore speaks back as a radical tool of survival," and "inexhaustible ferocity." This book absolutely did not disappoint. I was already five-starring this in my brain with a long list of favorite poems noted that I wanted to return to, when halfway through the collection I arrived at "Wei Ying Tells Me About Resurrection" and !!! Wei Ying brainspace already has my heart half-flayed open AND THEN IT CUTS FURTHER. "Choose a hell of your own making over the hell that unmakes you." Insert keysmash of overwhelming emotion here. AND THEN THAT ISN'T EVEN MY FAVORITE POEM IN THE COLLECTION. That place being currently held by "Listen I Love You Joy is Coming." "How much of the world must we pass through to arrive at ourselves?" with its nods to the new ways we found to show care for each other in the pandemic. I always say I will reread collections but rarely do, but this one I WILL. lgbtqia owned poetry 5 likes Like Comment Clara 64 reviews 20 followers July 26, 2023 incredibly imaginative collection of poems that takes the reader on a journey into queer longing and loneliness, familial histories, mythologies and a glittering assemblage of pop culture references ( we get Mitski and Phoebe Bridgers and Wong Kar-Wai and so much more). could also file this book under convinced Felix has a sixth sense when it comes to gifting books, he didn't even know it had a crossword puzzle poem !!! 4 likes Like Comment Isabel 25 reviews April 6, 2022 It's perfect! It's beautiful! It looks like Linda Evangelista! poetry 4 likes Like Comment Sinyee 379 reviews 21 followers April 29, 2024 2.5 rounded down This was too tumblr for my Basic Ass Little snippets like “isn’t my mother’s tongue the only thing they can’t make me surrender at the border?” and “She tells me because she cannot forget & because she forgets she tells me again.” makes me glad I at least gave it a chance, but not enough to be pleased at the whole experience. 3 likes Like Comment Mel A Ninny 303 reviews 20 followers January 31, 2023 I don't usually read a lot of poetry books. I've always enjoyed poetry but sort of closed myself off to it, and I'm pretty picky. Classic poetry can be lovely, but gets tiresome if you have a whole book of it. Modern poetry can be too pat and obvious. I found Beast at Every Threshold at a bookstore. I loved the cover, read one poem, and then the author's blurb, and went for it. This is a beautiful collection. It has a bit of everything--philosophy, connection, nature, bodies, queerness, immigration, power, emotion. There were lots of bits I read over and over to savor them, and I sent snippets to friends. I think that's proof of a good poetry book; that immediate desire to share the feeling it evoked. Really look forward to more from Natalie Wee, and honestly, more poetry in general, now. 2022 2023 lgbtqia-plus ...more 3 likes Like Comment Stephanie Tom Author 5 books 7 followers July 17, 2022 “we arrive at a kinder fiction by surrendering the self / to a new era. what must survive. what must survive us. an hour, a pendulum admits, / can last lifetimes, really, depending on how many you’ve lived. so perhaps alive at all / is alive enough.” (from EN ROUTE TO THE SIXTH STATION, CHIHIRO COUNTS THE CLOUDS.) so tender, so honest, so sharp, so lovely. Natalie Wee is a bright & brilliant force of nature. fave poetry 2 likes Like Comment Viv (read.withviv) 133 reviews 20 followers Read February 1, 2023 no rating because I’m not a huge poetry reader and don’t think I was able to grasp majority of the poems. The ones I did understand, I did enjoy though! This collection of poems makes me want to read more poetry 🫶🏻 Poems I enjoyed: “Can You Speak English?” Self-Portrait as Monster Dating Sim In My Next Life as a Fruit Tree When My Grandmother Begins to Forget 2023 2 likes Like Comment kait 118 reviews 7 followers February 2, 2024 the formatting is... something! i had a hard time reading it, and even after re-reading poems had honestly no clue what they were trying to say. most of the poems seem to be about the same things. the funny titles didn't match how avant garde the poems were. i'm sorry natalie i loved your other poetry collection but this one didn't hit for me jail 2 likes Like Comment May Cho 166 reviews 97 followers September 25, 2023 If the greatest measure of devotion is to hunger without bite, let looking be a placeholder for a kinder want "fucking shit" – an actual I thing I exclaimed while reading this collection, in the sense that my brain is broken at how malleable words are beneath Natalie Wee's pen. So forget theories of sorrow & hellfire & brimstone at the final circle of the earth: if I must believe in anything, I choose this: my lover whispering, in my next life, I want to be the bird that rests on your branches – knowing the whole while in my next life, i want to be is already a complete sentence All at once tender, ravenous, reckless and considered, this collection disarmed me in the way Barbie Chang and Content Warning: Everything did and it was so, so glorious. As a sum, this collection balloons into a beautiful ode to the other. I particularly loved Natalie Wee's aubade to "diasporic darlings" and the poems scribed against the backdrop of pop culture references like Spirited Away and The Legend of Korra . we wake daily to arrive at a kinder fiction by surrendering the self to a new era. what must arrive. what must survive us. an hour, a pendulum admits, can last lifetimes, really, depending on how many you've lived. so perhaps alive at all is alive enough. favourites poetry read-in-2023 2 likes Like Comment Delaney 40 reviews September 15, 2023 Favorite poems: Sayang, Future-Proof b-n fall summer-reads 2 likes Like Comment emery 157 reviews 64 followers March 16, 2024 3.5 ⭐️ 2 likes Like Comment Ann Marie 35 reviews 2 followers March 23, 2022 This is a beautiful and haunting collection of poetry and prose. Natalie touches on her own diaspora, queerness, love of different forms, anti-Asian hate, rage, familial struggle and teachings, grief and other intersectional radical thoughts. Her talent to be able to translate all of these themes in a digestible and comforting way is outstanding. I really appreciate and love this book. I’ll always think about it and will definitely read it again. books-i-own 2 likes Like Comment Molly Duplaga 93 reviews 2 followers May 24, 2023 i honestly feel like i raced through this collection and maybe want to give it at least one more read through, though maybe perhaps i just wasn’t clicking with it. sometimes i’ll read a collection and i don’t find myself pulled in, but the more i think about it and the second time i read it i’m able to appreciate it more (i guess less about this collection and more about how i read poetry) BUT there were a lot of moments that i really enjoyed, and i appreciate how wee experimented with different formats. i love being able to find different meanings because you can read the poem in different ways based upon how the poet has formats their stanzas/lines (plus visually it’s just more fun). i also enjoyed wee’s pop-culture references (such as the legend of korra and the grandmaster of demonic cultivation/the untamed). even though those poems could still be meaningful without understanding the references, i liked it because i feel like i don’t always get those references because they are made to things that are more obscure/niche (or are these niche??). also in terms of content, the threads i picked up the most on were wee’s commentary of memory and family heritage, specifically how the memory of our parents/grandparents can set the stage for our own existence, as well as our own memories of them. then too i saw these ideas about memory being explored in poems about romantic (queer) love, but i think those poems held more wistfulness. ok so maybe writing this review made me realize how much i appreciated the content and craft of this collection! i hope more people give it a read, i picked it up because i saw it was nominated for a lammy. 2023 books-with-lilly poetry ...more 1 like Like Comment Lulu 624 reviews 26 followers July 1, 2022 What an ambitious and stunning collection of poetry, maybe my favourite that I've ever read? There was so much goodness in these pages, that I want to write an essay for every single one, on the virtues of Wee's words and craft on a whole. This weaves a tapestry of something beautiful, something queer and diasporic and precise and yet not afraid to be strange or unknowable. I liked the more experimental forms too, the poems that could be read three ways, or made up a crossword, or others like them. It was such a treat to be able to sample so many forms in one little book. I have a lot of feelings. The only downsides to this collection were that, for two reasons, I ended up having to stop and start my reading a lot. The first was because I was writing down snippets to remember and store, so I could return to them at a later date, so much did they touch me. The second was that, a few times, I would find myself inspired to my own poetry, something I haven't written in a long, long time. I'm really glad I found this poet. She is jaw-droppingly talented. Now I just have to keep hope alive that I can track down her out-of-print debut collection, because I need more of this in my life. books-read-in-2022 favourites lgbt ...more 1 like Like Comment Linda 645 reviews 34 followers July 5, 2022 Introspective and contemporary, with many modern pop culture references. There was a compelling quality to the poems Wee crafted. The poems explored a range of topics; immigration, queerness, selfhood, diaspora and mythology. Wee wields language like a shard of glass; sharp and reflective with a delicacy that doubles as strength. 2022-releases asian-lit lgbtqia ...more 1 like Like Comment Ellie Foster 150 reviews 1 follower May 3, 2023 I enjoyed this poetry collection. I took longer than usual to read it, as I wanted to savour every poem. There were some beautiful poems contained within it, but it didn't make it to 5 stars for me because some of the poems were not memorable for me. I can see how many of the poems would touch the hearts of many, and some of them certainly did for me. 1 like Like Comment Amanda Author 51 books 120 followers August 13, 2022 an utterly stunning collection. i want to take every poem and put it up on my wall to read over and over again. i'm in awe. The images are striking; Wee doesn't just passively observe nature, her words embody it. The work is visceral, connected to family, childhood, trauma, othering, blood, bone, popular culture. it's a gorgeous and brilliant work. [...] I ask the silver beneath passages//to reveal someplace I can mistake for light.//I ask new anthems to greet me with a jaw // soft enough to hold my name." Frequent Flyer Program poetry the-sealey-challenge-2022 1 like Like Comment Dessa 746 reviews October 1, 2022 full review forthcoming in the next issue of Arc Magazine 💅 2022 canadiana poems 1 like Like Comment elio 265 reviews 1 follower January 28, 2023 gay yearning ugh 1 like Like Comment Makena Horn 36 reviews November 8, 2023 1/5 This is tumblr poetry published. My poem about Taika Waititi is more enjoyable than majority of poems in this book. Taylor Swift doesn’t deserve to be compared to the writing in this book. 1 like Like Comment Mary 296 reviews 5 followers January 15, 2024 Gorgeous 1 like Like Comment Hannah Im 1,251 reviews 16 followers April 17, 2024 Beautiful poetry written so hauntingly and uniquely and yet also completely familiar to who I am and am not. re-read 1 like Like Comment feux d'artifice 882 reviews 11 followers July 21, 2022 A promising collection, with some poems i like more than others, as usual lol One of my faves was music theory: opus Def interested to read anything else Natalie Wee has to offer! 1 like Like Comment Annelise 111 reviews April 20, 2023 The magic of poetry❤️❤️❤️ so many of those were incredible, and makes poetry so important. I'm trying to find ones that really reach me and even though they're all beautiful in their own way, finding something that touches you has such a special feeling. I can only recommend this one to everyone 1 like Like Comment Kelly D. 882 reviews 26 followers August 2, 2022 Fuckkkkk this blew me away. Beautiful and haunting, it even includes poems about Legend of Korra and Spirited Away. Some of my favorite poems were Can You Speak English?; An Abridged History; Self-Portrait as Monster Dating Sim; I Always Bet On Losing Dogs; En Route To The Sixth Station, Chihiro Counts The Clouds; etc. Some favorite lines: we were shored clean of fathers each lonely syllable a stillborn a man wearing a bullet for a face, convinced a girl/is the width of his fist. I return uncorpsed & say Ahma, a man hurt me/she says it's over, baobei, & looks/beyond the bruises mottling my neck/to the breath in my mouth write is to cradle myth/& memory both & emerge with the fact/of your flesh How much of the world must we pass through to arrive at ourselves? 1 like Like Comment seo 108 reviews 96 followers January 16, 2024 this was one of my most favorite books, if not THE favorite, of 2023. even though it’s a collection of poems, wee has a way of slicing right through you with her selection of words. in “beast at every threshold,” wee dances between familial hauntings and cultural histories as well as more intimate hungers and broader griefs. her poetry deals with the intersections of queerness, diaspora and loss, situating the body as a site of violence for both good and bad. more specifically, she makes that queerness visceral and tangible with her sharp poetry. for example, the poem, “skin hunger, with waves”, has a line that says, “but your sharp kiss was a promise / i failed because the body is a question / only touch can answer.” the poet shies away from the intimacy of queer love and the idea of embracing but they are drawn right back to it because they are hungry for something good of their own. there’s another poem called “asami writes to korra for three years” where wee writes, “your daily return to the knifepoint of a burning city, planting loyal bones in the earth to beg for those faces the soil mothers.” like! wow! as for diaspora, one poem i loved dearly was the poem, “can you speak english?” wee writes, “haunting, the border agent called me, instead of huan ting. a single exhale dislocating phantom from girl.” in that same poem, wee also writes, “how a mother tongue becomes that which she guards alone…& now i wear my mother’s skull, sour the native tongue with seethe. you, haunting. where are you from?” you get it, i love this poetry book with a passion. i will leave you with one last quote from the poem, “in defense of my roommate’s dog.” “once, i lost myself & found an instrument of forgetting, let someone’s lover fashion from the ocean of my solitude a shoreline for their sins to wash up on… maybe the trade-off for resurrection is shame vast enough to kill us & that becomes another execution to tongue our way out of.” for-school poetry Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? 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Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk by Legs McNeil | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $11.99 Rate this book Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk Legs McNeil , Gillian McCain 4.19 34,105 ratings 1,507 reviews Want to read Kindle $11.99 Rate this book A Time Out and Daily News Top Ten Book of the Year upon its initial release, Please Kill Me is the first oral history of the most nihilist of all pop movements. Iggy Pop, Danny Fields, Dee Dee and Joey Ramone, Malcom McLaren, Jim Carroll, and scores of other famous and infamous punk figures lend their voices to this definitive account of that outrageous, explosive era. From its origins in the twilight years of Andy Warhol's New York reign to its last gasps as eighties corporate rock, the phenomenon known as punk is scrutinized, eulogized, and idealized by the people who were there and who made it happen. Genres Music Nonfiction History Punk Biography Pop Culture Art ...more 488 pages, Paperback First published January 1, 1996 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Legs McNeil 15 books 182 followers Roderick Edward "Legs" McNeil (b. 1956 in Cheshire, Connecticut), is the co-founder and a writer for Punk Magazine. He is also a former senior editor at Spin Magazine, and the founder and editor of Nerve magazine (print only; 1992). At the age of 18, disgusted with the hippie movement that seemed to be going nowhere, McNeil gathered with two high school friends, John Holmstrom and Ged Dunn, and decided to create "some sort of media thing" for a living. They settled upon a magazine, assuming that people would "think [they were] cool and hang out with [them]" as well as "give [them] free drinks". The name "Punk" was decided upon because "it seemed to sum up...everything...obnoxious, smart but not pretentious, absurd, ironic, and things that appealed to the darker side". In Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk, McNeil said that the magazine was inspired by two chief influences: Harvey Kurtzman and The Dictators' debut album The Dictators Go Girl Crazy!, indicating that the magazine was started strictly so that its creators could "hang out with the Dictators". Nicknamed "Resident Punk" in the magazine, he claims (to much dispute) that he was the first person (along with co-founder John Holmstrom) to have coined the term "punk" to describe a certain type of music, fashion, and attitude. He says he came up with the name punk because Telly Savalas used the line "You lousy punk!" on the show "Kojak." According to McNeil: "After four years of doing Punk magazine, and basically getting laughed at, suddenly everything was "punk," so I quit the magazine." Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.19 34,105 ratings 1,507 reviews 5 stars 16,432 (48%) 4 stars 10,772 (31%) 3 stars 4,749 (13%) 2 stars 1,280 (3%) 1 star 872 (2%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,506 reviews Mike DaRonco 67 reviews 4 followers May 5, 2019 Man, Lou Reed was such a dick. 354 likes 2 comments Like Comment Jessica 597 reviews 3,326 followers September 30, 2007 I read most of this one night while working the graveyard shift at a very institutional group home in the real methy part of SE Portland. I was the only person awake and not severely mentally-ill in the whole building, except for the parole guys, who I was pretty sure were faking it, or at least greatly exaggerating. There were these big sliding glass doors where of course the methhead psychos lurking in the dark could watch me mopping, all lit up, but I couldn't see out, and most nights I'd be really on edge and ready to run for the parole guys' room if any of the scary noises I heard outside turned out to be some twisted someone smashing through the glass and grabbing my spleen as an ingredient to use in his basement meth lab. Anyway, that one night I didn't have time to worry about getting chopped into pieces by violent, spun-out hicks, because I was too busy drinking Vanilla Coke after Vanilla Coke in the office, not mopping the place and absorbing (naturally) this very absorbing oral history of the seminal New York City punk scene. The best part by far -- and I wish I had my copy still, so I could quote directly -- was this desciption of Richard Hell, who'd rip all those holes in his shirt and then go around all moony-eyed and moaning, "Oh, poor me, my life is so hard, here I am, with all these holes in my shirt!" You'll have to find the book to get the actual verbatim, which is better phrased, but if you don't have time for the whole book (though you should make the time), that's the passage that brilliantly sums up the gist of that whole glorious punk rock movement. From an educational standpoint, this book really made me appreciate the ladies who intervened in the years after the era it described. Not that things ever got great, but reading this paints a pretty horrifying picture, from a female perspective. With the exception of Patti Smith, and to some extent Debbie Harry, the early punk scene was pretty damn limiting if you were a woman. Basically if you were amazingly gorgeous you were Bebe Buell, and you were considered a "muse," which meant you'd pick some hot rock star and be a highly coveted, specialized, and respected version of what most of the other girls around seem to have been considered during this time, which was interchangeable fuck-hole groupies. It might've been worth it to see these bands live in their heyday at CBGB's, but I don't think being a lady hanging around that scene sounds very fulfilling. This book makes for an interesting contrast with his newer porn oral history, from a feminist perspective. I mean, I'd rather be Marilyn Chambers any day of the week than most of these punk chicks. This is not to say it was bad for all of them, but that's one of the impressions this book left me with. In any case, it's a great read, and anyone who cares at all about classic punk has doubtless read it already, or should have. groups-of-people here-is-new-york substance-related-disorders ...more 144 likes Like Comment Noel 11 reviews 4 followers January 12, 2008 I absolutely inhaled this. Legs' view is that punk was a strictly American phenomenon with its roots in The Doors, The Velvet Underground, The MC5, & The Stooges, and that the British got it completely wrong and basically killed the movement. And he presents that argument well. Pretty much everyone in the book appears to be exactly what I already thought: * Jim Morrison was often drunk and frequently terrible live, and wrote really bad high school-grade poetry. * David Bowie was a rather uptight guy until he fell in with the New York crowd. * The MC5 were phony revolutionaries, using it as a marketing gimmick. * Lou Reed is not, as you will see constant reference to, a scat-munching asshole. No, Lou Reed is a scat-munching douche. * Patti Smith was a truly creepy girl with a tenuous grip on reality, who stalked the stars of the underground scene until they invited her in. (OK, I didn't know that before, but FUUUUUUUUck!) * Everybody was SO. FUCKED. UP. I can't BELIEVE that more of them did not die... * Almost everyone in the NY punk scene turned tricks at one time or another to make ends meet. * Musicians are assholes, or so goes the refrain from the label A&R guy that signed a lot of these bands. * Of course, so are label execs. * Despite being just as fucked up, selfish, and self-absorbed as everyone else in the book Iggy Pop is the only guy that comes out looking good. I'm not even that much of a fan, but it's hard to hate Iggy. So, highly recommended, is what I'm getting at here... 118 likes Like Comment matt 159 reviews 16 followers December 31, 2012 As an avid reader (and subsequent loather) of "punk rock" history, I was excited to get into this. And although I didn't get exactly what I was looking for, it's certainly worth a read for those who can stomach it. I can't claim to not like oral histories having only previously read the "People's Oral History" by Zinn which is a blood orange compared to Wayne Kramers' red delicious. That being said, I found this book far too gossipy and "sceney" making me think that cliques in music existed long before the internet came and quantified it for the world to see/read. You fucked Johnny thunders? Great! He vomited on your couch!!? NO WAY! For those who want the shortened version, I'll sum it up. Patti Smith was a delusional bitch. Lou Reed had tons of gay sex and was mean to everyone. Dee Dee Ramone was a prostitute and hated the rest of his band. The Dead Boys and The Heartbreakers did a lot of drugs. Iggy Pop manipulated people for smack. The New York Dolls were popular for a year, tops. MC5 were sexist and full of shit. A few people OD'ed, and the Sex Pistols came along and ruined the fun for everyone. Sound good? Kind of. But a few major gripes here. This book, first and foremost should be about the history of NEW YORK punk. Or "people Legs McNeil was friends with." It is embarrassing that the Talking Heads were completely excluded from this because the writers thought that they were "yuppies." How you can talk about Blondie, Television and Patti Smith and completely leave out David Byrne (for better or worse) to me seems ludicrous. It's the same with the British movement. Malcolm Mclaran is of course given his due here but the raging prejudice put against the UK bands ("The Damned were posers! The Clash didn't know what they were talking about!") seems more like territorial squabbling than actual criticism. Perhaps this book serves as an interesting antidote to the idea that it was "better in the old days" although I'm sure that the author (and the few that survived) probably believes otherwise. It certainly doesn't seem that way. Too many knife fights and junkies shooting up in the bathroom, thanks. Yes, Iggy might have been electrifying rolling around in glass but nihilism, as it turns out, isn't all its cracked up to be. 45 likes Like Comment Madeline 782 reviews 47.8k followers April 30, 2021 The oral history of this book really shouldn't work - this book is literally just 400+ pages of interview segments, with no narrator or other third-person perspective to give us historical context or background information. This is, pure and simple, a story about the rise and fall of the punk movement told by the people who created it, witnessed it, and experienced the brutal destruction it wreaked on the lives of the ones who devoted their lives to it. Real credit goes to Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain, who had the daunting task of cutting and pasting pieces from thousands of hours of interviews and crafting it into a narrative. This book is essentially one giant interview, but it flows like a novel. The only thing preventing this from being a five-star book was entirely on me - you have to really know your stuff when it comes to this era of music in order to fully follow what's going on, and a lot of the names that pop up here didn't mean anything to me (and like I said, there's no narrator or anything to clue you in, so you're on your own if you don't know who somebody is or why they're important), so some of the important moments that get recounted were kind of lost on me - for example, after having Bebe Buell interviews interspersed throughout the entire book, at the very end she casually drops that she's Liv Tyler's mom and my mind was blown . But at the same time, I don't want anyone to shy away from this book just because they're worried they won't recognize all of the famous names. In fact, it would almost be more fun to go into this knowing nothing about the punk movement in America, because the book is really that masterful - even if I started out not knowing who, say, Danny Fields was, the characters all drift in and out of the narrative that the editors weave, and everyone is so memorable it's not too hard to keep the huge cast of characters straight in your head. And now, just because I liked it so much, here's my absolute favorite bit of the book, from Ari Delon (illegitimate son of model/groupie Nico and Alain Delon): "When my mother died, Alan Wise took me to the probate registry in order to inherit the royalties, and the debts. When I got my mum's royalties for the firs time I spent the money on smack. I was hooked. I was taking a gram a day. So I called my psychiatrist doctor in Paris and I spent two weeks in the hospital. I got off heroin. Then I got a check from the Velvet Underground and bought a ticket for Raroia, Tahiti. I was taking Valium, pot, and beer and I got beaten up, then arrested, and someone tried to kill me with a harpoon. Back in New York I went out of my mind. I spent winter out on the street; rescuers found me in the river Hudson. Then on Staten Island I fell down a chute, fifteen meters, into an old flour mill. I now have steel pins in my feet. Workmen found me and said, 'Are you crazy?!!' Maybe I was. I had no money, no passport, nothing. Someone told the cops, who took me to a psychiatric hospital. They gave me five brain electric shocks. A friend got me out and took me back to Paris. I had two months of treatment in psychiatric hospitals there and then in the south of France. Now I'm trying to get back into myself. I'm not yet strong enough, but one day, when I am, I will confront my father, and I will do it for the sake of my mother." Holy shit! This is the first and last time we hear from Ari Delon in the entire book, and I am obsessed . Like, not to diminish any of the other people in this book and their equally crazy stories of drugs, misadventures, death, and (sometimes) redemption, but...where is this guy's book?! history-nonfiction 38 likes Like Comment Erika 375 reviews 47 followers June 26, 2015 Things I learned from this book... -Everyone involved in the early American punk scene was one big incestuous relationship. Everyone had sex with everyone else at one point or another. Male, female, transsexuals, johns, etc. -Everyone was on drugs. How did punk even get started? I mean really, it amazes me that punk even remotely got off it's feet, everyone was so messed up. -Patti Smith still kind of freaks me out, but you have to respect her determination. -Lou Reed is a douchebag. -Even completely drugged out of his mind, I still love Iggy. He's so perfectly strange. -They consider Jim Morrison to be a forerunner of punk because of his stumbling drunk performances seemed to be a fuck you to the buttoned up squares going to the shows to be "cool". I love the Doors and Jim to a fault, but let's get real. Those performances were less fuck you's and more I'm wasted out of my mind and don't know what is going on. But hey, it gave Iggy motivation too do the Stooges so I'll take it. -Nancy Spungen went to England to clean herself up. Well that worked out well. -to quote William S. Burroughs "I always thought punk was someone who took it up the ass". I find it interesting and a little amusing that this was the term that was used to coin this movement. I respect that they took a derogatory term and flipped it on it's head though. It's very punk of them. -No one liked Steven Tyler. Well, that isn't really new, but it needs repeating. -Malcolm McLaren is still one of the worst things that happened to punk. I'm a little torn on my feelings on this book. It was incredibly interesting, but less an "oral history of punk" and more of an oral history of the absolute sex and drugged fueled insanity that was NY/Detroit punk. How the albums that came out were even remotely decent is shocking, much less as game changing as they were. It was interesting to see the NY scene's take on the origins of punk, obviously they lay claim to the title for themselves rather than the UK scene. I see it as more of feeding off each other, they both used the same nihilistic anarchy and general fuck off feeling put out through simple but heavy guitar riffs. They both brought music away from the heavily synthesized embellishment that came out of the late 60s/early 70s rock and took it back to the basic 50s rock with a twist. It was garage rock with a flair of fuck you. I guess a majority of the hate towards UK punk seems to come at the heels of the fashion statement that came along with them. Like so many other genres, people latched on to a fad to follow and then they lost their way with the music. It doesn't make [some of] those bands any less influential under all of that crap though. Anyway. I loathed to enjoy most of this book. While the antics of the scene had it's moments of enjoyment, the fact that the same scene played a part in destroying so many lives makes it hard to read about it. They did it to themselves, yes, but that doesn't make it any less sad to see how they ended up. They definitely lived the sex, drugs & rock n roll lifestyle full tilt though and created amazingness in their wake. No matter whether it was the NY or the UK scene who started punk, they created something amazing and in turn influenced so many others to create even more. Now I need to find a book on the Cali punk scene to finish my journey of punk off. 2015-reading-challenge 35 likes Like Comment Satyros Brucato 94 reviews 7 followers October 5, 2014 There's a lot to like about this book. But is it a "definitive history of punk rock"? Fuck no. Not even close. Although PLEASE KILL ME features tons of great material from the people who were there at Ground Zero during the Factory and CBGBs scenes, I wound up fucking pissed at this book's contention that punk began with the Velvets and ended with the deaths of Sid Vicious and Johnny Thunders. Bull fucking shit. There was zero mention of the West Coast scene (which had already birthed the Runaways, Dead Kennedys Black Flag, Christian Death and X - among others - by the time Sid Vicious kicked it), the Washington scene (home of Bad Brains and Minor Threat, among many others) or the Australian scene (where Radio Birdman sounded like Television crossed with the Ramones before either band had released an album to influence them). Not even a nod to the Plasmatics, who were part of the same NYC underground, much less to the No Wave scene that produced Swans, Sonic Youth, Suicide and so forth. No Devo, no B-52s, no Grace Jones, not even a breath about Motorhead, who combined punk and metal back before most "classic" punk bands even existed. No indeedy - the authors assert that punk lived and died with the original CBGBs crowd, and that everything that came afterward was either cheap trashy spectacle or "corporate rock." Bonus irony points: The authors go on several rants about the "integrity" of old-school punk; the book, however, is one long chronicle of stupid kids who live like rock stars on massive amounts of money they essentially scam from their major-label record companies. They buy cars, houses, and tons of dope with that money and then bitch and moan about how no one understands the "purity of their art." Fucking bullshit. Ian McKaye has more "artistic integrity" in his little finger than the New York Dolls displayed in their entire career. Like I said, there's a lot to appreciate in this first-hand account of punk's roots. But it's nowhere close to telling even THAT story, much less the story of where punk went from the late '70s onward. The contention that "punk died" with Sid and Johnny is as pathetic as it is inaccurate. Essentially, PLEASE KILL ME is Legs McNeil's chronicle of the scene he and his friends enjoyed - an aud lang syne for a bygone era and all that crap. The fact that the authors end their collection of memories with a snide backhand at Nirvana ("Nevermind") just underscores their dismissal of everything beyond Patti Smith's initial retirement from the scene. And that is VERY far from the end of punk's history. So yeah, sure Legs - go ahead and tell me again how Stiv Bators somehow possessed more punk artistic integrity than Joan Jett or Ian McKaye. And then go fuck right off back to your precious memories and leave the history-writing to other people. music subcultures 28 likes Like Comment Laura 385 reviews 594 followers December 1, 2015 If you love gossipy oral histories, this is the book for you. It's probably better if you're familiar with the music, but that's not a prerequisite. And it's often hysterically funny, depending on who's being interviewed -- Richard Lloyd and Richard Hell both made me laugh out loud a number of times. One of the best parts: several people are talking about how Jim Morrison was an 18-carat prick, and Ray Manzarek comes along saying, "Jim was a shaman." I'll let Danny Fields have the last word on Mr. Mojo Risin', as he said it far better than I ever could: "Patti Smith was a poet. I think she elevated rock & roll to literature. Bob Dylan elevated it. Morrison's wasn't poetry. It was garbage disguised as teenybopper. It was good rock & roll for thirteen-year-olds. Or eleven-year-olds . . . . There has got to be a reason why women like Nico and Gloria Stavers, the editor of 16 Magazine, fell so deeply in love with him, because he was essentially an abusive man to women. But it sure wasn't his poetry. I've got to tell you, it wasn't his poetry. He had a big dick. That was probably it." 21 likes Like Comment Baal Of 1,243 reviews 61 followers May 25, 2022 This was a fascinating book giving an uncompromising view of the nasty underbelly that spawned punk rock. There were some unbelievably horrible people, for example Lou Reed who was an utterly despicable asshole (and yet I still like a good chunk of the Velvet Underground's music), and the New York Dolls who were pretty much just sexist jerks who wanted access to lots of women. There were a lot of deaths, which isn't surprising considering the vast amounts of drug and alcohol abuse that was going on. And the sheer amount of destructive and self-destructive behavior was pretty over-whelming, but it makes for fascinating reading. One note I should make, this book again goes against the claims of that arrogant, obnoxious professor of the history of rock and roll class I took at UT, who said that punk rock was an anti-gay movement. Nothing could be farther from the truth given the substantial representation of gay, lesbian, and bi-sexual people who were formative of the events in this book. A subset of punk later became co-opted and turned into racist/sexist/homophobic crap, but that was not the key identifier for punk. The authors should be commended for being able to take all these interviews and build a cohesive, if occasionally contradictory, narrative with an actual arc. In the end section they actually go over the process of creating an oral history, and I found that section illuminating. hamburger vomit-soup 20 likes Like Comment Cynthia 82 reviews 4 followers September 8, 2009 Punk rockers would make terrible dinner party guests. They will break your good china and roll around in the shards. They will defacate on the dessert. They will shoot up in your bathroom. They will hit on your grandmother. They also should make for interesting reading and, for the most part, the book delivered. I learned: *Nico drank good wine. *Phil Spector drank bad wine. *Nancy Spungen was advised to go to England to clean up and kick her serious drug habit. That's where she met Sid Vicious. *Even though Nancy was very disliked, everyone thought it was terrible that the police stopped investigating her murder after Sid died. Many people thought their drug dealer actually did it. *The Stooges got the IRS to stop bothering them about back taxes by explaining they were drug addicts and, therefore, bad with money. *The Sex Pistols were afraid to meet the Ramones after their show in England because they thought they would beat them up. *Debbie Harry thought the record companies gave them lots of drugs, not because they liked them, but to keep them compliant. *And, best of all, Iggy Pop, known for his terrible habit and dangerous excess had an ephiphany. He realized he "was the product". He cleaned up and he started saving his money. That's right. One of the most famous punks of all time, saved his life, by replacing nihilism with captalism. Isn't that fantstic? Overall, interesting. I was disappointed that this book is billed the history of punk rock and really only covered New York punk and English punk as it pertained to the New York scene. They barely touched on the key differences between the two. (New York being a prodcut of the art scene and England being a product of working class hopelessness.) The LA scene wasn't touched and other East Coast punk bands of great importance, such as Black Flag, didn't get a mention. 18 likes Like Comment BAM can’t even go to the gym without going to the ER 1,962 reviews 431 followers May 15, 2017 4.5 stars just not a 5 because I don't think a reread will affect me the same way Little did I realize that the punk movement started as early as 1968 with the Velvet Underground and amphetamine usage. Thus begins Please Kill Me, a compilation of interviews with some of the most influential talent in the industry and on the streets through the early 90s. Photos throughout The book is broken into chapters that follow a timeline that flow through music progression and drug prevalence. I'm seriously surprised more of these people didn't die during the early years, although many were dead by the re authorization. The focus is on American punk, which, unbeknownst to me, is where the movement began, about fifteen years before England. There is a similar book on England's movement, and it is on my to-read list if anyone is interested. In this book only the Sex Pistols are discussed. I am ashamed to say that I've had to create a list of bands with whom I'm not familiar so I can Spotify the music. These bands, except Patti Smith, were men, and were self-destructive. Their behavior was off the charts, but most were extremely artistic. How they attracted so many women in such a decrepit state is beyond me. I guess like attracts like. This read was an absolute revelation. I'll never listen to music the same way. borrowed british-nonfiction gilmore ...more 17 likes Like Comment Marie-Therese 412 reviews 186 followers May 28, 2020 Drugs, drugs, drugs. Sex, sex, sex. Violence and vomit and just a little bit of music. Virtually no analysis and not much beyond "first we did this, and then we did this, and then we went there, and we were so stoned, man." What might have had punch and charm if embedded in an historically-informed narrative just drags interminably here, as one after the other rather sad, sordid character races to a tragic and untimely end. The actual oral documentation is valuable and worthy of being recorded somewhere but it does not make a very cohesive or illuminating book. Having just read Arlette Farge's magisterial The Allure of the Archives ', a book dealing with 18th century criminal interviews and judicial records which cautions against taking oral sources at face value, not because they're unreliable, but because we are as we "listen" to them without context or a broader sense of how they fit into individual's entire lives and their place in the world, I wondered what a careful historian might make of all this material. Certainly something deeper and more engaging than this. drugs history music ...more 16 likes Like Comment courtney 19 reviews 12 followers March 16, 2007 i learned not to leave a member of the dead boys alone with a guinea pig. 16 likes Like Comment Thomas 15 reviews 3 followers December 27, 2008 when i was a kid and i would whine about not getting new shoes or some stupid shit my mom would sing that old Rolling Stones song, "You can't always get what you want" only she wouldn't sing it she would talk it like it was some ancient wisdom from the lips of Plato inserting pauses to let the complicated cadence of his words sink in, "but if you try some time...you just might find... you get what you need." It always pissed me off and made me embarrassed that my mom thought she was being cool quoting some stupid ass song by some guy with a drippy face. Guess what mom...that song was about heroin. bad music often good sometimes great noise made by terrible people. kick out the jams 13 likes Like Comment Ben Winch Author 4 books 383 followers May 26, 2023 Am I the only one who thinks Legs McNeill is a pretentious tosser and the omnipresence of the so-called 'blank generation' is the next-worst thing to the previous media-takeover by the boomers? The amount of marketing/repackaging that's gone into this shit has just about reached utter absurdity, accelerated by the internet beyond anything anyone could have dreamed of. And yeah, some of it was good. But I'm supposed to care about who sucked Stiv Bators' dick when his band is maybe 50% the intensity of its obvious primary influence The Stooges and I'm just not big on dick-sucking stories in the first place? Added to which, this squabbling over what's 'real' punk and what isn't is just not seemly in a guy who must be pushing 60. Yeah, I agree, the Pistols and The Clash are overrated, just like all the bands you're eulogising, dickhead . You ask me, Raw Power shits all over anything from NYC in the 70s except Suicide, and The Saints' I'm Stranded is the equal of most of it. Besides which, me, I'm a believer in the punk spirit , which can't be confined to one place or time. Legs, even if you and your buddies did discover it (and personally I'd say Iggy got there before you did), that's all you did. Planted your flag at the summit. Named it (where Iggy just danced around on top of it). But you want that name to last, you can't confine it to a few years in some shithole in the Bowery in the 70s. Yeah, it's been misappropriated, annexed by alien forces, but you gotta live with it, let it evolve. Me, I like the word. I hope it lasts. But it might just be that even you and your drug-fucked cronies don't know exactly what it's all about. Let it go, Legs. Move on. music problematic 10 likes Like Comment Lynx 198 reviews 93 followers October 24, 2017 I've read this book many times before and will often pick it up and reread chunks here and there. It is simply the best book you will ever find on the birth of punk rock. Everyone who was in the scene adds fascinating, fun and often outrageous stories you won't find elsewhere. From musicians, poets, artists, groupies, friends, management.... Legs McNeil & Gillian McCain knew where to go to get the goods. Super informative and so much fun. Very highly recommend! non-fiction rock-n-roll 10 likes Like Comment Troy 300 reviews 153 followers March 2, 2015 After the horrendous disappointment that was American Hardcore , I decided to pick up this book, an old favorite, to see if my younger self was delusional. Maybe this book, which I loved so much, was a steaming pile of dog shit? So I picked it up, trepidatious, and started randomly. And I was hooked. After careening through many chapters and completely losing myself in the crazy panoply of deranged and contradictory voices, I stopped reading and started from the beginning. And read the book straight through, except for work, food, and sleep. It was better than I remembered. This is oral history done right. Several different voices will sketch out the same story, and the stories are always great, and the various characters nearly always disagree about what happened and how it happened and sometimes even who it happened to. The book is catty and funny, and full of great freaks who are out of their mind, but in a way that makes you want to emulate them; in a way that made me want to throw my desk through the window and go start a band and go shoot dope, but then comes the end of the book, which is extremely sad, and switches gears, as we now follow a large chunk of the endlessly fascinating and destructive people spiral into death. So then I went and listened to several of the bands mentioned in the book, from Nico to The Dead Boys to Television to The Stooges. And they were fucking great. And still are. history read-in-2015 9 likes Like Comment julia ☆ [owls reads] 1,812 reviews 379 followers August 12, 2022 People are so messy and they make such beautiful art. nonfiction owned 9 likes Like Comment Michael Jandrok 189 reviews 347 followers April 5, 2019 Sometime in the late 1960s, a bad mojo was beginning to well up within the ranks of the flower power movement. There were quite a few disaffected outsiders that seemed to have figured out that the revolution was not destined to last, that it was in fact quickly becoming a sham. As corporate America began to swallow and repackage the '60s, some of the folks left behind by the peace and love generation began to vent their anger and shape a new vision. Proto-punk bands like the MC5 and The Stooges started to build upon the foundation that had been laid by the Velvet Underground. Their music was raw and violent in its presentation, sonically threadbare and unpretentious. By the mid-1970s, a true scene began to happen in New York City that would serve to galvanize and give a true voice to this disaffected generation, a scene that would take its cues directly from the violent and sleazy underground that it dwelled in. Co-author Legs McNeil was a founding member of the seminal fanzine that helped give the nascent scene its name and identity. "Punk" magazine was truly a groundbreaker, giving vital press to bands who would have otherwise gotten precious little exposure in the mainstream rock fanzines. "Please Kill Me" covers New York punk from its birth in the mid-60s at Andy Warhol's Factory all the way to its eventual death in the late '70s, as corporate America once again begins to catch the wave and numerous members of the original first wave of punk begin to burn out from the excessive and dangerous lifestyles that they embraced. McNeil and co-author Gillian McCain present their material in the form of interviews with a vast number of the people who were there on the front lines, experiencing and inventing the punk scene as it developed. Johnny Thunders, Iggy Pop, Debbie Harry, The Ramones, Richard Hell, Danny Fields....they are all heard from here along with a host of groupies, drug dealers, hookers, agents and managers, club owners, and other scene hangers-on. Overall, it's a great book, and the interview format really works well. The book is worth its price just on the strength of the Iggy stories alone, but there is a ton of great source material here covering a lot of ground. it's a weighty tome at 500+ pages, but it reads fast and the stories never drag. I might have wished for a slightly larger photo section, but that's a minor gripe at best. Readers must make note that this book covers primarily the development of 1970s-era New York punk, with a side detour to England to witness the birth of the Sex Pistols and British punk. Punk did indeed die at the end of the '70s, and it has of course been resurrected and reinvented by succeeding generations. But if you want to know where the whole thing began, you have to get this book. Coda: I pulled this out to reread it after I had recently made my way through Mickey Leigh’s “I Slept With Joey Ramone.” The distillation of New York punk rock is made crystal clear in these interviews. That so many subcultures could coalesce to create the movement was a small miracle in and of itself. The music itself was almost secondary to the boiling vat of street poets and posers and prostitutes and junk dealers (and users) that populate these pages. Add to that stew the burgeoning LGBT movement and it was the perfect setup for raw, uncompromising, real music made at ground level. The stuff that came later, like hardcore and crossover and grunge…...all of that owes a debt to these misfits that dared to compose a musical statement of what their lives were really like. Don’t get me wrong, I love a ton of the music and artists that came after….but this was the true genesis, the bedrock foundation from which sprang all manner of wayward spawn. This is one of the few truly essential books on punk rock that you should own if you have any interest at all in the subject. Tell ‘em that Iggy sent ya. 7 likes Like Comment Caleb 119 reviews 4 followers March 31, 2019 The title kinda speaks to how I feel after reading this book. I know, I know. It's not really fair to go there, but man is this book a real piece of work. I mean, it starts off pretty cool, and has some interesting stories from time to time. It just gets old and depressing when well over half the book is just variations on how trashed so and so was and what stupid thing they did because of it. It's like reliving every inane conversation I've ever had with my old college roommates or the people I hung out with in my early to mid twenties. There is a reason I don't have those conversations anymore. I can't say the book is all bad though. I mean, you have some moments that are kinda interesting if you like a particular band. The stuff at the beginning about the Velvet Underground was cool. Iggy Pop had his moments too and I do like Television and Patti Smith enough to find some moments of interest in their stories. And there were some talks with and about Jerry Nolan near the end that just about had me in tears. At the same time though, I hate how much respect I've lost for groups and people I do like. So many of them come across as total assholes or so pretentious it's sickening in this book. Lou Reed and most of the Ramones for sure. Richard Hell to an extent. And Patti Smith just sounds like every teenage girl who wants to be edgy and different that I've ever met. And that hurts when you like a band but find you have no respect for the people in it. To be fair though, the vast majority of this book is based on interviews and recollections from groupies, photographers and other hangers on around the bands. A few members did make some time for actual interviews for the book, though I get the impression that those are the ones that didn't have much going on at the time. The ones that do just so happen to be represented in the book with snippets of interviews they gave in other places, all of which is credited in the back of the book. I understand that these other people have a story to tell too, but I just don't feel like there is enough told from the side of the bands to make this a totally fair look at the history (arguments could be made for how much of the English scene is glossed over here too, but then I'd never stop). I dunno, I really wanted to enjoy this book, but now I feel like I should have seen this disappointment coming. I mean, I'm not oblivious to what the scene was like. I just thought there would be more than sex and drugs and rock and roll. There really isn't though. Just a lot of sad and sometimes pathetic people that gained a bit more notoriety than they probably expected before self-destructing. Oh, and also, a final gripe. That cast of characters section in the back is kinda annoying. It turns into a bit of name dropping rather than acknowledging those who are seen or mentioned regularly. There are big name people that only get the briefest of mentions in the book getting nice, big descriptions while lesser people that actually gave interviews for the book are left out completely. There are also a couple cause of death notes that totally contradict what was said earlier in the book. Get your facts straight if you're going to do this kind of thing, guys. 8 likes Like Comment Meredith 6 reviews 10 followers May 15, 2007 i loved this book. i picked it up on a whim, thinking "hm, i don't really know enough about punk," and i couldn't put it down. (which became amusing: what's LESS punk than opting out of a crazy fun party on a friday night to stay in and read a book about punk?) the book is compiled entirely of excerpts from interviews with all the people who were involved in the New York punk scene. Leggs McNeil, the author, was one of the founders of Punk! magazine, and was actually the person who came up with the term 'punk' to begin with. the structure of the book is the best part; there isn't a single word added in by the authors. they took interviews over the years and then from them pieced together a chronological account of the evolution of punk from its origins in the mid-60s in the andy warhol scene with the velvet underground, up through the heyday of new york punk at CBGBs, and finally through to its meltdown as the music went corporate and everyone started dropping left and right from herion addictions (on a side note, if you want a reason not to do smack, read this book and you'll be convinced). it's like one long chat over coffee the night after an amazing show: just stories from everyone involved. gossip, sex, drugs, music, love, prostitution (dee dee ramone hustled guys! a fun fact for your next dinner party), fights, record deals... the whole 9. the interviewees include iggy pop, angie bowie, william burroughs, all the ramones, danny fields, bebe buell, patti smith, richard hell, and everyone you never knew was involved. you'll end up knowing all kinds of crap about punk, but mostly having loved the book. favorites 8 likes Like Comment Rafał Hetman Author 2 books 965 followers March 7, 2020 "Please kill me” to książka o historii punka, w której hasło „sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll” odarte jest całkowicie z jakiegokolwiek romantyzmu - kuszący mit staje się w niej rozczarowującą, bezideową rzeczywistością, a idole śmiesznymi ludźmi. Najbardziej szkoda mi Patti Smith. Autorzy książki, McNeil i McCain, zrezygnowali ze zwyczajnego pisania o punku, nie mamy w książce narracji, autorskich komentarzy, jest natomiast wielogłosowa opowieść, której autorami są członkowie punkowych kapel, producenci i osoby, które były częścią punkowego środowiska – książka składa się wyłącznie z ich wypowiedzi (McNeil pojawia się w książce, ale nie jako autor, bardziej jako bohater wydarzeń). A więc jest prawie jak u Swietłany Aleksijewicz – otrzymujemy polifoniczy obraz wydarzeń. Co jest niezwykle ciekawe, bo to oznacza, że jedną historię, jedno wydarzenie opisuje kilku bohaterów, którzy widzą daną sceną z kilku różnych perspektyw. Wartość takiej metody prowadzenia opowieści ujawnia się najlepiej wtedy, kiedy wersje wydarzeń poszczególnych bohaterów różnią się od siebie lub kiedy to samo wydarzenie jest oceniane przez bohaterów w odmienny sposób. Czytelnik ma wtedy okazję sam wyrobić sobie zdanie na temat opisywanego wydarzenia – służą mu do tego bezpośrednie relacje bohaterów książki, a nie tak jak w przypadku tradycyjnej narracji, jedna, najbardziej prawdopodobna wersja, zlepiona przez autora. Z tego względu ta książka mogłaby być świetnym materiałem dla studentów dziennikarstwa lub przyszłych reporterów, na podstawie którego można byłoby zorganizować zajęcia z prawdy w reportażu. Forma tej książki, czyli zbiór wypowiedzi bohaterów, sprawia, że czytelnik dostaje do ręki opowieść bez retuszu (w tradycyjnym reportażu autor może wygładzić kanty opowieści, okrzesać słowa, nadać wypowiedziom szerszy kontekst), być może bliższą prawdzie. Ale jest to prawda, która mnie osobiście rozczarowała. „Please kill me” to bardziej opowieść o ćpaniu i ruchaniu, a mniej o muzyce. Przeciekawa, bo w rolach ćpunów i kochanków są Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, Joey Ramone i inni, ale rozczarowująca, bo oto okazuje się, że treścią ich życia nie była wcale muzyka, a dawanie sobie w żyłę. Że życie na krawędzi, które badacze kultury opisują jako kontestację rzeczywistości, bunt młodych, było zwykłą łobuzerką na haju. Że może i chodziło o muzykę, ale w równym stopniu, co o zaliczenie nowych kobiet i mężczyzn, w równym stopniu, co o zdobycie nowej działki. Nawet Patti Smith, poetka w gronie zaćpanych prymitywów, jest w oczach jej znajomych i przyjaciół arogancką, zadufaną karierowiczką. Zupełnie niepodobną do tej, którą znamy z autobiograficznej książki „Poniedziałkowe dzieci”. Ale to też jest prawda o Patti Smith. Porównanie tych dwóch prawd – prawdy, którą Patti Smith napisała o sobie w „Poniedziałkowych dzieciach” i prawdy opowiedzianej o niej przez jej znajomych – jest szczególnie interesujące. Jakbyśmy oglądali dwie zupełnie inne osoby. Jakbyśmy czytali o dwóch różnych światach. Ale to jest w „Please kill me” najlepsze, że konfrontuje czytelnika z zupełnie inną wizją niż ta, do której był przyzwyczajony. Piszę tutaj o sobie. I że te wszystkie muzyczno-towarzyskie anegdotki znane z innych publikacji o muzyce tamtego czasu, zyskują w książce McNeil i McCain kantów, zaczyna w nich tętnić krew prawdziwych (zaćpanych) ludzi, przestają być tylko anegdotkami, stają się prawdziwym życiem. Jeśli interesujecie się punk rockiem, to koniecznie. 8 likes Like Comment Ⓐnna 31 reviews 5 followers July 25, 2021 i’m glad I read this cuz now I at least know the names of every single drug and it’s effect and all the things not to do when you overdose. But other than that this was just annoying to read. I fucking hate the narrative that americans invented punk and the british only copied it and completely ruined it in the process. i’m sorry but american punk bands literally look, sound and act like any other lame american rock’n’roll band before them. the Velvets and Iggy and Patti Smith were definitely an influence on punk music but I still wouldn’t consider them punk. What pissed me off even more was that they didn’t mentioned any punk girls that weren’t just groupies or girlfriends aside from Patti Smith and Debbie Harris. They literally only name dropped the Runaways ONCE and didn’t even say anything about them or the members even tho they were 100 x more punk than the rest of the bunch. They also didn’t mention the Slits which was literally THE best punk band ever and Viv Albertine even went out with Johnny Thunders (of whom they literally documented every single fucking trip) but then again they only mentioned two british punk bands in total, the sex pistols and the clash (and they didn’t even bother to even name all the members of the clash). That’s what you get for only interviewing americans and fucking malcom mclaren ffs. I don’t give a shit about all this relationship drama and all the drugs and all these annoying spoiled jerks who think they’re the most important people on earth and proclaim themselves to be the only true punks ever to exist. I wanna know about the attitude, the DIY ethos, the politics and the cool bands and their philosophy. I wanna know more about how they produced the music and what influenced them etc. I don’t care about the fucking ramones and MC5 and all these pretentious boy bands talking trash about each other. I care about X-ray Spex and the Slits and the Clash and Siouxsie and the raincoats and the specials and all the punk bands who really had something to say and wanted to create something new and interesting. Anyways, Imma go listen to “I’m so bored with the U.S.A.” now. 6 likes Like Comment Nate 481 reviews 20 followers September 12, 2015 One of the most purely entertaining books I've ever read. I can't count how many times I've read this book, whether it's cover to cover or just skimming through for particularly hilarious/bizarre/noteworthy parts. I love all of the 70s New York bands and artists that get covered in this book, so this definitely fulfills the role of the historical retrospective and sated all of the curiosity I had about the era. The other awesome facet of this book is the pure lurid and gross realism of the stories held within. The oral history format basically makes it one long interview with all of the luminaries, bystanders, groupies, industry people, etc. that were around at the time. Some of the stories and scenes in this book are just stunning. Also, a funny thing I started to realize as I read this book is that I would have fucking hated most if not all of the people whose records I worship. Iggy, Bowie, Reed, the New York Dolls...these people were sleazy, self-obsessed, egomaniacal, pretentious drug addicted fucking assholes. I'm seriously struggling to remember a person interviewed in this book that comes out looking good...maybe Danny Fields? Even the people who weren't outright horrible human beings in this book still come off douchey (I love her records, but Patti Smith comes off as a pretty intolerably pretentious person). This isn't really relevant to the quality of the book, just more of a funny revelation of the kind of people that great artists can be and an example of the uncolored light this shines on the whole era. This book is everything you could want. favorites music owned 6 likes Like Comment Rod 105 reviews 57 followers May 1, 2016 Goodreads defines the five-star rating as "It was amazing." I've given books five-star ratings before, then asked myself, "Was it amazing ?", and then had to admit to myself that the answer was "no" and changed my rating accordingly. In the case of Please Kill Me I don't even have to think about it. It was amazing . I've read it three times and I'm sure before long I'll probably make it four. Greatest rock 'n' roll book ever and one of the greatest oral histories ever. favorites non-fiction owned ...more 6 likes Like Comment Alvin Author 7 books 138 followers July 16, 2019 A few weeks ago I was in a crowded thrift store when the Ramones came over the sound system. I glanced around and saw every teenager in the place (and there were nearly a dozen) start bopping their heads in time with the music. I was reminded of the first time I heard them, back in 1977. Two-and-a-half minutes of Sheena is A Punk Rocker completely rewired my brain, unleashing enough of my inner brattiness that I began pushing back against the world and all of its unreasonable demands. Since then I've always credited the Ramones, and punk, for my existential liberation. So of course I had to read PKM, a fast-paced saga (yes, really!) about the wild cohort of young people who lived out their fever dream of rock 'n' roll glamor by creating punk. The giant cast of characters includes groupies, hangers-on, enablers, exploiters, and of course musicians, a horrific number of whom were felled by drugs. It's anyone's guess whether the hyper-dramatic private lives of so many musicians is more of an asset or a liability to their talent, but reading about their often painful chaos is quite enthralling and affecting. 5 likes Like Comment Erik 246 reviews 25 followers March 8, 2010 At times I can't help but think that Legs McNeil gives himself a little too much credit in terms of defining what came to be known as "punk" or "punk rock." However, one thing you could never take away from Legs is this amazing book. Out of all the same old rehashed books on the history of rock music, "Please Kill Me" is not only refreshing, but it may be the definitive source on the underground rock and roll culture from the '60s onward. It was wise for the stories to be told in an oral history format. Everything unfolds from interview segments straight from the mouths of the musicians themselves. From the days of the Velvet Underground and Warhol's factory, to Michigan revolutionaries like the MC5 and the Stooges, to the wild child figures like Johnny Thunders and Sid Vicious, all of their debauched rock and roll moments are well chronicled and they never shy away from the glory nor the glum. "Please Kill Me" is required reading for anyone with a remote interest in rock and roll. 5 likes Like Comment Tess Taylor 192 reviews 13 followers March 29, 2020 3- Me reading Please Kill Me : This book is an intriguing look into the punk movement, from its inception to death. The story is told from a collection of first-hand narration by the people who were there (a la Daisy Jones and the Six ). The key players and narrators are too numerous to list, which leads to its aura of credibility as much as it does its extremely messy structure. I didn't mind the confusion of the narration so much since that chaotic energy in itself makes the book very "punk." How meta. However, I was bothered by how catty everyone was. That's really the only word for it. When it was all said and done, Debbie Harry was the only likable person in the book. So much shade is thrown that it puts every reality tv show I've ever seen to shame. I pretty much walked away feeling like I just read a drawn-out, punk-themed Burn Book. It was just bad people dragging other bad people's names through the dirt. 2020 read-love-story read-music ...more 6 likes Like Comment Rachel 20 reviews 5 followers January 19, 2009 It is an inside look into the New York punk scene during the late seventies. It's foul so don't read it! 5 likes Like Comment Courtney 783 reviews 47 followers September 29, 2021 Whew boy is the title of this one misleading as hell. The Uncensored Oral History of Punk? More like the Uncensored Oral History of this really niche section of punk that happened in New York oh! and a little bit of Detroit. There's a raging aura of pretension that weaves its way through this novel which is a treat considering it's an oral history. It's all very "we are so very ~cool~ and ~unusual~ and ~special~ look at how we subvert the expectations placed on us etc" and honestly it's just a bit too much. Thumbs up to you. I knew nothing about Patti Smith going into this book and have come out deeply disliking her. I know the context of the time is probably important but so many of these people are deeply unlikeable... except Debbie Harry. And for all the title being the "Uncensored Oral History of Punk" there was entirely to much of a casual reaction of the amount of statutory rape that was engaged in. Thirteen and fourteen year old girls were being raped by these grown arse men and it was brushed off with a very "Ohhh I was being so naughty. Just the once though." No. Fuck you. It should then go without saying that a book that engaged in such casual talk of statutory rape was also neck deep in super casual misogyny, racism, antisemitism, homophobia... It was non stop. And that's not even going into the edge lord obsession with Nazism and swastikas. Yeah no fucking SHIT the jewish doctor refused to perform surgery on the dude with a fucking swastika tattooed on him. But let's roll into how damn narrow this book is. It's not the oral history of punk. It's not. It's the oral history of a particular scene from New York. And only what intersects with that. And it's on its fucking bullshit about it too. Oh there's mentions of the England scene but only in the sense of how manufactured it was and how The Clash were emulating so and so and how they didn't know what they were doing. And how that whole thing was about violence and whatever. It's just... *fart noises*. There is no mention of The Slits, X-Ray Spex, The Saints, Black Flag or even Bad Religion. I heard more about Iggy Pops dick, where it has been and who has seen it then any actual interesting take on the music. Oh. And the drugs. Who was taking what, where and how it fucked them up. And everybody having sex with everybody. Abusive relationships everywhere. Ugh. No. This was disappointing af. It's one dude (Legs McNeil) aggressively masturbating over a scene he was involved in. 4 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,506 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 25 quotes 2 discussions 2 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Joust (Dragon Jousters, #1) by Mercedes Lackey | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Dragon Jousters #1 Joust Mercedes Lackey 4.04 11,917 ratings 393 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book THE SECRET OF THE DRAGONS Vetch was an Altan serf working the land which had once been his family's farm. Young and slight, Vetch would have died of overwork, exposure, and starvation if not for the anger which was his only real sustenance--anger that he had lost his home and family in a war of conquest waged by the dragon-riding Jousters of Tia. Tia had usurped nearly halt of Alta's lands and enslaved or killed many of Vetch's countrymen. Sometimes it seemed that his entire cruel fate revolved around dragons and the Jousters who rode them. But his fate changed forever the day he first saw a dragon. From its narrow, golden, large-eyed head, to its pointed emerald ears, to the magnificent blue wings, the dragon was a thing of multicolored, jeweled beauty, slim and supple and quite as large as the shed it perched on. Vetch, almost failed to notice the Jouster who stood beside him. "I need a boy," the rider had said, and suddenly Vetch found himself lifted above the earth and transported by dragon-back to a different world. Vetch was to be trained as a dragon-boy, and he hardly believed his luck. The compound seemed like paradise: he could eat until he was full, and all he had to do was care for his Jouster's dragon, Kashet. It didn't take long for Vetch to realize that Kashet was special--for unlike other dragons, Kashet was gentle by nature and did not need the tranquilizing tala plant to make her tracttable. Vetch became determined to learn the secret of how Kashet had been tamed. For if Kashet could be tamed, perhaps Vetch could tame a dragon of his own. And if he could, then he might be able to escape and bring the secret of dragon-taming back to his homeland of Alta. And that secret, might prove to be the key to Alta's liberation.... Genres Fantasy Dragons Fiction Science Fiction Fantasy High Fantasy Young Adult Adult ...more 448 pages, Mass Market Paperback First published March 2, 2003 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Mercedes Lackey 637 books 8,806 followers Mercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts & Music, a small recording company specializing in science fiction folk music. "I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not. "I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes. "I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water : "There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race." Also writes as Misty Lackey Author's website Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.04 11,917 ratings 393 reviews 5 stars 4,657 (39%) 4 stars 4,000 (33%) 3 stars 2,539 (21%) 2 stars 573 (4%) 1 star 148 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 393 reviews Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell Author 56 books 19.9k followers November 25, 2018 Instagram || Twitter || Facebook || Amazon || Pinterest Books like these make me nostalgic for childhood, when I would stay up way past my bedtime reading books with a flashlight, so utterly absorbed that it felt like I was physically unable to put the book down. Mercedes Lackey is an amazing fantasy author who is not afraid to write about serious subjects, strong women, and LGBT characters, and even though she's been around forever, not nearly enough people know about her or read her books. My job today is to try and fix that by telling you about the awesomeness that is JOUST. Vetch is a serf tied to his land. He is an Altan, a country that is at war with the Tians. His Tian master is cruel and abuses him all day as he toils under the hot sun farming finicky root vegetables, and his only solace comes from cursing his master and wishing him ill. One day, one of the dragon riders called Jousters comes to the land to borrow some water and witnesses the extreme abuse Vetch suffers at the hands of his master. Shocked by such a brazen display of cruelty, the Jouster, named Ari, steals Vetch away to become a dragon boy. At this compound, his new job is to tend to the soldiers' dragons and try to anticipate both their and their riders' every need. Ari, his savior, is different from other Jousters. He is the only rider to have hand-raised his dragon from the egg, and the difference in behavior shows. However, the work and time involved have kept others from doing this. Vetch, however, who is no stranger to hard work, can't get the idea out of his head. Even though he loves his new job working with the dragons, the cognitive dissonance of working for the selfsame army that oppresses his people does not escape him. And when one of the dragons at the compound goes into heat, suddenly the possibility of getting his own egg to hatch and raise seems more than just a pipe dream. The risk could be deadly. But the payoff could affect wars . From the beginning, I found myself immersed in this world. Vetch is a great protagonist, selfish and impulsive at times, but also endearingly idealistic and naive. His outsider status makes him relatable to anyone who has ever felt like they didn't belong, and watching him get revenge through patience and hard work is incredibly satisfying. I also loved the descriptions of the dragons, and how each had their own personalities. Dragons are some of my favorite fantasy creatures, and I loved, loved, loved how Vetch's every day tasks with the dragons were so well thought out and detailed. It really added to this world, which was clearly inspired by ancient Egypt, and made it feel vivid and realistic. If you're into classic high fantasy that is intelligent, deep, and not too dark, Mercedes Lackey is an excellent pick. She has her ups and downs with her books, but man, when she nails it, she freaking nails it. JOUST is a must-read if you love dragons and magic. I can't stress that enough. 4 to 4.5 stars magic-and-sparkles-and-shit 27 likes Like Comment Choko 1,307 reviews 2,639 followers April 13, 2022 *** 3.39 *** I just finished this enchanting first book in a trilogy and I am very interested in knowing what happens in the story. I like the writing and I love the world and the dragons. I really, really wish she had edited more heavily, it could have been at least a 100 pages shorter. Love the Egyptian influence and the hot sandy ecosystem in which the dragons feel most comfortable. As always, I love how well the author portraits the horrors of war. I also feel, and I can't believe I am saying this, because usually just the opposite is my complaint, that our very young hero acts waaaaaaayyyy above his years. I know harsh childhood can accelerate maturity very fast, but in this case, our 12-13 years old kid speaks at times as a counselor for adults who attend college, or as a student of psychology, who is wrestling with his own failings... And this is a kid, who has had no schooling, nor any adults guiding him since he was 5... Not very congruent... However, the story is still very intriguing and leads the reader to the desire of more! 👍😃🐉 dragons fantasy 25 likes Like Comment Niki Hawkes - The Obsessive Bookseller 760 reviews 1,402 followers July 21, 2022 Check out my Booktube channel at: The Obsessive Bookseller [4.5/5 stars] I’m thrilled to say that Joust held up to the test of time. I’d first read it some 15 odd years ago, back when I’d done more than dip my toes into the fantasy, but didn’t yet consider myself a well-rounded reader of the genre. I was worried a reread would showcase a story I’d given a lot of concessions to because of how much I love dragons. While that’s probably still the case today, time and distance didn’t alter my enjoyment of the book in the slightest. Having buddy read Joust both times, it’s clear I’m always the one in the group who rates it the highest. Others like the story well enough, but sometimes struggle with the pacing. As someone who loveslovesloves the idea of following along the minutia, day-to-day monotony of taking care of a dragon, every part of this story sang to my soul. I even loved the few parts where he’s organizing his master’s chambers, lol. It was an immersive experience and I loved it. The book does a great job at showcasing the dragons. They are the focal point of the story and Lackey doesn’t take a lot of extra time, save at the beginning, to highlight the external plot of this world. It was there, for sure, but the focus was ever on the dragons themselves. At this point in the series, I really couldn’t have cared less about what was going on beyond the walls of the dragon stables, but do concede that the conflict felt rather thin. I do remember it getting a bit more important and more well-done as the series progressed, but I’d have to continue my reread to be sure. Recommendations: if you’re as enamored with dragons as I am, you’ll have a lot of fun with this series. It remains one of my all-time favorites, perhaps even more so after my reread. Venture in expecting a slow, intimate plot centered on a boy and his dragon. :) Thank you to my Patrons : Filipe, Dave, Frank, Sonja, Staci, Kat, and Katrin! <3 Other DRAGON books you might like: Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com audible-completion-challenge 35 likes Like Comment Joana Rodriguez 12 reviews 7 followers November 22, 2007 As a dragon enthusiast I jumped for joy when I found this book on the bookshelf at my local bookstore. After I read it I couldn’t help but think that this was what a dragon book should be. Mercedes Lackey has always been one of my favorite fantasy writers and in this book she proves why she deserves all of the praise that she gets. Fans of Anne McGaffry’s Dragonriders of Pern series will not be disappointed in this book. Despite the fact that Joust revolves around dragonriders, referred to as Jousters, Lackey’s book is a new and refreshing read that stands alone and alongside the Dragonriders of Pern series. The story follows the adventures of Vetch an Altan surf, just another of the spoils of the Altan - Tian conflict. Vetch was merely a farmer’s son until the day the Tian army declared possesion of their farm after having gained more ground in the war. Before his eyes he saw his father murdered, his sister beaten, their possessions stolen, and then he and his family were placed into a life worse than slavery. Torn from his family Vetch is forced to serve a cruel master. Khefti the Fat, his master, continuously beats, starves, and overworks Vetch while his apprentices take great pleasure in tormenting him. This continues on for several years until the day Jouster Ari arrives at Khefti’s to stop for a drink of water and a small respite from patrols. There Ari witnesses first hand the harsh labor that Vetch undergoes and the treatment he receives. Seizing upon the law that states all Jousters may requisition anything they need within reason, Ari states he is need of a boy to tend his dragon and carries Vetch off to the compound. Vetch’s lot improves greatly here where food is in abundance and he is treated with a measure of respect. In fact Vetch at times has trouble remembering the hate and anger that kept him going while working for Khefti. I found this to be exceptionally well done and played out. Throughout Joust Vetch is undergoing a major development. He began the story as an angry, spiteful, and vengeful child who was no longer really a child. Vetch’s existence was a miserable one and the only thing that kept him going was his stubborn will to live on despite the hardships, but the thing that fueled him the most was his anger and hatred for the Tians. While Vetch is at the compound he begins to realize that the atrocities inflicted upon his people by Tian soldiers do not reflect the attitudes of all Tians alike. Indeed at one point he is even shocked to realize that he does not pray for Ari’s defeat, as he initially had, but that Ari would always return safe because Ari had become his friend. As time passes on Vetch becomes as dragon obsessed as his Jouster but with the bravery and hope that only the young [and foolhardy] can have Vetch endeavors to purloin a dragon egg of his own to hatch and raise. The Great Tian King has ordered that the number of Jousters in the skies be doubled so that the Altans can be at long last crushed and Vetch seeks to learn how to the methods of raising a tame dragon to the Altans to shift the tides of the war. Lackey’s story is beautifully told, the amount of detail an attention paid to the dragons is astounding. The reader’s mind will be filled with visions of dragons and soaring above the clouds long after they have finished the book. To top it off the setting for Lackey’s world is a sort of alternate ancient Egypt which gives the setting an extra touch of exoticness that somehow makes the world seem familiar and different all at the same time. Young and old readers, be they fantasy buffs, or just bookworms will adore this first book in an exciting series. You can read the original book review here and my reviews for other books as well. 11 likes Like Comment Emily 836 reviews 93 followers July 23, 2020 I'm going to call this a 3.5. This is a fun, easy to read book about a boy and dragons. Yes, there are some books out there with similar ideas, but pretty much every fantasy book out there is borrowing ideas or influenced by other authors. I found parts of the book to be a bit slow, but I liked Vetch and the dragons. I did think that Vetch said things that were way too grown-up sounding for a 10-12 year old kid though. For example, he said something to Ari like "If you don't talk about this you're just going to snap". Overall I liked it, I would recommend it if you like books that have dragons in them. fantasy 7 likes Like Comment Helen 422 reviews 99 followers December 13, 2020 Joust drowns in its own self-righteousness. Vetch is honest, kind and humble, everyone else is lazy, incompetent and ignorant. But Vetch makes these snap decisions at first sight. He decides the other dragon boys don't like him so never attempts to say hello to them, yet it's their fault that they are not friends. Vetch assumes (again at first sight) that one of the overseers is concerned only with proving his status above others and will punish Vetch for any mistakes. The overseer never actually does, he leaves Vetch alone when he sees that he knows what he should be doing. Joust continues on like this, in fact, the vast majority of the book spends it's time hammering home how wonderful Vetch is, and how rubbish everyone around him is. It's pages and pages at a time, and it overwhelms the story. Somewhere in all this, there are dragons! The first 60% does it's best to ignore them, after that there is a bit more dragon time but just not enough to keep me happy. I shan't be continuing this series. boring childrens dragon ...more 5 likes 1 comment Like Comment DarkHeraldMage 217 reviews 53 followers August 22, 2020 It's been so long since I first read this that I only had the vaguest ideas of what would happen and how, so this was a really fun re-read with my book club on Discord. I love Lackey's approach to dragons and their relationships with humans here, and the strong nods to Egyptian culture throughout are well done and enjoyed. I'm not sure when I'll have time to keep reading the series, but I know I need to since I never read the fourth book during my initial reading. book-club-selections owned-physical 5 likes Like Comment Férial 433 reviews 41 followers Read March 28, 2019 No rating. DNF at around 45%. I liked Mercedes Lackey’s other books well enough. This one was just not for me. 5 likes Like Comment Allison 237 reviews 31 followers July 18, 2008 When I picked this up, I expected to really enjoy it. After all, I like Mercedes Lackey's writing, and it had been a long time since I had read any good dragon-focused fiction. Sadly, it seems as if Lackey lifted this story from one of my favorite series of all time- The Pit Dragon Trilogy by Jane Yolen. Although I will admit that the whole dragon and his boy theme is old as dirt, reading Joust was more like deja-vu than I ever could have imagined. Both stories take place in dry, arid locations and focus on a serf/slave boy who finds work with dragons and eventually befriends one and raises it and trains it to fight. This story is so similar to Dragon's Blood (which I read more than ten years ago), that I honestly had to keep reminding myself they were different books. I will say that after the first book both stories go off in different directions, but at the beginning they're almost like carbon-copies of each other. It's true that Lackey's book is more political, is meant for an adult audience and is set in a very Egyptian land, but for me, that really wasn't enough of a difference. If I hadn't read Heart's Blood years ago, I may have rated this book higher than I did, because it's not a bad book, it's just unoriginal. But I really enjoy when authors put a twist on an old story and make it their own, and I really didn't see that happen in Joust. Fact of the matter is, I've heard this story before, and Yolen told it much better. With that in mind, I really can't rate it more than a two, because...well, it comparison, "it was (just) okay". Although none of the books in the series were AWFUL enough to recieve 0 or 1 star, I would say that this is the best one of the series. Unfortunately, as is typical of Lackey, the further she gets into this series, the less interested I become. I've read the first four, but after reading the last one I don't think I have any intention of reading any more about the dragon jousters. 4 likes Like Comment Shannon the Book Dragon 70 reviews 21 followers February 15, 2017 4.5 stars This book made me realise something in particular I really enjoy in books; learning about things. I get it, I'm a big nerd even in my spare time. I thoroughly loved learning about caring for the dragons, saddling, buffing, etc. Will I ever get to meet a Dragon to carry it out? No! Would I be able to do it though? Probably! Thanks Mercedes Lackey dragons finished-2016 4 likes Like Comment Soo 2,773 reviews 333 followers February 4, 2021 Notes: The writing did not translate 100% for audio format, but it was a great story and I loved getting back into a world with dragon riding. Which reminds me that I need to re-read Pern & finish that series. audiobook 3 likes Like Comment Ann 81 reviews 23 followers September 23, 2009 I was something of a Mercedes Lackey fan when her earliest books came out -- not a fanatical fan by any means, but I read and sought out the subsequent Valdemar books as they came out. Somewhere along the way I moved on to other things, and the reviews on her later offerings didn't motivate me to return. I picked up Joust recently, in part because I was looking for a book of a certain length to read at a 10-12 pages a night from mid-August through September. This turned out to be an ideal book for my purposes -- it was a pleasant enough read to keep me on track, but not riveting enough to tempt me to read more than my 10 pages. There's actually a really good coming-of-age fantasy book somewhere in here just waiting for an aggressive editor to break it out. Lackey has done a great job creating a fantasy world set in a world much like ancient Egypt (if a little too westernized for a truly different fantasy novel). Vetch is a serf boy rescued from oppressive servitude by one of the Great King's Jousters (dragon-riders who patrol the kingdom's borders). The novel follows Vetch as he settles into his new position as dragon-boy, learns the ropes, excels, and fixes on the idea of hatching a dragon of his own. Not much really happens beyond that in this 384 page novel. We're treated to long passages on Vetch's duties as a dragon boy, the care and training of dragons, the duties of the Jousters, Vetch's day to day resentments, attachments, worries, and lessons learned. That all this carries the story through 384 pages is a testament to how well Lackey has developed this world and the people and dragons who inhabit it. Unfortunately, with only three characters who have major speaking roles, the story itself wears thin. The plot's bogginess isn't helped by the author's tendency to repeat herself numerous times, or when she allows Vetch to veer off into multi-page worries that turn out to have no bearing on how the story actually turns out. A paring down of the book by about 1/5 might have helped get things moving along without sacrificing anything important. Still, an engaging story, and the jousting dragons are interesting creatures with a believable biology. I may pick up the sequel. dragons 3 likes Like Comment Sarah 94 reviews 20 followers June 25, 2011 Vetch, a serf working for a terrible and abusive master, knows nothing but servitude until Jouster Ari comes along. Taking Vetch under his wing, he gives him no more work than he can handle, teaches him the ways of dragons, and trusts him with the care of his dragon, Kashet. Soon after, Vetch has dreams of raising a dragon of his own. I must address an issue here before I start my review. Many people see this series as comparable to The Pit Dragon Chronicles by Jane Yolen, and in many ways it is… But how many vampire and werewolf books do you see these days with familiar stories and plots? This book was far original enough for me to feel like I was reading something separate and different. It evolved into it’s own type of beast. To be honest, the hope that this series would be similar to The Pit Dragon Chronicles is what originally attracted me to it. I was very delighted to give it a try! Joust did not disappoint! Normally I would remove a star for this book not having some sort of love story, but it doesn’t need it!! Vetch’s developing passion for dragons took that place for me. I don’t know how Lackey did it, but I was hooked... This book became like a drug for me. I couldn’t stop reading! And yes, because of the attachment to the characters, I did cry.. but only once. The one problem I have is with the cover. The dragon looks great, but the man on the front is nothing like how I pictured a jouster. Ok, maybe it’s just the helmet... I don’t think I’d want to look like I was wearing a freakin’ vase on my head. Real intimidating. Just my personal opinion. I’ve read Mercedes Lackey’s books in the past and liked them, but where was this series all my life!? The characters, setting, and plot were all perfectly conceived to build this sure-to-be epic series. I love how Joust ended and cannot wait to delve back into this amazing world. See my other reviews at Inklings Read. ebook favorites own 3 likes Like Comment Kelsey 107 reviews 3 followers April 15, 2013 I haven’t read that many Mercedes Lackey books, even though she’s one of the most popular and prolific fantasy writers today. I picked up Joust for $1 during a Borders closing sale. The plot follows Vetch, a young serf plucked from his cruel master’s yard to become a dragon boy to the jouster Ari and dragon Kashet. The world is Ancient Egypt with a little magic and a few flying serpents. The beginning is slow. Very slow. It takes 23 pages for Vetch to fetch a bucket of water. Of course, if someone had to describe fetching water for 23 pages, Mercedes Lackey is a good choice, but even so I was getting antsy. Chapter 9 is the turning point. Until then, the book creeps along, still interesting in its way, like floating a canoe down a lazy river. Then in Chapter 9 (literally almost exactly halfway through: page 210 for a 442-page book), the story picks up, and you’re paddling frantically through rapids. They’re not Class VI by any means, but the contrast between the first half of the book and the second was so disjointed that it made the first half seem worse by comparison. Vetch spends so much time trying to be good and responsible, laying low, and figuring things out, and then in the second half all his well-laid plans yield bountiful crops one right after the other. I liked exploring the Egyptian fantasy land, a fascinating change from typical European Medieval world, and I enjoyed the unique day-to-day of jouster society. Still, the stakes were never high enough, I liked but didn’t love the characters, and the pace was too uneven. An interesting read but not a favorite. 3 likes Like Comment Reader-ramble 97 reviews 348 followers December 21, 2014 An ancient Egyptian inspired setting with dragons. A slow burner, but I enjoyed it. 3 likes Like Comment Clarence Reed 444 reviews 1 follower December 8, 2020 ReedIII Quick Review: I remain a true fan of McCaffrey's “Dragonriders of PERN” series. However, if you like light dragon fantasy this is excellent. Already checked out book 2 of this series. 2020 2 likes Like Comment Lydia 299 reviews 15 followers November 15, 2019 Interesting if slowly paced dragon book with zero major female characters. 2 likes Like Comment K H 342 reviews 3 followers November 15, 2019 I liked Joust. This was my first read of Lackey's and I enjoined it well enough. The few characters (3-4) that were developed were three dimensional and real enough. The plot was good, if not fast paced , and the world building/dragon knowledge well thought through. What took this down from a five star? I could probably summarize this 373 page book in less than five plot points. It was definitely slow moving, and I can't help but feel it would have been better if it was a little hacked down and its sequel was tacked onto the end. That being said, Lackey's writing never left me bored, just a bit disappointed in its slower pace. What really levelled Joust down from a love to a like for me was the repetition . I kid you not, every thought, memory, or feeling of Vetch's is rethought of at least twice in the novel, which is fairly annoying if you're reading it in a shorter time period. In this way though, if you're reading more than one book, Joust is the perfect one to have on the back burner without fear of forgetting important tidbits. Overall, this probably won't be a series I'm going to reread, but Lackey's writing makes it worth continuing. not-own 2 likes Like Comment Daniel Schwabauer Author 17 books 180 followers July 22, 2016 The care and feeding of dragons in ancient Egypt. This book was my first experience with the work of Mercedes Lackey. Joust is moderately enjoyable, in spite of the fact that very little actually happens in it. Presumably this is because the author is using the story to set up a larger series, but I would have preferred half as many words and twice as much conflict. That said, it is probably to the author's credit that she was able to drag me through 400+ pages of internal monologues. (The first 23 pages chronicle nothing except the main character fetching a pail of water. But I kept reading.) I did enjoy her handling of forgiveness and the danger of misidentifying one's enemies. I also thought her treatment of dragon taming was fun, though not particularly unique. For that matter, most of the plot twists were predictable, though handled skillfully. Her worldbuilding is engrossing (though at one point she uses accusations of witchcraft to imply that certain people are narrow-minded and superstitious; later we learn that actual witches are causing all the big storms.) No regrets about time spent on this one, but I doubt I will continue with the series. 2 likes Like Comment Awallens 363 reviews 18 followers March 29, 2022 For the first time ever, national best-selling legend Mercedes Lackey draws from her extensive knowlege of animals and her professional background as an avian expert-to create something truly special… The most exciting, authentic and believable portrayal of dragons ever imagined. It is a richly conceived, fully realized vision, inspired by the culture of ancient Egypt, the legends of Atlantis--and the science of animal behavior and biology. This is how dragons would live, breed, hatch, hunt, and bond. The first book in this thrilling new series introduces readers to a young slave who dreams of becoming a Jouster--one of the few warriors who can actually ride a flying dragon. And so, in secret, he begins to raise his own dragon. I originally read a short story based on this book by Mercedes Lackey in an anthology of dragon stories. I thought the way the story ended was the way the book would end but I was glad it did not. I was even more thrilled to know this is a series and I have gathered the rest of the books to read. 2 likes Like Comment Saphirablue 975 reviews 80 followers July 22, 2017 Wonderful book! My heart was breaking for Vetch several times and I was so happy when Ari saved him and took him to the compound to become a dragon-boy - which led to more heartbreak. *g* I like Vetch and Ari - the two main characters. I like that Ari understands how Vetch feels but still remains "the emeny". I love the Vetch POV but I still would have loved to have Ari's thoguhts on Vetch now and then. I like the idea of lazy (cat like) dragons and that they aren't tamed and therefore dangerous when you aren't careful. And I like the idea that they can be tamed when you treat them right and take good care of them as Ari and Vetch proof. I also like that everything is a bit like an AU of Egypt. The way people dress, the landscape, the gods and everything. I'm looking foward to the next books of the series. :) This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review dragons fantasy hurt-comfort ...more 2 likes Like Comment Kay 1,561 reviews 13 followers August 11, 2019 I'm really not a huge fan of either dragons or Egyptology, so don't let that put you off reading this if you're not either. I really really enjoyed Joust ... I liked the descriptions of Vetch's day to day life and his care of the dragons, and I liked learning about the dragons as Vetch did. I totally get why some reviewers complained that nothing happened in this book, but I didn't find this slow at all. I really liked the writing, the characters, and even the pace. It all felt well done and right for this story. I wonder where the series is going to go -I especially wonder if/when the war/politics will come into play. Will try to get my hands on book 2! dragons fantasy-and-sci-fi-adult-and-ya 2 likes Like Comment Ryan 272 reviews 74 followers December 19, 2021 I think the polite thing to say would be this series hasn't aged well, though I need some serious convincing that it was ever good. Generally poor and often repetitive writing with crappy yet seemingly acceptable gender politics. Were women ever mentioned without us being told how limited they are? I don't remember an instance. Edit: Oh shit! I thought this was at least 40 years older than it is. I didn't think someone who has Internet access and owns a refrigerator could seriously write this. Review copy and pasted from the last book in the series so may not be an accurate portrayal of the first book, but of the series. fantasy 3 likes Like Comment Tessa DesMarais 4 reviews October 26, 2016 A good kids book I loved when I was younger. The series gets more sophisticated as it goes on, so I'd suggest for kids who are starting to get into YA or even are on the upper end, because the writing itself is superb. The worldbuild is intensely Egyptian, but enthralling and very well developed. The main protagonist isn't stupid, for once, which is amazing. The others in the series are much better (the third is the BEST, I've read it four or five times) but this one is the foundation and still worth a read. 2 likes Like Comment BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme 6,798 reviews 1,381 followers January 8, 2011 New series by Ms. Lackey is awesome! I'm rating this a 3.5 but since I only round down, it's showing up as a three. I loved the attention to detail on showing how to take care of a dragon. The opposing forces are ominous. I know which side I'd pick. This book reminded me of Ms. McCaffrey's dragon singer series. When Menolly raised the fire dragons, this book is similar in several ways. Enjoyed it and can't wait for the next one. dragon fantasy 2 likes Like Comment Wye Peng 187 reviews 2 followers January 8, 2018 Boringgggg. This book was so boring. 90% of it was about Vetch feeding dragons and doing his chores. That's it. No wonder I fell asleep within minutes every time I picked up this book. I struggled to finish it at the end as it had a most unlikely ending and although it ended in favour of dear Vetch, I did not find myself rooting for him and thus did not enjoy it. 2 likes Like Comment Christine Sandquist 201 reviews 64 followers September 16, 2020 Look, I'm a sucker for kids stealing dragons and raising them to be their lifelong devoted friends. That is a trope I will always, always adore. Joust does not disappoint, and has that signature rags-to-"riches" (where riches is a loving family and support structure) thematic content that Lackey is known best for. 2 likes Like Comment Aj 356 reviews 1 follower October 20, 2017 I remember reading the original short story so was delighted to have the full book. A serf who is given an opportunity to improve his life and in doing so discovers a love of dragons. A love so strong that he decides to hatch his own, not really thinking about what he will do after that... 1 like Like Comment Lindsey Rojem 1,028 reviews 10 followers August 31, 2020 This was a very pleasant re-read, and it definitely helped get me out of my book funk. I liked the characters and the way the author did the world building, and I'm quickly jumping into book 2. loaned-out own 2 likes Like Comment Herdis Marie 453 reviews 33 followers November 27, 2021 2,5 stars ... for cute dragons? Maaaayyybe? Before I start this review, I would like to issue a warm apology to my friend and colleague Elisabeth, who loves this book. Quick plot recap first: The Tians and Altans have been at war for a long time. The Altans aren't doing very well. Vetch is an Altan serf, bound to the unbelievably cruel Tian Khefti-the-Fat. Vetch is overworked, physically abused, and starved. One day, as he is hauling water during the hottest part of the day, he has a chance meeting with Ari, a dragon jouster. Ari, seeing the state of the emaciated boy, promptly takes him away with him and decides to have him trained as his personal dragon boy. We need to start by talking about this cover art: I normally don't comment much on the cover art, but whoever did this should be put in art prison. I mean, it makes the book look like cheap, soft-core porn. Which it really isn't. "Joust has many flaws, but gratuitous cheesy sex scenes happily aren't amongst them. Let's really get into this, then. Writing Lackey has a decently good grip on the English language, and clearly has a relatively wide vocabulary, but she has a tendency of writing sequences in an unnecessarily verbose way, often using terms that sound archaic and difficult. I see this in a lot in fantasy writers, particularly Americans who want to sound more ... fantasy-ish (read: usually British)? As if making their writing extra convoluted somehow makes their book fit into the genre more. And the thing is, if a writer manages to pull off writing in a more classical manner, this can actually heighten the reading experience, particularly when the setting is clearly in a time meant to be more ancient than our own. However, in Lackey's case, this only makes the writing confusing, and frequently hard to read. Lackey also allows a large part of the plot to be driven by loooong internal monologues by Vetch instead of letting us witness things firsthand. This is made even more frustrating by the fact that these internal ramblings are frequently incredibly repetitive. More on this in the "plot" section. Lastly, there are SO. MANY. LANGUAGE ERRORS. Seriously, who edited this? And, I mean, we're not just talking more complicated grammatical mistakes like concord errors, dangling modifiers, etc., mistakes that typically annoy language and grammar nerds like me. We're talking stupid mistakes like misspelling characters' names and leaving entire words out of sentences, mistakes that are easy to make when you're writing something very quickly, but that any self-respecting editor should have caught, and removed. Characters I do think Lackey has done an acceptable job with her characters, though there are only a few with whom you spend much time. Ari is interesting and sympathetic, and probably my favourite (human). I would have liked more time with him instead of listening to the abovementioned and seemingly unending internal monologues from Vetch. Vetch is your typical underdog character, and this isn't a character trope I mind in general. However, Vetch is just a little bit too good at everything he does. I think he is successful at every single turn, and he would have been more realistic, not to mention more relatable, if he failed every once in a while. Additionally, his backstory is so tragic, and rehashed so frequently, that it ends up feeling rather forced and, quite frankly, irritating. My favourite character is definitely the dragon, Kashet. He's just plain adorable. The way he plods after Ari and Vetch like a big cat honestly makes me like this book at least 10% more. He really isn't granted enough time to shine either, though. Plot Plot is definitely this book's biggest problem. First of all, there are a lot of plot holes and inconsistencies. Don't worry, I'm not actually going to list all of them, because that would take forever . Lackey clearly hasn't spent enough time developing the logic behind her universe, so though the setting and concept behind the story are both compelling, there are serious problems that are bound to irritate critical readers like myself. For instance, the concept of Dragon jousting is really cool, but the justification for it is rather laughable. Similarly, there are major problems with Lackey's understanding of serfdom. The serf was a staple of early medieval Europe, when feudalism became an important way of structuring society. The serf was usually attached to an estate or manor, however, the serf typically had more freedom, more rights, and higher status than did an ordinary slave. The simplest explanation of how this worked is this: a serf was free in body, but his labouring capabilities were indentured, bound to the estate. He could not, therefore, simply move or attempt to find work elsewhere, however, he was, in most other aspects, relatively free. Most serfs also had a right to their own plot of land on the master's estate. In other words, Lackey has written a story with a system based on European medieval feudalism, but she has either misunderstood said system, or deliberately decided to turn it on its head. And the explanation she gives for the serf's low status is patchy at best. Additionally, the existence of serfs in her society is, in and of itself, illogical. If the Tians can simply go in and take Altan farms away by force, why would they adhere to some sort of rule about the original owners' families needing to stay connected to the land? There is no decent explanation for why such a rule would exist to begin with (as mentioned, this is not how historical serfdom worked) - or why it wouldn't simply be scrapped to allow for easier Tian conquering. Another major problem is the justification for not rearing dragons from the egg. When they see how well this works for Ari, how much more control he has over Kashet compared to the other jousters' control over their mounts, how much more efficient he is in every way, it would be unbelievably ridiculous not to have more jousters try this method. The argument basically boils down to the time issue, that the jousters rearing their dragons would, for a time, be grounded and bound to their young dragonets, and thus unable to patrol - however, the clear evidence of how much time a dragon like Kashet saves them by his very loyalty to his rider, should be ample evidence that rearing from the egg is the only way to go. There are many more of these types of plot problems, but I won't bore you by going through all of them. An equally problematic aspect of Lackey's writing is her "quick fixes". As I mentioned earlier, Vetch is automatically just good at everything he sets out to do. Despite having no experience with dragons, he just knows how they work, with very little training or effort. This is (poorly) explained using his experience with farm animals. Dragons are likened to one animal after another, as it suits the story and different characters' experience with animals, which is an easy way of avoiding the need for excessive training (for instance, when the falcon trainer comes in, he is instantly successful using tricks he uses with his birds, and the dragons, who have previously been likened to cats, dogs, goats, you name it, are now suddenly just like falcons). Whenever Vetch sets out to do something, he always succeeds. Seriously. He doesn't fail once. And some of his endeavours are dangerous, and should involve more trouble for him, but Lackey constantly employs these above-mentioned "quick fixes" to make sure there is nothing in his way. Need to steal yourself a dragon egg? No problem! Everyone immediately trusts you with a new dragon and conveniently leaves you and said dragon completely alone. Need to get a stolen dragon egg from one pen to another? No problem! In this busy, busy dragon compound, there is literally nobody other than you who is out at night. Need to find a place to hide your dragon egg? No problem! There is an easily available pen, and no one ever checks it, because apparently there is no oversight in this place at all. Need to rear a noisy and rambunctious dragonet? No problem! A bunch of other dragonets are suddenly brought in to the compound, and apparently no one bothers to keep count of these large, dangerous beasts, so obviously yours goes completely unnoticed. ... I think I've made my point. My third, major problem with "Joust" is the book's length. It is way. too. long. First of all, the first 250 pages read like one looong introduction. Seriously, the advertised main plot, the one where Vetch actually moves to get his hands on his own dragon egg, doesn't happen until then. Secondly, the same details are constantly rehashed. I'm sure Lackey could have easily edited out at least 100 pages without losing a single plot point. Once more, this is something an editor should have been able to help with, so I can only assume that he or she was sleeping on the job. Ok, let's end on a semi-positive note. The dragons are cool. And I really did like the basis for the plot. It just needed a lot more work. I also loved the setting, particularly the dragon compound, on which it is obvious that Lackey has spent a lot of time. I could really see it in my head, and though the descriptions might occasionally have been a bit too technical, I still enjoyed travelling into this dragon world. The sad thing is that I am actually really curious to see how things go for Vetch, however, I don't think I can suffer my way through more of Lackey's writing. It took me nearly a month to finish this, and, as the first book is said to be one of the best of the series, I don't have particularly high hopes that the sequels will be any better. So, sorry, Mercedes Lackey. Your writing is not for me, I think. american fantasy read-for-work 1 like Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 393 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 1 quote 8 discussions 3 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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The Vegetarian by Han Kang | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $12.99 Rate this book The Vegetarian Han Kang , Deborah Smith ( Translator ) 3.58 168,162 ratings 22,781 reviews Want to read Kindle $12.99 Rate this book Before the nightmare, Yeong-hye and her husband lived an ordinary life. But when splintering, blood-soaked images start haunting her thoughts, Yeong-hye decides to purge her mind and renounce eating meat. In a country where societal mores are strictly obeyed, Yeong-hye's decision to embrace a more “plant-like” existence is a shocking act of subversion. And as her passive rebellion manifests in ever more extreme and frightening forms, scandal, abuse, and estrangement begin to send Yeong-hye spiraling deep into the spaces of her fantasy. In a complete metamorphosis of both mind and body, her now dangerous endeavor will take Yeong-hye—impossibly, ecstatically, tragically—far from her once-known self altogether. Genres Fiction Contemporary Horror Literary Fiction Asia Mental Health Adult ...more 188 pages, Hardcover First published October 30, 2007 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Han Kang 46 books 4,877 followers Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database. 소설가 한강 Han Kang is the daughter of novelist Han Seung-won. She was born in Kwangju and at the age of 10, moved to Suyuri (which she speaks of affectionately in her work "Greek Lessons") in Seoul. She studied Korean literature at Yonsei University. She began her writing career when one of her poems was featured in the winter issue of the quarterly Literature and Society. She made her official literary debut in the following year when her short story "The Scarlet Anchor" was the winning entry in the daily Seoul Shinmun spring literary contest. Since then, she has gone on to win the Yi Sang Literary Prize (2005), Today's Young Artist Award, and the Korean Literature Novel Award. As of summer 2013, Han teaches creative writing at the Seoul Institute of the Arts while writing stories and novels. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.58 168,162 ratings 22,781 reviews 5 stars 30,215 (17%) 4 stars 63,523 (37%) 3 stars 52,481 (31%) 2 stars 17,225 (10%) 1 star 4,718 (2%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 22,775 reviews Sean Barrs 1,122 reviews 46.7k followers October 13, 2020 This book wasn’t a casual read for me. This is deeply personal to my own beliefs. I’m a vegan. This book sung a song that I heard in my marrow; it made me realise so much. As a vegan I’ve experienced some of the things that I witnessed here. I can relate to it. I’ve lived it. I’ve been called a heretic. I’ve lost friends over it, and experienced much social awkwardness just for my lifestyle choice. I’m not pushy with my beliefs. Sometimes all it takes is a mention of the word “vegetarian” to be received with utter hostility or blankness. This review isn’t about the ethics involved with the diet. That’s not important to this story. What’s important is how people can react to someone different to themselves. The vegetarian in here acts as a metaphor for individual life choices. “I was convinced that there was more going on here than a simple case of vegetarianism.” For “the vegetarian,” being different to the world leads to social isolation and feelings of utter despair. Her husband is utterly useless in every regard. He is the sort of man who simply doesn’t deserve a wife. This no equal partnership, but the wife living to serve the man’s needs. It’s all about finding the right people, the accepting people in society. And this comes far too late and in far too a meek form to have any lasting effect on her: it came when she was already lost. The self-destructive behaviour isn’t testimony to a vegetarian diet. I speak from experience, these can be very healthy. It’s an act of rebellion against a society that refused to be warm to someone who didn’t conform. “the sight of her lying there utterly without resistance, yet armored by the power of her own renunciation, was so intense as to bring tears to his eyes.” But, this is only the premise of the novel. It’s also about sexual desire, the unwavering power of lust and sheer emotional enthralment. However, it’s not about the body as an object of sexual desire; it’s not about the attractiveness, or the unattractiveness, of the female or male form; that’s just meat: it’s about the power of the individual: it’s about the power of an idealistic free spirit. And this is what drew me to the book. The lust in here is freedom. It is the ability to make one’s own life choice and live in harmony with the rest of the world. Labels don’t matter. Restrictions don’t matter. What matters is the freedom to be who you are and what you are. Whether or not this is a vegetarian, homosexual, transgender, a Buddhist Monk or a Christian isn’t overly important. What matters is choice. The vegetarian in here serves as a metaphor, a rallying cry, for a more accepting world. It’s a brutal reminder of the narrowmindedness that infects this planet towards those that fall through the cracks of society. Some readers may see the exploration of mental illness, though what I see is mental illness born of sheer social isolation and spiritual depravation. If a person belongs nowhere, and those that are supposed to be closest to her ignore her, then only maladaptive thinking can occur. Only detrimental cognitive functioning will be born. What “the Vegetarian” needed in here was someone to understand her individuality and to respect it. Instead the coldness she receives sends her own a downward spiral of delusional fantasy, very poetic fantasy. This is a book like no other. ___________________________________ You can connect with me on social media via My Linktree . __________________________________ 5-star-reads contemporary-lit favourites ...more 1,599 likes 6 comments Like Comment Mary ~Ravager of Tomes~ 357 reviews 986 followers August 26, 2017 Nope. This is the story of two sisters & their husbands & one woman's tendency toward violent, graphic dreams. Honestly, I'm not sure what I was supposed to take from this book & I'm not going to pretend for the sake of sounding intelligent or profound that I "got it." I absolutely did not enjoy reading this, and I'm thankful it was over quickly. The men in this book are repulsive & selfish, and I could not identify with either sister. The lack of straightforward communication between all of the characters was consistently annoying. And maybe that was the point, I don't know. Maybe I was supposed to feel irritated throughout the whole novel? Maybe the outright objectification of both women by every single male they come into contact with was supposed to speak to societal expectations between men & women? Maybe the lack of agency both women seem to have was supposed to encompass widespread lack of agency among women in general? Maybe all the weird, sexually graphic imagery was a parallel for the mass produced & detached quality of the porn industry? Maybe my lack of experience with the culture prevents me from understanding the higher meaning here? Truly, I don't know. Regardless of the intended message, or what others seem to have taken from this novel, reading this was frustrating. I don't think the method of delivery worked for me. You win some, you lose some, I guess. 1-star year-2017 677 likes 8 comments Like Comment Matthew 1,221 reviews 9,560 followers November 22, 2017 Well . . . um . . . yeah . . . so I guess that was good . . . maybe . . . Kinda weird . . . I think . . . Definitely a bit much . . . oh, no doubt . . . but . . . Poignant perhaps . . . certainly heart strings were tugged . . . however . . . Confusion! Yes! That's it . . . or, maybe not . . . 100% sure I was 90% moved by being 80% lost while at the same time being 70% disturbed . . . This book . . . yup . . . it's . . . sure, I guess? 2017 library 2,388 likes 3 comments Like Comment Justin 291 reviews 2,394 followers March 27, 2017 Honestly, in this case, I'm much more interested in reading other people's reviews of the book rather than writing my own. I just feel like there are so many layers here, so many things that need to be discussed, so many unique interpretations, so many questions. The first third of The Vegetarian is very Kafka-esque. It has a very Metamorphosis vibe to it. Maybe a little bit of Bird Box to give you a more contemporary example. It was dark. It was weird. It was bleak. It felt like every sentence belonged there. There wasn't any filler or fluff to bulk up the length. I was all in, too. I was waiting to solve the mystery and figure out what the heck was going on. Then, the second act hits and I realized this book is something completely different than what I expected. I was mildly annoyed at the kind of abrasive shift away from what I wanted the book to be, but once I got over myself and continued to read, I loved the book for completely different reasons. I didn't even know why I liked it really. I kinda felt awkward at times, but then I got over myself again. The third and final act doesn't answer a lot of questions. It actually leaves you with a lot of questions, but not about the story- more about deeper issues like what it is to be human, innocence, and violence. Nothing about not eating animals. Don't let the title fool you. The Vegetarian takes things to a much deeper level than if killing animals is wrong. I barely remember that being discussed. Here's the best way I can break this down for you. Ever watched a good foreign film? You know how in a lot of foreign films there aren't millions of dollars invested into CGI and fhe actors and actresses look like real people? The movie is focused on the dialogue and the story rather than looking and sounding amazing. At the end, you feel something inside and you're thinking, man, I didn't know movies could be like this. I haven't seen anything like this before. That's how The Vegetarian is- translated into English from a South Korean author that doesn't look or feel like any book you've read before. You put it down and you're like, man, I didn't know books could be like this. I haven't read anything like this before. Eat animals or don't. Whatever. But check this one out. It's under 200 pages. Spend a Sunday afternoon with it. 476 likes Like Comment emma 2,121 reviews 67.3k followers January 28, 2024 I am my own worst enemy. I am the one who eats all the cookies, for example, preventing myself from having cookies to eat. I am the one who accidentally stays up until the wee hours of the morning because I suddenly need to research that mass-hysteria-in-medieval-France thing where no one could stop laughing. And most pertinently, I am the one who said “review and rating to come” on this book, assuming future me would have figured out my feelings. Spoiler alert: Future me has not figured out anything. So here we are. Hoping to write ourselves into an opinion. Here’s what I’ve got: - this is very weird. - But a good kind of weird, where it makes you think, and you notice things you otherwise may not have because you’re like “truly what is going on I have to figure this out.” - Once you start doing that, this is incredibly thematically rich. - Here are some themes I noticed and liked: - Parallels between vegetarianism and sexual assault - Relatedly, misogyny and the treatment of women, tied to nature and animals - The perception of what is ordinary versus what is extraordinary - Wife swap!!! I’ve been in very much a quantity over quality mood lately when it comes to reading, prioritizing getting to a book a day over reading books that will slow down and make me think. And this was very refreshing. Bottom line: I have decided - four stars!!! ------------- i will need to reflect on this book for 3-5 months before i say a single word about it. review to come / WHO KNOWS THE RATING ------------- don't mind me, just doing some chill, relaxed reading by picking up a book people have called "terrifying" and "unhinged" 4-stars authors-of-color diverse ...more 458 likes Like Comment Lala BooksandLala 517 reviews 71.2k followers March 14, 2020 wtfno. Book 10 of 30 for my 30 day reading challenge. And now I'm 3 days behind on my challenge because this book was exhausting to get through. 426 likes Like Comment Elyse Walters 4,010 reviews 11.3k followers October 27, 2019 Update: Han Kang's book, "The Vegetarian", is the Man Booker international winner Wow...**** ****ZERO spoilers I'm going to share my experience....and hope to find other readers to discuss this book with later. I couldn't 'not' read this in anything less than one sitting. If I keep thinking about this book, not only will I have a knot in my stomach as I do now...but I just might find myself crying my eyes out! I haven't felt so many intense emotions from a book in a long time. Zillions of thoughts flooded my mind from when our daughter was anorexic. At age 9, Katy came home from school one day and said, "I no longer eat meat".... which was just the beginning of her food eliminations. This book goes beyond anything I've ever read on the topic of eating disorders...(there's more....exploring a range of themes) The writing is MASTERFUL...with many gorgeous passages. I'm not sure this book is for everyone....but if you think you can handle minimal disturbing abuse and horror images...there is enough 'meat' (pun), in this book to keep the cerebral brain doing somersaults for months....leaving behind many questions to think about. *......A tidbit which might be useful information for those who read this. "A Mongolian mark is a bluish birthmark, very common among infants of color though uncommon among Caucasian infants, that typically disappears by the time a child is around five". Having this information would have 'helped' me feel less confused when I first started reading part II . The Vegetarian", is a novel of three-linked novellas. POWERFUL!! Thank You Crown Publishing, Netgalley, and Han Kang....( I think *Kang* is kinda a genius) Like Comment Felice Laverne Author 1 book 3,298 followers February 12, 2020 “Though the ostensible reason for her not wanting Yeong-hye to be discharged, the reason that she gave the doctor, was this worry about a possible relapse, now she was able to admit to herself what had really been going on. She was no longer able to cope with all that her sister reminded her of. She’d been unable to forgive her for soaring alone over a boundary she herself could never bring herself to cross, unable to forgive that magnificent irresponsibility that had enabled Yeong-hye to shuck off social constraints and leave her behind, still a prisoner. And before Yeong-hye had broken those bars, she’d never even known they were there…” Wow, what can I say about this one except “wow?” The Vegetarian by Han Kang was everything that we love about Korean and Japanese literature and art—and that’s exactly what this work was: art. Here you will find what we have come to know, to love and to expect from authors in this genre who write in this vein: the vibrancy, the subtle magical realism, the commanding usage of words and the elusive, sinister nature that is unique to these works—all embedded within an established culture of history and mores that has survived and developed for millennia longer than most others. The Vegetarian read with a delicious ominousness that was as subtle as a shadow, like a breath at your neck. It was that subtly that made the read so taunt and disquieting, and there was a strange, magical realism to it that almost read like Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84 (no shock there, as they both seem to have been influenced by Kafka). As a work of short literary form (it’s under 200 pages), it was unusual, among other reasons, in that it was told from three different perspectives with almost no perspective from the novel’s subject, Yeong-hye. We see how her vegetarianism, which later leads into a kind of manic catatonia, affects first her callous and at times sexually abusive husband, then her brother-in-law who becomes completely enthralled with her sexually because of her Mongolian mark, and her sister who is the last one standing when Yeong-hye’s psyche begins to peel away. In addition to the serious topics that The Vegetarian brushed up against: the effect of cultural mores on women, body image, conformism, familial ties and abuse, and, of course, mental illness that ultimately culminated in a way that I could never reveal without spoiling it for you—this was also a tale of family dysfunction. It was a tale of familial ties that were severed painfully, of violent confrontations and realizations, of physical and emotional starvation, and a parable about the woman, the vegetarian, at the center of it all. The Vegetarian was sensual, and it meandered toward its climax in a way that was both unsettling and prophetic. It was allegory elevated to the highest level of art, raised to the level of surrealism. Honestly, this may or may not work for everyone. You have to suspend your past experiences with reading (outside of this genre) in order to enjoy this one. That much is, honestly, a must. The change in tenses and POVs worked well. And even this technique, this simple process of sentence writing that we learn in grade school, was elevated: the tenses of sentences shifted noticeably, particularly the closer that it came to dénouement, a jolting but brilliant allusion to this descent into mental illness and personal violence, which added to the mystical element of this novel. Han Kang produced a work, her first to be seen here in the U.S., that was so unhinged, so mystifying, that at times it would slither from your grasp. I had to sit and reflect on several of the passages for a few minutes—not because they were ill-written, but because they were both profound and often just outside of my immediate mental grasp, and that was a wonderful thing. It was an effect that I look for in modern-day writing—that disquietingly ungraspable moment. Yeong-hye’s voice, which came to her while she was suspended in that halfway state between sleep and wakefulness, was low and warm at first, then innocent like that of a young child, but the last part was mangled, a distorted animal sound. Her eyes snapped open in fright, and she was stung by a waking hatred the likes of which she’d never felt before, before being thrown back into sleep. This time she was standing in from of the bathroom mirror. In the reflection, blood was trickling from her left eye. She quickly reached up to wipe the blood away, but somehow her reflection in the mirror didn’t move an inch, only stood there, blood running from a staring eye. The Vegetarian was unconventional. It broke away from the molds that we find ourselves encumbered in with typical fiction. Here you will not find the typical “rising action, climax, falling action” formula that we’ve become so accustomed to, that we’ve grown to expect and to lean into, though we know how it’ll all end in the end. There may or may not have been some issues with translation, but if there were, it wasn't overtly noticeable to me. I found the translation obstacles, where applicable, to be mild at worst. I would recommend this read to anyone who's ready to move away from the conventional, and to anyone already familiar or ready to become familiar with this genre of writing. Honestly, this read left me a little speechless, so you’ll have to excuse the less-than-customary word count here. Definitely, take that as a compliment in the highest sense. 5 stars. ***** FOLLOW ME HERE: Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram | Get a Copy of My Book | Book Editing, Author Coaching, Submit Your Book to Me contemporary-fiction cultural-surveys full-review ...more 386 likes 1 comment Like Comment Candi 656 reviews 4,981 followers March 9, 2021 “It’s your body, you can treat it however you please. The only area where you’re free to do just as you like. And even that doesn’t turn out how you wanted.” I don’t even know how to begin describing this novel. I’m guessing that in a year’s time or more, it will still hold true that this was one of the most haunting, unsettling and tragic novels I’ve read in a long time. For a slim book, there’s a great deal to mull over and discuss. There are many different ways of looking at this besides what meets the eye. Don’t let the title fool you. This isn’t simply a book about a woman that renounces meat and animal by-products. It’s a story about autonomy over one’s body and one’s life and the repercussions of a lack thereof. It probes the harmful ramifications of patriarchal societies, violence, and victimization. It explores mental illness. I’m not even touching on everything here. This is some heavy stuff! “Everything starts to feel unfamiliar. As if I’ve come up to the back of something. Shut up behind a door without a handle. Perhaps I’m only now coming face-to-face with the thing that has always been here. It’s dark. Everything is being snuffed out in the pitch-black darkness.” The subject of this novel is Yeong-hye. She’s not actually given a voice here except for a few very brief passages, as in the quote above, when she recounts the nightmares that led her to turn to vegetarianism. Instead, the book is split into three parts giving the perspectives of her husband, her brother-in-law, and eventually her sister. Not for one second did I ever feel any sympathy for the men. That’s not to say that I wasn’t wholly absorbed by the first two sections, because I surely was. What ultimately made the story for me, however, was the last section when we heard from In-hye, the sister. This was truly poignant and thought provoking. What makes one person suffer from mental illness while another does not? I’ve often considered that the boundary between a diagnosed illness versus a non-diagnosis can be a bit blurred at times. What about responsibility to another – how does that affect us psychologically? How do we protect those we love? “If it hadn’t been for Ji-woo—if it hadn’t been for the sense of responsibility she felt toward him—perhaps she too might have relinquished her grip on that thread.” I ended up with more questions by the time I turned the last page. I’ve had experience with a close loved one with a mental illness. As a child it’s scary and disconcerting. For me personally it heavily influenced my development as an adolescent and young adult. It affected many of my choices. I often think about the effects of mental illness on the functioning of a family. Han Kang has made me think about it that much more. What a powerful, beautiful torment of a book this was. “Life is such a strange thing… Even after certain things have happened to them, no matter how awful the experience, people still go on eating and drinking, going to the toilet and washing themselves - living, in other words. And sometimes they even laugh out loud.” asia contemporary-literary favorites ...more 323 likes 3 comments Like Comment Pakinam Mahmoud 922 reviews 4,220 followers November 9, 2023 رواية مجنونة ..رواية مش عادية.. بس إوعي تفتكر إنك حتقرأ رواية عن واحدة قررت تبقي نباتية.. الرواية عن ست متجوزة رجل شايفها سلبية.. شايفها عادية ..عاوزها تخدمه وبس..كان بيقول عليها "كانت حقاً أكثر أمرأة عادية في العالم!" وزي ما كان جوزها مش شايفها ولا حاسس بيها أبوها كمان كان بيعاملها معاملة قاسية جداً في طفولتها وكانت هي دايماً مستسلمة وساكتة.. "كنت مجبرة علي الصمت خلف باب بلا مقبض.." الرواية فكرتني بقصة نعاس لموراكامي..الست اللي من جواها ناقصها حاجات كتيير فمبقيتش تنام أما هنا في الرواية عبرت عن رفضها لحياتها بالتوقف عن أكل اللحوم.. وزي ما غريغور أهله رفضوه في رواية التحول لكافكا هنا كمان أهلها عاملوها بمنتهي القسوة وأهملوها تماما لما تعبت لمجرد إنها أخذت قرار مختلف عن اللي هم عاوزينه.. "انظري إلي نفسك توقفي عن أكل اللحوم وسوف يلتهمك الناس في هذا العالم!" الرواية مقسمة إلي ثلاث أجزاء الجزء التاني فيها أقل ما يقال عنه أنه عبقري..إزاي تطلق العنان لنفسك و لموهبتك ولمشاعرك ..ازاي تتحرر من كل القيود و تعمل اللي انت عاوزه ومش 'اللي المفروض تعمله'.. رواية حقيقي مجنونة ومختلفة عن أي حاجة قريتها قبل كدة..الترجمة كمان كانت كويسة جداً.. أنا مش بكتب ريڤيوهات طويلة إلا مع الروايات المميزة جداً او الروايات اللي بتلمس فيا حاجة شخصية.. الرواية هنا فيها الاتنين:) " يجب أن أروي جسدي يا شقيقتي الكبري..أنا لا أحتاج إلي مثل هذا الطعام..أحتاج إلي الماء فحسب.." 307 likes Like Comment Cecily 1,195 reviews 4,592 followers December 3, 2021 How to review this cold, voyeuristic, sexy, ugly, beautiful, disturbing novella? The single story is told in three sections, from three points of view - in three different genres: from a domestic drama of a marriage suddenly under strain, through erotica, to madness and borderline magical-realism. But we never hear from the subject herself. At the end… I felt adrift, rather than rooted. Intrigued, moved, and pleasantly bemused. Triggers : This book is probably unusable for those in the depths of eating disorders, body dysmorphia, or suicidal ideation. It’s not really about vegetarianism. 1. The Vegetarian It starts simply: Yeong-hye is a young South Korean woman. She has been married for a few years to Mr Cheong, who narrates the first part. He is very aware of her ordinariness; it’s part of what made her suitable. “ If there wasn’t any special attraction, nor did any particular drawbacks present themselves, and therefore there was no reason for the two of us not to get married. ” When Yeong-hye has her first vivid and disturbing dream about butchered animals, she becomes a vegetarian. Image : Abattoir ( Source .) “ I ate too much meat. The lives of the animals I ate have all lodged there. ” [on her chest] This change is shocking and disgusting to Mr Cheong, shameful in front of his colleagues, and anathema to her traditional family. Conformity is required, individualism reviled. The nearest Mr Cheong comes to demonstrating any passion is when he describes, in almost fetishistic terms, how delicious his wife's meat-based cooking used to be. Yeong-hye may be becoming anorexic or delusional, but he shows neither sympathy nor curiosity - just anger and resentment at the effect on him. 2. Mongolian Mark (A Mongolian mark is a type of grey birth mark at the base of the spine, that usually disappears by age 5 and almost always before puberty.) The middle section opens at a dance show with an ox-blood coloured curtain. “ The carnality, the pure sensuality of this image, was nothing short of monstrous. ” It focuses on the unnamed husband of Yeong-hye’s sister. He’s an unsuccessful video artist, emasculated by his wife’s success: “ their only shared business was their child ”. His dramatic inspiration for a new artwork is personal, passionate, and transgressive. The story transmogrifies into artistic erotica, with undertones of paedophilic desires. Image : “Magnolia”, by Cecilia Paredes ( Source .) “ The monochrome world, entirely devoid of the colours he was now experiencing, had had a calmness that was beautiful in its way… All of his energy was taken up in trying to cope with the excitement, the heightened awareness of living in the present moment. ” 3. Flaming Trees “ She had merely absorbed all her suffering inside her. ” The final section, narrated by In-hye (Yeong-hye’s older sister), mostly in the present tense, is a darker exploration of change, humanity, family ties, duty, and madness. “ Soon now, words and thoughts will disappear. ” Is she like Kafka's The Hunger Artist (see my review HERE ) or more like the girl in one of the stories in Daisy Johnson's Fen (see my review HERE )? Image : Woman doing handstand in a forest. ( Source .) Men versus sisters “ Hand, foot, tongue, gaze, all weapons from which nothing is safe. ” This felt like a book written by a man until part way into the middle section. I think that’s because it was told by/from male points of view, one of them judgemental, controlling, and cold, and both objectifying women. “ It was a body that made one want to rest one’s gaze quietly upon it. ” The final section by In-hye was different. Although the story is ostensibly about Yeong-hye, the relationship between the sisters is at the heart of it all. • One is serene, self-contained, and possibly brave: “ She radiated energy, like a tree that grows in the wilderness, denuded and solitary. ” • The other is successful, dutiful, conventional: “ The kind of woman whose goodness is oppressive ”. Both have deep inner strength, and they are tied by blood and by the shared suffix of their names (whereas the men are Mr Cheong and... who knows what In-hye's husband is called?). • How much does one owe family - and what happens when there are conflicting needs? • What’s the toll of guilt, betrayal, and jealousy? • To what extent can one break free of genes and expectations, and at what cost? Imagery The dreams, described in short italic passages, involve blood, flesh, and eyes. Blood and eyes recur throughout. As do breasts, birds, and trees. I felt there was more to these symbols than the obvious, but I'm not sure what. Quotes • “The kiss was a palimpsest of memories.” • “Dreams overlaid with dreams, a palimpsest of horror.” • “With my round breasts, I’m okay… So why do they keep on shrinking?... Why are my edges all sharpening - what am I going to gouge?” • “It was impossible to tell whether or not he was pleased to see his father.” Of a five-year old. Tragic. • “As if there were a wire linking her tongue with his body, every time that little pink tongue darted out [licking shaved ice] he found himself flinching as though from an electric shock.” • “This was the body of a beautiful young woman… yet it was a body from which all the desire had been eliminated…. What she had renounced was the very life that her body represented. The sunlight that came splintering through the wide window… and the beauty of that body… was also ceaselessly splintering.” • “Her calm acceptance… made her seem to him something sacred. Whether human, animal or plant, she could not be called a ‘person’.” • “The brush was cold, and the sensation was ticklish yet numbing, a persistent, effectual caress.” • “She’d been unable to forgive her for soaring alone over a boundary she herself could never bring herself to cross,” • “She had never lived… she had done nothing but endure… Her life was no more than a ghostly pageant of exhausted endurance, no more real than a television drama.” • “Her voice had no weight… neither gloomy nor absent-minded… the quiet tone of someone who didn’t belong anywhere, someone who had passed into a border area between states of being.” Image : “Her bare feet kissing the tiles.” ( Source .) Notes about the original Korean novella The three parts were originally published separately. I think a slightly firmer delineation of the parts is probably helpful. The disconcerting and dramatic change of viewpoint and genre is part of the appeal, and what makes this so unusual. There's also controversy about the English translation, as highlighted in Nocturnalux 's comment below, and discussed in knowledgeable detail, with links to other articles, in the comments of Paul's review . Is the English version I read barely recognisable version of the original, or are the criticisms themselves rooted in racist stereotypes? Another good article, courtesy of Chinook's review is this one . It picks out specific examples of clearcut "mistakes". But it concludes: "And ultimately, Smith carried out perhaps the most important task of all: She successfully introduced a work of literature to people who might otherwise never have had a chance to read it. In that regard, Smith was faithful to the end." I'm glad I was able to read it. china-japan-asia feminism-patriarchy-gender-roles food ...more 263 likes 6 comments Like Comment Megan Hoffman 180 reviews 319 followers February 24, 2016 Han Kang's novel, 'The Vegetarian,' tells the story of Yeong-hye. Having recently had a dream that has convinced her to cease eating any meat whatsoever, and finds that such a decision is affect nearly all aspects of her life. Her family is trying to force her to eat meat, the relationships that once surrounded her are falling apart, and everyone is questioning whether she is insane. The thing is, she just might be losing her mind - and all because of a dream. This book isn't super long. In fact, it reads like a novella, so it's easy to consume and fast paced enough that about the time you feel really into it, it's over. It's not a bad thing though because there is a LOT packed into this little story. Despite being a story that is explicitly about Yeong-hye, it is actually never told directly from her perspective. Instead, we are give about 60 pages a piece from her husband, her brother-in-law, and her sister. The oddest part about this formatting is, unlike many book of this type, the perspectives do not overlap. Some take place at the time of Yeong-hye's decision to become a vegetarian, and others take place years after the fact. To be totally honest, this book is weird. It might actually be the weirdest book I've ever read. But there's still something beautiful about it. It's an honest look at mental illness and how it affects not only that individual, but also everyone that cares about them. For those who have dealt with abuse, it's not as cut and dry to understand why mental illness affects them. Instead, it's about learning how to cope and manage, but also when to let go of those who hold you back. As I mentioned before, this book is a roller coaster ride, especially in the beginning. I sat down to read this expecting to read for maybe 20 minutes later but looked at the clock an hour later and realized that I was so involved in the story that I didn't want to stop reading. It's sad, depressing, at times fun, but most of all it's probably the most thought-provoking novel I have ever read. My rating: I give it 3 stars not because I didn't like it or I don't think you should read it, but because I found the pacing of the book to be distracting. It starts off energetic, fast-paced, and almost manic. During the middle, it takes a turn and reads more as a desperate plea for approval or attention. And in the end, it's detailed, slower, and tired. I don't know whether this was an intentional decision, but for me as a reader it meant that every 60 pages or so I was forced to feel like I was adjusting to a new writing style. Who should read it?: If you enjoy international novels, this is an excellent choice. I have been told that those who have been deeply affected by the decision to become a vegetarian have loved this story. Or anyone who wants to read something that is so unlike anything else out there, that there is no way they will forget this book. I was provided with a free copy of this book in order to conduct this review. WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM general-fiction 260 likes Like Comment فايز غازي Fayez Ghazi Author 2 books 4,401 followers May 30, 2023 - اولاً لا بد من الإشادة بلغة محمود عبد الغفار الرائعة في الترجمة، لولا بعض الاخطاء الإملائية والنحوية البسيطة. - اعتقد اولاً اننا لا يمكننا قراءة هذه الرواية بالسببية، بمعنى ما السبب الذي جعلها نباتية، لأن هذا غير مهم اطلاقاً، فتحولها الى نباتية هو موقف تجسّد بالإمتناع عن اكل اللحوم! - الدافع في هذه الرواية هو الخوف، فهذه الفتاة التي عاشت في كنف اهل غير متفهمين، وكانت تتحمل الضرب، وتزوجت بإنسان تافه كانت خادمته لخمس سنوات، هذه المخلوقة الضعيفة راكمت الخوف فوق الخوف، والإنعزال فوق الإنعزال والخضوع والدونية حتى ضاقت نفسها بجسدها فبدأ الحلم وبدأت محاولات التخلص منه بالإمتناع عن اللحوم! - القصة تنقسم لثلاثة اقسام، الجزء الاول والأخير يشكلان البداية والنهاية، ورغم سلاستهما الا انهما لا يقارنان بإبداع الجزء الثاني - يتدرج الجزء الأول من زواج، فحياة رتيبة (5 سنوات) ثم الحلم، فالتحول لنباتية ورمي اللحوم و"إحراج" الزوج في المناسبات، فشكواه لأهلها، فمحاولة اهلها اجبارها على اللحم فالضرب فمحاولة الانتحار... ويبدأ الجزء الثالث بنقلها لمصحة الأمراض النفسية، فعلاجها فإمتناعها عن العلاج الى اضمحلالها واقترابها مما تهوى الا وهو الموت والتوحد مع الطبيعة.. هذا الجزء (الثالث) اتى على لسان الأخت الكبرى التي ربطت فقرات الرواية ببعضها معطية الأبعاد النفسية للنصوص التي مرّت، بإنتقال سلس ما بين الماضي (فلاش باك) والحاضر وصولاً الى المستقبل في آخر سطور الرواية. - الجزء الثاني، إبداع رائع، دمج التصوير والرسم والإيروتيك اتى بتناغم ما بعده تناغم، فالبناء الهائل حول مصدر الهام "تافه" او عادي كالبقعة المنغولية اتى بشكل لا يوصف، كما ان الوصف الذي تقلّب بين فن بحت، الى فن ورغبة، الى رغبة وانتهاء بالجنس من اجل الفن كان بديعاً. وعلى الضفة الأخرى فإن وجود الأخت الصغرى في قلب الحدث شحن هذا الجزء بأبعادٍ اخلاقية ونفسية كثيرة. كما ان الكاتبة وبطريقة غير مباشرة لم تجعل من هذا الحدث سبباً لإنهيار الأخت الصغرى بل كان الشيئ الوحيد الذي فعلته بإرادتها منذ بداية الرواية الى آخرها، كان قرارها.. رغم ما سببه من انهيار العالم حول اختها الكبرى! - "هل الموت امر سيئ" سؤال سألته الأخت الصغرى في النهاية، ويبدو انه كان الهدف المنشود.... 253 likes Like Comment Jim Fonseca 1,122 reviews 7,562 followers July 17, 2023 The author makes a point of starting the story by telling us it’s about an ordinary Korean couple. The man, recognizing that he is nothing special, marries a woman whom he calls “the most run-of-the-mill woman in the world.” The young woman, living in Seoul, starts having nightmares full of blood and hanging meat. She decides to become a vegetarian. Her husband is irate and even recruits her family to help him get her to start eating and cooking meat again. That pressure and the continuing nightmares push her further toward an almost plant-like existence. She takes her clothes off to get sun and runs into the forest and stands in the rain lie a tree. She hardly sleeps; she becomes anorexic and skeletal. Her brother-in-law abuses her. He's a video artist who sexually exploits her. We learn about her abusive father, and maybe some of her issues had roots in that abuse. There is good writing, such as this passage about her brother-in-law: “…even after they were married he still looked perpetually worn out. He was always busy with his own things, and during what little time he did spend at home he looked more like a traveler putting up there for a night than a man in his own home. His silence had the heavy mass of rock and the tenacious resistance of rubber, particularly when his art wasn’t going well. The author (b. 1970) has written more than 20 books of which a half-dozen appear to have been translated into English. This book, The Vegetarian, won the 2016 Man Booker prize for translated novels. It was also picked as one of the 10 Best Books of 2016 by the NY Times Book Review. I also enjoyed reading her The White Book, mostly poems, which was shortlisted for the 2018 Man Booker prize. Photo of Seoul from beltandroad.news The author from nytimes.com [Spoiler hidden 12/1/22; revised 7/16/23] anorexia diet korean-authors 242 likes Like Comment Whitney Atkinson 985 reviews 12.8k followers July 16, 2016 I gave myself 24 hours to think over this before rating it, but I still don't know... i'm left off very confused... This is a book about characters whose backstories and full character arcs aren't really explored, so it was jarring to read a character-heavy book whose main focus is on a woman that we never even see the perspective of. Maybe i'm missing something, and i'm horrified that I did because everyone else loves this book, but this just read very strangely to me. By the end I understood the characters' motives for doing everything they did but I was never invested into them, which makes me sad because this is a book highly centered around psychological issues and female autonomy and both of those things are usually fascinating to me. If anyone felt the same way I did, what did you think was missing? I'm just not quite sure how to put into words what about this felt not amazing need-to-reread read-in-2016 208 likes Like Comment Adina 1,056 reviews 4,318 followers July 15, 2020 “She was no longer able to cope with all that her sister reminded her of. She'd been unable to forgive her for soaring alone over a boundary she herself could never bring herself to cross, unable to forgive that magnificent irresponsibility that had enabled Yeong-hye to shuck off social constraints and leave her behind, still a prisoner. And before Yeong-hye had broken those bars, she'd never even known they were there.” For a small book it took me a lot of time to finish. The reason is that I wanted to absorb every word while, in the same time, I had to stop periodically because the emotional loading that my heart accumulated became too much. Korean people are close to my heart and with every year that I go there and meet my business partners I believe I understand them more. The experience I have there made me feel deeply about this novel. It is tough and not always pleasant to be Korean, the traditions and the society puts pressure on each individual, especially on women, to comply and be responsible. During the conversation I had with various Koreans, I understood there still is the expectation that the woman should follow the men’s orders and to put the well-being of the family above hers, a theme that was present in this novel Another cultural shock that I had was about the education in Korea. A partner told me that he could not go on holiday with his family for the past 2-3 years because his child was in high-school and had to study for university, for an exam which will be only in another year. It seems that the competition there is so high and if the young Koreans want to get to a good university (a must if striving for a decent life) they need to study non-stop, without any fun in their life. Another partner was very preoccupied to register his child into a good kindergarten because if they missed that chance the child’s life could be a failure. They even have exams to be admitted to kindergarten. Can you imagine the pressure the children have to face from such an early age?… no wonder they feel trapped when they get older. I read an article in Economist about this problem which seems to be spread in many Asian countries. I read reviews that the book is not realistic… it is wrong. It is very realistic and I can see it happen, including the craze with the vegetarianism. “The feeling that she had never really lived in this world caught her by surprise. It was a fact. She had never lived. Even as a child, as far back as she could remember, she had done nothing but endure. She had believed in her own inherent goodness, her humanity, and lived accordingly, never causing anyone harm. Her devotion to doing things the right way had been unflagging, all her successes had depended on it, and she would have gone on like that indefinitely. She didn't understand why, but faced with those decaying buildings and straggling grasses, she was nothing but a child who had never lived.” *** What a better moment to read this than in Seoul while eating lots of Korean meat. booker korea w-mwl-alternative 187 likes Like Comment Cindy 472 reviews 125k followers May 19, 2017 The Vegetarian is a short, sad, and simple read that still managed to leave an impression on me. It does its job of getting readers to reflect on culture and our control of women’s bodies. However, it doesn’t provide anything new to the theme - I think having the story in the POV of Yeong-Hye rather than the other unlikable characters would have helped add more nuance. I don’t particularly care for the gross men, and we have plenty of stories that are about the male gaze already. It would have been nice to truly see the in-depth struggle of the woman herself. 184 likes 1 comment Like Comment Ruby Granger Author 3 books 49.4k followers July 6, 2020 Before reading this, I was warned that it was weird. And yes, it kind of was. But not in a surreal way. It was more that the writing was so raw, subversive and undulating that it became weird in its honesty. Either way, one of the best books I've read this year. 177 likes Like Comment Michael 655 reviews 956 followers January 14, 2019 A disturbing novel about anorexia, patriarchy, and abuse, The Vegetarian explores the emotional toll of violence against women. The novel follows Yeong-hye, a young South Korean woman trapped in a loveless marriage, as she stops eating meat and starts to starve herself and rebel against her callous family after having a blood-soaked nightmare. Yeong-hye’s behavior grows increasingly erratic and self-destructive across the novel’s three equal-length parts, in turn narrated from the perspectives of her husband, brother-in-law, and sister. The narration robs Yeong-hye of her voice and forces readers to watch her plight from a distance, through the viewpoints of those who can’t understand her; a strong sense of alienation pervades the book, in spite of the translator’s poetic prose. The story takes several unsettling and bizarre turns, and the men in the protagonist’s life are monstrous, void of emotion and empathy. The novel feels a bit uneven, with a weak last third and some pacing issues, but Han Kang has crafted an unforgettable plot, if nothing else. 2019 172 likes Like Comment Fabian 977 reviews 1,925 followers October 26, 2020 She's turned vegetarian... now what a ridiculous b!+ch! Riveting adult fiction. What do I mean by "adult"? In middle school you would not have understood it; in high school you would have hated it. But adults acting as children, having crises in front of their community at high noon? Yeah. I've been indoctrinated. Han Kang has a taut, very animalistic tale of madness and marriage to share with us. So... Let's eat! 169 likes Like Comment Lisa 1,066 reviews 3,311 followers August 5, 2019 I read The Vegetarian during a day-long trip on buses, trains and planes, starting at about 8 o'clock in the morning, finishing when the plane touched down an hour late at my final destination. Readers, be warned: this experiment should not necessarily be repeated, it may cause utter distress and embarrassment. 8 o'clock, inner city bus in a major German city: "Before my wife turned vegetarian, I'd always thought of her as completely unremarkable in every way." I laugh out loud, and gather some surprised looks in the "pre-morning-coffee" crowd on the bus. My reaction is somewhat inappropriate, both with regards to my setting and to the fact that this book takes a turn that is NO LAUGHING MATTER! Before buying a coffee-to-go on my first train ride of the day, I already choke on my own laughter, realising that the first of the different narrators is one of the most selfish, uncaring, brutal male prototypes imaginable, and the story is developed from his point of view, which is a magnificent stylistic feature. 10 o'clock, crammed local train moving into the conservative countryside: While I read about an atrocious case of physical abuse in the name of patriarchal power, leading to mental breakdown as well as family dissolution, shivering at the passive fictional bystanders watching the violence in voyeuristic fascination, the train prepares for its final station and a group of Asian tourists are lining up in the corridor to leave the train. An elderly Bavarian man tells his wife and grandchild that there is no use getting off their seats as long as (enter derogatory word for Japanese in German which I still am too angry to repeat) are clogging the train. Fuelled by the effect of patriarchal superiority complex I read about just a second earlier, and by the fact that the Asian setting of the novel makes it somehow closer to the situation I am experiencing in real life, I literally see red and turn to the old man, just a casual racist as there are legion everywhere, and ask him if he is aware that all people have the same right to this train? He mumbles something, trying to explain that it is a fact though. They are standing there. Yes, it is a fact that people are standing in the train, trying to leave. Only a racist makes a derogatory remark on their origin (which, by the way, doesn't have to be Japanese at all, just because he thinks so). That is how patriarchy and racism work, and I was shaking when I left the train, as much because of the conflict I had had myself, as because of the enhancing effect of the brutal novel on my fragile equilibrium. 12 o'clock in a local village, without cash: While the story evolves into a case of mental disease and a rare form of anorexia nervosa, I start to feel like I am starving myself. Where do you find anything to eat in a village that doesn't accept credit cards, and that thinks vegetarianism means taking the meat off the regular plate? 14 o'clock in a local train, other direction, still no food, hallucinating over a chocolate bar: While the train stops for a police action (the story doesn't provide any further information on that matter, unfortunately), and I see minutes pass, worrying I might miss my plane, I look outside and see beautiful landscapes with trees and flowers in abundance, while reading about violent sex acts carried out in a most disturbing way, by protagonists with flower patterns painted all over their bodies. I feel slightly uncomfortable to read the book in a public space now, hoping not to draw any attention to myself. It is intense reading. No quotes. 17 o'clock at an airport, waiting, I have food and water and a spot to myself, locked away in the security area: And that is a good thing, because now the story moves between dream and reality, between now and childhood trauma, between guilt and shame. How can you possibly be a woman in a world dominated by male rules and male violence? In a hospital for mental health, the vegetarian tries to change into a plant in order to escape the carnal pain that has defined her life from the beginning. And in her sister, she plants a seed of doubt. What if she is not the strong one, after all? Just the one hiding behind a polished surface, having demured, but not lived? 20 o'clock, on a plane, constant background noise as a mother struggles to keep her two toddlers quiet (without success) while the plane has been delayed twice before finally heading to the North: The screams that fill the claustrophobic aircraft cabin resonate in the silent pain of the main character trying to erase the traces of humanity in herself. The story is hardly bearable on a regular day, but after 12 hours of exposure to public transportation, it hits you in the stomach and makes you feel nauseous. 22 o'clock, touchdown, last lines. "The look in her eyes is dark and insistent." man-booker 146 likes 1 comment Like Comment Thomas 1,630 reviews 10.1k followers May 29, 2017 I liked several aspects of The Vegetarian on an intellectual level. Han Kang does a great job portraying how women suffer from the male gaze, patriarchal standards that make them adhere to men, and abuse brought on by the forced consumption of meat and the men who partake in said consumption. As a future psychologist passionate about eating disorders, though, I abhorred how Kang portrayed Yeong-hye's descent into anorexia. Yes, I get that her refusal to eat meat and then food overall symbolizes her rejection of the normative, sexist values of her surrounding society and family. But Kang glorified this restrictive behavior too much. Others have described this book as "beautiful" and "fresh" and "delicious." This book is literally about a woman who slowly kills herself through self-starvation. There is nothing pretty or romantic or healthy about this novel. I would not want anyone to model their actions after Yeong-hye, and I wish Kang had driven home that point more. Overall, a good depiction of a woman who suffers because of the violence men inflict upon her. I do not recommend it though, based on wanting to avoid the implication that anorexia is a reasonable way to cope - when I know firsthand and from other experiences that it is not. adult-fiction horror 140 likes Like Comment Lark Benobi Author 1 book 2,813 followers January 30, 2019 This was a perfect, perfect book for me. The novel is simply told, and very short, but it touches on so many critical, cut-to-the-bone themes, including the most fundamental questions of identity, of gender, of responsibility toward others, and of what makes life worth living. In this novel the more outwardly stable and successful a character is, the less likely they are to have any perspective on their life choices. The more a given character becomes aware of their lived experience, the closer he or she comes to falling into the abyss. The story forces characters, and by extension readers, to think deeply about what "self" is, whether it be defined most simply as an organic body with organic desires and needs of its own, or as part of a social structure, where one's value and even one's sanity is defined by others. This was a disturbing read in the best sense possible--I was disturbed from complacent thinking and stirred up with new thoughts. 2016 best-of-2016 hogarth 136 likes Like Comment MischaS_ 785 reviews 1,425 followers June 18, 2019 Honestly? I don't know what to say. This was one of the hardest books to read, ever. I started once a few months ago, and at the scene where they FORCED her to eat meat , I broke. I could not continue. It was so painful. And I could not imagine the horror of your own family doing that to you. The story is about Yeong-here but except for little snippets (dreams), we follow it through different POV. It had a certain feeling to it like she was degraded from being an adult, a person who can decide for herself. The only thing I really disliked about this book that a)she was not a vegetarian, I'm not even sure that you could call her a vegan, she was very extreme. b)it very much shows her "plant diet" as a mental illness. Yes, she was ill. However, her diet did not cause it, same with anorexia or bulimia, that's usually not the illness, it's how it manifests! Unfortunately, people read this, and some people look at anyone not eating meat and think that they are sick. And some people already told me: "see, she starved because she did not eat meat. And she went crazy! You should get a steak!" FYI, if you have any good book (fiction) with a good representation of people on a plant-based diet, please, write the recommendation in the comments! (Bought in Berlin) books-i-own english strong-feelings 122 likes Like Comment Orsodimondo [part time reader at the moment] 2,289 reviews 2,161 followers February 22, 2024 LA MACCHIA MONGOLICA Lei, Yeong-hye, fa un sogno. E quella stessa notte, per impulso del sogno, sbarazza frigo e congelatore di qualsiasi presenza animale: carne, pesce, latte, uova, formaggio. Diventa vegana, più che la vegetariana del titolo. Diventa intransigente. Mangia sempre meno, dimagrisce a dismisura, si nutre di luce (sole) e acqua, come se lei stessa fosse una pianta, come se la sintesi clorofilliana fosse la sua dieta ideale. E, in pratica, smette di dormire: probabilmente si rifiuta di farlo per non ripetere il sogno, che in effetti era piuttosto sanguinolento e impressionante. Il primo capitolo è visto attraverso gli occhi del marito (in prima persona), uomo ordinario, dozzinale, di quelli che non si vorrebbero sposare. Epperò, invece, lui si sente superiore a sua moglie. Probabilmente per questo, dopo che lei ha tentato il suicidio – gesto più dimostrativo che risolutivo – e dopo che è stata dimessa dalla clinica psichiatrica, la caccia di casa e divorzia. Nobuyoshi Araki, qui e sopra. Il secondo capitolo è visto attraverso gli occhi del marito della sorella di Yeong-hye, anche se raccontato in terza persona. Il cognato è un artista, o, se non altro, tale si sente. E comincia a fantasticare sul corpo della cognata vegana, che gli piacerebbe tanto usare come tela da dipingere. Almeno è quello che crede e che si dice per spiegare l’erezione che accompagna ogni visione di Yeong-hye, e ogni pensiero sulla macchia mongolica collocata sopra la sua natica sinistra. Anche il suo matrimonio, come quella della cognata vegana, non funziona. Han Kang lo descrive così: Così era la loro relazione negli ultimi tempi: simile a quella di due soci in affari, che evitavano accuratamente ogni argomento superfluo nei loro scambi e avevano un solo interesse comune, il figlio. Il terzo capitolo, anche questo narrato in terza persona, è attraverso il punto di vista della sorella di Yeong-hye. È rimasta madre single dopo che il marito, il presunto artista, è sparito di casa senza farsi più sentire. D’altronde tenerselo in casa dopo quello che aveva combinato con Yeong-hye non era proprio possibile. È quella che si prende maggiormente cura della sorella vegana. Ma vegana o vegetariana, a me sembra che Yeong-hye cerchi una purezza per ripulirsi da tutta la sporcizia che il mondo maschile le ha rovesciato addosso. Il suo gesto è forse prima di tutto una ribellione al maschilismo e alla violenza del padre, e del marito, e del mondo in genere. Daido Moriyama, questa e le due precedenti. Io sono rimasto particolarmente sorpreso dalla sensazione di muovermi in un mondo conosciuto – ma mai del tutto esplorato, perché infinite sono le potenzialità dell’arte – che non riesco di solito a provare quando leggo letteratura – o vedo cinema – che proviene dall’estremo oriente. C’è un senso di riconoscibilità in tutta la vicenda e la sua ambientazione, nonostante si svolga a Seoul e abbia per protagonista una giovane donna dalle scelte esasperate, spinte e protratte ben oltre l’estremo. Perciò, per fortuna nessuna tinta esotica in questo primo incontro con Han Kang: è il dolore della vegetariana, o vegana - umano, molto umano - che colpisce e rimane impresso. Per concludere, e anche qui sotto, Yayoi Kusama. Curiosità: Han Kang è approdata da noi – con discreto successo mi pare – solo dopo essere stata tradotta in inglese. È stato questo passaggio ad aprirle la porta dell’editoria italiana. E Adelphi ha deciso di tradurre dall’edizione statunitense anziché dal coreano, giustificandosi col fatto che la versione inglese risultava particolarmente efficace e limpida anche a detta dell’autrice, più elegante persino dell’originale Così racconta e spiega Vincenzo Latronico nel suo articolo su La Stampa del 26 gennaio 2024 “L’inglese non traduce l’altro mondo”. corea 116 likes 11 comments Like Comment Maxwell 1,254 reviews 10k followers May 24, 2016 The Vegetarian is a very cerebral novel. And yet, it's incredibly affecting. Han Kang is able to explore dark and twisted events--and characters--in a really engaging way. It's thrilling to see the story devolve, and I have to say I was never quite sure what was going to happen next. Overall it was such a fun reading experience (which if you've read this book definitely doesn't reflect the subject matter) mostly because the story felt so fresh and exciting. I really can't compare this to anything I've read in a while, and I can see why it recently won the Man Booker International Prize. Try this one if you're looking for something short, powerful and a bit sick. 4.5 stars translated 117 likes Like Comment Repellent Boy 526 reviews 561 followers September 29, 2019 "Rechazando la carne, mi protagonista rechaza la violencia del ser humano" con esta frase que la autora contesta en una entrevista que también recoge la novela, se puede resumir bastante bien de lo que trata este libro. Aunque es mucho, muchísimo más. Es una novela enorme en mayúsculas. Nos vamos a encontrar con Yeonghye un mujer que de pronto decide dejar de comer carne. Curiosamente la autora decide contarnos la historia de Yeonghye a través de tres narradores diferentes, su marido, su cuñado y su hermana. Y, extrañamente, conseguí empatizar con la protagonista a un nivel, que me extraña muchísimo haberlo conseguido sin escuchar sus propios pensamientos. Como digo este libro es enorme y bajo la trama de una chica que decide dejar de comer carne, se esconde mucho más. Es una crítica a la sociedad y no creo que solo se centre en la surcoreana, se puede extrapolar al resto del mundo, porque en mayor o menor medida, es algo que se repite en todos los países. Como digo, es una crítica a esta sociedad donde no se puede destacar, donde si algo se sale de la norma se señala, se castiga. Una sociedad donde alguien no puede dejar de comer carne sin que el mundo de su alrededor opine. La mayoría de los personajes le repiten constantemente que sin la carne no tendrá vitalidad, y, curiosamente, ningún personaje irradia energía, más bien todo lo contrario. Se mueven casi por inercia. Y además, salvo su hermana al final, a ningún personaje parece que le mueva la preocupación real por la salud de la protagonista, si no el mero hecho de que no destaque, de que algo diferente que no entienden, no les incomode o perturbe su vida. Por ejemplo, su marido, lo único que opina sobre ella es que ha cambiado y ya no le resulta tan cómoda la convivencia con ella. Y, por supuesto, una vez más, la peor parte se la lleva la mujer. Curiosamente el único personaje que logra entenderla al final, si no bien en su totalidad, si empatizar con ella, es su hermana. Otra mujer que ha pasado por esa misma violencia con la que la sociedad liderada por hombres oprime a las mujeres. Existen muchas citas donde su marido habla de ella como una persona a la que escogió por "simple", por no destacar o por no tener nada especial. Y que eso le gustaba de ella, que estuviera callada y no diera problemas. De hecho, curiosamente, jamás la llama por su nombre, solo la nombra como "mi mujer" o "ella", como si fuera una más de sus posesiones. O su cuñado, que solo la ve como un elemento para conseguir satisfacer sus deseos. Así, es su hermana Inhye el único personaje que realmente trata de entenderla y consigue ponerse en sintonía con ella de alguna manera. La novela tiene un prólogo y una nota posterior de la traductora super interesantes, donde nos cuenta que la novela en Corea inicialmente fue muy críticada y no gustó a los críticos, y que estos, obviamente, eran predominantemente hombres. De hecho a las mujeres solía gustarles la novela, mientras que los hombres no lograban entenderla. Vaya vaya. La historia de siempre. Por otra parte, mientras leí la novela tenía un sentimiento rarísimo que pocas veces he experimentado leyendo un libro. Muy pocas. Y no lograba identificarlo hasta que lo acabé. Era incomodidad, el libro te hace sentir oprimido. Es tan perturbador, tan crudo y realista, que te pone los pelos de punta cada página. Aconsejaría a todo el mundo que leyera este libro con ganas y analizando cada frase sin quedarse en la superficialidad del tema inicial, para lograr sacarle todo el jugo que merece este libro. Aún así, mi consejo es que si no estás acostumbrado a leer literatura asiática, vayas primero a otro tipo de libro. En fin, ya tenemos un firme candidato a mejor lectura de 2019. MARAVILLA ABSOLUTA. 2010-2019 asia corea-del-sur ...more 114 likes Like Comment Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin 3,588 reviews 10.8k followers February 21, 2016 MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List I'm almost at a loss for words on how to review this book. I loved it, it was sad and bizarre, but when dealing with mental illness, not that much is bizarre. I have my own mental illnesses so I don't put too much into what people think because there are those that support you and those that don't. And to me, in my opinion, I think Yeong-hye might not have slipped into this world as far as she did if she had support from her family. One can never tell. I wish we could have heard Yeong-hye's thoughts, there were snippets here and there, but this story is told through her husband's eyes, her brother-in-law's eyes and one of her sisters eyes. I think her husband was a jerk. He married Yeong-hye because she was plain and wouldn't outshine him. She would be a decent woman to take care of him and she worked her own job without any fuss. But, one night he wakes up and finds her in the kitchen, she's just standing there. He's fussing at her and all she finally says is I had a dream. The whole story line where she is just standing there in the dark like a statue was very creepy to me! The next thing her husband finds her throwing out all of the meat and saying she is a vegetarian now. She had a very disturbing dream of blood and death, it doesn't go too much into the dream, but it was enough to change how Yeong-hye saw the world. I really don't know if this was just a beginning of mental illness or something that was just a decision after a dream. The sad part is that her husband never supported her, he abused her a few times, her family didn't support her and even abused her. I despised her father for the abuse of an animal and his own daughter. He should have been taking to the gallows, but I digress. I'm not sure, but I'm thinking if they would have supported her and not acting the way they did at a dinner that she might not have ending up in a psych ward for suicidal tendencies. Well, her sorry husband who didn't support her anyway, and was secretly in love with her sister, divorced her. I think after Yeong-hye got out of the hospital and lived in her own little flat, that she was getting better. She stopped looking so emaciated because she got to eat all of the veggie food that she wanted. She seemed to be somewhat happy. I was beginning to feel like her luck might be turning around. THEN... her brother-in-law starts coming around, he has a secret lust for her. What is with this family!!! I felt like he used her to bring him into his world, to get what he wanted. He was an artist and all of that had to do with body painting. Even still, I'm not sure that Yeong-hye would have went to the extremes she did if her sister didn't walk in on them and have them both carted off to the mental ward because of her jealousy. From this point on, Yeong-hye went downhill... she wouldn't eat, she wanted to be a tree. I'm really not sure if any of my thoughts on the book are right. I'm not sure if this was something else entirely, but I do know what I took away from the book is that people are cruel. Your own family can be cruel. Sometimes people just need a little help and acceptance, who knows what would have happened. This book is both sad, sensual and yes, a little crazy. But, I loved it. There is just something about it that I loved. *I would like to thank The Reading Room and Penguin Random House LLC for a free print copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.* author-pub-giveaways 119 likes Like Comment Henk 934 reviews February 19, 2023 Alienating, as if you as a reader are thrown into a nightmare that focuses on what is underneath “real” life. So many dark themes in such a slim work - 4.5 stars rounded up As if boundaries and limitations didn’t mean anything for her. So many trigger warnings in such a slim book, The Vegetarian is not for the faint of heart, and packs among others animal abuse, domestic violence, rape within marriage, toxic work environments with permanently working to midnight (an early day of from work is arriving home around 20.00), mental health issues, self harm, anorexia and thoughts of suicide. It is hence an achievement from Han Kang that as a reader you are still pulled into the story. Certainly taking into account the first narrator, the man of the titular vegetarian Yeong-hye, is quite unsympathetic. Han Kang conjures atmosphere and feelings of foreboding so well, already in the first paragraph I felt antipathy against the first narrator viscerally. From one day to the other, because of a dream, his wife Yeong-hye becomes a social outcast due to her wish to adopt a strict vegan lifestyle. The way her husband interacts with her to begin with is rather appalling, and when she takes on more agency due to her lifestyle choices (amongst others abstaining from sex) his treatment of her deteriorates further. He even literally thinks of her as a comfort girl slash housekeeper at some point. She is, to be fair, rather hermetically closed of against both her husband and the reader. It never becomes clear why she rejects social norms after being seemingly "perfectly normal" till a certain point. I never knew the term Shabu Shabu is Korean, it’s the name of a Japanese all-you-can-eat chain here in the Netherlands. During a dinner with work relations of her husband, Shabu Shabu style, one of the attendees indicates that vegetarians freak her out, because she liked to eat live baby squids, and that she does not want to be frowned upon when doing so. Later on we have a short, very intense flashback scene from the youth of Yeong-hye, where a dog is tortured to death and eaten because he bit the main character. It is hence clear that some aspects around animal treatment must have triggered Yeong-hue in changing her eating habits, but Han Kang does not further zoom into the specifics. Still Yeong-hye's family rejection of the non-conforming behaviour is clear, and leads to some very uncomfortable scenes with her father trying to force feed her meat. Her mother just simply says to her husband to tell her daughter to stop her diet. The bleak visions on married life continues in part two, Korean societal norms and gender relations don't seem very uplifting. In the second part of the book longing, obsession, taboo and the luring call to leave everything behind and do something so drastic it will upend everything in one's life, come back with a feverish quality. This brings us to, what I think is one of the key questions at the heart of the book: Can you know another person? Everyone, including her sister, mother and husband talk about the taciturn and unfathomable nature of Yeong-hye and these should have been the people closest to her. And the same applies to the narrator of this part, husband of In-hye (who is the sister of Yeong-hye). In the end he does not even seems to know oneself: Suddenly he got the feeling that he was old, that he had experienced all there is to experience and that even death could not frighten him anymore. This uncovering of the fragility of our seemingly solid and stable lifes, and understanding of others within it, that can change unrecognizably due to just one event, remains in focus for part three of the book. Here In-hye, duty bound, is the narrator. She appears emotionally repressed, composed but in the end is shown to be wrecked by depression and guilt. I’d expected some kind of climax at the end, and there are brutal scenes centered around force feeding. But in a way similar to how Han Kang treats the characters, no clear cut, definitive closure is allowed to us readers. There are beautiful, haunting images scattered throughout the novel. Of people sleeping in baths, cutting themselves just to escape the literal demands from their family, people trying to hurl themselves of a balcony, people being painted on with flowers, of a lone person roaming between trees in the rain, of a tree trying to break out of someone standing on her hands. The Vegetarian is a cerebral, uncomfortable and brutal read that thoroughly impressed me. korean-literature 109 likes 2 comments Like Comment Seemita 185 reviews 1,672 followers July 22, 2016 [Originally appeared here (with edits): http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/li... ] Many of us, if stretch a little, can recall the question that appeared in our science textbooks in primary schools: choose the living and non-living thing from the following options. While we conveniently tagged all humans, animals and plants to the ‘living’ side, everything else chugged to the ‘non living’ side. But did the divide stand the test of time? Han Kang pushes this very divide to scintillating heights, reducing the line into a mere fissure, facilitating travel from one living form to another. So, we meet a young Yeong-hye in South Korea, a compliant wife in a patriarchal society, suddenly renouncing meat at the behest of a curious dream. A matter of grave concern, throwing not just her health into jeopardy but also her marital and filial relationships asunder, that must be assuaged before it’s too late. But a series of disturbing, echoing nightmares keep her stoic in her resolve, leaving only her sister and brother-in-law in the big, unforgiving world to extend their support, albeit not without curious pokes and starkly different motives. What follows underline the haunting journey of a woman transformed, repealing everything conventional to assign meaning to her inner voice. Experiencing erotic exploitation and befriending helpless eyes, discarding worldly echoes and embracing floristic world, Yeong-hye moves from a home to a studio to a hospital with incredible equanimity and singular passion to become a plant . Intermingling three points of view in three different, well-etched parts with the eye of a shrewd player, Kang raises questions on human dichotomies and their constant collision against the inherent shackles of society. The strength of Kang’s voice is in her refusal to smoothen the rough edges of her characters – they bare their scars and innermost vulnerabilities and yet don’t appear drawing sympathy. In one of her interviews , Kang ascertains that the novel is an attempt to fight human violence and the possibility to refuse bearing it. A lingering trail formed by each part, almost akin to life that continues to throb long after it has stepped off the page, certainly adds gravitas to her objective. This wasn’t an easy read for me, frequently veering on the bizarre and mystical, puncturing a perfect reading demeanor. But the lithe, supple body of the words came to rescue, lapping up my anxiety like an unexpected drizzle that keeps one’s soul hydrated on a trying road. The sentences, themselves, run like trimmed creepers, embracing the reader in a cocoon of adrenaline rush and propelling slowly towards the destination like an intoxication catching speed. "Such uncanny serenity actually frightened him, making him think that perhaps this was a surface impression left behind after any amount of unspeakable viciousness had been digested, or else settled down inside her as a kind of sediment." The destination, of course, is occasionally a misnomer, for all it does is set us onto a new journey. This book fits to that assertion like a glove. art booker-w drama ...more 106 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 22,775 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 126 quotes 74 discussions 34 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. 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The End of Plagues: The Global Battle Against Infectious Disease by John Rhodes | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book The End of Plagues: The Global Battle Against Infectious Disease John Rhodes 3.67 66 ratings 15 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book World-renowned immunologist John Rhodes’s The End of Plagues is “an engaging and expansive exploration of humankind’s quest to defend itself against disease” ( History Today ). At the turn of the twentieth century, smallpox claimed the lives of two million people per year. By 1979, the disease had been eradicated and victory was declared across the globe. Yet the story of smallpox remains the exception, as today a host of deadly contagions, from polio to AIDS, continue to threaten human health around the world. Spanning three centuries, The End of Plagues weaves together the discovery of vaccination, the birth and growth of immunology, and the fight to eradicate the world’s most feared diseases. From Edward Jenner’s discovery of vaccination in 1796, to the early nineteenth-century foundling voyages in which chains of orphans, vaccinated one by one, were sent to colonies around the globe, to the development of polio vaccines and the stockpiling of smallpox as a biological weapon in the Cold War, Rhodes charts our fight against these plagues, and shows how vaccinations gave humanity the upper hand. Genres Science Nonfiction History Medicine Medical 256 pages, Hardcover First published September 24, 2013 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author John Rhodes 2 books Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.67 66 ratings 15 reviews 5 stars 11 (16%) 4 stars 28 (42%) 3 stars 22 (33%) 2 stars 4 (6%) 1 star 1 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews Matilda 245 reviews 10 followers December 15, 2020 5 stars This book provides a wonderful account of the fields of microbiology, virology, immunology and public health. It is highly readable and I believe it could be understood by people with any level of background in science. Having studied microbiology at the undergraduate level, I still found myself engaged and intrigued by interesting facts that I hadn't learned in my course. Often, we do not learn about the history and background of famous scientists, only their concepts and contribution to the field, so that was a lovely touch to this book. A slight pitfall was the layout of the book. It would have made a stronger read if it was set out in either chronological order, or by splitting up the chapters so they focused on a single disease, microbe/virus, discovery, etc. at a time. I think this improved towards the end of the book, but early on, the chronology jumped around a lot between chapters. If you aren't hyper-focused and miss the change in time period, it makes it easy to get lost. It would have also been valuable if the author focused more on the reasons that smallpox was able to be eradicated by vaccination and contrasted these against current diseases. For example, smallpox only infects humans, so you don't need to vaccinate other animals as they are not potential reservoirs. In contrast, rabies virus can infect a large range of animals (domestic and wild), making it almost impossible to vaccinate and eradicate the natural reservoirs. It's a very relevant read at the moment with the development of vaccines against the novel coronavirus! non-fiction science 3 likes Like Comment William Nist 341 reviews 11 followers January 12, 2014 For a book about human plagues, this is entertaining and informative read. The history of immunology and vaccination is addressed beginning with Smallpox and ending with HIV. The story of the polio vaccines may be the most interesting, for there was an mild animosity between Drs Salk and Sabin, who each invented a different method of vaccination. So, if you are interested in the history of disease or some laymen-type info about how vaccinations actually work, this volume should be interesting to you. 2 likes Like Comment Rachel 1,816 reviews 54 followers November 9, 2013 Although this book caught my eye and I was very interested, I have to say I was disappointed. The author does not keep a consistent chronology and the book gets very confusing as he's bouncing back and forth between years and occurrences. I got about half way through the book and just could not stay interested in it any longer. This is unfortunate because the book seemed very interesting and I'm sure the overall concept is, but this was not written well and makes it hard to keep things consist. 2 likes Like Comment Chris Demer 435 reviews January 8, 2014 This is a good book. It is an in-depth history of the development of vaccines, particularly those for smallpox and polio. The story of the discovery of variolation and later the use of cowpox by Jenner which led to the worldwide extinction of a major curse of mankind was well done, particularly the biographical information about Jenner. Polio, while not extinct, has been mostly eradicated from developed countries and greatly reduced worldwide. The major players here were Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin. Salk developed a killed virus vaccine and not long after, Sabin developed an attenuated live virus vaccine which became the most commonly used. These two scientists had an ongoing debate about the benefits and costs of the two types. Eventually, it became clear that some real cases of polio were a result of the Sabin vaccine and the Salk vaccine is used primarily now. Rhodes makes clear the extremely difficult drive to eradicate these two diseases- hundreds of thousands of workers, multiple organizations, countries, ethnicities, languages, cultures and religions- some of which provided roadblocks to vaccinators due to fears or philosophies. Recently, some vaccinators were killed in northern Afghanistan (or Pakistan-I don't recall which.) Most young people today are not even aware of these diseases- and yet, smallpox (along with measles) was responsible for the decimation of Native Americans after contact with Europeans as they had no immunity. It was smallpox that allowed Cortez to conquer Mexico. Smallpox (Variola major) killed a large portion of those infected and left survivors scarred for life. Polio devastated young people, often killing, and more often leading to severe disability due to paralysis. There was a time not so long ago, when there were hospital wards full of young patients in "iron Lungs" (external ventilators) due to paralysis of the muscles used for breathing. I remember getting my smallpox vaccination- a vaccine no longer required. A also remember not being allowed to swim in the local pool because of a polio outbreak - and later getting the Salk (and also Sabin) vaccine in a mass vaccination effort. These strides in medicine have saved millions of lives and tremendous suffering. Unfortunately, there are new and serious plagues, far from eradicated. history-of-science medicine 1 like Like Comment Kristy Oman 86 reviews September 3, 2017 I enjoy reading books in the genre of medical history and anything in the vein of infectious disease. I prefer books written in a linear chronology - parts of this book seemed to be written that way and then parts were sectioned by person or by virus/vaccine. It was confusing at parts when the author started jumping back and forth. Also a couple typos and misspellings; a personal pet peeve. Otherwise the subject matter was interesting although the bulk is focused on smallpox and polio. If you are expecting something more comprehensive I'd keep looking. 1 like Like Comment Paula 320 reviews March 2, 2022 Rhodes brings insights, anecdotes, and clarity to the challenge of covering a topic the size of "the global battle against infectious disease." In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the story of how the town of Leicester in 1890s England dealt with smallpox antivaxxers is interesting. Town officials developed a program of notification, isolation, and disinfection in preference to jailing vaccine refusers, with considerable success. "We" aren't the only ones who have lived among people who decline to participate in a solution. Today's contact tracers are using a piece of The Leicester Method. If you are well versed in Rhodes' topic, his book will add to your knowledge. If not, this isn't the place to start. The organization of the book is baffling as are Rhodes' decisions about what to present expansively and what to skip entirely. history public-health science Like Comment Lisa Ahlstedt 246 reviews 13 followers October 17, 2013 The End of Plagues takes a fascinating look at the never-ending human effort to eradicate our most feared diseases, from smallpox to AIDS. Quite a lot of the book details the remarkable work of Dr. Edward Jenner, a pioneer in the field of inoculation. It was interesting to read how the "ancient Chinese" were already practicing inoculation in the form of introducing dried smallpox into the noses of infants as a way to protect them from later developing the disease. Other cultures practiced similar forms of protection, but in England in the mid 18th century, tales of milkmaids who recovered from the mild "cowpox" becoming immune to smallpox were dismissed as folklore. Thank goodness Jenner practiced in a rural area where he was able to observe that there was some truth to that old wives tale! Later chapters deal with the attempts to fight tuberculosis, polio, influenza and HIV, and how international medical communities have banded together in an attempt to defeat these and other contagious diseases. A very informative and fascinating read, especially for people like me who lack a scientific background! Like Comment Deena Scintilla 707 reviews October 30, 2013 Yea! I received as a GoodReads Giveaway and am just starting it. A very good history of vaccine development. A lot of it was a review for me as a nurse, but I was surprised at how much new information I learned. This is not a fast read but it is written in such a manner that one does not have to have a medical background to understand or enjoy it. I will be loaning this to a neighbor who is a retired chemist and has an interest in books on this subject. medical-theme non-fiction Like Comment Jason Lewis 110 reviews 3 followers December 29, 2013 An intriguing look into the progress of the vaccination methods and movements in the world. Rhodes gives both the resistances given at first by the many cultures throughout the years along with the results as each step is taken in global accomplishment against any infectious disease. Tough read as it bounces at times between time periods, but gives a very in-depth look at what all has changed throughout the world in vaccine progression. books-i-won Like Comment Amber 92 reviews 54 followers May 6, 2015 I received this book for free as part of the goodreads first reads giveaway. This book was really interesting, I enjoyed reading about the history of vaccination and the progress made in eliminating many of the worlds oldest known diseases. I would recommend this book to people wanting to learn more about the history of vaccination. goodreads-wins Like Comment Ray Erickson 12 reviews May 9, 2016 I would like to have heard more about a couple of the topics covered in this book. Cholera is barely mentioned, plague is hardly mentioned, and there are a couple more that could have been covered more thoroughly, but overall a very solid work. Well written, interesting, and comprehensive. Like Comment Ceri Gwyther 6 reviews 1 follower April 18, 2014 Thought this was a good history of vaccinations. It was well written and easy to read as well as full of interesting facts. Like Comment Anna 119 reviews 40 followers November 1, 2014 Chapters were hit or miss, but overall this is a good, detailed history of the modern vaccine, and provides lots of solid information worth thinking about. non-fiction Like Comment Angela 413 reviews 5 followers March 18, 2015 Very informative. It provides a great look at smallpox and polio, along with immunology and virologists procedures over the years. Like Comment Mills College Library 16.6k reviews Read June 27, 2014 362.19691 R476 2013 Like Comment Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. 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Wild Fire (John Corey, #4) by Nelson DeMille | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book John Corey #4 Wild Fire Nelson DeMille 4.05 28,883 ratings 1,327 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book From #1 New York Times bestselling author Nelson DeMille comes a suspenseful new novel featuring Detective John Corey and an all-too-plausible conspiracy to detonate a nuclear bomb in two major American cities. Welcome to the Custer Hill Club--an informal men's club set in a luxurious Adirondack hunting lodge whose members include some of America's most powerful business leaders, military men, and government officials. Ostensibly, the club is a place to gather with old friends, hunt, eat, drink, and talk off-the-record about war, life, death, sex and politics. But one Fall weekend, the Executive Board of the Custer Hill Club gathers to talk about the tragedy of 9/11 and what America must do to retaliate. Their plan is finalized and set into motion. That same weekend, a member of the Federal Anti-Terrorist Task Force is reported missing. His body is soon discovered in the woods near the Custer Hill Club's game reserve. The death appears to be a hunting accident, and that's how the local police first report it, but Detective John Corey has his doubts. As he digs deeper, he begins to unravel a plot involving the Custer Hill Club, a top-secret plan known only by its code name: Wild Fire. Racing against the clock, Detective Corey and his wife, FBI agent Kate Mayfield, find they are the only people in a position to stop the button from being pushed and chaos from being unleashed. Genres Fiction Thriller Mystery Suspense Mystery Thriller Crime Audiobook ...more 519 pages, Hardcover First published November 6, 2006 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Nelson DeMille 176 books 6,877 followers Nelson Richard DeMille was born in New York City on August 23, 1943 to Huron and Antonia (Panzera) DeMille, then moved with his parents to Long Island. He graduated from Elmont Memorial High School, where he played football and ran track. DeMille spent three years at Hofstra University, then joined the Army where he attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a Lieutenant in the United States Army (1966-69). He saw action in Vietnam as an infantry platoon leader with the First Cavalry Division and was decorated with the Air Medal, Bronze Star, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. After his discharge, DeMille returned to Hofstra University where he received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History. He has three children, Lauren, Alexander, and James, and resides on Long Island. DeMille's first major novel was By the Rivers of Babylon, published in 1978, and is still in print as are all his succeeding novels. He is a member of American Mensa, The Authors Guild, past president of the Mystery Writers of America, and Book-of-the-Month Club Judge. He is also a member of International Thriller Writers and was chosen as ThrillerMaster of the Year 2015. DeMille is an Honorary Trustee of the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association and holds three honorary doctorates: Doctor of Humane Letters from Hofstra University, Doctor of Literature from Long Island University, and Doctor of Humane Letters from Dowling College. Nelson DeMille is the author of: By the Rivers of Babylon, Mayday (co-authored with Thomas Block ), Cathedral, The Talbot Odyssey, Word of Honor, The Charm School, The Gold Coast, The General's Daughter, Spencerville, Plum Island, The Lion's Game, Up Country, Night Fall, Wild Fire, The Gate House, The Lion, The Panther, The Quest, Radiant Angel, The Cuban Affair, The Deserter (co-authored with his son, Alex DeMille), The Maze, and Blood Lines (co-authored with Alex DeMille). Nelson DeMille has also contributed short stories to anthologies, and book reviews and articles to magazines and newspapers. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.05 28,883 ratings 1,327 reviews 5 stars 9,913 (34%) 4 stars 12,097 (41%) 3 stars 5,684 (19%) 2 stars 920 (3%) 1 star 269 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,328 reviews Paul Weiss 1,334 reviews 372 followers April 24, 2023 A frighteningly plausible story of the escalation of global terrorism! To paraphrase Nelson DeMille's own words about WILD FIRE ... if this novel doesn't frighten you, it certainly should! On one level, WILD FIRE is a well-crafted, enjoyable but relatively routine police procedural which details John Corey's doggedly skilled but definitely off-the-wall and well outside the boundaries investigation of fellow agent Harry Muller's disappearance and murder. As a character starring in his fourth outing ( PLUM ISLAND, LION'S GAME and NIGHT FALL were the first three novels), Corey comes as a package with no surprises. He's brash, vulgar, earthy, outrageously opinionated, self-righteous and arrogant, in your face, sarcastic to a fault and oversexed. Yet he can also be witty, humorous, kind, warm, loving and even self-effacing on the odd occasion when his beautiful wife Kate Mayfield slaps him upside the head and brings him down to earth a little! While his personal version of teamwork is somewhat lacking, there can be no question of his loyalty to the people he believes are on that team. On a second level, WILD FIRE is a terrifying tale of the escalation of global terrorism in the aftermath of 9/11 and the destruction of New York's World Trade Center. A 21st century version of the 1960's Cold War MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction), WILD FIRE is a plan to reduce the Middle East to a radioactive glassy parking plot in response to any Islamic terrorist nuclear attack on an American city. The plan, set to operate entirely automatically with a feather light hair trigger, would kill hundreds of millions of practicing Moslems and, of course, eliminate the Islamic faith in the blink of an eye. That WILD FIRE is presented in such a fashion as to appear entirely reasoned and plausible is chilling and thought-provoking enough. That a US right wing plot to trigger WILD FIRE by the suitcase nuke bombing of San Francisco and Los Angeles is presented as a realistic possibility given the existence of such a plan is positively terrifying! Those who love suspense thrillers and members of John Corey's fan club will eat this one up. Highly recommended! Paul Weiss police-procedural suspense-thriller 32 likes Like Comment RJ - Slayer of Trolls 949 reviews 198 followers September 29, 2020 It's not difficult to say what makes the John Corey series fun to read. There's plenty of action and the story moves forward at a brisk pace even though the plots are generally more far-fetched than an Arnold Schwarzenegger action film. But Corey's sarcastic humor is good for a laugh every few pages, making the journey an enjoyable one as long as your expectations are moderate. 26 likes Like Comment Ellen Peterson 115 reviews June 29, 2008 John Corey is still irreverent and sassy. Like every Nelson DeMille book the pages the suspense is laced with humor. Any DeMille book can be read in any order but if John Corey is involved I recommend starting with his first appearence. It helps to know his background. Wild Fire is actually a frightening story of what could be an actual occurance. We live in a scary world and DeMille lets us in on just how scary it is. I highly recommed this book. The only down side for me was the over use of the F-word. It just becomes redundent when uttered as a response to every and anything. Looking passed that. . . the story is good. 21 likes Like Comment Jeanette (Ms. Feisty) 2,179 reviews 2,063 followers March 11, 2008 Nelson DeMille reminds me a bit of Robert Ludlum in that he takes a really long time to tell the story. It's not that he's boring, he just does a lot of research and includes a lot of information for the sake of authenticity. The John Corey character is kind of like Hawkeye Pierce from M*A*S*H. He's hilarious as a fictional character, but you'd probably hate him if you had to deal with him in person. He's a smarta$$ extraordinaire. He gets almost all the good lines in this book, which has a lot of great snappy dialogue. This book is about a secret club of "elites" from various walks of life who have taken it upon themselves to decide when and how we're going to permanently eliminate Islamic terrorism from the planet. Their methods are extreme, and it's up to John Corey and his wife to figure out what they're doing and stop them before it's too late. all-fiction suspense-thriller 16 likes Like Comment Razvan Banciu 1,338 reviews 98 followers June 22, 2023 DeMille is the father of a couple of masterpieces, but that's not the case with Wild Fire. Almost the entire book looks like a more elaborated James Bond: the plot is one of epic magnitude, the bad guy has some charisma but his vanity makes him talk too much instead of a swift kill, the final scenes lack some credibility, as two unarmed and foot-cuffed persons win a battle against three armed men with military experience. In addition to these, John speaks too much rubbish, trying to be sympathetic, but finishes being tedious and annoying. So, three stars are more than enough... 14 likes Like Comment Richard Hayes 1 review 17 followers September 4, 2018 Brilliant page turner, plus you can't not like John Corey. Loved it! 12 likes Like Comment Glen 5,412 reviews 63 followers December 4, 2022 A deadly dull conspiracy thriller without any thrill. It's the usual false flag deal, with a plot of bombing US cities so the US will nuke The Middle East in reprisal. The only part of any interest was reading about how they decided which cities to bomb. They were trying to bomb the city terrorists would bomb, but their own politics and self interest got in the way. I'm pretty sure, with a little thought, you could get Frisco AND Oakland with one bomb. mystery 10 likes Like Comment Corey Woodcock 256 reviews 42 followers July 21, 2021 ”And now, a year and a month later [after 9/11], we are living in a state of perpetual color-coded anxiety. Today is Alert Level Orange. Tomorrow, who knows? For damn sure, it’s not going to be Green again in my lifetime.” Before I go into my review, I’d like to say that for whatever reason, this is the book that drew me to the John Corey series. I picked it up a few months back and planned to read it, and then found out that it is Book 4 in a series. Begrudgingly, I put it off and started at Book 1, Plum Island. so needless to say, I have been looking forward to this one. Something about the plot just grabbed me. Also, in the comments I will have a spoiler-hidden comment containing my only gripe with this book, and why I’m giving it 4 stars, instead of 5, which I gave to the last 2 Corey books. The plot of this one sees John and Kate Corey back in action, this time traveling to the Adirondack Mountains deep in Upstate New York—this is a beautiful, remote, and often overlooked part of the USA, an area larger than the state of New Hampshire that is mostly untapped forest, game land, and hunting lodges. In this novel, it is the home of the Custer Hill Club, a radical right-wing elite group of rich white guys, many of whom are high up in the government. Their true purpose, and that of the owner, Bain Madox, is a mystery, but there are many conspiracies speculating on it. After an agent and friend of John’s disappears while doing some surveillance on the club, Corey and Kate are sent to investigate. As before, hijinks and shenanigans ensue. This is the first book to take place in a post-9/11 country, and DeMille decides to take a break from Islamic terrorism to give Corey a more domestic assignment-homegrown, right wing loonies; something we have no shortage of here in the US. The threat is real, and while this particular plot was especially far fetched, perhaps the most out there we’ve yet seen from DeMille, the root of it is definitely real and I enjoyed this change of pace for John Corey. Once again, he is a cynical, wise-cracking hero with a smartass one liner ready to go, even when the bullets are flying. John Corey just never gets old for me; I love this character. This may also be the first book that contained virtually nothing misogynistic coming out of Corey’s mouth, which is good. He’s growing! This books packs the same punch to the gut that DeMille has given us many times before, done in his trademark style. He’s unique, he’s funny, and he knows how to build the tension as good as any author I have ever read. Once again, by the end of this book, nothing short of your hair catching on fire will allow you to put it down; and even then, it’s questionable. The book takes place over the span of only a few days, and starts out in a rapid fire style, alternating viewpoints between the missing agent, Bain Madox, and John Corey. This is done brilliantly and the first 1/4 to 1/3 of the book flies by in what feels like no time at all. The Upstate NY/Adirondack Mountain setting is fantastic, and wonderfully put to paper. It’s especially fun traveling along with John Corey, a die-hard New Yorker and city boy to the core, as he navigates the middle of nowhere. (For those not familiar with the area, New York State is enormous, the largest state in the Northeast by far—the majority of which is rural and completely disconnected from the City of New York, which lies in the extreme southeast corner of the state in a cluster of islands. This book takes place far, far away from the NYC metropolis.) My complaints come in at the end. Despite the somewhat ridiculous, mustache twirling, full-on Dr. Evil style villain, I had no problem suspending disbelief to become invested in the story. While it wasn’t a terrible ending, things happened awfully fast and I wasn’t totally thrilled with how things played out, and as I said before I will leave specifics hidden in the comments for anyone interested who has read the book. I also have a little bit of an issue with the fate of a character that has been in every book in the series so far, for better or for worse. Nonetheless, this is still very entertaining and definitely worth the read if you’re keeping up with the adventures of John Corey. Despite this one being the reason I jumped into this series, and the fact that I have been looking forward to it throughout the first 3 books, I believe it falls at the bottom of my list of favorite Corey books. Books 2 and 3 are still my favorites, and I think I prefer Plum Island to this one by knuckle hair. BUT, it is still a fun read, and if you’re a fan of DeMille, it is absolutely worth the time. Next up, it’s time to do battle for a second (and hopefully final) time with Asad Khalil! 10 likes Like Comment Luffy (Oda's Version) 757 reviews 1,009 followers August 2, 2014 One conclusion I've come to reading Wild Fire, is that John Corey, the hero of these adventures, plays his game like a chess grandmaster. That is, he doesn't eliminate all bad options, but instead chooses what he believes to be right by using every atom of his guile and experience. As for the obligatory villain in this story, the more insane he seemed to Corey, the more impressed I was with him. I started reading this book waiting pointedly and consciously for the first sentence in this book that would make me sit up and take notice. Soon I was engrossed and had lost my self consciousness. Isn't that what is important for any book aspiring for success? I don't know how he does it, but Nelson Demille can procastinate the intense bits and still retain your attention. Well the exception to that form is the Charm School. But let's focus about the good ones here. Wild Fire is definitely readable and then some. There are a few moments where clues about crimes on behalf of Bain Madox, and miscalculations about initiatives by Corey occur. Without going into spoilerish details, let's just say that really motivated and careful people don't forget the details in staging a murder or staking a villain's den. I've heard rumors of Nelson Demille losing his mojo in subsequent books. I hope that's not true. Maybe in recent books he is stretching out the jokes in disfavor of the plot. That's not a problem. His way of handling the English language is delicate, rare and praiseworthy. Should we part ways prematurely, I'll think of Demille's greater works. But there's more to come from him. Strange thing though, I imagined three actors from the Good Wife as Ted Nash, Kate Mayfield, and John Corey. Their age don't match, but boy do their personality do. 10 likes Like Comment Karl Jorgenson 587 reviews 51 followers April 16, 2020 DeMille's clever take on 9-11 and Islamic terrorism: a rich racist will set off atomic bombs in the U.S. that will be blamed on terrorists, causing a planned, automatic retaliatory strike against all Islamic countries. (This isn't even a little bit of a plot spoiler. The bad guy, Bane, is one of those James-Bond villains who feel compelled to explain themselves at great length to captured enemy combatants. Thus readers endure several chapters of Bane explaining every detail of his horrific plan to kill a quarter of the world. From that point on, we follow DeMille's clever, snarky investigators, Kate and John, as they poke and prod their way to uncovering the plot. But at all times the reader knows everything. This book would be so much better if DeMille had axed his explainy chapters and let us discover the plot from the clues, as Kate and John do.) There is some suspension of disbelief necessary here: Bane has enlisted a dozen highly-placed government and military people who agree that nuking 200 targets around the world will make it a better place. One guy can be crazy, but who believes a whole organization is this stupid or this suicidal? How are these people recruited? 'Hey, Dave, I was thinking of committing mass-murder of people who are ethnically similar to people we don't like. You want to help?' And the reader has to accept the ludicrous premise that the U.S. would have a plan to nuke all of Islam in retaliation for one attack, and that they would commit to doing so without examination, analysis, or thought. The logic goes like this: if I'm ever injured in a car accident, it will probably be caused by a drunk driver, so I will arrange to have every liquor-store owner, every bar employee, every distiller, brewer, and their families and neighbors killed immediately, all across the country. Once we're past the impossibility of the premise, it's an enjoyable read. John spreads snark and condescension every where he goes while his long-suffering wife Kate tries to keep him focused. They battle the bad guys, the locals, their bosses at the FBI, and every metro-sexual they meet. DeMille is a bit long-winded, the book could have been shorter, but most of it's humorous and fun. Unintended humor: a body is found in the woods, killed by a shot in the back from a high-power hunting rifle. Everybody, the cops, the FBI, the Medical Examiner, keep asking each other, 'Do you think it was a homicide?' They apparently mean 'murder,' which is a distinct subset of homicide. Or maybe he shot himself in the back with the rifle and then hid it. That would be suicide. 8 likes Like Comment Mikey B. 1,043 reviews 436 followers December 31, 2013 A good build-up with nifty and humorous dialogue confrontations. I felt the ending a let-down – simplistic and a cop-out. Simplistic because the entire pretext of world Armageddon had a distinct James Bond/Dr. Strangelove feel to it . A cop-out because the resolution was all too easy . Also the book is too long – the shenanigans of Cory and Kate reminded me of Laurel and Hardy and were becoming like a broken record. DeMilles’ “save the world” antics are starting, for me, to get tiresome. fiction 8 likes Like Comment Hanan Kamal 72 reviews 28 followers July 10, 2020 الصفحات : 542 الكاتب : نيلسون ديميل • طريقة سرد نيلسون ديميل للأحداث تفوق روايات أجاثا كريستي جمالاً عاصفة النار والمشروع الأخضر خطة ثأرية وتقوم لضرب النووي للقضاء على الارهاب من قبل المجلس التنفيدي الموجود في نادي كاستر هيل ،، الذي هو في الظاهر نادٍ للرجال في بيت كبير فخم للصيد يضم أوسع رجال الأعمال نفوذاً والمسؤولين الحكوميين وضباط الجيش ويشكل مكاناً في الظاهر للاسترخاء مع الأصدقاء ،، تضم الرواية العديد من الشخصيات منها مادوكس وهو المنفذ لعاصفة النار وهاري مولر الضحية الذي تم قتله والسيد والسيدة كوري وهما المحققين في قضية قتل هاري مولر ومن ثم اكتشاف الخطر النووي .. 7 likes Like Comment Tim 2,282 reviews 244 followers February 9, 2013 Where was the editor in this overly long novel? Half of this could have been easily cut without any loss whatsoever. The attempts at wise-cracking humor is sophomoric. 4 of 10 stars. 5 likes Like Comment Steven Z. 617 reviews 141 followers February 6, 2016 Nelson DeMille’s WILDFIRE continues the raucous adventures and career of former New York Police Department homicide detective John Corey. DeMille’s latest scenario takes place a year after 9/11 with newspaper and cable news blaring headlines that President Bush is about to launch an invasion of Iraq. Corey, who retired on disability after being wounded three times is a special contract agent who is attached to the Federal Anti-Terrorist Task Force (ATTF). The ATTF is an amalgam of FBI agents, NYPD detectives, special agents, Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents, Port Authority detectives, and of course CIA types. The story begins when special agent and former NYPD detective, Harry Muller is sent on a surveillance mission in upstate New York designed to gather information concerning the Custer Hill Club, or as Muller describes as the “right wing loony lodge.” While taking photos and observing the membership, Muller is captured and taken inside the club. Once inside the reader meets Bain Madox, president and owner of the Custer Hill Club and Global Oil Corporation. Other members of this right wing cabal include Scott Landsdale, a CIA official; General James Hawkins, USAF and a member of the Joint Chiefs; Paul Dunn, a member of the President’s National Security staff; and Edward Wolffer, Deputy Secretary of Defense. After his seizure, Muller observes an executive board meeting of the Custer Hill Club where he learns of the memberships concern about a possible nuclear attack from a dirty bomb on American soil. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union a number of these small nuclear devices, referred to as “suitcase nukes,” have been disseminated worldwide. At the meeting Muller learns of a secret government protocol developed during the Reagan administration called “Wildfire,” a hardwired, meaning the American response to any nuclear attack will happen automatically with no presidential influence. The response is focused on an Islamic terrorist nuclear attack against the United States that is designed to destroy the Islamic world. Muller sits in the meeting and wonders if this is a fantasy of the “wacko birds on the right,” or were these men serious. Since Arab governments were informed of “Wildfire” it was designed to operate like the Cold War concept of mutually assured destruction or MAD, and it provided governments a strong incentive to control any terror plots in their countries. An added bonus for Madox and company was that any US response would also allow the seizure of Arab oil fields. Since the likelihood of any nuclear terror attack by Islamic extremists was low, Madox argued that the US should attack two of its own cities which would trigger “Wildfire.” For Madox this made sense because the US was about to launch an invasion of Iraq and as a Vietnam veteran he argued once war begins one does not know where it will take you. The Custer Hill Club members developed Project Green, an immediate attack on two US cities that would launch a nuclear response and destroy the Islamic world, negating a need to invade Iraq. Landsdale believed that Muller was sent to scare the Custer Hill Club into action, ordered by higher ups in the government that were not club members. The man behind the plot is Ted Nash, a former CIA operative who was supposedly killed in 9/11. Nash was also an old enemy of John Corey, who with his wife Kate Mayfield, an FBI agent, were committed to solving a murder that would lead them to “Wildfire.” DeMille scenario is extremely scary. However, if one thinks about the last fifteen years of American policy in the Middle East is it beyond the pale that someone might have thought of it and possibly kept it on the back burner for the appropriate time. I am certain that the reader will engender some of these thoughts as they read DeMille’s novel as John Corey and Kate Mayfield are dispatched to locate Harry Muller and they soon confront the possibility of a nuclear holocaust. DeMille provides his usual sharp and crisp dialogue, enhanced by Corey’s sarcasm and witty comments. The characters that are created are purely fictional, but DeMille tries to leave some doubt in the reader’s mind that they are 100% fictional. As usual the conflict and poor communication that existed before 9/11, and probably still exists today between the NYPD, State Police, CIA, and many other agencies is well represented in the plot. Overall, the conclusion of the story is predictable, but because of DeMille’s talents, WILDFIRE is a good read. 4 likes Like Comment M(^-__-^)M_ken_M(^-__-^)M 349 reviews 80 followers February 17, 2020 Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille John Corey apparently a typical New York detective as a citizen with no prior's yet, in New York, I'll take DeMille's word for it. Story has it's moments some smart mouthed comebacks the giggle factor is definitely there. The premise of a nuclear bomb detonation in several US cities and the resulting counter attack to wipe out the entire Muslim world is frankly a stretch but hey it is fiction and it is rather interesting if your a nube to these types of scenarios. There are some good old honest torture prisoner scenes, some escaping, shootouts and some "frick me days" is our hero going to get out of this crap. Overall a fun excursion into the simple world of good bulls%t. I did like the husband wife team up gives it a different spin. actual-books-i-liberated-with-caps fiction-thriller non-fiction-truth-can-you-handle-it 3 likes Like Comment Don 333 reviews 8 followers December 26, 2008 What a great premise for a book! But it turns out to be one long, extended, overwrought, overwritten annoyance. The whole idea of Wild Fire is that since 9/11, the USA has put the word out to the Muslim extremists that if any WMD is ever used on a U.S. city, that will set off a barrage of nuclear warheads sent at 100 or so cities in the Middle East ... kind of an extension of the balance of power (Mutually Assured Destruction) of the Cold War. What makes this book fascinating (and gets it the second of two stars) is the way some right-wing wacko in upstate New York plans to set off a couple of nuclear bombs in the U.S. and finger Al Qaeda or the like ... of course, sparking Wild Fire. But DeMille (way past his prime of Gold Coast ) is apparently too full of himself these days to respect the reader enough to write meaningful dialogue. He leans so heavily on this idea for a plot that he forgets to make interesting characters or eye-opening twists (John Corey is a shell of his famous self). Instead, he essentially tells the end in the first 50 pages, and then spends 450 pages showing how we get there, via many weak detours and dead ends -- with no real questions asked or answered along the way. Just an increasingly annoying and frustrating ride. Here's the good news: I'm glad I read it to remind myself that sometimes you've got to read a few toads to find a princess. 4 likes Like Comment Amanda Patterson 896 reviews 288 followers November 16, 2010 de Mille introduced John Corey in Plum Island. The Lion’s Game and Night Fall, followed. Corey drives his superiors wild with his off beat sense of humour and inability to follow orders. The first anniversary of 9/11 passes. The national security level remains heightened, on Orange. No-one knows that the biggest threat to the USA, and the planet, are a group of highly placed, powerful men who meet at a hunting and fishing lodge. They call themselves the Custer Hill Club. They would like to see the alert status on permanent green. Their leader, and lodge owner, Machiavellian Bain Madox has a plan to accomplish this. The government know something is going on and send agent Harry Muller out to investigate. Poorly briefed, Muller doesn’t live long enough to share what he has learned about Madox’s plans. He leaves clues which point to billionaire Bain Madox. Once John Corey and his wife, FBI agent Kate Mayfield know that Muller is missing they head for The Custer Hill Club. Corey, is a bit too smart mouthed for my taste. But he doesn’t lack courage. Wild Fireis a good holiday read. 4 likes Like Comment J Stanley 51 reviews September 1, 2015 This was some of the best dialog I have read, or listened too, in a while. The off the wall comments the main character had kept me rolling on the floor laughing. Scott Brick reading this for audio has to be the other reason. With his voice and accent he threw in, that was good New York twang, made it even better. I would say listen to the book on audio. You will not regret it. thriller-mystery 4 likes Like Comment Eric_W 1,933 reviews 388 followers July 31, 2010 "What two cities need to be sacrificed to rid the world of Islamic terrorism?" That's the chilling question some domestic terrorists (they would never described themselves thusly) as they to to decide where to place several suitcase atomic bombs that have been stolen from the Russians. These high-level military and civilian officers, spurred on by wealthy oil men, have determined that no one else sees the light the way they do and it's time to take matters in their own hands by attacking the US and blaming the Muslims. Only in this way can they obtain the power they need to force changes in government. The idea is to force a nuclear response and bomb the middle east. That it would make all the oil totally unusable -- or at least visible in the dark -- seems not to have crossed their minds. And, of course, they are doing God's will. They literally ask the question, "which city would Jesus want to take out?" Again, we have wiseass John Corey investigating. Some reviewers have complained that it's too much lecture and not enough action with Corey's wise cracks just hanging out there and not funny enough or pertinent enough to make this a good book. These reviewers seem to like The Lion's Game better. Hmmm, I'm the opposite. I found the unremitting action in the Lion's Game a little over the top. One reviewers commented, "Anyone who gives this sophmoric clap trap more than two stars is as stupid as the characters in this poorly written tome." Well, I guess I'm sophomoric. Three point five stars and I always round up. On the other hand, many of the negative reviews appeared to object to the premise of the book, i.e., that of a right-wing cabal that would engage in such action. Personally, right-wing or left-wing, true-believers, I believe, are quite capable of such end-justifies-the-means behavior. The book does have a Dr. Stragelove quality, albeit without the Peter Sellers mad scientist. Personally, I drink only Diet Mountain Dew, not wanting to pollute my bodily fuids. (WARNING: This joke may be totally lost on anyone who has not seen the classic movie - you know you're getting old when you feel compelled to explain your jokes.) One little scene I really liked was when John and Kate were checking in to a very expensive resort, The Point. (Lots of "what's the point? jokes.) Rooms are $1200 per night and Kate, knowing they will face a hassle if they use their government credit card, urges John to use his personal one. "It was stolen," he says. "When?" she asks. "Four years ago," was the reply. "Didn't you call the police to report it?" John replies, "No, the thief was spending much less than my ex-wife." Chortle. DeMille is always fun, no matter. NOTE: I listened to the unabridged (why would anyone ever even consider abridged?) read by Scott Brick. mysteries-and-thrillers 3 likes Like Comment Ross 753 reviews 33 followers August 27, 2010 This is the third book I have read by this author and was disappointed again. This is another "save the world" type would be thriller and I have given the book 2 stars since I did actually finish the book. I would really give it 1 1/2 stars if I could. The story line goes beyond very highly implausible into the impossible realm. The author doesn't think his readers know that radio waves travel at the speed of light, or perhaps the author himself doesn't know it. In addition the crude wise guy dialogue becomes extremely tedious. The general outcome of the story becomes clear within 20 or so pages and the only reason to continue to the end is to learn the horrific fate awaiting the bad guys who our hero will kill. I am afraid that an excess of testosterone is what caused me to finish the story. With less of the hormone you would not want to touch this book. 3 likes Like Comment Lauren Gladstone 2 reviews 16 followers September 29, 2018 I absolutely love John Corey! He's a funny smartass ex-NYPD police officer now working with the FBI (and not really enjoying it very much... well, actually what he doesn't enjoy is their rigid rules and the fact that they don't seem to find his jokes funny) who'll make you laugh and at the same time will exasperate you (as well as his wife and FBI partner, Kate). The plot is good, there's action, twists and turns to keep you hooked, but what really makes it five stars is John Corey. Definitely recommend. 3 likes Like Comment Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... 2,011 reviews 50 followers August 29, 2017 Although I liked Night Fall better than this installment it is still a really great book. John Corey continues to make me laugh and make me think. He is a diligent detective who is smart and funny and sarcastic. I just read a few other reviewers and one of them compared him to the character Hawkeye Pierce from the television show M*A*S*H, and I could not agree more. Another reviewer compared Nelson DeMille to Robert Ludlom, which, if accurate, means I need to go buy a Ludlom book. mysteries-thrillers 3 likes Like Comment Deb Jones 757 reviews 94 followers October 24, 2018 Nelson Demille is a constantly good writer, one who researches his topics well and writes about them in an engaging manner. He moves his plots forward at a steady pace, keeping the action going and the suspense present from the first chapter. This is a story about espionage, a thriller and action-packed book featuring John Corey, a former NYPD detective currently under contract for the federal government. This story takes place 11 months after the 9/11 disaster. series 3 likes Like Comment David Freas Author 2 books 29 followers August 31, 2012 While all Nelson DeMille's John Corey books are good, this one, I feel, is the weakest in the series. Perhaps I'm too much of a realist or not imaginitive enough to buy into the overall premise behind it: a group of powerful American men about to unleash nuclear devastation on their own country. I think DeMille could have done better. But it's still a good book. 3 likes Like Comment Corey 460 reviews 116 followers May 3, 2015 John Corey's character still hasn't lost his touch. Wild Fire takes place about a year after the conclusion of Night Fall, after 9/11. This is another classic DeMille tale where Detective Corey is pulled into a murder investigation that also turns out to be something more. A real page turner, with an intense climax, but don't worry, I won't spoil it for anyone. military mystery suspense-thriller 3 likes Like Comment Jenna 1,909 reviews 23 followers July 6, 2020 2.5 stars This is another departure in format as half the book is told from Harry's POV. And the villainous plan is revealed early on. I like Corey & welcomed his humor once again. To be honest, i'm a bit lukewarm on Kate but yeah...she puts up w/a lot in her husband so i gotta give her credit. And they have good chemistry in so they balance each other out as characters. As someone who was in NYC on 9/11, i liked that they were still dealing w/the aftermath of that trauma. (the previous book ended w/9/11). Also, while this is fiction, I know DeMille does research and I imagined that some of it was close to reality. 9/11 was obviously a huge turning point in our country & many things changed. (most specifically, federal organizations guidelines/procedures for investigations) definitely some surprises along the way. and the suspense was good b/c you weren't sure which characters to John could trust. Negative- too long & slow moving. 2 likes Like Comment Jenene 396 reviews 1 follower February 6, 2017 Intense, fast-paced, heart thumping, and scary! chunky-challenge favorites fiction ...more 2 likes Like Comment Dan Banana 320 reviews 5 followers November 22, 2022 Great action, sarcasm, inappropriate comments, violence, guns and psychos. 2 likes Like Comment Ken 103 reviews 4 followers December 29, 2022 The last book I read from this author was The General's Daughter. This detective, policeman novel was full of macho talk and one-liners. Thankfully it got better after the first 50 pages. 2 likes Like Comment Rex Fuller Author 6 books 178 followers July 24, 2017 John Corey, the character in DeMille’s main series, caught my eye in the 2017 collection of short mysteries entitled Matchup. His basic humanity, in part veiled by and in part revealed by his wisecracking attitude, anti-PC attitude, and lightning quick mind struck chords with me. Reading the first book of the series, Plum Island, sold me and I then read straight through all of the Corey books. Wild Fire (Corey Book 4). This is not quite as good as the first three books in the series because it relies on an barely stated agreement among conspirators instead of solidly building it. However, overlooking that weakness, Corey and his wife and partner Kate Mayfield are show-cased as superbly as any protagonists you will ever find. The final confrontation is really well done. 2 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,328 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 12 quotes 2 discussions 4 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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The Rending and the Nest by Kaethe Schwehn | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $9.99 Rate this book The Rending and the Nest Kaethe Schwehn 3.58 680 ratings 169 reviews Want to read Kindle $9.99 Rate this book When ninety-five percent of the world’s population disappears for no apparent reason, Mira does what she can to create some semblance of a life: She cobbles together a haphazard community named Zion, scavenges the Piles for supplies they might need, and avoids loving anyone she can’t afford to lose. Four years after the Rending, Mira has everything under control. Almost. Then Mira’s best friend, Lana, announces her pregnancy, the first in this strange world and a new source of hope for Mira. But Lana gives birth to an inanimate object—and soon other women of Zion do, too—and the thin veil of normalcy Mira has thrown over her new world begins to fray. As the community wrestles with the presence of these Babies, a confident outsider named Michael appears, proselytizing about the world outside Zion. He lures Lana away and when she doesn’t return, Mira has to decide how much she’s willing to let go in order to save her friend, her community, and her own fraught pregnancy. Genres Fiction Science Fiction Dystopia Post Apocalyptic Book Club Science Fiction Fantasy Apocalyptic ...more 304 pages, Hardcover First published February 20, 2018 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Kaethe Schwehn 4 books 45 followers Kaethe Schwehn holds a B.A. from Gustavus Adolphus College and an M.F.A. from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Her memoir, Tailings, won the Minnesota Book Award for creative nonfiction in 2015 and her debut novel, The Rending and the Nest, will be published by Bloomsbury in February of 2018. She has been the recipient of a Minnesota State Arts Board grant and a Loft Mentor Series award. Her fiction, poetry, and essays have appeared in numerous journals. She teaches at Saint Olaf College and lives in Northfield, Minnesota. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.58 680 ratings 169 reviews 5 stars 143 (21%) 4 stars 240 (35%) 3 stars 192 (28%) 2 stars 81 (11%) 1 star 24 (3%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews Chelsea Humphrey 1,487 reviews 81.8k followers November 26, 2017 3.5 STARS This is another one of those books best going in blind; the less you know the better and you should probably come back to this review after you've read the book yourself. If you're wanting more detail minus overt spoilers, continue at your own risk. How do you write a review of one of the most complex books you've read to date? Technically this one isn't out until the end of February, but I wanted to include it in my Nebulous November challenge (where it fit the bill nicely I might add) so I moved it up my TBR. There is a lot of meat to this story; the plot is intensely intelligent and I'm still wrestling to grasp all the depths of the narrative. For a debut novel, the writing is excellent and almost poetic. I can truly see Schwehn making a name for herself in speculative fiction and being beloved by regular readers of the genre. "I gave my love a cherry that had no stone I gave my love a chicken that had no bone I gave my love a baby with no crying I gave my love a story that had no end How can there by a cherry that has no stone? How can there be a chicken that has no bone? How can there be a baby with no crying? How can there be a story with no end?" - "The Riddle Song" I feel like it's ok to mention the following, as it is presented to the reader in the prologue, but this is a very open-ended narrative. There is no explanation given for why the earth is in it's post-apocalyptic state; we are just told that 95% of the earth's population has disappeared and since these folks were left without an explanation, so are we. Personally, I enjoyed this set up and found it unique to have this dystopian world where we really don't know what happened. This added an additional level of suspense and tension as events began to unfold. I hate being so vague, but if you've read the blurb then you know as much as you should about the plot going in and will find out for yourself the rest, should you choose to read this book. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? - Romans 8:24 While I did have a few issues with the ending, and there were definitely a few spots along the way that lagged for me, the writing was so solid that I never considered giving up. This book touches on themes of motherhood, survival, and community in a way that makes you ponder not only whether it's truly impossible for us to find ourselves in this place in the future, but also how we could apply these lessons learned in our very real communities. I think most readers would admit to enjoying a plot that centers around a rag tag band of misfits joining together and overcoming hardships, and while this contains elements of that message for sure, it was so much more than that, yet not quite as upbeat. My struggles with the book were just personal preference on formatting, inclusion/exclusion of information, and pacing. I found nowhere in this book a reason to not highly recommend it to others; this is perhaps just not my most well suited genre and I feel those who favor the philosophical fiction will be blown away by it's beautiful, heartbreaking ways. I really appreciate how well the cover art ties into the story, and I think if you give it a try, you too will find enjoyment from this odd little book. Book #3 in my Nebulous November challenge! Thanks Bloomsbury for providing my copy. from-publisher 109 likes Like Comment Hannah 616 reviews 1,155 followers March 9, 2018 I love vague, quiet, introspective dystopian stories; the premise of this intrigued me to no end and I was hoping for something incredible. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely enjoyed this; just not as much as I thought I would. I loved the vagueness of the world building. All the reader knows is that six years prior to the events of this book, most people and most things vanished without a trace. What is left of the things is mostly in random piles, while those who are left of the people have to try to make sense of the changed world. This exploration of what makes us human is exacerbated when women start to fall pregnant and then give birth to objects rather than babies. I adore the setting and I love that Schwehn left the how unexplained. I am not interested in the mechanics of apocalypse but rather in the human condition as influenced by it. But, and this is my main problem with this book, the characters were not all that well explored. The story is told in first person perspective by Mira who was 18 when the Rending (this is what her group of people started calling the apocalyptic event) happened and she lost her whole family. She is supposedly plagued by the guilt of losing her brother but this never really felt the case as she kept forgetting him the moment something happened. Her relationship with Lana and Rodney is at the core of this book, especially her friendship with the former. But again we are told of her friendship rather than it being shown. This lack of an emotional core made it difficult for me to connect with her. Parts of this is very much on purpose I am sure: Mira is blunted by the Rending, this new world does not offer anything in way of comfort and as such this could have worked brilliantly if it had been explored more. As it is, I cannot help but wonder if I would have liked the book better had the protagonist been older. Now her narration felt superficial and left me feeling at a distance. The timeless manner in which the story is told (I was unsure for a while when the Rending had occured and had just settled on the nineties when Mira starts talking about smart phones) worked both for and against my enjoyment of the story. I liked how it underscored the parable-like story and how it made the story both personal and universal. But at the same time it further led to the protagonist being ill-defined. Her pop culture references were dated without there being an in-story reason for that. So overall, I loved the worldbuilding and the premise and the language of parable, while the characters and their relationships did not quite work for me. I received an arc of this book courtesy of NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing in exchange for an honest review. You can find this review and other thoughts on books my blog arc dystopia 50 likes Like Comment 8stitches 9lives 2,856 reviews 1,655 followers June 3, 2018 I am a sucker for post-apocalyptic novels and THE RENDING AND THE NEST is a good one. One welcome surprise is that it is free of all of those pesky tropes that this genre seems to peddle fairly often! It is also so much more than just a chilling dystopian story, it looks at deeper topics such as motherhood and faith, and asks the questions - How well do we know the people we love? What sustains us in the midst of suffering? How do we forgive the brokenness we find within others--and within ourselves? The world is an intriguingly bizarre one but the worldbuilding is done excellently. Schwehn clearly has a vivid imagination, women giving birth to inanimate objects is a new one on me! This is a very character driven novel and the author is adept at maintaining their development. I was rather shocked about two things - one, that this is a debut and secondly, that I cared so much for the characters and what became of them. It is entertaining throughout and you race to the end in order to find out what happens, and more importantly, what it all means. There are a couple of issues that I can't overlook, unfortunately. Although the overall premise is amazing, I did feel that there was a lack of information surrounding some of the story, I am someone who likes a bit of background, background that was lacking in a few places here. I did also question whether it was getting too weird for me but then decided that there was no such thing as too weird! I was thinking about this book for a long time after I had finished so perhaps the creepy, bizarre elements were a stroke of genius! After all, the mark of a good book is if you remember it, I know I will remember this one! I feel my time was invested well reading this title and I look forward to reading further publications from Schwehn in the future. Certainly an author to watch! I would like to thank Kaethe Schwehn, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 22 likes Like Comment Kat Author 11 books 530 followers Read August 31, 2018 Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this new title by Kaethe Schwehn. The author has a unique premise in place for her world-building, which very much intrigued me... One day, 95% of the world's population simply vanishes. Random objects disappear off store shelves and from houses, also with no explanation offered. Clouds obscure the sky and there is no longer sun. No one can explain why. The survivors band together and live in scrabbled together shelters, scavenging in trash heaps for survival. And then the story gets even more intriguing. After a time, some of the women become pregnant, but instead of giving birth to babies, they give birth to inanimate objects like vases and chopsticks. It's definitely a unique premise! netgalley 16 likes Like Comment Olivia 736 reviews 127 followers February 20, 2018 3.5 Stars. I've read this book a week ago and I am still thinking about it. What a read! Throughout, I kept wondering: do I like this? Is this too weird? Is this brilliant? Or not? I still haven't found an answer to most of these questions. What I can say is, I did enjoy the read and I read it in one sitting. The pacing is great (if you enjoy character driven stories), the world engrossing, and the characters are well developed. I really connected with the main character, and Mira is the main reason this book kept my attention. I enjoyed reading about her experiences and her life in this weird new world. But...the story is just so bizarre and absurd. Women give birth to inanimate objects, like vases, dolls and decorative birds. Kaethe Schwehn writes a lot of poetry, and I feel like this book is more a metaphor than a coherent story. The writing itself is also very poetic, which I liked but might put a few people off. The plot takes a while to get going. The antagonist does not show up until almost halfway through the story, which might ruin the pacing for readers who don't enjoy the main character as much, and ultimately I do think it was a tad too weird for me. There is no explanation given to the reader about the state of the world. Why has everyone disappeared? Where did they go? But that is okay, at no point did I feel like we're missing out by not getting an explanation or that an explanation would make the book better. If you liked Station Eleven, enjoy slow burns, and find the premise of The Rending and the Nest interesting, give it a shot. apocalypse 14 likes Like Comment Mel (Epic Reading) 981 reviews 301 followers March 2, 2018 DNF 38% Well the description of The Rending and the Nest makes it obvious it's a weird dystopian world. And yet it isn't the inanimate objects being 'born' instead of live babies that's the weirdest. Weird, weird, weird Instead the most bizarre and frustrating thing is that the world has changed in a way that makes absolutely no sense. I don't need a scientific approach, just a moderately believable one. It can have future technology in it to account for capabilities we don't have; but, it still needs to be something that feels like it makes sense in some sort of context. The set-up to this dystopian place feels like author Kaethe Schwehn just wanted a certain setting and so magically just had it happen in a 'Rending' moment. This really bugged me as it's core to the story and the mystery to be solved. Characters While the writing is acceptable the descriptions and characterizations of the lead gal and others in the book are a bit flat. I didn't really connect with our main gal or her fellow group members. They all seemed a bit boring. More details of the 'before' lives might have helped or maybe more around the basic services and jobs each had in the group. It's touched upon for a few of our characters but I never really felt like I had a working understanding of their setting and therefore didn't know the characters. Necessities of Existence I went back and skimmed the first 20% of this book, before stopping entirely, to try and find a solid description for the main food source called ghost fruit. I never found one. When readers don't understand how energy is gained and consumed, in any story of any kind, then they fundamentally cannot connect or concentrate on a story. Instead we tend to get caught up in trying to decide how something is happening rather than what is happening. You can have a mysterious food or resource but make sure every detail the characters know is what your reader knows too. Why do we need certain base elements? The fundamentals of life must be present or at least touched upon and explained in order to allow us to relate to the characters. Be they characters that are AI, biological, corporeal or otherwise. The main fundamentals of life are: sustenance (how to get energy and maintain existence), waste (where does 'garbage' of any kind go) and shelter (it can move with you or constantly change but you generally have some shelter from elements at points during a period of time). Had Schwehn helped us understand the living situation better I think the mysteries would have intrigued me. Instead they really annoyed me as they just added to the nothing makes sense aura of this book. Overall There might be something here if a rewrite was to happen as the style of writing is okay but it's the content that bugs me. Overall the first 38% of this book (that I read) reminded me of one of my first DNF's a couple decades ago. Tad Williams series Otherworld had many of the same relational problems. Going too far into the strange and weird (which I normally love) without being smart about it. The thing I always remember that had me give up on Otherworld was when salad veggies were fighting utensils in a kitchen for dominance (I'm not even kidding) and the baby tomato drowns in the river after a utensil skewers him. Generally one would be devastated by a baby of any kind dying. Instead all I could do was laugh and say nope, putting the book down to never ever pick it up again. It's not that a conscious tomato was the problem it's the context in which it was portrayed. As though it was there to confuse you and nothing more. I am not a fan of these blatant, lazy illustrations of oddities. Read Alice in Wonderland if you want to see how odd, bizarre and crazy can be done really well. The key in Alice is Lewis Carrol sets up a relatable construct for each character be it a card guard, door mouse or Mad Hatter. Finally, when I gave-up reading The Rending and the Nest I honestly didn't care about anything at all. There was no sense of a purpose or that I was reading anything more than a disjointed made up story with no message, purpose, morale or otherwise. While many authors believe they write for themselves the reality is the best books are written for the readers. For this and more of my reviews please visit my blog at: Epic Reading Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review. arc-netgalley library-ebook 10 likes Like Comment Anjali Sachdeva Author 10 books 332 followers February 20, 2018 I have read a mountain of dystopian future books. This one stands completely apart from all of them. It's beautifully written, thoughtful, sometimes funny and sometimes a punch in the gut. The book probes both the best and worst aspects of human nature, asking how we all would change if the people we love most suddenly disappeared-- a question I ended up asking myself many times as I read. The world-building is also impressive. Schwehn manages to make a bizarre future filled with perpetually overcast skies, orchards full of ghost fruit, and massive piles of cast-off objects from the world before the apocalypse feel utterly real, a place you might wake up and find yourself in tomorrow. At the same time, she recasts familiar objects and places in way that forces you to reconsider what they mean to you; I don't think I'll ever look at a zoo or a Barnes and Noble the same way again after reading this. Above all, the story is constantly surprising and inventive-no post-apocalyptic cliches here-and the last hundred pages in particular provide a cycle of nonstop tension and revelation. Gorgeous and troubling in the best possible way; you'll be thinking about this one long after you finish it. 9 likes Like Comment Blair 1,865 reviews 5,303 followers May 13, 2018 This is an unusual post-apocalyptic novel, not quite a dystopia – in fact, some might consider its premise utopian. It depicts society a few years after an unexplained event known as the Rending, which caused most of the world's population (and a good chunk of its animals, food and technology) to vanish in an instant. The narrator, Mira, is in a shopping mall when the Rending happens, and it's with a group of other shoppers and workers she stays, not very far away from the mall itself, in a makeshift community named Zion. Aside from the loss of so many people and things, the Rending doesn't seem to have changed the world an awful lot, but one effect is the appearance of huge heaps of debris. From these, the survivors scavenge useful tools and objects with nostalgic value. Another post-Rending development is the discovery of new plants such as the 'ghost fruit', a plentiful but small and bitter food source. If you're thinking of reading this book, you'll probably be able to tell whether you'll like it from the first chapter, which encapsulates most of what makes it both appealing and offputting. In the first scene, Mira is scavenging with Lana, who's just discovered she's pregnant. No babies have been born in Zion in the three years since the Rending; Lana's pregnancy is the first. There are shades of resentment to Mira's narration; she's obviously a little jealous of Lana, and it's also clear she has long-standing, unexpressed feelings for Rodney, another Zion resident. Schwehn writes with a very dark quirkiness (Mira recounts a horrible memory about strangers taunting her with a dead cat at a party) but makes her characters instantly intriguing. There was no doubt I wanted to read on. If it wasn't for the fact that this development is mentioned in the blurb, I might feel like I was giving too much away by revealing that Lana, swiftly followed by other women in Zion, ends up giving birth to an inanimate object. These 'Babies', how the women cope with them, and what all this means for Zion quickly become the driving questions of the plot. Mira is an interesting character to take us on this journey because she's imperfect – immature, hesitant, occasionally petulant – but I never stopped being fascinated by her and I never doubted her commitment to Lana. Given that so much of the story revolves around pregnancy and motherhood (of a type) it's quite amazing that The Rending and the Nest manages to avoid becoming one of those tiresome 'feminist' dystopias, but it does so while making the reader root for the characters' quest, despite bizarre circumstances. I still can't believe quite how much Schwehn managed to make me feel about a bunch of things. The premise is not without problems. It's difficult to fathom the logistics of a pregnancy that would result in a woman giving birth to some of the objects depicted here. It bothered me that people living in entirely separate communities seemed to somehow have developed the same quirks of language: using the term 'the Rending', giving amusingly human names to the piles of junk, and so on. I wondered why the survivors had all decided to stay together, in the place they'd been when the disaster happened, rather than pursuing what would surely be the natural inclination to return to their homes and attempt to seek out surviving friends and family. But you could probably pick similar holes in any story of this type. I can understand why The Rending and the Nest has been compared to Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven . It's not just that both are set in a destroyed world with a hugely depleted population; it's the way the stories concentrate primarily on people, their emotional stories, their relationships. It's the way they make you care deeply about what's happening no matter how strange it is. And while the plot may have flaws, it also has so many strengths: the expertly handled tension; Mira's character arc; a neat, brilliantly effective climax. I received an advance review copy of The Rending and the Nest from the publisher through NetGalley . TinyLetter | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr 2018-release first-novels netgalley ...more 12 likes Like Comment Nadine 1,249 reviews 225 followers January 6, 2018 The Rending and the Nest has a very intriguing premise. A post-apocalyptic world with a mystery sprinkled with themes of motherhood, survival, and community. Unfortunately, the pacing, writing, and characters were dull. The Rending and the Nest is a very slow paced book. Schwehn take hers time building the world and main character, Mira. I loved getting intimate details about the world post Rending and Mira as a character, but it took Schwehn almost half the book to accomplish. The synopsis above explains that a man named Michael will arrive thereby creating some plot movement. However, he doesn’t arrive until 41% through the novel. Despite the slow start, I didn’t feel like DNF’ing it. The world and pregnancies were too interesting and shrouded in mystery to put down. The writing felt overly poetic. It read as if Schwehn was trying her absolute hardest to write as sophisticatedly as possible. The metaphors and similes were jarring and pulled me out of the story rather than flowing smoothly. I really enjoyed Mira and her best friend, Lana. I was able to connect with them almost immediately. However, the other characters weren’t as well developed or relied on one particular trait to describe them and the way they behaved. What peaked my interest in this novel the most was The Rending itself. Where did 95% of the population disappeared to? Why did they disappear? Was it random? Were people targeted specifically? None of these questions are answered. There aren’t even hints of an answer within the text. The build up of the mystery of The Rending throughout the novel created suspense and intrigue, but by the end of the novel I was incredibly frustrated with the lack of answers. Overall, The Rending and the Nest is not for everyone and, apparently, I am not one of those people. It is a unique post-apocalyptic story because of its focus on motherhood, community, and loss, however the story failed to perform after it had caught my attention. ***I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 7 likes Like Comment Janelle Janson 719 reviews 475 followers August 17, 2018 Thank you so much to Bloomsbury Publishing for providing my free copy of THE RENDING AND THE NEST by Kaethe Schwehn - all opinions are my own. This is one of the most bizarre and intelligent books I’ve ever read. It’s introspective, philosophical, evocative, and poetic. Without any explanation, 95 percent of the world’s population has disappeared in an event called the Rending. The remaining population have no idea why the Rending occurred but decide to trudge on and try to add to their existence. We follow our protagonist Mira as she makes her way through this gloomy, post-apocalyptic world. The sky is an everlasting gray and the atmosphere is always a steady, chilly temperature. Mira’s job is to climb the Piles, which are mountains of junk, in order to find useful items for their makeshift community of Zion. In the past three years, no babies have been born, but suddenly Mira’s friend Lana discovers she is pregnant. Lana gives birth to an inanimate object and other women of Zion start to experience the same phenomenon. So you can see why I used the word bizarre. The main themes of THE RENDING AND THE NEST are motherhood, survival, and loss. This is a very character-driven story which reminded me a bit of Station Eleven, and just like Station Eleven it focuses on the character’s journey, emotions, and relationships. I enjoyed reading about Mira and Lana’s characters a great deal and about another intriguing character introduced later on. The storyline is inventive, interesting, horrifying, and thought-provoking with an eerily realistic, strange future world. But be prepared, as this book moves rather slowly and is heavy on the details. Also, you may want answers to questions you won’t get but I promise this story will stay with you. Ultimately though, Schwehn’s writing is next level brilliant with beautiful, lyrical prose and whether you love it or hate it, I guarantee you’ve never read a book like this. 2018 from-publisher-or-author science-fiction-dystopia 8 likes Like Comment Ova - Excuse My Reading 488 reviews 371 followers March 14, 2018 I requested this book in NetGalley after reading it's for likes of Emily St john Mandel's Station Eleven. First of all, I must say the only similarity between this book and Station Eleven is 95% of world's population disappearing. Nothing else. The writing, the structure, the style is completely different. There is no explanation or hint of why people vanished. We just accept then and move on with the story. The first thing I disliked in this book is that there is almost no introduction. It starts immediately, it was like trying to hold a hot pot with no handles, full of food. I found no handles to engage me with the story and pushed myself to continue reading. The other reviewers are saying there is much philosophy, thought provoking elements but probably later in the book but I didn't finish this after 30%. I think there is a promising idea here but I wish it was implemented a bit more sophisticated. Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. did-not-finish netgalley-2018 5 likes Like Comment Christine Roberts 279 reviews 41 followers January 20, 2018 In an interesting but odd twist on the dystopian genre, Kaethe Schwehn narrates the end of the world from the point of view of a young woman. After the Rending, in which not just people but animals, things, and sunshine have disappeared, Mira and her friends found a community known as Zion. After a surprising turn regarding pregnancy and birth, Zion is visited by Michael, a creepy cult type leader of a place called the Zoo. As the novel reaches it's apex, and the confrontation between Mira and the Zionists and Michael comes to a head, the author fails to engage the reader in caring. The characters were too one dimensional for me to actually want Mira and the Zionists to come out okay. While the premise is interesting, and the writing clear, the book just fails to grab the reader, to create that sense of concern that is necessary in dystopian novels with this type of conflict. Thanks to NetGalley, Kaethe Schewehn, and Bloomsbury for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. net-galley-read 5 likes Like Comment The Captain 1,157 reviews 465 followers February 20, 2018 Ahoy there me mateys! I received this sci-fi eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . . This is truly wonderfully delightfully oddly bizarre. It is a post-apocalyptic book wherein 95% of the population disappears with no explanation. This becomes known as the Rending. Along with people, portions of buildings and other items simply disappear as well. Thousands of random objects are mixed together in towering Piles that dot the landscape. In this new world, we are introduced to (and follow) Mira as she and fellow survivors try to make a new life in a settlement called Zion. The novel deals with the current day to day living and then switches into snippets of the past. The main issue appears when the first pregnancy of Zion post-Rending is announced. The settlement is fraught with excitement over the prospect of a new baby. Imagine the surprise when the new baby turns out to be an inanimate object. So what does this mean? Read the novel and find out. Just be prepared that this is a slow burn, heavily detailed story. I found it fascinating, horrifying, and lyrical all at once. I am very glad I read it and have been thinking about it ever since I finished. It is certainly not a book for everyone, but it was perfect for me. So lastly . . . Thank you Bloomsbury USA! Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp... sci-fi 5 likes Like Comment Bandit 4,734 reviews 525 followers November 26, 2017 Dystopian fiction is generally hugely appealing to me. And this was one conceptually fascinating, a world rendered incomplete and strange through rapture like event, now with most of the population gone, weather changed and most of the material possessions ranged into giant Piles. In this world a small group of survivors banded together into a make shift community supported by scavenging and various other means. If life in this new bleak environment wasn’t difficult enough, there’s also the fact that all the pregnancies now resolve in immaterial objects for babies. And if that wasn’t challenging enough, there’s also now a threat from another, considerably more depraved community. While all this may sound good (if somewhat odd) on paper, the execution left something to be desired. The author’s previous works comprise a memoir and a book of poems and this novel reads very much like a logical follow up to that, a certain dreamy surreal metaphorical allegorical estrogeny quality to it all. We don’t get to find out much about The Rending, seems like the event was used merely to frame the soul searching expositions of all the female leads of the book, particularly the protagonist. The latter is very young, rendered as a teen and now barely in her 20s, and maybe due to that, for the longest time the book seems like a YA novel to me, albeit of a more sophisticated variety. At the very least, there was a very young perspective from which this new post apocalyptic world was presented. Of course, there are some terrific stories about and/or from a kid or young adult perspective, there are ways to make that sort of narrative exciting and compelling for an adult, just looks at the success of Stranger Things, but this wasn’t one of those. Not for me, anyway, this is a personal take, of course, but inability to engage with the characters doesn’t usually lead to a very enjoyable read. Then again it wasn’t that unenjoyable either, it had lots of potential, some good writing, some very imaginative plot devices and imagery and it was original, certainly. I think objectively it’s quite possible that this was a good book that didn’t quite connect with me personally, but would be a great one to readers who would be able to establish that connection. It read like a peculiar dream. And relatively quickly too. Thanks Netgalley. 4 likes Like Comment Jae Mod 1,716 reviews 233 followers January 30, 2018 ***ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*** Kaethe Schwehn’s The Rending and the Nest was a riveting and unique take on the dystopian genre. I am not sure I can compare it to any other book of this style, as it takes an unusual twist on the After. Mira is left behind when 95% of the population disappears without a trace for no apparent reason. Suddenly life is split between Before and After the Rending. In an attempt to create some normalcy, she teams up with the few others who remain around her as they search for a location they can survive in and create a new life. Just when they think Zion, their new community, has settled into a routine, her friend Lana becomes pregnant. Lana, a ballet dancer in her life Before, is the first to become pregnant since the Rending. What comes of the pregnancy and what is to follow, turns what had become a harmonious existence, into one of confusion, turmoil and conflict. The everyday life they had come to relish is flipped upside down and the inhabitants of Zion need to make some difficult decisions in the face of threats and danger. How will their community cope with unexpected babies, unwelcome guests and threats to their community and way of life? I really connected with Mira. She was strong, fearless and a wonderful leader. Her character was beautifully developed and made it easy to relate to her, based on who she was Before and who she had become After. Along the way we met many other characters, from friends to foes. They were all unusual and unique in their own ways. Schwehn did a great job building visuals of the many quirky, threatening and colorful personalities they encounter. This book put such a unique spin on the dystopian novel. Unlike any I have read, it is difficult to categorize in any one way. I would not qualify this as a fast moving page turner, rather it was more thought provoking and poetic. It challenged thoughts on faith, family, friends and motherhood, and yet there were also parts that were so creative and extraordinary that those who prefer science fiction or fantasy will find themselves intrigued. I give this one of a kind read a 4 star review. 4 likes Like Comment Gail Jothen 5 reviews September 30, 2019 Very creative, this book is in the genre of speculative fiction which often can be wary about the future. This book is on the edge of tragic yet ends with hope and kindness. It focuses on a community in Minnesota which starts life rather lacking in bonding among its members and ends with the beginnings of new life and the hope of a true, caring community. The author doesn't explain everything that happens so one could wish for a sequel. Yet what the book does give to me, the reader, is a sense of contentment. 4 likes Like Comment Nicole Jarvis Author 6 books 175 followers October 20, 2017 I couldn't put this book down! The dystopian world was fascinating, but it was the characters that kept me hooked. As someone with no maternal instincts, I was amazed by how much this book made me ache for the various mothers featured. The themes of humanity, miscarriage, friendship, love, and fate were all fantastically realized in this landscape of this mysterious dystopia. Highly recommended! Disclaimer: I work for the publisher, but this review is my own opinion. 5-star bloomsbury 4 likes Like Comment Stephanie 1,200 reviews 34 followers September 12, 2018 How bizarre. This book is very strange and not just because women in a post-apocalyptic world are suddenly giving birth to inanimate objects. I found the story to be very strange in the way it is written. I found it to be very vague without much of a plot and little character development. It's interesting enough that I kept reading and reading, waiting for something to happen, but about halfway through I realized there's just not much going on here and why are the characters doing what they're doing and it was all just a little confusing to me. Certainly there is a lot of allegory here and the story is almost a parable of sorts, but while noting these things I also felt somewhat obtuse because I wasn't understanding a lot of what the author was getting at with these representations. Maybe she was just trying to do too much with a flimsy narrative, or maybe it was just too deep for me. Clearly I didn't connect well with the story. Overall, meh. I've seen this book compared to Station Eleven and California (Edan Lepucki wrote a blub for the cover) and nope. I don't see this. Other than they're all kind of deeper, or more philosophical post-apocalyptic fiction, I suppose. It's been years since I've read it, but I feel like The Rending and the Nest actually reminds me more of Oryx and Crake , but I could be misremembering. 2018 fiction post-apocalyptic 3 likes Like Comment Syd (deertales) 351 reviews 29 followers March 1, 2018 the rending and the nest is solidly the most bizarre book i have ever read. my feelings are so conflicted because while i personally didn't like the story, i can't really specify any good reasons why that aren't simply my personal preferences. the setting was so interesting, but was purposefully vague. as a reader, you never get to learn the circumstances that brought about the disappearance of 95% of the population in a single second. we never learn why only a select few women get pregnant. we don't learn about the piles, or the ghost fruit, or the reason for the lack of sun, or the selection process for the people who got to remain in this new world. and as a curious individual, this really frustrated me. i wanted to get to the root of why, but i understood the literay purpose of having all the 'whys' be a mystery. i liked the writing but i didn't love it. i liked the messages and themes, but i still dont know if i am grasping them to the full potential that they were meant to be grasped. honestly, i just feel wholly ambivalent to the entire experience, with the exception of a few passages that will haunt me for a while. go into this one blind. that's my final opinion. 2018-reads existential-thoughts publisher-presents 3 likes Like Comment Jenny Dunning 336 reviews 9 followers July 26, 2018 My favorite kind of book--each sentence unfolds like a poem, while the characters and story draw me ineluctably forward. Schwehn's post-apocalyptic world is weirdly wonderful; unexpected details present themselves at every turn. The novel also satisfies at the theme level. Something entirely incomprehensible has occurred, what the characters call the Rending, in which 95% of the world's population and much of their "stuff" has disappeared suddenly. Gradually, the reader realizes that for all the physical needs the characters must meet for survival, the fundamental challenge is to construct a narrative that allows them to move forward in the new world they've found themselves in. Schwehn handles this with delicacy and wisdom, in the process helping us see more clearly how our narratives shape our own lives. For Schwehn, who spent several years at Holden Village, a Lutheran retreat in the North Cascades, and is married to a Lutheran minister, this means the Christian narrative. But she contextualizes that narrative. As her narrator, Mira, says, "In the end, looking closely, without judgement or expectation, is one of the things we can control, and it is the one act that reveals the heart of the world, regardless of whether that world is imbued with divinity or not." 3 likes Like Comment Bettina 68 reviews 141 followers January 23, 2019 The Rending and the Nest is nothing like any dystopia I read before and completely surprised me. Initially though, I was put off by the writing since it is very lyrical and therefore (not being a native English speaker) it took me longer to process the sentences. But after the first chapter, I started to enjoy the slower paced reading and really appreciated Schwehn's beautiful, clever and metaphorical style. The other thing I loved about this book is how open for interpretation it is. You're not told why the apocalypse happend it that - to be honest pretty strange - way. You're not being lectured explicitly about our modern way of living. It's left to the reader to draw their conclusions which I don't find easily in a lot of novels. Can't wait to read more from this author! 3 likes Like Comment Blaine 849 reviews 965 followers January 24, 2018 I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I requested this book because I am a sucker for post-apocalypse fiction and the self-comparisons to Station Eleven, which I absolutely loved. But this book did not really work for me. An apocalypse happens and none of the survivors know why. It’s a great premise, and it sets the table nicely for one of the book’s main themes: no one ever knows the whole story, so the only thing you get to decide is the story you’re going to tell yourself about what’s happened. Unfortunately, there’s just not much story here. Not a lot happens over the course of the book. The antagonist does not appear until almost halfway through. The writing is nice, and occasionally lovely (“[I] knew that a prayer was exposing the soft belly of fear to light”). But the plot drags in several places, and the author resorts to telling rather than showing too often. 2018 advanced-reading-copies e-book 2 likes Like Comment Anne 6 reviews March 22, 2018 This is NOT just another work of post-apocalyptic fiction. Often, such novels focus on the question, "Why did this happen?" There is some of that here, too, as characters struggle to make peace with loss and recognize the truths in their new reality; the beauty of this novel, however, unfolds as its characters move past their pain into acceptance. Schwehn's writing deftly balances profundity with absurdity. Little moments of this book will stay with me for a long time, and I've learned things I didn't know I needed to know (for example: the purpose of the little bitty side pocket in five-pocket jeans). And I will continue to learn about myself through my experiences reading this novel as I mull over its questions and lessons, especially the one most present as I write this: What would my Baby look like? 2 likes Like Comment SnoopyDoo's Book Reviews 609 reviews 336 followers July 18, 2018 1 ½ ★ Sadly this book was a DNF, I don’t like to DNF books and I rarely do it but I just couldn’t connect with this book. I like to say that the writing is what put me off, and that I’m sure many people will enjoy this book and its writing style. It just was not for me. For one it seemed a bit too much philosophy for me. Yes, I like when I book makes you think and maybe see a bigger pictures but as far as I read this book was too much of it, almost was like fill in the blanks feeling for me. It started out with the world building or the lack of it, in this case. We are just thrown into the story with very little info about the world or prior events. We don’t know why 95% of humanity disappeared or what lead up to it. It’s just a fact no explanation or anything and we just supposed to take it. While sometimes that can make a book, it defiantly didn’t in this case, at least not for me. It just made me feel lost and disconnected to the book. That also goes for the characters. I had a hard time to connect to any of them and it just felt sort flat to me. Another issue I had was that it seemed incredible slow to me , I only made it to page 116 but it felt like I read 300 some pages. But to be honest it could have been just the fact that I was not a huge fan of the book. While this book was not for me, I still think plenty if people would enjoy it and appreciate the writing style much more than I did. I rate it 1 ½ ★ for the 116 pages that I have read if the book. arc 1 like Like Comment Marzie 1,160 reviews 96 followers February 20, 2018 3.5 Stars This was an interesting, well-written book with an unusual post-apocalyptic, dystopian plot. Following a mysterious apocalyptic event termed The Rending, in a world with a vastly reduced population, Mira, the central character, lives in a community called Zion. Her days are spent sorting through the Piles, quite literally piles of debris left by The Rending, finding objects that might be put to use. Her friend Lana sometimes accompanies her but is primarily working as a prostitute in the community. Lana, and then ultimately the other fertile women of Zion, become pregnant and mysteriously give birth to objects . An interloper in the community, Michael, wields a cult-leader-like power and destabilizes the bonds between members of the community including Mira and Lana. Mira builds nests for the Babies. The original central members of Mira's group push back against Michael. The plot setup is well executed but I found myself puzzling over the underlying premise. The Rending itself is never really explained. It wasn't a Rapture event (I was worried about that prospect from some elements of Mira's family life) and it wasn't a comet hitting the earth. It isn't a zombie apocalypse story, although I felt that there were similarities to the communities seen in stories like The Walking Dead with abusive or cultish leaders. Are those who survived just lucky? Are they the cursed few? The enigmatic nature of the story left me wanting a reader's guide or an explanation from the author about what she was going for here. I felt a bit deflated by the ending in which I felt had no greater insight than I had at the start. Schwehn is a polished writer with an interesting premise. I just wish she'd given us more insight into The Rending and its survivors' purpose. I received a Digital Review Copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. arc-net-galley 1 like Like Comment Samantha Zee 576 reviews 17 followers February 11, 2019 This book was really weird and even if I had reread the blurb before picking this one up (I tend to add books to my TBR and get to them months later, forgetting what they were supposed to be about), I don't think it would've helped. We follow a group of people who try to build a community after the "Rending" happens, where the majority of the world's people just disappear. Piles of junk appear and people scavenge for parts for survival while trying to rebuild society and deal with the fact that while there is no longer any diseases, there's also no new births. But then people start getting pregnant! It's based in MN, so I appreciated being able to recognize a lot of the highways and what not, but a lot of questions are left unanswered. Plus there are a lot of characters being named dropped all the time, but minus a few, the majority fade to the background. Even the main characters aren't really likable. They aren't unlikable either, but really, you just don't care about them. The pacing in this book can use work too. The front half is really slow, but not just because Schwehn is trying to world build and explain a bit. The last 100 pages pick up slightly, but the ending isn't really satisfying and left open so if you aren't into those endings, this book becomes even more frustrating. 2.5 stars, rounded up because it is better than 2 stars, but I wouldn't bother. 3-star-sci-fi-dystopian-fantasy would-not-recommend 1 like Like Comment Therin Knite Author 10 books 171 followers February 8, 2018 While the premise of this book was extremely interesting, I found the execution a bit too esoteric for my tastes. I was hoping for something more like Station Eleven, but this went far beyond that in terms of literary focus. There were many parts of this story I liked, however, including the descriptions of the setting, like the large stacks of random objects, and the concept that a large portion of objects disappeared, leaving sparse supplies. Some of the characters were quite interesting as well, although I found the main character a bit bland. Overall, the plot was the weakest element of the book for me. I found it quite slow and plodding at times. I give this three stars for an excellent premise with a somewhat less than satisfying execution. [NOTE: I received an ARC of this title from the publisher via NetGalley.] literary 1 like Like Comment Erica 442 reviews 7 followers March 20, 2018 3.5 stars. About 1/3 of the way through I wanted to stop reading it - I got what the world was but not much was happening - but then I got really caught up in this very strange dystopia. One day most of the people and a lot of the stuff in the world disappears. The remaining stuff is deposited in giant piles. The survivors in this story started out in the Mall of America. The weather is a constant gray 60-ish and the ground periodically saturates with water, sustaining root crops but not much else. There are some new fruits growing. No explanation for what happened. The characters wonder too. Is this about materialism? Attachment to objects? Maybe. Women start giving birth to inanimate objects (like chopsticks or a vase.) The characters grew on me and I thought the writing was really excellent. fiction 1 like Like Comment Donna 2,698 reviews May 18, 2022 After the Rending results in 95% of humanity disappearing, Mira and her companions come together to make a community. What a bizarre version of an apocalypse! I love that this is different than anything else I've read and I've read a ton of these books. The Rending is not even the weirdest thing that happens because women start giving birth to inanimate objects such as plastic birds. Be aware that this is a 'drop you in the deep end' type of book. The author is not going to slowly build up to explanations or provide the logistics of how and why things happen. It's a bit of a sink or swim and I really enjoyed it. It's like a slow drive along a beautiful road but instead of 'over here there's a winding stream' we have 'over here's some weird shit'. If you want that experience, definitely try this book. science-fiction-fantasy 1 like Like Comment Alex 763 reviews 34 followers May 8, 2018 An interesting post-apocalyptic novel that possibly doesn't go deep enough. It has a lot of good ideas for a society so suddenly broken, but it doesn't expand on many of them, and takes some of its more outré concepts entirely for granted. Not exactly fun, but some arresting images and a good climax help The Rending and the Nest along without ever really placing it in the post-apocalyptic pantheon. alternate-reality post-apocalypse 1 like Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 1 quote Start a discussion 2 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Easy Love (Boudreaux, #1) by Kristen Proby | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Boudreaux #1 Easy Love Kristen Proby 4.11 17,988 ratings 1,315 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Eli Boudreaux’s family has built ships and boats in Louisiana for generations. He comes from a hard working, wealthy family and his empire is growing by leaps and bounds. At thirty, he is the youngest CEO to ever head Bayou Enterprises, co-chairing with his eldest brother. His head for business and his no-nonsense work ethic is also quickly making him the best the company has seen in generations. His staff admires him, women adore him and Eli’s family is solid. But he’s recently discovered that someone on the inside of his business is stealing from him and he’s determined to find out who. Kate O’Shaughnessy is hired by companies all over the world to slip inside and investigate every member of the organization from the CEO down to the custodial staff to find the person or persons responsible for embezzling. She’s excellent at blending, becoming part of the team, and finding the weakest link. She’s smart, quick-witted, and she’s now been hired by Bayou Enterprises, specifically Eli Boudreaux. The attraction is immediate and the chemistry is off the charts, but Kate has heard all about Eli’s playboy past and she has a job to do. Sleeping with the boss isn’t a part of that job, even if just the sound of her name rolling off that Cajun tongue and the way he fills out a designer suit does make her sweat. Eli’s southern charms surprise Kate. The man whose reputation labels him as a ruthless, callous womanizer is not the man she’s coming to know intimately. He’s generous, protective and makes her smile. Cracking through Kate’s cool, reserved demeanor and discovering her love of sexy, expensive lingerie is a challenge Eli can’t resist, but her sweet nature, love of family and sense of humor pull at him in ways no one else ever has. But when the person responsible for trying to single-handedly dismantle Eli’s empire comes to light, and it’s time for Kate to move on, to what lengths will Eli go to keep the woman he’s fallen in love with by his side? Genres Romance Contemporary Romance Contemporary Adult Audiobook Chick Lit New Adult ...more 246 pages, Kindle Edition First published February 18, 2015 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Kristen Proby 121 books 15.3k followers Kristen Proby is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over seventy published titles. She debuted in 2012, captivating fans with spicy contemporary romance about families and friends with plenty of swoony love. She also writes paranormal romance and suggests you keep the lights on while reading them. When not under deadline, Kristen enjoys spending time with her husband and their fur babies, riding her bike, relaxing with embroidery, trying her hand at painting, and, of course, enjoying her beautiful home in the mountains of Montana. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.11 17,988 ratings 1,315 reviews 5 stars 7,073 (39%) 4 stars 6,928 (38%) 3 stars 3,087 (17%) 2 stars 622 (3%) 1 star 278 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,315 reviews Candace 1,179 reviews 4,605 followers August 22, 2017 'Easy Love' had been sitting on my Audible shelf for a long time. Finally, I decided on a whim to give it a listen. Although it isn't a life-changing, epic type of story, it ended up being a pretty good one. If you're looking for a sweet and predictable type of love story, this a nice choice. The Boudreaux family owns a successful business in New Orleans. When they discover that somebody is stealing from them, they decide to hire somebody to investigate. Who better than a family friend that they trust? Kate O'Shaughnessey went to college with Beau and Savannah Boudreaux. The three became very close and that friendship has withstood the test of time. When they ask her to move to New Orleans to investigate the theft, it comes at just the right time for Kate. She packs her bags and heads to the Big Easy. Almost immediately, sparks fly between Kate and Eli Boudreaux, the older Boudreaux brother. Somehow, the sexy Eli had managed to miss all of the family trips to visit his siblings while they were away at college and never met Kate before. This probably was the result of his emotional distance and workaholic ways. Eli is the stereotypical, closed-off hero. He is married to his work and has a ton of emotional baggage. Eli is certain that a happily ever after isn't in his future and never commits. He likes to keep his sexual encounters straightforward and unattached. As I'm sure you can guess, things change when Kate enters the picture. She's already treated like part of his family. His own siblings do their best to warn her off, afraid that Eli will hurt their close friend. Not surprisingly, the two can't seem to stay away from each other. Eli and Kate begin a sort of clandestine friendship, which soon evolves into much more. Before long, they've both fallen head over heels. As their time together comes to a close, they are faced with some tough decisions. Kate tries to respect Eli's boundaries, knowing that a relationship isn't something he ever wanted. Meanwhile, Eli has to face the demons from his past as he struggles with the fact that Kate doesn't seem to be as attached to him as he is to her. Of course, this could all have been resolved with a good heart to heart discussion, but where would that leave us? Overall, this was a sweet, albeit predictable, story. Sometimes, you need a story that doesn't require a lot of insight or critical thinking. This was one such story. It was a cute, fun and romantic read. It was just what I was in the mood for! Check out more of my reviews at www.bookaddicthaven.com dark-themes forbidden-romance listened-to-audio-version ...more 138 likes Like Comment Catarina 896 reviews 2,213 followers March 11, 2015 4 Sweet Stars. Kate was just asked by her best-friend from college, to go work undercover to her family company and find who is stealing money from them. It’s her job and she’s damn good at it. Eli is the older brother and the CEO of the company. He’s good as this job and closed off to every other aspect of his life. He’s attached to some weird sense of loyalty to the company, and despite his playboy ways he never settled because work is his love. When they met, immediately something happens between them and everything starts to change. But when what Kate are chasing for, suddenly becomes a threat, everything they found are at risk of be lost again. Whenever I want to read a sweet and sexy romance, with enjoyable characters and an entertaining plot without being angsty, Kristen Proby is always to-go author. (Or she would be, if I haven’t read all her books.) She writes beautifully and she always delivers a good romance story. This one was no exception. Especially because is set on New Orleans and I love books set there! (I don’t why, I have never been there!) My only problem with her books is that she uses too much “pop culture” references and those tend to be outdated quickly. She’s without a doubt one of my favorite romance authors, so if you want to read a good love story, this book is a good choice. Rating: 4 Stars. Characters Development: I liked Kate, she was strong considering everything that happened to her, and really sweet. Eli was a good hero either, and for someone who used to be a manwhore, he changed his ways pretty quickly. He was sexy and sweet and little broody, just like we like them. I love the supporting characters, I can’t wait to read their books! Steam: Some hot moments. Sensible Subjects: No. Love Triangle: No. Cheating: No. HEA: Yes. cotton-candy-romance 73 likes Like Comment SueBee★bring me an alpha!★ 2,417 reviews 14.9k followers Want to read April 18, 2017 FREE on Amazon US today (4/16/2017) Stand-alone book 1. FREE: https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Love-Boud... BLURB: Eli Boudreaux’s family has built ships and boats in Louisiana for generations. He comes from a hard working, wealthy family and his empire is growing by leaps and bounds. At thirty, he is the youngest CEO to ever head Bayou Enterprises, co-chairing with his eldest brother. His head for business and his no-nonsense work ethic is also quickly making him the best the company has seen in generations. His staff admires him, women adore him and Eli’s family is solid. But he’s recently discovered that someone on the inside of his business is stealing from him and he’s determined to find out who. Kate O’Shaughnessy is hired by companies all over the world to slip inside and investigate every member of the organization from the CEO down to the custodial staff to find the person or persons responsible for embezzling. She’s excellent at blending, becoming part of the team, and finding the weakest link. She’s smart, quick-witted, and she’s now been hired by Bayou Enterprises, specifically Eli Boudreaux. The attraction is immediate and the chemistry is off the charts, but Kate has heard all about Eli’s playboy past and she has a job to do. Sleeping with the boss isn’t a part of that job, even if just the sound of her name rolling off that Cajun tongue and the way he fills out a designer suit does make her sweat. Eli’s southern charms surprise Kate. The man whose reputation labels him as a ruthless, callous womanizer is not the man she’s coming to know intimately. He’s generous, protective and makes her smile. Cracking through Kate’s cool, reserved demeanor and discovering her love of sexy, expensive lingerie is a challenge Eli can’t resist, but her sweet nature, love of family and sense of humor pull at him in ways no one else ever has. But when the person responsible for trying to single-handedly dismantle Eli’s empire comes to light, and it’s time for Kate to move on, to what lengths will Eli go to keep the woman he’s fallen in love with by his side? FREEBIES are often good for MORE than one day. I have gathered all my FREEBIES on a special shelf: Kindle-freebies (currently over 600 books) https://www.goodreads.com/review/list... g-contemporaries kindle kindle-freebie ...more 69 likes Like Comment Sleepless Readmore 163 reviews 306 followers March 8, 2015 4.25 #TakeMeToOrleans STARS You can live in any city of America BUT New Orleans is the only city that lives in YOU .. on that note ELI , I'll meet you at the FRENCH QUARTER !! Eli and Kate .. ♥ It started with a whisper And that was when I kissed her .. ►♫ " She scares the fuck out of me ." "Now we 're getting somewhere." His lips quirk . "If she didn't scare you a little, she wouldn't be the one for you ." You made the man who's incapable of love fall in love with you .." Kristen Proby .. I swear I don't even bat a lash when I click on the Want To Read button. I fully trust that I'll fall in love with the books .. I mean how can I not this brilliant writer has a way with words. She has created YET another beginning to an incredible series ( YES I KNOW .. IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT ). After reading this, I wanted to book the next flight out to New Orleans ! Window seat? PSSSH .. who needs that when I can have a seat next to Eli . Hi Eli .. you're my current book boyfriend! I flew right through this novel; it had me captivated and intrigued till the end. It would have gotten the 5 STARS if it included more to the ending .. don't get me wrong LOVED that last bit that ensures the main's for next book .. but I wanted more of an ending for these two . Easy Love Kristen Proby - Sleepless, Readmore. Twitter 55 likes Like Comment Wendy'sThoughts 2,668 reviews 3,278 followers February 24, 2021 3.5 From Seattle to New Orleans with Love Stars * * * 1/2 Spoiler Free-Like A Fine Wine, It's FREE!!! This is a spinoff from the successful With Me in Seattle series by Kristen Proby. With all of the extended families from the previous books, we have another new family, the Boudreaux's. They are colorful, loving, and determined to carry on their father's traditions. In this series, we have the primary story of Kate and Eli. Kate is a forensic accountant able to trace how funds are stolen from companies by their employees. Because Kate is a close friend of Eli's brother and sister from college, she is the perfect person to go undercover in the company to do the investigation. The overall story was Kate being off-limits for Eli due to his being a player and because it was unprofessional. Although everyone knew this should not happen... of course, he was drawn to her immediately. For Kate, two years out of a physically and emotionally abusive marriage, she was finally ready to receive some attention from a strong handsome man. It was a perfect storm for mutual want for both. We have their budding romance and it is done with special moments; we also have an undercurrent of a time limit and whether their feelings will be able to adhere to it. All of the time together between Eli and Kate work... there are heat and sparks; you want Eli to just man up and say how he really feels. There are two other parts to this story. The sister Savannah is in a difficult marriage... she is hiding her pain from her siblings until she can't. This is handled with care by Kate, for she can relate to all the secrets Savannah is holding away from her family. The other plot is the theft from the company. This I felt was the weakest part of the story-line. The structure was more of an afterthought for me and I saw the outcome from early on. It did not hamper my enjoyment of the story... just did not enhance it either. First books of series require so much. They must lay the foundation for all the books to come. We must become invested in the secondary characters, families, and locations to keep us wanting to return. Overall, I feel those goals were accomplished. We have many Boudreaux's to watch and care for... and if you loved the With Me in Seattle series... then you know Proby is capable of delivering. Easy Love (Boudreaux, #1) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Easy with You (Boudreaux, #1.5) Easy Charm (Boudreaux, #2) Easy Melody (Boudreaux, #3) Easy For Keeps (Boudreaux, #3.5) Easy Kisses (Boudreaux, #4) Easy Magic (Boudreaux, #5) Easy Fortune (Boudreaux, #5.5) Easy Nights (Boudreaux, #6) For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways 50 likes Like Comment ✦❋Arianna✦❋ 790 reviews 2,575 followers March 5, 2015 At thirty Eli Boudreaux is the youngest CEO to ever head Bayou Enterprises. One of his brothers, Beau and one of his sisters, Savannah work with him, the other siblings having other businesses. Eli is a workaholic, he has never been married and occasionally hooks-up with different women. Needless to say he’s a little bit of a manwhore. His life is his company, so when he finds out someone has been stealing money he’s ready to do anything to find the employee who betrayed his trust. His sister, Savannah knows the perfect person who is more than qualified to help them, Kate O'Shaughnessy. Kate is a friend of Savannah from college and one of her BFF. When she finds out about what’s happening at Bayou Enterprises she's more than willing to help. She is hired by companies all over the world to slip inside and investigate every member of the organization from the CEO down to the custodial staff to find the person or persons responsible for embezzling. Eli is warned that Kate is of limits but when he meets the auburn beauty he knows he can’t stay away. Both of them try to stay professional, but the attraction between them is too strong. They start a no strings attached relationship, but soon they secretly start to want something more. What will happen with them after they will find the person who steal from the company and Kate will have to move on? Will Eli fight for the woman he loves? This was sweet, fun and easy to read novel. Despite the predictable storyline it was a nice read. Eli and Kate were great individually and together. Eli is sweet, charming and attentive and he’s there for Kate when she needs him the most. He’s attentive, a little bit of an alpha male and the perfect southern gentlemen. Kate is a strong heroine. She’s smart, capable, caring and sweet not only with Eli, but with his family as well. If insta-lust is not your thing, this is not the book for you. As long there’s no insta-love, insta-lust doesn’t bother me (at least most of the time). In this case I was ok with it. The chemistry between Eli and Kate is off the charts from the start and very palpable and their moments together are sweet and tender and at times intense. I also enjoyed the side characters, Eli’s family and Kate’s friends. My main problem with this book was the plot who was pretty lame. I can’t say I was bored, but I was close to it. Also, the mystery was poorly done. It was so fricking obvious who’s the one who’s stealing from them. (*rolling eyes*) Needless to say, I would have liked to see a little more suspense. Overall, a good enough read! 47 likes Like Comment ~ Becs ~ 708 reviews 2,214 followers June 18, 2015 Sometimes, the only thing that will do is a Kristen Proby hero. Le Sigh! Great start to a new series with a great host of characters waiting to find their forever guy or gal and a fabulous sense of camaraderie that makes the reader just want to be part of it all. Great 4.5 star contemp romance abused-heroine alpha-hero contemporary-romance ...more 41 likes Like Comment Maria... 427 reviews 160 followers March 20, 2016 re-read 9/2/2016 "5 BLOODY STARS" "You're in love with her?" "I love her so much I can't breathe." "I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH WORDS FOR THIS BOOK!" "You are so special Kate.So beautiful.I'm going to miss you everyday. You made the man who's incapable of love fall in love with you." I loved Eli&Kate and they are the best couple so far in the Broudreaux family! They were sweet and funny...AnD A HELL OF A COUPLE!!! This story is about Eli who has devoted himself on work and doesn't have time for anything else... until Kate shows up on his office!AnD knocks him on his ass.... Kate was very sweet,funny and smart but she was abused a lot from her ex...so now she just enjoy her life without many complications and feeligs! "I am enough the way I am" When these two met there was a SPARK between them...But they couldn't act on their feeling because Kate were friends with Eli's brother and sister and well he was a manwhore so they try to keep their hands off of each other...without much success though! I liked the way they flirted and started to know each other as friends and went out for drinks, shopping or family dinners! They tried to keep it simple but their attraction was pushing things for some HOT,STEAMY sex session... "Kate?" "Kate?" "I'm sorry.Kate's not available right now." "Eli?" "Yes." "Kate's available now." "She's about to be unavailable again." We have some HOT scenes guys...OH MY GOD their chemistry on bed and off bed I may say was of the charts!I liked Eli because he was possessive and jealouse BUT also he cared about her and did little things to make her day better like send her flowers or dinner at work...He wasn't all about sex,sex,sex but he started to want more with her and tried to make her feel special and beautiful! He loved that Kate couldn't curse and wanted to make her curse all the time....in bed, while he had his wicked way with her between the sheets....AnD he really enjoyed every second of it!!! ( OH YEAH they couldn't get enough of each other! But they also were sweet and playful... "I fell into such an EASY LOVE with you,I didn't even realize it was happening,until one day,it was everything" I enjoyed this book and I recommened it if you want an easy love and funny this is the book for you! I love this author and the way she writes her stories! So I keep a close eye on her.... I can't wait for Savannah&Ben's book! <3xxx dual-pov erotica favorites ...more 35 likes Like Comment Hannah G 317 reviews 18 followers April 17, 2017 I'm rating this book 2.25 stars. I didn't like this at all. I first wanna say that this book didn't really hold my interest. I kept thinking about others things while reading this and it just didn't work for me. This whole book was sub par. The characters were okay but most of them were below average. And, also the pace of this book was too slow. I realize that this review is in the minority and I have no idea why. This book just lacks so many things needed for a romance book. First of all the romance. I didn't really feel love between Kate & Eli more lust. And that would be okay if this book was 50 pages but its not. This book was so boring. I feel like the author tried with some events to make it interesting but unfortunately failed. The first chapter of this book I had to keep rereading because I originally thought that it was in the female love interest P.O.V. Defiantly not my brightest moment. The author really tried to get you as the reader interested in the other characters in this book. But that backfired because I was more interested with the other characters in this book than the ones i'm reading about. I do hope that the other books in this series are better than this one. 34 likes Like Comment Lyndy Ann ♫ 672 reviews April 14, 2015 I have fallen in love with the Boudreaux siblings already after only Eli's story, I love the way Kristen writes the family gatherings, how close the family are and the hilarious banter between brothers and sisters how they tease each other and how cute is little Sam. Eli Boudreaux is a workaholic all he does is work, go to the gym, spend time with his family and has one night stands when he feels the urge. Until one day Kate O’Shaughnessy walks into his office and Eli's life changes. Kate O’Shaughnessy comes to New Orleans to work undercover at Bayou Enterprises to find a thief. Kate has been best friends with Savannah and Declan Boudreaux since college she has met all the siblings except for Eli, when she meets Eli it is lust at first sight. Eli and Kate together are cute how Eli tries to get Kate to talk dirty and she gets embarrassed, how Eli gets jealous when Kate teases him. Eli can be bossy but that only turns Kate on even more the chemistry between them is off the charts and how sweet they can be towards each other. Easy Love is full of sexy sweet romance, hot scorching sex, lots of funny moments especially the girls night and some heart breaking moments and I loved everyone involved. Loved the way the French Quarter is described and all the food mentioned made me hungry. It has everything you expect from a Kristen Proby novel and who has become my favourite author and I can't wait to get to know the rest of the Boudreaux siblings and Rhys O'Shaughnessy even better. favorites 27 likes Like Comment Claire 2,318 reviews 726 followers April 16, 2017 4 - I am enough the way I am..., Stars! If you have read the authors With Me series you’ll know exactly what you are getting with this one, because we have essentially moved from Seattle (where the aforementioned is set) to New Orleans, which is where the Boudreaux Family resides. As with the Montgomery family in Seattle, the Boudreaux’s are a large clan, with lots of friends and extended family that will likely play a part in the future books. Six siblings, all in their twenties and thirties, and all miraculously still single (although one isn’t at the beginning of this book), and just like the authors original series characters, no doubt all of them will have their own particular foibles, likes/dislikes and personalities and will manage to find their special someone’s with each new book that is added. I loved the With Me series, so having half a dozen books in this series to work my way through is like Christmas come early for this reader. books-i-cannot-live-without shit-hot-series 28 likes Like Comment Stacey 1,446 reviews 1,141 followers September 8, 2018 Easy listening... Every workday morning, I get on my train to go to work and I find a little corner to hide in. I never sit as there's this great little spot, right beside the door, with a pole to hang onto and a window to look out and watch the world go by. I can turn my back on the other passengers, feel like I'm alone and forget my fellow travellers are even there. UNTIL... My Bluetooth failed, blasting what I'm listening to right as Sebastian York in his oh so sexy voice describes being balls deep and being very, very happy (or something like that). Yep, you guessed it, my fellow passengers now know I'm a smut reader. YIPPEE!! I guess I'm going to have to quit my job, move to the beach and become a shell collector. Anyways, besides my most embarrassing (even more than the bawling and cracking up laughing episodes) listening experience, I really enjoyed Easy Love . The story was so easy to listen to and I never felt that scrambling, what did I miss, when the storyline seems to fly by. The family dynamics, support and love the Boudreaux family show to each other is something most would envy. For very rich people, they were extremely down to earth and easy to get to know. Eli and Kate are perfect together and I knew that they would eventually come to realise that they were meant for each other. They've both had heartbreak, with Kate surviving an abusive relationship and Eli feeling a need to prove himself after his father's death. Work became their life and it's only after they come together they realise that love is more important. The narration was fantastic BUT I couldn't help but think that it was a little silly, inconsistent, almost strange that Rachel Fulginiti did the characters with a Cajun accent but Sebastian York didn't. Heaven forbid that I should say this but I almost think Rachel should have done this one on her own. Don't get me wrong, I could listen to Sebastian every day of the week, it's just that Rachel brought a little extra to the table by doing the accents so convincingly. I highly recommend Easy Love for an easy to listen to audio. The storyline was interesting with a touch of intrigue, the drama was on the low side, and the connection and sexy times were believable. I will definitely go back for more soon...ish. audible-plus-escape-original audio cont-series 24 likes Like Comment Iselreads(lexie) 229 reviews 38 followers March 6, 2015 B..b..but I thought the hero was supposed to be a player and a bit of an asshole? He seemed too nice. I was waiting the jerk-side to come out and play. But, nada. Oh, well. annoying-moments awwwwww happily-ever-after ...more 19 likes Like Comment Alp 761 reviews 441 followers April 27, 2015 2.25/5 I wasn't impressed with this book. The romance was good but the plot was too weak. contemporary-romance 19 likes Like Comment Kelli C 1,046 reviews 356 followers August 31, 2015 4.25 Easy to Love Stars! One thing is for sure, Kristen Proby can pull me out of a book funk any day of the week! I adored her With Me series and knowing she has started a new one with catchy story lines and likeable characters makes me a happy gal! Easy Love takes the reader down south! In the heard of New Orleans is the Boudreaux Family. The men are sexy and the women are strong. They are a family united and this book introduces the first family member with Eli Boudreaux as he learns the true meaning of working hard for something you want...even if it is packaged in a pencil skirt with fiery red hair and a sassy attitude! Eli is unprepared for Kate! "I want to be in her arms. I want to wrap my arms around her and pull her into me and lose myself in her.” True to Proby fashion she makes her men dreamy. Always smart and a bit cocky. Eli is hot and very alpha all while charming and romantic. AAAAAhhhh, a Cajun speaking business man! The heat she writes is always off the charts smokin' and tender at the same time. I love how she writes her intimacy with emotion and a "deeper" meaning, even it having an office quickie! “All I can see, all I can think about, is you. I want you. You don’t just cross my mind once in a while you live in it.” I enjoyed the fast attraction and fun friendly flirting. While the story was quick there was a good development with open communication and a sense that more is to come! I do love a man that falls hard! bad-boys fab-writing kick-ass-female ...more 16 likes Like Comment Michelle 1,546 reviews 162 followers March 4, 2015 This book was amazeballs I luvd it Kate is a very strong woman an knows what she wants she is great in her job when her college friend an bff Savannah asks 4 her help Kate doesn't hesitate when she gets there she is met by the very handsome Eli an God is that man sexy when she sees him she is shocked she as met a lot of Savannah's family but not Eli she would of remembered him Kate does know about Eli that he is a womanizer an a cocky shit so she does have a guard up even a lil when Eli sees Kate he is shocked how gorgeous she but she is there 2 do a job when Eli takes her 2 the apartment she is goin stay they up havin a lil kiss but a hot kiss as the weeks go on they get closer the only thing is that they both want so ties Kate as been in a bad relationship an Eli as his own issues but 1 thing these 2 have is hot hot chemistry an the sexual tension is off the hook an then they do get 2gether wow it's great What I did luv about this book was the characters we meet al of Elvis family an there isn't 1 that I didn't like it's 1 think that I do luv about KP's book is that she makes 1 good lookin family I luv how the boys look after sisters an they r al very close an luv each other so much There is a lil drama in the book which is good an some sensitive parts I m not goin hide but Ye there was tears I was so gutted but like I alway say I m not goin 2 spoil it The other KP books this did not let me down I really enjoyed it hated putting it down an I got 2 add another gorgeous man no men cause al these men r good really an the epilogue was good I just hate waitin 4 the next book so can we have it soon plz ;) alpha-male favorite-books hot-men ...more 15 likes Like Comment Lisa 877 reviews 1,245 followers July 10, 2015 *ARC Given to Blog for Honest Review* 4 “Bad idea” “words” “I’ve adjusted my sails.” Kisses I absolutely adore Kristen Proby 's books with an unending passion. Everything about her novels is why I love romance so much…I cannot explain the hypnotic powers they have over me…and when I heard she was coming out with a new series…I totally did a happy dance. Easy Love is just another notch in Kristen’s belt for books that completely sucked me in…I devoured this baby…read it in 24 hours because I could not get enough of Eli and Kate and how amazing they were. I never wanted it to end. If this is just the beginning of the Boudreaux series…good lord ladies, we’re in for one hell of a ride! Eli Boudreaux.. O-M-G ! I know for a fact that Kristen can write some amazing BBF’s (hello, have you met the men in her With Me in Seattle Series ?!?)…so I was prepared to swoon, but oh holy heaven…I was not prepared for Eli. I think he deserves a list: 1.) He’s 6’4” …excuse me while I drool. A lot. 2.) He has an amazing, incredibly sexy accent 3.) I love my good ole’ Southern boys 4.) Gorgeous Whiskey colored eyes that I could gaze into for days 5.) He’s a manwhore – my weakness ! 6.) The man was born to wear a suit…just yum 7.) His deliciously fucking filthy mouth and all of the sinful things that come out of it...and his beautiful smile…and how good he can kiss…pretty much anything to do with his mouth is amazing. 8.) He’s a charmer ;-) 9.) Incredible brother and son 10.) Oh and he has a nice ass! ;-) If only this scratched the surface of how blissfully fantastic this man is…but it doesn’t. He’s kind…generous…sweet…intelligent…charismatic…thoughtful…I could literally go on for days, Eli blew me away. Something I couldn’t get enough of was the love he has for his siblings and his mother. They are a very close family and it’s apparent with every interaction we see. Even through the tough, business-as-usual exterior, Eli has a huge heart and his capacity to love…and it took a beautiful redhead to show him that he was capable of loving. ‘“Say fuck , Kate, it’s okay.” “I don’t swear,” she whispers. “I have enough Catholic guilt as it is.” “Just this once. I won’t tell.” My lips are tickling hers as I talk, and I feel the shiver run through her. She licks her lips and swallows thickly, and I’ve never been so hard in my damn life. “Say it.” “Fuck,” she whisper, and I crush my mouth to hers, kissing her with all the pent up frustration and need that I have inside me.’ Mary Katherine O’Shaughnessy…oh Kate didn’t know what she was getting herself into when she decided to come to New Orleans. As much as I love Kristen’s ability to create endlessly delicious BBF’s…I think I equally adore her heroines…and Kate’s a superb addition to that group. There is so much to love about Kate it’s ridic…the fact that she doesn’t cuss – it sounds silly, but trust me, it’s the cutest/funniest/most adorable thing on the planet. Her friendship with Savannah and Declan (Eli’s twin siblings)…she had a distinct and unique relationship with each twin and I loved both of them to bits. Her strength…her tenacity…her sass…her humor…I flat out could not get enough of her – she was greatness. The more I learned about her, the more I wanted to make her my bestie…she’s so down to earth and sweet…it’s blatantly obvious why Eli never stood a chance against her charms. ‘He laughs and cages me between his hands. “I don’t want to fuck this up before we really get started, Kate.” “And then you say things like that that make me swoon and my panties all wet.” “Are your panties wet, Kate?” “My panties have been wet for a week, Eli.” “Good.” He kisses me softly, ending it on a growl. “Please tell me you can get yourself to bed.” “I can’t get myself to bed.” I grin and bat my eyelashes. “You might have to help me.”’ Oh the amazingness that is Eli and Kate…the bliss…the joy…I challenge anyone to not completely fall into all that makes them spectacular. I loved their connection from the start…the build…the sexual tension and electric chemistry…and good lord in heaven the passion. Eli and Kate are so hot…and I couldn’t help but enjoy every second. I don’t think Eli has an un-sexy bone in his body and both myself and Kate benefitted from this immensely. It’s primal and sensual and good-god-yes-more-please-thank-you! :-) But it wasn’t all about the sex…I promise! (that was just the icing on the cake!) I loved that he tried to get her to cuss and that she can’t get enough of his ass (I’m telling you…it’s a great ass!)…I loved all the little ways he showed her that he cared or was thinking about her…I loved their banter and playfulness…I loved how much he loved feeding her (trust me…it sounds strange but it’s amazing!). It’s interesting because they have this cute, fun friendship/friends with benefits thing…that is more relationship-y than either of them care to admit to but it works for them and what they have. Eli and Kate are just flat out easy…effortless…and I say that as the highest form of compliment…there’s no muss, no fuss just all goodness and all the feels that make me swoon. “What are you thinking so hard about?” he asks quietly, his accent thicker, perfect for this lazy, easy moment. “Nothing.” “Now, that’s a lie,” he replies with a soft smile. “I can hear your wheels turning.” “I was thinking about you.” I squeeze his hand a little tighter, and then bring it up to nuzzle it with my cheek. “And that I’ll miss you when I leave.” He grows quiet for a moment, not responding at all, and then he surprises me. “I’ve enjoyed every moment with you, Mary Katherine O’Shaughnessy,” he says, making me smile at the way he says my last name with his accent. “You are a special woman.” So not only am I falling in love with Kate and Eli throughout Easy Love …I’m also falling in love with the rest of the Boudreaux clan…and seriously, I am so excited for each of these characters to get their own book…I pretty much need them right now. #NotKidding All the little details and hints that were dropped about each character…kind of giving clues as to the possibilities that lie within were like little gems that I wanted to cherish forever (hence my excitedness about the rest of the books in the series!)…but I’m getting ahead of myself…let’s talk about Eli’s brothers and sisters. There’s Beau, the eldest Boudreaux (Eli is the second oldest), the twins – Savannah and Declan, Charlotte (Charly) and Gabby. Each of the siblings have their own unique relationships and seeing them unfold…it’s an indescribable feeling of happiness. Maybe it’s because I’m an only child…maybe it’s because Kristen creates magic between these characters…maybe it’s because it feels so natural and fluid…for whatever reason I cannot help but adore watching this family interact. Seeing them support each other…pick on one another…go through the good, the bad and the ugly…it makes it all the more authentic and genuine. “What are you saying?” I ask breathlessly. “I’m saying,” he says and swallows hard, “that you mean the world to me. I’ve been looking for you my whole damn life. I’m uninterested in a life without you.” The entire book is told from Kate and Eli’s POV…until the Epilogue. * dum dum dummmmm * The lovely surprise is that the Epilogue is told from Rhys O’Shaughnessy’s POV, Kate’s cousin – who is basically like her brother because they were raised together. And guess what that means?!?! His book, Easy Charm is next!!! Rhys is not a huge part of Easy Love but he has some very major contributions and given that he’s headed to New Orleans, I’m excited to see what experiencing the Boudreaux’s does to his life. ;-) angsty-romance arc-given-to-blog-for-honest-review dying-to-get-my-hands-on ...more 14 likes Like Comment Jo 957 reviews 227 followers September 2, 2019 2019 Re-read How did I read this so wrong before?? Sure it was sweet but I really didn't like Eli and his playboy reputation, how he recalled all the lovely sexual things the women in his little black book did to him in the past. Ugh, what an ass. So yeah, he pretty much ruined this book for me. Original review. She’s the reason I’ve come alive. Eli Boudreaux comes from a hardworking family, although he likes to take it to the extreme, working twenty hours a day, determined to make their family company the best it can be. He’s ruthless and cold in business and his personal life. When he finds out that someone from inside has been stealing from their business, he agrees immediately when his sister Savannah wants them to hire her best friend, Kate to find the thief. Because of his playboy reputation, he has to promise Savannah that he would leave Kate alone, and Eli can’t see that it would be a problem. Until he meets Kate and she turns him inside out. Kate O’Shaughnessy is so excited to visit her dear friends Savannah and Declan Boudreaux, and helping their family finding a thief. Kate excels at slipping inside companies, blending and investigating every company member and finding the people responsible for embezzling. But she never expected the attraction she feels to Eli. She doesn’t want to get involved, especially not with someone connected to her best friend, but staying away and ignoring his sexy accent and charm is impossible. Neither were looking for love, but it seemed to have found them. Will they admit their feelings or go their separate ways when it’s time for Kate to go home? “No one has ever turned me inside out the way you do,” I say against her mouth, then tug her lower lip with my teeth. “You make me forget myself. You make me fucking crazy.” I loved Kate and how loving and caring she was over her friends. She’s sassy and smart and so hilarious when she gets drunk. She’s also so brave and vulnerable after what happened to her with her ex-husband and it was so great seeing how Eli was with her, how he constantly told her how special he thought she was. And that’s exactly what it is: I crave her. Her body, her thoughts, her smile. All of her. She’s made parts of me come alive that have been long dead, and I’m not sure if I can trust this yearning in my gut, yet I can’t stop it. I adored Eli! This Cajun was so freaking sexy! I loved the way he was with Kate, how he couldn’t stay away from her and how she made him feel alive again. And how there was no one else for him once he met her. All he saw was her. *swoon* “I fell into such an easy love with you, I didn’t even realize it was happening, until one day, it was everything.” “You don’t do love,” I reply. “I didn’t,” he agrees with a half-smile. “But you made the man who was incapable of love fall in love with you.” The romance was perfect, no unnecessary angst just a whole lot of romance and heat. I loved the instant attraction between them, how neither could resist their powerful chemistry. And the sexy times were SO damn hot, especially that desk scene ;-D. And Eli’s dirty talk sure made things more scorching. I always love reading series’ with a strong family base and I loved all six of the Boudreaux siblings, how they care about each other and are always there for each other. I really can’t wait to read the rest of the series. The New Orleans setting made this book even more fascinating and colorful. I loved this author’s Love Under the Big Sky series and I’m so happy to have found another winner from her. I absolutely ADORED this book and it was an amazing first installment to a series I’m sure I’m going to love. A definite must read for all fans of romance. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 3-5-stars gr2017 mine 13 likes Like Comment Judit 227 reviews 165 followers March 9, 2015 I'm sorry, but I don't understand how it is possible for this book to have such a high rating. Writing may be ok but the storyline is under-average and totally overused. I mean - he's rich, she is working for him. He has a commitment issues (but naturally commits pretty quick to the heroine - like, on page 10) and she has a dark past. They meet, they start having hot sex, hero gets jealous from time to time and that is pretty much all the angst we get. Easy Love, indeed. No big drama 90 % of the story, then something happens which get resolved rather quickly and then there is this very anti-climactic ending lacking an ounce of originality or at least some tiny surprise. I don't know what I expected from somebody who already wrote more than 10 books, but this book disappointed me pretty bad. 13 likes Like Comment S.M. West Author 39 books 1,215 followers October 22, 2016 Oooh Eli! And Sebastian York's voice with his N'awlins accent, oh my! Panty dropping! This was a fun read. I'm looking forward to more of these Bourdreaux! alpha audible sexy-as-fuck 12 likes Like Comment ~Nichole~ Sizzling Pages Romance Reviews 1,661 reviews 618 followers June 7, 2016 Really good start to this series. I loved Eli and his Cajun accent. Great introduction to all of the characters. Sexy sweet romance. I definitely will be reading the rest. Safety Eli thinks about hooking up with his usual FWB contacts.. Thinking it will get him over his feelings for Kate. Its just thoughts and every time he thought up a different possible name it would bring him back to thinking of Kate. Then there is ow drama . An ex ONS shows up twice. He doesn't do anything wrong. The heroine flirts a lot with a waiter when she's drunk. They used condoms until they had the talk. He was a manwhore before her. She only had 2.5 partners lol. That's a funny story. 1-favorite-authors 1-hea 1-hero-pushes-away-heroine ...more 11 likes Like Comment Sabrina 3,666 reviews 2,303 followers December 13, 2017 Currently FREE! And the next two books are on sale :) http://amzn.to/2o0oFFq crazy-rich 17 likes Like Comment Brianna 1,817 reviews 357 followers November 19, 2015 All time favorite for the year! (I'm gonna have trouble actually sitting down and coming up with a list because I've said this for at least 12 books already this year). I listened to this as an audiobook and couldn't be more glad I did so. I listen to them on my way to work and I cannot tell you the amount of time I started grinning like an idiot, laughing my butt off, or start talking to myself about the book. I seriously cannot process how much I LOVED this book! I'm hoping and praying the author writes each of the 6 Boudreau siblings! I loved this family to complete pieces - they are a picture perfect family in my mind. Living in the South, I love the comfort and love coming from everyone - especially this family. Having it set in Louisiana is a place I have been obsessed over. I love the culture and getting to live it through Eli and Kate's minds made me feel like I was there. This book was sooo well written that everytime I pressed play, I was immediately back in Louisiana, despite driving. Literally cannot form words without squealing and getting really excited! I'm beyond excited to meet Kristen Proby now that she will be at Austin Book Fest in March! Seriously, love this book to pieces! 0-audiobook 0-e-book 0-physical ...more 10 likes Like Comment Syndi 3,177 reviews 924 followers January 26, 2019 This book reminds me of bella andre books. But this one is much better. The characters are more alove and more in depth. I wish there is more epiloque. But leave it like that is also ok. Kate is a sassy as hell. She is like a wild cat. I actually want to see more of her past trauma affecting her. Eli is gorgeous and handsome. A alpha male. The story is light and somehow enough to support development of the characters. The secondary characters also fun. Especially eli siblings. I love to see how they interact with each other and how much they love each other. Overall, i enjoy this book. 4 stars 10 likes Like Comment NAT.orious reads ☾ 879 reviews 387 followers October 14, 2019 2.5 not so easily loving ★★✬✩✩ This book is for you if… you do not tend to listen to recommendations of people who have some requirements for their reads in the Romance area. In this case, you can go ahead and be bored out of your mind. ⤐Overall. This was mildly entertaining if I'm being very generous. I had a busy day running errands with public transport so I just spent the time travelling with this e-book. I didn't really like or dislike it enough to put the effort for a proper review in, though. The boring plot and the slow pace compete for last place together with the dull characters and the bland writing style. 10 likes Like Comment AJ 3,037 reviews 1,013 followers April 18, 2015 “I fell into such an easy love with you, I didn’t even realize it was happening until one day, it was everything.” 4 sweet and sexy stars. As much as I enjoy a book that offers me something different, sometimes I love slipping into the familiar and just soaking up an easy read, and that is exactly what Kristen Proby offers. If you’re a fan of Kristen’s With Me in Seattle series, then you’ll know what to expect from this book – a fast paced, fun, sexy and romantic story that is mostly functional with minimal angst. For that reason, she is one of my go-to authors, and this book was exactly what I wanted, and I loved diving into this brand new series. Eli Boudreaux is from a wealthy but hard-working family and at 30 years old, is the CEO of the family company. His work is his life, and when he discovers that one of his employees is stealing from the company, he brings in a professional to sniff the person out. And so along comes Kate. Her job is to infiltrate an organisation to find subterfuge. And although she is a long time good friend of Eli’s younger sister and brother, twins Savannah and Declan, she and Eli have never met. She is a hard worker and a strong woman, but she has been hurt badly in the past. So even though sparks fly from the very first moment they lay eyes on each other, Kate is in town to do a job, and she is determined to do it without getting involved with the cold and ruthless playboy. But their chemistry is crazy and as they start to spend time together, the sexual tension only increases. When neither of them can resist the other any longer, they agree to give into it, knowing that their time together will be limited to the 6 weeks that Kate is in town. And so begins their intense and passionate love affair. Full of banter, sweet moments together and lots of dirty talk and hot, hot sex, Kate and Eli throw themselves into their pseudo-relationship. “Let me make it clear; we can have sweat dripping, sheet ripping, furniture breaking, screaming, trembling, hair pulling, ass smacking fucking for hours, or soft, sweet, quiet, intense lovemaking for days. You can have either or both, but we’re not leaving here without me being inside you, sugar.” Yep, it’s hot and steamy in Louisiana, but it’s not too long before both Kate and Eli realise that what they have between them is something more than they ever expected, and I loved watching the man who had closed off his heart and never expected love, start to realise what he was feeling. I want to be in her arms. I want to wrap my arms around her and pull her into me and lose myself in her. She’s the reason I’ve come alive. Told in dual POV, Eli and Kate’s story is sweet and sexy. They both have demons to overcome, and their coming together isn’t always easy, especially when family drama is thrown into the mix, but it is beautifully romantic “All I can see, all I can think about, is you . I want you. You don’t just cross my mind once in a while you live in it.” SWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!!! Set in New Orleans, the city and its culture play a part in the story, and I enjoyed that part of it, but with that one small exception, it has a very similar feel to it as the Seattle books. There is even a character (in this case, Eli) with a big family that are all involved in each others' lives. I loved getting to meet his family - he has two brothers and three sisters, each of them just screaming out for books of their own (I have two parings already figured out, teehee). The dynamics between the siblings are fantastic – loving, and incredibly supportive of each other while still teasing - and the scenes where the group are together are great (there is even the obligatory ‘girls’ night out’ scene). There is a bit of a non-romantic storyline with Kate’s ongoing investigation, but it’s pretty easy to figure out, and by the time the ‘bad guy’ is revealed, I was too wrapped up in the love story to care much about it anyway. This is a strong start to the Boudreaux series. I really enjoyed Eli and Kate’s story, and I’m looking forward to getting to know the whole family. 4 stars. romantic series-book-1 series-standalone ...more 9 likes Like Comment Vallsykes 971 reviews 13 followers August 29, 2015 3.5-Let's see... stars a)I love the NOLA, excitingly called The Big Easy, as I remember it. b)A hero with a New 'Auwlins accent- he's big--and easy to lust after? Sign me up! c) I'm in for a temporary 2-hr-romance-fix full of night walks in the French quarter and sweet boutiques reminiscent of Creole sophistication and good ole Southern sass. Okay, so I got an alright amount of those elements above; I got some plot & seedlings for subsequent plots. I even got a love story involving a cheeky female and a second son who feels the weight of his father's legacy. There's secondary characters: brothers, sisters, in-laws, and friends. Additionally, there's the matriarch mom who is a symbol of home. Lastly, there's a bit of backstory for each of the main characters. But the latter is where the story doesn't cinch my 5 stars. They sizzle, a little. They banter, a little. And they deny, a lot. It's like, do you know the love story when both the hero and heroine have some demons that they struggle with and each is in his or her own head about things? Well, they both did have demons and they both were in their own heads! The problem is I didn't "feel" it all the way. The dramatics with the couple were at a minimum, while secondary characters seemed more important at the more engaging times in the story. This sometimes happens in the first book of an intended series. The author digresses with setting everything up--potential future plot angles & other characters that you know will have their own books--and it ends up taking away the momentum of the spotlight couple & the spotlight suspense, if that's even introduced at all, which it was, and was almost interesting. Bummer. Still, this one was easy : easy with the handling of serious issues, like domestic violence( it could have gone darker or in more detail ), yand easy with its ending. It never cooked up an exorbitant amount of steam, but it wasn't any slouch when exhibiting decent dialogue and chemistry between the main couple(and amongst other characters), especially between the hero's sister and his long time BFF[Can we say waiting for that book to drop! So in the end, I got my NOLA, but my reader senses didn't go to Mardi Gras. They did a cursory cruise down Bourbon street and got a small peek at the bayou. Bummer, again. It is beneficial to remember that setting is also a character, and The Big Easy? Well, it kind of speaks for itself. Yes, I know contemporary romance equals 50% chick lit, 40% recycled cookie cutter plots, and only 10% creativity. So, if this is the case, then you can take a chance on reading this book because its series has the potential to expand on the 10%. Happy reading. abuse contemporary-craze could-predict-the-ending ...more 9 likes Like Comment Holly 401 reviews 149 followers March 8, 2015 My Review It's official. I LOVE Kristen's family sagas Easy Love is everything I have come to treasure about Kristen's books. I love her sweet, sassy, and sexy sagas, and Easy Love does not disappoint! I loved Eli, he was just SO BOSSY that I started referring to him as Mr. Bossy Pants. I wouldn't tell him no. I didn't mind his bossiness AT ALL. It was a turn on. Eli had me all Kate was a spitfire who may have been a bit intimidated by Eli at first, but after an afternoon of helping to settle her in, she quickly got over it and had no trouble putting him in his place when necessary. I found her aversion to cursing (she called it Catholic guilt) endearing and it make me giggle/smile watching Eli trying to coax a few naughty words out of her during sexy time. Neither Eli or Kate wanted a romantic relationship; they tried to keep their feelings out of the equation. I totally felt like I knew a secret knowing it was only a matter of time before they fell for the other :-). The New Orleans setting was fantastic; as someone who's never been, Kristen's details made it easy to picture the French Quarter and it's surrounding areas. In Easy Love we also get a little mystery. As we know, Kate is there to catch a thief in the company and I loved putting my Law & Order training to use as I read trying to figure out who it could be! I loved getting to know the rest of the Boudreaux siblings and can't wait for their stories. I'll admit, I did feel like I was cheating on my Montgomery's a bit, but I realize I have plenty of room to love all of Kristen's characters; past, present, and future. 9 likes Like Comment Sofia Author 21 books 161 followers March 5, 2015 Série ideal para todas as leitoras apaixonadas por With me in Seattle. A fórmula é a mesma, mas o encanto é diferente. Mais uma série com homens apaixonados e quase perfeitos. Não muda a vida mas são umas horas bem passadas. romance sexy-romance sweet ...more 9 likes Like Comment Lover of Romance 3,214 reviews 988 followers December 6, 2017 This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance In Easy Love we have the starting story of the Boudreaux family, a mysterious Eli and Kate who come together to solve a mystery of thievery only to stumble across love instead.... Easy Love was a story that I was unsure if I would like it or not. But I have to say that the narrators of this story were brilliant. They both did such a fantastic job. Of course, we have Sebastian York as the male lead and Rachel Fulginiti as the female lead that we have here. I was really impressed, first off, with the accents. Especially in how Sebastian York shows the hero to be an authentic New Orleans raised man. We see some great culture that we are introduced to, a culture that, will make you want to book a flight to this diverse city and explore. The story has two key players that you are bound to love: Eli Boudreaux, our sexy billionaire hero, who took over the family company when his father passed and consumes himself with work. Kate O’Shaughnessy, our lovely and strong heroine, is passionate about her work, driven and intelligent. In Easy Love, we have a wonderfully written story that I couldn't help but become immersed in. This is also the first time I have been lucky enough to try out Kristen Proby and I have to say that I was impressed with how this story turned out. Even though it was a bit predictable at times, especially with the plot of the crime going on, what really had me cheering for this story here was the actual romance that develops between Eli and Kate. Eli's company is losing money, not a lot by Boudreaux standards, however, there are some important funds that they are short on, enough to raise an eyebrow. So Eli's sister and brother have a good friend from college, that is an expert at finding the culprit without suspicion. It's her job, so they bring on Kate to solve the riddle. She starts on as an assistant, and Eli is eager to show her around the city, and wanting to know about this "friend" of his siblings that is so highly regarded. Soon Eli starts to see why his family adores Kate because he is starting to feel "more" for her. But will Eli be brave enough to go after what he wants or let the only woman he loves go? This was a fantastic romance and I was just cheering these two on. I loved seeing this strong alpha type personality of our hero, be swept away by strong and independent Kate. Their interactions were so heartwarming, and even though it does start as friends it grows into more very quickly. I liked that they aren't afraid of jumping into a relationship even though their time together is short. I especially enjoyed the changes in Eli and adjusting to being in a relationship and not letting work take too much control over his life. "You're in love with her?" "I love her so much I can't breathe." I found the bantering between the siblings simply fascinating, they definitely love each other but they love to tease each other without mercy and boy that was fun to see. I especially had a fun time seeing their interactions with Kate and how this family will love and support each other no matter what. The mystery solving crime portion of the story was intriguing. Even though I was pretty sure who the culprit was the whole time, the characters don't see it so I definitely was engaged in this part of the book, seeing when they would actually figure out the truth. I honestly can't wait for more of this fun family that has me hooked!! Books N Tunes Reading Challenge Pick: [foogallery id="47403"] character-billionaire-mr-moneybags cover-color-green format-audiobook ...more 8 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,315 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 23 quotes 5 discussions 7 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Revenant Winds (The Tainted Cabal #1) by Mitchell Hogan | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book The Tainted Cabal #1 Revenant Winds Mitchell Hogan 4.05 602 ratings 58 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book As a secret cabal schemes to awaken an evil thought defeated millennia ago, the lives of three unlikely heroes are fated to converge: Aldric, a veteran priest and sorcerer, who seeks acceptance from the church that shuns him. On the brink of their approval, he receives a mission that brings him face to face with a long-buried evil. Niklaus, master swordsman, and slave to his goddess, who plots to split the veil between life and death and ascend to become her equal. Kurio, the runaway daughter of a noble family, now turned to thievery, who stumbles across a disturbing secret that binds her future to infernal designs. Drawn toward a horrifying endgame by an unknown force, Aldric, Niklaus, and Kurio find themselves in a battle not only for their lives, but for the beliefs that have come to define them. A wrong decision, an overreaching ambition, or the failure of an already tormented faith, is all it will take to plunge mankind into an eternal dark. Genres Fantasy High Fantasy Fiction Audiobook Science Fiction Fantasy Science Fiction 550 pages, Kindle Edition First published September 5, 2017 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Mitchell Hogan 31 books 929 followers *** Signup to Mitchell's New Release mailing list to be the first to hear about new releases, and for bonus chapters of A Crucible of Souls! *** When he was eleven, Mitchell Hogan was given the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings to read, and a love of fantasy novels was born. He spent the next ten years reading, rolling dice, and playing computer games, with some school and university thrown in. Along the way he accumulated numerous bookcases' worth of fantasy and sci-fi novels and doesn’t look to stop anytime soon. His first attempt at writing fantasy was an abysmal failure and abandoned after only one page. But ideas for characters and scenes continued to come to him and he kept detailed notes of his thoughts, on the off chance that one day he might have time to write a novel. For a decade he put off his dream of writing until he couldn’t stand it anymore. He knew he would regret not having tried to write the novel percolating inside his head for the rest of his life. Mitchell quit his job and lived off dwindling savings, and the support of his fiancé, until he finished the first draft of A Crucible of Souls. He now writes full time and is eternally grateful to the readers who took a chance on an unknown author. A Crucible of Souls won the 2013 Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel. Mitchell lives in Sydney, Australia, with his wife, Angela, and daughters, Isabelle and Charlotte. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.05 602 ratings 58 reviews 5 stars 218 (36%) 4 stars 235 (39%) 3 stars 117 (19%) 2 stars 23 (3%) 1 star 9 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews Petros Triantafyllou Author 1 book 368 followers September 4, 2017 With the start of a new series, Mitchell Hogan proves once again that he's one of the greatest fantasy authors of this decade. Over ten thousand years ago, Lord demon Nysrog almost conquered the world, but he was stopped and imprisoned by the powerful sorcerers of old. Now, his loyal followers want to bring him back, and an unlikely team of misfits bands together to stop them: A part-time priest part-time mage, an immortal warrior and a thieve with demon blood start a journey of self-discovery, pilgrimage and death, with complex magic, ancient artifacts, demons and other mythical creatures thrown in their way. Will they succeed in their quest, or will Nysrog rise again? "Aldric realized what he faced. His stomach twisted, and his mouth went dry with fear. A wraithe. The first he’d ever seen. One of the elder races, a myth come to life. Older than old and possessed of power he couldn’t hope to match. Aldric was as good as dead. The creature would crack his bones and abuse his corpse, and then the Dead-eyes would have their perverted fun with it." The Sorcery Ascendant Sequence is one of my favorite fantasy trilogies of all time. It was, in fact, so good, that I doubted Hogan could write something better than that, but with Revenant Winds, Mitchell proved me wrong. Unlike SAS which had a number of faults, Revenant Winds is perfect in every possible way. Every single aspect of the book was nicely crafted and well thought-out: The characters were quickly established and well developed, the world-building was vast and proficiently expanded by exploring it through-out the story, and the magic system had the appropriate depth and was balanced enough to influence the events and characters without undermining them. If you're familiar with Hogan's work, you already know that all of his stories start out slow and pick up the pace as the stakes are rising, resulting in an ever-rising tempo. If this is the first time you read a Hogan novel, then don't be discouraged by the relatively slow start: It gets better and better. AND BETTER. Finally, the prose Hogan used to enrich the story is simple yet evocative, but the real gem of the story, as is with all of Mitchell's books, is the story itself. It will grip you from the first page and won't let you breathe until you've finished the book. All in all, Revenant Winds is a gem of a book by a talented and well-established author, and one that you should pick up and read asap. 35 likes Like Comment Emma 990 reviews 1,074 followers October 22, 2018 Revenant Winds brings us into a world on the cusp of disaster. Behind the scenes, the Tainted Cabal work to bring back Nysrog, a demon Lord twisted into insanity by his banishment back to hell thousands of years ago. Supposedly holding back the darkness are various religious and sorcerous factions, themselves beset by scheming and politicking, hidden agendas and uncertain alliances. And into this mess three people are thrown, with limited information and hindered at every turn, they might just have to save the world, if they can. The most effective component of the book is the character development, each person demonstrating individuality, realistic emotions, and unique motivations that at times complement or clash with the others in the group. For me the most memorable were Aldric and Niklaus. Despite Niklaus’ tendency to obsess about his groin every time his goddess crosses his mind (yawn) and Aldric’s face flushing so many times I started to fear for the condition of his skin and the inevitable problems ahead thanks to his high blood pressure, they are both truly fascinating characters. Of the two Aldric is that bit easier to love. His struggle to find a place for himself in the framework of society, made almost impossible by conflicting obligations to his family, his guild, and his Church, mean that he is rejected and isolated at every turn. His beliefs form the core of his being but as the book progresses they are challenged by revelations and alternatives, making it all the more essential that he understand why his god has gifted him with power and how he is meant to use it. Exploited by his Church for his sorcerous talents yet shunned for the same reason, his personal morality and determination to ‘do what’s right’ make him the heart of the novel. Niklaus, not so much. His sexual obsession with his dark goddess, selfishness, clear lack of any ethical considerations, and murder of innocents ensure he’s unlikeable. At first. Even so, he engenders some weird kind of admiration, partly because of his ridiculously awesome swordplay, partly because we get the sense that there is more to him, in the lost memories of his past especially. Maybe because it’s easy to see he’s being manipulated as much as others in the book and certainly for a lot longer. Maybe also because he’s a long way from being the biggest arsehole on the block and he’s got a killer sense of mocking humour to boot. His story forms probably the most engaging process of character evolution in the book and yeah, he got me by the end. There last of the main three, Kurio, was just as well drawn if not quite as appealing, becoming less independent and proactive as the story progresses. Considering her role as a master thief and some stunning revelations about her past, she was under utilised and had an underwhelming set of interactions with the other main characters, especially in the last part of the book when the action kicked up a gear and she almost disappeared. She was, however, one of the many interesting and varied female characters who populated the book, some with the kind of power and presence that dominated the page. Unfortunately, in this world that might not save you. There are a lot of people who end up dead. More than expected actually. Mitchell Hogan isn’t afraid to Game-of-Thrones his main characters in to the afterlife, never mind the human fillers… I mean… supporting cast. Many end up as yummy treats for the Dead-eyes, just one of the fun creatures who populate the place and want to eat you alive. Or dead. As a horde, they’re pretty terrifying, but hardly register on the scale of what’s coming. (Demons are coming) The scenes of brutal, bloody battle are a delight to behold, tense and filled with the screams of the dying. Top marks for these bits, that’s for sure. Now there are some issues, primarily that of pacing. The book takes a good while to get going and even when it does, there are scenes which needed to be tighter or cut altogether. The majority of the plot was crammed into the last section and it suffered for it, feeling patchy and leaving things unanswered. And i’m not going to lie, I’m pretty narked by some of the losses. Some characters were built up for ages then literally tossed away in a few sentences with few or no consequences. It killed some of the finale’s impact, with the conveyer belt of people being thrown out numbing me to any real feeling by the end. Ooops there goes another one. LOL. Nevertheless, this is a world that’s only given up some of its secrets, keeping more than enough mystery to have me eagerly awaiting what comes next. Read for fantasybookreview.co.uk SPFBO 2018 fantasybookreview spfbo 31 likes Like Comment Bookwraiths 698 reviews 1,094 followers September 28, 2017 Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths . Revenant Winds is an epic fantasy filled with ancient demons, sorcerous cabals, and a group of unlikely heroes attempting to thwart the rising of an age-old threat. While it starts off slow, setting the table with heavy world building and characterization, this novel takes off around the halfway point, rushing forward to an epic conclusion. Myths tell of a time long in the past when demons roamed the world and elder beings of great power walked its length and breadth before monstrous cataclysms destroyed everything, leaving only ruins behind to stand testament to its existence. But one thing which did survive the chaos was sorcery – though it isn’t well understood. Godly sects having arisen to control and harness the power of those gifted (or cursed) individuals; these religious groups using their acolytes in an eternal struggle against one another for supreme power! In this world, several people now find themselves drawn together. One is Niklaus, a mercenary, who is on a quest for his goddess to obtain the power of a god himself so he can serve at her side forever. Another is noblewoman turned thief Kurio, who has become the bearer of information she was not suppose to ever learn. And, lastly, there is the healing priest Aldric, who has been given a secret quest by his church, one that will bring him and his companions into a confrontation against an evil thought long dead! Obviously, this tale is a quest narrative. Each of these people bound together by a common cause or circumstances, yet also on their own unique missions. Here, our companions eventually find themselves drawn into a confrontation with the minions of a dark and vile power, which they must vanquish back to the abyss before it destroys their world. It is a familiar, fun, bloody, action-adventure tale which will both comfort and exhilarate fantasy fans in equal measure. What Hogan does a great job of doing here is populating this well known landscape with a range of characters you understand and empathize with. Each of these people fully created through their adventures, exhibiting a wide range of emotions from fear to bravery, loyalty to betrayal, doubt to dedication. Niklaus, Kurio, and Aldric quickly turning into people whom you love, hate, or just wish to understand even more. Their continual evolution adding a unique dimension to the familiar narrative. My only complaint with Revenant Winds is the pacing of the first half of the novel. It was slow, really slow at times. The introduction of characters, lore, and general world building taking up the majority of page time, leaving little room for epic action, bloody adventure, or vicious intrigue. All of that comes in the later parts of the tale, but I just wish there had been a bit more of those in the opening chapters of this one. All in all, Mitchell Hogan has created a familiar yet entertaining fantasy tale with Revenant Winds . There is a huge world with ancient myths, gods, religious sects, and powerful magic. The cast of characters here is unique, interesting, and draw a reader into their world, their problems, and their daring adventures. So while this one didn’t send me into the fanboy stratosphere, it definitely was a good read, and I will be awaiting the sequel to see where the author goes with this story. I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank him for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone. e-books fantasy review-freebie 28 likes Like Comment Mogsy 2,131 reviews 2,687 followers September 21, 2017 3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2017/09/21/... Revenant Winds is the first book a new series by Mitchell Hogan, and having been curious about the author’s work for a long time, I leapt at the chance to check it out. After hearing the accolades for his Sorcerer’s Ascendant Sequence, I had very high hopes for this novel and I was also drawn to the promise of an epic fantasy that dabbles in ancient demons and curses, unlikely heroes, and secret cabals. Long ago in the world of this novel, demons roamed wild, menacing the populations that once eked out an existence in this harsh, cruel place. The lore contains tales of devastating cataclysms that scoured the land, leaving mysterious ruins full of treasures and secrets. Now much of the history is forgotten, and accounts of demonic creatures and ancient beings of the elder races have entered into myth. Sorcery is not completely understood, and those who possess magic are either said to be gifted by the gods or cursed by them. When an individual comes into his or her talent though, they are often bound into a covenant with one of the many religions, with the different groups all locked in a constant struggle against each other for dominance. True to form, our story features many characters, but the three that receives the most attention are Aldric, a priest who possesses the magical power of healing; Niklaus, an expert swordsman and mercenary; and Kurio, a former noble daughter turned master thief. Their three disparate lives converge as Niklaus, enslaved to his goddess the Lady Sylva Kalisia, is on a mission to become a god himself so he can serve by her side forever. Meanwhile, Kurio has stumbled upon something she shouldn’t have during her latest heist job, landing her in a deadly situation that she can scarcely comprehend. And finally, a devout follower of his god who is nonetheless shunned by most of his church because of his sorcery, Aldric is given a special assignment that will bring them all together in a confrontation against an emergent evil long thought defeated. I’ll admit, it took me a while to get into Revenant Winds, because to me the plot did not pick up until about halfway through when the quest-driven part of the story truly started. Later, I learned that apparently this is par for the course when it comes to Mitchell Hogan’s novels, in that they mostly tend to begin as slow-burners until the momentum kicks in and then builds rapidly. Had I know this, my experience might have been a little different, but some patience is definitely required for the first half in which was mostly taken up by character development and establishing a background for the main story. There’s more of this than you generally find, even in a genre known for lengthy page counts and long intros, though on the upside, readers get to start off on the right foot with a good handle on the world and our key players once the real adventure starts. More good news is that the second half of the novel makes up for any pacing issues in the first half. Once the main conflict was revealed, things moved fast! It’s almost enough to make me forget about the rough start, as Aldric, Niklaus and Kurio are joined by others, filling in the rest of this fascinating cast. Sorcerous rivalries, daring escapes, and heart-pounding battles against monsters can all be found in this exciting section leading up to the stunning climax and conclusion. There’s also passion amidst the violence as characters form bonds loyalty and love as they travel together, though of course the threat of betrayal is ever present. When you realize that no one is truly safe, that’s when all the character development in the first half of the book makes sense—Hogan has drawn you deep into his tale so now that you are whole-heartedly invested in the people involved, and every single loss feels like a punch in the gut. Furthermore, when he starts writing the action, that’s when his prose really shines, painting the scene with dark designs and gritty detail. Overall, despite the slow start, I grew to enjoy the epic journey that was Revenant Winds and I’m very happy with my first experience with Mitchell Hogan’s work. While the story took some time to get established, in the end the patience invested was worth it, and I’m looking forward to the continuation of the series. Audiobook Comments: Fantasy fiction and audiobook fans will probably be familiar with Oliver Wyman, with the impressive number of audiobook narration credits he has under his belt. He rocked the reading of Revenant Winds, as I expected he would, and did a great job brining the story and the characters to life. He has a good voice for this genre, perfectly conveying the mood and atmosphere of an epic fantasy. arcs-and-galleys audiobook epic ...more 26 likes Like Comment Nils | nilsreviewsit 365 reviews 605 followers October 16, 2018 ‘“That’s where you’re wrong,” Nicklaus said, standing over the dying priestess. “I am the hammer. And the anvil. And the blade. And you... You are a fool.”’ ⚔️ I was first drawn to Revenant Winds when I laid eyes on it’s gorgeous cover. I mean if you put a fierce monster on a cover, with some awesome looking warriors set against it, then you immediately have my attention! I’m just so happy that the story also quickly hooked me in from the very first chapter, so I wasn’t disappointed at all. The story at its heart follows a group of misfits, some with magical powers and some without, thrown together to save a village from the onslaught of savage Dead-eyes. ⚔️ I loved the way Hogan quickly established the world and magic system of the book, but kept enough back to build upon and weave throughout the story to keep the reader intrigued. The world is heavily governed by various religious factions, with characters who have been marked and therefore obeyed different gods and goddesses. Sorcery is both respected, feared and shunned by most religions, but are used nevertheless. ⚔️ If you like shady characters who are morally grey and often conflicted, then like me you’re going to love this. My favourite was Nicklaus, a very shady immortal warrior, who is full of sarcasm, lust and is not shy of being dastardly when needed! He is definitely one of my all time favourite characters. I also loved Kurio; she’s a badass thief who always fights on even when faced with so much trauma. ⚔️ There are also plenty of demons, Dead-eye monsters, and various other evil creatures that work perfectly to set the dark tone. If you know me, you know I really love all of that, and it’ll be no surprise to you that this book has become another of my favourite reads this year! I cannot wait for the sequel to be completed! 15 likes Like Comment Adam 417 reviews 191 followers September 3, 2018 There’s an old Yiddish saying, “Mann Tracht, Un Gott Lacht” that translates to “Man Plans, and God Laughs.” It warns that life is full of surprises. In one moment, you may think you have a solid grasp on who you are, where you’re going, and your value in society. Then you find out that everything you’ve been taught has been a lie, and you must reevaluate your motivations and goals or else get swept aside by the torrent of fate. Such is the case for the three protagonists of Mitchell Hogan’s Revenant Winds, an impressive and intriguing start to a series that deftly weaves magic, religion, and demonic vengeance into a story about seeking your identity and true purpose in life. We rotate through three main points-of-view, though we spend the most time on Aldric, a warrior, priest, healer, and sorcerer. A jack-of-all-trades but a master of none, he is a unique protagonist since he is a far cry from anything resembling a “chosen one.” His magic reservoir is small and comparatively weak, and he actively avoids tapping into his dusk-tide powers (the yang to the protective yin magic). Facing inner conflict and the inability to be accepted by his family, his church, or sorcerer’s guild, the one thread he can lean on is his faith. But when that faith becomes tested and his long-held beliefs are challenged, he must reexamine his convictions or die trying. Niklaus is a mercenary, the Chosen Sword of Lady Sylva Kalisia, goddess of pain and suffering. He was granted the gift of immortal life by the goddess centuries ago and has lived to serve her ever since. Although Lady Sylva only appears to Niklaus in dreams and visions, Niklaus is driven to interpret and achieve whatever goals the goddess has bestowed upon him. His Machiavellian methods are often cruel and amoral, as he shows no remorse for cutting anyone down who stands in his way. Niklaus is so enamored with the dream of coupling with the goddess that he has taken on a quest to become a god himself, so he can finally rule at her side. Not even the members of Lady Sylva’s church can deter him from achieving his goal through any means necessary. Kurio is noble’s daughter with a chip on her shoulder who ran away from her rich family to become a thief-for-hire. She carries a double-stacked repeating hand crossbow and isn’t afraid to use it. We first join her during a mission where she’s to recover the contents from a safe and return it to her benefactor. What she finds, however, sets off a course of events that pulls her into one unavoidable nightmare after another. Not only does she learn secrets that puts her very nature into question, but also threatens the survival of everything she’s ever known. There are quite a few standout aspects to this book. The character-building is strong, and each protagonist has very specific and personal goals, even though they are questing for similar purposes. There’s a neat narrative device that allows the incorporation of flashbacks to help fill in the world’s history and lore without needing to lean on a time jump or an expository info dump. I appreciated how Hogan worked these flashbacks into the story while figuring out a way for them to be narratively relevant to the current character arcs. Also, I especially liked how coincidences are addressed head-on. In many stories, I’ll grant the writer some leeway for the sake of tightening the narrative, but this book attempts to explain some of the larger coincidences as intentional acts from a higher power. Since religion plays such a major role in this story, this tactic felt more of a bonus than a crutch. But there's also a couple of drawbacks. Specifically, the book doesn't really take off until the halfway mark, and it also ends without answering very many questions. I'm perfectly fine with cliffhangers, but I felt that there was too much left unanswered, and it left me a bit frustrated. Although the major events at the finale served as a good place to pause the story until the next volume, it left me feeling a bit unfulfilled, as not enough questions were addressed. This book will appeal to fans of dark fantasy. Some may categorize it as grimdark, as it takes place in a world where even the defenders of humanity feel justified in using torture and enslavement to meet their goals, but there’s a sense of hope that permeates the story as we root for our heroes to never lose sight of what makes them human. There’s an appealing supporting cast of characters I grew to care about, and the various action scenes kept me engrossed. In Revenant Winds, Hogan has created a rich world with a deep history to explore, full of compelling mysteries, conflicting religions, and unusual characters. It feels like we’re just scratching the surface of what’s to come by novel’s end, and I’m eager to see what fates our characters have in store. One thing I do know is that it won’t be according to plan. 7.8 / 10 12 likes Like Comment FanFiAddict 548 reviews 184 followers September 2, 2017 First off, I have to say thank you to Mitchell Hogan for allowing me to be a beta reader for Revenant Winds. I am new to Hogan's work and wasn't sure what I was getting myself into, but after reading Revenant Winds, I can safely say that he is on my TBR for the foreseeable future. Surprised it took me this long to give him a try but that's what happens when you live under a rock. Now, onto my thoughts on the book. *Please note that my comments reflect a book that may be changed before it is released to the general public.* An evil that has been silenced for a millennia is close to being awakened once again by a secret cabal. Though most of civilization has forgotten their terror driven past, few know of the destructive power hidden beneath the cities in ruins. Of course, it would be easy street to awaken this evil if not for three unlikely heroes and their band of even more unlikely comrades. Adlric, a sorcerer who is shunned by his church but given a power from the God himself; Niklaus, master with a blade but a slave to the goddess he serves; and Kurio, a master thief with a dark secret not even she can comprehend, are forced together to combat this evil before the world as they know it is gone. What stands in their way may be too much for even their Gods to overcome. I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed Revenant Winds. Though the first quarter to half of the book was fairly slow, due mostly to character building, the second half was a never ceasing thrill ride. There isn't a whole lot of world building here, and I am assuming it will be expanded upon in the sequel(s), but character development is where Hogan shines. The magic system is easy to understand and everyone seems to be on a fairly even playing field, so to speak. Of course, there is a hefty cliffhanger at the end so I am a little upset that I have to wait forever now for book 2. Revenant Winds is expected to be released in July of this year and should be at the top of your TBR list. Check out more of my reviews over at https://mightythorjrs.wordpress.com 9 likes Like Comment Julia Sarene 1,420 reviews 170 followers September 14, 2017 This is my 7rh book by Mitchell Hogan, so that probably already tells you I like the authors writing... This is the start of a new series, darker and grittier then his other books. I quite enjoyed the different characters, who started off all on their own paths, which slowly flowed together and started mingling in the last third of the book. They were different individuals and made for a pretty good mix of good(ish) people and villains, who kept me well entertained and interested in what would happen to them. The plot was a bit vague and only really started to show pretty late in the story. I personally would have liked some direction a bit sooner, but this is often the way of the opening books in a series. The prose was fluent and easy to read, so I could sink right into this new world. And the world is pretty vast! Sorcery, divine powers, all sorts of Gods, monsters, mythical creatures, lore, history, languages, guilds - it's all there! I really enjoyed the worldbuilding and all the background stories that are only hinted at so far. It really feels like I get to explore a whole big new world! What an adventure! My personal gripe with the book is about demons and their "erected members" and quite some "loins" and very sexy godesses visiting their chosen in bed to tease them. If you follow my reviews, you'll know I hate sex and especially romance in my fantasy. I just don't need it, and it only ever annoys me. There's only a tiny bit of romance, but quite some mentions of "defiling" though that never goes into detail. So if you don't share my rolling eyes about that, you will obviously not mind that. For me it is the reason I will go for 3,5 stars instead of 4,5. This is a really good mix of high fantasy and grimdark! No shining heroes here. All the characters have good and bad sides. There is no "one perfect outcome" - whatever happens isn't going to be happy ever after! That is what I like best about grimdark - it just feels more real to me. And that mixed up with all the lore and worldbuilding one could wish for! So I'll round my 3,5* up to 4 and will eagerly await the sequel! fantasy-all-subgenres fantasy-grim-dark-bloody sff-selfpub-indie-smallpress 7 likes Like Comment Shaun P. 29 reviews 43 followers September 4, 2017 I received this book as an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review! Three strangers are on a collision course to a standoff against a sorcerous covenant set on freeing an ancient evil from its imprisonment. A sorcerer priest touched by a god with healing powers, a master swordsman who is the chosen sword of a goddess and a master thief have no idea the roles they are destined to play in a dangerous sorcerers’ endgame. This is Revenant Winds, the start of Mitchell Hogan’s newest fantasy series The Tainted Cabal. This novel is told from three perspectives. The first perspective is that of Niklaus who is the chosen sword of the goddess the Lady Sylva Kalisia. He has lived for thousands of years in service to the Lady and longs only to be by her side forever. The second perspective is of Aldric a priest of the church of Menselas, who has been touched by the God with healing powers, but is looked down upon by others in the church because of his sorcerous abilities. Finally the third perspective is that of Kurio, runaway from a noble family she is now a master thief on the run after a job gone wrong. All three are being unknowingly pulled together to face off against The Tainted Cabal, a sorcerous covenant whose sole aim is to release the demon lord Nysrog from his ancient imprisonment. I loved this book. I am really big on well-developed characters and I thought the character building in this piece was extremely well done. The only character I wish I would have had more time with to get to know better was Kurio, she does not get as many chapters as Aldric and Niklaus so I thought we could have learned a little more about her past. However this is the first book in a new trilogy so there may be reasons for the sparse back story. I also had previously read the prequel novella to this series The Forgotten Tower, so I went into the novel already familiar with Niklaus. The secondary characters were also well developed and a couple of them I really started to care for almost more than the primary characters. I also felt the magic system in this novel was unique. The magic is system is based on day and night. Each sorcerer has repositories of dawn tide and dusk tide sorcery within them. The cants the sorcerers use attaches to either or both repositories, and the sorcerers must also use the dawn and the dusk to refill their repositories. It made for an interesting system of magic and I was really intrigued by it. I would have liked to see a little more world building. As I said this is the first in a trilogy, and I know that Mitchell Hogan has plans for other series in the Revenant Winds world so more world building is sure to come. However I have also read part of his other series, The Sorcery Ascendant Sequence, and it is only the times the gods and goddesses are talked about and the magic system that I could definitely tell that I was in the Revenant Winds world as opposed The Sorcery Ascendant. However if you have not read The Sorcery Ascendant and this is your first experience with Mitchell Hogan then that will probably be enough to create the world for you. It may be just because all of his novels that I have read have been this year that I would have liked more ways to separate the worlds. I do not hear Mitchell Hogan’s books talked about very much, and that is really a shame and something I hope changes soon. I have enjoyed everything I have read and really loved Revenant Winds. I also loved the prequel novella The Forgotten Tower so I recommend that as well. Of the books of his that I have read I believe Revenant Winds is his crowning achievement thus far and I highly encourage you to go and order your copy right now. Thank you Mitchell Hogan for allowing me to preview this book, the pleasure really was all mine. fantasy 3 likes Like Comment David 108 reviews 8 followers December 5, 2017 I didnt hate it...not sure if i'll continue the series as more books come out. 5 likes Like Comment Jon 404 reviews 7 followers August 27, 2017 Ok, I've reviewed Mitchell Hogan's work via Harper Voyager and, while I've had issues with some of the stories, I've never doubted his ability. Sometimes that diamond needs a bit more polishing but eventually it shines. When he asked for early reviewers I readily threw my name in the hat, and I'm glad I did. Revenant Winds gives us that polished gem. Hogan has refined his storytelling, with crisp characters and a deep world in which he sets them. I was a little worried early on about the motivations of one character, which I can't discuss without giving away plot twists, lol, but needless to say I was -invested-. That was one of my issues with the previous works, I loved one or two characters but the rest were a bit flat. Not so this time. Even the world has layers upon layers, sometimes literally. :) It's been about ten days since I finished the book and I'm still thinking about scenes/characters/world building. That's the sign of a good story. Thank you for the early access Mr Hogan, keep up the good work! action author-egalley-for-review ebook ...more 2 likes Like Comment Andreia 145 reviews August 8, 2022 I don't really know how to feel about this. It was a good book but in the end I'm just not feeling much excitement for the rest of the series. I didn't really connect with or feel attachment to the characters nor did I feel much excitement for the plot. It was definitely interesting, but personally I just didn't feel that true excitement, rather a simple curiosity to see where things were going. And in the end, I don't even know how to feel about that ending. I'm wondering if I would feel differently had I read it physically instead of listening to the audiobook. It was good in a way to make it through the slower paced parts of the story but on the flip side, annoying characters felt even more annoying when given a voice directly into my ear. If I'm in the mood for the next book whenever it comes out, I might give this a reread. 1 like Like Comment Birdie BD Bookworm 36 reviews 5 followers May 7, 2018 Well Done This book was a surprise. I was expecting another formulaic novel about a band of misfits that saves the world. I was wrong. The characters are well written and their motives, while occasionally frustrating and annoying by turns, stayed true to their arcs. It didn’t turn out the way I thought, nor did it end the way the characters expected. The twists were nice and gave a good push to the plot. I hope we get even more history with the follow-up. I eagerly await the next installment. 1 like Like Comment Claudette Gabbs 338 reviews 20 followers September 2, 2018 This was a good read. Great world building. Characters that you liked & disliked. There was a lot of action throughout the book. A few surprises at the end. All in all, I recommend reading it. Like Comment THE BIBLIOPHILE (Rituranjan) 553 reviews 86 followers September 23, 2017 Pure old-school sword and sorcery with thrilling fun and action. This is my first Mitchell Hogan read, but, I'm seriously into his work. Hogan writes on the familiar tropes and settings, but what he does best is telling an interesting story with characters to root for. The story albeit isn't a light one, it has its own splattering of blood and bodies. But, it was an entertaining ride for me, and I finished the book in two days, which says enough of my praise. Revenant Winds entertained me right from its beginning to the end. The story is a familiar one, there is an imminent threat of an age-old evil stirring, and the one with powers that work for mankind tries to thwart the upcoming threat. There are demons, sorcerers, mercenaries, ancient races, zombies, and meddlesome Gods and Goddesses fucking up affairs. The plot and pacing was pretty fast with hints of mysteries and secrets, with occasional shares of action which was quite good. As usual there is the quest mode, as the unlikely group of sorcerers and mercenaries go together and fight, and prevent the creatures of the dark. Hogan also manages to warp up his characters as events in the story demands, making them conflicted, fearful, bold, and cruel as occasion demands. Nicklaus is the one that intrigued me most. A mercenary and a mortal sword for his Goddess, who is gifted with immortality and one who wants to be a God himself to attain the live of a callous goddess. He is deadly with his magical sword, and is the one who shines in action. Aldric to me appeared as a reluctant protagonist who refuses to acknowledge himself and his power. His unquestioning adherence to his Church seems frustrating at times. But, he has his moments of doubts and also stoic confidence. Ganon seemed a strong antagonist at the end, and I particularly liked the part of the powerful sorceress Soki and her romantic angle with Aldric. Kurio the demon-child and thief interested me in her part in the turn of events, and is yet to be revealed about her full place in the game. Hogan has wonderfuly created the magic of a romping sword and sorcery fantasy tale. He also gives us a few glimpses of the myths and legends which is the background of his tale through memory scrying. The action and magic is nicely done, and I liked the concept of sorcerers drawing their energy from sunrise and twilight. The religion is also well executed, with followers of different faiths vying for influence. All things said, I will definitely be awaiting for the sequel which I hope will deliver another excellent story. 1 like Like Comment AudioBookReviewer 949 reviews 165 followers January 5, 2018 My original Revenant Winds audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer . Revenant Winds by Mitchell Hogan is the first book in a series called the Tainted Cabal. The world is a devastated place, with followers of different gods attempting to obtain the most power. Side by side with divinely granted power sits sorcery that is often seen as a curse. Mankind is eking out a living in a world that has been damaged by cataclysms that occurred millennia ago, but a secret cabal works to bring back an evil that everyone thought had been defeated. The lives of three people Aldric, a priest and sorcerer, Niklaus, a master swordsman, and Kurio a previous noblewoman and now thief, slowly converge in a battle for their lives and their beliefs to fight the evil that may be wrought on the world once again. This was an okay story. While each of the individual characters’ internal struggles were well developed, I struggled to connect all the stories together in a more than superficial way. I think stronger world building and more background could have helped with that. It took a long time for me to understand how the sorcery and the divine powers exist together in the novel and also who exactly the tainted cabal was made up of. Having both divine power and sorcery simultaneously is a new concept to me, though. Perhaps later books will help with connecting the characters with the world better with more information introduced. The novel had both action and a lot of introspection on the part of the three characters, which I liked. I was under the impression that this would be a story about a band of three characters off on a quest to defeat evil, but this was not the case. This is a story about three individuals that accidentally cross paths in an effort to prevent evil from reentering the world. There are hints that this is predestined, but that remains to be seen. This concept was not something I’ve seen often, which was refreshing. The fight scene at the end was climatic and exciting, leaving open the story for future development. The narration by Oliver Wyman was okay. While his pacing was well done, the characterization could have been better. Sometimes when the chapters switched, I lost track of who was speaking. The production quality was good. I would recommend this story to anyone who likes epic fantasies with a focus on fighting inner and outer demons. Audiobook was purchased for review by ABR. 1 like Like Comment Jonathan Royan 10 reviews 1 follower September 24, 2017 First of all I should say I was given an ARC by the author in return for an honest review. I've read Mitchell Hogan's previous Sorcery Ascendance series and loved them all. Definitely worth your time if fantasy is your genre. So, to my review of Revenant Winds. It's a slow burner in my opinion. This is to be a series so you expect world building and character development to be prominent in the first book, but it took time to get going. Three complex characters spent most of the book getting to each other, but once they were in place it picked up nicely, with a strong ending that makes you want more. The characters: There are three main characters in the book, a thief, a mercenary, and a reluctant sorcerer. I really liked the thief a lot, her motivations and the way she reacts to her problems were enjoyable. The mercenary I didn't like, enormously competent, but annoyingly deluded in one main area. The Sorcerer I also liked. His need to be excepted by his church, while being reviled for being a sorcerer by them makes for an interesting POV character. None of the three MC's are just their professions. They are deeply conflicted in their own ways and it comes out in interesting ways. I'm being vague in those areas as I don't want to ruin any reveals in the book, were you to decide to read it. The plot: A long ago defeated evil wants back into the world, and it has helpers in high and low places in society, "The Tainted Cabal." They will do anything to bring back their evil master Nysrog. They are manipulative to the extreme, and employ deceptive ways of getting things in place for the return of Nysrog. Needless to say it's up to our three MC's to stop them from achieving their desires. This book, I think, is a great sett up for the rest of the series. The writing is solid from beginning to end with characters and a magic system that you really want to learn more about. So in summery, took time to get going but once there, it made you want to read more. I will be reading the next in the series, and reserve the right to return to this review and give it higher stars, if the next book followed on as well from the last quarter of the book. Cheers. Jon. Like Comment Cst 243 reviews 2 followers December 16, 2018 Considering all the things that happen here, this is an impressively boring book. There is a simple explanation for that: If I don’t care about the characters, I don’t care about the plot and I couldn’t care less about these guys. Calling them characters elevates them, they are ambitions. Every character has one – and only one – that leads their actions and the reader is supposed to follow along. Unfortunately that is one step too far for the three main ambitions and the others barely get enough substance to make them relatable. The world could have been interesting, if it hadn’t had to work with these characters in there. My other big problem was with the pacing. The beginning takes a slow approach, basically trying to establish setting and characters. The setting works, the characters less so. Nevertheless, I was prepared for a slower experience with a big world being established here. This changed towards the end, when the pace quickens and delivers more action than necessary towards a drawn out and uninteresting finale. During the finale I should not think “I am bored of this” more than once or twice instead of constantly. Since I was so bored I don’t even care about the sequel that is hooked in the end, because of course it is. If your big plot twist is that obvious, you should at least deliver something satisfying. This doesn’t even do that. bureaucratic-fantasy fantasy-fantasy Like Comment Pamela 567 reviews 36 followers May 26, 2020 You take a do-gooder magister, stained with the shunned mark of sorcery, who's only ambition is to heal people. Add an immortal master swordsman assassin, bewitched by a comical love sickness for his goddess. Top it off with an overly curious thief, with a secret of birth to hide, and you have a good start to an unforgettable journey. Aldric, Niklaus, and Kurio cross paths when a settlement needs rescued from an onslaught of Dead Eyes (nasty creatures coming in the darkest of night to tear their prey apart). As a creative collection of rescuers are assembled, the mystery only intensifies as to what the true intentions of this little expedition is, when the nearby exploration of an ancient ruin takes precedence for some. With a slow but interesting introduction to our three main characters, things quickly pick up as the story unfolds, adding an almost "Magnificent 7" troupe to aid the settlers. Everyone seems to have an ulterior motive for this quest. The book is chocked full of axe and sword play, battles with lots of nasty creatures to kill, a reoccurring wraith, sorcery skills to learn, and a good dose of demon history. Enjoyed the book and listening to Oliver Wyman narrate it, as he pegs the personalities to perfection. A fair warning though, don't get too attached to the characters. favorites Like Comment John-Torleif Harris 2,668 reviews 12 followers September 8, 2018 So I really liked the story that eventually developed and am very intrigued to see where these series goes, but the first 53% of this book is nothing but prologue. There was so much focus on world-building and on introducing the characters that nothing happened until we were half way through the book - and this was not a small book. It really made for a less than captivating introduction to this new series. Once the plot got going though, I found myself intrigued and interested. I do find myself a bit confused over the gods’ communication of their instructions for their servants - can they not manifest clearly in the human world? Both Aldric and Niklaus were sent by their gods for a specific reason, but neither was ever given an indication of what that reason was. Why was there never any inspiration to do the will of either Menselas or Lady Sylva when it might have done some good? I did like how things unfolded to be much more complex than appearances first would indicate. And I am interested to see where this goes, for Aldric especially, in the coming books. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. Like Comment Shay 752 reviews 18 followers September 13, 2017 Disclaimer: I received a free review copy of this title courtesy of the author. I got off to a bit of a rough start with this novel, which opens in the perspective of Niklaus, the Chosen Sword of the goddess known as the Lady Sylva Kalisia. Niklaus has served the goddess for centuries, and dreams of becoming a god himself so that he can join her as her consort. His sexual motivations are extremely skeevy, and I didn’t particularly enjoy being in his point of view. Fortunately, Niklaus is only one of many narrative perspectives in the story, so I didn’t have to be constantly in his head, up close and personal with his sexual fantasies, which might have been a deal breaker. Otherwise, Revenant Winds is a strong series starter with interesting characters, an intriguing magic system, and ample room for more world-building as the story continues. Unfortunately for me, my favourite character looks to be dead heading into book two, but that isn’t going to stop me from awaiting the next installment in the series. more Like Comment Tammy 646 reviews 8 followers September 6, 2017 First time reading from the author. The word Sorcery, Gods, Demons or just paranormal mentioned in the details of the story, hooked me and reeled me in. That had me wanting to read the story. I thought the story was very good and well written. It had a nice steady pace to keep the story going. There was some slow spots as we got to know or introduced to the other characters. The characters Aldric, Nicklaus, and Kurio were likable and kept your interest as well, wanting to know more about them. The story never had a dull spot, it had just right amount going on. I liked how the author made the world for their characters. I was pulled in and soon felt like I was watching a TV show. I couldn’t stop reading until the end. I hope to read more from the author. I will be stalking their shelves for more books to read. Its nice finding a new author to read from. Got from Hidden Gems ARC Club for an honest review. Thank you for letting me read your story. giveaway-arc-asked-to-read Like Comment John 1,062 reviews 11 followers September 6, 2017 Wow. Mitchell Hogan is certainly a master with descriptive words to paint the reader a stark, dangerous, haunting and often terrifying picture of the landscape, characters and action. And, I must say, many of his prolific descriptions were definitely one-of-a-kind and new to me. This is an action packed suspense/mystery of the age-old battle between good and evil, and it is filled with sorcery, magic, gods, and goddesses, demons, and other vile and scary things. I am definitely hoping this series continues, and sooner rather than later. This is a voluntary review of an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Like Comment Mark Author 2 books 107 followers December 15, 2018 Loved it. This is a great start to a new epic fantasy series by Aussie Mitchell Hogan. Told from three points of view I loved each character equally, and just when I thought Hogan was about to take a particular plot point too far, or fall into overkill, he changed gears and smashed through the sound barrier, ramping up the tension and throwing some hair-raising twists and turns into the plot. The world building was fascinating - I want to know much more about the lore of this setting - but it was Hogan's execution of the story and the vibrancy of characters that had me turning the pages and kept me wanting more. I have a book hangover. I need the next one now. Like Comment Darren McGowan 341 reviews 8 followers September 20, 2017 Not bad I'd like to give this book three and a half stars. You've got some interesting characters and so far a fairly creative world. The plot is solid with a few surprises mixed in that makes the story all the more interesting. There are a few slow points but the story moves along nicely. There are a lot of players in this book,all with different agendas, which I found to be the best part of the story. Hints and allegations throughout the story really keeps the story fresh. Eagerly awaiting the next installment. Like Comment Gerald 5 reviews 1 follower May 12, 2018 Starting off by saying that I did not like Sorcery Ascendance novel's. That's not to say it is not well written. I just am so tired of the "missing/lost/found/amnesiac - Prince of everything holy and bad ass" novels. Tainted Cabal is so much more appealing. I'll write a better and more in depth review when I can formulate coherent... stuff. Just pick this book up. It's rarely if at all slow or bogged down with a 100 page descriptions of settings that blow. A lot of action. A great narrative. Awesome history. Please pump these out Mr. Hogan. I'll be your best friend? Like Comment Tony Breault 39 reviews April 17, 2019 Gripping read, character build and plenty of action Revenant Winds was a pleasant, albeit unexpected, find. The story line is fluid and one becomes slightly attached to the characters as the plot continues. My only critique would be that the main character is a bit too flawed is his dogma - while the author seems to do so on purpose, it leaves Aldric somewhat flat and without nuance. Overall, I’d highly recommend this book for any lover of fantasy, swords and sorcery, as it moves quickly and the plot outcomes continue to come as surprises throughout. Like Comment Jim 34 reviews September 21, 2017 Interesting new series Enjoyed it for the most part but toward the end it really lost any type of credibility mostly because of the comments that were made by some of the characters. Don’t mind some of their actions because that was part of the story but sort of the trite dialogue was... well, really trite and took away from the storyline. Still looking forward to the sequel however. Like Comment Keith Stevenson Author 25 books 54 followers June 3, 2021 Huge fun in this adventure set in Mitch Hogan's fantasy world of Wiraya. An unlikely group of mercenaries and church enforcers come together to save a village from a monstrous threat and discover what ancient secrets lie in the nearby caves. Deception, old rivalries and hidden agendas among the group - plus the threat of the legendary and evil Tainted Cabal - make for a fast-paced story where you're never sure what's going to happen next. Like Comment Tiffany Rutherford 5 reviews February 6, 2018 Perfect Recipe Just the right amount of everything I want from a fantasy novel... intelligent, intriguing, and well paced. Not much new as far as fantasy goes but I like the way Hogan puts all the old pieces together, without fear of cliches. Great story, can't wait for the next book! Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion 6 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Fly by Night by Frances Hardinge | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Fly by Night #1 Fly by Night Frances Hardinge 3.78 7,300 ratings 919 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Twelve-year-old Mosca Mye hasn't got much. Her cruel uncle keeps her locked up in his mill, and her only friend is her pet goose, Saracen, who'll bite anything that crosses his path. But she does have one small, rare thing: the ability to read. She doesn't know it yet, but in a world where books are dangerous things, this gift will change her life. Enter Eponymous Clent, a smooth-talking con man who seems to love words nearly as much as Mosca herself. Soon Mosca and Clent are living a life of deceit and danger -- discovering secret societies, following shady characters onto floating coffeehouses, and entangling themselves with crazed dukes and double-crossing racketeers. It would be exactly the kind of tale Mosca has always longed to take part in, until she learns that her one true love -- words -- may be the death of her. "Fly by Night" is astonishingly original, a grand feat of the imagination from a masterful new storyteller. Genres Fantasy Young Adult Fiction Middle Grade Adventure Childrens Mystery ...more 486 pages, Hardcover First published January 1, 2005 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Frances Hardinge 35 books 2,600 followers Frances Hardinge spent her childhood in a huge, isolated old house in a small, strange village, and the two things inspired her to write strange, magical stories from an early age. She studied English at Oxford University and now lives in Oxford, England. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.78 7,300 ratings 919 reviews 5 stars 2,213 (30%) 4 stars 2,439 (33%) 3 stars 1,785 (24%) 2 stars 584 (8%) 1 star 279 (3%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 919 reviews Tatiana 1,453 reviews 11.4k followers September 4, 2015 Delightful! Sophisticated mysteries and political intrigues, funny adventures, excellent dialog. I am buying every book Frances Hardinge has written so far. 2015 children-s-middle-school 53 likes Like Comment Adam Boisvert 47 reviews 2 followers May 20, 2014 In the back of Fly By Night, Frances Hardinge gives us the following warning: "This is not a historical novel. It is a yarn. Although the Realm is based roughly on England at the start of the eighteenth century, I have taken appalling liberties with historical authenticity and, when I felt like it, the laws of physics." What she fails to mention is that it's a rollicking good yarn. It follows the adventures (and mis-adventures) of Mosca Mye. Her problem is she loves words of all shapes and sizes (her father broke convention and taught her to read before he conventionally died) but she lives in a world where most folks fear education and distrust any sort of writing. In trying to better herself and broaden her horizons she encounters a variety of colourful characters, from con men to tradesmen, dutchesses to revolutionaries. Written by, for, and about bibliophiles; Fly By Night is ultimately a story about the power of words, and whether this power should be feared or embraced. 50 likes Like Comment Nikoleta 699 reviews 322 followers April 23, 2017 Αυτό το βιβλίο μιλάει για τις λέξεις. Αναλύει τις λέξεις, τις ξεψαχνίζει, τις ξεμπροστιάζει, τις θαυμάζει και τις αγιοποιεί. Λέξεις που χρησιμοποιούνται ως προπαγάνδα, λέξεις που διαστρεβλώνουν, μεγεθύνουν ή μικραίνουν νοήματα, λέξεις που προκαλούν τρόμο, λέξεις που αποκαλύπτουν την αλήθεια και άλλες που ψεύδονται ασυστόλως. Που προκαλούν, ξεσηκώνουν επαναστάσεις, δημιουργούν ήρωες και εκθρονίζουν άλλους! Ένα καταπληκτικό βιβλίο με υπέροχη αφήγηση, παραστατικές σκηνές και ανάλαφρο ύφος! Ένα βιβλίο παιδικό μεν αλλά όχι τόσο αθώο, γεμάτο χαριτωμένες και ειρωνικές σπόντες για την ανθρώπινη κοινωνία. Διότι από τότε που δημιουργήθηκε ο Λόγος τίποτα δεν είναι πια απλή υπόθεση… fantasy 49 likes Like Comment Lucy 343 reviews 34 followers March 24, 2009 Fly By Night opens with a short history of The Fractured Realm, and things look grim indeed. A history peppered with monarchs and parliament, guild wars and religious inquisitions, and a holy terror of the dangers of the written word are the backdrop for this story. Mosca Mye, orphaned, black-eyed and stubborn and addicted to the written word, burns down her uncle’s mill (accidentally,) releases a con man from the stocks (on purpose,) and flees town with only her homicidal and loyal goose Saracen as a companion. And thus begins Mosca’s adventure in a city that is a political hotbed of unrest, where people are rarely what they seem and loyalties may change at the drop of a hat. Mosca only wants to find her place and follow her love of the written word, but she will soon find herself a pawn in a political intrigue that has many sides. Only her fierce ingenuity (and Saracen’s loyalty) will be able to help her make it out alive. This is one of those brilliant books with a million details and descriptions and characters, but all of them are interesting and important and colorful and worth reading about. The Fractured Realm has one of the most interesting political and religious histories that I have seen in children’s literature – or any literature – in quite a while. It is quite an ambitious feat, and Hardinge pulls it off with aplomb. Hardinge’s character descriptions are short but paint the picture. (One example: “The captain was a grim-smiling river-king named Partridge. There was something crooked in the make of his right wrist, as if it had been broken and never quite healed, and something crooked in the corner of his smile, as if that too had been broken and put back together slightly wrong.”) And lest you think the details superfluous, they are always important and relevant and interesting. I daresay there is not one inch of superfluous material in this brilliant story. And Mosca is an irrepressibly likeable heroine who learns early on how to lie convincingly and how to stay afloat and try to do the right thing. She is clever and interesting and smart and a lot of fun, and I would happily read more about Mosca and her homicidal Saracen. It goes without saying (but I will say it anyway) that this book is highly, highly recommended for anyone who likes interesting characters, political and religious unrest done well, compelling stories and/or good writing. Which is to say, everyone. books-that-deserve-six-stars fantasy favorites ...more 31 likes Like Comment Trish 2,141 reviews 3,658 followers September 26, 2019 This is my third book by this author and the first she ever published. Sadly, it shows. The story is that of a world where books have become forbidden. Into this world a girl is born with the unusual name of Mosca. The girl is smart and inquisitive and loves learning about words. As is only natural for a story like this, personal disaster strikes and she is forced to flee her home together with her gander (the best character here if you ask me). She meets a lot of people, from vagabonds to thieves to royalty to tyrants and many more. A revolution in this strange and yet familiar world is inevitable and of course Mosca is at the center of it all. I really liked the premise of this story that is set in a world where words have so much power. And I liked the author's worldbuilding as much as her own way with words. However, the story itself was dragging on and on and on and just couldn't grab me. In the end, a good idea and nice prose turned out not to be enough for me, sadly. Don't get me wrong, the story is multilayered, the characters show potential. So it wasn't actually bad (see my rating). However, the characters never truly reached their full potential and the twists were ... not really twist-y for me but rather predictable. Sometimes you just don't click with a story and this was such a moment for me. I loved her other two books and am looking forward to the new one coming out shortly, but this was kind of a let-down. 28 likes 2 comments Like Comment Bradley Author 5 books 4,426 followers September 26, 2019 I've read a number of book-centric books over the years and quite a few of them are YA. Some hit you over the head with the book and others are subtle enough to flow right over you and sneak up and bite you in the behind. This one is the latter kind. Sure, the power of words is all over the place, but where I like it most is in Hardinge's worldbuilding. The history of this place is not only fascinating and rough, but clever and multilayered. I get the impression we're in an early English period right after the printing press came out. But unlike that period, books soon became anathema. Like religious persecution, even. Of course, that makes our heroes and villains well-learned action types falling in with thieves and revolutionaries, and that's just plain fun. So why did I give this four stars rather than five? Because some of the text is a bit dense and the flow wasn't perfect. But I LOVED the world and had a pretty good time with the characters. And the God Goose. :) 2019-shelf fantasy ya 32 likes Like Comment TheBookSmugglers 669 reviews 1,900 followers July 12, 2012 Original review posted on The Book Smugglers I am overcome with Imperious Feelings demanding that I find the Right Words to write this review. Fly By Night is Absurdly Brilliant. This is not an overstatement. How else could I possibly qualify a book that features a main character named Mosca1 Mye whose love for words is both impetus and trademark? Whose love for words is the driving force toward a life of High Adventure in the company of a smooth-talking charlatan named Eponymous Clent and a murderous pet Goose named Saracen? Whose journey takes her through completely unpredictable twists and turns in a political game where no one knows who is ally or foe? If not brilliant, what other word could I possibly use to describe a book that is defined by original, unusual worldbuilding as well as Impressive Intellectual Sharpness? With regards to the former: Fly By Night is set in an alternate 18th Century (but not quite) where years ago, after getting rid of its monarchy, the Fractured Realm plunged into a gruesome Civil War when Birdcatchers – a radical religious movement – came to power. Ten years after all Birdcatchers have been killed (or have they?), the Realm is ran by different Guilds of Tradesmen. The Guilds’ power have been growing exponentially, especially that of the Stationers Guild (who control all printing materials, anything without their seal is deemed illegal) ; the Locksmiths Guild (who have the keys to every door) ; and the Watermen Guild (who control all movement along the river). The power balance is precariously held together by a truce between all Guilds and even one small wrong move could start a whole new war. Mosca and Clent (and Saracen) find themselves in the middle of this complex game of power which is complicated by a Duke who is slowly going mad and whose sister has Ideas of Her Own. Not to mention the emergence of an illegal printing press that has been spreading Illegal Radical Words all over the Realm. The latter comes from the fact that this is a book with a main character who loves words in a world that fears them. Being a book about words – their importance, their potential, their beauty – one of the most brilliant things about it is how the author brandishes her words like Weapons of Mass Construction. From the Thought Provoking: Brand a man as a thief and no one will ever hire him for honest labor – he will be a hardened robber within weeks. The brand does not reveal a person’s nature, it shapes it. Via the Utterly Hilarious: (…)Mosca and Saracen shared, if not a friendship, at least the solidarity of the generally despised. All the way to the Extremely Acute: ‘Where is your sense of patriotism?’ ‘I kept it hid away safe, along with my sense of trust, Mr Clent. I don’t use ‘em much in case they get scratched.’ And the Plain Beautiful: ‘But in the name of the most holy, Mosca, of all the people you could have taken up with, why Eponymous Clent?’ Because I’d been hoarding words for years, buying them from peddlers and carving them secretly on to bits of bark so I wouldn’t forget them, and then he turned up using words like ‘epiphany’ and ‘amaranth’. Because I heard him talking in the marketplace, laying out sentences like a merchant rolling out rich silks. Because he made words and ideas dance like flames and something that was damp and dying came alive in my mind, the way it hadn’t since they burned my father’s books. Because he walked into Chough with stories from exciting places tangled around him like maypole streamers… Mosca shrugged. ‘He’s got a way with words.’ Fly By Night is a book that provokes, incites and invites the reader to participate in a wordily love-fest. Granted that at times, this comes across as slightly heavy-handed especially towards the ending but this was simply not enough to make any damage to the immense love I feel for this book. But that is not all! For Fly By Night is also Coming of Age of the Highest Quality. Mosca’s journey is superbly executed by exploring her loneliness, her perceived uniqueness (which is not true at all, given the truths that she unveils) as well as the connections she forms with other people (especially the Cakes. How could I not love the Cakes?). Her arc has moments of Utter Despair, Sad Mistakes as well as Great Bravery. Most of all, I loved the development of the relationship with Clent and I loved the bond they formed over a shared loved for words (for better or worse). Take this incredible moment where they have a fight: Mosca’s opening offer was a number of cant words she had heard peddlers use, words for the drool hanging from a dog’s jaw, words for the greenish sheen on a mouldering strip of bacon. Eponymous Clent responded with some choice descriptions of ungrateful and treacherous women culled from ballad and classic myth. Mosca countered with some from her secret hoard of hidden words, the terms used by smugglers for tell-alls, and soldiers’ words for the worst kind of keyhole-stooping spy. Clent answered with crushing and high-sounding examples from the best essays on the natural depravity of unguided youth. Isn’t this Staggering Good Writing? I had a lot of fun reading Fly By Night and as you can probably see, a lot of fun writing this review too. I freaking love when that happens, those are the best kind of books. Fly By Night is a Totally Awesome Book and I already got the sequel because one is not enough for me: just like Mosca, I too, want more story. 24 likes Like Comment Lightreads 641 reviews 556 followers June 18, 2013 Frances Hardinge understands all those important rules of storycraft like 'the true tension is internal,' and 'you don't have to be good to be relatable,' and 'if you put a loaded goose on the mantelpiece in act I, you have to fire it by act V.' Ung, so good. So so good. This was her first published novel, and it's true, it doesn't have the tautness and precision of her later The Lost Conspiracy . But this is also a weird and wonderful book. It's young adult fantasy about a twelve-year-old girl who burns down her uncle's sawmill and blackmails her way out of her tiny town with a confidence man and her homicidal goose companion (though, really, given geese, that's redundant, I could just say "her goose companion.") This book kept shifting under my feet. First it was blackhearted bickering roadtrip funtimes, and then it was fantasy spy funtimes, and then it was about revolutions, and then it was about illegal printing presses, and then it was about trust and ferocity and betrayal and growing a conscience and so many other things all at once that I can't remember them all. But mostly it's about Mosca, who is twelve and messed up and literate but undereducated and curious and coldhearted. And I loved her so much. Here she is, judge for yourself: ""Sacred just means something you're not meant to think about properly, and you should never stop thinking. Show me something I can kick, and hit with rocks, and set fire to, and leave out in the rain, and think about. And if it's still standing after all that, then maybe, just maybe, I'll start to believe in it, but not till then."" fantasy fiction young-adult 19 likes Like Comment Arie 946 reviews 254 followers February 2, 2016 "Where is your sense of patriotism?" "I keep it hid away safe, along with my sense of trust, Mr Clent. I don't use 'em much in case they get scratched." Frances Hardinge can certainly turn a wonderful phrase. Her words skip and giggle and gleam, at once sly and coy. Characters are never simply "brown haired" or "blue eyed" but rather given descriptions such as "The little man's mouth was a small, bitter V-shape, and seemed designed to say small, bitter things." Unfortunately, in Fly by Night , the plot leaps about as wildly as the words - and this is no longer such a compliment. Characters are trusted and not trusted and trusted again and everyone is constantly on different sides, motives changing so often it almost gives you whiplash to read about. Later books weave their pieces together far better than here. children fantasy-unusual 16 likes Like Comment Sîvan Sardar 132 reviews 1,509 followers August 13, 2022 So BORING UGH dnf 11 likes Like Comment Sharon 1,154 reviews 88 followers January 1, 2023 CW: animal harm, (mentioned) animal death, Romani slurs (You know the one - "g") In fourth grade, I had to write a book report. This is not terribly unusual; most children have to write a few at that age. So, I went to the library. Somewhere between the end of second grade and the start of third, I had realized that one might access stories more successfully if they really put their mind to reading. Slowly, I realized that the act of reading was not quite the chore I thought it was previously and found myself enjoying. I also realized that the longer and the thicker the volume, the more story it contained. And that is how my sights landed on Fly by Night . Many fourth graders write book reports. But, I would dare say not many write book reports on anti-monarchist, atheistic, and anti-censorship, stories about religious upheaval and anarchy. This book is magical, without a single instances of magic, and historical in a world that does not exist. I always like to imagine this is the 1700s precursor to a 19th century steampunk world. And every page has informed my way of thinking. I can so clearly see in these pages the way I think about power and government, criminal justice, censorship, atheism... and so much more. I can appreciate that this may be a divisive book. It's funny and witty, but it's also a wordy contemplation of language and writing. It's non-magical historical with a fair amount of violence and a lot of guns. It hits with just the right amount of force to appreciate the intelligence of its child audience but still be something to work towards. It reads well when you're 10 or when you're 25. I know the joke of bookworms is always "But how could I choose?!?" when asked for a singular book. And I appreciate the struggle in many ways - I do have that problem with film. But this is the book. This is my favorite book. I read it in fourth grade and rediscovered it in sixth grade and it has held the title ever since. I say with little doubt that I do not believe any book will ever dethrone it. audiobook bechdel-yea books-about-books ...more 10 likes Like Comment wittierninja 130 reviews December 31, 2007 This is truly a book about readers, for readers. I know that the plot is not unfamiliar to many of you: lonely girl or boy, spends more time with books than with people because books are friendlier, kinder, less cruel. And then something magical happens, blah blah blah. Fly by Night is a little different in that instead of exploring the power of books to a child, it delves into the strength of words and names, and how both affect the world and how they determine the kind of person you become. The writing is smooth, and I had, at first, thought it was going to be those types of books that looks great (spot lam! cool jacket art! rough edges!) but is poorly written. I am happy to say I was pleasantly surprised. If you're looking for something easy to read, easy to enjoy, and easy to lose yourself into, then I'd definitely encourage you try this. favorites 11 likes Like Comment Peter Tillman 3,749 reviews 415 followers January 6, 2022 I don't read much YA, but my GR friend and master reviewer Carol. convinced me to read this one. You should go read her review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Just as she says, " Fly By Night is a playful, sophisticated story, as suited to the older reader as the young adult. The story of a twelve-year-old misfit girl–she can read–weaves an antagonistic buddy-trip, a spy caper, guild wars, city revolutions, freedom of the press and a journey of self-discovery into a satisfying book that I wholeheartedly recommend." Well, "me too." I thought it was a bit overlong -- the book would have benefited from a final edit, as is true of so many books in these seemingly edit-free days. Grump, grump. And the macguffin/alt-hist devices were wearing thin towards the end. But a great debut! 3.7-ish stars, and I'll likely be reading on. Thanks, Carol. for the reco! award-win-nom fantasy friend-recos ...more 10 likes Like Comment Daniel 774 reviews 59 followers July 18, 2022 TL;DR: 4 stars, perhaps trying a bit too hard with the prose in the beginning, but a fun plot underneath and likable characters. For my second outing with Hardinge, (the first having been Deeplight ), I went with her first published novel, which was a distinct contrast with her ninth. While the themes are not so far removed, the prose itself was quite different, and a bit of a difficulty for me early on. Before picking up Deeplight, part of the appeal really, was Hardinge's reputation as a writer. I was expecting fancy prose, playing with words and language, etc. That was probably the one aspect where Deeplight let me down a bit, actually. I did not find much in the way of wordplay or figurative writing in Deeplight. I thought it showed an extremely high level of craft on a deep level, but it was not particularly remarkable on the surface. Fly By Night was a the reverse of that. While Hardinge is categorized as a children's writer, I felt there was absolutely nothing childish in Deeplight other than the character's ages. In Fly By Night, you could perhaps add two more elements to that list: the plucky pet accompanying the heroine, and the level of coinkydink upon which the (otherwise excellent) plot often leans for its progress. The prose, especially early on is littered with the sort of metaphor and simile I was expecting when I first picked up Hardinge, and when it lands it's fantastic. Unfortunately far too often, it doesn't land, and I felt it distracted or obscured more than aided the narrative. The choice of words often challenged, and I used the kindle's dictionary function more than I typically do in most "adult" books, much less anything marketed as "middle grade" or "YA". The level of coincidence aside, the plot was very much my sort of thing, and while I stalled out around 38% for quite a while, eventually I picked in up again and finished it in about a day. The setting has more of a damp dim cluttered, and claustrophobic feel than Deeplight which seemed to take place nearly entirely on a beach or the ocean, but the challenges faced by Mosca, while on the dark side for a twelve year old, did not have the depressed, tragic, impending doom sense I had while reading Deeplight. The other characters were all interesting and/or likable. All in all, a good outing and I'll be reading more Hardinge soonish, I expect. fantasy 9 likes Like Comment Jennifer 495 reviews 245 followers Read April 24, 2022 DNF 25% - Alas, Hardinge's piquant and unpredictable writing couldn't keep me interested in this tale of political intrigue, skullduggery, and murderous ganders. I usually find her writing weirdly and sometimes unpleasantly immersive, but I had no problem putting this one down for long stretches of time. (Two weeks later: uh...who was Partridge? What's the deal with the Locksmiths vs. Stationers vs. Birdcatchers again?) It didn't help that the characters are either unpleasant, secretive to the point that we know almost nothing about them even a quarter in, or emotionally distant. Our main character Mosca, a 13-year-old girl "with the keen instincts of the unloved," remains very much alone in a hostile world for as far as I read, and her marvelously bellicose goose Saracen is out of the picture early on. The plot is convoluted and the pacing is leisurely, and I just stopped caring. Which is too bad, because Hardinge writes some of the strangest and most evocative descriptions, the kind that you read twice just in order to taste them properly. The sun slid to rest, and the western sky gleamed like a copper kettle in firelight. Mosca, watching the sun's last gleam, saw it split by the flight of a buzzard, which seemed to douse the light in that instant with its black wings before swooping away to land on top of a haystack. Without warning, the hills which had been sunning themselves like so many contented dogs closed in, black and ragged as wolves. Yup. Too bad. 9 likes Like Comment Anna 162 reviews 4 followers September 14, 2009 I thought that this book was great. It had an intriguing plot line, plenty of twists and turns, and each chapter was a different letter of the alphabet (A Is For Arsony, etc.). HOWEVER, I was disappointed with the ending. Rather than subtly make a point and then end the story, the author got incredibly PREACHY. I think the point could have been made succintly and then the story could have cheerfully trotted along to it's conclusion. Instead, the author went on and on. Her point wasn't bad (basically, it's wrong to force people to believe something and kill them if they won't), but she ruined the point by making it too clear. Also, the cover says "Imagine a world in which all books are BANNED!", which is fairly inaccurate. Not ALL books are banned, just the unapproved ones. Is there a big heap o' censorship going on in this story? Yes. Are ALL books banned? No. So, good story. Disappointingly preachy, though. 9 likes Like Comment Ashley 65 reviews July 1, 2007 This is probably the best example of what I call "not-quite-fantasy" that I've read since Lloyd Alexander's The Kestral. While it takes place in a fictional country loosely based on seventeenth century England, there is no magic in this story, except for the elusive magic of words which the author both idolizes and exhibits in her own gorgeous prose. The young protagonist makes her way through a complex and realistically imagined world complete with an elaborate social structure, religion and history. She struggles convincingly, as so many young adults do, with the question of what to believe and who to trust. I could go on and on about memorable characters, a touch of dark humor, and the author's talent for savoring the absurd. But never mind; just read it. juvenilefantasy 9 likes Like Comment Fedra 480 reviews 106 followers July 13, 2018 Δε ξέρω αν θα μπορούσε κανείς πραγματικά να γράψει κριτική για τούτο το βιβλίο. Ακόμα και με όλους τους επαίνους, πάλι θα το αδικούσε. Είναι ένα πραγματικό λογοτεχνικό διαμάντι και η Μαρία Αγγελίδου έκανε και πάλι εκπληκτική δουλειά στην Ελληνική μετάφραση (αυτό πρέπει να το σημειώσουμε γιατί είναι κι εκείνη καθώς φαίνεται μια μαγίστρα των λέξεων!) Σας το προτείνω ανεξαρτήτως ηλικίας. Έχει περιπέτεια, φιλοσοφικές αναζητήσεις, ερωτήματα ζωής, χιούμορ, φαντασία και ήρωες σαν να έχουν ξεπηδήσει από τη πραγματικότητα. ya 9 likes Like Comment Leo 4,562 reviews 485 followers February 22, 2021 This was just the middle grade adventure I needed this very moment. It was so entertaining and absolutely flew through this. Wasn't sure of it in the beginning but then I was hooked. I need to try to find the next book somewhere 9 likes Like Comment Kaethe 6,485 reviews 503 followers June 2, 2018 Set in an imagined place similar to England at the start of the 18th century. All the intrigue of Stephenson's Baroque Cycle, but with a manageable number of words. And a twelve-year-old heroine, and a vicious goose. I finished up loving FLY BY NIGHT even more. It's always delightful to me to watch a character think, and Mosca puzzles out all the intrigues very well. And, she has moments of great valor. And I love all the secondary developments. And I love Mosca's final decisions so much. Read it yourself, and recommend it to every kid from nine through twelve. It has a little something for everyone. I hope the Possum likes it, since I handed it off to her. beloved debut feminism ...more 7 likes Like Comment Gabriel 22 reviews September 22, 2007 This book was a nice surprise. A very solid and satisfying adventure that was sincerely amusing, exciting and interesting. The main character Mosca is awesome and won me over almost immediately. How could she not? Champing on a pipe with a take no shit attitude under one arm and a murderous goose under the other. badass fun read-me-goddammit 7 likes Like Comment Mika 24 reviews 24 followers September 23, 2008 As I sat down to write this post, I thought, “You know, the title really doesn’t make any sense. It has nothing to do with the book at all.” Oh my, I am losing it. I somehow failed to make the connection between the main character’s name, Mosca (in honor of the day she was born on - sacred to Goodman Palpitattle, He Who Keeps Flies out of Jams and Butter Churns), and the double meaning of the word fly. Sheesh. The plot was extremely unique. In whatever world this takes place in (one thing I can hardly ever be bothered to pay attention to), there was originally a monarchy; several deaths lead to an argument over succession; a parliament was established, but the real force behind the realm - and the glue that held it together - was the guilds. Each has its own responsibilities and jurisdictions. Eventually it is decided that a parliamentary committee will decide on the best monarch to rule; meanwhile, the residents of the realm are free to support their favored monarch, as well as the Beloved (basically a Saint) that suits them best. There is a Beloved for each day and each night of the year, so babies are named for the Beloved on whose day or night they are born. Mosca is a young girl who was taught to read by her father before he passed away in a remote village, where he moved when he was exiled (although we don’t learn why until later) many years before. She escapes the village and moves on to bigger, better, and more troublesome things. The big question: did I see the plot twists coming? Heavens no, but I was really trying this time. I picked up on what clues I could, yet was completely blindsided by the sudden turn of events. The author did a great job balancing foreshadowing and real surprises. It was a quick, easy read, and as I said, the plot was fantastic. I actually grabbed the book at the library because it was thick and had a cool cover…luckily I was not disappointed this time. Hooray for good children’s books! 6 likes Like Comment Isabella 452 reviews 43 followers June 3, 2022 I couldn't scroll past this book without singing Fly by Night by Rush, so I thought I might as well read it Rating: 4 stars I really enjoyed this book! I read the description, and thought I could potentially have a good time reading it, and though I did doubt this in the middle, I was, overall, right. There was a chance that it could fall flat as it was listed as YA, but I didn't think it felt too YA-y at all. Well, even Google can't decide what age group this book fits into: "Fly by Night is a children's or young adults' fantasy novel by Frances Hardinge" so if Google is confused it's not just me I guess. One of the things that really made this book for me was the authorial voice of Hardinge. She had this way of writing that I can only describe as if a mischievous smirk was words. There were so many brilliantly cheeky lines, that I just had to mention here. “In Mosca’s experience, a ‘long story’ was always a short story someone did not want to tell.” “If wits were pins, the man would be a veritable hedgehog.” “ 'My dear fellow,' he continued more soberly, 'If you have managed to complicate things by forming a sentimental attachment in less than a week, then I doubt there is anything I can do for you. You, sir, are a romantic, and I'm afraid the condition is incurable.' " “So this was a nest of radicals. She thought a hotbed of sedition would involve more gunpowder and secret handshakes, and less shuffling of feet and passing the sugar.” I just love the vibe of this book. Will most likely be continuing with the series, and probably the author too. 2021 audiobooks fantasy ...more 6 likes Like Comment Karen Healey Author 26 books 422 followers July 1, 2009 A wild delight; a madcap adventure and a fascinating argument for freedom of speech and religion in a fantasy world like a torn and muddied red velvet cape. It's populated with fantastic characters and a plot so twisty and so full of swiftly-changing alliances and factions that Locke Lamora would have trouble untangling it. Highly, highly recommended. (Also, one of the main characters is named EPONYMOUS CLENT. I don't believe there's been a more perfectly-named character in the history of ever.) Things I didn't like: - I noticed no people of colour, with the possible exception of two "gypsy" girls who appear for a brief scene, and are described as darker than Mosca. The author notes that the book was based roughly on the England of the early eighteenth century, but as she also notes that she has taken "appalling liberties with historical authenticity" *and* the laws of physics, I don't consider this adequate reason for Yet Another White Fantasy World. Things I did like: - EVERYTHING ELSE. It's thoughtful, adventurous, compellingly written with beautiful description and... really, it reminded me most of Diana Wynne Jones, but less talky-directly-to-reader. Lines like this are everywhere: "The waterfall spray beat the leaves with a noise like paper children applauding." <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 6 likes Like Comment Lara 4,185 reviews 345 followers November 12, 2009 I really enjoyed Hardinge's most recent book, The Lost Conspiracy , and between that and all the five star reviews for Fly By Night on here, I naturally assumed I'd like this one just as much. But I was wrong. I never really connected with the main character, and then the story itself...just never really interested me (the main point also seemed REALLY heavy handed). And it's very difficult to enjoy a book when you don't care about anybody or anything in it. Another thing: part of what I loved about The Lost Conspiracy was that it seemed like EVERY detail brought up somehow came back into the story later on--the plot was so intricately constructed and there were no loose ends or descriptions that didn't matter in some way. But this one felt a lot sloppier and less well constructed. I'm left with the idea that Hardinge has improved much since she published this one, so I'll still give Well Witched a try. But now I have much less confindence in that story than I did before I read this one. fantasy young-adult 5 likes Like Comment The Captain 1,157 reviews 465 followers November 18, 2020 Ahoy there me mateys!  I was in a mood where I wasn't sure what I wanted to read.  Then I read Matey Nicky's review of this book where she said: I have to admit that, primed by Untitled Goose Game, I was on Saracen’s side in all of this. In any given scene, at any given stopping point, my main concern was where is Saracen??? (People who watched me live-tweeting my binge of this book can attest to that. Several tweets demanding to know where the goose was.)  Part of the reason I was on Saracen’s side is that things get a bit twisty. Who do you trust? By the last hundred pages, I only trusted Saracen. I have enjoyed this author's work in the past and the goose was the right incentive to immediately pick up this debut work of hers.  I loved it. This book is twisty and just so much fun.  It immediately captured me attention with the prologue where there is a discussion on what to name the new baby.  She was born on the name day of Goodman Palpitattle also known as  “He Who Keeps Flies out of Jams and Butter Churns.”  The midwife , Celery, is clearly concerned about the timing of her birth and the importance of names given her own.  But she is overruled and the baby gets named after the housefly - Mosca. Like always, the world building is just exquisite.  The plot follows poor Mosca as she tries to escape her horrible hamlet and just gets into more and more trouble.  Her problem?  She can read and reading is dangerous.  Whether it is the names of the gods or the lovely descriptions of the world or Mosca's opinions about what she sees, the word play in this book was delightful.  Like Eponymous Clem, the stranger that Mosca gets involved with.  Or this description of a path: The path was a troublesome, fretful thing. It worried that it was missing a view of the opposite hills and insisted on climbing for a better look. Then it found the breeze uncommonly chill and ducked back among the trees. It suddenly thought it had forgotten something and doubled back, then realized that it hadn’t and turned about again. At last it struggled free of the pines, plumped itself down by the riverside, complained of its aching stones and refused to go any farther. A sensible, well-trodden track took over. Just lovely.  The plot is a bit convoluted at times but I didn't care because I loved the world and the characters.  I anxiously needed to know what happened next (and where the goose was!).  This book could be read as a standalone but the author did write a sequel six years later.  I am certainly going to be picking up a copy.  Arrr! young-adult 5 likes Like Comment Hallie 954 reviews 129 followers February 27, 2011 This is a sort of sum of a reading (when it came out, horribly bound paperback - really badly affected readign pleasure) and a listening (audiobook much better, except that Mosca was done as much more street-child than she should have been, given her father and education). While I didn't really feel the love that much on reading, I knew how badly I'd been put off by the binding, and I did indeed really appreciate the love of language that infuses the book through being slowed down to listen. The flip side of that is that it made Mosca's unsympathetic behaviour much harder to take, in slow, painful motion as it was. Understandable that she didn't know if she could trust anyone, of course, but still hard. I'd almost forgotten that part from the reading. I had one -- quibble, disappointment, reservation, whatever. That was that it felt as if Hardinge had made the obvious choice in making the religious system as wonderfully mixed up as the political situation, and then essentially debunking it all. Not that it's a total narrative statement, but it doesn't seem to me to leave a huge amount of room for Mosca's evaluation to be wrong. And having made it so -- goofy (technical theological term there!), it would have been so cool not to have said that the childishness of the saints' followers was indicative of their being wrong to believe at all. One of the things I thought amazing about Gullstruck Island was that Hardinge didn't take the more obvious, easier route of making the Lace the totally 'civilized', noble ones to a totally savage Cavalcaste. I was just kind of sad to see it not working that way in this. fantasy ya 5 likes Like Comment Sesana 5,586 reviews 337 followers October 31, 2011 Ok, I admit it: I basically read this book because of the Brett Helquist art on the cover. I was disappointed to discover that was all he contributed: no interior illustrations. At any rate, the book has a very interesting and unique (to me, at least) premise. It uses the English Revolution as a sort of starting point, the main divergence being that, revolution over, Parliament is given half a dozen or so contenders to become the new monarch and twenty years later, they still haven't decided. Individual cities are ruled by the trade guilds and by whatever lord holds the territory. Strict censorship is in effect: only books approved by the Stationers Guild can be read. The main character is a girl named Mosca (that's her and her stolen goose, Saracen on the cover). She finds herself mixed up in political machinations in the city of Mandelion. And that's about the best I can do with a fairly complicated plot. I'll probably read more by the author, since it was well-written. And I'll certainly be reading the book she used as reference: 1700: Scenes from London Life. You know, someday. The one issue that I had with it was that Mosca was at least somewhat irritating through most of the book. By the end, I felt like she'd redeemed herself to me, and I ended up liking her more than not. I also wasn't entirely satisfied with how the central mystery was solved. The solution, yes, but not how the characters arrived there. young-adult 5 likes Like Comment Nick Fagerlund 345 reviews 18 followers October 28, 2012 Everybody read this immediately. (Ignore the cover and don't bother reading any promo copy, because the marketing department fixated on the Macguffin and got it two-thirds wrong anyway.) Mosca, a smart, stubborn, and angry hick who totes a homicidal goose named Saracen, follows a con man named Eponymous Clent to the big city. Espionage, guild warfare, and murder ensue. They accidentally turn some poor bastard into a folk hero. There are moving coffee houses. The goose steals no fewer than two boats. This is shelved as a kid's book, but it doesn't read young. Actually, the quality of the prose is one of the best things about it -- it’s elegant and pointy and wonderful. But there’s so much more to like about it, too! The setting is grand, the history and the religion (no real gods, but about two hundred saints) are fantastic; the characters are solid and smudged and everyone is kind of a huge bastard. (Except The Cakes, who is a sweet-hearted and respectable girl and who only counts as a bastard in the technical sense.) Stabs of startling insight are just scattered around like tacks. Basically, it was an absolute joy to read at all times. I am now saving the rest of the author’s works for a rainy day. 6 likes Like Comment Eshusdaughter 594 reviews 39 followers May 23, 2008 Mosca Mye and her goose Saracen are certainly an odd couple of heros, but charming ones none the less. The underlying story is a good one with lots of twists and turns that satisfy as well as suprise. This book receives only three stars, however, for several reasons. First, the author is a little too enamored of simile and comparison. There are some really great similes in this book but also some humongous clankers. Many of the comparison's the author makes just don't fit or make sense. There is also a tendency to focus on minutia too much and over-description. Perhaps because of those tendencies, the book is a lot longer than it should be and it begins to lose a bit of the enchantment after awhile. I like a good long book, when the story warrants it, I don't feel that was the case here and there were clear areas that could and should have been trimmed. fantasy read-in-2008 young-adult 5 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 919 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 85 quotes 9 discussions 3 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Blind Trust (Port Aster Secrets, #2) by Sandra Orchard | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Port Aster Secrets #2 Blind Trust Sandra Orchard 4.12 565 ratings 128 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Kate Adams had no idea she was carrying counterfeit money, and she can't believe that it came from her sweet neighbor. Or that it lands her in the middle of another one of Detective Tom Parker's investigations. Determined to prove her neighbor's innocence, Kate stumbles into a pit of intrigue that is far deeper than a two-bit counterfeit operation--and strikes too close to home for comfort. As family secrets come to light, her world--and her budding romance with Tom--begin to crumble. To Kate, it's clear that she won't be safe until she uncovers all of Port Aster's secrets. But is it too late for her and Tom? Award-winning author Sandra Orchard draws readers into a world of rogues, red herrings, and romance as she unfolds the continuing story of amateur sleuth Kate Adams. Genres Mystery Christian Fiction Suspense Christian Romance Contemporary Mystery Thriller ...more 384 pages, Paperback First published June 10, 2014 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Sandra Orchard 36 books 275 followers Sandra leaps off the garden trails of her herbal-researcher-turned-amateur-sleuth (Port Aster Secrets) series, to the museum corridors of her plucky FBI art crime agent Serena Jones, in A Fool and His Monet. When not plotting crimes, Sandra plays make-believe with her grandchildren or hikes with her hubby along the escarpment, near their home in Niagara, Canada. Her novels have garnered numerous awards, including the National Readers' Choice Award, a Holt Medallion Award of Merit, an RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the Daphne DuMaurier Award of Excellence and five national Canadian Awards. Learn more about Sandra’s books and fun bonus features at www.sandraorchard.com Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.12 565 ratings 128 reviews 5 stars 237 (41%) 4 stars 196 (34%) 3 stars 105 (18%) 2 stars 19 (3%) 1 star 8 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) 1,770 reviews 3,983 followers June 25, 2022 About this book: “Kate's not sure how deep this deception goes--but she'll do whatever it takes to find out. Kate Adams had no idea she was carrying counterfeit money and can't believe that it came from her sweet elderly neighbor. Or that it has landed her in the middle of another of Detective Tom Parker's investigations. Determined to prove her neighbor's innocence, Kate stumbles into a pit of intrigue far deeper than a two-bit counterfeit operation--and one that strikes too close to home for comfort. As family secrets come to light, her world--and her budding romance with Tom--begin to crumble. To Kate, it's clear that she won't be safe until she uncovers all of Port Aster's secrets. But then will it be too late for her and Tom?” Series: Book #2 in “Port Aster Secrets” series. Review of Book #1 Here! Spiritual Content- Many Prayers & Thanking God; Scriptures are remembered, quoted & mentioned; Church going; A few talks about God & forgiving; ‘H’s are not capital when referring to God or Jesus; Many mentions of prayers & amens; Mentions of God; Mentions of Bible reading; Mentions of church, pastors, worshiping, & mission meetings; Mentions of missionary/priest; A few mentions of those in the Bible; A mention of a religious woman. Negative Content- Minor cussing including: two ‘idiot’s and seven ‘stupid’s; Eye rolling; A few mentions of curses (said, not written); Pain, an attack, blood, car chases, fighting & passing out/blackness (semi-detailed); A car crash, injuries, an explosion, screams & remembering it all (up to semi-detailed); All about counterfeit money & counterfeiters; All about deaths, murders, victims, arrests, accusations, fires, prison & criminals; Nearly all about Book #1’s murder (thought suicide), body, the killer, poison, deaths & attempted murder (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of threats & a hacker; Many mentions of blackmail & spying; Mentions of a terrorist & a bomb; Mentions of officers killed in the line of duty; Mentions of poisoning; Mentions of gunshots; Mentions of drugs & drug dealers; Mentions of gambling & debts; Mentions of shoplifting & thefts; Mentions of nightmares; Mentions of revenge; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of those in died in the line of duty (barley-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of chemical gas & thinking you're being poisoned from a gas leak; A few mentions of lies & lying; A couple mentions of domestic violence; A couple mentions of cigarettes; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of a lottery; A mention of boys trying to shot a rabbit; *Note: A few mentions of car brands; A few mentions of GQ & Dolce and Gabbana ; A couple mentions of a movie & actors. Sexual Content- A fingers-to-lips touch, a cheek kiss, three almost kisses & a semi-detailed kiss; Wanting to touch and kiss & staring at lips (semi-detailed); Remembering a cheek kiss & an almost kiss (barely-above-not-detailed); Touches & Embraces (up to semi-detailed); Noticing & Smelling; Blushes; Mentions of dates, dating, boyfriends & girlfriends; Mentions of a betrayal; Mentions of reputations; Mentions of flirting, winks, & blushes; A few mentions of an unmarried couple moving in together; A couple mentions of a wife leaving her husband for another man; A bit of love, falling in love & the emotions. -Kate Adams, age 30 -Tom Parker P.O.V. switches between them & a stalker (a handful of times) 361 pages ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Pre Teens- One Star New Teens- One Star (and a half) Early High School Teens- Three Stars Older High School Teens- Four Stars My personal Rating- Four Stars Oh my goodness, that ending! I am so glad I have the next book in the series because, oh. Y’all, this book made me completely giddy and I literally couldn’t read fast enough! I’ve really been enjoying this series due to all the interesting facts about poisonous plants and such. Link to review: https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp... *BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author. cf-suspense favorites own ...more 10 likes Like Comment Sarah Grace Grzy 629 reviews 897 followers February 21, 2018 Oh my word, I loved this one so much! Things are definitely heating up as this trilogy continues. Kate's continuing character arc is so, so good. I just love her innocence and naivete! She's just the sweetest and so relatable. Tom is also fabulous . . . These two characters compliment each other so well. The secondary characters like Julie and Hank were also great. Also, KATE"S DAD!!!! *squeals* I was skeptical at first, but I quickly grew to love him. The story line . . . wow! While a few times the "false alarms" drove me a bit crazy, there was definitely more action in this one than the first one, which I liked. That plot twist midway through completely caught me off guard. Wow! Wasn't expecting that at all, and I questioned it, but I ended up loving it. All in all, I really enjoyed this second installment to the Port Aster Secrets trilogy! These characters have completely captured my heart! Recommended for ages 15+ for romance and mild violence. There are a few barely-described kisses and attraction between the MCs, but overall, it's kept very light. Also some very mild non-descriptive violence. adult christian-fiction contemporary ...more 5 likes Like Comment Lacey Yoder 38 reviews 13 followers October 10, 2023 I absolutely loved this book!! 😍 So excited for the last book of the series! And this book was clean if you are wondering! Definitely recommend this book!!🥰😊 4⭐️ 3 likes Like Comment Brittany 2,455 reviews 170 followers June 21, 2015 Blind Trust is another exciting suspense in the Port Aster Secrets series. It is book two and picks up fairly close to where book one ends. It can be read as a stand alone, but will make so much more sense if you read Deadly Devotion first. The author kept me guessing through most of the book and certainly adds in many twists and turns. It is hard for Kate Adams to know who to trust. She is a character who wants to think the best of everyone, but is learning throughout this series that people are not always who they seem to be. Sometimes she makes decisions that seem naïve and ends up in trouble. Thankfully she has a handsome detective in love with her. He willingly comes to her rescue! Blind Trust was another enjoyable addition to the series. Just a little heads up to readers who do not like cliff hangers… These books do tie up a part of each mystery, but there is an overall thread to the story that flows from one book to the next. This would have bothered me some if I couldn’t move straight through each story. But, since I did, it has been very nice to have these books so closely linked. You can read this review on my blog at: https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c... 3 likes Like Comment Kathleen Friesen Author 6 books 39 followers May 15, 2014 This is a difficult review for me. I’ve read and enjoyed several books by Sandra Orchard, so I expected more of the same: great pacing, well-drawn characters, and tight tension. And in this book, those aspects did not disappoint. I’d already decided this book rated four or five stars when I hit the end. The end? To be honest, I was furious. Books that end with cliff-hangers and without wrapping up storylines, especially the main story, leave me cold. And angry. So instead of four and a half stars, I have to give Blind Trust only three stars. 3 likes Like Comment Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...) 1,594 reviews 542 followers March 7, 2024 I made the mistake (again) of starting in the middle of a series. Usually it's not a big deal, but this is a continuity series that follows the same main characters, each book leading right into the next, ending with cliffhangers. This second book of the Post Aster Secrets series began without much introduction to the personalities of the characters and included an overwhelming info dump. Once I worked my way past that and got to know Kate, Tom, and others, the pace evened out. There are a few different mysteries Kate is mixed up in- local counterfeiting, neighbor issues, family issues, and community issues. Her warm-cold relationship with Tom surfaces on occasion but it definitely takes a backseat to the investigation and I wasn't feeling much chemistry. The threads of each plot wove together and I was confused along with Kate as to how or if they were related. She and Tom get them untangled by the end, but the overarching mystery that continues through the whole series made the book end on a cliffhanger. I'm glad this type of series is no longer the trend- I don't enjoy waiting a whole year for the publisher to release the next book because by that time I've lost interest. Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own. christian-fiction contemporary publisher-revell ...more 3 likes Like Comment Amanda Tero Author 25 books 530 followers July 12, 2023 Diving into this book after Book 1, I quickly realized Book 1 was not a stand-alone case. Actually, now that I have finished Book 2, I’m not sure what threads are left to be tied in Book 3. It’s a pretty brilliant way to spread out a story—complete a mystery but leave a larger mystery open-ended. I’m eager to read Book 3. 2 likes Like Comment Rachel Reads 260 reviews 86 followers August 18, 2023 Again, another sweet book. This one is a bit more serious, but I like continuous flow of the story. A bit slow movin mg but great faith. The romance developed but…read the series. Will be reading book 3 now 2 likes 6 comments Like Comment A Reader's Heaven 1,592 reviews 28 followers September 19, 2015 (I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.) Kate Adams had no idea she was carrying counterfeit money, and she can't believe that it came from her sweet neighbor. Or that it lands her in the middle of another one of Detective Tom Parker's investigations. Determined to prove her neighbor's innocence, Kate stumbles into a pit of intrigue that is far deeper than a two-bit counterfeit operation--and strikes too close to home for comfort. As family secrets come to light, her world--and her budding romance with Tom--begin to crumble. To Kate, it's clear that she won't be safe until she uncovers all of Port Aster's secrets. But is it too late for her and Tom? *2.5 stars* I have to say that I was a little disappointed with this book. After reading Deadly Devotion , I was looking forward to more of the same. And, in some ways, that's what I got. The suspense (such as it was) was there, Kate's character continued to grow and the romance between her and Tom blossomed a little more. But it felt like the quality of the writing had changed. It was a little less tight, the dialogue was nowhere near as crisp as the first book and it felt a bit like a filler story. The ending was terrible. I figured this was going to be an ongoing series but to leave the ending with no resolution to any of the plot threads is absolutely infuriating to me. I am now less likely to read the next book. Paul ARH contemporary mystery net-galley ...more 2 likes Like Comment JoJo Sutis Author 1 book 44 followers June 22, 2014 I love love love this Port Aster Series from Sandra Orchard and Blind Trust is an awesome addition!!! This series has everything that a good mystery lover wants. It’s fun! Quirky! Suspenseful! Mysterious! Romantic! Kate is an amazing main character….I love her! Sandra has done a fantastic job in creating a phenomenal series and I cannot wait for what’s coming next!!! I highly recommend to read book 1 before you pick up this one. 2 likes Like Comment Anna 283 reviews 28 followers July 14, 2023 The excitement continues! This one didn’t quite grip me as much as the first book, but It was still a very good story. I loved seeing the characters again and finding out more of Kate’s story. I did figure out some of the mysteries before Kate this time 😉 but I wasn’t disappointed. I loved all the interesting facts about plants and and the suspense still gave me that “sit on the edge of my seat” kind of feeling. Speaking of Kate, she had such a hard time in this book! I was initially frustrated with her a little—I mean she brings some of these issues on herself!—but considering all that goes on, I want to give the girl some compassion… and a big hug! That end😭 It really leaves the reader hanging, so if you’re reading this book, definitely make sure you have book three ready to go. You won’t want to stop there 😬 I’m eagerly expecting a grand finale in the final book👏 Content: murder, some violence though neither are descriptive 1 like Like Comment Melissa Martinez 10 reviews 1 follower December 24, 2022 4.5 Stars I did NOT like the recipe at the end. I was expecting more and was so disappointed when I saw the recipe😂😭 I kept swiping trying to find more! 1 like Like Comment Jalynn Patterson 2,177 reviews 39 followers June 4, 2014 About the Book: Kate Adams had no idea she was carrying counterfeit money, and she can't believe that it came from her sweet neighbor. Or that it lands her in the middle of another one of Detective Tom Parker's investigations. Determined to prove her neighbor's innocence, Kate stumbles into a pit of intrigue that is far deeper than a two-bit counterfeit operation--and strikes too close to home for comfort. As family secrets come to light, her world--and her budding romance with Tom--begin to crumble. To Kate, it's clear that she won't be safe until she uncovers all of Port Aster's secrets. But is it too late for her and Tom? Award-winning author Sandra Orchard draws readers into a world of rogues, red herrings, and romance as she unfolds the continuing story of amateur sleuth Kate Adams. About the Author: Sandra Orchard is the award-winning author of several inspirational romantic suspense/mysteries, including Deadly Devotion and Blind Trust. Her Love Inspired Suspense titles have garnered two Canadian Christian Writing Awards and a Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award. Sandra has also received a Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. In addition to her busy writing schedule, Sandra enjoys speaking at events and teaching writing workshops. She lives in Ontario, Canada. Learn more about Sandra's books and check out the special bonus features, such as deleted scenes and location pics, at http://sandraorchard.com . My Review: Kate Adams can't believe she was caught trying to pay for her neighbors groceries with counterfeit money. And if that wasn't bad enough, she is again sitting directly in the middle of another one of Detective Tom Parker's investigations. Kate doesn't really relish the idea of being questioned by him once again or the idea of him questioning her poor, elderly neighbor. That sweet neighbor of hers could never be a part of anything as crooked as this situation. According to Tom Parker, Kate's elderly neighbor knows exactly what is going on. She has even to taken to lying to save herself. But why? Why is she lying? Tom hates to involve Kate but he needs some help on this, and she is the only one that can help in this situation. **Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Revell. 1 like Like Comment Dawn 781 reviews 81 followers June 19, 2014 Kate Adams would like nothing better than to live a peaceful life immersed in her research and the budding relationship with Detective Tom Parker after the past few months of trying to solve the murder of her friend. Yet, trouble has a way of finding Kate. This time it's counterfeit bills that she accidentally uses to purchase groceries for her elderly neighbor. As the case to find the counterfeiters unfolds, Kate soon finds herself in the midst of another police investigation that soon turns deadly. Long held secrets are revealed as Kate and Tom race to find this new threat to Kate. I enjoyed reading the first book in the series when I was able to review it. This one was just as much of a page turner. The story moves along quickly and the characters had a bit more depth to them this time. I still love Tom. I love how he strives to have Kate's best interests in heart. I do think that those two need to sit down and have a good conversation, but their relationship is progressing nicely. I look forward to seeing how it progresses through the series. This was a pretty fast read for me. While by no means is it my favorite one, it was still good. It'd make a perfect read for a lazy summer day or the beach. I received the Kindle version of this book from Revell Books via NetGalley for the purpose of reviewing. my thoughts and opinions are my own. Recommended to fans of Irene Hannon, Love Inspired Suspense, Lynette Eason, romantic suspense. Rating - 4 stars kindle-book kindle-freebies read-in-2014 ...more 1 like Like Comment Doreen 792 reviews 21 followers June 23, 2014 “Blind Trust” is book two in the Port Aster Secrets series. While there are lots of hints at what took place in book one, things will make so much more sense if you read “Deadly Devotion” first. It’s worth reading them in order. Also, reading them in order adds to the groan factor when Kate finds herself in police custody for passing counterfeit bills. Not again!! The book leaves you wondering if this just coincidentally happened to her or if it’s related to the events in book one. Really, this series is one long story that is broken up into parts which makes the abrupt ending so dissatisfying. I wanted to know what was going to happen right away! This book is very suspenseful. There are always lots of possible villains for the wicked deeds. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, there is a twist or a turn that points you in a different direction. This book explores issues of trust and betrayal. If you say you trust someone, how much “benefit of the doubt” do you give someone when they do something you really disagree with…..ostensibly for your protection? It doesn’t give easy answers. It is a struggle for Kate and I expect that will continue into the next book. I really enjoyed the mystery and suspense in this book and can’t wait to read the next installment. Thank you to Revell for providing me with a free copy of this book for the purpose of this review 1 like Like Comment Dana Kamstra 402 reviews 7 followers October 2, 2014 I can't help but reference book 1 in this series. Where the first book started off slow, this one had me turning pages faster than I could read them. Well, not really because that would make the book hard to read. But, this novel was quite eventful. I didn't have the same problems with the characters. I have spent enough time with them, that they felt quite a bit more fleshed out by now. Their words and actions felt quite natural. The relationship between Tom and Kate was also a treat in this novel. Some novels rush the romance factor, but that certainly isn't the case with this one. The mystery in this novel kept me guessing. The description from Amazon couldn't be any more dead on in the number of "red herrings" in this book. There is always clues pointing in one direction when they really add up to something totally different and unexpected. My one complaint for this novel is that I felt like it stopped in the middle of the story. While it picks right up after the conclusion of Deadly Devotion, it ends with a lot of loose ends. But I bet that was intentional, because a third book is in the works, and I can't wait to see how all of the ends are tied up. **I received a copy of this book from Revell and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.** 2014-reviews 1 like Like Comment Kav 3,306 reviews 1,738 followers July 24, 2014 Bind Trust is best read as the second book in the series. Having said that, it does read well as a standalone, however obviously acts as a spoiler to the mystery in the first book. I think Orchard has created a new genre...suspestry? Or myspense? A suspense/mystery hybrid. :-) Whatever you want to call it, this is a page-turning read. The author's detail-oriented, steel-trapped mind is scary! How she keeps everything straight as she weaves the current plot and overall series arc together is beyond me. I'm just glad she does! Honestly, my mind was reeling by the end of the book. And the end? Sob, more of a cliff hanger! Kate and Tom are back dancing around a relationship. One step forward, two steps back. That's all right, I know they are destined for each other. Can't wait until the next book to follow their romance to it's rightful conclusion. If you like a good mystery with a liberal dose of suspense and dashes of humour and light romance then Blind Trust is definitely the book for you! 1 like Like Comment My Book Addiction and More MBA 1,958 reviews 67 followers June 25, 2014 BLIND TRUST by Sandra Orchard is an intriguing Christian Mystery set in Port Aster. #2 in the “Port Aster” series, but can be read as a stand alone. See, “Deadly Devotion”. With family secrets, commercial crimes, counterfeiters, just a drop to what is to come. You don’t want to miss a moment of this fast paced tale of a budding romance, danger, betrayal, and intrigue. Kate must uncover all of this small town secrets in order to be safe. But will she and her new-found romance with Detective Tom Parker survive? You must read “Blind Trust”, will will not be disappointed, especially,if you enjoy small town secrets, mystery, suspense and a bit of romance. I would highly recommend. I can hardly wait for the next installment. Received for an honest review from the publisher. *Coming in June from Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group* Rating: 4.5 Heat Rating: Sweet Reviewed by: AprilR, Courtesy of My Book Addiction and More christain mystery suspense 1 like Like Comment Sharon Paavola 251 reviews 30 followers June 5, 2014 I would recommend reading the first book, Deadly Devotion in this series, Port Aster Secrets before this one. I didn't but still enjoyed it. There is mystery, terror, humor, blooming love, and intrigue involved in Blind Trust. The main character Kate goes through every emotion possible as she struggles to stay alive, to finish her research, and explore a possible romance. Her caring sensitivity, strong imagination, and painful past lead her on in solving crimes that she keeps falling into innocently. Does her past have anything to do with her current situation? So many questions come into your mind as you read Blind Trust that you have to travel to the last page. The ups and downs, secrets and truths will drive you to finish and want to read the next book in the Port Aster Secrets series by Sandra Orchard, 1 like Like Comment Katy Lee Author 80 books 164 followers June 24, 2014 The suspense kicks up! Sandra Orchard really stepped up the suspense with this second book in the Port Aster series. The first in the series, "Deadly Devotion," was a great, well-developed beginning to the series that laid the foundation for the three books so well that I cracked open "Blind Trust" and jumped right into the excitement without a moment of delay. Kate Adams, amateur sleuth is caught in the middle of a case again that has nothing to do with her…or does it? She’s about to find out. "Blind Trust" ends with a great cliffhanger leading into the third and final book. The back of the book gives the reader a taste of what’s to come, but it’s not enough, I say. Looking forward to it, Sandra! 1 like Like Comment Cindy Author 3 books 17 followers June 22, 2014 ARGHHH I was NOT ready for this book to end. And that is the only thing wrong with this book is it ended in the middle of the story. Now I eagerly and not so patiently wait for the next book. I loved this story, and read book one and remember being frustrated too. LOL what can I say I am not a patient person. Sanda Orchard is a great writer that leaves me hanging and waiting eagerly. In my opinion this book does not stand on its on, there are lots of references to the first story, but reading that book is more than helpful to understand the dynamics of this book. This reviewer gives this story a 5 star rating and a gentle nudge to hurry up with book 3 :-) This book was provided by Revell for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review. 1 like Like Comment Wilani Wahl 974 reviews 17 followers May 30, 2015 Another awesome page turning book by Sandra Orchard. This is the second book in her Port Aster series. It is best to read the books in this series in order. I loved this book. I loved the mystery and suspense. I loved that this book ended with a cliffhanger. I am also glad that a copy of the third book should arrive in my mailbox any time. I can't wait to read and see how some of the threads in the first book will end up. In addition to the great writing and suspense, I also love the spiritual thread in the book. 1 like Like Comment Cathy 1,162 reviews 55 followers July 13, 2016 This series is just getting better & better! Love the twists & turns! Tom is really the best hero and I love him more than Kate! 1 like Like Comment Clean readers 18 reviews October 28, 2023 Fantastic and upsetting! This the second book to deadly devotion and continues with the storyline of Kate’s father. The book has enough intrigue and danger to keep readers interested. The romance between Tom and Kate is well built and the decision each of them make through the course of the book are understandable. ****Incoming Spoilers***** I felt very mislead with the start of the book reintroducing the case of Mary being acquitted for daisy’s murder and getting nothing else. Yes, we see them questioning weather or not Mary is still trying to ruin Kate, but it’s only like once or twice and then nothing else. The author leaves us with no further information as to what happened to Mary or if Daisy will get justice. Now on to Tom and Kate. As much as I understand each of their decisions, Tom and Kate can not work through ANYTHING!! Each one of them is working through their own trust issues. You would think if you want trust you would give reasons to receive it. Tom barreled with the idea of telling Kate the truth about her dad, but in the end he did tell her. If he was going to he should’ve from the beginning since he was always asking her to trust him.I really thought she would forgive him, but in the end sadly she doesn’t. On to my favorites!!! Tom and Kate may be frustrating but their relationship is sooo cute!! He progressively show his love for her and we see this as he gets more comfortable giving her head kisses, hugs and even starts calling her honey. This man can make anyone swoon. 💕 The twist about her dad sent me reeling but it can be picked out early on if your really paying attention. I love how the author put in little hits here and there as the story when like the reader had to be a detective too! 🕵️‍♀️ Overall star rating 4 1/2 🌟🌟🌟🌟 This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review Like Comment Sarah 1,383 reviews 36 followers September 16, 2017 WOW! I'm sure glad I'm not reading these books as they are written because the plot twists at the end are crazy. At the end of the first book, Kate is working up the courage to ask Tom about her dad. In Blind Trust, they are figuring out more and more information about Mike Baxter, but each piece of information brings up even more questions. There's also a counterfeiting scheme going on and Kate is caught right in the middle of it. Always a trouble magnet, Kate has picked up a stalker. With all the craziness surrounding GPC Pharmaceuticals and this mystery with her dad (not to mention the counterfeiting), Tom is worried about Kate's safety. He finally catches the stalker and is stunned to find out who it is: Mike Baxter, alive and well. Apparently, he faked his death (twice!) to ensure the safety of his family and has been hiding for the past 20 years . When Kate finds out (after he is in the hospital after being run off the road and almost killed), she is incredibly hurt and feels betrayed by Tom (again!). Just when she was starting to really trust him. Vic Lawton - the counterfeiter - winds up dead in a ditch. Suicide? Or is GPC Pharmaceuticals covering their tracks???? What is up with this plant that GPC wants so much, Kate's dad had to go into hiding after derailing their attempts to get it? This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review action-suspense good-books Like Comment Tori 71 reviews May 27, 2018 Disliked- Honestly, there was nothing in this book to keep me from enjoying it! Liked- Kate and Tom's relationship is built on the inner beauty of the characters in a way that is invigorating. I honestly love their relationship. The way Tom protects Kate even though there's major conflict if he's doing the right thing is the same way I'd want a guy to do for me. Kate has this stubborn streak that's really admirable. Her life is in danger and yet she does not just stay inside with the doors locked, she goes out and does exactly what I would do (goes out and finds more trouble). You have no idea how thrilled I am to start the next book! I am looking forward to it immensely and I'm so glad my library had it! Like Comment Patsy 602 reviews 1 follower March 4, 2022 Kate Adams had no idea she was carrying counterfeit money, and she can't believe that it came from her sweet neighbor. Or that it lands her in the middle of another one of Detective Tom Parker's investigations. Determined to prove her neighbor's innocence, Kate stumbles into a pit of intrigue that is far deeper than a two-bit counterfeit operation--and strikes too close to home for comfort. As family secrets come to light, her world--and her budding romance with Tom--begin to crumble. To Kate, it's clear that she won't be safe until she uncovers all of Port Aster's secrets. But is it too late for her and Tom? Like Comment smReader 16 reviews 1 follower April 12, 2020 I enjoyed this much more than the first in the series. It was more fast paced than Deadly Devotion and I just cared more about the characters. There was the added intrigue of the "man/stalker/Beck/you know if you read it". I liked how there was a somewhat new plot but certain aspects of the mystery carried on from the first book. I admit I do love a damsel in distress, however, Tom's constantly running after Kate to protect her and her going against his orders anyway, did get a little bit old. I would have liked a bit more character depth too. Overall, a fun and very enjoyable read! Like Comment Kim 637 reviews 14 followers January 15, 2018 What a great addition to the series to prepare readers for more answers, adventures and mysteries in book three. Best of luck to you in determining whodunit and why as the suspect list is lengthy and complicated. Also complicated is the relationship between accidental sleuth Kate and police detective Tom. Kate has never had a reason to trust police officers before, so their interactions are hesitant at best. Like Comment Kari Kaczan 111 reviews 1 follower June 14, 2023 Another great book with lots of twists and turns. She definitely leaves you hanging at the end for the next book to see what happens and how the relationship in the book turns out. She leaves you longing for what happens, in a good way though. Love that it's a mystery and faith story in one. Looking forward to book #3, final in the series. Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote 2 discussions Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $14.99 Rate this book I'm Glad My Mom Died Jennette McCurdy 4.46 1,020,982 ratings 107,483 reviews Want to read Kindle $14.99 Rate this book Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Best Memoir & Autobiography (2022) A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by iCarly and Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy about her struggles as a former child actor—including eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother—and how she retook control of her life. Jennette McCurdy was six years old when she had her first acting audition. Her mother’s dream was for her only daughter to become a star, and Jennette would do anything to make her mother happy. So she went along with what Mom called “calorie restriction,” eating little and weighing herself five times a day. She endured extensive at-home makeovers while Mom chided, “Your eyelashes are invisible, okay? You think Dakota Fanning doesn’t tint hers?” She was even showered by Mom until age sixteen while sharing her diaries, email, and all her income. In I’m Glad My Mom Died , Jennette recounts all this in unflinching detail—just as she chronicles what happens when the dream finally comes true. Cast in a new Nickelodeon series called iCarly , she is thrust into fame. Though Mom is ecstatic, emailing fan club moderators and getting on a first-name basis with the paparazzi (“Hi Gale!”), Jennette is riddled with anxiety, shame, and self-loathing, which manifest into eating disorders, addiction, and a series of unhealthy relationships. These issues only get worse when, soon after taking the lead in the iCarly spinoff Sam & Cat alongside Ariana Grande, her mother dies of cancer. Finally, after discovering therapy and quitting acting, Jennette embarks on recovery and decides for the first time in her life what she really wants. Told with refreshing candor and dark humor, I’m Glad My Mom Died is an inspiring story of resilience, independence, and the joy of shampooing your own hair. Genres Nonfiction Memoir Audiobook Biography Autobiography Mental Health Adult ...more 320 pages, ebook First published August 9, 2022 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Jennette McCurdy 2 books 7,470 followers Jennette McCurdy got her start in child acting, which by her late teen years had brought her success (she starred in Nickelodeon's hit show iCarly and her own spin-off, Sam & Cat). She went on to star in the Netflix series Between, and had a short-lived country music career with Capitol Records Nashville. Despite her outside success, McCurdy felt ashamed of 90% of her resume and ultimately unfulfilled, so she turned to alcohol, but since that didn't work, she quit acting and began pursuing writing/directing in 2017. She has written/directed a pilot and four short films. Her work has been featured in/on The Hollywood Reporter, Short of the Week, Florida Film Festival, Salute Your Shorts, and many more. She has written articles for Huffington Post and the Wall Street Journal. Her one-woman show “I’m Glad My Mom Died” had a sold-out run at Lyric Hyperion Theatre. She hosts a podcast called “Empty Inside”, where she speaks with guests about uncomfortable topics. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.46 1,020,982 ratings 107,483 reviews 5 stars 588,591 (57%) 4 stars 335,852 (32%) 3 stars 81,349 (7%) 2 stars 11,797 (1%) 1 star 3,393 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 107,459 reviews Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell Author 56 books 19.9k followers October 6, 2022 Instagram || Twitter || Facebook || Amazon || Pinterest So in my pre-review of this book, where I lamented about not being able to find a copy anywhere because of all the HYPE (seriously, I could not find a copy of this anywhere and the library had, like, a five-hundred year wait-- thank GOD for my sister sending me a copy as payment for watching her kitten), I said that the people giving this author shit about her choice of title were dickheads. Some people got mad at me about that, but I stand by what I said. Even more so after reading this memoir. I am seriously side-eyeing the people defending the mother, actually, because based on the accounts in this memoir, she was verbally, emotionally, physically, and sexually abusive. Not only that, but she coached her daughter into an eating disorder at age eleven and then managed her to ensure that she continued to starve herself. That's not to mention the stage-parenting, the freak-outs (especially while driving), and the fact that she wiped Jennette when she went to the bathroom well into, like, her preteens (imagine not even trusting your eleven-year-old daughter to wipe her own ass) and showered her into her late teens (sometimes with her older brother and also while giving her breast and vaginal exams, ostensibly to search for cancer, I guess). What the FUCK. Here's a hard truth. Some people are shitty people. Some of those shitty people are shitty parents. Being a parent does not give you a free-pass from all wrongs. Especially if you're just doing the whole parenting thing for a little human-sized accessory that you can live all of your failed dreams through. By the end of this book, I was kind of glad Jennette's mother died, too. After living under that kind of suffocating parenting, with gaslighting and serious emotional trauma, not to mention abuse, I would be fucking done. I don't blame Jennette for her feelings. And I love my mother. I'm lucky enough to have a pretty good relationship with her. And a few years ago, my mother got breast cancer, just like the author's mom, and I was so devastated that I felt like I was working in a total fog. I stepped back from social media and it was all I could do to focus on my day job because I was so upset. But I know that other people's experiences aren't like that, and we don't get to dictate how other people mourn (or choose not to). My mother ended up okay, but I would have been really sad if the worst happened, and that's because she was a good mom and she still works hard at being a good person. People who don't try to be good people are owed nothing. Why enshrine the dead if they leave behind a legacy of trash? The title is shocking but only because we tend to airbrush the pasts of the departed. I'M GLAD MY MOM DIED rejects this premise. In this memoir, Jennette McCurdy lays out her upbringing in painfully explicit detail, starting from her mother's hoarding and growing up in poverty in a house that sounded like it should have been condemned, to the way her mother forced her into acting and she ended up being the golden goose that kept her family afloat after years of living hand to mouth. She talks about the way her mother emotionally manipulated her, and her guilt. She talks about how she started to get body dysmorphia because she felt like the only way she could continue to be successful was to look like a child forever, and when she expressed this fear to her mom, her mom taught her how to starve herself, starting an eating disorder that would basically rule her emotional breaks and her relationship with food for over a decade. She talks about her hatred of acting, what it was like working under the man she calls "The Creator" at Nickelodeon (we know who), her friendship with Miranda, and her jealousy and resentment of Ariana. And then she writes about her utterly conflicting feelings when her mother began to die of another bout of cancer, still manipulating her emotions. This book stressed me out so much. I think it would be very triggering for people with eating disorders and people with abusive parents, as it is SO descriptive when it comes to these passages. It's also a brand new look into celebrity, because most celebrity memoirs are written by people who are still in the business, but this is kind of a fuck-you memoir written by someone who doesn't care if their bridges are burned, so she really unhauls all the dirt in a way that someone who probably wanted to keep working in this field wouldn't. It's really well-written but the writing can, at times, feel a bit amateurish. McCurdy has a lot of raw talent but the people hyping her up as brilliant are exaggerating a little. ALSO, who the fuck is calling this book a "hilarious" memoir? Are these the same people who were talking about how "funny" CRYING IN H MART was? Is this where we open up the floor to a conversation about how women's emotional pain and fraught relationships are often mined for comedic value? Why do people find it so amusing when women hate their mothers? My review is already getting longer than I intended it to, but this is definitely a trend I've noticed lately where I'll pick up a memoir that's supposed to be funny and instead it's just an emotionally wrenching book about a woman dealing with her trauma. Ha-ha, I guess. Fuck that. Do read this book, if you are in a healthy mental space, but gird yourself against the hype. It is not Jesus's Second Coming. It is just a very brave story about a woman trying to come clean with herself and the past. 4 stars books-that-made-me-lose-friends mem-wars nonfiction 1,832 likes Like Comment Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️ 1,929 reviews 32.9k followers November 3, 2022 I'm Glad Her Mom Died Too "Why do we romanticize the dead...? Indeed. Why do we? Before this book came out, my knowledge of Jennette McCurdy only extended to random gifs featuring her iCarly character, Sam Puckett. I didn't actually know who she was and what they were from, I just knew they were funny and fit my "book review" purposes. Here's an example: When this book dropped, however, I was drawn to the title, the gloriously vintage macabre book cover, and the fact that it was getting rave reviews. I was excited to read this and loved the cover so much that I purchased the hardcover drop instead of waiting for my library hold. I initially started this in early September, but for personal reasons I won't get into, I had to set it down for a bit. I have almost no triggers and can read pretty much anything without being all that affected, but - again - for personal reasons I won't get into, I found the details of Jennette's mother's behavior, narcissism, and emotional manipulation to be extremely triggering. And don't even get me started on the eating disorder triggers. I was also amidst a fairly stressful period in my work life, so I decided to wait until that was over before picking this back up. Fast forward a little over a month and my library audiobook hold was by then available, so I decided to jump back in with that format. Let me just say that I can't recommend the audiobook version of this highly enough. It is obviously read by Jennette McCurdy herself and I think she does a great job of it. I think the dichotomies of Jennette's life and story are very interesting and well explained. She is able to get across very nuanced and contradictory sentiments without sounding like a complete whiner. And that's a really hard thing to accomplish in practice. For example, she is able to outline how, despite understanding how privileged and "lucky" she was to be famous and on TV, she loathed acting, a lot of the fans, and the experiences that came with it all. ^See how assholey that's sounds just me saying it? Well, she nails it in the book, I promise you. I also felt very connected to Jennette and had a lot of empathy for her. I grew up in LA County and am VERY familiar with almost every location she references in the LA/Orange County area. I literally drive by the Westminster Mall (which she references being that she grew up in Garden Grove, and which is basically a nonexistent ghost mall now) every day on the freeway on my way to work. Also, I know I said I didn't want to get too woo-woo personal, but I will just say this: I deeply connected to Jennette in terms of understanding the longstanding effects (as a child who doesn't know any better) of being made to feel like you are responsible for the state of mind and emotions of another person - an ADULT person. For years. It steals your childhood, stunts you emotionally, and really takes a long time to work through. Some people should just NOT have children, folks. It's just that simple. I mean, what they say really is true: a lot of people spend their adulthood just trying to get over their childhoods. And that's even true for "GOOD" parents. But I digress. I liked how self-aware Jennette is. Or, at least, how self-aware she appeared to be in this book. That said, I also feel like this memoir came a little soon in terms of Jennette's recovery. She's very, very new to being on "the other side" of things. Although perhaps this book is a part of that, and so I can't fault her for that. And who am I to judge or criticize. Overall, this book was a great account of a very unique human experience. I will definitely check out any future books or content Jennette puts out in the future. And I'm rooting for her, her recovery, and her happiness. 0-top-reads-of-2022 5-stars biography-memoir ...more 1,067 likes 11 comments Like Comment Mariana ✨ 270 reviews 394 followers December 30, 2022 praying that Jennette makes more from this book than Nickelodeon could’ve ever offered with their hush money A truly incredible and hard-hitting memoir. Whether you watched Jennette’s shows growing up (like me) or you don’t know her at all, I think this book is a must read. I don’t want to go into too many details, so I’ll just share some of my thoughts: • The writing is easy to read but still poignant. I think Jennette did a great job recounting the events of her life. I especially appreciate how she recounted her childhood; she really nailed writing from the perspective of a naïve child who doesn’t realize how awful her mother is. • I love how truthful Jennette was about her own fuck-ups. She admitted she was very aware of how bitter and rude she had become, and how ungrateful she seemed ( obviously, I think she was justified ). • I particularly loved the section about Jennette’s time on “Sam & Cat” . It showed how much her addiction, mental illnesses and eating disorders affected her work; how much Nickelodeon mistreated her, especially when compared to Ariana Grande; and how resentful she had grown over the years. • The exploitation of children in the entertainment industry is something that really needs to be discussed. Seeing a child star expose the abuse she suffered in the industry is truly heartbreaking, but extremely important, especially in this day and age, where even more parents are pressuring their children and forcing them to put themselves out there for fame. I wonder if in 10 years we’ll see similar testimonies from kids of family channels who grew up making money for their parents in an even more disgusting way: by having they entire lives documented and posted online for all to see. • Jennette’s friendship with Miranda was so wholesome <3 • A bit of a critique: I feel like certain events were skipped and only mentioned later in the timeline (for example: we never see her audition for iCarly, or how filming the 1st episode was, suddenly it was already 3 years into the filming of the show, out of nowhere we find out that she’d been to multiple events and red carpets, she randomly mentions she knows she has OCD and EDs – I guess she learned and came to terms with it off-page…). Obviously, this is a memoir, so the author knows better than me what was important to document, but still, some of these things seemed kind of crucial in my opinion (especially her learning about her disorders). • The main reasons I’m giving it 4 stars is because memoirs are not really my thing, so I ended up not enjoying this as much as the other books I give 5 stars to; and because, as I mentioned, I think some things could’ve been a bit better. But, again, I still loved this book and highly recommend it to everyone! (review written on 24/08/2022) --- this title is BRUTAL 💀 i'm so happy for her 😌 can't wait to read it!! (06/04/2022) reviewed 7,423 likes 8 comments Like Comment zoe 293 reviews 2 followers November 12, 2023 this is a very candid account on the abuse jennette mccurdy suffered at the hands of her narcissistic mother, and how that merged with her experience as a child actress. i don’t think you need to be familiar with her show, or even know/care about her as a person to glean lots from this book, and i think it's an important text that could even be considered historical, due to her nature as a public figure and the way her story is likely representative of a much larger population of child actors. for those hoping to get a “tea sesh” about the abuse rampant at nickelodeon, you won’t be getting that here, despite it being what the major media outlets are currently fixating on. jennette doesn’t shy away from talking about her experience with sam & cat (she hated it) and her experience with dan schnieder (terrible person, obviously, whom she never refers to by name), and even dedicates a short chapter to ariana grande, but this novel isn’t centered around that in the slightest, and to come into this book only for that would be a disservice to jennette's story. reading about the abuse jennette experienced firsthand is completely heartbreaking. she writes about having an eating disorder, given to her by her mother, and feeling beholden to her mother at all times. from calling her ten times a day to insisting on showering her even as a teenager, this book is full of triggering content, and i would urge those who have experiences abuse to proceed with caution. i think especially with gen z, we haven’t had a ton of actors from disney and nickelodeon speak out specifically about their experiences on set (the $300,000 offer from Nickelodeon jennette turned down may explain that) and how child acting impacted their lives, and it’s a very necessary perspective to hear as the consumers of that media. hearing some of the things jennette said about her stardom were jarring, in that as children we don’t really know what’s going on behind the scenes and mindlessly consume without regard to the actors lives. i also thought it was super interesting to get the perspective of a very self aware child star that didn’t become super successful on screen after their breakout role, and the narrative she builds around /why/ that was. this book was super impactful, and i have no doubt will reach a large audience. mccurdy's writing style is succinct yet impactful, well organized, balanced with seriousness and humor, told in a very blunt tone. i would definitely recommend listening to the book via audiobook which is narrated by her because it adds a whole new layer of tone. this was a tough reading experience, but i really loved the book and would highly recommend to everyone. Thank you to libro.fm/simon & schuster for the free arc! Like Comment Lisa of Troy 647 reviews 5,786 followers September 23, 2023 Shall we light it up? A bridge. It’s time. When I was in middle school, my mother told me that my glasses were ugly, that the children would call me Four-Eyes. Interesting Fact: No one has ever called me this but my mother. She taught me a cabbage soup diet and how to put on trash bags and go running to lose weight. At the end of a long day, my mom swung by a fast-food restaurant. She demanded that I go up and see what the operating hours were. Being super introverted, I hesitated. She started screaming, letting off a stream of obscenities. While I was in college in my early 20’s, I stopped by my mother’s apartment for a visit. She walked right by me in the parking lot. She said that I was so fat that I looked pregnant, and she didn’t recognize me. When I was making $6.70 per hour, working part-time at Sears, my mother asked that I purchase a $200 set of pajamas for her. When I explained that I didn’t even have $200 to my name, was she sympathetic? No way. She laid into a guilt trip. Did I love her? Didn’t she do so much for me? What has that to do with I’m Glad My Mom Died? I know firsthand what it is like to live with someone who has Borderline Personality Disorder, and Jennette’s mom has the classic symptoms. This book really resonated with me. I’m Glad My Mom Died is an important work. It lets other people know that they aren’t alone, especially if their parents aren’t top 10% parents. Some parents are bottom 10% parents. It has been a long time since I have felt seen. The last book that I felt really conveyed the complexity of a dysfunctional parent-child relationship is The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. Did I spend years trying to win my mother’s love? Yes. But do I want to be the person that she would love? No. Because I value honesty and intellect. Because I don’t define my self-worth by beauty or popularity. Having a mother with borderline personality disorder has a profound impact on a child’s development. Here is one study by the National Library of Medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3268672/ It’s time we end the silence. Connect With Me! Blog Twitter BookTube Facebook Insta 667 likes 6 comments Like Comment Emily May 2,059 reviews 312k followers February 16, 2024 I’ve known for so long that my relationship with acting is a complicated one. Not dissimilar to my relationship with food and my body. Both of them feel like constant pulling, yearning, begging, fighting. I’m trying desperately to get their approval, their affection, and I never quite seem to. I’m never quite good enough. I cannot give this less than five stars, but it was horrible to read. This memoir wasn't initially on my radar because I wouldn't know McCurdy if she showed up at my front door. However, in the hours since I've finished this, I've felt compelled to familiarise myself with clips on Youtube. It gives me a chill to think that this bright talented young girl was concealing so much pain. The title is arresting, as it's supposed to be, but it's far more than just clickbait. McCurdy as an adult wrestles with her perception of her childhood and the pedestal she put her mother on. The mother who aggressively pushed her into acting, despite her protestations, then encouraged her anorexia and lied to doctors about it. It is hard, harder perhaps than I can even imagine, to revisit your past and understand that a person you have loved, admired and tried so long to impress has been a toxic presence in your life. People seem to assign thin with “good,” heavy with “bad,” and too thin also with “bad.” There’s such a small window of “good.” As well as this, it's a portrait of the ugly side of child acting. Reading this, I found myself feeling that surely no child can give informed consent to becoming an actor. They are pushed and pulled between adults who fixate on their appearance, who criticise them, build them up and reject them. No wonder former child actors have such a high rate of substance abuse and mental illness. McCurdy's experiences at home and within the industry left her with an unhealthy relationship with food, her body and being a woman, a relationship that she is finally beginning to reckon with after both her mother's death and her own decision to quit acting. Though I did not know her before starting this memoir, this book invited me deep inside her experiences. I now feel an overwhelming desperation for McCurdy to overcome the trauma of her past and find peace. 2024 memoirs-or-bios nonfiction 899 likes 15 comments Like Comment Cindy 472 reviews 125k followers August 19, 2022 As someone who’s never watched Nickelodeon or anything with this author, I was still highly engrossed in Jennette's story. You can tell she’s more passionate about writing than acting because her writing is of a higher caliber than other celebrity memoirs that were likely ghost-written. She describes events chronologically in such a detailed and engaging way, picking specific memories to demonstrate the dysfunction of her childhood. I appreciated her honesty, dry humor, and even her bitterness and negativity. Her train of thought is very similar to my own mentality (irritability, cynicism, being extremely critical of ourselves, etc) and having that mirrored back from another deeply wounded person was eye-opening. It makes me feel better knowing I'm not the only one who processes life this way... Can we do group therapy together, Jennette?! While I appreciate the level of detail in recalling these events (no easy feat for those dealing with trauma), I would’ve loved to see more reflections of the themes across the book, like her present-day thoughts on her family, Hollywood, child stardom, body image, etc. As well as her learnings from therapy that she’s incorporating moving forward, just to give the rest of us more hope! Regardless, I look forward to seeing her future work and wish her nothing but happiness. 4,110 likes 1 comment Like Comment Ayman 256 reviews 109k followers September 30, 2022 Jennette McCurdy is extremely talented in her writing and i hope she writes more in the future (whatever genre idc, i’ll read anything) because this book alone was a literary masterpiece. it’s very fast pace. i appreciated how Jennette didn’t go into a ton of detail regarding certain subjects. it was just “yup this is was it is, this is how it is, and this is what i’m doing about it” it was very raw and real in my opinion. no flowery language one thing i’ve seen a lot of people say about this book is “wow she’s so funny, her humor is great, ect.” which i don’t entirely understand since everything Jennette went through and described in this book was devastating. from the multiple forms of abuse, eating disorders, and having to grow up too fast….um where is the humor in that?! i did listen to the audiobook with this (which jennette also narrated) and there’s points in which you hear her actually crying. nonetheless, i’m glad to see Jennette thriving in her writing career which she always wanted. i wish her nothing but the best for her. 1,894 likes Like Comment Chelsea (chelseadolling reads) 1,503 reviews 20.2k followers Read August 10, 2022 I feel weird giving someone's personal experience a rating so I'm leaving this un-rated, but please know that this was really something incredible. I absolutely recommend checking this one out if you're at all familiar with Jennette, but please do tread with caution if you're sensitive to discussions of eating disorders as this revolves pretty heavily around her struggles with disordered eating and bulimia. CW: child abuse, narcissistic parents, disordered eating, fatphobia, terminal illness (breast cancer), hoarding, use of r-slur, depictions of ocd, depictions of bulimia/purging, gaslighting, emotional manipulation read-in-2022 862 likes 1 comment Like Comment emma 2,121 reviews 67.3k followers December 1, 2022 the hype is right. this is what everyone says it is: an excellent debut, a memoir that doesn't pull punches, honest, clear-eyed, and well-written. am i glad i read it? no. this is a grueling read that i picked up based on just how often i heard it spoken of, a level of public discussion i have to assume had to do with the guilty thrill of finding out horrible secrets about people whose faces we see every day. but that's what celebrity memoir is all about. secrets sell and it certainly isn't the author's fault that that's started rubbing me the wrong way. bottom line: an excellent example of a genre i'm going to try to steer clear of. 3-and-a-half-stars memoir non-ya ...more 617 likes Like Comment Kat 268 reviews 79.9k followers Read August 6, 2022 Jennette McCurdy writes a hard-hitting and propulsive memoir. I knew I’d be reading this the moment I came across the ballsy title/cover a few months ago, and am happy to report it did not disappoint. Well worth it if you grew up watching her on TV, or if you want to have a long think about the exploitation of child actors in Hollywood. 2022-favorites 1,584 likes Like Comment Brady Lockerby 90 reviews 58.1k followers February 1, 2024 Immediate 5 star. Especially as a childhood iCarly fan, wow what these kids had to go through. Even though she doesn’t like hugs, I want to give Jennette a hug after finishing this one. You NEED to listen to it on audio!!!! 737 likes 22 comments Like Comment Jessica 17 reviews 73 followers August 9, 2022 I’m glad her mom died too. 5,490 likes 7 comments Like Comment chan ☆ 1,148 reviews 55.2k followers Read August 12, 2022 really really hard to read but really insightful and well written. audiobook was particularly great. 2022 nonfiction 964 likes Like Comment myo ⋆｡˚ ❀ * 1,019 reviews 7,684 followers August 18, 2022 more child celebrities should write books methinks 2022-favorites 5-star-reads memoir ...more 1,125 likes 1 comment Like Comment daniella ❀ 119 reviews 2,704 followers October 4, 2022 for the record, i'm glad her mom died too 2022 2022-favorites 5-stars ...more 760 likes Like Comment Júlia 235 reviews 5,826 followers December 18, 2022 Whoever said this was: impressively funny???? Was tripping on the cleanest weed out there. I think this is an important book. I love that she was brave enough to write about her life as a child actress, to write about her narcissistic and abusive mother. This auto biography is intense, well written and unbelievably raw. But it still is a book about a girl who was sexually, physically and emotionally abused by her own mother. Please, keep that in mind before you pick this up. The title might be silly, but there isn’t a single drop of humor here. This is the most depressing thing I’ve ever read. Again, I am glad it exists. I am so proud of this girl for being brave enough to put all of this out in the world. I am sure this will help other people who have been through the same. I just don’t think this was properly advertised. This is one of the most intense, gut wrenching and uncomfortable stories you’ll ever read. So make sure you’re ok mentally before you go through it. 594 likes 7 comments Like Comment Selina 21 reviews 37 followers August 15, 2022 i am going to read the shit out of this book 575 likes 2 comments Like Comment Ali Goodwin 233 reviews 28.6k followers September 23, 2023 I really appreciated Jeannette’s writing style in this book. She’s very cut and dry and to the point. No flowery language or metaphors. That writing style made it feel really raw, transparent, and honest. And it very much feels like Jeannette’s voice. I would also really recommend the audiobook. It was so incredible to hear her story in her voice. The book starts out in Jeannette’s childhood and then progresses to her acting days and then to her adult life post acting. It was a devastating yet eye opening journey to see her come to terms with how much her childhood hugely negatively impacted her life and ruined so many healthy habits she should’ve had in her adult life. And to see how the abusive from her mom was a huge huge part of that. Would highly recommend as long as you check the trigger warnings first! 553 likes 1 comment Like Comment Katie Colson 718 reviews 8,698 followers August 23, 2022 THIS DESERVES EVERY OUNCE OF HYPE IT'S BEEN BLESSED WITH! Warning to look up trigger warnings before proceeding. There is a LOT of triggering content in this book. It doesn't shy away from facing problems head on and with an unflinching tone. I adored this book. It is so rare for me to be impacted this deeply. When I tell you I stayed up until 5 am to finish this book because I simply couldn't sleep without knowing Jennette would be okay. I grew up on iCarly. I love Sam. I watched this show with no inkling of an idea of what Jennette was going through. The fact that there are people out there that did know *cough* Dan *cough*, is sickening to me. This isn't JUST a look at how horrifying Hollywood is, especially child stars, but it's also a harrowing depiction of how manipulative love can be. The way a parent's all consuming love for their child can be weaponized and watered to grow into something this vile and life altering is absolute insanity. I truly wish the absolute best for Jennette McCurdy. I know she'll never see this. But my heart goes out to her and everything she has been forced to face. I hope she is awarded every ounce of happiness that a life can possibly offer. She deserves a life of no red lights, no lines, no pauses before 'I love you's. She impacted me so much with her honesty and I can't thank her enough for writing not only a horrifying story but also a damn good book. 496 likes Like Comment Dr. Appu Sasidharan (Dasfill) 1,358 reviews 3,277 followers February 27, 2023 I was not a huge fan of Nickelodeon, and I watched their shows only once in a while during my childhood. Drake & Josh and iCarly were the two shows I watched. I particularly remember the part where Sam (Jennette McCurdy) talks about reading in iCarly, which became a famous meme. Her acting in iCarly was spot on and funny. Jennette did a brilliant job while acting, which is why people like me who rarely watched the show still remember her. Whenever we hear the name Jennette McCurdy a bubbly, loud, energetic young lady comes to our mind, as her friend Miranda Cosgrove mentions in this book. This book tells us that there were a lot of hardships and sorrow hidden behind those energetic and brilliant performances. Seven key ideas from this book 1) If child labor is unethical, aren't child actors too unethical? During December every year, when it is nearer to Christmas, there is something that everyone all over the world (especially in America) will do. It is to rewatch the Home Alone movie. The family dynamics of the McCallister family, ingenious script by John Huges, brilliant direction by Chris Colombus, fantastic music by John Williams, and extraordinary production design and sets will make us relive our childhood. Home Alone is pure nostalgia for many people. Apart from everything mentioned above, the biggest factor that brings us back to rewatch Home Alone is the amazing acting by Macaulay Culkin. I was shocked when I heard that he had to sacrifice his entire childhood to entertain us. He was abused both physically and mentally by his jealous father. The law caught him with marijuana possession. He was arrested for speeding and many other illegal activities. The abuse has affected his mental health, which pushed him into addiction. Parents using their children as money-making machines by making them actors and making them overwork for different movies when they should be going to school has been a severe issue in the life of many child actors. If we closely observe the career graph of child actors, we can see that only very few become great actors when they grow up. In Jennette's story also, we can see that she was not at all interested in acting. But her mother forced her to act even from the age of six. Nobody even cared to ask her what Jennette liked to do. She tells in this book that she hated acting, which is why she quit acting after her mother died. If child labor is unethical, then child actors are also unethical. Then the million-dollar question of who will do the children's role in the movies will arise. If child actors were not there, how would they have made movies like Harry Potter, where most of the main actors are children? “I HATE ACTING CLASS. Even though it's a chunk of time away from Home, I don't look forward to this class the same way I look forward to church because I find acting even more uncomfortable than being stuck at Home." 2) How did the "Creator" make Jennette's life miserable? This is another big problem child actors face, the predators on the shooting sets. The author mentions a "creator" who behaved harshly toward her. This same creator also allegedly misbehaved with some other crew members in a sexually inappropriate way. We have heard about many child stars who were sexually harassed on the shooting sets. Some even make them work overtime, destroying the younger kids' enthusiasm and courage. I think the only way to prevent child actors from being exploited by parents and crew members is by appointing an internal committee in every shooting set that even has access to mental health care professionals if needed. This committee should ensure that a certain percentage of children's earnings should be solely used for children's personal needs like education. This will prevent the children from being monetarily misused by their parents. It is challenging to implement this as different countries have different rules and procedures. A very few countries have tried to implement a similar method. But they were all disasters due to their lack of planning and coordination. If Hollywood and people in the USA start implementing it perfectly, all the countries may slowly follow it. A similar rule should be implemented for the children on social media (especially a few family channels on youtube.), even though it will be a little bit more complicated to implement in those cases. “Cut!” The Creator yells off camera, his mouth full of something." “But our wardrobe designer said that The Creator explicitly asked for bikinis, and so she had to at least have me try on one or two of them so he had the option. ” 3) How are children's life affected by their narcissistic parents? Falling into a narcissistic romantic relationship is a harrowing experience. Being the daughter of a narcissistic mother is a much more painful experience. This book shows how her mother totally controlled her daughter's life. The author tells us how proper medical help and therapy after such a long physical and mental abuse helped her recover from such abysmal despair. "My mother emotionally, physically and mentally abused me in ways that will forever impact me." "I realize that she's happy and I'm not. Her happiness came at the cost of mine. I feel robbed and exploited." 4) Do we need to romanticize the dead? This is a tough question to answer. Some say objectivity is born after a person dies. It is true that death changes the light in which we see people. But up to what extent? Can mourning alternate realities? These are a few among the many questions I have asked myself after reading one book some time ago on this topic. The author brings this topic back into the limelight. Some people say it is better to speak about the positive sides of the dead person during the time of grief, but not focus on their negative facets as everybody also has a negative side to their personalities along with the positives. But what will we do if the person only has a negative side and the positive side is almost nil? I think it is better to remain silent than to focus on the negatives during mourning. These are the questions that we should contemplate a lot before answering. The answers to the above questions vary depending on the individual's personality and character. “Why do we romanticize the dead? Why can't we be honest about them? Especially moms, they're the most romanticized of anyone. ” 5) Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa Both anorexia and bulimia are eating disorders. In anorexia, people restrict their food intake to lose weight. In bulimia, people will eat an excessive amount of food in a short period of time and then purge them using various methods to prevent weight gain. Both these disorders will cause severe health problems. For example in bulimia due to repeated trauma to the esophagus due to vomiting gastric acidic contents, the person can develop esophageal adenocarcinoma. So, this is a serious medical problem that healthcare professionals should treat. "Jennette, what you're describing is... really unhealthy. Your mother essentially condoned your anorexia, encouraged it. She... taught it to you. That's abuse." 6) Friendship. Building a good friendship takes a lot of time, effort, and sacrifice. We can see the author talking about friendships in this book. I remember reading about different types of friendship in a book. Friendships can be classified into three. -1) Friendship of pleasure - Friendship ends when the enjoyment and fun end. - 2) Friendship of convenience - Friendship ends when the convenience factor end. - 3) True friendship - Friendship based on mutual respect. The author mentions that she dislikes friendship of convenience. "I don't like knowing people in the context of things. "Oh, that's the person I work out with. That's the person I'm in a book club with. That's the person I did that show with." Because once the context ends, so does the friendship." 7) What is the problem with comparing our life with that of successful people? In this age of social media, every one of us has a tendency to know more about the life of successful people from their social media profiles and compare our life with theirs. The biggest problem is that people only post the positive side of their lives on social media. So checking others' Instagram profiles and comparing our life to others can push us into anxiety and depression. In Jennette's case, she had Ariana Grande as the co-star in one of the shows, and she developed a habit of comparing her life with Ariane's. This is a habit we should never develop, and the author tells us all the troubles she had to face due to this behavior. "The third is that Ariana is at the stage in her career where she's popping up on every 30 Under 30 list that exists. And I'm at the stage in my career where my team is excited that I'm the new face of Rebecca Bonbon, a tween clothing line featuring a cat with her tongue sticking out. Sold exclusively at Walmart. And I frequently make the mistake of comparing my career to Ariana's. I can't help it. I'm constantly in the same environment as her, and she doesn't exactly try to hide her successes." My favourite three lines from this book "Suddenly, I feel just like that little eleven-year-old girl who was confused and scared and uncertain. That eleven-year-old girl who was doubtful that I knew the whole truth of my situation, who was unsure that my mother was the hero she pretended to be, but who shoved that doubt down." "I don't like when grown-ups make faces or sounds that I don't understand. It's frustrating. It makes me feel like I'm missing something.” "And the kids who are annoying, don't take direction, ask questions—those are the kids who won't get sent out on auditions. The kids who will get auditions are the ones who shut up and do as they're told." What could have been better? The title of this book is a brutal one. I think Jennette should have given it a much more positive title. This current title will indeed pull the attention of many new readers to this book. But it also has its demerits. Whenever the author hears or sees the name of this book in the future, the first emotion that will come to her mind might be anger and sadness just because of this title. I can never tell that the author should have forgiven her mother as she had to suffer a lot due to her. But still, I think the title is brutal, and it should have been a different optimistic one. Rating 5/5 This celebrity memoir might be a difficult book, but you should never miss the opportunity to read it. You can also follow me on Instagram | YouTube First Channel | YouTube Second Channel | Twitter | Snapchat | facebook | TikTok 407 likes Like Comment cohlyreads Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ。 124 reviews 23 followers January 9, 2023 Shit, I'm glad her Mom died too. 384 likes 1 comment Like Comment Angela Reads 20 reviews 33 followers August 12, 2022 I’m happy Jennette was able to tell her story and show how terrible it is to have such an abusive mom and what the entertainment industry can do to a child. My rating does not reflect how true and important the telling of her story is. The writing of the story however, was very painful to get through. It could have been edited better with how repetitive it is. It also has no self reflecting within the story, not that she isn’t a victim cuz she is. How she viewed other women and other women friendships also bothered me. I can see how coming from such a competitive career like acting could HAVE caused that but, I would HAVE loved to see some self-reflecting on that part as well. 362 likes 3 comments Like Comment s.penkevich 1,201 reviews 9,511 followers December 9, 2022 **Winner of the 2022 Goodreads Choice Award for Memoirs!** Chances are, if you have a TikTok or Instagram you know what this book is. I mean, I'm Glad My Mom Died was on back order already the morning it was published and was a sought after title all August and is a book you just cannot avoid if you have an internet connection or local bookstore. Nor should you. Jennette McCurdy, the former iCarly actress, speaks so openly and candidly about a lifelong cycle of abuse and dependency with her mother (who passed in, as the title likely led you to assume), chronicling trauma and serious mental health struggles such as eating disorders that all were brought upon her through the need to serve her mother’s wishes. It’s one I’ve had right in everyone’s faces at the bookstore since we finally got copies, as the title is sure to solicit reactions and I privately enjoy seeing them, but also it is an important look at abuse and recovery. I had to finally read it. I mean we all deserve a Hot Girl Summer but can I truly say I had one if I didn’t read any Colleen Hoover, Beach Read or at least this, the most popular book of the end of summer? No. And I’m glad I did pick this up to read at work because this deserves all the hype and more, and I hope this is another success on McCurdy's road to improved mental health. While she loved her mother, their relationship was often abusive and left a lot to detangle in adulthood. Deeply personal and moving, this is a look into McCurdy's life as well as a necessary warning about the ways young girls are objectified, commodified and exploited, even by those closest to them. ‘ I realize that she’s happy and I’m not. Her happiness came at the cost of mine. I feel robbed and exploited. ’ That line says it all, honestly. This is an upsetting account of McCurdy's life, and one where all the warning signs were out in the open and ignored. Especially by Nickelodeon who don’t exactly come across well here. We’ve heard horror stories about the treatment of child actors for as long as there have been child actors, though this isn’t simply another case file of grievances but a really heartfelt self-examination and testimony. McCurdy comes across as very open and honest, and it really paints a positive look at her as a person who has gone through so much. There are times when she discusses the anger she felt, which feels justified and as Soraya Chemaly talks about in the book Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women's Anger , sometimes anger is the appropriate response in order to not be silenced or ignored. It can be an important tool, or an armor as McCurdy describes: ‘ I became an angry person with no tolerance for anyone. I'm aware of this shift and yet have no desire to change it. If anything, I want it. It's armor. It's easier to be angry than to feel to pain underneath it. ’ She also expresses feelings of regret for having lashed out in these times, looking at how abuse shouldn’t just beget another cycle of abuse, and these discussions seem to come from a place of maturity and healing. It is likely very encouraging and empowering for victims of abuse to read much of this book, though heads up, it does get into some very triggering situations and topics. ‘ Mom only sits in when I’m being the thing she wanted to be. ’ McCurdy shows how so much of her life was lived to be what her mother wanted, and much of this became painful. She was raised in a Mormon household and was homeschooled by her mother, a mom who wanted to always present a perfect image and often lashed out hurtfully. In short, McCurdy is open about her mom having narcissistic tendencies, and while she is still caring for her mother (she does make it clear she very much loved her mother), the scars are quickly apparent. From years of life like this, McCurdy felt she lacked an authentic self, and this carried over into struggles with body image from seeing one’s own self as an object that serves others instead of something personally only yours. This is a major theme in the essays in My Body by Emily Ratajkowski for those looking for further reading on the subject. When fearing her breasts would grow during puberty, the mother encouraged extreme calorie reduction and dangerous dieting practices. While discussions of the mother bookend this memoir, the bulk of the middle portion is about eating disorders. Most tragic is the moment in the hospital with her siblings saying goodbye to her mother when she says the one thing she thinks could actually make her mother proud of her: ‘ I'm in the ICU with my dying mother, and the thing that I'm sure will get her to wake up, is the fact that in the days since mom has been hospitalized, my fear and sadness have morphed into the perfect anorexia motivation cocktail, and finally I have achieved mom's current goal weight for me: 89 pounds. ’ There is a lot to be said about the ways this reflects a general attitude around young women and girls, especially in the entertainment industry and how it robs them of their own agency. ‘ I was conditioned to believe any boundary I wanted was a betrayal of her, so I stayed silent, ’ she writes, and in this we see how these systems perpetuate themselves: silence. Young women and girls are broken down to believe they are in service to another (we could get into a long discussion on how this is the social framing inflicted by the intersections of misogyny and capitalism) and silence is induced by making them first feel they wouldn’t be believed or listened to but also that they deserve it, it’s for their own good or that they don’t even have the agency to speak out. It is truly tragic how often victims of abuse are silenced when they do speak out, which is another tool in oppression. So this book is a lot, but it is also very good and seems very healing. I was under the impression based on how it was presented and marketed that this was more of a comedic memoir, so heads up if that was what you assumed as well, but the weight and power of her words as she discusses a lifetime of abuse is definitely worth reading for. It does read very plainly, almost like a “class assignment” type of tone recounting events, though they are certainly difficult memories to have to revisit. I hope McCurdy is doing well, and it is very honorable of her to use her experience to reach out and help others in this way. There could have been more depth to some of it, but this is less a look at the causes and social critiques and more at the personal effects she endured. There are great reminders too about how to move forward and not get bogged down in being perfect, such as when she writes that ‘ slips are totally normal. When you have a slip, it’s just that. A slip. It doesn’t define you. It doesn’t make you a failure. The most important thing is that you don’t let that slip become a slide ‘. I won’t get too much more into it, as you should probably read the book and this is McCurdy's story to tell, but I am very glad I read this. ' My mom didn't get better. But I will. ' memoir trauma 356 likes 1 comment Like Comment farith 346 reviews 516 followers August 25, 2022 as victoria justice would say: ‘i think we’re ALL glad her mom died’. 344 likes Like Comment Riley 447 reviews 23.2k followers Read August 10, 2022 very powerful and also very funny. this is by far one of the best memoirs I've read 303 likes Like Comment ava ୨୧ 111 reviews 92 followers January 3, 2023 you know what jennette? i’m also glad your mom died!!!! favorites 294 likes Like Comment Beatrice 419 reviews 207 followers December 12, 2022 Memoirs should be one’s reflection about one’s past, otherwise is just a journaling exercise . This whole book felt juvenile, repetitive and under-edited . The dialogues were weird and unbelievable because they totally lacked context (and before someone misinterprets my words, I am not saying that I don’t believe Jennette words, but that simply writing down her abusive mother’s worst moments is cathartic, yes, but it’s not in any way compelling to read, because there is no built-up, no tension, just straight up abuse). The inexplicable decision of using a present tense killed every chance of expressing self-awareness , self-reflection and healing, and the book felt like a journaling therapy exercise. It didn’t help the fact that writing the memoir focusing on traumas and single events, each one of them taking up one short chapter, made the “narration” very disjointed. The blurb is also very unfaithful to the actual content of the book: this memoir was described as “heartbreaking” and “hilarious”, and I have my doubts about the latter. I smiled twice, in the space of 92 chapters. As a person who has a strained relationship with her mentally-ill mother, I am proud of Jennette for being able to tell her story , but unfortunately her memoir fell short, for me. letto-in-lingua memoir mental-illness 289 likes 10 comments Like Comment Letitia | Bookshelfbyla 169 reviews 99 followers August 12, 2022 Wow. A very revealing and honest memoir. Unsure what parts people found funny. I didn’t laugh once and didn’t see any parts that were structured for humor. Nickelodeon and Disney was a huge part of my childhood and I loved iCarly and loved Sam. Hearing Jennette’s story is another example of how you don’t know what’s happening to someone behind closed doors. As talented as she was in acting, I’m glad she made the decision to walk away. No one should be forced into a career they never wanted - especially a career as draining and consuming emotionally, mentally and physically as acting. Her mother’s abuse was tough to hear. It’s more painful to see how much Jennette wanted to appease her mom all the way until the very end of her life. She consistently put her mom’s needs before her own and her mom would willingly exploit and manipulate her knowing this. The title and cover is alarming and provocative but justified. If you assume Jennette never loved her mother, the story proves the exact opposite. The title is not a reflection of Jennette but the treatment of her mother towards her. Her mother severely betrayed and abused her and Jennette loved her while she was alive despite it. But time and healing allowed her to see the long term damage her mother has done and some damage is irreversible. Her story sheds more light to how we shouldn’t turn a blind eye to all the different forms, relationships and dynamics abuse can happen. If anything, parental abuse should be looked at with the utmost seriousness due to the power dynamic and pressures to love your family despite their faults, even when they hurt you. I could go on, but if any part of her story interests you, I would recommend reading. Major trigger warnings for abuse, eating disorders, bulimia, and anorexia. She is very blunt and candid about her life with eating disorders. Jennette from an early age wanted to write but her mom didn’t support her. I’m glad Jennette is finally able to do what she always wanted. 267 likes Like Comment ale (semi hiatus) ‧ ₊˚୨ ♡ ୧ ₊˚ 459 reviews 2,717 followers August 25, 2022 my blog review TW: Anorexia, abuse (emotional, child), bulimia, cancer, eating disorders, drugs and alcohol abuse, death, grief, mental illness, manipulation, grooming. To me, reading and rating a memoir is something delicate, because that person is opening up about their experiences, their traumas, thoughts and emotions that are very private or painful sometimes. Wow, I have no words. I'm just proud of Jennette and wish for her the best because she deserves a good life, happiness and so much love. Must of us grew up watching Nickelodeon shows like iCarly, Drake & Josh, Big Time Rush, Zoey 101 and many more, laughing at many characters' jokes or actions, not knowing that perhaps some of those actors were having a really bad time. This memoir isn't about Jennette's days in Nickelodeon, yes, she talks about some of her struggles. This memoir is about her early years, before and getting in the entertainment industry, her teen years and early adulthood. It's really painful to read about Jennette's struggles with food. While on iCarly she (her character) was obsessed with food, Jennette was obsessed with it, too, but not in the same way. Her mother impossed onto her this unhealthy routine that developed in anorexia and years later in bulimia. This book is totally worth to read. And I totally loved it. Jennette is a wonderful story-teller, I liked the writing, that is so captivating and beautiful. I'm really proud of her and wish to her nothing but happiness. adult biography memoirs ...more 259 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 107,459 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 612 quotes 64 discussions 16 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Emotionally Naked: A Teacher's Guide to Preventing Suicide and Recognizing Students at Risk by Anne Moss Rogers | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $18.00 Rate this book Emotionally Naked: A Teacher's Guide to Preventing Suicide and Recognizing Students at Risk Anne Moss Rogers , Kim O'Brien 4.33 12 ratings 2 reviews Want to read Kindle $18.00 Rate this book Discover effective strategies to help prevent youth suicide In Emotionally A Teacher's Guide to Preventing Suicide and Recognizing Students at Risk , trainer, speaker, and suicide loss survivor Anne Moss Rogers, and clinical social worker and researcher, Kimberly O'Brien, PhD, LICSW, empower middle and high school educators with the knowledge and skills to leverage their relationships with students to reduce this threat to life. The purpose of this book is not to turn teachers into therapists but given the pervasive public health problem of suicide in our youth, it's a critical conversation that all educators need to feel comfortable having. Educators will learn evidence-based concepts of suicide prevention, plus lesser known innovative strategies and small culture shifts for the classroom to facilitate connection and healthy coping strategies, the foundation of suicide prevention. Included is commentary from teachers, school psychologists, experts in youth suicidology, leaders from mental health nonprofits, program directors, and tudents. In addition, readers will find practical tips, and sample scripts, with innovative activities that can be incorporated into teaching curricula. You'll learn Who is it Middle/high school teachers and educators, school counselors, nurses, psychologists, coaches, and administrators, as well as parents who wish to better understand the complex subject of youth suicide. 368 pages, Paperback Published August 24, 2021 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Anne Moss Rogers 3 books 5 followers Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.33 12 ratings 2 reviews 5 stars 6 (50%) 4 stars 4 (33%) 3 stars 2 (16%) 2 stars 0 (0%) 1 star 0 (0%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews Julia Bucci 222 reviews August 2, 2022 "In a 2018 study, Gregory Plemmons and his colleagues found that the rate of hospitalization of school-age children for suicidal ideation and attempts increased by almost 300% from 2008-2015." "The problem is that parents and students are ill-informed about the detrimental effects [of marijuana] and not only consider marijuana and its derivatives as harmless but as a viable option to help kids with anxiety and sleep." "A survey of 13 to 34-year-old survivors reveals that there was less than 5 minutes between suicidal thought and action for 24% of the survivors." "Persons with heavy alcohol use are five times more likely to die by suicide than social drinkers and toxicology reports on suicide decedents indicate that 75% of suicides involve one or more substance." “The suicide attempt rate of sexual minority youth is 5 times almost five times that of their heterosexual peers…A 2020 survey by the Trevor Project found that…over 50% of nonbinary youth…as well as transgender youth reported having seriously considered suicide.” “Despite African Americans having the lowest rate, research demonstrates the suicide rate of black youth is rising faster than any other racial or ethnic group.” “One of the strongest risk factors in teens is having made a prior suicide attempt.” “Other high-risk groups include adopted children, who are nearly four times more likely to attempt suicide than nonadopted children.” “Research has shown high rates of suicidality in autism spectrum conditions, but there is lack of research into why this is the case…Parents of children who live with autism suspect lack of social skills and friends play into their risk factors.” “The presence of conflicting and competing pressures contributes to a concept called strain, which is believed to precede suicide in most cases.” “Death sounds nice” – Tweet from Charles Rogers, the author’s son, who committed suicide in 2015. This is part of a series of tweets; only one was seen by his mother, as he blocked her from seeing his account. “Sometimes, but not always, a sudden shift from deep depression to joy can be suspect because the youth has chosen a date and method to end their life and that has brought them a sense of relief.” “In short, suicide is an act of despair, not selfishness.” “Avoid saying, ‘You have so much to live for.’” “…Protective factors include: • A sense of belonging and connectedness to individuals, family, community, and social institutions • A sense of purpose or meaning in life • Coping ability, life skills, and adapting to change • A positive sense of self-worth • Cultural or religious beliefs that discourage suicide • Availability of physical and mental health care” 1 like Like Comment Sally 31 reviews December 5, 2021 I've only skimmed this so far but see it will be an excellent resource for teachers, parents and all who work with anyone at risk for suicide. I'll absorb it slowly and use it as reference. Excellent organization and Table of Contents and Index. Though directed at teachers, counselors, parents and administrators in schools, it is full of tools, strategies, information, science, tips, testimonies that will benefit anyone in any venue. Places of worship and workplaces come to mind. 1 like Like Comment Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews Join the discussion Add a quote 1 discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

Return schema.org Entities and their Properties in JSON-LD format as an array strictly based on the text below. Don't add any information that is not stated in this text.

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Into the Dim (Into The Dim, #1) by Janet B. Taylor | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Into the Dim #1 Into the Dim Janet B. Taylor 3.76 4,034 ratings 932 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book When fragile, sixteen-year-old Hope Walton loses her mom to an earthquake overseas, her secluded world crumbles. Agreeing to spend the summer in Scotland, Hope discovers that her mother was more than a brilliant academic, but also a member of a secret society of time travelers. Trapped in the twelfth century in the age of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Hope has seventy-two hours to rescue her mother and get back to their own time. Along the way, her path collides with that of a mysterious boy who could be vital to her mission . . . or the key to Hope’s undoing.      Addictive, romantic, and rich with historical detail, Into the Dim is an Outlander for teens. Genres Young Adult Time Travel Fantasy Historical Fiction Science Fiction Historical Romance ...more 436 pages, Hardcover First published March 1, 2016 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Janet B. Taylor 3 books 460 followers Janet Taylor lives in such a small town in Arkansas that if you happen to sneeze when you pass by, you'll totally miss it. (Cause, you know, you can't sneeze with your eyes open. For real--try it--it's impossible) Her first novel, INTO THE DIM, (which debuted 3/1/2016 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) is about a 16 year old girl who travels through time. Totally on purpose and stuff. Her second book, SPARKS OF LIGHT (HMH, 8/1/2017) is the sequel, and continues three months after INTO THE DIM leaves off. She's a reader/fan first and a writer second. She lives with her fantastic husband, two hilarious sons, and Dorda the diabetic dog who won't win any beauty contests, but has a "nice personality". She would think you're the coolest thing since AC on a hot day if you'd like her on Facebook . Follow her on Twitter or visit her web site . And if you felt like adding INTO THE DIM to your Want to Read well golly! She'd probably come over to your house and do cart-wheels on your front lawn. (probably) (PS-check out the bracelet on Janet's pic. That's a teeny-tiny Tardis. Uh, Whovian much?) Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.76 4,034 ratings 932 reviews 5 stars 1,125 (27%) 4 stars 1,434 (35%) 3 stars 999 (24%) 2 stars 319 (7%) 1 star 157 (3%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 932 reviews Emily May 2,059 reviews 312k followers February 5, 2016 In my sixteen years on this earth, no guy had ever, ever flirted with me. The redneck boys where I was from preferred girls like my cheerleader cousins. Size two. Blond. Busty. Brainless. This book is being marketed as Outlander for teens. It isn't. It's a serious insult to teens to say they're incapable of appreciating anything beyond this cliched, slut-shaming drivel . Time travel doesn't even rear its head until the poor reader (me) has sat through pages and pages of innate, inexplicable specialness, mysterious boys with pretty eyes *gasp*, and listening to a narrator who is beautiful without knowing it, stupid and yet somehow the key to everything, and completely, most definitely, NOT one of those slutty girls. Oh, wait a minute, who are those "slutty girls", again? Well they're blonde, obvs. Cheerleaders, because duh. Both a size two and with ginormo boobs (something which is actually quite difficult without expensive surgery, but I digress). Like ewww, guys. “But then again, I’m not one of those slutty St. Sebastian girls.” Honestly, can anyone actually stand this girl? Like with Outlander , this book takes us to the Scottish Highlands. After Hope's mother dies, she goes to stay with her extended family in a huge beautiful house, where she's about to discover her mother's deepest secret - time travel. Scotland? Intriguing new setting? Family secrets? Time travel? Holy shit, sign me up! Too bad that Hope is too busy becoming obsessed with a local boy to actually do anything interesting . Does she explore this fascinating new place? Like hell she does. Do we meet some awesome Scottish characters? Not unless you mean undeveloped characters called things like "Mac" and "Bran", who all talk like Scottish people *might* have talked, say, five hundred years ago. I don't know who to recommend this for. Younger teens who enjoy Bella Swan-style wish fulfillment? Maybe. Those who like reading about a boring, chaste, slut-shaming, oh-so-misunderstood chosen one? Sure. "You have more knowledge of history, and archaic languages, than many learned professors could absorb in their lifetime. Do you now understand why? You’ve been training for this since you were four years old. We need that knowledge. We need you.” Oh, hell. And back to the language for a second - it really is just ridiculous. Present day Scottish people aside, when Hope finally gets her ass in gear and goes back in time nearly a whole millennium, everyone she meets just drops a bunch of “g”s and “f”s and inserts apostrophes instead. Are you fucking kidding me? If you're a teenager and you think Outlander sounds interesting, bloody hell, just read it. Not this annoying high school rom-com version that may result in the loss of brain cells. Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | Pinterest 2016 arc sci-fi ...more 456 likes Like Comment Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies 831 reviews 41.1k followers February 2, 2016 When the “thees,” “thous” and “wherefores” sprang naturally from my lips, I felt a pang of gratitude for my mother’s insistence that I master all those archaic languages. What's with all the time travel books lately? Is it because of the popularity of Outlander? Is time travel the new vampire or something? It's a tough subject around which to write a book, and it can go wrong in many ways. This book is an example of how time travel can be fucked up. To be clear, I do not expect this book to be anywhere close to Outlander. This is YA and concession has to be made for the writing and the complexity (or lack thereof). But again, I emphasize, just because a book is YA does not give it permission to be shitty; that is condescencing towards the YA audience. You want time travel? Hold on to your seats and grab a few cups of tea, or rather, a few espresso shots. Because you're going to need the caffeine so, so badly. It takes a long ass time to even get to the rollicking time-travel aspect, and before that, you get to hear the main character freak out, slut-shame, fall into infatuation, and learn about the minutiaes of time travel. For a good third of the book. God help me, I was so bored. The main character is a stupid twit. I didn't like her. She's a special snowflake if there ever was one. "You have more knowledge of history, and archaic languages, than many learned professors could absorb in their lifetime. Do you now understand why? You’ve been training for this since you were four years old. We need that knowledge. We need you.” Whoo! Whooooo! So special! So special that she can do ALL THE THINGS that more experienced, more knowledgeable, more well-trained adults can't. And she was born with it. Born with it? Maybe it's Maybelline. Maybe it's bullshit. I hate the whole born-with-it crap. Not only is she so smart and special, but she's beautiful without knowing it. Give me a fucking break. He peered at me. “I can assure you if we’d ever met, I’d remember. I have an uncanny ability to remember pretty girls.” Pretty? Me? Yeah. Sure. Seriously, I'm so sick of the whole pretty-without-knowing-it bullshit. And then there's the condescension and the slut-shaming. For someone who's so average and normal, our main character sure hates other girls, you know, the pop-culture-loving, fashionable average Janes whom she deem all to be without a brain in her head. And then there's this little comment that made me see red. “But then again, I’m not one of those slutty St. Sebastian girls.” The time travel aspect is ludicrous. The concept of it was so confusing and boring I can't even explain it to you if my life depended on it. It's also fucking simplistic . Girl, you can't just travel back 1000 years in time and magically understand the language. We sound way fucking different now as we did 100 years ago. 1000 years? You wouldn't even recognize English as it was. People sure as hell didn't talk like this. “I pray on catchin’ a glimpse o’ the new queen,” the wife said. “Do ye know, we hear she went on Crusade with her first husband, that Frenchie king.” Her voice lowered. “They say she rode with her tatties on full display to entertain the troops.” The time travel aspect was absurd, to say the least. This is not a book worth reading. All quotes were taken from an advanced reader copy and subject to change in the final edition. 305 likes Like Comment Regan 469 reviews 113k followers June 9, 2023 3.5 Review soon! 177 likes Like Comment Jaime (Two Chicks on Books) 825 reviews 397 followers August 26, 2015 Can I give this 10 stars?? I freaking LOVED this book! First I want to thank HMH for sending me an advanced copy to read. Ok so my review have you ever seen the movie Timeline with Paul Walker and Gerard Butler? No? Here's the imdb link check it out! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0300556/?... well this book reminded me of a mix of Timeline and a YA version of Outlander yes there's a hot Scott lol there's also a hot Brit as well and before you say "oh crap there's a love triangle" I will tell you that no there isn't one just some really hot boys! So I'm not going to be spoilery in my review but I loved everything about this book! It was the perfect mix of sci-fi and historical with great world building, mystery, and swoon worthy romance! And the time period Janet used... I don't recall seeing in any YA book before! It was so cool seeing her vision of Eleanor of Aquitane, who was a badass female in time period. I also loved the time travel rules in this book they're not confusing like some I've read. Ok so I'm gonna stop I feel like I could ramble on for days about this book. Lets just say if you like Outlander, time travel, romance, mystery, history... hell even if you don't! Read this book as soon as you can! 50 likes Like Comment Carrie 3,375 reviews 1,611 followers July 11, 2017 Hope Walton's mother was believed to have been killed in an earthquake eight months ago. Her father has moved on with his life and met someone new but Hope still believes there's a chance her mother could be alive. After the service for her mother Hope receives an invitation from her mother's sister to come for a visit while her father travels. Not wanting to be left with her grandmother that has never accepted Hope into her family since Hope was adopted, she battles her anxiety and boards a plane to meet her mother's family. When Hope arrives at her mysterious aunt's home she is told that her aunt had to leave for a few days. Hope is full of questions, especially when it's let slip that her mother had been there right before her supposed death but no one is answering Hope's inquiries until she stumbles upon some strange artifacts and costumes beneath the manor. Only after Hope's discovery do her newly acquired family let Hope in on their secrets. They are a group of time travelers and her mother has been trapped in twelfth century England, left by another group of time travelers who have been in somewhat of a feud with Hope's family. After scanning a few reviews before picking this book up and reading it myself I was a little iffy going in as to what I would find. I have to say when finished though I'm glad I gave it a fair shot and read it all the way through because I really enjoyed the story once it got going. In the end I decided to rate this one 4.5 stars. The beginning gets off to a bit of a rocky start which is what seems to be turning some readers away from the book. Hope almost seemed a lot younger than she is supposed to be to me but we learn that she's been home schooled by her mother her whole life and not allowed to have friends with anyone her own age and also has a slew of anxieties and phobias. She makes a few questionable comments in the beginning but there is actually logic behind them so I overlooked them myself and waited to form an opinion. Hope at one point says boys prefer "girls like my cheerleader cousins. Size two. Blond. Busty. Brainless." Ok, if you were raised in a family that treated you as an outcast your whole life because you weren't like them then it's a bit understandable that you would be jaded towards that type. Again later she makes a comment about the "slutty girls" at a school, well that's after the boy she had just met denied knowing her unless she went to that school and they had "hooked up". After the rocky start and finally getting into the time traveling I really enjoyed Hope as a character along with all the others in the book and the story line. Perhaps the beginning could have been a tad better but once the story takes off it's a completely enjoyable read with a lot of adventure and a great look into a historical era. Looking forward to see where this series heads in any future books. I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress.... netgalley 36 likes Like Comment Lori Elliott 778 reviews 2,167 followers March 15, 2016 Oh, this was so much fun. Henry II & Eleonor of Aquitaine are my favorite historical figures and the chance to travel back to their world was thrilling. This is similar to Outlander in that the 'present' time period is set in Scotland along with the traveling through time, but that is where the similiaries end. Obviously, the main difference is that this is geared toward YA audiences, so it's language is lighter and more modern. The time traveling, also, in this had more of a purpose. I really recommend this if you are looking for a story just to have fun with. I'm seriously excited to see where Taylor will take me in the next book of the series which is set to publish next year. Ugh, the wait begins. 4 stars. 35 likes Like Comment nicklein 401 reviews 77 followers June 20, 2016 His mouth came down over mine, stopping my words, crushing me to him in a kiss we both knew would have to last us for a long, long time. I AM BEGGING YOU CAN I HAVE ZE NEXT BOOK LIKE RIGHT NOW? I AM ABOARD THE MOST FANTABULOUS SHIP IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD AND THIS BOOK GAVE ME ENDLESS CARDIAC ARREST BECAUSE OF THE PALPITATIONS I FELT EVERYTIME BRAN'S NAME WAS MENTIONED; THIS BOOK MADE MY EYES ITCHY AND PROBABLY WORSENED MY ALREADY HORRIBLE VISION; THIS BOOK GAVE ME TONS OF WHIPLASH BECAUSE OF THE PLOT TWISTS; THIS BOOK MADE ME ANTI SOCIAL; THIS BOOK OBVIOUSLY ROBBED ME OF MY GRAMMATICAL SENSE; AND THIS BOOK WILL PUT ME IN A FREAKING LITERARY COMA BECAUSE OF ITS GLORIOUSNESS SO I AM OFFICIALLY BEDRIDDEN AND CURRENTLY FUSSING WITH MY OXYGEN MASK AND DIFFERENT TUBES ATTACHED TO MY BODY AS WE SPEAK. BYE, CONSCIOUS PEOPLE. READ THIS AND KNOW THAT I HAVE ALREADY PREPARED A BED FOR YOU BESIDE MINE. GO ON. PICK UP THIS BOOK. 5 BILLION STARS ✨ Disclaimer: An all caps review doesn't always mean bad, mkay? I was just highkey fangirling. Ain't nothing wrong with that. So please don't sue me. 36 likes Like Comment Sarah Elizabeth 4,780 reviews 1,351 followers February 8, 2016 (Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group and NetGalley.) “All the air whooshed from my lungs as I stared into my mother’s face, woven into an object that was nearly nine hundred years old.” This was a YA sci-fi story about a girl who had to travel back into the past to rescue her missing mother. Hope was a strong character in this book who never gave up. It was quite interesting to learn about her eidetic memory, and she certainly put it to good use when it came to finding her mother, even if her phobias had held her back previously. The storyline in this involved Hope going back in time to the period where her mother had last been in an effort to find and rescue her, we did get a couple of interesting twists though, and I didn’t see how Hope was going to deal with one pretty major one that her mother threw at her. I did find the pace a little slow though, which made the story drag a bit in places. There was a little bit of romance in this, but not a lot, and it was a little bit complicated. The ending to this was fairly happy, and I was glad how things worked out with Hope’s mom, and a certain other person, even if the romance front left us with a bit of a cliff-hanger. 6.5 out of 10 fantasy historical netgalley-edelweiss ...more 28 likes Like Comment Stacee 2,823 reviews 738 followers January 29, 2016 I will admit to being a little wary of reading this book because of the tag line comparing it to Outlander. Not that Outlander is bad, but I'm slightly afraid of the historical aspect. I really liked this cast of characters, especially Hope. She's quite possibly the smartest person ever and sort of awkward and it was entertaining reading her figure everything out. I always love when someone who was totally underestimated rules everything. The overall story is quite interesting and I was instantly intrigued. There wasn't anything too confusing and the timeline was pretty stable. I don't know anything about the historical people mentioned, but I really hope they do exist because there are some serious bad asses. The ending wasn't too cliffhangery, but I am quite eager to see what happens next. **Huge thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Edelweiss for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review** doctor-who-reference edelweiss read-in-2016 29 likes Like Comment Mogsy 2,131 reviews 2,687 followers March 19, 2016 4 of 5 stars at the BiblioSanctum While Into the Dim is not without its flaws (like calling it “an Outlander for teens" might be a bit of a stretch), there’s still no denying this book has its charms. The story is impressively robust for a YA time traveling book, and what it lacks in world-building and logistical explanations, it makes up for with pure entertainment and plenty of fun twists along the way. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed myself. Most of this story actually takes place in the twelfth century, but first there’s a considerable introduction to establish our main protagonist and her circumstances. We begin with sixteen-year-old Hope Walton at the funeral for her mother Sarah, an academic who was lecturing overseas when an earthquake struck and brought the building down around her. Eight months later, her family has finally given up the search for her body and accepted that she is gone. To help deal with the grief, Sarah’s sister has invited Hope to spend the summer with her in Scotland, and after much reluctance, Hope eventually realizes she has nowhere else to go and accepts. Now this is where the adventure truly begins. Hope arrives in Scotland and learns more about her family than she’d ever bargained for. Turns out, her aunt is a leader of a group of time traveling agents who are battling another group of rival time travelers to locate a powerful gem lost somewhere in history. That, and Hope finds out that her mother Sarah might be still alive, but trapped in the past. There may be a way to bring her back, but only a small window of opportunity to make that happen, and Hope will need all the training she can get to prepare her for the mission of her life. Hope and her new friends, fellow time travelers Collum and Phoebe, end up journeying back almost a thousand years to 1154, the year of Eleanor of Aquitaine’s coronation as queen consort of England. As the focal historical figure for this novel, I thought she was a most fascinating choice. One of the most powerful women of her age, Eleanor led an incredible life and was appropriately portrayed as an important character in Into the Dim. Also, the High Middle Ages was a period of much significance and change in Western Europe, creating an intriguing backdrop for the novel. We’re plunged into this world to experience the social, political and religious climate of the times, and author Janet B. Taylor certainly does not skimp on details of the sights, sounds, and–unfortunately—the smells. For me, there were only two major weaknesses, and they kind of go hand-in-hand with each other. The first is Hope herself. A poster child for “book smart, street stupid” if I ever saw one, our protagonist was born was a photographic memory, but her brilliance is also offset by her staggering social ineptitude. Kept out of “that inbred travesty they call an education system” by her snobby and overprotective mother, Hope grew up completely clueless, which would perfectly explain the scene where she meets Bran Cameron for the first time. This segues into my second gripe: the romance. I’m still appalled by Hope’s reaction to Bran at their first meeting, where she catches him taking stalkerish photos of her with his camera without her knowledge. But instead of running for the hills to the closest police station, what does Hope do? She flirts with the creepy creeperish creeper, and finds his behavior totally adorable and flattering. Ew, no. Sadly, this soured the rest of the relationship for me. While engaging, the plot is also nothing too deep. The historical aspects and “science” behind the time traveling will not hold up to heavy scrutiny, though to be fair, that’s not really what this book is about. Yes, you’ll definitely have to roll with some punches, but the story is entertaining and holds up well. I liked the fast-pacing, as well as the no-nonsense way Hope and her friends come up with creative ways to solve problems. It’s worth mentioning too that I listened to the audiobook version, which was amazing. Before this, I had never listened to anything read by Amanda Ronconi, but her performance for Into the Dim made me an instant fan. They couldn’t have chosen a better narrator. With her wide range of accents, she was perfect for a book like this, which features characters from the US and from Scotland. Then, there are those characters from the past. Ronconi’s Olde English accents are convincing, as is the slight French lilt she gives Eleanor of Aquitaine when she reads her lines. I can see how listening to this book might be more immersive experience, compared to reading the dialogue as it is written. All in all, Into the Dim is quite a lovely novel, even with its flaws. It’s a simple, straightforward book, which serves its purposes to be fun and light-hearted, but that’s not to say there aren’t a couple of unexpected surprises thrown in as well. I found it very refreshing, given the string of bad luck I’ve had with the YA genre lately, and I ended up enjoying this a lot more than I expected. arcs-and-galleys audiobook edelweiss ...more 28 likes Like Comment Cora Tea Party Princess 1,323 reviews 856 followers April 6, 2016 DNF at 12% I'm not in the mood for this. I'm sick of protagonists hating "Size two. Blond. Busty. Brainless" cheerleaders. This girl have never even been to a school, never met actual people her own age. Who the hell is she to judge ANYONE? I am not in the sort of mood to read self-important speshul snowflakes. 26 likes Like Comment Anatea Oroz 302 reviews 558 followers September 25, 2017 This review is also posted on my blog, Anatea's Bookshelf. Into the Dim is one of those books that left me absolutely confused and I had no idea at first if I liked the book or if it was just another book in the sea of other books that I will forget about in a month. Writing the review usually helps me sort out my thoughts. It was the same with this one. There were a few elements that I liked, but there were like waaaay more ones that I didn't like. Time travel books are usually complex and to allow some slips in the plot you'd need a kick-ass main character, preferably great support characters and swoon-worthy romance if there is one. My main problems in this book were the things that should have been amazing. And then some more. I won't even mention that this book was supposed to be the Outlander for teens. I won't even go there. After Hope's mother goes missing and is presumed dead, she gets an invitation to spend a summer with her aunt in Scottland, which isn't even questionable since her father decided to travel the world with his new girlfriend. When Hope finally got to Scottland, she meets a guy who is taking pictures of her, her aunt is not even home and everything seems to be so secretive, but she can't figure out what everyone is secretive about. Finally, she accidently stumbles into a room she wasn't supposed to find and everyone else decides to let her in on a secret. Her family are time travelers, have been for generations. The interesting thing is, her mom is not actually dead. She is stuck somewhere in twelfth-century London and Hope is the only one who can help save her, but the thing is, she only has a week to prepare for such a hard trip and overcoming all of her phobias might not be an easy task. I have to say, this book is 428 pages long, but I read it in fairly short time. I kept turning the pages wanting to know what happens next. No actually, scratch that. I kept turning the pages wanting something exciting to finally happen. And while I did enjoy the plot to some extent, I couldn't help but be irritated with soooo many things. Right off the bat, I was annoyed with all of the Scottish talk/accent. What's up with that? I felt like in some sentences I needed a dictionary to be able to fully understand what was written. We could have definitely gone without that. I'm not even sure if people talk that way in Scottland, do you, Scottish people? I already mentioned this earlier, but I really disliked our main character Hope. She was this girl on whom everything depended. She knew everything about everything, she had photographic memory, she knew all archaic languages (should I even try to question the possibility of this?!?) and she was socially awkward. Of course, she was. Can you try to guess what else she was? Homeschooled, you ask? Bingo! Hope is such a stereotypical I am so bad at everything even though I am really smart and I don't know I'm beautiful kinda girl. It's starting to get really annoying to have every second character be like this. Where did the confidence go? She also had all those phobias that could have made things a little better if the author went a bit deeper into that subject. Unfortunately, she didn't, so it just made things worse because it became just one of the many things that were left unexplored and flat. Hope is definitely fighting for the first place in the-most-irritating-characters-ever category along with Kora from Beyond the Red . I won't say much about romance, mostly because I didn't like it at all. I didn't get it at all. I didn't feel it at all. It was like when someone tries to pair you up with a guy you don't like and he doesn't like you back, but you still have to be together. No connection whatsoever. And of course, it had to have an insta-romance feel to it. Just giving you a heads up. The plot was actually the only thing that I liked to some extent, although it could have been much better. Everything was so simplified and even though it's a YA book, I think the teens are much more than capable to understand more complex explanations. 12th century London was a bit disappointing, though. I don't think a normal person back then could have gotten to the queen that easily. It was all done a little bit naively and without checking first if a situation like that would be possible in real life. I still enjoyed some parts. I hate it when finally we get a time-travel book and then it turns to not be that good. I am sorry to say, but I won't be recommending this one to anyone else. But if you're just like me, you probably won't trust anything anyone says about a book you really want to read, then go ahead and read it. You may even like it more than I did. But do let me know if you did. Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest disappointing insta-love romance ...more 29 likes Like Comment Lucia 737 reviews 897 followers February 19, 2016 What aspects should a good novel have? My list consists of relatable and in detail developed characters, intriguing world-building, emotional moments, addictive plot and preferably a twist or two. Into the Dim had none of these. What it did have was insta-love, boring plot, shallowly written one-dimensional characters and stupid narrator (who in their right senses would not question why stranger is stalking you and secretly taking your pictures just because of pretty eyes of said stranger???). Not very attractive combination. Another thing that I want to point out is how inaccurate label "Outlander for teens" for this book is. Even though Into the Dim borrowed "I'm going to Scotland and find out that I can time-travel" thing, it has zero of charisma and gripping emotional plot that Outlander had. This book is nothing like Outlander and it doesn't contain anything of what Outlander stands for. If you are Outlander fan and if you are interested in this book because it was compared to Outlander, do yourself a favor and stay away from this book. At least you will avoid disappointment which I experienced while reading Into the Dim. And if you are going to read this book because you are interested in historical aspect, you most probably won't be wowed either. It took so long until story took historical turn and besides some historical facts, there wasn't any deeper insight into 12th century London. And beside slang, you won't get much of Scotland either. This novel was a disappointment in all ways. *ARC provided by publisher as an exchange for honest review* MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG Reading Is My Breathing 1-2-stars-read ya 24 likes Like Comment Taylor 767 reviews 421 followers January 30, 2016 I'd seen quite a bit of hype around this book so I was super excited to start it. I was a little put off by the fact that it sounded so much like Outlander (time travel and Scotland) and that it's marketed as "an Outlander for teens" but I still wanted to read Into the Dim. First off, I love Outlander with very ounce of my being. Outlander means so much to me. So the fact that Into the Dim pretty much copied the concept of Outlander upsets me. It's so similar to Outlander and I couldn't stop comparing the two. Outlander is obviously, in my opinion, a million times better so I felt disappointed with Into the Dim. I did like the writing though. It was really well written and I liked all the details. I also liked the characters. I think the characters will be even better in the second book. I did find the first %20 of this book to be slow and boring. It did get much better but I was pretty meh about the first quarter. Overall, I liked this book. It would have so much better if it wasn't such a rip off of Outlander but it was still a good book. I'm pretty sure I'll end up buying a finished copy of this book because the cover is beautiful and I'd really like to give it a second chance. Maybe closer to the release day for the second book I'll reread Into the Dim. But as for right now, I'm a little disappointed. arcs 22 likes Like Comment The Candid Cover (Olivia & Lori) 1,216 reviews 1,611 followers February 22, 2020 Full Review on The Candid Cover Into the Dim is such a lush and enjoyable book! The story takes place in two interesting locations, Scotland and London, and the main character is flawed and relatable. As if the book isn’t already phenomenal, it is written in such a captivating and lyrical way that makes the reader never want to put the book down! Into the Dim is a definite must read. This book has one of the most unique settings that I’ve seen in YA. The story begins in Scotland, which gives it such a romantic and exciting backdrop. I absolutely adored the dialect and Scottish slang. As the book progresses, a new location is introduced, historical London. Taylor gives London such a posh and elegant feel, that one cannot help but want to be transported along with the characters. The descriptions throughout the novel are so meticulous, that even though I have never visited these locations I have a sense of what to expect! Hope is not only my favourite character in this novel, she is the one that readers can really connect with. The fact that she is not perfect is what really draws me to her. Hope has flaws and fears, just like any other person. This made her more relatable as a character, in my opinion, and more enjoyable to read. Perfect characters can be off-putting, so I was glad to see that Hope had her flaws. Hope is such a well-developed character, that by the end, the reader will feel like they know her personally. It was hard to reach the end of the story because it felt like saying goodbye to a friend! Into the Dim is incredibly well-written! Albeit, I was a little bit hesitant to read yet another time travel book this month. There seems to be quite a few YA time travel books releasing in a very short time frame this year! I was pleasantly surprised at how engaging and exciting this story of time travel is. Janet B. Taylor has this way of sucking the reader into the novel with her gorgeous descriptions. The pacing is perfect and the time travel aspect is one that even those who might not readily jump into the genre will appreciate. With its unique and gorgeous setting, Into the Dim will be an easy favourite for science fiction fans. The main character is flawed and relatable, making her instantly likeable. Janet B. Taylor’s incredible writing adds so much to the novel, making it truly unforgettable. 2016-releases arc blog-tours ...more 20 likes Like Comment Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘ 870 reviews 4,085 followers Read July 23, 2016 Just so you know, Eleanor d'Aquitaine = Alienor . Of course I'm interested, this historical period always fascinated me. I'll still wait for reviews to be posted, though. Historical/Time Travel YA can be so annoying. Please tell me she isn't a special snowflake. Please. genre-historical young-adult 21 likes Like Comment Ashley Blake 811 reviews 3,741 followers September 6, 2015 Action and history-packed, I loved this time travel tale! Hope is a real, interesting and badass heroine and the twists and turns of this book kept me turning the pages. Such fun! Like Comment Danielle (Love at First Page) 726 reviews 699 followers Shelved as 'lost-interest-did-not-finish' December 17, 2015 DNF @ 21% + light skimming. I felt absolutely nothing during this story, nor did I like the main character very much. It read like another one of those special snowflake stories when the awkward girl doesn't know how pretty or talented she is. It's hard not to compare to other books that have made time travelling and ley lines much more interesting. The romance, too, was boring, and a love triangle in the future seemed imminent. Not for me. e-arc 19 likes Like Comment Michelle Madow Author 73 books 3,211 followers February 24, 2016 I loved it -- especially when they were back in twelfth century, London! Janet did such an amazing job bringing the time period to life. I truly felt like I was time traveling with the main characters, and I enjoyed the historical details. Can't wait for the next book! paranormal read-in-2016 time-travel 19 likes Like Comment booknuts_ 801 reviews 1,586 followers February 10, 2016 Uh oh.... Unpopular opinion. DNF 13 likes Like Comment starryeyedjen 1,699 reviews 1,264 followers February 8, 2016 An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own. This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue . Not gonna lie: I had some high expectations for this book, especially as it being lauded as the Outlander for the YA set. It definitely did read a lot younger than I'm used to, even for a young adult novel. But Outlander it was not. For one thing, I was almost 40% into the story before the time travelling became an actuality. And it was very much a planned trip, not a matter of accidentally touching a stone at the wrong time. I was supposed to be buddy reading this novel with my friend Sabrina, but she was reading ahead and I was getting further behind until she texted me to say that she'd just finished and asked if I just wanted her to tell me what happened. To which my reply was, "Oh, gawd, yes!" I had already been contemplating not finishing the book, but that sealed the deal. And I was glad that I hadn't forced myself to read further once she confirmed every one of my suspicions. I don't DNF often because I like to give a story a fleeting chance to recover my attention, but there was just no way that was going to happen with this book. Into the Dim was just sooo incredibly predictable. The obvious foreshadowing just left nothing to the imagination, and every time one of my theories came to fruition, I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the inevitability of it all. I'm just looking back at my emails and texts with Sabrina while we were reading and it's almost unbelievable how much of the story we were able to guess beforehand. I don't want to spoil anything so I won't post snippets here, but we basically called it before we even got to the 40% mark. The main character was tragically unlikable to me. She was self-deprecating, but not in a snarky, mildly amusing way. Hope was home-schooled and socially awkward and just plain annoying. Her ability seemed to plague her constantly in the beginning but was only mentioned later when it was useful to the story. If that's what it's like to have a photographic memory, I will content myself with just having a really, really good memory. I didn't really get to see much of the romance before I decided not to finish, but from what I discerned in my reading and from what Sabrina related after I stopped, I definitely feel like a love triangle is on the horizon, even if it didn't rear it's ugly head in this first book. One guy is the doomed love interest while the other is the brooding guy who will inevitably step in when doomed guy appears to be out of the picture. Not a fan, especially once Sabrina relayed that there was a kissing scene that involved one of the characters oozing yellow pus. No. Thank. You. I find that I enjoy time travel novels with the simplest explanation for how the time travelling is accomplished. This was not one of those. Basically, it's described as a big mistake, stumbling on some ley lines in an underground cavern and using a friend's technology to aid in the process. It's more mystical than anything -- the travelers having no ability to control when and where they travel back to, just a computer program that predicts when they should be able to travel back to a certain time and place. And they can only travel back to a specific time and location ONCE, lest they should run into their previous selves from another trip back in time. I guess in those terms, it does seem rather simple. But maybe that's actually my issue with the time travel aspect: it was boring and I pretty much skimmed the passages about it. As I said, I only read to about 40%, but up to that point, I found the story to read very young and to be incredibly slow-paced. I'm used to time travel novels being intense and shaking things up, but I was more likely to yawn while reading Into the Dim than be at the edge of my seat. I really, really wanted this novel to be good, but it was just too predictable for me to bother continuing. Especially since I have no plans to read the sequel now. GIF it to me straight: 2016 dnf historical-fiction ...more 13 likes Like Comment Brittany (Brittany's Book Rambles) 225 reviews 445 followers March 1, 2016 The very first sentence of Into the Dim is "Everyone in town knew that the coffin was empty," and it was love at first line. I devoured this book and could not believe it when I reached the end. Into the Dim has everything that I look for in a Historical Fiction novel: actual historical facts twisted into a new and fun plot. It actually left me wanting to know more about the history of the book's setting and of the the actual historical figures—particularly Eleanor of Aquitaine. Seriously, if you want to get people interested in history, give them this book! The plot and the characters are absolutely fantastic. My feelings were constantly being twisted as I tried to figure out what was going to happen next. I especially loved all of the powerhouse women in this book, and we definitely need more characters like the ones in Into the Dim . Honestly, there aren't positive words or things I can say that would sufficiently describe just how incredible Janet's debut novel is, but I promise you that if you pick this one up, you will not regret it. Read my full review of Into the Dim 2016-releases adventure arc ...more 13 likes Like Comment Carole (Carole's Random Life) 1,897 reviews 551 followers April 6, 2022 This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/ This was entertaining. I enjoy time travel stories so making the decision to pick up this book was a simple one. I was hooked by the story early on and found myself liking Hope quite a bit from the start. Things only got more interesting from there. I am only sorry that I waited so long to finally pick this book up. As the book opens, we are with Hope at her mother’s funeral. Nobody has seen her mother since an earthquake leveled the building her mother was scheduled to speak. Her body has not been found but it is assumed that she is dead. Hope is asked to come to visit her mother’s sister whom she has never met over in Scotland and before she knows it she is on a plane. I liked Hope and thought that her ability to remember everything would come in really handy. I found the story to be rather exciting with a likable cast of characters. It was kind of fun to go back and see the world in an earlier time from Hope’s point of view. I hate to admit that I know nothing about Eleanor of Aquitaine so while I enjoyed the scenes with this historical figure, I can say how accurately she was depicted. I have been impressed with Amanda Ronconi’s narration in the past and I thought that she did a great job with this story. She used a wide range of voices for the various characters which really helped to bring the story to life. She added just enough emotion to the reading to illustrate the characters’ feelings. I found her voice to be very pleasant and I had no trouble listening to this book for hours at a time. I do believe that her narration added to my overall enjoyment of the story. I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was an entertaining and exciting story that was well worth the read. I don’t think that I will read any further in the series since it is my understanding that the second book ends in a cliffhanger and the third book doesn’t seem to be coming anytime soon. If that changes, I will definitely be read to read more of Hope’s story. I received a digital review copy of this book from Clarion Books via NetGalley and purchased a copy of the audiobook. Initial Thoughts This was entertaining. I enjoy time travel stories so this book did appeal to me. I liked Hope and thought that her ability to remember everything would come in really handy. I hate to admit that I know nothing about Eleanor of Aquitaine so while I enjoyed the scenes with this historical figure, I can say how accurately she was depicted. I listened to the audiobook and I thought that Amanda Ronconi did a great job with the narration. 2022 2022-netgalley-challenge fantasy ...more 13 likes Like Comment Emily France Author 6 books 97 followers September 25, 2015 I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of INTO THE DIM. What drew me to it were the promises of time travel and vivid glimpses into history, and it delivered on those beautifully. But there was something in this story I wasn’t expecting… the voice! The heroine has one of those voices I could listen to (or follow to any point in time) for another 500 pages after the story ended. It’s strong, unique, and rings so true. I was able to suspend my disbelief and follow the author through this amazing action-packed adventure. This story does not disappoint! 2016-ya-debuts 12 likes Like Comment Giselle 1,064 reviews 903 followers August 30, 2016 This was ok.. The cheesy romance ruined it for me though. Also the main character is not likeable enough 2016 3-star age-young-adult ...more 12 likes Like Comment Rachel (APCB Reviews) 333 reviews 1,311 followers Read February 21, 2016 Are you in the mood for a fast-paced, whirlwind adventure to the past? If so then "Into the Dim" is the book for you. Quirky and eidetic memory-wielding Hope Walton is thrust into the world of time traveling after her mother, Sarah, goes missing when really she's stuck in another century. Hope and two other time travelers are tasked with rescuing Sarah. They are her last chance, and if they can't save her she will never be able to return to her proper time period. "Into the Dim" has a slower start, but by 100 pages in we emerge in a different era and that's where the ball starts rolling and the plot picks up the pace. And oh does it ever! Janet introduces an endearing cast of characters. We have the innocent and slightly naive Hope, a charming yet seemingly untrustworthy Bran, a serious and driven time traveler Collum, and his peppy and spunky teen sister Phoebe. I really liked the group dynamic and their vow never to leave each other behind. So often in books we see characters make the "hard choice" and leave their friends behind in tricky situations, yet I think the truly hard decision is fighting that urge and rescuing your friends like these characters do. I really enjoyed the historical elements that Janet weaved into the story. I learned so much about Eleanor of Aquitaine and London in the 1100's. It's such a fascinating time period that isn't really explored much in YA. The romance was cute, but I felt it was a bit rushed. I love the bickering and sassy dialogue between Bran and Hope. A love triangle is not present in this book for those wondering. Overall I can't wait to see what happens to this power couple next because they have a serious bout of forbidden love plaguing them. Speaking of sassy, there are some hilarious moments in this book that really broke up the dreariness of life in the 1100's. The pacing of this novel was perfect as we see the characters run from troubles at every turn. There was plenty of action and mystery coupled in this story. My favorite element is definitely the numerous plot twists that Janet pulls. I love hypothesizing and guessing what happens next (and I usually get it right), but Janet pulled the proverbial rug out from underneath me multiple times. Jaws will drop! Heads will roll. (Kidding on that last part, but there's always book 2....) The story has a satisfying end yet there are still some lose threads that I can't wait to see come to attention and fruition in the next book! 2016-debuts 2016-releases 11 likes Like Comment Lonna | FLYLēF 184 reviews 185 followers May 11, 2016 Original Post: Into the Dim at FLYLēF ( www.flylef.com ) AT THE RISK of sounding like a cliché, books truly are the most versatile and economical means of traveling—transporting us from real to imaginary worlds, and even piercing the veil of time. Into the Dim , by Janet B. Taylor, takes reader to 12th century London in the time of Eleanor of Aquitaine. I'm not too sure on the historical accuracy of this book, though, I thought Ms. Taylor richly detailed the beauty and darkness of this period. I found myself salivating for a bowl of beef stew with aged cider, or even nauseated over the depiction of this period’s poor personal hygiene. The story is from 16 year-old Hope Walton’s POV, which starts out well with her crisp, clear narrative. I found her sarcasm fairly charming, and her photographic memory impressive. There is a lot more to Hope than the author initial lets readers in on as hinted by recurrent nightmares and moments of strange familiarity. Yet, I didn't find Hope too interesting. She's very sheltered, even delicate and fragile. Where Hope’s character falls short, there is another whom I find more captivating—one of beautiful mismatched eyes, one Emerald and one Sapphire. Bran is at times charming, other times deceptive. He hides a secret and shoulders a burden so great, that I’m easily drawn to his character—to his pain. I thought the time travel was handled well. I liked how Ms. Taylor adds a bit of her own spin on the deadly limitations and exceptions of time travel. The backstory between Viators (secret time-saving society) and Timeslippers (Viator’s evil, villainous counterpart) is very descriptive and thorough, which can seem like reading a manual. But, I appreciated it. I didn’t feel confused about events nor displaced relative to the primary timeline. Though the pacing starts out slow, the story does pick up and moves faster towards the middle. It becomes a lot more exciting when characters from the present travel to the past and history is rewritten in a curious, entertaining and worrisome way, even if it does tie up loose ends rather too conveniently. I do look forward to the sequel, as I hope with much of the backstory already explained, there will be a lot more character-driven action and suspense in Into the Dim 2 . { I received this title from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you, especially to the author and publisher, for kindly giving me an opportunity to review this title. } 2016-challenge first-reads 9 likes Like Comment Sherwood Smith Author 152 books 37.5k followers Read January 11, 2016 Copy provided by NetGalley: Hot Scots in history has been a thing in historical romance for decades. Many believe that Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles kicked it off, and I have no quarrel with that for the adult audience, but the first one I ever read and loved was Sally Watson's Witch of the Glens , which was written for the young adult audience. And here is a new entry for young adults. (I would say for the high end of young adults, as there is a lot of rough language and some frank sexual discussion, including a couple of attempted rapes and references to off-screen rape.) A teen who is okay with the above is bound to enjoy the story, which starts off at a brisk clip, and accelerates to non-stop, high tension action once the time travel happens. I think a teen won't mind the somewhat jumbled explanation for the time travel (though a combination of Tesla and ley lines was a lot of fun), and won't notice inconsistent language and details of clothing, anymore than they'll mind the total Evilness of the bad guys. Pluses are a sympathetic treatment of Jews, various cute guys, Hope's eidetic memory, which she deploys to awesome effect, and feisty Phoebe, Hope's first friend. I really liked the girls' relationships in this story, and for that matter, the women's, barring the Evil Villainess. Another big plus: Eleanor of Aquitaine, demonstrating her extreme coolness. If this book sparks in young readers an interest in reading history, that would be an added bonus to a roller-coaster ride of a read. It's the first in a series, and I will keep an eye out for the next. alternate-universe fantasy historical-novel 10 likes Like Comment Sarah Ahiers Author 3 books 372 followers November 16, 2015 What a fantastic time-travel adventure! Hope Walton is a girl with a photographic memories, a life filled with anxieties that keep her trapped at home, and a dead mother. But when she's whisked away to Scotland to meet her aunt for the first time, Hope learns that her mother is, in fact, not dead, but a member of a secret society of time travelers and trapped in the age of Eleanor of Aquitaine. And though she must overcome her anxieties, Hope may be the only person who can travel back in time to save her mother. Hope is such a fantastic character. Yes, she lacks some social skills, and has phobias and fears, but she's strong and doesn't take crap from people and she's a heroine worth believing in. Taylor's age of Eleanor of Aquitaine is well-researched and add so much wonderful depth of description and believability. And Taylor weaves so many mysteries throughout the story that I found myself surprised more than once, which is hard to do. I would highly recommend this book to fans of time travel, historical fiction or historical fantasy. I received this arc as part of a tour in return for a fair review. 9 likes Like Comment Sarah Alexander Author 1 book 74 followers November 15, 2015 INTO THE DIM by Janet B Taylor is a must-read for anyone with an interest in twelfth-century history. And time travel, of course! I enjoyed the gentle start – intriguing from the first page but it gave space and time for the reader to really get to know Hope. Her pain from losing her mum oozed from the pages. Then BAM! Everything Hope knew about her life is challenged, and a thrilling adventure begins. I was on the edge of my seat until the very end. The plot is full of brilliant surprises and I just loved spending time in twelfth-century London - in all its gruesomeness. A brilliant page-turner. 9 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 932 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote 8 discussions 8 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. 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Without a Doubt by Marcia Clark | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle Unlimited $0.00 Rate this book Without a Doubt Marcia Clark 4.22 4,686 ratings 437 reviews Want to read Kindle Unlimited $0.00 Rate this book The most recognized female attorney in America opens up about life during -- and after -- the trial of the centuryWithout a Doubt is not just a book about a trial. It's a book about a woman. Marcia Clark takes us inside her head and her heart with a story that is both sweeping and deeply personal -- and shocking in its honesty. Her voice is raw, disarming, unmistakable. She tells us how a woman, when caught up in an event that galvanized an entire country, rose to that occasion with singular integrity, drive, honesty, and grace. How did she do it, day after day? What was it like, orchestrating the most controversial case of her career in the face of the media's relentless klieg lights? How did she fight her personal battles -- those of a working mother balancing a crushing workload and a painful, very public divorce? Who stood by her and who abandoned her? As Clark shares the secrets of her own life, we understand for the first time why she identified so closely with Nicole Brown Simpson, in a way no man ever could. Sparing no one in this unflinching account -- least of all herself -- Clark speaks frankly about the mesmerizing and controversial personalities in the Simpson case: Lance Ito, Kato Kaelin, Johnnie Cochran, Mark Fuhrman, and Christopher Darden, among others. She also takes on her critics, the "armchair warriors" who scapegoated her after the verdict, and tells us why they were wrong. In a case that tore America apart, and that continues to haunt us as few events in our recent history have, Marcia Clark emerges as the one true heroine, because she stood for justice, fought the good fight, and fought it well. "A mesmerizing account of the trial and of her complicatedlife before she entered O. J. Hell". -- The Boston Globe "Clark provides one of the liveliest and often most humorous versions of the case to date". -- San Francisco Chronicle "Without a Doubt pulses with life and conviction". -- Los Angeles Times Genres True Crime Nonfiction Memoir Crime History Biography Law ...more 469 pages, Paperback First published May 1, 1997 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Marcia Clark 23 books 1,212 followers Marcia Clark is a former LA, California deputy district attorney, who was the lead prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson murder case. She wrote a bestselling nonfiction book about the trial, Without a Doubt, and is a frequent media commentator and columnist on legal issues. She lives in Los Angeles. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.22 4,686 ratings 437 reviews 5 stars 2,097 (44%) 4 stars 1,737 (37%) 3 stars 684 (14%) 2 stars 127 (2%) 1 star 41 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 437 reviews Matt 4,055 reviews 12.9k followers November 29, 2015 After her (in)famous time in the headlines and being beamed across televisions the world over, Clark took the time to put together this short piece to give her side of the story, a refreshing look at things for the interested reader. While she pulled no punches and tossed many key players in the OJ Simpson murder trial under the proverbial bus, Clark supported her arguments with first-hand knowledge that might significantly shape the views of readers who may remember the circus that inundated the airwaves in 1994 and 1995. Taking the reader along the chronological happenings from the discovery of the bodies to her role in the trial, Clark offered up a succinct and heartfelt look into the case. When her opposition began waltzing into the courtroom, Clark editorialised on these bumbling fools more interested in the spotlight than arguing for justice. She also repeatedly showed how Lance Ito was one of the worst people ever to don a judge's robe and how out of his league the Honourable gentleman might have been. Even the Fuhrman testimony blunders, which some say cost the prosecution the case, are dissected and their role placed in the larger context of the case. Clark effectively showed how she fought tooth and nail for justice, but got only a major shaft from Ito and the clowns opposite her, with rulings, motions, and objections that could not have been concocted for a Hollywood script. In the end, it was a miscarriage of justice, plain and simple, though I am sure no reader who picked up this book thought otherwise before sinking their teeth into the prose before them. I have much admiration for Marcia Clark in her new-found career as a legal thriller writer. I find her work as blunt and succinct as this piece ended up being. While some may feel that it is a collection of soapbox comments marinaded in sour grapes, I could not disagree any stronger. I remember the trial, the circus, and the shock of the verdict. I was firmly convinced that Simpson was giving the world a gigantic 'screw you' through his Hollywood 'Dream Team' who were anything but effective legal scholars, trumped only in their ineptness by Ito, who was a dunderhead of the highest order. It is these, the true legal trials that saw money trump justice, that get to me; where the spotlight overtakes the law of the land. Clark showed all the major gaffes before she offers an explanation (if she can) and lets the reader determine if justice might have been set aside. It is a refreshing (albeit brief) look into the Trial of the '90s and the soap opera of the century, which even a simultaneous return from the dead of both Victor Newman and Stefano DiMera could not have trumped. Written in such a way not to dwell on the numerous issues, Clark narrated effectively, giving highlights where needed and segueing from point to point with relative ease Kudos, Madam Clark for this wonderful piece of insight. I do love your fictional work, which I hope you pepper with your real-life cases. Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at: http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/ audiobook 68 likes Like Comment Alisa 1,823 reviews 198 followers Read May 10, 2016 I'm dnf-ing this book at 60% but not because of the way it's written. (Although it did get go off track in places) This is going to be a bit of an emotional, rambling review so be forewarned if you continue on. I can't read another minute of this because it's just too depressing. I lived in Los Angeles during the murders and then the trial and it was an every day part of our lives. I was young while this was going on and I, as many others, focused more on the racial aspects of the case than anything. We were still reeling from the Rodney King case and that combined with the media frenzy really consumed everything. I'm not sure why I decided to read this. Much of it I remember. But what stood out to me now that I'm older (and hopefully wiser) was the horrible misogyny that was such a giant part but never addressed. In reading this I was horrified at the abuse Nicole Brown suffered at the hands of this man. She was repeatedly beaten and raped and NO ONE did anything to help her. Not her family, not her friends and most sadly not the police. Officers went on domestic violence calls and ended up joking around with OJ and then got his autograph and left her there to be beaten again. As I read this I couldn't imagine how terrifying that must felt. When OJ is arrested for the murders you read parts of the interview police did with him and it made me sick to my stomach. It's a fricking double murder and the male officers are laughing and joking around with him and he makes "you know how women can be" jokes. No real interviewing was done. No hard questions were asked. As the book goes on you see over and over again how almost no one involved in this case really cared about the victims. Everyone had their own agendas. I also didn't realize how badly Marcia Clark was treated at the time. I mean I saw all the reports that focused on her hair or her clothes and the topless photes instead of the case but I didn't recognize this for what it was at the time. I do now and it sickens me. None of the men were treated this way. The judge did nothing to stop this. The DA's office did nothing to stop this. No one said this isn't ok. And the women jurors who had no problem letting him go despite all of the evidence blow my mind. I remember at the time feeling bad for Ronald Goldman's parents but I didn't have children then. I do now. I have sons. And I could not get my head around how horrible this must have been for this family. Not only did they lose their son, but they lost him due to a situation that never should have happened. They then had to sit through the nightmare that was this trial and still had no justice in the end. My heart broke for them. I was so disgusted with people as a whole while reading this that I just couldn't finish it. (Do you know people order glasses of OJ and send them to her table while she's eating out?? Cuz you know, domestic violence and double homicide is SO funny). So.......the book is fairly well written. As I mentioned before it goes off track in some places and she weaves some of her personal life into the story and while I see the point she's making I didn't like the way in was interspersed into the case. She was pretty candid about things that went on and how she felt about other people involved in it. For me though it was just so depressing. Two people lost their lives here. One who was tortured for years previously and one who was barely acknowledged in any of this because he wasn't part of the circus. And there were two small children (ages 5 & 8) who would've discovered their mother nearly decapitated and a horrific bloody scene if the dog wouldn't have gotten out. And seriously, no one really cared, except Ron Goldman's parents and a few members of the prosecution. Everyone else was out for prestige or money or tv time or whatever. The book is just page after page of this and I just couldn't push myself into reading another minute of it. dnf zz-2016 35 likes Like Comment Beth Bedee 282 reviews 67 followers July 6, 2011 This book was fascinating. She begins the book with stating how painful it still is to her to remember the O.J. trial. Ironically, the day I'm writing this review is the very day that Casey Anthony was found not guilty (O.J. Trial part 2). I can only imagine how completely empty Marcia Clark felt when her verdict was read, and they had enough forensic evidence to convict O.J. 5 times over. I know how disgusted I feel right now (and how disgusted I felt back in 1995), and I'm just an "armchair warrior" as Marcia says. She put her blood, sweat, and tears into that case. This book made me so angry so many times, not because of the writing but because of how much of a circus it was allowed to become. Everything that could have gone against the prosecution, did. I watched the O.J. trial on TV. I don't remember it all vividly, but I think a lot of us remember where we were when that verdict was read. I've become very interested in the workings of the law after this Casey Anthony trial. I liked going behind the scenes with Marcia in this trial. I learned a lot. I'd suggest this to anyone interested in either the O.J. trial or law in general. law non-fiction 22 likes Like Comment Monica (is working the heck out of 229 reviews 79 followers July 22, 2020 Disclaimer: I am an African American woman stating unequivocally that the travesty that was the O J Simpson trial was due, in part, to a need to exact revenge for a previous travesty of a trial. As far as I’m concerned, both cases culminated in a rage-inducing display of bigotry and moral cowardice. **************** Interesting insights but nothing I didn’t already guess. Rampant fanboying/Girling + gross incompetence + misogyny + racial overcorrection= one of the worst miscarriages of justice of the 20th century. On the heels of the Rodney King acquittal, prosecuting a black man for the murders of two white people was an unenviable task, to be sure. Doing so while female would have sent my head through the wall. I remember sitting through the televised trial at nine years old (my sitter was glued to her television) and coming to the horrifying realization that slashers were real. This wasn’t Jason, Michael Meyers or Freddy but an actual person who lived not 30 minutes from where we did. I knew even then that Simpson was a monster, a jealous, controlling, egotistical attention whore who cared more about preserving his masculinity than co-parenting and giving his children the childhood they deserved. He lifted Nichole offer feet, slammed her onto the ground, knocking her unconscious. He then proceeded to stab her multiple times, completing the attack with a blow that nearly decapitated her. It takes a special kind of sociopathy to comfort your children with the same arms and hands you used to brutalize their mother. Did he imagine he would live happily ever after in his Mansion, joyfully raising them with his side piece? I’m glad to know that the last 26 years have been a perpetual nightmare for him; I wish him nothing but abject regret and isolation for what remains of his pitiful existence. Overall, Clark does a decent job of transporting readers back to an era fraught with social injustice, rage, and politics. Still, I could have gotten the same from Wikipedia and YouTube documentaries. Three-stars. makes-me-chew-glass politics-politics-politics true-crime 14 likes Like Comment Caroline 64 reviews 23 followers May 9, 2016 Since the FX series, The People Vs OJ Simpson blew my mind - I have been unable to stop thinking about this case, in particular about Marcia Clark. This book is compelling and enraging all at the same time. Obviously Clark is of the opinion that Simpson was guilty and having seen the mountain of evidence laid out in this book, I defy anyone to think otherwise. This was one of the most disgusting miscarriages of justice ever carried out. Clark's recollection of this time is highly charged stuff. She decisively captures the atmosphere of tension in a post-race riot LA, but she refuses to let the reader forget that this case was about the brutal killing of two people - one of whom was a woman who was terrorised by the man she married. Clark forces the reader to do what the jury wouldn't do and that's look the issue of domestic violence head on. Clark's treatment at the hands of the media and by the American public was nothing short of disgraceful. The column inches given over to her hair, dress sense and whether or not she was a 'bitch' would never have been written about any of her male colleagues. Without delving into self pity, Clark fiercely calls this out as wrong. This case brought many issues to the forefront but perhaps the one that has remained buried in the mountain of analysis since has been the issue of feminism. Clark is an unassuming feminist hero in her refusal to accept the treatment she received and her vociferous advocacy for a woman who was no longer able to speak for herself, Nicole Brown-Simpson. This book captures a moment when things went so horribly wrong, looks at the reasons why and asks for change. A book about the cult of celebrity, what wealth can buy and two people who were utterly failed by the American justice system. non-fiction 11 likes Like Comment Ann 108 reviews 2 followers March 22, 2009 It brought back the whole context of the Simpson trial to me. At the time, I paid little attention to it because I knew from the beginning that he would get off, and it was too painful, so I minimized my exposure. One of my friends at work used to vent about it to me, so I began using our daily newspaper in a creative manner. I'd find the picture of OJ in the paper, and lay it down every morning for our elderly poodle to pee on. I'd tell her every day, "Linda, Spunky peed on OJ today," and that seemed to make her happy. This book was really good. I don't think I would have read it, though, if OJ wasn't in jail right now. This book really brings home just what a big deal it was that so many respectable people (Barry Scheck, Alan Dershowitz, for example) jumped on the flimsiest pretexts to prostitute themselves for him. Anyway, it cost me a buck, so if you can find a copy for that kind of money, then go for it. Read it in small doses, though, because it's depressing to see the overwhelming evidence and know what the outcome was going to be. I note that none of OJ's attorneys have come out with books with this kind of detail - perhaps because they really couldn't find anything to exonerate him. Thank goodness he's in jail and I hope he stays there the rest of his life. I hope he's really, really miserable. Still, that's small comfort for the two families of the victims. 7 likes Like Comment Jamie Barnes 11 reviews November 12, 2012 Riveting book. After almost 20 years, the fascinating cast of characters remains: Kato Kaelan, the Brown sisters, the howling of the bloodied dog, the racist cop, the bumbling blood experts, etc. The author's ghost writer does an exceptional job of keeping the narrative moving. Marcia Clark is a 41-year-old Jewish girl, raped when young, two broken marriages behind her, living in a dump with two young children to raise when suddenly she gets the Simpson case. The stress often threatens to overwhelm her. She and her staff are up against an array of the legal profession's highest paid practitioners, the client is rich, and the judge is afraid to offend and tries too often to play it down the middle. In addition, the defense has stripped the jury pool of the bright and educated, leaving as jurors the least bright and predominantly black middle aged women who don't want to see one of their race's superstars humbled in court and convicted. Plus, still within recent memory at the time the Simpson trial took place, a white jury unconscionably let the policemen who beat Rodney King free. The Simpson jury's middle aged black women aim to 'right the balance. Clark introduces evidence of Simpson beating his wife constantly, parades witness before the jury that in Clark's words just stares back with hatred. She produces hair, blood and clothing with Simpson's and his victims' blood intertwined. Clark and the other public servants do their best against insurmountable odds, knowing in advance that they will lose. A sad story, in many ways, that highlights the racial divide that lives within us and how hard it is for decently paid but not rich public servants to convict and rich and powerful man. 6 likes Like Comment Greg 2,013 reviews 18 followers February 12, 2017 "Sausage Party Vs. Clark" would have been a fine title for this work: our heroine is surrounded by testosterone fueled barrages: even her change of hairstyle drew inexplicable ire from the media circus and obvious visual ridicule inside the court. Even Judge Ito seemed to join in on the overt sexism leading me to the aforesaid alternative title. I watched the trial and the media coverage relentlessly (I worked out of my home at the time) and Marcia was literally raked over the coals for every move she made, every word she said. And even though the 'Sausage Party' won, Marcia Clark stood tall, hard, and firm (along with Darden): she walked into that courtroom everyday with her head held high, her heroism a true inspiration. Congratulations to Marcia Clark! And now, she has put it all behind (I hope) and has become a successful writer. It's so true: revenge is a dish best served cold and Clark is now relishing her new life. Of all the books I read of the 'Trial of the Century' this is my favorite. I am a lifetime fan of this amazing person. non-fiction reviewed 5 likes Like Comment Jarrod 427 reviews 18 followers December 15, 2016 What an absolute stunning book and must read for anyone interested in the case. It is heartbreaking, infuriating, sad and confusing at times. There is little joy in the book and the theme is quite morose. Yet, the book is very well written. She holds nothing back, the wins, the losses and the raw emotions and relationships. She gets a bit personal at time and though some of it isn't necessary, it wasn't in 94-95 either and I think that's part of the lesson. The media never should have pried as they did. It's shameful. What continues to baffle me is the ability of the defense to live with themselves knowing what they know about the hard irrefutable evidence of the crime and yet serve for the almighty dollar. It's baffling to this day. The conclusions from this book are easily drawn and anyone with the ability to read and dissect evidence can easily come to the correct conclusion that jury nullification occurred here. There are many terms used that will require research, but everything in the book points in the same direction that anyone that has objectively studied the evidence points. No only did he do it, but he flaunted about getting off doing it. The greatest injustice we all have done as a society is to gloss over the abuse the women in this case have suffered to "right a wrong" and "send a message" because of the alleged racism. The racism never occurred. Never. The fault in the case is easy to see as well, it rests with the LAPD, the criminalists being sloppy, the incompetent judge (and the people that continued to allow him to serve) and the immoral defense attorneys. Furthermore, the jury is at fault. They ignored and cast off the irrefutable evidence given in the case because they would not be able to go back to their houses in downtown LA and face their neighbors with a guilty verdict. In fact, they would be fearful of their lives. I almost feel sorry for them, but as a person, you do the right thing regardless of consequences. The right thing is justice and in this case it was not served at any level. biography crime 5 likes Like Comment Richard 40 reviews 127 followers August 20, 2007 Marcia, Marcia, Marcia. 6 likes Like Comment beatricks 195 reviews 22 followers January 2, 2019 I found this book in a Little Free Library and now Marcia is my friend. 2018 nonfiction-memoir 4 likes Like Comment Shouty 1,203 reviews August 29, 2019 TURNS OUT MY FAVORITE THING IS GETTING DETAILED INTEL ON THE TRIAL OF THE CENTURY FROM THE BADASS WOMAN WHO PROSECUTED IT HERSELF 4 likes Like Comment Glenda 373 reviews 16 followers January 26, 2020 I had read several books after the OJ trial, all of which only reinforced the ridiculousness of his acquittal in the face of all of the evidence but this is by far one of the best that really lays out the case, the evidence, and of course with an extremely intimate view given Marcia Clark's role as prosecutor. Her story is one that is difficult to put down. You get a clear picture of Los Angeles at the time - the tension with the race riots following Rodney King, the deference of the police to the celebrity of OJ, and probably more of the story that wasn't told or told enough about the 66 or so times that Nicole Brown Simpson was assaulted in some way by her husband before he murdered her. Clark explains why the domestic violence angle was downplayed in the trial, as well as the challenges they faced with Lance Ito as a judge who seemed willing to take guidance from the "dream team" of OJ's defense attornies. Or at the very least, not take a stronger stand on areas of law where he should have. Clark also reminds us that this was not about race, it was about brutal murder of two people - however, the defense played the card early on and Mark Furhman quickly became the focus and it became a case ABOUT race. I also thought she did a nice job of bringing forth her observations about her treatment by the media - the obvious sexism without coming across as defensive or self-pitying. It's disgraceful really, and unfortunately, not enough has changed in this regard with respect to women in positions of power. (They still receive comments on their appearance that you'd never see for a man). It's still unbelievable that OJ Simpson was not found guilty in the face of so much evidence. Clark says that perhaps the trial was lost months before the closing arguments were presented, the jury wanting to find the celebrity of OJ innocent, of wanting to use the trial as Johnnie Cochran suggested to "make a statement" against racism. It's unfortunate that it was a career-ending case for her, as clearly the judicial system needs the kind of insight and experience she can bring to the table. 3 likes Like Comment Lois 382 reviews 2 followers January 25, 2014 Without a doubt (pun intended) Marcia Clark is a woman with fortitude, perseverance and a lot of pluck. For many of us who were bombarded with the murder trial of OJ Simpson, and likewise blindsided by the acquittal, the lead prosecutor shares insight and detail into the trial that was never revealed by the news media of the 90's. I actually read this book shortly after it was published, and I wanted to re-read it now, nearly 20 years later. Her analysis of how so much incriminating evidence against the defendant resulted instead in a verdict of "not guilty" reflects more on society as a whole. I think she portrayed it accurately and fairly. (I don't want to give too much away!) The judge, the defense "dream team", race relations and celebrity status all worked against justice for the murder victims, plus mistakes made by the LAPD. If you like true crime stories, this is one you will have to read. If you like to read about working women and their fight for equality in a male-dominated work environment, read this book. I truly admired Marcia Clark's strength and determination to do the job she had been assigned in the midst of personal tribulations. Some day it would be cool to meet her. I would tell her face to face, "Well done!" 3 likes Like Comment Riva Sciuto 234 reviews 51 followers March 22, 2017 As a kid, I idolized Marcia Clark for her talent and conviction in the courtroom. As an adult, with a renewed interest in the OJ Simpson trial, I am even more inspired by the strength and principle with which she prosecuted the "trial of the century." She writes with breathtaking honesty -- about the challenges presented in the case, the defense's baseless claims, the avoidable missteps made by her own team, the condescension of Judge Ito, her inability to connect with the jury, the pain of being in the national spotlight, and the shock of losing a case despite the unimpeachable evidence against its defendant. Her reflections provide an intimate account of this case from the perspective of a prosecutor who never wavered in her fight for justice. The book's concluding lines, which she writes to her sons, best encapsulate my takeaway: "This is my story. Your mother was not perfect, but she had conviction. She fought with every ounce of strength for what she thought was right. In the end, that's all we can ever do." In her own way -- with her own words -- her book helps bring justice to Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman. ❤️❤️❤️ bios-memoirs 3 likes Like Comment Amy 266 reviews 1 follower June 10, 2017 I was interested to hear about the trial from Marcia Clark's point of view (more than any other person involved in the trial). I am so glad I chose to read this. Not only does it talk about what is going on from her perspective, but it waters down difficult forensic terminology so anyone can understand it. It also talks about and debunks theories on what the prosecution should have done differently. It never loses sight of the fact that this case was still about two people being murdered, and not the circus it ended up becoming. If you are interested in the case from Marcia Clark's point of view I would definitely give this a try. biography-memoir 3 likes Like Comment James C Rhodes Cynthia Stunich 1 review February 27, 2016 Kept me interested This is a very comprehensive book written by the one person who was always there. I have long admired Marcia Clark as she was thrust into chaos and maintained her integrity throughout the ordeal. 3 likes Like Comment Wortmagie 516 reviews 79 followers September 27, 2018 Der Medienrummel in den USA um den Fall O.J. Simpson war gewaltig. Bereits vor Prozessbeginn mutierte die Presse zum 13. Jurymitglied – und manch ein Reporter schwang sich zum Richter und Henker auf. Seriosität und Qualität der Berichterstattung variierten enorm. Die Causa Simpson lockte eine ganze Armee von Schmierfinken aus ihren Löchern, die nicht davor zurückschreckten, Falschinformationen zu verbreiten, Beweismaterial öffentlich zu machen und Zeug_innen stolze Summen für Interviews zu zahlen. Dieser ausufernde Zirkus beeinflusste den Strafprozess maßgeblich. Die Verhandlung wurde live auf dem Fernsehsender Court TV übertragen. Die Juryauswahl wurde durch die flächendeckende Berichterstattung massiv erschwert, weil sich kaum eine Person in Los Angeles finden ließ, die nicht bereits von den Morden an Nicole Brown Simpson und Ronald Goldman gehört oder gelesen hatte. O.J. Simpsons Verteidiger, das „Dreamteam“, nutzten die Presse aktiv, um den Prozess zu ihren Gunsten zu manipulieren. Zeitgleiche, inoffizielle Pressekonferenzen aus dem Stegreif von Robert Shapiro und Johnnie Cochran am Ende eines Prozesstages waren keine Seltenheit. Die Staatsanwaltschaft musste auf diese Tricks natürlich verzichten. Selbst wenn sie die Medien für sich hätten einspannen wollen – sie durften es nicht. Vielleicht schoss sich die Presse deshalb auf das Team der Anklage ein. Alle Mitglieder sahen sich scharfen Angriffen ausgesetzt, wurden als unerfahren, arrogant und schlicht inkompetent dargestellt. Doch niemand von ihnen erntete so viel Spott, Häme, Bosheit und Kritik wie Marcia Clark. Marcia Clark war von Anfang an in die Ermittlungen gegen O.J. Simpson involviert. Tage bevor Haftbefehl erlassen wurde, beriet sie die Ermittler, ob die Indizien ausreichten, um eine Hausdurchsuchung zu rechtfertigen. Zu Prozessbeginn war sie 40 Jahre alt (Jahrgang 1953) und arbeitete seit 13 Jahren als Staatsanwältin. Sie konnte eine beinahe perfekte Bilanz in Mordverfahren aufweisen. In 20 Prozessen erwirkte sie 19 Verurteilungen und hatte profunde Kenntnisse der wissenschaftlichen Aspekte von DNA-Analysen von Beweismaterial. Sie galt als ehrgeizig, forsch und bezeichnet sich selbst als Prozessjunkie, hatte sogar eine Beförderung in die Verwaltung aufheben lassen, um wieder im Gerichtssaal stehen zu können. Demzufolge war sie durchaus geeignet, die Staatsanwaltschaft gegen O.J. Simpson zu vertreten. Trotz dessen wollte ihr Boss, Gil Garcetti, sie nicht allein die Leitung des Falls übernehmen lassen, weil es Spannungen mit der Führungsebene des L.A.P.D. gab und er Bedenken hatte, dass Clarks brüske Art diese zusätzlich verschärfen könnte. Außerdem war im Büro der Staatsanwaltschaft bekannt, dass sie gerade die Scheidung ihrer zweiten Ehe erstritt und ihre beiden Söhne allein erzog, was sich selbstverständlich auf ihre zeitliche Verfügbarkeit auswirke. Ihr wurde Bill Hodgman als nominell gleichberechtigter Partner zugeteilt. Später, als Hodgman mit gravierenden gesundheitlichen Problemen zu kämpfen hatte, stieß Christopher Darden hinzu. Marcia Clark hatte niemals Zweifel an O.J. Simpsons Schuld. Die Beweislage war eindeutig und verdichtete sich mit Fortschreiten des Prozesses kontinuierlich. In Jeffrey Toobins literarischer Dokumentation The Run of His Life: The People v. O. J. Simpson gewann ich den Eindruck, dass es eben diese überwältigende Beweislast war, die die Staatsanwaltschaft in trügerischer Sicherheit wiegte, sie zu Arroganz verleitete und letztendlich zum Freispruch durch die Jury führte. Obwohl ich verstand, dass Clarks Team es nicht leicht hatte und durch die medienwirksame Strategie der Verteidigung sowie durch fragwürdige Entscheidungen des Richters Lance Ito behindert wurde, sah ich sie definitiv mitverantwortlich für das Scheitern des Prozesses. Ich vertraute Toobins Einschätzung, der Fehler der Anklage live im Gerichtssaal erlebt hatte. Nun, Vertrauen ist gut, Kontrolle ist besser, besonders wenn das Thema dermaßen kontrovers ist und einen gewissen Interpretationsspielraum bietet. Deshalb wollte ich Marcia Clarks eigene Wahrnehmung des Prozesses kennenlernen. Ich wollte wissen, wie sie von ihrer Rolle in der Verhandlung berichtet und ob sie fähig ist, Fehler einzugestehen. Glücklicherweise schrieb Clark – wie so viele Beteiligte des Sensationsprozesses – ein Buch, wodurch ich nicht gezwungen war, mir selbstständig ein Bild ihrer Person zusammenzubasteln. „Without A Doubt“ ist ihr Manifest, für das sie angeblich ein Honorar von über 4 Millionen Dollar einstrich. Eines habe ich während der Lektüre von „Without A Doubt“ gelernt: Marcia Clark weiß VIEL mehr über das US-amerikanische Rechtssystem als ich. Das ist nun nicht überraschend und war zu erwarten, aber ihre Kompetenz und ihre intimen Kenntnisse der Gesetze und rechtlichen Statuten der USA beeindruckten mich sehr. Sie ist eine intelligente, ehrgeizige Powerfrau, die kein Blatt vor den Mund nimmt und die Dinge beim Namen nennt. Ich fand ihren direkten, ruppigen Charakter erfrischend und kann mir ohne Schwierigkeiten vorstellen, dass sie in der (damals) männerdominierten Staatsanwaltschaft aneckte. Es fühlten sich sicherlich einige Herren auf den Schlips getreten. Mit diesem Buch macht sie sich vermutlich ebenfalls wenig Freunde, denn sie geizt nicht mit Kritik. Alle kriegen ihr Fett weg: der Richter Lance Ito, die Presse und natürlich die Verteidigung, allen voran Johnnie Cochran. Clark beschreibt eindringlich, dass die Anklage unter nahezu unmenschlichen Bedingungen arbeitete. Das „Dreamteam“ bestand auf ein beschleunigtes Verfahren für O.J. Simpson, wodurch der Staatsanwaltschaft sehr wenig Zeit für die Vorbereitung blieb. Die Fülle des Beweismaterials war Fluch und Segen zugleich, da sie all die Spuren, die am Tatort gesammelt worden waren und Indizienbeweise, wie zum Beispiel der zeitliche Ablauf der Mordnacht oder Simpsons Vorgeschichte von häuslicher Gewalt, nachvollziehbar aufarbeiten mussten, um sie der Jury schlüssig präsentieren zu können. Die Verteidigung funkte immer wieder dazwischen, indem sie jeden ihrer Schritte in Frage stellte. Eine denkwürdige, lächerliche Anhörung beschäftigte sich mit der Frage, wie viele Haare Simpson für eine Analyse abzugeben hatte. Jede Kleinigkeit musste erbittert erkämpft werden. Parallel musste das Team der Anklage die Hoffnung auf ein gesundes Privatleben aufgeben. Nicht nur arbeiteten sie Tag und Nacht, um den Unmengen an Beweismaterial Herr zu werden und auf jede neue Perfidität der Verteidigung angemessen reagieren zu können – sie wurden permanent von den Medien verfolgt. Die Presse beobachtete sie mit Argusaugen. Selbst die kleinste Unbedachtheit konnte zu gehässigen, verletzenden Artikeln, wilden, absurden Theorien und Falschinformationen führen, die der Gesellschaft als bare Münze verkauft wurden. Als Chefanklägerin traf es Marcia Clark besonders hart. Ihre Vergangenheit, ihr Familienleben, selbst ihre äußere Erscheinung sezierte die Presse genüsslich bis ins Detail. Sie analysierten ihre Kleidung. Eine Veränderung ihrer Frisur während des Prozesses mutierte beinahe zum Skandal. Man versuchte, anhand der Tiefe ihrer Augenringe Rückschlüsse auf die Fortschritte der Staatsanwaltschaft zu ziehen. Eine Zeitung veröffentlichte sogar alte Fotos von ihr, auf denen sie im Urlaub in Europa oben ohne zu sehen war. Sie konnte nicht einmal mehr unbehelligt über die Straße gehen. Die Medien trieben sie wie die sprichwörtliche Sau durchs Dorf. Es ist bewundernswert, dass sie unter diesem enormen Druck nicht zusammenbrach, obwohl sie mehrfach kurz davorstand. Unterschwellig spielte in der medialen Berichterstattung über Marcia Clark stets die Tatsache eine Rolle, dass sie eine Frau ist. Sowohl außerhalb als auch innerhalb des Gerichtssaals war Sexismus an der Tagesordnung. Keiner ihrer männlichen Kollegen musste sich für die Wahl seiner Anzüge rechtfertigen und niemand fragte, ob Robert Shapiro ausreichend Zeit für seine Kinder hatte. Scheinbar bereitete es Kopfschmerzen, dass Gil Garcettis bester Mann für den Job „O.J. Simpson“ ein Mädchen war. In der öffentlichen Wahrnehmung wurde Clarks Kompetenz von Anfang an durch ihr Geschlecht in Frage gestellt. Der Aspekt der häuslichen Gewalt, deren Opfer Nicole Brown Simpson durch ihren Ex-Ehemann geworden war, lenkte den Fall in eine ähnliche Richtung, trotz Clarks ursprünglichem Unwillen, diesen in ihre Strategie aufzunehmen. Ich war überrascht, zu erfahren, dass sie anfangs zögerte, diese heikle Thematik zu integrieren und erst von Mitgliedern ihres Teams davon überzeugt wurde. Jeffrey Toobin hatte in The Run of His Life: The People v. O. J. Simpson vermittelt, Clark sei diejenige gewesen, die die Gewalt zwischen O.J. und Nicole unbedingt als integralen Bestandteil präsentieren wollte, da sie in der Vergangenheit bereits derartige Fälle verhandelt hatte. Laut „Without A Doubt“ ist das nicht wahr. Es stimmt, dass Clark Erfahrung mit dem Vorwurf von häuslicher Gewalt gesammelt hatte, aber ihr war vollkommen bewusst, dass es sich dabei um ein zweischneidiges Schwert handelte, weil viele potentielle Jurymitglieder Gewalt innerhalb einer Ehe nicht als Verbrechen, sondern als Privatsache betrachteten. Sie wusste, dass es schwierig sein würde, sie vom Gegenteil zu überzeugen und anhand der Vorfälle ein Motiv zu suggerieren, ebenso, wie sie wusste, dass O.J. Simpsons Popularität und seine Hautfarbe entscheidend sein würden. Ich war verblüfft, wie realistisch die Anklage ihre Chancen auf eine Verurteilung einordnete. Vor „Without A Doubt“ dachte ich, sie hätten die exorbitanten Dimensionen des Falls kolossal unterschätzt. Ich dachte, sie seien sich zu sicher gewesen und hätten sich zu sehr auf die physische Beweislage verlassen. Marcia Clarks Ausführungen korrigierten diesen Eindruck. Sie waren sich darüber im Klaren, dass alles gegen sie sprach und ein Freispruch eine reelle Möglichkeit war. Clark wusste von Anfang an, was mir erst durch ihr Buch bewusst wurde. Der Prozess gegen O.J. Simpson touchierte alle drei großen gesellschaftlichen Konflikte, mit denen die Menschheit seit Jahrhunderten weltweit konfrontiert ist: Rasse, Klasse und Geschlecht (bzw. Gender). Ich denke, dass der Fall deshalb dieses außerordentliche öffentliche Interesse erfuhr. Natürlich wurde dieses auch durch Simpsons Prominentenstatus und die grauenvollen Details der Morde ausgelöst, aber meiner Ansicht nach lag der Hauptgrund darin, dass sich jeder Mensch mit mindestens einer Facette des Falls identifizieren konnte und eine eindeutige Meinung dazu hatte. Deshalb war die Zusammenstellung der Jury, für die Marcia Clark und ihr Team scharf kritisiert wurden, so mühsam. Jede einzelne Person, die potentiell für den Geschworenendienst in Frage kam, war bereits lange vor Prozessbeginn voreingenommen, selbst wenn sie das Gegenteil behauptete. Da die Verhandlung in Downtown L.A. stattfand, war die Auswahl begrenzt und führte automatisch zu einer überwiegend afroamerikanischen Gruppe. Zu dem Vorwurf, sie habe gezielt einen hohen Anteil schwarzer Frauen in der Jury akzeptiert, weil sie ihrem Bauchgefühl vertraute, äußert sich Clark allerdings nicht. Sie impliziert lediglich, dass der Bildungsstand der Juror_innen einen größeren Einfluss als das Geschlecht hatte. O.J. Simpson wegen zweifachen Mordes ersten Grades anzuklagen, also vorsätzlichen Mordes, wurde gemeinschaftlich von der Staatsanwaltschaft beschlossen. Es war Marcia Clark, die diese Vorgehensweise anstieß. Juristisch betrachtet war diese Entscheidung weit weniger riskant, als es den Anschein hat. Die Staatsanwaltschaft ist zwar verpflichtet, zu beweisen, dass der/die Beschuldigte den Vorsatz hatte, das Opfer zu töten, aber nicht, wann dieser Vorsatz gefasst wurde. Selbst wenn der Täter oder die Täterin nur Sekunden vor dem Mord entscheidet, diesen zu begehen, ist eine Anklage wegen Mord ersten Grades gerechtfertigt. Entscheidend ist die bewusste Absicht, nicht die Zeitspanne zwischen Entschluss und Tat. Leider gehört diese juristische Definition nicht zum Allgemeinwissen, weshalb in der Presse der Eindruck erweckt wurde, Marcia Clark führe einen persönlichen Feldzug gegen O.J. Simpson. Diese Wahrnehmung ist nicht korrekt. Tatsächlich wusste die an Sport desinteressierte Staatsanwältin vor den Morden nicht einmal, wer Simpson ist und hegte demzufolge auch keinen privaten Groll gegen den ehemaligen Footballspieler. Ich fand, dass sie sich in „Without A Doubt“ recht professionell gibt. Ihr Urteil über ihn ist ausschließlich auf den Fall bezogen, zu spekulativen Analysen seiner Persönlichkeit lässt sie sich nicht hinreißen. Sie spricht über ihn als Mörder und gewalttätigen Ehemann und findet ihrer Art entsprechend teilweise harsche Worte für ihn, aber ich konnte keinen Hass darin erkennen. Ich hatte das Gefühl, sie betrachtet ihn mit beruflicher Distanz und empfand während des Prozesses das Gleiche, das sie für alle Angeklagten empfand, die sie für schuldig hielt. Trotz dessen traut Marcia Clark O.J. Simpson meiner Ansicht nach zu viel zu. Sie glaubt daran, dass er den Mord an Nicole plante und mit dem festen Vorsatz zu ihrem Haus fuhr, sie zu töten. Das glaube ich nicht, besonders nicht nach der Lektüre von If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer . Mir erschien die Tat eher impulsiv. Ich bin nicht überzeugt, dass Simpson die Frage, warum er am Abend des 12. Juni 1994 zu Nicoles Haus fuhr, wahrheitsgetreu beantworten könnte. Ich glaube nicht, dass er es weiß. Ich denke, er hatte das diffuse Bedürfnis, Nicole, den Störfaktor in seinem Leben, zu konfrontieren. Dass ihr Aufeinandertreffen dermaßen eskalieren könnte, erwartete er meiner Meinung nach selbst nicht. Clark hingegen war bereit, alle Indizien zu Simpsons Nachteil zu interpretieren. Sie ließ dadurch in ihrer Strategie vor Gericht sehr wenig Spielraum für alternative Szenarien und schränkte sich selbst ein. Insgesamt fand ich, dass sich Marcia Clark in „Without A Doubt” kaum hinterfragt. Sie gesteht nur ein einziges Mal wirklich einen Fehler ihrerseits ein: sie hätte Lance Itos Entscheidung, das beleidigende, verletzende und rassistische N-Wort (auch ich möchte es nicht ausschreiben) im Prozess zuzulassen, anfechten müssen. Ich stimme ihr diesbezüglich zu, denn dieses Urteil öffnete der „Rassenkarte“ Tür und Tor, die mit der Frage, ob O.J. Simpson ein Mörder ist, nicht das Geringste zu tun hatte. Vielleicht hätte sie den Freispruch auf diese Weise verhindern können. Es erscheint mir allerdings unwahrscheinlich, dass sie ihr Verhalten im Nachhinein offenbar weitgehend als makellos und fehlerfrei einschätzt. Ich bin fest überzeugt, dass sie damals völlig nach bestem Wissen und Gewissen handelte und ihre Erläuterungen, inwiefern der Staatsanwaltschaft die Hände gebunden waren bzw. wurden, sind durchaus glaubhaft. Doch betrachten wir ihre Situation. Während des Prozesses war sie krank, übermüdet, gestresst und häufig überlastet. Das mörderische Tempo, das die Verteidigung diktierte, forderte seinen Tribut. Sie musste das Arbeitspensum des Falls, die Erziehung ihrer beiden Söhne, ihre Scheidung, die Presse und später sogar einen Sorgerechtsstreit managen. Und bei all diesen Anforderungen will sie nur einen einzigen Fehler gemacht haben? Ich weiß nicht, ob Marcia Clark im Stillen härter mit sich ins Gericht geht – in ihrem Buch erwähnt sie jedenfalls nur diesen einen Fehler explizit. Dadurch wirkt sie defensiv, trotzig, stur, uneinsichtig, unreflektiert und arrogant. Sie hat einen latent aggressiven Zug an sich, der nicht sehr sympathisch ist. Auch schien sie mir eine gewisse Verbitterung über den Ausgang des Prozesses zu empfinden, speziell angesichts der Verurteilung im späteren Zivilprozess. Ich kann verstehen, dass die Erfahrung, den Jahrhundertprozess zu verlieren, frustrierend für sie war, doch beinahe ausschließlich andere dafür verantwortlich zu machen, ist kindisch und zu einseitig. Ich denke, ihre eigenen Entscheidungen trugen ebenfalls zum Freispruch bei. Letztendlich kann ich aber natürlich nicht beurteilen, ob die Staatsanwaltschaft irgendetwas hätte anders handhaben können. Meine juristischen Kenntnisse sind maximal rudimentär. Fakt ist, Clark begründet ihr Vorgehen meist nachvollziehbar und autoritär, sodass kaum Zweifel über andere Optionen aufkommen. Für mich war während der Lektüre vor allem interessant, wie unterschiedlich bestimmte Szenen der Verhandlung von Marcia Clark und Jeffrey Toobin erlebt wurden. Die Juryauswahl, die Affäre Mark Fuhrman, das Verhör der Zeug_innen der Verteidigung und Clarks Festlegung auf ein Zeitfenster für die Morde schildern Journalist und Anwältin gänzlich verschieden. Gemeinsam illustrieren „Without A Doubt“ und The Run of His Life: The People v. O. J. Simpson daher die unüberbrückbare Diskrepanz zwischen der öffentlichen Wahrnehmung des Mordprozesses und der Wahrnehmung der Anklage hervorragend. Marcia Clarks Erinnerungen boten mir noch einmal eine ganz neue Perspektive auf diesen Fall. Ich empfand die Lektüre definitiv als lohnend und bin ihr dankbar, dass sie sich nicht scheute, Details zu offenbaren, die unter anderem ihr Privatleben betreffen und einen einzigartigen Kontext schufen. Sie vermittelt einen lebhaften, intimen Eindruck dessen, wie schmerzhaft, erschöpfend und frustrierend der Prozess für ihr Team und sie selbst war. Ich vermute, sie wollte mit diesem Buch auch ihr öffentliches Bild korrigieren. Nach all dem Schmutz, mit dem sie beworfen wurde, sei es ihr gegönnt. Sie kehrte nach dem Prozess nicht mehr zur Staatsanwaltschaft zurück. Sie hängte ihren Job an den Nagel und ist heute Krimi-Autorin. Drei Bücher habe ich nun zum Fall O.J. Simpson gelesen und für euch besprochen. Nach diesen drei Auslegungen der Fakten glaube ich, die Wahrheit liegt irgendwo dazwischen. Für mich ist es mittlerweile nicht mehr wichtig, was genau damals in der Nacht vom 12. Juni 1994 geschah. Ich bin überzeugt, dass O.J. Simpson ein Mörder ist. Das einzige, was zählt, ist, dass Nicole Brown Simpson und Ronald Goldman seinetwegen nicht mehr am Leben sind. Was ihnen angetan wurde, war Unrecht und es ist beschämend, dass die US-amerikanische Justiz im Strafprozess nicht fähig war, Gerechtigkeit für sie zu erwirken. Mir ist egal, wer dafür verantwortlich ist, denn Schuldzuweisungen lindern weder den Schmerz ihrer Familien noch bringen sie diese beiden Leben zurück oder berühren O.J. Simpson. Aus meiner Sicht wird dieser Justizirrtum für immer ein hässlicher Fleck in der Geschichte der USA sein. Ich wünsche mir, dass sich darin zumindest eine Lehre für zukünftige Generationen verbirgt. biography crime english ...more 2 likes Like Comment Laurel-Rain Author 6 books 252 followers September 23, 2019 Marcia Clark takes us inside her head and her heart. Her voice is raw, incisive, disarming, unmistakable. Her story is both sweeping and deeply personal. It is the story of a woman who, when caught up in an event that galvanized an entire country, rose to that occasion with singular integrity, drive, honesty and grace. In a case that tore America apart, and that continues to haunt us as few events of history have, Marcia Clark emerged as the only true heroine, because she stood for justice, fought the good fight, and fought it well. My Thoughts: I eagerly approached this book, having seen portions of the trial and the miniseries based on the trial; I have also read Marcia Clark’s mystery fiction, so I already knew that I could connect to her voice. Her account of the trial and its preparation was presented intelligently and with a touch of personal drama, which gave her story a special appeal to me. Even as I knew how it all turned out, I was eager to watch it unfold through her revelations of the long months leading up to the verdict. I could feel how personally affected Clark was as the defense Dream Team twisted events, focused on their conspiracy theories, and played the race card over and over. The inability of Judge Lance Ito to take control of the defense attorneys added to the frustration I felt on behalf of the prosecution attorneys. Marcia Clark wrote: “We lost because American justice is distorted by race. We lost because American justice is corrupted by celebrity. Any lawyer willing to exploit those weaknesses can convince a jury predisposed to acquittal of just about anything.” In the OJ case, “a handful of expensive attorneys were allowed to manipulate the system by invoking the wholly irrelevant, yet provocative issue of racism.” Time has revealed the error of those touting Simpson’s innocence in that his numerous poor choices afterwards have lent credence to the guilt many believed in. A compelling book that earned 5 stars for me. 2 likes Like Comment Laney 559 reviews February 5, 2019 3.5 stars. I was in high school during the OJ trial. I remember news clips of him trying on the glove, and I remember word spreading around school of the not guilty verdict on the day it came in. That’s about all I remembered. Interesting to get all this background and hear what went wrong. It’s amazing that with rock solid DNA evidence, no alibi, and a history of domestic violence that he wasn’t convicted. 2 likes Like Comment Elizabeth Stewart 79 reviews 2 followers March 17, 2023 Absolutely riveting and a trip back in time. I remember exactly where I was during the infamous bronco chase. I thought OJ was a guilty piece of sh*t then and after reading this book I still do. Personal feelings aside this was a very well written read. crime memoir 2 likes Like Comment Jason Schneeberger 282 reviews 9 followers May 14, 2017 Excellent read for anyone, like me, who is fascinated by all of the complexities of the OJ Simpson case. Marcia gives you her firsthand account of what when on behind the scenes and in front of the camera during the Trial of the Century. Highly recommended! 2 likes Like Comment Allen 433 reviews 11 followers March 14, 2022 What a rough job! Marcia Clark had over a year of intense stress, late nights, a divorce going on, 2 young sons, the flu, an abscessed tooth, you name it, but she hung in there. This was an excellent telling of her side of the trial. Every page was revealing. It keeps you reading till the end. Yes, Without A Doubt 100% there should of been a Guilty verdict. 2 likes Like Comment Donna 1 review March 17, 2017 I was five when the murder trial of O.J. Simpson started and, being a Brit, heard very little about the case growing up. Everything I had heard indicated that Simpson quite literally got away with murder. As I got older, the case piqued my interest and so I read up a bit about it online. I felt pretty certain that he had committed the murders but there were a few fleeting moments where I wondered if there was any chance he could have been innocent. The reason I read this book was due to the 2016 documentary, 'O.J. Simpson: Made in America.' Although it's 7.5 hours long, and encompasses much more than the infamous trial, I would definitely recommend it for anyone interested. I was glued. I was more certain of his guilt than ever before. However, call me naive or in denial, but I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact that the jury could have even considered acquitting a guy who'd left practically every scrap of evidence there could possibly be in his wake. I honestly thought I'd somehow missed some crucial part of the documentary that could offer an adequate explanation. With my interest yet again snared, I researched some more and that led me to 'Without a Doubt.' It is honestly one of the most riveting, unbelievable books I've ever read. It took me a good few days to read (a long time for me) because it was almost too much. Too much pain, too much disbelief, too much anger, too much yearning to somehow turn back the clock and give the judge/the 'dream team' defence/the media/the jury a good shake to find out what the hell they were all thinking. The families of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman were so severely let down that it is heartbreaking, but Marcia Clark, Chris Darden ... almost the entire prosecution team were let down, too. This book starts right at the very beginning and takes the reader by the hand, showing us again and again how numerous mistakes, lies, and incompetence led to such a result. The lengths the defence team went to in a somehow successful attempt to circumnavigate the law are both astonishing and disgraceful. The lack of courage, thirst for favourable media coverage and Lance Ito's outright failing to seriously undertake - and adhere to - the responsibilities of his job as a judge is revealed repeatedly and shows, in my opinion, that he might as well have been on the defence's payroll. The jurors, most of whom were still reeling after the Rodney King trial, seem to have refused - pretty much from the offset - to listen to the prosecution and their sound reasoning. The media, far more interested in stalking Marcia (more so than any other member on the prosecution - or defence - team ... sucks to be a woman, huh?) than running with credible stories about the actual case, only fuelled the fire in the utter mess that trial became. I don't know how Marcia didn't have a full breakdown throughout all of this. The media running stories and debates about her appearance, her temperament, those shamelessly sold topless photographs. Facing misogyny at every level, from the media, to the judge, and far too many people in between. The divorce. The custody battle threatening to take her kids away from her. The criticism she received every day from almost everywhere she turned. Mark bloody Fuhrman. That woman is an inspiration. And my heart aches when I think of how she, Chris, the rest of the team, the families of Nicole and Ron, and the majority of the world must have felt when that verdict came in after only two hours of deliberation by the jury. Over 20 years on, and I feel the same way. I came to this book expecting Marcia to spell out to me exactly what I'd missed to lead to an acquittal. I came away from this book sad, angry, and feeling somewhat helpless. I didn't miss anything, apparently. There wasn't some piece of huge, jaw-dropping evidence from the defence that proved Simpson's innocence. In fact, there was no evidence whatsoever from the defence, just a complete lack of moral compass and dignity coupled with nonsensical and potentially dangerous claims from a group of fantasists. I honestly don't know how the members of that so-called dream team managed to hold their heads high and sleep at night after that trial. In all, this book is interesting, engaging, eye-opening, and a must-read to anyone interested in law, racial tensions, feminism, and/or how a man who was black and a celebrity fought the law ... and miraculously won. The good guys did not come out on top in this story but Marcia Clark has earned my eternal respect. 2 likes Like Comment Danielle Choffrey Author 1 book 5 followers September 4, 2014 This book just angered me! Before I started I didn't really know much about Marcia Clark. I had read a book of hers and thought it was okay. So I was indifferent when I started this book, but that changed quickly. She is judgmental, thinks she is absolutely perfect, that no one can compare to her highness. I was disgusted throughout this book. It's easy for someone to look back on an event and see things that happened and try to clear their themselves of a failure. This is one of those books. She doesn't take back anything she did, but defends it. Within the first 50 pages she places the blame on every single person, but accepts none for herself. I take extreme offense when prosecutors or defense attorneys blame the jurors for their decisions. They are always called "stupid" by one side or the other. The lawyers feel because they are common people or lower class that they could never understand the depth of DNA evidence. Clark, at the end of her book, specifically states that we need to have smarter, well educated people on juries. I am sorry, but I think this is the worst possible thing to ever say. As an American citizen every person whether they are educated or uneducated have the right to sit in the jury box and serve. Not only that, but they should never be called stupid or told they could never understand evidence because they don't hold a degree in a certain area or field. I hold no degree in science, but I understand DNA evidence. We need to give jurors more credit. We need to respect them. Marcia points the finger at the jurors, the cops, the judge, the defense attorneys, and even the public. To me that isn't what lost the case for her. It was the reasonable doubt that was presented. The failure to maintain the scene and knowing the problems you had, but ignoring them is what cost the case. It's funny at the beginning Marcia says she got a call about the crime scene and she specifically asked that the "best" guys were on the scene. She knew she wanted the "best" because sometimes you get guys who skimp on collecting the evidence or don't do it properly. Really? This was the first thing that you say to someone? Oh by the way make sure to send the best. We are going to need it. Right... Even when the DNA was going to be tested she said she doubted their capabilities, that had it been up to her she would have sent it elsewhere... Again right... All these little statements annoyed me. She was trying to pump herself up. She wants to come out of this disaster looking like an innocent victim. Even the fact that Marcia didn't want to work with another lawyer was annoying. She didn't like working with others. Not only that but when she worked with Darden she would make these side comments on how he messed up, how he didn't understand premeditation, among a slue of other issues. She didn't want to work with anyone else because she was perfect and she knew what she was doing. The entire book felt like a slam against every single person she came in contact with. I think at some point you need to step back, admit defeat, and accept responsibility. I was hoping for a look into the trial and to see what was going through the prosecutions heads, what they thought they did wrong, what they did right, would change. All the things lawyers look back on and see about a trial. Not this book. She goes through the trial and recounts everything she did and there was absolutely nothing she would have changed. She presented the case in the best way and should have won. Well it wasn't a slam dunk. You didn't win. So wouldn't there be things you look back on and say yeah I might not have done the best here or I wouldn't have done this or that? I struggled to finish this book. I ended up putting it down for a very long time before wanting to get it off my shelf permanently so I finished it. I just have a hard time when someone attacks others to make themselves look good. 2 likes Like Comment Candie Paulsen 176 reviews 4 followers May 7, 2016 This book is outstanding. I really appreciate Marcia Clark's 'to the point' delivery in this book. No muss, no fuss. I was 10 or so when the OJ Simpson trial was happening, so it's been interesting to revisit The Trial OfThe Century as an adult. Years later when I was a genetics major in college, the questionable testimonies by "expert witnesses" the defense called came up multiple times in my higher level science courses. While it is difficult to read Marcia's story because of the ultimate verdict as well as all the crap she was put through for being a woman, in the end Marcia has a good message about the importance of diverse juries and the importance of seeing jury duty as a civic duty and not a chore as necessary means to improve the legal system. I appreciated one of her closing thoughts on this topic to the effect of: if a CEO ever complains about the verdict in the OJ Simpson case or the incompetence of the jury members, you should ask the CEO why they won't pay their employees to serve as jurors on long term commitment cases such as The People vs OJ Simpson. As Marcia says, the justice system is as good as the jury you're willing to pay for. 2 likes Like Comment Mike 157 reviews March 22, 2011 Being in my earlier ages during the Simpson trial, I've since been intrigued by the case that gripped the nation. Where else can you find such an intimate look inside the case than the prosecuting attorney? Marcia Clark throughout the book is smart, witty, and at her best. Providing a view point really nobody saw and showed feelings the nation neglected it see. We see how the case effected her personally, professionally, and emotionally. Even more important she lays out the truths of the case from racism of the defense to the incompetent, ego-drive Judge Ito. Not only is this book point on about the case, its entertaining. It turns out that Marcia isn't just a great lawyer, shes an entertaining, thoughtful writer as well. Well the worth the read for anyone who is interested in lawyer novels and cases. 2 likes Like Comment Mark Noonan 99 reviews 1 follower January 21, 2016 This probably took me longer to read than any other book I've read in awhile. It's not that it wasn't interesting, because it was. There's just so much going on. and legal terms which I didn't understand, and would look up on the computer. (I'm not going to take the time and effort to read a book and just skim over things I don't understand, so I look them up.) Everyone has an Opinion on O.J. Simpson. I always thought, "guilty". Yet I couldn't help but wonder..."Could he be innocent?" After reading this, "my opinion" is a definite no. There was way too much evidence pointing in the guilty direction. Marcia Clark's tale of the O.J. trial is interesting and very detailed. I really don't think she left anything out. After taking this book out I discovered she also writes fiction novels which I'm looking forward to checking out. 2 likes Like Comment Sherie Lees 18 reviews 3 followers October 21, 2016 Growing up I had heard of OJ Simpson and vague references to a trial, having said that I was around 4 or 5 during the murders and trial so I had little knowledge on the subject. After getting the DVD series The people vs OJ, its safe to say I wanted to find out a lot more about the case. This book was an interesting read for me, from the prosecutions side of the case sharing a lot of things that I think went unreported (to my knowledge!) I would say this is worth a read if you are interested in the OJ case specifically or how large scale court cases work as a whole. Favourite quote: Why leave the fate of our nation in the hands of these moon rocks? 2 likes Like Comment Bonnie 118 reviews 2 followers July 15, 2014 This case, with its unbelievable innocent verdict, has been fascinating for years. At the time of the trial I was stunned at the verdict. Still am, in fact. Ms. Clark's book does a great job of laying out what happened and what went wrong. At times she may not take her share of the blame, but her frustrations are very understandable. How sad that justice could not be properly served by those who, for so many reasons, felt it more important to protect a famous man who happened to have black skin but neither connections or real interest in black people and their issues. 2 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 437 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 32 quotes 1 discussion 1 question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $8.34 Rate this book Alex, Approximately Jenn Bennett 3.95 51,500 ratings 7,350 reviews Want to read Kindle $8.34 Rate this book Classic movie buff Bailey “Mink” Rydell has spent months crushing on a witty film geek she only knows online by “Alex.” Two coasts separate the teens until Bailey moves in with her dad, who lives in the same California surfing town as her online crush. Faced with doubts (what if he’s a creep in real life—or worse?), Bailey doesn’t tell Alex she’s moved to his hometown. Or that she’s landed a job at the local tourist-trap museum. Or that she’s being heckled daily by the irritatingly hot museum security guard, Porter Roth—a.k.a. her new arch-nemesis. But life is whole lot messier than the movies, especially when Bailey discovers that tricky fine line between hate, love, and whatever-it-is she’s starting to feel for Porter. And as the summer months go by, Bailey must choose whether to cling to a dreamy online fantasy in Alex or take a risk on an imperfect reality with Porter. The choice is both simpler and more complicated than she realizes, because Porter Roth is hiding a secret of his own: Porter is Alex…Approximately. In this delightfully charming teen spin on You’ve Got Mail, the one guy Bailey Rydell can’t stand is actually the boy of her dreams—she just doesn’t know it yet. Genres Romance Young Adult Contemporary Young Adult Contemporary Fiction Young Adult Romance Contemporary Romance ...more 400 pages, ebook First published April 4, 2017 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Jenn Bennett 23 books 4,849 followers Jenn Bennett is the author of over a dozen books for children and teens, including: ALEX, APPROXIMATELY; STARRY EYES; and GRUMBONES. She also writes romance and fantasy for adults. Her books have earned multiple starred reviews, been Goodreads Choice Award nominees, and have been included on annual Best Book lists for both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. She lives in a haunted house near Birmingham with one husband and two dogs. Visit her at www.jennbennett.net . Follow her on: Twitter Instagram Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.95 51,500 ratings 7,350 reviews 5 stars 16,196 (31%) 4 stars 20,758 (40%) 3 stars 11,103 (21%) 2 stars 2,624 (5%) 1 star 819 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,350 reviews emma 2,121 reviews 67.3k followers November 14, 2022 I’M HONESTLY EMBARRASSED THAT I WAS SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK. Like...I hate books that are cringey, and I hate books that are pretentious, but it’s so rare for me to get the opportunity to hate one that is BOTH! https://emmareadstoomuch.wordpress.co... Ughhhh. God. I’m someone who is extremely susceptible to the charms of an old movie, so when I saw that there was, essentially, a retelling of You’ve Got Mail (a fairly good movie, I guess) in which old film brings the ~romantic interests~ together, I had to be in. And then I read the first 20 pages and cringed unbearably and put it to the side for, presumably, ever. Yes. I planned on DNFing this book after 20 pages. Just so everyone knows: I never ever do that. EVER. But I instantly knew this book was going to be ALL WRONG. But then I saw a metric sh*t ton (one of my favorite phrases, by the way) of positive reviews. From very trusted sources! And I’m not just talking, like, three-and-a-half-stars “fun fluffy read” reviews. I mean five star, this book is amazing reviews. Unfortunately, my dumb gut was right the first time. So let’s talk about why this book is garbàge, using the Caraval review structure I only whip out when books got a whole lotta sh*t goin' on. PLOT, I GUESS We follow Bailey, who leaves her dirty rotten mom behind in DC to live in sunny SoCal with her cool nerd dad. Bailey is a cinephile, apparently , and writes (flirty!) messages back and forth on a cinema forum with this kid Alex. Guess where Alex lives? In the same small town as Bailey’s dad. Guess when Bailey tells Alex she’s there? Ding ding ding! If you guessed “Never, for reasons that are stupid,” you’re today’s winner! Anyway, Bailey meets this kid Porter, who she “hates” (for all of 20 pages before the whole thing dissolves into sexual tension and smut, never to return). But guessssss whooooo Alexxxxx isssss? Just kidding, you don’t have to guess. It’s in the f*cking synopsis. It’s Porter. Now we just have to wait for the dumbest protagonist in world history to figure out what has been increasingly apparent since, like, page 5. GRUELING. Going to try one of my world-famous character impressions on for size. Here’s Bailey: Wow, am I ever going to find Alex? All I know about him is that he loves old movies, and has best friend problems, and works in his family’s business on the boardwalk within view of the ocean by a stray cat and a churro cart, and doesn’t know if he can go to college because his family needs him, and watches movies at work, and has a coworker who smokes a sh*t ton of weed, and that his girlfriend cheated on him. It surely can’t be Porter, who was in the old movie section of a DVD store, and knows Roman Holiday and old sci-fi movies and a million others, and has best friend problems, and works in his family’s business on the boardwalk within view of the ocean by a stray cat and a churro cart, and doesn’t know if he can go to college because his family needs him, and watches movies at work, and has a coworker who smokes a sh*t ton of weed, and whose girlfriend cheated on him. Semi-spoiler alert: Bailey NEVER FIGURES IT OUT. Her f*cking dad does, and so does Porter. PORTER HAS TO TELL BAILEY IT’S HIM. My God. The sheer idiocy is overwhelming. And to think, her dad told her she’s a “good detective.” In the immortal words of Alicia Silverstone, “As if.” On top of this sort of mind-boggling, makes-me-wanna-claw-my-eyes-out stupidity, this book was also so pretentious and made me cringe so often. I ALMOST DNFED IT TWICE. I just feel so lied to. All I wanted was a contemporary with some chat logs and old movie discussion, and I was CHEATED ON BOTH FRONTS. I’m so anguished it makes me fear for my caps lock key. The online messages are few and far between, and those that we are granted are less than impressive, and really the best old movie discussion we get is from the quotes at the beginning of the chapters - WHICH INCLUDE FILMS LIKE PITCH PERFECT AND CLUELESS AND EASY A! Don’t get me wrong, all great movies, but not exactly anyone’s idea of vintage!!!!!!!!!!! Ugh. THE WORST TROPE OF ALL TIME And also, guys, in case you needed a disappointment cherry on top of this infuriating sundae, Bailey is so totally not like other girls. The first example arrives at the literal beginning of the book: “It’s not exactly the kind of movie you ask a girl out to see when you’re trying to win her heart - not most girls, anyway.” This is when I put this thing down for a couple weeks. When I returned, rested, rejuvenated, hopeful, I was dealt another blow: “I’m not going to be one of those girls who goes wobbly-woo over a boy and picks at her food.” Poor Bailey. How does she survive as the only tolerable female in the entire universe? NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL PRETENTIOUS Bailey also sh*t talks the East Coast constantly? And I mean, I’ve grown up on East Coast beaches. And my question is: What the fuck kind of East Coast beach was Bailey going to? Where does the ocean smell like “bleached metal” and make you want to “roll up a window”? Sweet Lord Jesus. It smells like an ocean. It’s great. Maybe that stick up your ass is impairing your sense of smell. And when she’s standing in the f*cking woods, she rants and raves about how that’s just the kind of Quality Smell™ you just can’t get in the east. Um, it can smell like “pine” here too, you ding-dong. Continuing along the path of misguided pretentiousness, this book goes on a rant about Breakfast at Tiffany’s that cut me to my soul. Don’t misunderstand me: Mickey Rooney’s racist-ass character is supremely f*cked. It’s far from a perfect movie. But people are allowed to like it! It’s a classic! My God, this book, man. CRINGE CENTRAL, PARTY OF ME THIS SECTION IS UNFORTUNATELY EXPLICIT RATED T FOR TEEN SMUT Now let’s talk about that full-on cringe-fest, baby. This book substitutes a plot with gooey looks and smut and I guess what would be considered the stepping stone between flirting and sexting. It’s always just a couple of hot and bothered teens, and it made me SO UNCOMFORTABLE. I don’t like smut much in the first place, but when it’s a first-person seventeen-year-old girl talking about her daydreams and fantasies and masturbation habits and what I can only describe as a passion for getting fingered...it kinda makes me wanna Die™. And God, a light breeze could turn this girl on. Here are some examples of things that spur Bailey into fantasizing in public: - Handholding - The cringeworthy-by-itself phrase “Porter likey” - Extensive injuries from a fight - Porter informing her she should wear sandals more often because he likes her feet (GAG ME WITH A SPOON) -Generally being glanced at, touched by or close to Porter GENERAL STUPIDITY And nowwww it’s time forrrr - GENERAL STUPIDITY! I haven’t had the privilege of writing one of these sections in a hot sec. Longtime, long-suffering followers know that this is the section I use for books that contain small mistakes or irritations that just don’t make sense. In this book, it’s mostly the dialogue. For example, when Bailey meets the forty-year-old cop girlfriend of her father, guess what said cop says? I’d bet you a hundred thousand million dollars you didn’t think it’d be this: “‘I like your brows,’ she finally says. ‘Glamorous.’” THAT’S LIKE A FORTY-YEAR-OLD FEMALE COP SPEAKING TO A TEENAGER. Something that just kind of bothers me: Bailey’s hair is constantly described as being like Lana Turner’s. People even recognize her hair as being in the style of Lana Turner’s. But Lana Turner didn’t HAVE just one hairstyle! She had like, a million pinup girl variations! I just want answers. Which one which one which one? ADDICTION IS THE VICTIM’S FAULT NOW AND THEY SHOULD BE BLAMED AND TREATED LIKE A VILLAIN, IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING So, remember the briefly aforementioned best friend of Porter? The one he “hates”? That best friend’s name is Davy. Davy screwed up his leg surfing so badly he still limps years later. When he was prescribed painkillers, he, like many people, became addicted to the prescription. So when the prescription ran out, he continued to (illegally) source pills. Later, like many people, he moved onto the much-more-affordable heroin. That’s an addiction that is almost impossible to break, and, we’re told, the sh*ttiness of Davy’s family life only spurs him more toward drugs. But none of that is handled with the understanding it deserves. Instead, Davy is treated like the villain of this book. All characters carry nothing but disdain and hatred for him. They act like it’s his fault and he should ~just stop~. When he shows the warning signs of many addicts, like stealing and lying, they blame him. Porter beats the sh*t out of him at one point. But the worst bit of all is what Porter says to Bailey about his supposed best friend, who is addicted to maybe the worst drug out there. “I’m less worried about him right now, and more worried that you’re sorry you ever gave me your number and will never go out on a date with me, because now you’re thinking all my friends are trash and we really have nothing in common.” Yup. Yes. He’s not that worried about Davy being on one of the most addictive and dangerous drugs in existence. And on top of it, Davy’s “trash” for that addiction. Coolcoolcool. Great book. Bottom line: I said a-nope, nope, nope-ity nope, I said a-nope nope nope-ity nope! 1-star contemporary nope ...more 884 likes Like Comment Hailey (Hailey in Bookland) 614 reviews 85.7k followers May 22, 2020 4.5* contemporary owned ya 514 likes Like Comment jessica 2,576 reviews 43.5k followers September 20, 2019 a recipe guide to books by jenn bennett: 3 cups sunshine 1/4 cup fluffiest of fluff 1 tablespoon happiness a pinch of teenage sass mix together and bake at the highest level of love for about 300 pages. finish and enjoy your perfectly crafted book of contemporary goodness. in other words, this book is so sweet, i think ive just contracted type two diabetes. and you couldnt tear the smile off my face if you tried. ↠ 4 stars 235 likes Like Comment Warda 1,259 reviews 21.8k followers June 10, 2018 I mean, I couldn’t stop grinning and feeling things about this book! I love Jenn Bennett. Definitely one of my favourite contemporary authors now. Bailey was relatable as hell. Especially her way of avoiding shit and not being able to confront her own feelings. I loved that she was into movies, dressed quirky, her relationship with her dad and how she slowly started to open up and accept her flaws. Porter, dear god. Why are fictional boys so damn swoon-worthy? I was getting flustered because of that boy. I wish some of the things she touched upon, i.e. Davey and his drug abuse, Porter’s family, Bailey’s relationship with her mom, was expanded on more. I think it would’ve added more meat to the story and made the characters even more tangible. But, I wanted cuteness and I was overloaded with that. Love is magic, people. (This’ll only last for a short while till I’m back to my cynical old-me, this-world-sucks-no-men-will-ever-live-up-to-fictional-men-like-ever self). Pre-reading feels. Someone said that this is a YA retelling of You’ve Got Mail . I’m ready to die with cuteness overload. close-to-5-stars 177 likes Like Comment L A i N E Y (will be back) 393 reviews 809 followers June 10, 2017 Bailey Rydell is an evader. Me: Oh dear, 'relatibility' = 0 → 100% in 3 seconds flat. Speaking as someone who in high school have literally run away from who she was currently in 'relationship' with. And this happened more times than I cared to share, suffice to say my friends were utterly baffled. It was très complicated , let us say. And I may or may not still be that girl when it comes to relationships but I digress .... Alex, approximately : super cute & funny YA contemporary with flowing first person narrative writing starring Bailey Rydell, the Artful Dogder & the extra adorable surfer boy named Porter Roth who sometimes more adorkable, but I'll take both, you can keep the change! I loved Bailey's voice a great deal and that's why the book was so enjoyable to me. {{ The Scene Stealer Awards goes to *drum rolls* Pete Rydell for being the cutest geeky Dad ever!}} The characters, the writing, the romance all very engaging - there was not a time I thought it boring, which believe you me, not an easy thing to pull off. So, bravo Jenn Bennett whose works I've just now sampled. I get a little flustered but not enough to stop wanting the moon muffins. ↬ Loads of food appreciation in the book which means A.) bye-bye my diet plan. and/or B.) google is my friend (life of a foreigner...) Whatthehell is 'moon muffin' anyway? And who do I have to date to get some?! (Sadly for me, the answer of course is Porter....) I'm so ready. I am Mink. Hear me roar. rating: ★★★★½ boy-i-luv-u contemporary humor-i-get ...more 156 likes Like Comment ♛ may 813 reviews 4,363 followers April 29, 2017 Buddy read with the walking spoiler and the walking spoiler jr. I swear, I don’t think a You’ve Got Mail retelling CAN go wrong. Reasons Why this Book is the Greatest™ - It’s a YOU’VE GOT MAIL RETELLING - Bailey is relatable as hell - IT’S GENUINELY FUNNY - Porter Roth owns my heart - #FRIENDSHIP - Bailey’s dad - Porter Roth’s face - I’M TRASH - IT’S SO ADDICTIVE YOU CANT STOP READING - OR SQUEALING - HONESTLY - DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR AND READ THE BOOK I want to spend the rest of my life searching for You’ve Got Mail retellings and reading them. I will be MORE than content with my life. GAHHHH, IT’S SO PERFECT!!!!!!!!! You know when a book has EVERYTHING that could possibly make it perfect and it’s CHARMING and HILARIOUS and RELATABLE and SWOONWORTHY???!!! Yeah, that’s this book. Kids, let me give you my honest, genuine advice: Love yourselves and read the bloody book!! 5 fricken stars and all the heart eyes in the world!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I've been waiting for this book since late 2015 and the wait WAS. SO. WORTH. IT. 300-pgs buddy-read contemporary ...more 129 likes Like Comment Heather 417 reviews 16.5k followers April 17, 2017 LOVED this! 4.5/ 5 One of my new favorite contemporaries! ya-contemporary 129 likes Like Comment Maditales 608 reviews 30.7k followers August 10, 2023 I’m sad about this. I’ve read multiple books by Jenn and was excited but sadly disappointed. Bailey is oblivious. In the beginning it was funny but after a while I just couldn’t grasp how her FATHER found out the secrets before her???? Her father doesn’t even know anything except one small detail like wth??? HOW COULD YOU NOT GUESS THIS AT ALL???? HUH. And don’t get me wrong I love love love fake identity books but I don’t like it when the blurb of the book already reveals everything, or when it’s made too obvious. Anyways, I still really liked Bailey’s backstory since it was really interesting and unique. I also liked how it was involved in the rest of the story, including her relationship with her parents. I still would wish that the book had a few less plot lines since there is quite a lot and it gets very very full. Overall I feel like if I had read this before reading any other books by Jenn, I think I might have liked it more. Sadly I didn’t so I already had expectations from last experiences with her books. 129 likes Like Comment Christy 4,133 reviews 34.7k followers August 26, 2018 4.5 stars!! The one guy Bailey Rydell can’t stand is actually the boy of her dreams—she just doesn’t know it yet. Alex, Approximately is the second book I've read from Jenn Bennett and I think I loved it even more than the first. Both of this author's YA novels have been huge wins for me. I hope she continues to write more of these charming, heart felt, and addicting coming of age stories! Bailey Rydell moves across the country to live with her dad. She has a thing for old movies and is in an on-line group for like minded others. That is where she meets Alex. She's never met Alex, but she's got a bit of a crush on the guy. And he's from the same town her dad lives in. Once she's there, she does everything she can to find Alex (aside from telling him she is in California) and while doing all that, she meets Porter. Porter is not a guy that Bailey would normally go for. He's a surfer, he's a bit cocky, stubborn, and all around just not her type. At least, that's what she thinks at first. It's plain to see that even though these two are opposites in a lot of ways, there are sparks between them. This leaves Bailey conflicted. Porter, the real guy she's falling for, or Alex, her online friend she's liked for a long time. This may be even more complicated than we know... Porter was an amazing character. I loved everything about him. Though I had a hunch about the twist in this book, it didn't make it any less fantastic when it was revealed. I wasn't surprised, but I loved it all the same. Bailey was also a great character. Honestly, there wasn't much I didn't like about this book. It was all around pretty wonderful. I listened to the audio book and enjoyed the narration as well. One of my top favorite YA books I've read this year and one I'd highly recommend! 2018-audio 2018-ya-challenge 122 likes Like Comment Drcong O ' 756 reviews 2,560 followers November 12, 2017 Okay I've heard so much about this book and how it's a YA, cute ass retelling of You've Got Mail and I reallllly wanted to read it. But like,,,, I never watched you've got mail UNTIL I DECIDED TO READ THIS BOOK. Anyways, I watched the movie then I read the book and I thought the movie was much better. This is honestly cute and all, but not a memorable read. Just a small list of things I liked: -P O R T E R -He can come marry me like YUM. -GIRLS DONT HATE EACH OTHER AND THEY HAVE AWESOME FRIENDSHSIPS. -I think her name was Grace I forgot it's been a week. -The MC's dad is the cutest human to ever exist. QUESTIONS/DISLIKES: -What was the deal with that drug addict kid?? I really wanted to learn more about his character. -the MC's mom is like not even there once the mc moves -The story was really bland and uninteresting at some points and nothing exciting was really happening. -The romance was kind of meh I'm sorry. Overall, this was not a bad read, but not really the greatest thing either. I know I rated this 4 stars but in reality it's a 3.5 and I'm knocking it down to 3 stars because it was just meh cuteness. ----- UPDATE: I just finished watching YOU'VE GOT MAIL AND AHAHAHAHA OH MY GOD SOMEONE FANGIRL WITH ME. I'm so frigging ready to read this book now. --- uhhhhh what is You've Got Mail?? endless-pain i-dont-get-the-hype romance ...more 114 likes Like Comment theburqaavenger➹ 128 reviews 676 followers February 17, 2021 Satire Reads: Conversations between Me,Brain and Heart Cast: Me: Also called "The Judge"/decides ratings/is tired of brawls between Brain and Heart/loves Ice-cream/is always confused. Brain: Too arrogant/Too sarcastic/uses a lot of gifs/tries to give books low ratings(always wins) Heart: Loves everything/hates Brain/tries to give every book 5 stars(never wins) EPISODE 1: Stupidity,Approximately Me: Brain! Brain: Ugh...Present. Me: Heart! Heart: Present!!!! Brain: Why are we here? In the courtroom? Why are we not watching "The Office" ? Heart: Now now Brain don't be so- Brain: Shut it. Heart: You- Me: Stop IT!! Both of you. We are here today because even though we had decided our rating, Heart came with a complaint last night Brain: FINE! Just do it quickly. Me: Okay! So we read "Alex,Approximately" and we absolutely hated it. Brain: Hated is a small word. Heart: *sadly* I agree. It was awful. Even I was bored. And I am NEVER bored. Me: I agree Heart. After reading this i was actually looking thinking of buying the book. Brain: Heart: Oh Brain! Not the gifs again. Me: Not a TRAITOR!!! I was wondering maybe we had read some wattpad smut fiction. Brain: I predicted it. Heart: But i thought I might like it. You never like anything. Me: I am so confused now. *looks at Brain* Heart is saying we should give it 1.5 star while you are saying that we should put it in trash because you don't want to give even one star. Brain: Lassie,listen *thinks* We were bored. And for us bored is more awful than anything. Heart: But everyone loved it! Me: Let's talk about what we did and didn't like. Heart: I agree. Brain: Idiots. The Plot Me: Ugh it was awful. Brain: I know! Heart: It wasn't that bad. Me: It was Heart. Brain: Pfft Heart! Look, she goes to a town where "that" person lives and the dumb idiot sees that St. Peter likes movies,has bestfriend problems,works in the family business,has a motherfucking cat,has a fuckin' girlfriend who cheated on him but. . . SURELY HE CAN'T BE ALEX A Heart: I know it was- Me: Brain is right Heart. Brain: And the dumb Virgin sez that she ABSOLUTELY FREAKIN' HATES ST.PETER WITH HIS PERFECT CURLS AND COMPARES EVERYONE WITH HIM AND SEEZ HIS DUMB SLOW GRIN AND SHE MELTS IN A PUDDLE BUT SHE HATES HIM FOR 20 PAGES AND FOR VIRGIN BAILEY 20 PAGES=20 YEARS Heart: *is crying silently* Me: And you know something even worse than that shit? Brain: What? Heart: I can't take it *sobs* Me: *ignores Heart* The dumb girl didn't realise that perfect St.Porter WAS Alex. The person who didn't even know she was coming realised it AND SHE DIDN'T!!!!!!!! Brain: I am dead Judge. Heart: You guys are awful. Me: Did that NOT happen Heart? Heart: It did. Brain: And who the actual fuck wrote the synopsis? The whole story is summarized in it. Heart: Stop swearing. Brain: FLAG IT!! Heart: NO! Me: Brain calm down. Heart of course we won't. Brain: AND I THOUGHT THEY FREAKIN' TALKED EVERYDAY! But when do we see them talk? In the last chapters OF COURSE. Heart: And remember that part where her dad tells her she is a great detective? Me: *nods approvingly* That was stupid. Brain: She was like: Heart: Woah stop swearing. Me: And the whole dumb shit about "The Maltese Falcon" ?? Brain: And *laughing*and remember she gets a cut- Heart: And *joining in* the whole thing about those quizzes- Me: And WHERE WERE THE MOVIE TALKS???? and the whole trash about addiction victims? Brain: Dayum. Me: TRASH. Brain: NOT LIKE OTHERS I AM Me: Don't even get me started on this. Brain: Heart: Brain people will kill us- Me: And I have another one: Heart: *looks at the door* let's move on. The Relationship Me: FAIL Brain: They hated each other for 10^-10000000000 seconds and then they were iN LuRveeee. Heart: It wasn't that bad. Me: Okay Heart I am Virgin and Brain is St.Peter. Brain: Oh my doodlekins Me: My honey buns. Let's touch. Brain: *touches* Me: *giggles madly* Brain: *giggles madly* Heart: Guys now you are exaggerating. Me: HE SAID HE LIKES HER FEET SO SHE SHOULD WEAR SANDALS. Brain: Heart: Fine.... Verdict: Me: 1 star? Brain: YES. Heart: Ummmm...Okay! Brain: Me: Verdict: Trump Alex,Approximately. And we're out. Mic drop. Satire Reads: EPISODE 2: The Hating Dating Game appa-ate-momo are-you-for-real bite-me ...more 96 likes Like Comment Chelsea (chelseadolling reads) 1,503 reviews 20.2k followers November 21, 2018 After trying unsuccessfully to read this one for months, I FINALLY pushed myself through it and ended up really enjoying it! Jenn Bennett is definitely a new contemporary fav. 94 likes Like Comment Tweebs ♡ 184 reviews 829 followers June 16, 2017 “And not after, when we’re clinging to each other like the world just fell apart and is slowly clicking back together, piece by piece, breath by breath . . . heartbeat by beautiful heartbeat.” (╥﹏╥)(╥﹏╥)(╥﹏╥)(╥﹏╥)(╥﹏╥) Guys, I had enough of this. I'm on strike. I keep picking up these books that somehow leave me in a messy puddle of FEELS. what did I do in Life to deserve this??? Anyway. A GUIDE TO WHY YOU SHOULD READ THIS 101 1. It's really addictive like oh my gosh IS THIS WHAT CRACK FEELS LIKE?????? ○ *coughs* I'm a proud example of this. I'm currently reading 2348932849032 books and I felt guilty that I was neglecting this book. I picked it up and began reading it because I HAD TO ACCOMPLISH SOME READING ALRIGHT. I swear, that was the best/worst decision I ever made. It was 11pm and my eyes were 0.000000000001 seconds away from permanently closing AND THEN I got to some part in the book and was like "............................well, shit." Suddenly, I felt like I had enough energy to power 3 suns because my eyes were wide open aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand yeah, I sacrificed my sleep. I'm not even complaining like I just simply couldn't put it down. I had to finish it like what is sleep? I was hooked. 2. Porter Roth aka mine ○ *swoon* ○ *swoon* ○ *swoon* ○ *swoon* ○ *swoon* ○ *swoon* ○ *swoon* ○ *swoon* ○ *swoon* That is all. Carry on. 3. Duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, like I have to add "Characters" ○ Can I just start off by saying, Bailey's Dad is the bomb dot com. Her dad is so laid back and so cool. I loved their relationship like awwwwwwwwwwwwwww. This just reminds me of my own dad. So, I'm going to kindly excuse myself and find my dad to squeeze the living daylights out of him. ○ Our MC, Bailey, is what you call an evader. You know those types of people where you're like, "Where the heck did they disappear off to????" . She experienced a difficult past that led to her developing trust issues. She is trash for old films and literally knows every damn reference. Like this girl can look at a water bottle and reference it to some film that came out in 1955. Her fashion taste is pretty much inspired by the actresses in the old films. For example: Audrey Hepburn!! ○ I liked Bailey's friend, Grace..........................I lied, I tolerated her. She's that type of friend where you'd tell her something and you'd hear it come out of someone else's mouth. Like no. What's been told to you, stays with you. Besides that, I found her pretty cool, friendly, and very nice. Also, I liked the fact that she was British and I kept reading her parts in this really posh accent. *clears throat* Urrmmmmmm.........excuse me? Do you by any chance know where the loo is????? Too far? Yeah?? Okay :( 4. Retelling of "You've Got Mail" ○ If you haven't watched the movie then I don’t think we can friends. Go away. ... Alright, you may come back BUT I'll list reasons why you should watch it. 1) there is no reason 2) watch 3) it 4) you punk You'd have a better understanding but if you don't want to then *sniffle* , it's alright. We can be friends again. ○ When I heard it was a retelling, I was like "Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuu, me is definitely interested like please sign me uppppppp!!!" ○ Confession: I watched the movie right after I finished the book. Sue me. 5. It tackles some pretty concerning issues and dare I say, handles it perfectly. ○ I just really really really liked how the author was able to touch base with these certain issues and bring it to light. What do we face in this book ???? Sex, drugs, trauma, and many more. ○ To me, she didn't go over board. She just handled it like a pro. 💪(◡̀_◡́) ○ I loved how the characters were able to overcome their own barriers and spread their wings. 6. This idiot.................................................. ○ Read the book and you'd understand this (>‿◠)✌ 7. My brain is done. ○ I think I covered everything. ○ Go read this ○ Bye You can find this review and my other reviews at Booksprens books-that-killed-me-and-my-ghost 107 likes Like Comment Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘ 870 reviews 4,085 followers February 15, 2021 1.5 stars to 2 stars . Oh boy, how dense can a person be? SPOILER ALERT : Very. But we'll get back to that. Ultimately, Alex, Approximately reminded me why I didn't do so-called "cute" YA romance anymore, being that whole annoying package and all : 1) The plot lacked substance. Or, rather, I feel like I've been misled, because somehow I thought that I'd get a)funny online convos, b)some kind of TENSION with the slow realization that appearances can be deceptive, perhaps the characters actually FINDING OUT THE TRUTH OR SOMETHING. No such luck! First there are barely any interactions between Alex (Porter) and Mink (Bailey) online, and they're not what I'd call witty or entertaining. Yawn. Secondly it dragged so. much. and there's only so much horny, teenage sappy romance I can take. And that's all I got! With such a stereotypical love interest! Whaaaat. You wouldn't believe how tired I got of those "beautiful curls" and that "slow grin" of his. I just. I mean. DEAR GOD. 2) I didn't care for the Not Like Other Girls act that Bailey played on full speed. God, I didn't care for her, period. Indeed there was something really grating about her voice, something I can't pinpoint exactly but that made me wish I'd DNF early. PERHAPS HER PRETENSION. WHO KNOWS. 3) As it's too often the case, important issues are completely thrown off a cliff for the sake of the romance, and I'm not here for that : in Alex, Approximately , we have Davy, Porter's ex-best friend, who's got chronic pain since a surfing injuring and who starts doing drugs. Yet nobody helps him. Nobody. His addiction to source pills then heroine is treated like something that can go away "if only he'd be willing" and he's basically characterized as a villain. Sure, he does shitty things and I'm not saying that he should be let off the hook, BUT I was shocked at the amount of victim blaming going on there. And then Porter is some kind of hero because he fights this guy and puts him in the hospital? All while Bailey's thinking things like, oh, he'll need pain medication, that's just lovely, given his addiction and ARGGGG give me a fucking BREAK. But I'm supposed to be okay with that because "[Davy] is such an embarrassment." Right. What a decent friend you make, Porter. 4) Then there's this time when Bailey's dad tells her that she's a great detective and EXCUSE ME WHILE I CHOKE ON MY DRINK?? She just wanders around, oblivious? I'm calling this girl Bailey from now on alright Oh, and she has that cute little notion that there are different kinds of stalking and that everything is about intent and hmm that's not how it works? 5) I'm not sure that I'm comfortable with the way the ""trust"" conversations enfolded because somehow their trust looks very much like "you must tell me everything at all time" and what happened to keeping some kind of secret garden? Is that not allowed anymore? 6) Don't believe people that tell you that Porter and Bailey's relationship is a hate-to-love romance because a) they ""hated"" each other for about ten minutes (more like Porter being a prick for absolutely no reasons, but moving on) and b)their hormones got the memo almost instantly : ME LIKEY (are you cringing at this sentence? Because I did). HAVE TO TOUCH. LET'S HOLD HANDS. I was bored out of my mind, can you tell? 7) The writing was average and just not that compelling. The only reasons I didn't go with one star are : - there is diversity : Bailey's friend, Grace, whose parents are from Nigeria ; Porter's mum is biracial (Chinese and Polynesian) (also she rocks, I love her) ; Porter's dad is disabled ; - the talk about consent before sex ; - the last ten pages in which we finally get to see what I'd been waiting for during the whole thing, yes yes yes despite the stupid drama, I enjoyed it, at least something HAPPENED, god. All in all, I think that's fair to say that I don't get the appeal. I just don't. For more of my reviews, please visit: 2017-reads genre-romance young-adult 88 likes Like Comment chan ☆ 1,148 reviews 55.2k followers June 10, 2019 ah yes enemies to lovers YA contemp goodness this was fun and just what i needed. i listened to this on audio and read it physically (the audio is kinda shit but i'm lazy). and i was pretty immediately interested. let's talk about what worked: 1. the characters were incredibly well fleshed out and realistic. seriously. hat's off to jenn bennett for giving people flaws, unique appearances, background, etc. this is what YA should strive for. so so often i feel like YA heroines are either super stubborn or have big doormat energy and Bailey was neither. 2. the plot, pacing, and setting were all fantastic. the plot was 2 separate ones interwoven which worked fantastically well and kept things interesting. the pacing never lagged. and the setting made me feel like i was there on the beach in california. 3. enemies to lovers goodness. i think that some people might be disappointed in the lack of drama here but i really liked how realistic the relationship progression was. reminded me a lot of how my own relationship started. sometimes people just fucking annoy you but then u fall in lurve with them anyway. overall, this was cute af and a perfect summery read. give her a try. 2019 audiobook ya-contemporary 80 likes Like Comment Charmel 184 reviews 412 followers February 4, 2023 [reread] 13-year-old me might have liked this, but 15-year-old me cringed. 3 stars. This was just what i needed! It was a really cute, light, fluffy, funny, and an easy to read book. It's a good enemies to lovers YA contmp. I was totally grinning and swooning while reading. There were some cringey and cheesy parts, but ah, nevermind about those, all i wanted was to feel good . 🥰 Bailey (the main character) was kinda relatable. Porter was a real cinnamon roll, a cutie and a softie. I love their romance, the characters' family relationships, and their friendships. I suddenly miss summer and going to beach. im such a beach girl :D “I just want somebody I can have a decent conversation with over dinner.” —Tom Hanks, Sleepless in Seattle (1993)” i also like the entertaning quotes from some movies in every chapter. This book helped me avoid my incoming slump . though i need more from the ending but overall i had fun! buddy read with chaya and julia! {*coughs* sorry for reading in advance eheh} 4 stars. contemporary cotton-candy-fluff 77 likes Like Comment Stacee 2,823 reviews 738 followers March 3, 2017 I didn't even need to read the synopsis of this book. I wanted it from Jenn Bennett's name and my undying love for her other YA book, The Anatomical Shape of a Heart. I went in completely blind and utterly fell in love. Bailey is my kind of girl. She's smart and sort of awkward and would rather be alone the majority of the time. She loves classic movies and dressing like Lana Turner and why aren't we BFFs already. Porter? Yeah, I don't even know where to start with this boy. He's swoony to begin with and then when he actually tries, I was a puddle of goo. There is some of the most delicious banter ever written, swoons, heartbreak, laughs, and maybe a bit of betrayal. Not to mention a few secrets that are revealed in the slowest and agonizing way. This is a book that I'll be reading over and over again: when I need a pick me up or to get out of a slump or just need to grin like a loon the way I am right now. **Huge thanks to Mysterious Galaxy for letting me take an arc from the back room** all-of-the-stars all-of-the-swoons doctor-who-reference ...more 75 likes Like Comment Chelsea ✨Arielle’s Nebular Ally and Team Acrux✨ 739 reviews 888 followers July 13, 2017 Maybe Walt Whitman was right. We all really do contradict ourselves and contain multitudes. How do we even figure out who we really are? I'm not going to lie-I'd much rather be writing about a book I've read closer to this moment, but if I don't go back and write reviews for all the books I've read-and loved-in the past few months, it will make me CRAZY (Well, crazier than usual...). Alex, Approximately was one of those books that you read quickly-but not like your typical YA contemp-you don't just read it and cut through it and, once finished, never look back. No, this book was one of those that you devour , inhale every word....and just, I don't know, exhale slowly in a contented breath. It's a book that not only makes you giddy and happy, but makes warmth radiate from the inside out . It fills your heart with something akin to true love- believable true love-and you can't quite let it go. “Bailey, I spend most of my days looking at you through that tiny square screen up there. I’m just grateful to be in the same room. And the fact that you’ll even let me touch you at all is the freaking miracle of the century. So whatever you want or don’t want from me, all you have to do is ask. Okay?” Now, I'm not a moron. The chances of this book happening in real life are nill and none-I just meant that the progression of the romance not only felt natural , but light-hearted and full of something I'm not sure I feel very often anymore when I read. And, fun as this book was, it was heavy in all the right places. But despite all that . . . look what he did. Look what he did. For me? And he’s sitting here, in pain, falling apart, and all he’s worried about is that I’m sorry I gave him my number and don’t want to go out on a date with him? In true YA fashion, though, it wasn't without it's pitfalls. Let's be honest here: Not many girls would miss the obvious signs that Porter Roth was, in fact, online Alex. It was clear as day. And I did think that if there was a problem with this book, it'd be Mink. She was a tad naive for my tastes ...but I never felt full-on annoyance, which seems to be a recurring theme lately on all the books I choose to pick up. With what little time I have to read, I'm just not as forgiving as I used to be. A couple of yards before we hit the ground, he speaks up in a voice so quiet, I can barely hear him. “What I said the other day about you having champagne tastes?” He pauses for a moment. Mr. Reyes is smiling, waiting to unhitch our bar. “I just wanted you to know that I like the way you dress. I like your style. . . . I think it’s sexy as hell.” And Porter-I just loved him so so much. Sweet, funny, a tad asshole-ish....but absolutely loyal to the core . He gets his heart broken. He would do anything for Mink. He even has the sweetest apology scene. And, ya know, he can be a tad alpha-male which, hey, I love me a good 'defending my lady' scene -*whispers* There were 3 (holds up the non-existent but ever useful three finger emoji). PLUS, he is a tad wittier than our dear main character-I'll say that much...though, he got a little clearer sign, I'll admit. He kisses my forehead. “Know what I’m scared of?” “What?” “That I like you way too much, and I’m afraid once you get to know me, you’re going to realize that you can do lots better, and you’re going to break my heart and leave me for someone classier.” And I seem to be LOVING this type of book right now (is it a trope? I don't want to toss that word around unnecessarily)-the one where people meet online or in letters ( Punk 57 , Letters to the Lost , Eliza and Her Monsters , and others I'm forgetting like a moron) and then meet in person, hit it off, and don't realize they are the same person. I can't help it- I'm a hopeless romantic and these seem to be hitting all the right buttons for me this year. Note: 2017, the year of the YA Romance cyber stalkers . See: Chelsea totally buying into this melodrama-and LOVING IT. If we’re meant to be, and he’s the person I imagine him to be, then things will all work out fine. He’ll be wonderful, and by the end of the summer, we’ll be crazy in love, watching North by Northwest at the film festival on the beach, and I’ll have my hands all over him. Which is what I spend a lot of my free time imagining myself doing to his virtual body, the lucky boy. And, frankly, I liked Bailey's voice. She was funny, sarcastic, and I found that I related to her quite a bit when it came to her sarcasm. She was snarky and quick-witted. Whadya guna do? :P ..."Like a horse, you know?” He holds his hands up on either side of his eyes. “You plow ahead, and you make a lot of progress that other people wouldn’t make, but you can’t see what’s happening on either side of the road. You have blind spots. You ignore things that are right next to you. Your mom did that all the time.” I had so much to say about this book when I first finished-I had a whole review plotted out in my head, I was so anxious to let my thoughts be heard. But, as it is...TIME. TIME TIME TIME. But, and maybe this is a tad cliche, I think it truly says something when I read a book, have no time to write a review, and STILL come back a month (or more) later and attempt to post one. Obviously this book meant something to me, and obviously it was worth coming back for. Maybe that says the most of all. For more of my reviews, please visit: buddy-read could-read-over-and-over-again favorites ...more 72 likes Like Comment ⊱ Sonja ⊰ 3,425 reviews 522 followers August 13, 2023 Die 17-jährige Bailey reist zu ihrem Vater nach Kalifornien. Hier nimmt sie einen Ferienjob in einem Museum an und lernt dabei den gleichaltrigen Porter kennen. Die beiden freunden sich langsam an. Gleichzeitig aber sucht sie auch nach Alex, ihrem Chat-Freund, den sie zwar noch nie gesehen hat, mit dem sie aber auch eine enge Freundschaft verbindet. Er muss irgendwo in der Nähe ihres neuen Wohnortes leben. Doch je besser sie Porter kennenlernt, desto mehr rückt Alex in den Hintergrund... *** Mein Leseeindruck: Diese Geschichte von Bailey, Porter und Alex hat mir sehr gut gefallen! Zwar mag die Handlung etwas vorhersehbar gewesen sein, aber das hat mich überhaupt nicht gestört. Es gab außerdem trotzdem kleine Details in der Geschichte, die noch für Überraschungen gesorgt haben. Der Schreibstil ist jugendlich und leicht, so dass sich das Buch flüssig hat lesen lassen. Die Geschichte spielt am Meer in Kalifornien, so dass bei mir auch ein wenig Urlaubsfeeling zurückkam. Ich denke, es ist ein gutes Buch zum Abschalten und Entspannen. Obwohl es vordergründig eine leichte Geschichte ist, hat sie meiner Meinung nach doch durchaus auch Tiefgang. Ich habe das Buch sehr gerne gelesen und kann es weiterempfehlen! Es sorgt für schöne Lesestunden. 2016 70 likes Like Comment marta the book slayer 534 reviews 1,359 followers February 26, 2021 “And you’re giving him an awful lot of looks that say I’d like to jump on you with my mighty roller-derby strength. And he’s giving you looks that say I’d like to surf your waves.” 3.5/5 Turns out there might exist a heart under this tough stone cold exterior that hands out lit matches to every other book she reads. If we travel back in time to the year 2015, young Marta was doing nothing but reading YA romance novels. I would buy any and all cheap romance novels on my Kindle for like $1-$2 and devour them. I never knew how comforting reading these YA books was until I hit my first reading slump after a year of non stop reading. It hit me bad and I needed to regress to the mental state I was in staying up late in high school finishing these romance novels. That being said: Bailey (gosh I forget how cringe the main character's names are in these YA love stories) moves to California to live with her divorced father. Due to an event that occurred in her past, she's closed off and doesn't trust people easily. Having opened up only a little bit to Alex, an online friend on a film forum, Bailey is hesitant to reveal that she has moved to Alex's city (or any other personal information about herself) until she can track Alex down and make sure he's not a creep. Forced to take a summer job in a museum, she's constantly argues (flirtatiously so) with her surfer coworker Porter. That's all I'm giving you. Do not read the synopsis of the book on GR, trust me, you're better off going into this book blind Anyway, what unfolds is a cute story of a girl learning to trust in other people and being more honest with herself. There are some characters that are pretty aggravating and some storylines are randomly thrown in there for drama. Even with these faults, I love any book that can take me out of the reading slump and this one specifically reminded me what I enjoyed about reading when I was younger. cliches 56 likes Like Comment Anja H. 806 reviews 584 followers April 9, 2019 *4.25 APPROXIMATE STARS* “Sometimes you have to endure painful things to realize that you're a whole lot stronger than you think.” Yep, I think I might have found one of my new favorite authors guys! I totally loved and enjoyed this, probably even more than Starry Eyes , which I already adored. I can't wait to read her other books! 56 likes Like Comment Danielle (Love at First Page) 726 reviews 699 followers February 9, 2017 4.5-5 stars Looooooved. YA romance at its finest. Porter is ALL THE SWOONS. arc contemporary daddys-girl ...more 54 likes Like Comment Danielle 962 reviews 551 followers October 28, 2021 This was a decent YA read. 😀 Definitely predictable. 😉Still entertaining. 😜 57 likes Like Comment alexandra 230 reviews 1,519 followers September 3, 2020 i binged this in a day and i'm hopelessly, horribly obsessed. i've already reread some of my favorite parts three times and I CAN'T DEAL WITH MY EMOTIONS. this is way too cute. :''') full review to come!! arc-physical contemporary-fluff guilty-pleasure ...more 54 likes Like Comment myo ⋆｡˚ ❀ * 1,019 reviews 7,684 followers May 5, 2021 this was a fun lil enemies to lovers fix, i’m obsessed with summer and i wanted a good summer read and this book was perfect for that. this was so much fun but it was a bit corny at times? i really like this authors writing and i cant wait to check out another book from her. 51 likes Like Comment Sara 369 reviews 385 followers February 19, 2021 This book is what it is, a cute, easy, Summer read. Its has everyone's favorite trope, enemies to loves, and it was done pretty realistically which i appreciated. I was fully engrossed in this story and i think most of that is to do with how well the characters were written, i often find the main characters in YA contemporary books to be pretty one dimensional but i really liked Bailey and Porter. If you don't expect too much from it, this book is swell. (yes i just said swell, no i don't know why either) 50 likes Like Comment nick (the infinite limits of love) 2,120 reviews 1,520 followers April 15, 2017 4.5/5 There are just certain YA books that absolutely blow me away with how readable they are. Jenn Bennett’s The Anatomical Shape of a Heart was one of those books for me. I didn’t think it was possible for the author to write another book even better than that one, but Jenn Bennett completely wowed me with Alex, Approximately. It’s the sort of book that is so hard to put down that you decide to forego all your chores, and in the end, you don’t even care, because reading the book was an indescribable experience. I have lots to say about Alex, Approximately, but I’m not going to reveal everything, because there elements of the book you have to experience all on your own. So here are 5 reasons why this book worked for me. BAILEY’S REALNESS It’s not often that I discover a heroine is very much like me, but I was glad to see lots of my teenage self in Bailey. Now, I’m not a film-buff like Bailey was, but there were aspects of her characterization that I think a lot of teen girls will recognize. She’s a breath of fresh air with how perfectly flawed she was. She makes mistakes, she learns from her mistakes and she apologizes for her mistakes. Bailey was also quite an emotional girl, which I 100% related to. She has a lot going on with her family, but despite it all, she was a strong girl who stayed true to herself throughout Alex, Approximately. If you enjoy books with strong character development and growth, you will very likely connect on a deep level to Bailey and her story. PORTER’S SWOONINESS (I KNOW NOT A REAL WORD) Good gosh does Jenn Bennett know how to write YA boys who are delectable! I was expecting Porter to be a great guy, but I was still surprised by how much I wound up loving him. He was charming, flirty and genuine in his kindness. The way he pursues Bailey totally had my heart fluttering all over the place. His devotion to his family, his cocky attitude and his love for surfing made him all the more attractive to me. Porter was so much more than just a surfer and I loved that he possessed so much depth. You’ll be left wondering where on earth you can find a boy as swoony as Porter once you’re done reading the book! THE VIBRANT BEACH SETTING & THE MUSEUM THAT COMES TO LIFE I love anything that has a coastal beach setting because it reminds me home. Bailey has just moved in to her dad’s place in California, and a lot of her growth is focused around this setting. I loved the descriptions of the locales, locals, food, and the activities that she pursued while she was there. The museum that she finds work in was also beautifully written. It was quirky, charming, and had a very entertaining staff that had me smiling and laughing. I wish that I had somewhere as cool as The Cavern Palace to work at as a teen. RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE FLAWED, MESSY AND MEANINGFUL As with the characters and the setting, the relationships in Alex, Approximately were also a highlight for me. I particularly loved Bailey’s bond with her father. It’s a little complicated, but also full of love and respect for each other. There were so many great scenes of the two of them talking and expressing their feelings to each other. I loved that they were respectful even when they might not have agreed with each other. Bailey also meets an awesome friend in Grace. I really loved Grace, and I thought she made for an awesome side-kick, who was a rock for Bailey a lot of times. More awesome girl friendships, please! A ROMANCE THAT IS DELICIOUSLY ROMANTIC & SEX POSITIVE To say that I loved the development of the romance between Bailey & Porter would be a severe understatement. I thought it was absolutely perfect, and I loved how it had a bit of a hate-to-love feel to it in the beginning. Bailey and Porter didn’t see eye to eye at first, but he slowly broke down her defenses and soon enough, even she couldn’t resist his charms. There were some seriously swoony moments in the book, but the scenes I loved the best were the ones of the two of them talking and emotionally connecting with each other. The chemistry felt real and tangible, and it was just the sort of romance that left me with a sappy grin on my face. Part of the romance also developed through emails and texts (which I LOVED), and made it extra special. As with The Anatomical Shape of a Heart, Alex, Approximately was also sex-positive. There aren’t explicit sex scenes or anything, but there are discussions of sex between the two protagonists before they jump into bed together. I was also ridiculously pleased at the mention of Bailey masturbating. I think there’s notion that bringing yourself to pleasure is sinful, especially for young women, so it was refreshing to have a YA book show it positively. As you can probably tell from all my praise, I’m wildly obsessed with this book and I can’t wait for the rest of the world to pick Alex, Approximately up and find a story that’s full of heart, swoons and smiles. I’m ready for Jenn Bennett’s next! 2017-favorites 48 likes Like Comment emi 535 reviews 1,155 followers April 10, 2017 2.75/5 stars. Okay, so don’t let the low star rating fool you. I did like this book a lot. I’d probably recommend it to someone who isn’t an avid reader. I just had problems with it. I hate comparing books to one another. I really do. I mean, the next time I see a “the next Hunger Games” comparison I might just burn something down. Yet, I couldn’t help it with this book. While I did enjoy it, I would have liked it a lot more if I hadn’t already read Tell Me Three Things or P.S. I Like You . All three books were so incredibly similar, but I just felt like the other two did things better. (Just FYI, I totally brain farted the title of Tell Me Three Things , so I googled searched “YA waffle book” and that did help me at all) I think the problem for me was that there was no chemistry between the main character, Bailey, and the guy she had been talking to online, Alex. We barely got to see any of their interactions. And the interactions we did have weren’t that funny or enjoyable. Also, their conversations we didn’t get to see didn’t make sense to me. Why would they discuss their locations and where they live to each other openly, but get uncomfortable about telling the other their first name? I didn’t get it. At all. Also, even though it's literally so obvious who Alex is, they tell you in the freaking description of the book. Not cool. Then there’s love interest Porter who is a quiz-loving, weather-obsessed, surfer who works as security guard and also nerds our about movies. He was almost too much to be honest. And don’t let the description fool you. It states that Porter and Bailey are “archnemesises” but they literally only hate each other for maybe twenty pages. Not long enough to really make me feel like they hate each other. (And, if I hasn’t already read P.S. I Like You , this wouldn’t have been a big deal). Protagonist Bailey is suppose to be film geek. I don’t have much experience with a die-hard love of films, but I kind of imagine it’s like my die-hard love of books. Whenever I can read a book, I read a book. Whenever I can talk about a book, I’m gonna talk about a book. So, I imagined that Bailey would do the same thing. Did she? Nope. She literally only mentioned movies when it was essential to the plot. Bailey was also so frustrating. It was so, so obvious what was about to go down but she was so oblivious. Literally, everything was painted out for her and she just kept blinking her eyes. Even her dad, who just watched things from a far instead of living it out, saw everything coming from thirty miles away I’m ranting now. I’m also over analyzing. I really did enjoy this book. Yes, the characters were a little ridiculous. And the plot really isn’t the most original. But romantic contemporaries are suppose to just be fun and lighthearted, which is exactly what this book is. I had fun reading it. I’m sure you will have a great time too. 2017 3-stars books-i-own ...more 47 likes Like Comment prag ♻ 608 reviews 631 followers April 30, 2017 A 4 step guide for how to write a 5 star book : Step #1 : Take the best movie to ever exist ( You've Got Mail ) (Trust me on this one.) Step #2 : Recreate it in book form. Remember, this is the important one. Don't mess it up like Julie Buxbaum did. Of course, added levels of hilarity and a swoonworthy love interest wouldn't hurt. Step #3 : Add to the story a hint of charm and a Relatable™ af narrator. Step #4 : Throw in a reference to the movie mentioned in step #1, because you've pulled out all the stops, might as well leave the reader (me) screaming. BONUS : It's served best with your shopgirl and mink favorite-pre-2018 so-funny-much-laugh yam 44 likes Like Comment Ashley 667 reviews 795 followers February 6, 2017 Hello, perfection. Books like this make me think the world might actually be pretty great. arc e-arc 43 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,350 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 56 quotes 11 discussions 24 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Quake by Tracey Alvarez | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $3.99 Rate this book Quake Tracey Alvarez 4.10 210 ratings 62 reviews Want to read Kindle $3.99 Rate this book He’ll shake her foundations… Ana Grace is living a single mother’s worst nightmare. Separated from her two kids by a catastrophic earthquake, she’s trapped in her office building with a man she’s only just met. He’s a sexy former soldier, and possibly the only man able to help her navigate the dangerous landscape home. Daniel Calder is tired of failing people he’s tried to help, but since Ana is his younger sister’s boss, he’s caught between a rock and a hard place. That rock keeps shifting under his feet, shaking his determination not to become emotionally involved with another damsel in distress. But when an unforeseen enemy rises from a city in chaos, Ana Grace and her family are in the crosshairs. There’s so much more at stake than just their hearts, and the clock is ticking. Genres Romance Military Fiction Suspense Contemporary Romance Contemporary Romantic Suspense 230 pages, Kindle Edition First published March 9, 2018 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Tracey Alvarez 30 books 635 followers Tracey Alvarez lives in the Coolest Little Capital in the World (a.k.a Wellington, New Zealand) where she’s yet to be buried under her to-be-read book pile by Wellington’s infamous wind—her Kindle’s a lifesaver! Married to a wonderfully supportive IT guy, she has two teens who would love to be surgically linked to their electronic devices. Fuelled by copious amounts of coffee, she’s the author of contemporary romantic fiction set predominantly in New Zealand. Small-towns, close communities, and families are a big part of the heart-warming stories she writes. Oh, and hot, down-to-earth heroes—Kiwi men, in other words. When she’s not writing, thinking about writing, or procrastinating about writing, Tracey can be found reading sexy books of all romance genres, nibbling on smuggled chocolate bars, or bribing her kids to take over the housework. Tracey also writes flirty, dirty stories under the penname Jessie Logan. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.10 210 ratings 62 reviews 5 stars 89 (42%) 4 stars 67 (31%) 3 stars 42 (20%) 2 stars 10 (4%) 1 star 2 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews Carol [Goodreads Addict] 2,621 reviews 25.1k followers March 11, 2018 Quake is a brand new stand alone by Tracey Alvarez. I’ve read most of Tracey’s books and they are all contemporary romance. This is her first try in the romantic/suspense thriller genre and I have to say that she aced it! The book had me turning the pages from the beginning to the ending of the perfect epilogue. The story begins on July 23 in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. Daniel Calder is former military, now living and working on his family’s farm. Daniel has a meeting in Lower Hutt and then plans to spend some time with his sister, Nadia. Nadia works as a nanny for Ana Grace, an attorney, who has graciously volunteered to pick Daniel up at the airport on her way to back to the office. Ana Grace is a corporate attorney and a single mom to a teenage son and a two year old daughter. Raising her children is Ana’s life. She lost her husband before her daughter was born. But her marriage wasn’t perfect, far from it. Past experiences have left Ana with some serious trust issues, issues that have convinced her that she isn’t meant for love. That she’s better off just concentrating on her children. “Make it stop. Make it stop Make it stop.” Ana and Daniel had never met before, but there is an instant awareness between them. That rare spark of awareness that you never expect. When Daniel accompanies Ana to her office, though, their day takes a tragic and unexpected turn when a major earthquake hits which also triggers an epic tsunami. Life as they knew it ceased as they were trapped on the third floor of Ana’s office building. All Ana can think of is getting to her children who are in two separate places across the city from each other. Ana and Daniel set off on foot to make their way to Ana’s home where her baby girl and Daniel’s sister are. Their world is forever changed and the journey is filled with danger and unbelievable conditions. Daniel’s military training provides him with the necessary skills to protect Ana. The attraction between them grows and little by little they reveal parts of themselves to each other. The journey is also one of self discovery. Ana finds a strength she didn’t know she had. But her trust issues are always there, reminding her that no man, no matter how wonderful he seems, can be completely trusted. She is determined not to let herself fall for this man. “It’d be so easy to fall for you, Ana Grace.” “I thought you didn’t want another damsel in distress in your life.” “I want you in my life, Ana Grace. And honey? You ain’t no damsel.” There is another danger lurking in the shadows for Ana and Daniel. A danger that threatens everything Ana holds dear. This book was amazing. The imagery of the catastrophic events of the earthquake and tsunami were unimaginable. Ana showed such strength and perseverance. It was the strength of a mama who is determined to protect her children. In the depths of all of the tragedy, though, Ana is also being offered a gift, a man that despite all her efforts not to, she is falling for and is also falling for her. She is determined though, not to give in. She is not willing to risk her heart or the hearts of her children. Daniel is everything dreams are made of. He’s tough and trustworthy. He proves time and time again that he will do whatever it takes to protect Ana and get her to her children. Truthfully, I got a little annoyed with Ana and her reluctance to let Daniel in. I think, though, that it was mostly because I loved him so much! This book grabs you from the start and it kept me enthralled until the final page. It’s hard to believe that this genre was new for this author. It’s an amazing book and I sincerely hope that we will get more of this from her in the future. Whether you prefer steamy romance or this new romantic suspense, you will find something you like in Tracey Alvarez’s books! contemporary-romance suspense 129 likes Like Comment Dri ✰ 693 reviews 231 followers March 16, 2018 ★ 3.8 “Farm Boy” stars!!! ★ “When I have no one or nothing, I turn to you and my heart is home.” Daniel Calder *swoon* é o personagem que mais gostei nesse livro! Confiante, corajoso, devotado... apaixonante! Ana Grace é uma advogada e mãe de dois filhos... Me relacionei ao ver a coragem e determinação de uma mãe disposta a se arriscar e enfrentar os obstáculos e perigos desconhecidos deixados por um terremoto para se reencontrar com sua família. Em seu lugar eu faria o mesmo! Uma das coisas que não gostei muito foi o tempo em que a história se passa... questão de dias, no máximo algumas semanas. Claro que não esperava que levasse meses e meses, mas gostaria de ter visto um pouco mais de desenvolvimento e calma na construção do relacionamento entre os personagens. Era óbvio que sentimentos surgiriam devido a proximidade dos dois e das circunstâncias. Porém, ao meu ver foi rápido demais. O comportamento da Ana em alguns momentos me irritou muito, de certa forma compreendi a sua resistência. Mas não posso mentir e dizer que não foi cansativo ver toda essa indecisão e relutância... A história é narrada em terceira pessoa, apesar de não ser muito fã desse estilo de narrativa, a leitura foi fluída e rápida. Manteve meu interesse e curiosidade até a última página. Mesmo com os pontos negativos que apontei, no final da leitura me vi com aquele sorriso bobo no rosto. Portanto, no geral, eu gostei sim desse livro. 2018 46 likes Like Comment Dísir 1,677 reviews 179 followers March 6, 2018 ‘Quake’ resonated with me in more ways than one. Apart from the devastating quakes that have stolen the headlines in New Zealand over the past few years, that Tracey Alvarez has chosen to set her book in Wellington—a place which I adore—and its familiar surrounds made me walk in these footsteps once again. It was all too easy to imagine the windiest city in the world swept away in the tsunami that resulted because of the fictional quake, the landslides and mudflow and the aftershocks crumbling everything that I remember all too well. ‘Quake’ is a departure from Alvarez’s ‘Due South’ and ‘Far North’ series, and I was beyond intrigued (but eager) to see how she’d tackle this book. Here, Alvarez’s distinct rom-com voice is replaced with a more sombre, direct narrative, though it’s no less engaging, well-written and realistic, more so since it’s about an area built on a faultline that has and is likely to see more of these quakes to come. The small bit of suspense does not entirely kick in until later, with the first half being more of a catalogue of how the desperate survive, though the insinuation that there are those who would take advantage of chaos to further their own malicious agendas is a brilliant idea, if a little baffling in this instance. Still, Ana’s and Daniel’s accidental, longer-than-expected involvement is only that is mostly believable, given the adrenaline and tension of a natural disaster forging stronger bonds. It was admittedly harder to get invested in this pairing than I thought. If Daniel was the hero I thought he was, Ana’s appalling behaviour and emotional cowardice didn’t make me a fan of hers at all. The numerous times she pushed Daniel away and hurt him made me think that a smack was in fact, sorely needed, despite the spurts of courage and bravery that she showed while making her way home to her children. Painting Daniel with the same brush as her father and ex was unfair and she knew it but ultimately, Ana’s repetitive but brutal actions towards him—all the way to the very end—made her a lot less easy to like than Daniel whose loyalty and devotion seemed misplaced and undeserved. My reservations about Ana however, shouldn’t be a deterrent to those who like disaster-type stories with romance and a hint of suspense thrown in. There is so much that’s unique about ‘Quake’’s premise but my own bias about New Zealand is probably showing here; Alvarez’s assured and confident writing just makes the pot that much sweeter. *ARC by the author annoying-brainless-wimpy-female antipodean-authors arc ...more 8 likes Like Comment Jennifer G 2,542 reviews 48 followers March 7, 2018 Ana Grace is a lawyer, a single mother of two children, Theo and Alyssa. On Friday morning, July 23rd she picks up her nanny's brother, Daniel for a visit and they head back to her office. At 10:22 a major earthquake and tsunami hit destroying Wellington, New Zealand. Ana's only thought is to get to her children. Daniel, a former soldier, now working on his family farm is a natural born hero but he doesn't see it that way. He wears the guilt of his failures but this time he's determined to keep this woman safe and to get her home to her children. Together they will escape the damaged building and travel the broken city each trying to fight their attraction to the other. Both have reasons why they should not get involved with each other, both have scars from their pasts. Strangers thrown together under intense conditions, it's hard to remain emotionally distant and as an unanticipated enemy makes his move against Ana's family during the chaotic aftermath of the disaster, it becomes clear just how much they need one another. However, as brave as Ana is in some areas of her life, she isn't brave in her personal one. She won't allow herself to trust a man. She knows she needs to let Daniel go. After all, they barely know each other. Love, at first sight, seems a fairytale until it hits you. Quake is a departure from Alvarez’s Due South and Far North series. I was a little worried going into the book because I adore her other series. No reason to worry, however. The farm boy and the counselor stole my heart. Daniel is a man after my own heart. He's solid, strong, and good. His easy affection for Ana's children, his pure love, and protectiveness for her won me over completely. Ana was a spitfire. She's a mother which in my eyes is the greatest compliment you can give a woman. She would do anything for her children, plain and simple. She frustrated me with her relationship fears but I understood them and I had faith she would come to her senses. She was smart after all. Quake is realistic, well-written, and the characters authentic. It's a well-conceived and executed romantic suspense. There's a tension that builds throughout. The anticipation, the suspense kept me engaged from beginning to end. It provoked a myriad of emotions; worry, fear, amusement, hope, anger, disgust, frustration. I highly recommend. 2 likes Like Comment Donna Author 7 books 33 followers March 3, 2018 Quake is a well-written story with developed characters and an engaging plot. I was pleased to see a natural disaster dealt with in a realistic manner. Help was not immediately available, electricity, water, and phone service were gone, or spotty at best. Roads were impassable making traveling 35km an undertaking. Very real dangers lurked along the way. I can only imagine how Ana felt not knowing the fate of her kids. Every good mother's nightmare. Her determination to reach them was admirable. I loved that she was a strong-willed woman, capable of taking care of herself, while also realizing she needed Daniel's help. Daniel was a dream come true! Holy hotness!!! I'd love to have someone like him in my life! There were times I really wanted to slap Ana and say "Get a grip." She was a bit wishy-washy when it came to her feelings for Daniel. I can understand it to a degree but... I was glad to see her finally get set straight by the person she was using as her biggest excuse. Can't say more without a spoiler. I loved the scene with the can of beans in the park. Even though it was a tense scene, the beans brought some levity to the situation and made me admire Ana even more. Don't try to get between a determined woman and her kids! There was extra suspense in the story besides the quake and it definitely upped the tension. I was glad to see everything completely settled with no loose ends. Tracey Alvarez has written a page-turner romantic suspense. She always writes awesome stories that make me fall in love with her characters and New Zealand. I strongly urge you to read Quake and all the books she has written. 2 likes Like Comment Becky 3,158 reviews 129 followers March 21, 2018 Quake is a definite departure for Ms. Alvarez, with an element of danger and suspense not seen in her other series ( Bountny Bay and Stewart Island ) and the fact that she's new to writing the genre does show somewhat (the suspense part is done somewhat clumsily and predictably) it's still a worthwhile read. Seeing characters in the midst of an earthquake and tsunami-caused crisis felt very topical with all of the natural disasters making the news these days, and reading her descriptions of the devastation they caused made me very grateful to live in an area where earthquakes are not a common occurrence. As with Tracey's other books, the characters here are her real strength--Daniel especially was a favorite. Family and friends were as important to her hero and heroine as they usually are in her contemporary romances, which was enjoyable to read even if we didn't see much of them since the bulk of the novel was Daniel and Ana traveling between her place of work and where her kids were. I was a bit bummed that Ms. Alvarez chose for her widowed heroine to have the "we were headed for divorce anyway; I never really loved him" type of first marriage, but that's fairly typical in the romance genre these days and it seems like I'm the only person that it bothers overmuch, so... This book is perhaps a bit too short to really do justice to its plot elements, making the suspense, disaster plot, and romance all feel a bit rushed. If instalove bothers you, it's definitely in evidence here. Still, for a first foray into these genres it's a decent attempt; I'm looking forward to seeing what Ms. Alvarez will do with them in the future. Rating: 3 1/2 stars / C+ contemporary widow-er 1 like Like Comment Cathy Geha 3,959 reviews 105 followers March 9, 2018 Quake by Tracey Alvarez The Big One – an earthquake – that is what I always heard people worrying about and preparing for while living in California. I experienced a few and some were humdingers BUT none were as bad where I lived as the one described in this book. What would I do if I were in Ana’s shoes? How would I cope? I am sure that having Daniel, with all of his military training, there to assist her as she made her way through the destruction to reach her children would have been a blessing…and a delightful temptation. Disasters happen. Worlds are turned upside down. Stress is to be expected. Worry about loved ones and no way to find out how they are would be difficult. The author made the situation seem real. The emotions were raw. Daniel and Ana were relatable and realistic. Throwing in a character that was out for blood – Ana’s and some of her family’s – ramped up the suspense. Ana had reasons she did not trust men but at times I wanted her to be more trusting… Daniel, his father and brothers all seemed to have the genetic predisposition to love quickly and deeply but Ana was not so easily swayed and without the wise counsel of someone close to her there might not have been a HEA for Ana and Daniel. This was a complex well plotted story that made me think “what if?” and knowing it could happen where I live and that in the past there has been a tsunami after an earthquake in Lebanon this book hit close to home. Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review. 4-5 Stars 1 like Like Comment Catheryn 866 reviews 12 followers November 30, 2023 This was ok. It was pretty light on the survival plot, especially given there was no societal collapse or anything. The police intervened a few times and helped their friends too. They fell into their feelings pretty quick, but she fought it for *reasons*. Definitely not as gritty as the cover portrays. 1 like Like Comment Juanita Kees Author 21 books 111 followers April 28, 2018 Alvarez extends her talents to include a suspense/thriller thread in Quake. Full of action, adventure and the Kiwi humour I love so much, this was a fast-paced read. It took me a while to get into the story, but from the moment they scaled down the wall of the quake-battered building and started out on their rescue mission, the action jumped off the page. The suspense/thriller element was light enough to add intrigue rather than edge-of-the-seat suspense, driven by a third point of view from the villain's perspective, which (for me) made it a little predictable. As always, well-written and edited and undeniably enjoyable. An ARC was kindly provided by the author for an honest review. 2 likes Like Comment Susan Page 735 reviews 5 followers March 8, 2018 This is a delightful book, and a bit of a change of direction for Tracey. This has none of the coziness of the Stewart Island and Bounty Bay series of books. It is edgy from the start, very much in the romantic suspense genre, with the emphasis on suspense, which gradually builds through the book. Daniel Calder, an ex-soldier and now working on the family farm, has flown to Wellington to visit his sister Nadia, who is working as nanny for lawyer Ana Grace. It is Ana who meets him from the airport, and the tension starts right there. They are both attracted to each other, but Ana is totally sworn off men. All the men in her life have let her down, and her life entirely revolves round her children, Theo, a teenager, and Alyssa a little girl, not yet school age. Daniel too has a few skeletons in his closet that need to be dealt with. She drives him back to her office, and while they are making arrangements for him to come back there in an hour to go to her home there is a massive earthquake, followed by a tsunami. Her office is on the third floor of the building, and bits of the walls fall away. It is only a small office, just four of them in that day, but they are not unscathed, Joel has a badly broken arm and Irene, has a heart attack, and dies. Nothing is working, so they are unable to call for help, or leave the building until the tsunami subsides. Ana is frantic, she has to find her children. Eventually the water clears, Daniel makes a rope from a long, plaited roller towel, and he helps Ana abseil down to the ground, then he climbs down, with Ana being his eyes to tell him where his hands and feet can gain purchase on the wall. Once they are back on the ground they find a rescue team and report the help required by Joel, Irene and Maggie. It is very hard for them to get away from the city centre, there is so much debris they cannot use a vehicle, they have to walk to get to Ana's family. They have several tense situations along the way, but there is also a sinister element, danger is stalking Ana's loved ones, and especially her. There are a few chapters which give a little light relief, which you do need in a tense story. The episode with the tin of baked beans is very amusing, and unexpected, I won't spoil it by saying more than that! The huge climax towards the end of the book is extremely well done, it all feels very real. Tracey has written the whole situation of the massive earthquake, tsunami and aftershocks very well, you can really feel as though you are there, experiencing the fear and panic alongside the book characters, nothing is overstated. For much of the book Ana is quite hard to like. She is single minded in her determination to find her family, and she is quite unpleasant to Daniel, who is doing his best to protect her. He is a lovely character, but Ana would have deserved it if he had walked off and left her to it. But you can see their attraction for each other getting stronger and stronger, no matter how much they try to fight it. Very well worth reading. Like Comment Frankie 29 reviews March 19, 2018 As always Ms Alvarez sucks you into the meat of the story from the very start. You're drawn in directly to the time that the two main characters meet and interact and the story continues from there at a fairly fast rate. This was a detour from Ms Alvarez' popular series' and was a fun and thrilling addition with the action and adventure of the aftermath of the quake. I did really like the main hero Daniel as a man that took action and thought things out rationally. His actions showed us his true character and how he functioned as a person, not just as a love interest which really built up our connection with him. He was a lovable hero and well suited to the more uptight heroine Ana. Ana, although I liked her character, I didn't connect to as strongly as her actions seemed to sway from rational to emotional (which you completely expect and understand under the circumstances) and then to completely irrational and out of control (this was a little jolting for me, but maybe I'm just too rational of a thinker?), but luckily this only happened on the few and far between occasions. I did however feel their connection together as a building romance and hence why I still enjoyed the story. The build up of tension leading to the conclusion of the story was good but I didn't feel the real sense of true anticipation that I hoped for. The 'twist' that other reviewers have spoken of was a good fit for the story but not entirely unexpected. In saying that I really enjoyed the story as a whole but I guess was more surprised at seeing it referred to as a twist. And being a lover of action and tension, I would have loved to have seen more of this in the end. I don't want to give away any part of the story, but I'll just say that I felt that action scene including Daniel and another character felt like it could have had more build up. I didn't want that part of the story to be dealt with so swiftly and hence I guess the main reason for 3 stars instead of 4. I just wanted 'more'. My only other real wish for the story is for the beginning of the story. I would have really liked to have seen perhaps the addition of even just one scene to start to introduce us to Ana and Nadia interacting with the kids at Ana's home. Usually I love that Ms Alvarez gets to the introduction of the main characters so quickly but as all of them as a family unit play such an integral role in the story, I felt I didn't know them well enough as we don't really have any emotional connection as readers, only indirectly through Ana's thoughts. In saying that, this really doesn't distract from the story - it's only the wish of one reader. I enjoyed reading Quake as it was a fast paced romance with the thrill of a little 'insta' love, action, steam and can I mention Daniel again? Daniel. Thanks for another great read Ms Alvarez! Like Comment Rhonda Brant 810 reviews 4 followers March 5, 2018 There’s one thing you know you are going to get with a Tracey Alvarez book, an incredible adventure throughout New Zealand loaded with romance, beautiful scenery and hot steamy sex, but this one came with a twist that I haven’t seen before from her. Those of us who know Tracey and her amazing books, she lives in New Zealand, also known that the area is prone to earthquakes. Now being from SoCal myself, we are also used to those pesky earth moving occurrences, and when they happen, we pray it’s only a tiny little shaker, but in Quake, it’s the mother of all shakers, and it’s rather unnerving, given those of us who have gone through them. I found myself having a bit of anxiety when the first part of the book starts off. She explains in great detail to the reader what the characters are going through, loss, devastation, will to live, heroic efforts and most of all survival. Not that the earthquake wasn’t enough to write about, she then throws in a twist. But Ana’s got one thing on her mind, and that’s to get to her kids and nanny, who just happens to be Daniel’s (hunk of a hero/ex military) little sister. Daniel and Ana map out a plan to get to Ana’s kids and his sister through a well planned out path through the back roads of downtown Wellington where her Law firm is located to her home in Southgate Wellington. This is a very well written book (no surprise) that keeps you engaged from the first page to the very last word on the last page. Tracey has a way to make you feel like you are right there in the thick of things, going through every emotion and challenge Ana and Daniel encounter as they both try to make it to their end goal, getting to their family members to make sure they are okay and safe, and unknowingly putting themselves in danger even more with what awaits them when they finally do make it there. All the while, opening themselves up to feelings they have for each other, something neither one of them want, but can do nothing but follow the path to see where it leads them. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book. Highly recommend readings this book!!! Like Comment Tuyetmai 56 reviews 2 followers March 22, 2018 Ana Grace is a woman who doesn’t trust men. Every man in her life has failed her. Her father. Her first love. Her ex-husband. The only person she can trust is herself. Daniel Calder is ex-military. He’s got a chip on his shoulder. Years ago, during training, a soldier under his command was permanently injured because she didn’t follow his orders. Daniel is haunted and guilt ridden by the accident. He’s since placed the needs of others before his own happiness as penance. The unthinkable has happened. An earthquake has struck and along with the tsunami that follows, has cause devastation and chaos. Ana, desperate to get to her children, must rely on and trust a man who she’s just met. The instant attraction between them is palpable. They must fight both their attraction, mutual personal issues with trust, as well as rogue entities to get to their goals. Tracey Alvarez has done it again. She’s woven a story that both thrills and terrifies. Her descriptive verbal rendering painted such vivid images that it was almost like watching a natural disaster movie instead of reading a book. I held my breath in fear and hope as Daniel and Ana helped dig out the cave in at the restaurant. I held my baby boy a little tighter and longer before putting him to bed after reading about Kyla and Cody. I sympathized with both Ana and Daniel after they were caught in the rain. Sitting around in wet clothes is no fun. Most of all, I was able to relate with Ana on so many different levels that I was completely sucked into the story and invested in her journey to reunite with her children. The twist with the hostage/revenge subplot pushed it over the edge. I stayed up way past my bedtime to read this book and I regret nothing. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own. Like Comment Doris 999 reviews March 4, 2018 4 stars Mit Ana und Daniel lernen wir diesmal zwei komplett neue Charaktere außerhalb ihrer bisherigen Serien-Welten kennen. Und auch diese beiden haben mich sofort in ihren Bann gezogen. Beide haben ihr Päckchen zu tragen – Daniel kämpft mit Schuldgefühlen, Ana mit ihren Vertrauensproblemen. Nachdem ein Erdbeben die Stadt zerstört hat, schließen sich die beiden zusammen, um gemeinsam Anas Kinder Alyssa und Theo sowie deren Nanny Nadia (Daniels Schwester) zu finden. Sie bahnen sich einen Weg durch die zerst��rte Stadt und erreichen Nadia und Alyssa, denen es gut geht. Theo hingegen soll sich bei Anas Vater aufhalten, nach dem sie als nächstes sehen wollen. Und hier erhält die gesamte Geschichte einen Thriller-Touch. Denn nicht nur die Nachbeben, sondern auch ein Mann mit Rachegelüsten wird ihnen gefährlich. Er will sich an Ana und ihrem Vater für ein lange zurückliegendes Unrecht rächen und nimmt dafür alles in Kauf. Ich mochte vor allem Daniel. Er war wie ein Fels in der Brandung und ließ sich trotz seiner eigenen Konflikte nie davon abbringen, Ana oder anderen zu helfen. Ein starker Mann mit Courage und Liebe, der Ana erst davon überzeugen musste, dass auch sie bereit ist, wieder zu vertrauen. Im Großen und Ganzen gefiel mir Anas und Daniels Geschichte wirklich gut. Meiner Meinung nach hätte man den Rachefeldzug allerdings beiseitelassen und sich voll und ganz auf die Katastrophengeschichte konzentrieren können. Es hätte dennoch an nichts gefehlt. Ich freue mich schon auf mehr Geschichten von Tracey Alvarez und kann sie jedem der, der gerne Contemporary Romance liest, nur wärmstens empfehlen! I requested a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts are my own. 4-stars books-arc character-hero-bearded ...more Like Comment Emabubby 240 reviews 2 followers March 6, 2018 Ana Grace is a defense attorney who had made some nasty enemies in her career. One of them has the perfect plan to get even with her. Ana's little girl Alyssa was with Nadia, her nanny and Ana's son Theo was in school on the other side of the city when the earthquake hit. Former soldier, Daniel Calder's younger sister Nadia is Alyssa's nanny. Ana had just picked up Daniel from the airport and was giving him a ride into Wellington for a business appointment near Ana's office. Daniel decided to help Ana carry a very heavy box of files up to her office as a way of showing his appreciation for his ride into town. Soon after Daniel and Ana arrival at her law office, a massive quake struck the city. Trapping Daniel, Ana and her office mates in their ruined office building. In the meanwhile, the enemy of both Ana and her father is determined to take advantage of the natural disaster to punish Ana and her father for their perceived crimes perpetrated again him. Daniel has an important decision to make. Is he willing to overcome his past and help his beautiful damsel in distress find and protect her family? You will have to read this thrilling, intriguing romantic suspense novel to find out the answer. Ms. Alvarez exciting novel is a real winner and you will not regret reading it. I received a free advanced copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving my personal review. Like Comment RedEnigma94 771 reviews 16 followers April 20, 2020 I'm already a Tracey Alvarez fan so it goes without saying that I love her style of storytelling and her romantic suspenses are intriguing. Daniel and Ana were sexy and smokin' hot together. I did love them as a couple, but while I loved Daniel as the ultimate hero, with his gorgeous dark looks, his strength, patience, kindness, and courage to move past the guilt he carried about a former soldier under his command, Ana needed a swift kick to the rear a few times. She could be so smart, tough, and so brave--willing to risk her life to help Daniel--yet be such a chicken when it came to matters of the heart. I get some of her hesitancy in moving forward with yet another relationship that had the possibility of failing, but painting all men with one paintbrush was a bit much. She was about to let go of a good man who proved to her over and over again that he was trustworthy...and everyone saw it, knew it, but her. Or more like she was denying the truth that was staring her right in the face, and ultimately denying the desires of her heart. I thought the other characters really added more dimension to the story, as well as a spot of humor. Ana's partner, Joel and Daniel's sister, Nadia were hilarious; especially when Joel was suggesting that Daniel was the only one who could render Ana speechless, or the way Nadia refused to let Ana hide away in her feelings. I felt like through Nadia, readers get to see Ana get that "swift kick in the rear" she needed.😂 Like Comment Natasha 140 reviews March 7, 2018 Quake is a departure from Tracey Alvarez's more community-based Due South and Far North series. As I've come to expect from Alvarez, Quake is well-written, but with a pretty scary and surprising twist toward the end. Attorney Ana Grace is helping out her employee/friend, Nadia, by picking up her older brother from the airport. Daniel Calder is visiting Nadia after switching careers from the military to working the family farm. An earthquake strikes while Ana and Dan are at Ana's office, cutting them off from Nadia and Ana's children. While that would be frightening enough, there is another serious shock waiting for them. Dan has never considered himself a hero, but can't stop himself from assisting Ana across the city to her children and his sister. I found Dan to be a likable guy, especially how he handled the destructive landscape and difficult path in front of him. He had a lot to consider in this trek, not just their safety, but his emotions about Ana given his past. While I can appreciate how panicked Ana felt about being separated from her kids, her actions did not endear her to me. There were things she thought and did that I found showed a disconnect with reality. Her moments of bravery were not enough for me to get on her team. I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book. owned review-copy romance Like Comment Meg 197 reviews 4 followers March 9, 2018 I give Quake by Tracey Alvarez five stars. This book is a stand alone book and is not part of a series. If you like romance books that have a touch of suspense and mystery you will love this book! This was a very well written and a very quick read that will have you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out what is going to happen. Ana Grace is a single mother who has a demanding job. Her worse nightmare happen one day when she goes to work and there is a earthquake. The earthquake causes so much damage to her office building that she is trapped. One good thing that happens is that she is trapped with her nanny's older brother who is a former Marine and sexy too! Daniel Calder feels like he has been failing people he has tried to help but he finds himself in a situation that leaves him without a choice. He has to help Ana get to her kids for two reasons, the first because she is his sisters boss and the second because he know that Ana will go without him and that is not a good plan. When unforeseen issues start because of the chaos in the city, Ana finds herself and her family right in the middle of the chaos. Can Ana and Daniel get back to her family in enough time? You have to read the book to find out. Like Comment M 53 reviews April 22, 2018 Four plus stars. I have never experienced a major earthquake, but I know people who have. I remember one of my friends describing the walk home after the second Christchurch earthquake, and the description in Quake reminded me very much of her experience. The Wellington setting was a nice departure from many of the romances I’ve read lately. It's a place I’ve visited often, and as I read, the feel and geography of the city jumped off the page. I love reading books by Tracy Alvarez. Some of her one-liners make me laugh out loud, and she has a great voice - taking everyday situations and writing about them in an interesting way. I liked this book a lot. From the cover, to the story line, to the characters, and the introduction of the sub plot intrigued me. I wondered how the author would do it justice without sensationalizing it, but she handled it really well and in a believable manner. As for the characters - Ana came across as a bit of a cold fish, but as the book progress, you can understand why, and I liked her just fine. Daniel? Well what's not to like, a sweet, dependable guy with a touch of alpha thrown in. Hero material right there. Also Ana's father intrigued me. Flawed but at peace with his mistakes. All in all, a good read. Like Comment Cynthia 2,104 reviews 20 followers March 4, 2018 I was drawn in from the first page from the excitement, danger and darkness that surrounds the family there is never a dull moment. The author gives a compelling story of a single mother and an ex military that have to deal with an earth quake along with trying to get to her children. Both characters are strong, stubborn and willing to stand their ground, they are determined to face the unknown and fight until the end. Both of these characters have issues one is filled with guilt and the other has trust issues with men. They are going to have to overcome these issues and work together as danger comes near it is life and death. I thought the characters were great, loved the chemistry between them. The plot is wonderful the conflict outstanding. It was easy to relate to both of them but I think Daniel really won my heart over first with his caring helpful ways to a women he really didn’t know. I thought this was thrilling exciting and the danger heart stopping. It is a story that is well worth your time keeping you on the edge with suspense. Has a great ending just loved it. ******* Like Comment Lucia 591 reviews 6 followers March 9, 2018 Light romantic suspense with just a little bit of a gritty/dark element mixed in with a single mom and disaster theme Quake is an easy to read romantic suspense mixed in with a single mom and disaster theme. It's a fairly light suspense (not too intense for those not into heavy suspense) with just a little bit of a gritty/dark element, especially in the later part of the book. While it is a fairly fast paced book in terms of time frame, there is a steadiness to the build-up of the climax to keep you interested. This standalone book is told through dual perspective of two opposites, Ana and Daniel, who both have strong personalities and a simmering chemistry (plus a couple of chapters from a third pov to add to the mystery). To fully enjoy the characters and romance side of the book you do have to be open to an insta-love element given the short time frame. If you are looking for something a bit more suspenseful than a light romance, give this book a read - I enjoyed it. *I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own. action-romance arc favourites-2018 ...more Like Comment T. Rosado 1,789 reviews 59 followers March 14, 2018 4+ Stars! Growing up, I loved disaster movies, so I was excited for Alvarez's new romantic suspense novel that occurs during a disastrous earthquake and its aftermath. If that weren't enough, she ratchets up the suspense with the inclusion of an unknown enemy set on revenge. This author proves over and over that she is adept at writing romance that is more than just about the love story. She gives depth to her H/h by also giving life to the setting, secondary characters, and the story conflict. It's the type of details that propel the reader into a story and keeps them invested. In QUAKE, it's no different, except with the addition of timely suspense. It's a departure from her previous books that I enjoyed immensely. Although the suspense was exciting, it never overshadowed the romance. Since suspense isn't a genre I gravitate to, I liked that the suspense and romance shared equal billing. It added excitement to the story line without being too dark or foreboding. As for the romance, Daniel and Ana were both fabulous characters with equally compelling backstories. Their attraction to one another heightened by the circumstances they were thrust into - Ana getting home to her family and Daniel giving her the best means to get there safely. The story moved at a decent pace with a swift culmination and a heart-tugging romantic conclusion. While I enjoy this author's series romance, I hope to see more standalone stories like this one from her. (This is my voluntary and unbiased review of an advance copy of Quake.) 2018 action-adventure arc ...more Like Comment Yvonne Cruz 3,072 reviews 27 followers March 3, 2018 This is the first book I read by Ms Alvarez, and it definitely will not be the last one. From the moment you read the first few lines, you are drawn into the story, and it’s characters. There is never a dull moment. The main characters, Ana Grace, attorney and single Mom , and Daniel Calder, former soldier and now a farmer, are complex and interesting individuals . Though the story centers around an earthquake in New Zealand and Ana’s despair as a mother to get to her children, as well as Daniel’s desire to help her, there is much more to the story than this. There is an unknown evil that is after Ana and her family. To complicate matters, Ana and Daniel carry a great deal of baggage. One is filled with guilt while the other distrusts men. Will their romance flourish in spite of it all, or will it succumb to the extraordinary circumstances? Definitely a book worth your time. Looking forward to more stories by this talented author. I was gifted this copy. The opinions expressed are solely my own. Like Comment Mary 422 reviews March 10, 2018 Quake is an interesting story. There’s obviously romance and some suspense but it was also freshly done. Without spoiling too much, I will say that I was captivated by this book from beginning to end. Ana is a single mom of two who after an earthquake is determined to get to her kids. I couldn’t help but to imagine myself in a similar situation and knowing I would be exactly like Ana in a rush to get to them. This book only spans over a handful of days (maybe a couple of weeks) but I loved having the timeline and with the situation, it was very believable that both Ana and Daniel would fall for each other really fast. The suspense aspect was brilliant. There were a few different layers to it. Everything from the “bad guy” to a mother trying to get to her kids when phones aren’t available. It was well balanced in that it wasn’t too over the top but it also didn’t leave me feeling cheated either. Overall, it was a great book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Like Comment Gary 98 reviews 6 followers March 13, 2018 Two Bodies Colliding Causing Shockwaves Tracey I have read all the Stewart Island series and 1 & 2 in the Bounty Bay series. I really like both of these series and even though when I read what the story was about it is not your usual subject matter But to my astonishment you pulled it off in my opinion this is the best book you have written by far. Ana & Daniel the Lawyer and Farmer After a quake one trying to get home to her kids and the other want to protect her these two are like two bodies colliding causing shockwaves and aftershocks to there stressed bodies. Up till 2 years ago I never thought 2 much of New Zealand but my niece got married there. Well she brought back book 1 In To Deep and it opened my eyes to a beautiful island that Tracey brought to life the wonderful people and even tried teaching me the Maori language. Tracey keep up your teaching on your wonderful island and if at all possible write another story like this every so often. This is a must read for everyone a 5***** story Like Comment Reg 62 reviews 1 follower March 2, 2018 Finding love amid terrifying times This new book by Tracey Alvarez effectively combined romance and suspense, and was quite dark and different from her endearingly sexy, heartwarming, funny, and sometimes cheeky stories in the Bounty Bay and Stewart Island series. But I liked it mainly because of the leads, farm boy Daniel and lawyer Ana, who were strong, determined, and decisive when unexpectedly thrown together and faced with frightening and life-threatening situations. I liked Daniel more than Ana though, especially for his courage and unconditional love, acceptance, and protection of a complicated woman that he just met. As always with a Tracey Alvarez book, this one was set in New Zealand, family figured prominently in the story, and there was both heartache and happiness. But it ended well, with all conflicts resolved, and with scenes of a promising and bright future. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Like Comment Ania 24 reviews 1 follower March 11, 2018 Quake tells a story of Ana, a single mum of two who after the unfortunate course of events gets separated from her children. To find them she needs to get to the other side of her city which was ruined by an earthquake and tsunami. Fortunately, she gets help from Daniel, brother of her employee. The story, as usual, is well written, in particular, I appreciate the realism that was put in descriptions of the earthquake. Tracey Alvarez went beyond her comfort zone and added a healthy dose of suspense to her writing. I must say that I was surprised by it, fortunately in a very positive way. The book was fresh and new. As usual, the author didn't forget about emphasizing the importance of values such as family, loyalty, and community. Add to this an exceptional romance plot and you have a fantastic book on your hands. As much I love the Stewart Island series I am really happy to see Tracey Alvarez trying something new and unexpected. Like Comment Elizabeth 2,142 reviews 18 followers March 10, 2018 3.5 Stars ⭐️ This was an entertaining and slightly different story from trusty author Alvarez. Ana and Daniel are basically strangers when an Earthquake strands them together away from their families (his sister is the nanny for Ana’s children). I enjoyed watching Daniel and Ana work together to get home and solve the mystery of who was keeping her son from her. This is the first book I’ve read from Ms Alvarez that combined intrigue along with romance. It was a good effort, but I felt that it reduced the effectiveness of each part of the story line. I didn’t connect as strongly with the characters as I have in previous books from this author and I think some of that is because of the time spent on the second story line. I wish Quake had been a bit longer so that each story line could have been more fully developed. Like Comment kittykat AKA Ms. Tortitude 605 reviews 116 followers January 4, 2023 Indigi-athon. Instalove aside, this was a fun mini-adventure where, following a disaster, a competent mama-bear tries desperately to get back to her kids, and finds love along the way. But, the main conflict is another of my pet peeves; one party going through the whole 'I'm not made for love' thing and not effectively communicating their insecurities (which is based on a mere couple of situations that most of us have dealt with at some point in our lives) with the other that delays their happy ending. Also, it was mentioned once in passing at the very beginning that the h was of Maori heritage... and apart from a couple of other mentions of her skin tone during the narrative, nothing more was said about it. Authors, if you are aiming for inclusion in your stories, then please follow up with some substance, else it's a total waste of the handful of words used. 2019-read babieskids disaster ...more Like Comment JigsawGirl 3,479 reviews March 10, 2018 I was expecting a romance, and ended up with a bit of suspense tossed in to the mix. I really liked Daniel, Nadia, Theo, her Dad, and Alyssa. Ana was ok. I would have accepted him as my hero. Lol. Ana had her moments. I felt like she kept sending Daniel mixed signals. I can understand why her trust issues were so intense. I can even understand her hesitancy about falling for Daniel so quickly. That's why I really couldn't fault her, but was just a little irritated about how she handled it. This was a well written book with a number of hold your breath moments. I only wish that it had an epilogue. I wasn't ready to end it with Daniel and Ana. I voluntarily read and reviewed the Advanced Reader Copy. Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Elective Affinities by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Elective Affinities Johann Wolfgang von Goethe , David Constantine ( Translator ) 3.69 11,746 ratings 685 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Elective Affinities was written when Goethe was sixty and long established as Germany's literary giant. This is a new edition of his penetrating study of marriage and passion, bringing together four people in an inexorable manner. The novel asks whether we have free will or not and confronts its characters with the monstrous consequences of repressing what little "real life" they have in themselves, a life so far removed from their natural states that it appears to them as something terrible and destructive. Genres Classics Fiction German Literature Literature Germany 19th Century Novels ...more 272 pages, Paperback First published January 1, 1809 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 11.1k books 6,052 followers A master of poetry, drama, and the novel, German writer and scientist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe spent 50 years on his two-part dramatic poem Faust , published in 1808 and 1832, also conducted scientific research in various fields, notably botany, and held several governmental positions. George Eliot called him "Germany's greatest man of letters... and the last true polymath to walk the earth." Works span the fields of literature, theology, and humanism. People laud this magnum opus as one of the peaks of world literature. Other well-known literary works include his numerous poems, the Bildungsroman Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship and the epistolary novel The Sorrows of Young Werther . With this key figure of German literature, the movement of Weimar classicism in the late 18th and early 19th centuries coincided with Enlightenment, sentimentality (Empfindsamkeit), Sturm und Drang, and Romanticism. The author of the scientific text Theory of Colours , he influenced Darwin with his focus on plant morphology. He also long served as the privy councilor ("Geheimrat") of the duchy of Weimar. Goethe took great interest in the literatures of England, France, Italy, classical Greece, Persia, and Arabia and originated the concept of Weltliteratur ("world literature"). Despite his major, virtually immeasurable influence on German philosophy especially on the generation of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph von Schelling , he expressly and decidedly refrained from practicing philosophy in the rarefied sense. Influence spread across Europe, and for the next century, his works inspired much music, drama, poetry and philosophy. Many persons consider Goethe the most important writer in the German language and one of the most important thinkers in western culture as well. Early in his career, however, he wondered about painting, perhaps his true vocation; late in his life, he expressed the expectation that people ultimately would remember his work in optics. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.69 11,746 ratings 685 reviews 5 stars 2,838 (24%) 4 stars 4,129 (35%) 3 stars 3,397 (28%) 2 stars 1,121 (9%) 1 star 261 (2%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 685 reviews Maureen 1,561 reviews 7,016 followers July 5, 2021 Goethe himself said that you have to read this three times before you get it, having only read it the once, I found it an absorbing tale! 137 likes Like Comment Luís 2,097 reviews 885 followers January 5, 2024 Love feelings do not fit well with rational analysis and sometimes escape understanding. Although it establishes an analogy between human relations and specific chemical properties, the novel "Elective affinities," by Goethe at the beginning of the 19th century, is a love tragedy. At the end of widowhood, they both knew simultaneously Edouard and Charlotte had married and enjoyed their quiet life in their vast country estate around Weimar. In their prime life, these castellans already have a great life experience. They know that the development of a couple depends on the attention of everyday life and mutual concessions. Thus, Edouard solicits with his wife the installation in the castle of the Captain, a long-time friend suffering from loneliness. Charlotte does not look favorably at this invitation but finally accepts it not without having succeeded in imposing on her husband the presence near them of her niece Otillie, of whom she makes a point of perfecting her education. The Captain is a realistic character, and his ideas about the field organization are relevant. Charlotte appreciates the company of this measure, being constantly attentive to others and tactfully giving his opinion. Odile is the incarnated charm and turns the head of Edward, who is old enough to be his father. However, he cares about the young woman, and his banter is sometimes ready to smile. This idyllic but at least equivocal situation will resist the first headwinds. In a surprisingly modern style, far from the banter of the time, Goethe leads the reader into a passionate story mixing four friendly and whole characters. How about a little flirtation with German literature and more than affinity? e-5 german-literature j-w-von-goethe ...more 98 likes Like Comment Jan-Maat 1,600 reviews 2,187 followers Read October 20, 2020 A short book that feels hard to talk about, partly because it is fairly simple in terms of the subject matter and easy to throw away spoilers. It is a late work, one of Goethe's few novels. I had read it once before, Issicratea's Review reminded me of that and planted the seed that it might be an idea to read it again some day, fate eventually intervened to ensure that I did, and it turned out that I had read the book originally with no great attention as I quickly noticed that my recollections of the book were mangled up. Set among the minor aristocracy, the story concerns a married couple, Charlotte and Eduard, this is a second marriage for both of them, from her first marriage Charlotte has a daughter who is away at boarding school with Charlotte's niece Ottilie. Anyway Eduard wants and does invite his friend ,the Captain, to stay with them, about 3/4 of the way through the book we learn that the Captain has a name - Otto, but he is called the Captain throughout, until he becomes a Major, all of which is by the by. Charlotte then invites Ottilie to join them, then eventually the relationships shift and realign, at which point war intervenes and various ups and downs occur as they do in a novel until it closes. Stylistically Goethe quite likes to burble on for several paragraphs before having a sudden twisting sentence that conveys some sudden and important piece of information, it reminds me of that Hayden symphony, maybe 'the Surprise' with it's 'hey, don't snooze, pay attention' theme, or perhaps it is a stylist legacy of Goethe's output as a poet and playwright. The wonder of the work for me comes from several metaphors and an internal story with also deals with the theme of relationships. Chemistry The first metaphor is of die Wahlverwandtschaften or Elective Affinities , as the novel is known in English, a metaphor taken from chemistry, perhaps dating back to Alchemy. That certain chemical elements will break apart and bond with others more strongly. This is laid out explicitly in the text when the Captain is reading a chemistry book and a chemical discussions ensues. This describes the action of the novel as the initial couple breaks up. Although we speak of chemical attraction, or of the chemistry (or lack of) between people we don't view relationships as purely a matter of chemistry. The novel then is posing questions, is the metaphor helpful? Are relationships purely deterministic, or do we stand by legal institutions and social expectations that are nonchemical? spacial The novel also plays out in a particular space. A house, a (formal) garden and then the (informal) park, this too reflects the narrative drive of the novel, a movement from a highly ordered space with set relationships: marriage, husband, wife, friend, niece, to increasingly informal spaces and hazy relationships: lover? rival? This element led me to think of Jane Austen because her novels work in entirely the opposite direction, they start with the unclear and unsatisfactory, instead ending in highly ordered 'neat' states: marriage. This may be neat but is also naive. Goethe's view is more open in every way, marriage, any relationship is a beginning, not a closure, and that I suppose is the subject of the novel. Equally gardens, parks and houses are spaces designed by people, as a metaphor about relationships this allows for a combination both of intention and response to nature. The movement from ordered to progressively less ordered is also a movement from safety and comfort towards the increasingly hazardous and inconvenient, a passing English Lord in the story remarks to Charlotte and Ottilie that one travels more or less to make life difficult for oneself, you are better off staying at home where all your books are he has to travel on account of 'political' difficulties, and his son is in India , beyond the estate war occasionally rages and we see one man return from the fighting without a hand. There's also a sense of needing to be in the right soil to flourish, Ottilie is struggling at school, but brought home to Charlotte's estate she blossoms. There is a potential dychotomy then in the novel's outlook between the sense that it is inevitable that relationships change and end (as the silly song goes - everything comes to an end, only the sausage has two) and the value ascribed to stasis. temporal We are told that the plants that flowered in the spring, bear fruit in the autumn, and this is a novel that exists in time, as the seasons change we see the succession of birthdays and the ageing of the characters, time implies a natural cycle of growth and decay which leads us back to the idea of chemistry. story within a story Most of the novel is omniscient narration, but with sections from Ottilie's diary - these tend towards aphorisms, some letters, and a mini story about two neighbouring children who when young were great rivals but who thanks to a lucky unlucky accident end up happily married suggesting that relationships grow over time out of close proximity and similar temperaments or chemistry... It is an organic work, closely interwoven, posing questions rather than giving answers. I felt there was a sharp change of tone from the first to the second part when suddenly the bell toils for thee, loud with intimations of death (in capital letters), I could turn round and usefully read this book again, and probably again after that. This novel also features in The Tin Drum in which it is one of the only books that provide Oskar Matzerath with his education! 19th-century fiction germany ...more 59 likes Like Comment Issicratea 220 reviews 411 followers November 22, 2015 What a very strange novel! It’s extraordinarily hybrid. One minute you are reading an aristocratic comedy of manners; the next, a philosophical essay; the next, a brooding, proto-symbolist, mythopoetic exploration of the workings of fate. I loved reading it for that reason, in the measured, twenty-thirty page doses that are all that my workload permits at the moment. I never had the least sense, from one day to the next, which Elective Affinities was going to show up. That makes Goethe’s novel sound disunified, I realize, but one of the most remarkable things about it is that it isn’t. The mad mix of elements actually does fuse together; it’s like one of those experimental recipes combining unlikely ingredients that defeat all odds and actually work in the pan (v. The Flavor Thesaurus .) I didn’t feel that two thirds of the way through through the novel. At that point, Goethe seemed to have spiraled out of a tightly, almost geometrically, composed novel of adultery into a series of interesting, but disconnected vignettes (the Architect and his tombs and chapel; Luciane and her peculiar parlor games; Ottilie’s oblique diary musings.) The final episodes, however, strange as they are, bring the whole thing together—although that doesn’t detract from the novel’s ultimate elusiveness, a quality brought out well in this very well observed article I found online in The Paris Review : http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/20... . From what I can gather about the reception of this novel, it has suffered very much from being read through a biographical lens (speculations about which of Goethe’s various love interests is represented in the relationship of Eduard and Ottilie, etc.) This couldn’t interest me less. Goethe was sixty when he wrote it, though, and one thing I did note was a preoccupation with death and memorialisation and legacy. This comes to the fore especially in the remarkable final scenes, but it is present throughout. Charlotte gets into trouble re-landscaping the village churchyard, such as to detract from the role of the graves as memorials to the dead as individuals. The Architect plunders ancient tombs and turns their grave wares into objects of collection and study. And the most fully described of the ridiculous tableaux vivants into which Luciane bullies the company is themed around the figure of the ancient queen Artemisia of Caria, who became a living monument for her husband Mausolus, drinking his ashes: a scene that manages to be, at the same time, satirical and deeply enmeshed with the novel’s most earnest philosophical themes. Another thing I found very interesting in the novel was its treatment of place. It is very concentrated geographically. Apart from one dramatic scene in an inn (which only serves to underline the impossibility of getting away), all the action in the novel takes place within the—admittedly broad—confines of Eduard and Charlotte’s estate, with its old Hall, its new house, its tied village to be kept in order, its church, and its extensive grounds, ripe for landscaping and remodeling on the most fashionable and philosophically correct “English” manner. The novel reminded me a little of Jane Austen in the way in which it uses landscape improvement as moral metaphor, but Goethe’s use of the metaphor is much more complex and less transparent. In a way, the impulse to neaten and reorder and aesthetisize and “tame” Nature clearly maps onto the novel’s concern with marriage in relation to romantic love. But there are also potent links with the themes of death and of memoralization as an attempt to transcend death. Landscape gardening looks to the future, and the distant future, as an English visitor who is an expert on the art observes; it is a legacy that Eduard and Charlotte might hope to see cherished and appreciated by their son. As a conversation between Charlotte and the Assistant reminds us, however, that is not always how things happen. And in fact, through a horrible irony their son, born in “marital adultery” and a kind of mysterious changeling, drowns as an infant in the estate’s relandscaped lake. One last thing—we still compliment contemporary male novelists for sensitive portrayals of women, as if this were a remarkable feat, but I completely take my hat off to Goethe in this regard. Ottilie, for me, ultimately floundered under the huge weight of symbolic resonance she has to carry, but she is very far from a stereotype; and Charlotte I thought was beautifully realized as a character and an excellent foil to her man-child husband (even though the novel becomes progressively less interested in her as it transitions from psychological realism to a more Gothic-romantic-melodramatic mode.) 1800-1900 reviewed 52 likes Like Comment Lisa 1,066 reviews 3,311 followers March 14, 2019 When fear and hope are the same thing... When you are enslaved by "elective" affinities... When life plays you a chemistry mix you haven't asked for... When the ideal of love clashes with the reality of marriage... ... then it is time to read Goethe again. This is Werther grown up to join the mess of life. 1001-books-to-read-before-you-die 44 likes Like Comment E. G. 1,112 reviews 777 followers January 20, 2019 Introduction --Elective Affinities Chronology Further Reading 4-star fiction germany-prussia ...more 38 likes Like Comment piperitapitta 994 reviews 391 followers May 4, 2018 «Poiché l'amore è fatto così, da credere di avere esso solo dei diritti e che tutti gli altri spariscano dinanzi a lui.» Ho sempre pensato che con affinità elettive, il modo di dire non il romanzo, ci si riferisse a quella particolare sintonia che viene a crearsi fra due persone, non necessariamente legate sentimentalmente, che si accorgono di avere un'affinità, appunto, privilegiata con l'altro, in un certo senso istintiva, forse non spiegabile con la ragione. Scopro invece leggendo Goethe che non è affatto così, che il legame è passionale, del tutto sentimentale, e che il termine è mutuato dalla chimica e fa riferimento a quegli elementi che una volta venuti in contatto, anche se già legati ad un altro elemento «lasciano il precedente legame per contrarne uno nuovo» . Prendiamo ad esempio «una A intimamente legata a una B, da cui nessun mezzo e nessuna violenza possa separarla» e paragoniamole a quello che avviene al calcare, una terra calcarea «intimamente connessa a un acido leggero a noi noto sotto forma di gas. Se si mette un pezzo di una simile pietra in acido solforico diluito, questi si lega alla calce e insieme a essa diviene gesso, mentre quel leggero acido aereo evapora» . Quindi un nuovo elemento, C, è intervenuto nel legame tra A e B provocando una separazione, autorizzandoci a «usare addirittura il legame affinità perché pare proprio che un legame venga preferito all'altro» . A volte può succedere che B, anziché evaporare come succede all'acido, una volta separato da B, possa essere attratto, poniamo il caso, da D, ma che continui comunque a cercare il legame con B, che invece è talmente preso da C da considerare ormai il vecchio legame inesistente, diciamo pure inutile, a negare persino che esso sia mai esistito, addirittura. Ecco, tra elementi chimici, la scoperta e la moda degli anni in cui Goethe scrisse «Le affinità elettive» , tanti problemi non ce ne sono, tutto va secondo natura, ma tra Charlotte e Eduard, il Capitano, e Ottilie, è tutta un'altra storia. Una storia in cui ci si interroga tra convenzione, legittimità, illegittimità, matrimonio, divorzio, mutevolezza, libertà, passione, dove forse le parti più intense, ancor più della storia in sé e dello sviluppo della stessa, sono proprio i ragionamenti sulle istituzioni e sui sentimenti. Ma io, dico la verità, in questa storia, di passione ne ho trovata veramente pochina, molto romanticismo è chiaro, perché al contrario mi è parso di incrociare il rimbambimento maschile di mezza età della B, la bellezza dell'asino della C, la saggezza dell'uomo D e l'incredibile equilibrio di una A che, dopo aver tentato di salvare in ogni modo il proprio legame, si ricorda di non essere «terra calcarea» e decide di comportarsi da vera donna e di uscire elegantemente di scena. Io, invece, quindi, resto qui, perplessa, a interrogarmi sul fatto che non sono affatto le affinità elettive che credevo io, una volta superata la fase dell'attrazione lo slancio e la passione iniziali, e cioè gli interessi, l'identità o lo scambio di vedute la crescita e l'intesa cerebrale, a rendere saldo un legame, un'intesa intellettuale prima ancora che fisica, quanto piuttosto quell'improvviso guizzo che attira un elemento verso un altro, la chimica insomma. Ed io che pensavo che l'amore fosse alchimia! Chimica, invece, tutto qua? «Nel mondo le cose vanno diversamente: dietro il sipario si continua a recitare e quando si rialza non si ha più nessuna voglia di vedere o udire il seguito.» amore-sesso-rapporti-di-coppia autori-tedeschi dal-romanzo-al-film ...more 37 likes Like Comment Barbara Ellison 54 reviews 3 followers August 2, 2012 Sometimes you read a novel where you wouldn't mind if every single character is dead by the end and this is one of them. 26 likes 1 comment Like Comment Ana Carvalheira 253 reviews 68 followers February 19, 2017 Após a leitura de “As Afinidades Eletivas”, escrita em 1809, ocorreu-me debruçar sobre a análise deste extraordinário romance de uma forma diferente, respondendo apenas a uma pergunta: porque Johann Wolfgang Goethe é tão atual conseguindo, no século 21, reunir tantos admiradores à volta da sua obra? E reside na pena desse notável escritor alemão a resposta: 1. “Com uma tal atitude, vós mulheres, sereis realmente invencíveis. Primeiro, razoáveis, de modo que não é possível contradizer-vos, graciosas de uma forma que nos entregamos a vós sem reservas, sensíveis, e não queremos de modo algum magoar-vos, cheias de pressentimentos e eis que nos assustamos” (pág.35). Que conhecimento da alma feminina! 2. Sobre a relação com os outros: “E essas relações serão diferentes, como diferente é a natureza dos seres. Nuns casos, encontrar-se-ão como amigos e antigos conhecidos que se juntam, se unem, sem modificarem o que quer que seja um no outro, tal como o vinho se mistura com a água. Outros, pelo contrário, persistem em manter-se estranhos lado a lado, e não se unirão, nem por mistura ou fricção mecânicas; tal como o óleo e a água que, agitados e misturados, um instante depois voltam a separar-se” (pág. 63). Quantos exemplos de (podres) uniões nossos conhecidos, não caberiam nesta última oração? Não seria melhor para o bem do casal, afastarem-se? Óleo e água nunca poderão obter a menor afinidade. 3. “Pressupõe-se a existência de capacidades que se devem transformar em competências” (pág. 69). Este aforismo, no nosso mundo laboral, consiste numa das realidades mais indesmentíveis! 4. “Não estamos nós também casados com a nossa consciência, de que muitas vezes, gostaríamos de nos livrar, porque ela para nós é mais incómoda do que um marido ou uma mulher poderiam ser?” (pág. 100). Brutal! 5. E o que dizer sobre o facto de, muitas vezes, “compensarmo-nos, em certa medida, com o nossos sucessos exteriores, aquilo que nos falta interiormente”? (pág. 109). 6. “A presença de Ottilie absorve tudo o resto; é nessa presença que ele está completamente mergulhado. Já nenhuma outra observação se lhe apresenta, a sua consciência já nada tem a dizer-lhe; tudo o que, na sua natureza, se encontrava reprimido, irrompe, todo o seu ser flui ao encontro de Ottilie” (pág. 125). Ah, o amor!!! Haverá outro sentimento tão ancestral? 7. “Ottilie, pelo contrário, perdia tudo, pode-se dizer, tudo; pois fora em Eduard que ela encontrara, pela primeira vez, vida e alegria e, na situação presente, ela sentia um vazio infinito, do qual outrora mal suspeitara, pois um coração que procura, sente bem que lhe falta alguma coisa; mas um coração que perdeu, sente que ficou vazio. A nostalgia transforma-se em descontentamento e em impaciência, e uma alma feminina, acostumada a esperar e ter paciência, gostaria agora de sair para fora da sua esfera (… ) e também fazer alguma coisa pela sua felicidade” (pág. 151). Vá, confessem, já alguma vez se sentiram assim, com o coração perdido? Aposto que sim … 8. “Para longe de mim, aqueles que têm o coração seco, os olhos secos” (pág. 156) … Vade retro!!! 9. Mais um aforismo: “Todos os laços que o destino uniu, são indestrutíveis” (pág. 157) … Creio que sim … 10. “Mas, no meio desta incerteza de vida – exclamou Eduard – entre a esperança e o temor, deixai ao pobre coração uma espécie de estrela polar, para a qual ele possa olhar, mesmo quando para ela, não se possa dirigir” (pág. 157). A poesia da esperança … 11. “No que me diz respeito, esta aproximação, esta mistura do sagrado com o que tem a ver com os sentidos, não me agrada absolutamente nada; como também não me agrada, ver que alguém se vote, se consagre a certos lugares e os enfeite, como se só assim se pudesse alimentar e manter um sentimento religioso. Nenhum ambiente, nem o mais comum, deve perturbar em nós o sentimento do divino que nos pode acompanhar por todo o lado transformar qualquer lugar num templo. O que há de mais elevado, de mais excelente, no homem, não tem forma e não nos devemos atrever a dar-lhe forma a não ser através das nobres ações” (pág. 216). A nossa relação com a divindade, íntima e subjetiva, seja ela qual for, não necessita de um lugar ou de tempo específico. Não precisamos da forma, apenas do conteúdo que ela nos poderá proporcionar. 12. “Há poucos homens que saibam ocupar-se do passado mais recente. Ou é o presente que nos retém com força, ou somos nós que nos perdemos no passado e tentamos evocar e restabelecer, conforme for possível, o que está inteiramente perdido” (pág. 227). Que extraordinário motivo de reflexão! 13. “Sob aquele céu claro , à luz daquele sol brilhante, tornou-se-lhe [a Ottilie] de súbito, evidente, que o seu amor, para atingir a perfeição, tinha de se tornar inteiramente desinteressado (…). Não desejava senão o bem do seu amigo, julgava-se capaz de renunciar a ele, de até mesmo nunca mais voltar a vê-lo, desde que soubesse que ele era feliz” (pág. 236). Não será o cúmulo da maturidade espiritual, sabendo que, ao não poder permanecer com a pessoa amada, desejar-lhe uma enorme e intensa felicidade? 14. “Quem, com uma certa idade, quer realizar antigos desejos e antigas esperanças da sua juventude, engana-se sempre, pois cada decénio da vida do homem tem a sua felicidade, as suas próprias esperanças e as suas perspetivas. Infeliz daquele que as circunstâncias ou as ilusões obrigam a antecipar-se ou a retroceder!” (pág. 262)- Há algo mais atual do que a compreensão e mais, a interiorização, de que há um momento para tudo na vida? Que todos os nossos momentos nos trazem espécies diferentes de sabedoria? 15. “Só no sofrimento sentimos perfeitamente todas as grandes qualidades que são necessárias para o suportar” (pág. 288) ………………… Essas quinze alíneas, representam o que de mais significativo a leitura de “As Afinidades Eletivas” me trouxe. Mas também, é uma história de amor extremamente bonita, de abnegação, compreensão, sofrimento, dor e morte … exatamente, como é a vida! Hoje e sempre! 22 likes Like Comment Miles 479 reviews 159 followers July 17, 2016 A proper analysis of this book can only be executed by readers with a thorough knowledge of early 19th-century literary tropes and gender roles. I am no such reader. To me, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s Elective Affinities felt like a soap opera from a parallel universe (i.e. Europe’s romantic period). While containing some terrific turns of phrase and a few ruminations about human nature that still ring true, Elective Affinities is first and foremost a paragon of anachronism. The motivations and actions of the characters are inexplicable in modern terms, and the narrative arc follows a queerly Shakespearan route, mirroring the Bard’s romantic comedies in the first part and his tragedies in the second. This book is about four aristocratic lovers: Eduard and Charlotte, a married couple, and Ottilie and the Captain, the unfortunate objects of their extramarital affections. Eduard and Charlotte’s pampered life is upset when Ottilie and the Captain both undertake extended stays at their estate. As Eduard falls for the demure and naive Ottilie, Charlotte’s respect for the Captain’s emotional maturity (a quality she also possesses) draws her away from her husband. In Goethe’s words, these characters have “natures which, when they meet, quickly lay hold on and mutually affect one another” (52). The four companions debate whether human relationships result from some predetermined sequence of events (i.e. chemistry), or because affinities can be “elective”: “One relationship was preferred to another and chosen instead of it” (54). This is an interesting and persistent philosophical question, but one that fails to imbue this particular narrative with much lasting value. This is because Goethe’s characters are either boring or profoundly unlikable. They spend all their time bickering about 19th-century first world problems, such as Eduard’s discomfort when someone reads over his shoulder, outdated theories of gender essentialism, and strategies for the optimal placing of a new path in the already-opulent grounds surrounding the mansion. Eduard is the worst by a long shot, proving himself an insufferable pissant whose only “virtue” is the luck of his wealthy parentage. Elective Affinities captures European consciousness prior to the advent of Marxist thought. Goethe’s protagonists blithely ignore the struggles and inner lives of the servants and peasants who surround them, treating them like meatbags whose only decent purpose is to facilitate dinner parties and dig garden beds. From two centuries’ distance, it is almost comic to observe Goethe’s utter lack of perspective regarding the bourgeoisie’s inability to extend humanist principles to members of the proletariat. At one point, a lovesick Eduard encounters a beggar and proclaims, “You are to be envied…You still enjoy your alms of yesterday, but my happiness of yesterday is gone!” (134). In trying to untangle this knot of misplaced affections, Goethe goes for the kill in the novel’s final act. He does his best to wring some genuine tragedy out of this overblown and haughty story, but fails in almost every regard–except one. This book is a success insofar as it shows how the people in Goethe’s world were utterly constrained by the ridiculous social expectations of aristocratic life. Lives are ruined and lost because of natural developments that, while causing appropriate emotional stress, should never result in the maudlin outcomes depicted here. Elective Affinities helps us realize that, despite its many sins, the modern world is better than what came before. This review was originally published on my blog, words&dirt . 22 likes Like Comment Uroš Đurković 715 reviews 174 followers September 8, 2023 Ovo je jedna grozna knjiga koju je vreme ako ne pregazilo ono spljeskalo. Radioaktivno zamorna, da se poslužim pojmom iz hemije, budući da je i sam naslov ilustruje jedan hemijski proces. Inače, imam sve poštovanje za Getea, posebno za „Godine učenja Vilhelma Majstera”, kao i za njegovu nesvakidašnju svestranost koja znanje gleda kao celinu, a ne kroz uskostručne rascepkanosti. To me je i podstaklo da pročitam knjigu – znatiželja usmerena prema, u najširem smislu, susretu duhovnog i prirodnonaučnog. Naravno, zadivljujuće je šta Gete uspeva da ostvari čak i onda kada nije na svojim vrhuncima, ali celina (i to brižljivo komponovana celina) ubija u pojam kao malo šta. Tako pažnja posvećena detaljima, komunikacija sa pastoralnom tradicijom i niz zamaskiranih filozofskih rasprava, padaju u drugi plan pred jezivo neubedljivim i iritantnim likovima, koji pre mogu, po sopstvenom Geteovom viđenju, poslužiti kao elementi književnog opita, nego kao celoviti entiteti. Pritom, ako hoću da banalizujem, a što ne bih banalizovao, pa nek se ljuti ko hoće – radnja sasvim odgovara sapunici i to neuspeloj. Nije razbribriga ni u kojem smislu bila Geteova namera, niti je to trebalo da bude, ali iritantna je providnost odnosa među likovima. U život Eduarda i Šarlote uskaču kapetan Oto (Eduardov drug iz detinjstva) i Otilija (Šarlotina nećaka). Oni se, razume se, izukrštaju, onda Eduard pobegne u rat jer ne može da podnese kako svoju ljubav prema Otiliji, a Šarlota sa kapetanom dobija dete. Dok je u čamcu, a junaci su stalno oko jezerceta (čak i jedna pričica unutar dela se dešava na vodi), Otilija ispušta knjigu i bebu, beba se udavila, a ona je rasparala tkaninu sa svojih grudi, privila je bebu na sebe, ali bezuspešno. Pala je u depresiju, nije ništa jela i umrla je, a onda je i Eduard umro (iznenadno, nije se ubio, nota bene) i onda su ih sve isahranjivali. Tragično. Naporno tragično. Ali što se sve to ispodešavalo? Mislim da je ključna tema ovog Geteovog romana kultivizacija – različiti oblici kultivitacije koji čovek mora da praktikuje ne bi li se ostvario. Kultura je čovekova priroda, čovekova suštinska potreba – bilo da se misli na uređivanje staništa (o kome ima dosta reči – posebno u odnosu na uređenje krajolika), ili da se odnosi na obrazovanje* (ključna Geteova tema – i ovde izuzetno važna). Kultivizacija je ono što pravi prelaz, razliku: pretače beslovesna bića u slovesna. Začkoljica je što spolja može da deluje da je prelaz izvršen, ali nas nešto iskonsko sputava u povinovanju i društvenih i ličnih nametnutosti. A gde god se to pojavi, pojavi se i pitanje izbora – slobodne volje. Sukob nagona i racija je presudan za tragične sudbine, a kao najveći problem ističe se nemogućnost pronalaženja održivog rešenja. Tako se u romanu ističe pomalo simpatična ideja da svaki brak bude „oročen” na pet godina – kao nekakav ugovor koji može da se potpiše na još pet godina, ako sve funkcioniše kako treba. A to „kako treba” podrazumeva: ushićenje, suživot, razočaranje, ponovno mirenje. Sve faze su deo procesa. S tim u vezi – u odnosu na kultivizaciju (samoobuzdanje, pa i samoprevazilaženje), kao i na navedene faze – izneću nešto možda nategnuto: „Izbor po srodnosti” je, uprkos vrtovima, flautama i jadima visokog društva, delo o nasilju. Iza svakog lepo upakovanog paketića krije se čitav katalog nasilja (nad sobom, nad svojima) koje mora da bude sprovedeno da bi se došlo do željene forme. A sve to zajedno vodi u propast, a propast je čak i bezdogađajnost: truljenje u aristokratskoj dokolici. Kome je krivo što sam ocrnio roman, može pogledati odličan esej Valtera Benjamina o ovoj temi i biće mu lakše. I da, ne znam kako je kod vas, ali posebno me nerviraju likovi posrednici, čija je jedina funkcija da se pojave po potrebi, povežu nekoga i ispare. To je slučaj ovde sa jednim Mitlerom, koji dođe kao neka gumica da se svežanj ne raspadne sasvim. (Doduše, Mitler kaže da je brak „osnov čitavog moralnog društva”, ali i „početak i vrhunac čitave kulture”. Što uopšte nije nevažno.) * Apropo obrazovanja, jedan vrlo zanimljiv komentar: „Nesreća je u tome”, uzviknu Edvard, „što čovek ništa više ne može da nauči za čitav život. Naši preci su se držali onoga što su u mladosti naučili; ali mi sada moramo svakih pet godina ponovo da učimo ako nećemo sasvim da izađemo iz mode.” (146) Čitao sam prevod Tankosave Kašiković. Deluje mi da je prevod dobar. 21 likes Like Comment Giulia 167 reviews 46 followers May 2, 2021 Chiedo venia a tutti coloro che hanno amato questo romanzo: completarne la lettura, per me, è stata una prova di forza, tanta la pesantezza e la noia che vi ho trovato. Nonostante la storia sia interessante e le riflessioni sulle dinamiche di coppia e sul matrimonio siano davvero notevoli, mi sono letteralmente trascinata alla fine, carponi, stringendo i denti, dopo aver faticosamente girato una pagina dietro l’altra, neanche fossero state di pietra. Forse Goethe non si merita una lettrice come me, e io, dopo il Werther, il Faust (comunque altra cosa) e ora le Affinità, prendo definitivamente congedo “dall’ultimo uomo universale a camminare sulla terra”. classici 18 likes Like Comment Vasha7 397 reviews 27 followers May 28, 2011 I read this beautiful novel in German. Though I might have objected to how structured it is, so full of symbols and echoes, in the hands of a master like Goethe it only contributes to the subtle atmosphere. What's more, the characters are individual and detailed, as comes out through their interactions and words. I found myself pitying Ottilie rather than being annoyed by her submissiveness (in any case, there's more to her than submissiveness); and Charlotte struck me as one of the most likable, admirable characters I've encountered in pre-20th-century fiction. She's not an anachronistic feminist, but rather a self-possessed person whose experience of life has contributed to her good sense; at one point she gently but firmly rebuts a man who's made some generality about women. A shocking event was increased in impact in that it was the first thing that ever shook Charlotte into saying something irrational. If Goethe has any opinion about the real significance and proper solution of the painful tangle of emotions in this story, he expresses it only indirectly; like most of the best novelists, he raises more questions than he answers. He describes the social forces that are trying to plan and control everything, yet can only do so in part. In the end, this book seems less of a tribute to romantic love (such a destructive force) than to friendship, which survived everything and was not destroyed by bitter feelings as it could so easily have been. 18 likes Like Comment Martinis 294 reviews 64 followers September 16, 2017 Abbiamo commesso una pazzia: ora lo vedo fin troppo bene. Chi, giunto ad una certa età, vuole realizzare sogni e speranze di gioventù, si inganna sempre, giacché nell'uomo ogni dieci anni cambia il concetto delle felicità, cambiano le speranze e le prospettive. Guai a colui che, dalle circostanze o dall'illusione, viene indotto ad aggrapparsi al futuro o al passato! Abbiamo commesso una pazzia. Dovremmo, per una sorta di scrupolo, rinunciare a ciò che i costumi del nostro tempo non ci vietano? In quante cose l'uomo ritorna sui suoi propositi, sulle sue azioni, e non dovrebbe farlo qui, dov'è in gioco tutto e non un dettaglio, dove si tratta non di questa o di quella condizione di vita, bensì della vita in tutto il suo complesso? classici germania 18 likes Like Comment Jorge 267 reviews 372 followers February 25, 2019 Es una novela publicada en 1809 que se enmarca dentro del Romanticismo alemán del siglo XIX y en la cual se exaltan los sentimientos humanos en un entorno campestre o rural, lo que nos sugiere un redescubrimiento de la naturaleza. Esta novela pertenece a las obras de madurez de Goethe que está considerado como el hombre de letras alemán más grande. Aunque es una novela de ideas y de exploración sentimental y no de acción, esto no obsta para que el interés en su lectura se mantenga en todo momento, ya que está muy bien delineada y la temática nos va sumergiendo con interés en su lectura. Desde el principio Goethe nos deja entrever de qué nos hablará y con este conocimiento es que nos mantiene interesados. La obra está dividida en dos partes, en la primera la trama recae en 4 personajes y ocasionalmente en 7. Todos los sentimientos, sensaciones, reflexiones y toda su problemática están motivadas por la estrecha convivencia entre ellos y por el entorno campestre en el que viven. Este entorno, les genera sensaciones intensas que llenan sus horas y sus días. No hay sociedad ni ciudad que los distraiga de un mundo estrecho pero intenso, formado por ese pequeño núcleo de personas y por la majestuosa naturaleza. En el inicio se percibe la analogía que hace Goethe en la que trata de mostrarnos los fenómenos a que se exponen los elementos y los compuestos químicos al entrar en juego con otros agentes o bien por la supresión de alguno y compara estos fenómenos con las relaciones interpersonales de los seres humanos. La unión de elementos químicos produce diversas reacciones, al igual que en las uniones o asociaciones humanas, pero cuando entra en juego algún elemento adicional y ajeno se provocan desequilibrios. Esta analogía se traslada con mayor énfasis al matrimonio que es la institución que provee a la sociedad de equilibrio moral, pero que existen fuerzas naturales que pueden disolverlo. Eduard, es un hombre dedicado a sus tierras en donde se alza una finca, un castillo, algunas otras construcciones y grandes extensiones de naturaleza de gran exuberancia. Eduard es un hombre un tanto egoísta que frecuentemente se deja llevar por sus impulsos y que está casado en segundas nupcias con Charlotte, con quien vive plácidamente en sus tierras. Charlotte, es la esposa de Eduard. Una mujer hacendosa y apacible, sensata y madura de una gran serenidad de carácter quien piensa bien las cosas antes de dar un paso. Otro personaje central es un hombre llamado simplemente “el capitán” cuyo nombre sólo se menciona de pasada y es Otto; antiguo y entrañable amigo de Eduard, el capitán es un hombre retirado de su oficio y quien es invitado a pasar una temporada a la finca de Eduard para llevar a cabo unas mejoras y hacerle compañía al matrimonio. Ottilie, es la sobrina de Charlotte que estando en un internado es llevada a vivir con Charlotte y Eduard por diversas razones. Es una jovencita en cuyo interior se fraguan intereses, talentos y sentimientos que no sabe o no puede sacar o no tiene los medios para darlos a conocer al mundo. Es una de esas personalidades cuyo desarrollo interior necesita de ciertas condiciones y de cierto tiempo para madurar. Las personas cuyo temperamento es como el de Ottilie no la pasan tan bien en el mundo, puesto que hay que exteriorizar las fortalezas y talentos personales para salir adelante. En el propio texto se cita una frase muy cierta, emitida por un maestro de esta jovencita: “Las capacidades se suponen, pero deben convertirse en disponibilidades”. Por varias razones este personaje me parece el más interesante y de hecho se convierte en el detonante de la trama. Mittler es un personaje especial aunque secundario. Se trata de un exsacerdote que se dedica a visitar familias y comunidades para tratar de solucionar los problemas de convivencia. Este personaje representa la tradición y la moral: “El matrimonio es el comienzo y la cumbre de toda civilización y debe ser indisoluble”. Por último y de manera antagónica al personaje anterior tenemos a las figuras de un par de personajes que son un Duque y su pareja una Baronesa; ellos no se encuentran casados y esto da pie para hacer algunas reflexiones sobre el matrimonio que versan sobre la flexibilidad en la permanencia de éste y en las facilidades que deben existir para disolverlo en cuanto se haga necesario: “El mundo es muy cambiante y diverso, ¿por qué el matrimonio debería de permanecer inalterable?”. Aquí podría inferirse un tanto el pensamiento liberal de Goethe quien permaneció en unión libre con su mujer, hasta que tras 18 años decidió casarse con ella. La estrecha convivencia entre estas cuatro personas da paso a una serie de incidentes sentimentales entre ellos que contribuyen a trastocar el equilibrio inicial entre Charlotte y Eduard. Esta perturbación de las emociones y sentimientos no sólo se circunscribe a Charlotte y Eduard sino también al Capitán y a Ottilie. La primera parte de la novela concluye con importantes cambios que abren el camino para la segunda parte: tanto el capitán como Eduard se marchan de la finca y Charlotte nos da la noticia de su embarazo y con esto la llegada de otra persona a su vida y que luego nos deparará una sorpresa muy original de la que Goethe se sirve para hacer alusión al adulterio mental. La segunda parte inicia con la inclusión de algunos personajes más: el arquitecto que se ha hecho cargo de las obras de construcción ante la ausencia del capitán y de Eduard. Este arquitecto cuyo nombre no sabemos, es de un carácter centrado y tiene inclinaciones artísticas por lo que se hace cargo también de remozar la Iglesia del pueblo y aparecen aquí algunas reflexiones sobre el arte y el artista las cuales se van plasmando en forma de cartas y apuntes en el diario de Ottilie. No omito mencionar que este arquitecto muestra inclinaciones sentimentales hacía Ottilie. Otro personaje importante es la hija de Charlotte llamada Luciana, quien llega a la finca con decenas de personas para anunciar su boda. La personalidad de Luciana es sumamente activa, de una gran vivacidad y hasta un tanto protagónica. Reaparece el exsacerdote Mittler que aporta interesantes observaciones sobre varios temas entre ellos, sobre los mandamientos de la Iglesia Católica, condenado la forma en que se hacen prohibiciones en lugar de fomentar una convivencia positiva y, de esta forma, crear virtudes. En la segunda parte reaparece, también, un personaje que en la primera había tenido un paso fugaz y sólo a través de cartas que es denominado como "el auxiliar", es una especie de preceptor de Ottilie y también se siente atraído por la personalidad de ésta. Es un ser sensible y conocedor de los seres humanos, de su naturaleza interior, de sus motivaciones y reacciones ante diversos estímulos. Aparece también "el jardinero", personaje dedicado y conocedor de la naturaleza y de su desarrollo, persona observadora que sabe que los seres humanos son como las plantas de quienes se puede obtener todo si se les trata conforme a su modo de ser. Él sabe hacer lo adecuado en cada estación tanto de la naturaleza como de los hombres. Otro personaje, referido simplemente como "el inglés", cuyo paso es fugaz por el relato y que se distingue por no tener un hogar fijo ya que por las circunstancias se ha visto empujado a esta situación. Este personaje hace reflexionar a Charlotte sobre la situación de Eduard quien ha abandonado su hogar al igual que él. Al final esta novela nos deja varias reflexiones: la decisiva e inesperada participación de agentes externos en nuestras vidas. No solamente la actuación de seres vivos sobre nosotros puede trastocar nuestras vidas, también hay agentes inorgánicos que nos pueden afectar de alguna manera. La determinante actuación del destino que muchas veces nos otorga nuestros deseos pero a su manera y a veces nos proporciona algo diferente a lo que deseábamos pero por encima de nuestros deseos. La creencia de que generalmente creemos actuar por nosotros mismos, eligiendo nuestras actividades y circunstancias, sin embargo es el tiempo o el destino quien dispone nuestros planes e inclinaciones. 14 likes Like Comment Ant 143 reviews 83 followers December 18, 2023 Αν δύναται ποτέ να προσωποποιηθεί η ιδιοφυία, θα ενσαρκωνόταν αναντίρρητα στον Γκαίτε, τη χαρισματικότερη οικουμενική προσωπικότητα που γνώρισε η ανθρωπότητα πριν την έλευση της νεωτερικής εποχής. Ο Γκαίτε δεν είναι απλώς έν��ς ποιητής, ένας μεγαλοφυής συγγραφέας, ένας σκεπτόμενος άνθρωπος.  Είναι ο homo universalis,  ο διαχρονικός σκεπτικιστής που, ενώ επηρέασε και καθόρισε τον Ρομαντισμό και συνολικά την πνευματική ζωή της εποχής του, στάθηκε και κριτικά απέναντί της. Χαρακτηριστικό σημείο της μεγαλοφυίας του είναι η ικανότητα του να μετατρέπει τις προσωπικές του τραγωδίες σε τέχνη. Όχι με τον φτηνό τροπο του μελοδραματισμού, όχι καταφεύγοντας στον εύκολο συναισθηματισμό της αφήγησης του προσωπικού βιώματος,  όπως για παράδειγμα ο Δουμάς υιός, καθώς και πολλοί σύγχρονοί μας που εκδίδουν τις σχεδον ανεπεξέργαστες ημερολογιακές καταγραφές τους ως κάτι λογοτεχνικά πρωτοποριακό, αλλά μετατρέποντας το βίωμά του σε πανανθρώπινο πάθημα, σε συλλογική εμπειρία. Για αυτό το λόγο ο Γκαίτε πρέπει να διαβαστεί και να μελετηθεί διεξοδικά από όσους πιστεύουν ότι είναι συγγραφείς. Στο συγκεκριμένο μυθιστόρημα βλέπουμε μια σύγχρονη μεταφορά χημικών νόμων στο πεδίο των ανθρώπινων σχέσεων. Πόσοι και πόσοι σύγχρονοι δεν τον αντέγραψαν ανεπιτυχώς! Αλλά εδώ δεν μιλαμε για μια απλή σχηματική αφήγηση που εξυφαίνεται με επιστημονικούς νόμους, είναι οι ιδέες που πυρώνουν το αποτέλεσμα. Και οι ιδέες του Γκαίτε, του ενθουσιώδη ερασιτέχνη μελετητή, είναι ρηξικέλευθες , αισθαντικές και βαθιά ανατρεπτικές κοινωνικά, σε ένα βιβλίο που εξυμνεί την φυσικότητα της αυθόρμητης έλξης εν αντιθέσει με τα κοινωνικά αδιέξοδα στα οποία οδηγούν τους ήρωες παλιακοί θεσμοί όπως ο γάμος. Για αυτό το λόγο, παραμένει εντυπωσιακά σύγχρονο,  τόσο στις μεθόδους αφήγησης,  παρά τις λογοτεχνικές αγκυλώσεις της εποχής, όσο -και κυρίως- θεματικά. 14 likes Like Comment Elena Sala 491 reviews 86 followers November 22, 2022 Goethe was very proud of this novel. He thought it was very complex "and it needs reading three times". I only read it once and I don't feel the urge of reading it again, at least, for the time being. ELECTIVE AFFINITIES (first published in 1809) is a novel about marriage, however, it tackles the subject from an unexpected angle because it explores if marriage vows really should be indissoluble. Eduard and Charlotte are a middle-aged couple who live in their large estate in the country. The two have loved each other from a young age, but they only married recently, after the deaths of their respective spouses. They live in seclusion, enjoying their calm and peaceful lives as they seek to make up for the years they spent apart. One day, however, a letter from an old friend brings a change to this perfect life. Eduard and Charlotte’s delightful life is upset when two guests, Ottilie and the Captain, undertake extended stays at their estate. Unexpectedly, the reader discovers that chemistry-of all subjects!- is introduced to analyze "philosophically" what starts to transpire in this genteel estate. Goethe suggests that these characters have “natures which, when they meet, quickly lay hold on and mutually affect one another”. As forbidden passions heat the atmosphere, the four companions calmly debate whether human relationships result from some predetermined sequence of events (like in chemistry), or because affinities can be “elective”: in other words, “one relationship was preferred to another and chosen instead of it”. All these lengthy discussions are so pompous and ridiculously civilized. In order to avoid spoilers I will spare you further details. I feel quite uncomfortable writing in this way about a novel written by Goethe but I have to admit I thoroughly disliked the characters. They were cardboard creatures, not believable, well developed characters. Their dialogues are so artificial, so overblown, so utterly boring. And then, Goethe gives us the tragic, unbelievably inflated, dramatic finale. The ending is the perfect example of German Romanticism, an aesthetic I've never been fond of. I probably missed this novel's finer points but I don't see myself reading it three times to discover its concealed secrets. german-literature 14 likes Like Comment Sandra Deaconu 728 reviews 113 followers December 25, 2022 Parcă scrisă de Jane Austen, după ce a citit o broșurică despre filosofie. ,,este necesar și prietenesc să scrii nimicuri, mai bine decât să nu scrii deloc.'' ,,observ că în căsnicie trebuie să te cerți uneori, fiindcă, prin aceasta, afli câte ceva de la celălalt.'' 14 likes Like Comment Boris 107 reviews November 9, 2012 Goethe doesn't just write in German, he is the very definition of the German language. This book, as well as das Leiden des Jungen Werters, have clearly shown to me the beauty of die Deutsche Sprache. Because of this reason I would recommend everybody with only the slightest knowledge of German, to read this in the original language. A translation could never grasp the majestic feeling in which Goethe seems to soak all his words. Die Wahlverwandschaften is in the first place a book about interpersonal relationships. The titles refers to the chemistry that occurs when certain people are placed together. In this book, a wealthy couple, Eduard and Charlotte, invites two friends: one, a frail, polite girl, the other a solemn guy, who temporarily is out of work. It does not take long until things start to change in this once stable family: in no time Eduard falls in love with Otillie, the girlfriend of Charlotte. And Charlotte starts having feelings for Hauptmann, the friend of Eduard. The passion, the forbidden love, is a theme that Goethe handles well. The desperate feelings that the protagonists experience are translated into descriptions of intense craving for something that cannot be. Especially interesting is how each person deals differently with the emotions he or she experiences and this supports the main point of the work: people are slaves to their personalities. One should not live his life without having read at least one work by Goethe. It makes you think about the way we experience emotions, and how we are all part of a mysterious game, driven by even more mysterious forces. Emotions can be as destructive as they are beautiful. 11 likes Like Comment Literarischunterwegs 313 reviews 36 followers January 6, 2021 Was für eine Dramatik, was für ein Ende. Ehrlich gesagt, wäre es nicht Goethe und hätte es nicht diese literarische Qualität, wäre es, den reinen Plot betrachtend, einer Rosamunde Pilcher würdig. Aber es ist Goethe und es hat diese literarische Qualität. Besonders eindringlich empfand ich den ersten Teil, hier vor allem die Art und Weise, wie die menschlichen Beziehungen mit den chemischen Verbindungen der Wahlverwandtschaften in Vergleich gebracht werden und auch das sich Entwickeln der Situation. All dies nahm mich sehr gefangen. Teil zwei hatte dann seine Schwächen und Längen bis sich in dessen Hälfte die Dramatik des ersten Teils wieder einstellte. Diese Spannung blieb bis zum dramatischen Schluss, sodass ich ab da wieder vollends im Bann der Ereignisse gefangen war. Die gedanklichen Verbindungen und Zusammenhänge, die er seinen Personen in den Mund legt und die Situationen, Beschreibungen und Selbstreflexionen der Personen werden ganz in Goethes Manier sehr eloquent und in einer wunderschön, für manche vielleicht schwülstig, anmutenden Sprache mit einer stilistischen Genauigkeit, die ihresgleichen sucht, dargeboten. Lesend wie hörend ein literarisches Ereignis und ein Genuss. manesse-bibliothek sub-abbau-2021 12 likes Like Comment Silvia ❄️ 190 reviews 24 followers February 15, 2022 Elaborazione in corso… 12 likes Like Comment Marisa Fernandes Author 2 books 43 followers May 6, 2019 Goethe escreveu esta história, pensando-a ao pormenor. Não há nada que aqui falhe. "As Afinidades Electivas" são efectivamente uma obra plena de Romantismo enquanto tendência literária do início ao fim. Com uma forte carga dramática, bem patente na forma como termina e que me fez recordar "Romeu e Julieta" de Shakespeare. Penso, de igual modo, que reflecte bem Goethe enquanto escritor. Gostei muito do livro, mas não do final (ainda que compreenda o seu enquadramento e se justifique pelas razões acima expostas). Sinto alguma afinidade com o Romantismo enquanto tendência literária, algo que não consigo muito bem explicar. Ou talvez consiga explicar, em parte, por causa do turbilhão de emoções que lhe está habitualmente associado, aquele sentir desmedido que extravasa o razoável com frequência, a saudade, o desejo, a impossibilidade e a vontade de se evadir/partir pelo mundo fora, o amor à arte e à natureza. Tudo isso está presente em "Afinidades Electivas". Uma história de adultério espiritual escrita com todo o cuidado e delicadeza e muita, muita sensibilidade e inteligência. 9 likes Like Comment Asa 219 reviews 7 followers November 16, 2015 This is the first Goethe I've read since I was forced to read Werther in school, mostly because I hated Werther and thought he was melodramatic and felt sorry for poor Charlotte who didn't deserve to be dragged into his mess. Since this was how I felt about Edvard and Ottilie as well, I think I have to accept that Goethe isn't for me. There are some books I read where I feel like the author pays attention to the wrong part of the story. In the beginning, there are two pairs of lovers, but somewhere along the way it feels like Goethe drops Charlotte and the Captain for Edvard and Ottilie's star-crossed love story. As a result the book feels lopsided, and all the interesting discussions about marriage and duty and right and wrong morally and ethically disappears and instead we get pages upon pages with how perfect and helpful and good Ottilie is. For me, I think Charlotte deserves more, because she's the one who has to keep everything together when her husband disappears to war, the Captain is away and perhaps even getting married, and her daughter seems to be an incredibly spoiled and annoying young lady. The book isn't bad, however, just not to my taste. I thought there were some interesting parts that made me wish I knew more about the times when Goethe was writing. There is a lot in here about landscaping, art and the natural sciences that I'm sure gives a resonance to the writing for someone who knows more about the period than I do. I just wish that Goethe hadn't chosen to write about characters that managed to both annoy and bore me. 1001-books 9 likes Like Comment Mesoscope 558 reviews 271 followers April 29, 2024 I wrote this post in 2019 after reading this book for the first time: https://mesocosm.net/2019/06/07/goeth... After my second read, I would say it is both less and more enigmatic than the first time; less, insofar as my much greater familiarity with Goethe's oeuvre and my acquaintance with the novel made its action much easier to follow. More, insofar as the central mysteries the book poses to the reader become even deeper upon closer examination. At heart, I think this book is an exploration of the invisible forces that shape human destiny, and a kind of treatise in novel-form on the intrinsic significance of things. Alles Vergängliche / Ist nur ein Gleichnis. favorites german literature 9 likes Like Comment Wanda 634 reviews December 21, 2014 7 JUN 2014 - Tsk! Tsk! Why does a seemingly content couple allow a friend to talk them into a science experiment of their hearts. Fools! P.S. Edward is a spoiled man-child. Yuck! 8 JUN 2014 - I am wondering if Mittler's character is meant to be the voice of reason -- he flits in, gives his opinion, and leaves as quickly as he entered. And, no one pays much attention to him. 15 JUN 2014 -- this read was frustrating for me. I simply could not understand why a happy couple would want to willingly conduct such an evil experiment. No good could come of it and none did. Never cheat on your spouse nor ever think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. It is not! 2014 project-gutenberg 8 likes Like Comment Giulia 178 reviews 260 followers January 6, 2017 Come on, Wolfie, you can do so much better. attempts-to-graduate classics german-austrian-swiss-lit ...more 9 likes Like Comment نیکزاد نورپناه Author 7 books 210 followers March 6, 2019 احتمالاً هر کسی جایی اواسط زندگی به تهش فکر می‌کند. به تمام شدنش. علی‌رغم تسلاهای مختلفی که برای مرگ وجود دارد، کماکان آدمیزاد دوست دارد نمیرد. دوست دارد زنده بماند. یا با کمی متعالی‌تر کردن همین مفهوم دوست دارد نامیرا و جاودانه شود. مثلاً فاوست. اما برای آدمهای زمینی‌تر، علی‌الخصوص برای مردها، نسخه‌ی دم‌دستی‌تری هم هست: اختیار کردن معشوقه‌ای جوان و جرعه جرعه سرکشیدن قوای زندگی‌اش. از کتاب: «مردی که تازه داشت پا به سن می‌گذاشت را شماتت می‌کردند بخاطر اینکه کماکان خودش را با دختران جوان مشغول می‌کند. مرد جواب داده بود این تنها راه جوان ماندن است.» اما چنین راه‌حلی آداب خودش را دارد و آدم‌های بخصوصی هستند که در سنین بالاتر خود را درگیر اینجور تلاطمات عاطفی می‌کنند. این رمان هم به نظرم چنین داستانی را شرح می‌دهد. گوته کتاب را در ۶۰ سالگی‌اش نوشته. زمانی که موقعیت ادبی‌اش کاملا تثبیت شده بوده. پس دنبال نوشتن چیزی نبوده که حدس بزند بازخورد مثبت می‌گیرد و حتما خوانده می‌شود و باب طبع مخاطب است. داستانش هم کاملاً چند مرحله فراتر از یک عاشقانه‌ی صرف است. علائم و نشانه‌های ظریفی که لابلای رمانش کاشته کیفیتی اسطوره‌ای به ماجرا می‌دهند و حتی تا آنجا پیش می‌رود که اواخر داستان نزدیک آن مرز کمرنگی می‌شود که عشق و ایمان را از هم جدا می‌کند. همان سوال قدیمی را هم انگولک می‌کند: اینکه شاید هر دو یکی هستند و شاید اصلاً مرز کمرنگی در کار نیست. 8 likes Like Comment Laura 6,986 reviews 585 followers November 23, 2015 Free download available at Project Gutenberg . Page 25: And those are the cases which are really most important and remarkable— cases where this attraction, this affinity, this separating and combining, can be exhibited, the two pairs severally crossing each other; where four creatures, connected previously, as two and two, are brought into contact, and at once forsake their first combination to form into a second. In this forsaking and embracing, this seeking and flying, we believe that we are indeed observing the effects of some higher determination; we attribute a sort of will and choice to such creatures, and feel really justified in using technical words, and speaking of 'Elective Affinities.'" 4* Faust, 1st Part 4* Elective Affinities TR The Sorrows of Young Werther TR Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship TR Italian Journey 1001-books-you-must-read-before-you e-books fiction-19th-century ...more 7 likes Like Comment Melcat 310 reviews 28 followers April 18, 2023 I am sorry for all Goethe fans, I found "Elective Affinities" to be an incredibly tedious book. The novel follows the lives of four people who become embroiled in a complex melodramatic love square. The philosophical musings and poetic language that some readers may appreciate only added to the book's pretentiousness in my opinion. The characters were flat and uninteresting. The slow pace of the book made it a real chore to get through and ultimately couldn't even bring myself to finish it. Overall, Elective Affinities was an immensely disappointing read that I would not recommend to anyone. reviews 9 likes Like Comment Accipikkia 25 reviews 1 follower May 13, 2021 Onestamente lo ho trovato di una noia mortale. I personaggi mi sono parsi tutti scialbi e ho fatto fatica a finirlo. Ho sperato che migliorasse andando avanti ma non è stato così. Non è un libro romantico, non parla di filosofia né di amore, non parla di guerra né della vita in generale...non ho davvero capito qual è il punto. Non riesco sinceramente a capire perché sia diventato un classico famoso; è chiaro che deve essermi sfuggito qualcosa di importante. audiobook classici narrativa 8 likes 1 comment Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 685 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 42 quotes 3 discussions 2 questions Can't find what you're looking for? 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Big Rock (Big Rock, #1) by Lauren Blakely | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Big Rock #1 Big Rock Lauren Blakely 3.92 34,506 ratings 3,450 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Romance (2016) It's not just the motion of the ocean, ladies. It's definitely the SIZE of the boat too. And I've got both firing on all cylinders. In fact, I have ALL the right assets. Looks, brains, my own money, and a big c*&k. You might think I'm an a*&hole. I sound like one, don’t I? I'm hot as sin, rich as heaven, smart as hell and hung like a horse. Guess what? You haven't heard my story before. Sure, I might be a playboy, like the NY gossip rags call me. But I’m the playboy who’s actually a great guy. Which makes me one of a kind. The only trouble is, my dad needs me to cool it for a bit. With conservative investors in town wanting to buy his flagship Fifth Avenue jewelry store, he needs me not only to zip it up, but to look the part of the committed guy. Fine. I can do this for Dad. After all, I’ve got him to thank for the family jewels. So I ask my best friend and business partner to be my fiancée for the next week. Charlotte’s up for it. She has her own reasons for saying yes to wearing this big rock. And pretty soon all this playing pretend in public leads to no pretending whatsoever in the bedroom, because she just can’t fake the kind of toe-curling, window-shattering orgasmic cries she makes as I take her to new heights between the sheets. But I can’t seem to fake that I might be feeling something real for her. What the fuck have I gotten myself into with this…big rock? BIG ROCK is a standalone, dirty romance novel written from the guy’s POV by NYT Bestselling author Lauren Blakely… Genres Romance Contemporary Contemporary Romance Humor Adult Erotica New Adult ...more 235 pages, Paperback First published January 6, 2016 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Lauren Blakely 227 books 21.3k followers A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that's sweet, sexy and witty. Her heroines are strong and smart and her heroes have hearts of gold and fantastic funny bones. She'd love to give you a free book today! Check out her web site to grab your free read: https://laurenblakely.com/one-free-book/ Connect with Lauren here ➜ WEBSITE: laurenblakely.com ➜ NEWSLETTER: laurenblakely.com/newsletter ➜ FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/LaurenBlakelyBooks/ ➜ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/laurenblake... ➜ TWITTER: www.twitter.com/laurenblakely3 Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.92 34,506 ratings 3,450 reviews 5 stars 11,218 (32%) 4 stars 12,670 (36%) 3 stars 7,940 (23%) 2 stars 1,987 (5%) 1 star 691 (2%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,450 reviews Candi~Dirty Laundry Review 122 reviews 241 followers December 17, 2015 Omg!!! What a fantastic book!! Filled with LOL moments, quirkiness, sexiness, sweetness, and Spencer and his dirty talkin and his very BIG.....ROCK!!!! This is a true romantic comedy that will leave you wanting more of Spencer and Charlotte!! The friends to lovers, or in their case, fake lovers are just the best!! And this one is no exception!! There isn't one darn thing that I didn't love in this story!! It's one that captured me from page one, and had me up into the early morning hours still reading! It is now 3 am and I just finished and HAD to write this review! I loved how the story was told from the male POV for the whole book. It was different and it was done brilliantly!!!! Spencer might come off as cocky, arrogant or the playboy type. Well, actually...he is!!! But that's what makes him Spencer!!!! He's absolute perfection!!!! And Charlotte!!! She's sexy and confident. She's the whole damn package!!! So basically we have Spencer and Charlotte. True best friends and business partners. A certain situation comes about where him and Charlotte have to act as an engaged couple for one week. Spencer's heart is in the right place...and soon his big rock...will be in all the places!!! The faking it leads to them having a week long sexcapade. While thinking they are still "just friends" and will be able to both end things after the week is up. But during this time, lines are blurred, rules are broken, and feelings have developed. Will these two be able to go back as just BFFs, minus the whole benefits thing? Or will one or both realize that what they want is forever? Or will it be too late? Well, you're just going to have to read to find out!!!! I'd like to point out on how much I loved the family dynamic. It is so refreshing to read about a normal, loving, supportive family. With no baggage, or demons, or disturbing pasts. Now don't get me wrong, I do love those. But it's so nice to read about the happy ones too. And I just absolutely LOVED Spencer's dad. I don't think I ever wrote about a character's dad!! He's amazing!!! And I loved his and Spencer's time together. As well as his sister, Harper. I think she needs a story of her own!!! I'd be happy with a novella even!! This book from the first time hearing the title and then seeing the cover caught my eye and attention. I knew it was going to be something special. And it has become my favorite Lauren Blakely book!!! It's no secret that Lauren writes some of the hottest books and the sexiest of men. But to be able to still do all that and lighten a story up and add humor. And to write one of the best books I've read this year...well that my friends, is pure excellence!!! This is sexy rom-com at its best!! And a definite 1-click!!! 535 likes Like Comment Angie - Angie's Dreamy Reads 689 reviews 13.7k followers January 14, 2016 Oh My Goodness **melts with pure delight!** That was sooooooooo sweet. That was pure, delectable, sugary goodness for my bookish soul. It was such a pleasureful read, it made me fall in love with Lauren Blakely all over again. My word. Spencer is... he's as sweet, and as sexy, and as perfect as can be. I feel like someone's breathed life into me as a reader. Big Rock was refreshing and did nothing but make me smile, and giggle, and FALL in LOVE with reading and this sweet "friends to lovers" story line. Everything was perfect. Absolutely PERFECT. There was nothing was over the top. There was no crazy, dramatic drama. No drawn out dilemma's. The characters were entirely relatable, completely lovable, and unbelievably heart warming. And the steamy scenes were HOTTTTTT ... I mean, WHOA. WHOA. WHOA. This author can write some hella-hawt scenes! I was fanning myself, in smutty heaven. And then to top it off, to add the cherry to the already yummy sundae, I got a swift kick in the feels! Not only were the steamy scenes hot, they were heart tugging and AHHHHHHH ***screams** God, I loved it. I just LOVED this sweet little romance. It's the perfect book when you want to feel good. When you don't want to be bogged down by angst, pain, and over the top storyline's. When you just want a book that is soothing and happy. Spencer is a GREAT guy. He's so sexy it's ridiculous. With his adorable grin, sexy as hell smirk, and funny one liners, I just LOVED him. He's not an asshole at all. He's a gentleman who knows he's hot, who knows he brings a lot to the table, and instead of using all that to be pompous or arrogant, he does the opposite. God, like I said before, it's so refreshing. I loved reading about a hot, rich, well endowed man, who's a GREAT GUY and not an absolute arrogant ass. I mean, he has a great family and great friends, and he is just all around AMAZING person. I LOVED that! Then we add Charlotte to the mix--a successful, sweet, and lovable woman who is sexy as sin, easy to talk to, isn't high maintenance and for me, the combination of her and Spencer, was a win. The dynamic between those two is pure perfection. The banter is hilarious and seamless. It's all so natural. Every thing about these characters give this delicious little romance it's own heart beat. The pages have a pulse. They breathes life into you, the reader, and immediately you're invested in this story and these characters. GAH, I'm over the moon in love. If you're looking for something light and sexy, fun and romantic, then this is for you. It's absolutely one of my faves of Lauren's and I am so ready for Nick's book, it's not even funny! Overall, there wasn't a scene, or a sentence,or a single thing I would change. I just LOVED it. I LOVED it so much. 387 likes Like Comment Karen Mc 998 reviews 779 followers January 6, 2016 Fun, flirty, flaming hot, and fabulous, Big Rock lights you up with laughter and heats you from head to toe, touching your heart along the way. Big Rock is seductive, sinful, sexy, and one super amazing package. You’ll devour Lauren Blakely’s latest sensation, Big Rock, with a voracious hunger---taking all of it in---as it’s that delicious and decadent. Big Rock is simply the perfect fit for the lover of…romantic comedies and steamy stories. Typically, I’m not a fan of single point-of-view (POV) stories, as it’s hard to capture the viewpoint of both leading characters when only one is speaking. However, Big Rock is written in a refreshing and melt-your-panties male voice with a fine-tuned and detailed storyline entailing countless character thoughts and dialogue, making Lauren Blakely’s execution of the single POV flawless and fabulous. Before you dig in and go put that BIG Rock into your lap, perhaps have a few pairs of panties on standby and maybe your own man, boy toy or battery-operated toy handy as well. This super sexy story steams up your e-reader, delivering heat to your head right to your lady parts. Holy hot! How can you not love a scorching story with a first line like this one? “My dick is f**king awesome.” Skip down just a few lines on the first page: “You don’t want to ride a miniature pony when you can saddle up on a rock-star cock at the rodeo of your pleasure.” O.M.Giggles! Barely into the book, I was already contemplating a shower to cool off my body that was suddenly on fire. Moving on to just the second page, the fire burning through my body quickly became an inferno: “When it comes to my best asset, all I want you thinking about are these words: long, thick, smooth, hard. If the Renaissance masters were carving sculptures of cocks, mine would be the model for all of them.” You get the BIG picture: Big Rock is big HOT. Smoking. Smoldering. Multi-nightclub owner, Spencer Holiday, is one ultimate alpha who is locked and loaded with a weapon that packs a nearly foot-long powerful punch. Dark-haired, blue-eyed, chiseled, and muscular, Spencer is over six feet of man candy with a BIG rock or weapon of mass destruction that ladies of NYC line up to sample. This young and rich playboy works his BIG rock like a fine-tuned guitar---slow, steady, hard, fast---an instrument that performs to perfection. It’s too bad his BIG rock has to go on lock-down while Spencer plays the part of the good guy, a gentleman, a one-woman guy, a family man. It’s time to find a fake fiancé to impress a potential buyer for his father’s jewelry store empire. “Ouch. I’ve just handcuffed my favorite appendage for the next few weeks. But that’s okay. I can do this. I can pretend to be engaged. I can put my dick on ice. So to speak.” What better woman to play this role than his beautiful best friend, Charlotte Rhodes?!? They have already faked a relationship before to rescue each other from bad dates. How hard can it be? The chemistry is electric so no faking that part. A few weeks of pretend, and then back to normal. “Charlotte and I can both appreciate each other’s appearance. That’s one of the great hallmarks of our friendship. I can acknowledge she’s a babe, and she can do the same with me, and we’re still all good. That’s why she has to be my pretend fiancé.” The problem is that Spencer does not realize nor could he fathom just how Charlotte would make his BIG Rock want to come out of hiding and play…HARD. “Charlotte is kissing me. On the streets of New York. Her lips on mine. She tastes fantastic….I want to tug off those panties, sink into her heat. But she’s my best friend, and I can’t do that.” Lines are blurred. Feelings are forming. What begins as a game starts to become and feel real. “All I want is more of this fake kissing. More tongue, more lips, more teeth. More contact. More her. Exactly what I can’t be wanting.” When a secret unfolds, and a tornado of trouble starts spinning their way, the game may be over soon. Spencer may have dug himself into a mess bigger than his BIG Rock. I love a well-written friends-to-lovers story, and Big Rock delivers the goods. Lauren Blakely is a master at romantic comedies---humor and heat that soar through the pages in stories that are achingly addictive. A playful and mesmerizing masterpiece that pulls at your panties and tugs at your heart, this book is pure pleasure. I still want a longer play date with my BIG Rock. Lauren Blakely has banged out another BIG hit that leaves you hungry for more ROCK. Go grab your Big Rock now and devour him…I mean...it…this brilliant book. Five BIG and brilliant stars ***ARC provided to Bookalicious Babes Blog for an honest review*** 300 likes Like Comment Wendy'sThoughts 2,668 reviews 3,278 followers June 21, 2023 ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? FREE!!! 5 Male POV, Friends To Lovers Win * * * * * Spoiler Free-This is the Stand Alone that started all those Sexy Men Books by Lauren Blakey 1/4/2017 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12/21/2015 There is nothing better than picking up an author's book and knowing you are going to have a terrific read. When I read Lauren Blakely, I know for sure a couple of things are going to happen... There will be men who know how to whisper in your ear all the naughty things you need to make you feel wanted and hot... There will be men who can then back up all those teases with the "real" deal... There will be women who will not stand for being taken for granted or disrespected...they are complete in their careers and have a pretty strong sense of who they are...meaning they can give as good as they get... Both characters will have personalities that work... maybe a quirk or two, maybe not... but they will have hearts and be people we would want to know... And most of all... when the story hits just right, it is because of a terrific lead-up to the event. There has been banter, joking, touching, and just being together in other ways than sexual. So when the main event takes place for these two characters, everyone involved is primed for it... meaning not just the characters but the reader as well. Big Rock is a perfect example of this type of book. From the obvious teasing cover, Spencer Holliday is presented to us in all his glory. Our minds have this image of a stud half-covered with a sheet and in our mind's eye, we think we can see what he is sporting...and we are not ashamed about it as it is presented to us from the start in the first conversation Spencer has with us. He is proud of his "equipment" and proceeds to explain all that he has done with it and how well it has served the women he has been with and him. He also breaks the mold of the usual sob story of "Whoa is me, never learned to care for anyone because my family is so messed up, hence my playboy ways" reasons... Nope, Spencer comes from almost a perfect family, has been educated at top schools, and is a very successful businessman. Oh, and he is charming, loves his family, and has a best friend as a partner in their 3 bars. Oh... did I mention his best friend/ co-owner of the bars is a woman...Yup, his best friend is Charlotte. They met during college and have been friends through various boyfriends for her and hookups for him. Both followed their own business path and at the right moment, became partners in starting their bar businesses. This has worked perfectly; they have movie nights, hang, bullshit, and can feel free and easy with each other with never a moment of weirdness. We even are there to see how all of this works when Spencer sees a fella start to come and hit on Charlotte when she is deep in work mode not wanting to be disturbed. Faster than the guy can get out a line, Spencer is by Charlotte's side, touching her arm and letting the guy know this woman is his fiance, and isn't he, Spencer, lucky? After the guy leaves, the two of them banter a bit and then say goodnight. Easy, right... good friends and business partners. What happens is a perfect storm; Spencer's dad is looking to sell the Jewelry Business to this conservative buyer. Spencer's reputation of being gossiped about and pictured with all types of women needs to be cut back for the sale to go through. Spencer, wanting his dad to be happy, gets carried away and says something to the effect of -no worries, I am engaged to Charlotte. The next part of this perfect storm is Charlotte's ex making her life miserable...It seems he can't accept Charlotte doesn't want anything to do with him. They were about to be engaged, buying a bigger apartment in the building they lived in, and she discovered him cheating. Now that the fling is over, he wants her back and is sending annoying presents every day making it a spectacle in the building and embarrassing her daily. Enter Spencer needing Charlotte to agree to be his fake fiancee for a week while the sale of the business goes through for his dad. Spencer wasn't able to tell his dad it was fake because then the dad would never allow it, as honesty has always been key. Charlotte hems and haws thinking this over but when the idiot ex approaches her while Spencer is there...she makes that turning point decision and the fake fiance is on. All of this is in Spencer's POV. The charm, sexiness, and just plain enjoyable guy is there throughout. We are there to see and anticipate all of the changes we know are going to happen. This couple is hot, tender, and sexy. It doesn't matter this is a tried and true storyline...It all flows together and we become interested in all of it... to the very end. Lauren Blakely has a huge hit on her hands with Big Rock...and she knows it... with a cover and even a smartly formatted title... How could she not? If you want to have some manly thoughts and fun with a love story you will adore, Big Rock is for you. These can be read in any order although this was how they were published: Big Rock (Big Rock, #1) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Mister O (Big Rock, #2) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Well Hung (Big Rock, #3) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Full Package (Big Rock, #4) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Joy Ride (Big Rock, #5) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Hard Wood (Big Rock, #6) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review. For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways 229 likes Like Comment Chantal 480 reviews 19 followers January 28, 2016 She's done it yet again. Big Rock, a witty, funny and yes, sexy story. How is it possible for Lauren to have you loving yet another one of her men. Yes, Spencer, you will fall in love with him. Starting with the prologue. All things BIG right? It turns out though that it's not all about that. This story is about true friendship. A friendship which will test Spencer and Charlotte, a friendship almost broken apart by a game of pretend. But to what cost? I couldn't put it down. I was laughing out loud numerous times, squirming in my seat yet again. This story is witty, funny, sexy and yes, sexy..........thank you Lauren for another fantastic read❤️ Received an ARC for an honest opinion. 205 likes Like Comment 1-Click Addict Support Group 3,749 reviews 483 followers April 6, 2016 When Spencer Holiday propositions his best friend, Charlotte to be his fake fiancée for a week in order to help his dad seal a business deal, he thinks the most difficult part is going to be living without sex for the duration. He’s not prepared for the reaction Charlotte has to him, or—in turn—the reaction he has to her unexpected behavior. When Charlotte makes a proposition of her own, everything fake starts feeling a little too real. The line between friends and lovers is sometimes thin, but can these two cross it without losing the best friendship either of them have ever known? I expected this book to be hot. I mean, it’s Lauren Blakely and we all know that Lauren Blakely excels at scorching hot, panty-destroying, fuck hot sexy. And she nailed all those things (and then some) here. I also expected this book to be lighthearted and funny. And it was, littered with laugh-out-loud moments and an overall feeling of happiness. What I did not expect was for it to be sweet in a way that was not overdone or cheesy but hit me right in my feels, and made my heart go all ooey-gooey. Because sometimes the magic is in the little things. And Spencer and Charlotte do the little things just perfectly right. I’m a sucker for these friends-to-lovers romances. I’m also a sucker for these fake relationship romances. So basically, this book was already set up to be a win for me. It had some subtle twists that set it apart from others of its kind. I loved that it was written from Spencer’s point of view—though it was maybe a little distracting how in love he was with his own junk, it was also hilarious and all the sweeter when his feelings began to deepen. I also love that there’s no damaged goods here; Spencer is a player because Spencer loves the game. Charlotte had some unfortunate relationship issues in the past, but she’s not wilting from it. Life goes on. She’s strong and smart and completely likeable. Basically, she’s the best kind of book heroine. Everything worked for me in this book. It’s light, and maybe a little fluffy, but I loved that about it. I loved that Spencer was a good guy, and Charlotte wasn’t afraid to call him on his shit when he was being an idiot. They felt like real people to me—the kind of people who love their families, and love to have fun, and occasionally do stupid things but aren’t afraid to roll with it when the game changes on them. It was adorable, and sweet, and crazy sexy, and…fun! It coaxed out my big goobery “I love this book” smile, and left my heart completely happy. And then it left me with a Nick (Spencer’s other best friend) tease that has me basically salivating for more! Well played, Ms. Blakely. Now, more please! ~ Shelly, 5 stars ~~~ Stick a fork in me, I am DONE. I just finished Big Rock and yes, I am grinning from ear to ear. Can you blame me? It was fantastic, fun and fucking hot from start to finish! Spencer Holiday has it all—looks, money, charisma and *ahem* the goods between his legs. And he knows how to use it all to his advantage, too. Which is why it's a little unfortunate that instead of doing just that, he's pretending to be engaged to his very hot best friend and business partner, Charlotte. They both have their reasons for the charade, and they both know the score... Don't fall in love . Except, somewhere along the way, things on that front get a little dicey for Spencer. And while it might have started as a fake relationship, it may not end that way... So good. Seriously, so, so good. This was Lauren Blakely at her slay-me finest—a book so full of humor and banter and swoon that putting it down was a task I was unable to accomplish. Read in cover-to-cover in one sitting? Oh, yes, I certainly did. Spencer is definitely going to win hearts in this male-only POV standalone. He did mine. Because, whoa, he's the perfect blend of hubris and humility. Sex and sweetness. Lust and love. He was self-aware enough of his attributes (and his rightful arrogance in them) to be the best kind of alpha-hole—able to back up his words with his actions, both in bed and out. Oftentimes, when reading single POV books, I feel a little robbed of the other perspective, but not so here. While I adored Charlotte, I quite loved seeing this tale unfold solely through the eyes of Spencer—and trying to decipher what was happening between our hero and his best friend right alongside him. Just as I loved seeing him interact with the people around him; quirky and lovable family members, not-so-loveable schmucks, and lickable…err, I mean, likeable friends ( Mister Orgasm , where do I sign up for that?!) It’s not typical for me to sit at my laptop smiling as I write a review, but in this case, I just can’t help myself. Every time I think of something else I liked, loved, melted over in Big Rock , my face cracks and I remember exactly why Ms. Blakely remains one of my favorite, go-to authors—she can give me fantastic, fun and fucking hot. Oh, yeah, I’m definitely done. ~ Beth, 5 stars ~~~ OMG – I can’t stop laughing! From the opening sentence this book found my funny bone and kept on kicking it! I’ve read a lot (maybe everything?) by this author and know any story will be well-written, super sexy and offer something fresh and new. This one though, this one hit it out of the book stacks for me. It was big in so many ways. It was hilarious, with the dialogue and Spencer’s inner monologue just inviting me in to share the joke and laugh along with them. And someone was truly inspired by his twig (*snicker*). And I really thought rock was a euphemism for something else… I know, I know – but I couldn’t help it! “My d*ck is f***ing awesome. But don’t just take my word it.” The sex… OMG, the hot, toe-curling sex! The story was told entirely from Spencer’s point of view and he wasn’t shy about sharing his thoughts on how to treat a lady. When he said “back-arching, toe-curling” – he was not kidding! Watching his casual, though oddly respectful, approach to the opposite sex get turned on its ear was simply a treat. And at the heart of it this story was all about love. Somewhere in the midst of the lies, the truth came out. I wanted, needed , to believe that their romance was simply waiting for the right time to come out. The tickles tell all! Both Spencer and Charlotte were so good together and being surrounded by supportive, equally engaging family and friends (that I need to hear more from) was icing on the cake. A deception that turned into so much more, this is a friends-to-lovers romance that just made me sigh over and over in contentment. This world needs more Lauren Blakely. ~ Diane, 5 stars 195 likes Like Comment Jen McCoy 342 reviews 168 followers January 2, 2016 Avail for Preorder! http://amzn.to/1OnFrI1 Official Review: Hands down, this is my favorite, and Lauren’s BEST, book to date! I absolutely LOVE Spencer and Charlotte together! This book is going at the tippy top of my Best of 2016 list - and it’s only January! I lost track of the number of times this book made me laugh out loud. The comedy throughout this book is spot on and so smart! No dirty jokes for the sake of a dirty joke here folks… every line is meant to move the story forward and gives us insight into the characters and their relationships with each other. I truly believe this book is going to be a smash hit for Lauren! Where do we start with Spencer… From the prologue you may think Spencer is going to be douchey - but come on - if anyone knows Lauren, she’s not going to make her hero be a dick. Nope, Spencer may be cocky, he may have been a previous manwhore, but he’s so much more than that! He’s smart, he’s driven, he’s self-made. He is SO SWEET! And the dude is freaking hilarious! Also, he’s got a big cock and he knows what to do with it! WINNER!! He does have a bit of a playboy image in the media - but he’s still a gentleman. He doesn’t “use” women - in fact he’s the type of guy to pull your chair out for you before he bends you over it and fucks you from behind. Now that's a gentleman! He’s close to his family - and one of my favorite things about this book is the banter between Spencer and his family. They love each other, they’re straight with each other. And they are so down to earth despite being internationally known. Enter the BFF Charlotte - I love her. She’s smart as a whip, sexy, and so sarcastic! She may be one of my favorite Blakely girls ever written. She gives Spencer just as much grief as he gives her but you can tell that there is true friendship between them - no secrets. I loved that she was so willing to help Spencer when he asks to do the biggest favor in the history of favors. And even though we don’t get Charlotte’s POV during this book, you can still feel her character fall as this charade turns into something so much more. Once Spencer and Charlotte give in to their growing attraction - it's on! You can't stop a freight train and you certaining can't stop Spencer from screwing the hell out of Charlotte once he's gets started. But best of all, there's this friendship between them, plus the amazing sex. And you just KNOW that it's going to lead to something really fucking amazing. Not often do the side characters scream “give us our own story” like Nick and Harper did! God, I need their story. One of the things I’ve always said about Lauren’s work was that she makes sure each character is original and leaves a mark in your brain. Nick and Harper have done just that. I’m dying to get my hands on Mr. Orgasm - which is going to be their spin-off! Bottom line, this book is fantastic. It’s sexy. It’s laugh out loud hysterical. It’s memorable. I just loved everything about Big Cock - I mean Big Rock ;). I can’t wait for you all to read this book! 2015-favorites all-time-favorites 180 likes Like Comment ~IreneOust~ 509 reviews 780 followers January 10, 2016 This book ... This book is funny. It's sexy. It's light. It's feel good & it's super entertaining! If you love romantic comedy/friends to lovers story told from male POV, you should definitely give 'Big Rock' a go because Lauren Blakely did such fantastic job creating what has now become one of my favorite couples - Charlotte and Spencer! The chemistry, the banter ... when I wasn't laughing, I was grinning at my Kindle like a loon. And then there were parts when I wasn't laughing OR grinning but was trying really hard NOT to squirm in my seat because those parts were SO HOT that they left me VERY hot and bothered! TMI, I know ... but it is what it is. Bottom line - if you want a lighthearted read that reads like a breeze, go 'BIG ROCK' or go home! Cheers! buddy-read favorite-couple-award favorites 173 likes Like Comment Dena 477 reviews 111 followers December 14, 2015 If you haven't heard of Big Rock yet, hurry up and buy it. The cover is Hot Hot Hot especially with Spencer on the front showing off that big ass ROCK and delicious body. I read the prologue and instantly fell in love before knowing anything else about Ms. Blakely's newest release. The prologue will have you drooling and giggling like a school girl, wait, Spencer will do that to you constantly throughout Big Rock. Spencer is a typical manwhore, banging different chicks every night and loving the single life. When Spencer tries helping his father sell the business, Spencer's slutty ways are questioned and without thinking, he blurts out his brand new engagement, or should I say fake engagement. After begging and pleading Charlotte, Spencer's best friend and business partner, she agrees to be the fake finance for one week. As you can guess, the manwhore has to keep it in his pants for a week, that's the deal he's made. Will he be able to keep that beast put away for just a week? Big Rock is a breath of fresh air. I've been bored lately with what I've been reading and needed something fun, fresh and different while still sexy at the same time. We all know I need to have some hotness in the books I read. Ms. Blakely delivered everything I was looking for and much, much more. Spencer is fun, flirty and oh god, SEXY AS SIN! Spencer will leave you drooling and licking your kindle with every single page. Spencer is and will always be my #1 BBF of all of Ms. Blakely's sexy men. PS. I licked him so he's mine. Back off! Of course I loved Charlotte's character as well, she has the spunk and knows just how to keep up with Spencer's wise ass. I loved this so much, as soon as I finished, I wanted to dive back in since I couldn't get enough of Spencer and his big Coc, I mean big rock! I can't wait for you all to enjoy his sexy ass as much as I have. Big Rock was a perfect read with 5 filthy rock hard stars. 171 likes Like Comment Lauren Blakely Author 227 books 21.3k followers December 31, 2015 The Kindle preorder is now available! http://amzn.to/1PA13jm I wrote this book! It's funny, dirty and romantic! Hope you love it! 130 likes Like Comment ✦❋Arianna✦❋ 790 reviews 2,575 followers January 8, 2016 3.5 Stars!! “…bigger is better. It’s more fun. Ask any woman who’s ever had to utter the dreaded words, “Is it in yet?” “Big Rock” was a sweet, fun and sexy read and if you enjoy male POVs this might work for you. While the premise wasn’t anything new, the execution was quite delightful and entertaining. A friends to lovers story, “Big Rock” fallows Spencer, a manwhore extraordinaire who is known for his “talents” and also for his father’s business. “I have an encyclopedic understanding of what a woman wants…and giving it to her. I achieved full fluency in female body language, the clues, and the gestures.” At 28, Spencer is rich, hot and…a gentleman. He has a degree in business and he runs the three Lucky Spot bars with his best female friend Charlotte. Charlotte is gorgeous and Spencer knows it, but he never, never saw her more than a friend since their friendship is too important for him. To help his father land a business deal Spencer needs ASAP a fake girlfriend. His first option of course is Charlotte, but his best friends is reluctant to accept. Forced by circumstances, Charlotte is accepts to pretend for a week not only that she is Spencer’s girlfriend, but his new fiancée as well. Everything is good, until Spencer makes the biggest mistake that is between friends – starts to fall for Charlotte. “Something is happening. Something strange and completely foreign. My heart is speaking a language I don’t understand as it tries to fling itself at Charlotte.” This was a fast paced, light enjoyable read! I liked the fact the entire story was told only from Spencer’s POV. His “voice” was honest, funny and he honestly charmed me from the start. Cocky, yet adorable Spencer was an endearing character from the beginning. He knows who he is, what he is and most important of all what he can offer to his lady friends. “I’m picturing Charlotte in bed with a purple vibrating rabbit, legs spread, hand working the ten-speed controller, breath coming fast. Thanks, brain, for putting that fantastic image in my head to derail any intelligent thought.” With Charlotte he was pretty great. Sweet and attentive, caring and thoughtful, he was the perfect fake boyfriend. I loved the dynamic between him and Charlotte and also the relationship he has with his family. Charlotte’s character wasn’t as developed as I wanted to be. She was a great friend, smart, funny and sassy, but I really wanted to know her better. I usually enjoy friends to lovers stories, but IMO everything here was rushed, actually very rushed at times. So not everything was so believable. Even the sexual tension between these two felt rushed and the transition from friends to lovers felt a little abrupt. However, I liked Spencer and Charlotte together. They knew each other really well, so there was a familiarity between them quite endearing. The steamy aspect was done well and they were pretty hot together. Overall, this was an enjoyable friends to lovers story with likeable characters, sweet/funny and sexy moments and entertaining dialogue. “It’s beyond attraction, Charlotte. I’m fucking dying to taste you, and you better not ever doubt how much I want you, with me on my knees, peeling off your panties so I can bury my face between your thighs.” romantic-comedy 104 likes Like Comment Judith 724 reviews 2,835 followers January 10, 2016 ***4 Stars*** A sweet,sexy story...yes,it's predictable but sometimes that's just what I need.I really enjoyed it and the fact Spencer is sexy as hell doesn't hurt. I've read a few really intense books lately and this was a refreshing change.I'm definitely not one for fluffy romance books and this kind of fits that category but I really, really enjoyed this!!....Mainly because Spencer is HOT!!....there will be a lot of my thoughts fantasies about him... So,like I said this is totally predictable and normally there would be a lot of eye rolling going on but,there wasn't because this is just an easy likeable story with(did I mention,a hottie??...yes I'm sure I did!!) Spencer is an admitted Manwhore....sexy as hell,he's got it all going on.....did I mention he's HOT?.... Spencer needs a 'pretend' girlfriend. His father has a successful Jewellery Business he wants to sell but the buyer has strong family values so Spencer's reputation must be played down. Enter Charlotte...Spencer's best friend and business partner She agrees to the 'fake' relationship as she has issues of her,own. This is told only from Spencer's POV and let me tell you...what's better than getting into the mind of a dirty thinking man... And this man is deliciously dirty but so sweet as well...the perfect combination,right??.... Absolutely loved Charlotte and Spencer(he's hot....did I mention that??) Recommended if you want a light hearted,sexy read with a man that is sex personified....... 84 likes Like Comment Pearl Angeli 642 reviews 998 followers June 30, 2017 3.5 Funny and Sexy Stars! Best friends and business partners pretending to be an engaged couple? This may not end well. lol It's my first time to read a book written by Lauren Blakely . I've heard so many great things about her books and seeing most of my friends on Goodreads enjoying them, I couldn't help myself but try one. And I did enjoy. Big Rock is a quick and hilarious book and it's a perfect combination of sweet and sexy. The narration actually reminds me of Emma Chase's Tangled -- It's all done by the male protagonist. Spencer Holiday is a man with so many accomplishments. He is the owner of the famous dating app known as Boyfriend Material and the son of a successful jeweler. Apart that, he also co-owns a downtown bar with his best friend Charlotte Rhodes . One day he decided to help his father turn over his jewelry shop to the high-profile businessman Mr. Offerman, but he was trapped when he learned that the man is conservative and meticulous when it comes to the previous owners' background. It ended up with him announcing that he is engaged to Charlotte. Now since Charlotte is trying to move on from her ex's cheating affair, she agreed to pretend as his fiancée. I admit that the plot is a little bit worn out. I've read these kinds of stories before. Best friends turned to lovers... pretend couples falling in love in the long run... friends with benefits thingy... Alright, maybe I have read enough books with these tropes and this is the reason why I wasn't really thrilled on what's about to happen to the characters. It was pretty much predictable to me as I've already visualized that Charlotte and Spencer's relationship will step up to a new level. "But you're not supposed to be attracted to your best friend like this. That's not how it works. I'm probably going to have to get checked into a fascility to deal with the amount of attraction I have for you. I'll ask them to remove it, and they'll say, 'Sorry, sir, it's spread across your entire body and we can't take it out." But even though I found the plot to be a cliché, the fact that Spencer's POV is so entertaining, I enjoyed the book so much. It also helped that Spencer's character is pretty attractive and amusing. At first I thought he was an arrogant jerk because, who would think otherwise when he says something like this in an opening line? "My dick is fucking awesome." Lol. So yeah.. Despite the clichéness of this book, this was a fascinating read. There was certainly a love story. And although I found the romantic development moving a little too fast, I totally understood it since the book is quick and short-length. For fans of rom-com books, you need to read this book and meet Spencer Holiday! 2016-reads adult-romance cute-book-couple ...more 81 likes Like Comment Angela (Reading Frenzy Book Blog) 993 reviews 473 followers February 1, 2016 I can pretty much sum up my review in five words. I. Effing. Loved. This. Book. I wasn’t sure I would like it because I’m not into covers with mostly naked men—shocking, I know. I always feel like they’re overcompensating for a small…plot. And really the basis of the story isn’t anything deep or even original. Best friends pretend to be a couple, but eventually they cross the line between pretending and genuinely feeling something more. The End. Right? Except not so much in this case. In this story the playboy, Spencer, isn’t a douche. He’s just a genuinely a nice guy that tries to do the right thing for those he loves. His cockiness is humorous, and he’s hot as hell both in and out of the bedroom. Sorry hubby, but if Spencer was real and polygamy was legal, I’d totally marry him in a heartbeat. There’s a reason—albeit a rather impulsive and excessive one—for their ruse. I liked that there’s a quick-ish buildup of sexual tension, but not an abrupt let’s have sex because I’m suddenly in love with you transition. Spencer knows the stakes are fairly high if their arrangement ends badly because Charlotte is not only his best friend, she’s also his business partner. I’ve got to say I adored Charlotte. It’s wonderful to have a smart, sexy, and honest heroine. There’s no b.s. or melodrama with her, and Spencer doesn’t play any games either. They are straightforward with their feelings, and those emotions spill over into some off the charts chemistry. They seriously heat up the sheets, but there’s also a lot of playfulness between these longtime friends that had me smiling from ear to ear. The side plot involving Spencer’s dad and his business deal is entertaining as well. The story is told entirely by Spencer, and I have to give a shout out to Lauren Blakely for writing from the male point of view so convincingly. This friends to lovers romance has heart, heat, and humor. It’s a refreshing twist on a common trope, and it hit all the right notes with me. Recommended for fans of: Male POV stories Friends to lovers romance Lighthearted romantic comedy Steamy sexy times 5-stars favorites friends-to-lovers ...more 74 likes Like Comment Stacey 1,446 reviews 1,141 followers January 26, 2016 Faking it led to making it. Obviously, the cover of Big Rock is sexy, but the story is too. It's also extremely funny, cute, sweet and romantic. One thing I find interesting when I read friends to lovers story is that one or both are scared of ruining their friendship if they take it to the next level. It's interesting because I think a deep friendship with your partner, should be the cornerstone of the relationship. My hubby is my best friend in the whole wide world. My Mum and Dad are best friends and I'm pretty sure hubby's parents are too. I think because of this, my belief in a HEA for friends to lovers storyline is stronger. This story is completely told from Spencer's point of view, and to be honest, I started out thinking he was a bit of a douchewaffle. It's probably understandable that he's a wee bit arrogant, considering he's good looking, rich, has a great family and strong friendships. It also helps that he's got decent "equipment" and knows how to use it...or so he's been told. Spencer is a manwhore and proud of it. He doesn't want a serious relationship and is happy the way things are. He has become a little famous in his exploits, and unfortunately, it could end up costing his dad a big business deal. His solution...change his ways and become respectable. Bring in The Fake Fiancee. Charlotte is Spencer's best friend and business partner, owning and working in their three bars together. Their friendship is strong and they know they can count on each other. When Spencer comes up with his wacky plan, she, at first, hesitates but then decides it will work in her favour too. Charlotte has a pesky ex who won't leave her alone. She can use Spencer to make her ex finally accept they're not getting back together. Besides...it's only for one week. They set ground rules and make plans and everything is going along swimmingly. And then they kissed. Sizzles and sparks set this couple on fire and because they know each other so well, the connection is intense. I could feel it jumping off the pages. Before long, their emotions get involved, but neither knows how the other feels. I really enjoyed Big Rock and loved that it all started because Spencer was trying to help his dad sell his jewellery store, so he could retire. I did not like the family involved in the business deal. He was a sexist pig and between him and his wife, they were both narrow-minded and old-fashioned. I loved Spencer's best friend and sister and can't wait for their story. This is a very sexy read and by the end, I was convinced Spencer really did know how to use his equipment. The romantic scenes at the end were very sweet. If you're looking for a funny, lighthearted and sexy story, Big Rock would be perfect. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future. To purchase Big Rock from Amazon - http://amzn.to/1SJduMD I’m an Aussie chick who loves to read and review romance, drink coffee, be a Style Setter and stalk David Gandy. To see more of my reviews, fashion, food and pervathons - 69 likes Like Comment Kara Hildebrand (Two Book Pushers) 1,710 reviews 145 followers November 17, 2015 First of all, I want you to stop and listen to me. This isn't a copycat male POV book where the hero is an asshole player. Spencer may come off as a player who only cares about the size of his…well, you know, but that's not who Spencer is. He's a good guy. He loves his family, his friends and his job more than anything. He doesn't have a sad backstory or daddy issues. He's just a normal guy who likes to have fun with women. A lot of women. But, when he's asked to calm his hormones, he jumps into a lie that quickly has a mind of its own. The easy part was begging his best friend and business partner, Charlotte, to pretend to be his fiancée for a week. What's the hard part you ask? Spencer can't control his feelings for his friend and once he kisses her he's lost. He's pretending, but it's real. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knows this feels right. But, he thinks Charlotte is just playing the part and will easily walk away after the week. A turn of hilarious events, interesting dinner parties and hotness throw Spencer's mind and maleness into a tail spin. Will he fight for what he wants? I love Lauren and have read all her books. This is still a Lauren Blakely book, folks. It's just written in a different way. If you're a fan, you'll love it, if you're new to Lauren, give it a shot, you won't be disappointed. And hey, there's a cat in this book. I hate cats, but something about this one makes me love him. You'll see! I laughed, cried, got hot and bothered, got mad and laughed some more. Spencer is hot as sin and you don’t want to miss his story! She led our first kiss. She caught me off guard on the street with a fantastic ambush, but this kiss is mine. I’m controlling it. I’m leading it. And I want to tease her. To make her squirm again, only this time with desire. “Friends don’t let friends eat gummi bears alone. I’ll bring the bears.” “I’ll eat the green ones for you.” She shudders. “Hate the green ones.” “Are you trying to seduce me?” I ask as I walk over to her. “Yes,” she whispers, her voice feathery. “Is it working?” 69 likes Like Comment Christie«SHBBblogger» 978 reviews 1,295 followers January 10, 2016 Title: Big Rock Series: None Author: Lauren Blakely Release date: January 6, 2016 Cliffhanger: No HEA Yes When I came across this book, it started calling me. And NOT because of that delicious cover. Nope. Well....all right. Let's be real here. Can you really blame me? Spencer, most talented player in town and his big cock rock had a proposal for his best (girl) friend. A pretend engagement that would benefit both of them and would end after a very public breakup in one short week. They both had completely platonic feelings for one another, so what would be the harm? Charlotte and I can both appreciate each other's appearance. That's one of the great hallmarks of our friendship. I can acknowledge she is a babe, and she can do the same with me, and we're still good. Spencer cleans up his reputation and helps his father land a business deal, and she gets her annoying ex off of her back. Win-win, or so they thought. Yes, this has a lot of elements involved that aren't exactly original. It's purely male POV, from the charming and conceited manwhore. Friends to lovers. A short pretend engagement/relationship that blossoms to more. Yet that didn't really bother me as long as it was as steamy and chuckle-worthy as it was promising. I was in the mood for something light and fun and this seemed to fit the criteria. With a first line like this, I was grinning from the start and was feeling very optimistic about this book: "My dick is fucking awesome." I said, this guy is completely full of himself and not shy about letting everyone know it. PERFECT! There's just something about that cocky, unrepentant manwhore that has the ability to charm you and make you laugh at his antics. And best of all? They are the most entertaining to watch fall helplessly into love. The confusion, the panic, the scramble to try to cling to their freedom. It's so wickedly fun to see. I can handle this. I'm not tempted at all by my best friend. My dick, however, begs to differ, the traitorous prick. Spencer was a great character, though after the initial boasting about his size, stamina, and skill, he started a fast free fall into his evolving emotions over Charlotte and I didn't get to revel in his cockiness quite as much as I had hoped. And that wasn't necessarily bad, as I did enjoy his character for how sweet he was. He was very devoted and loyal to her-even when he didn't quite come to the realization that his feelings were not in the same comfortable place they had always been. The sexual tension started to build very quickly. After they made their agreement to start their farce of an engagement, poor Spencer started to view Charlotte in a whole new light. He always saw her as attractive, but suddenly the sight of her body had him feeling some very lustful thoughts. For me, that seemed somewhat too abrupt for me. To go from completely platonic feelings (brother-sister type) to full on desire like that, I would have liked to have seen it happen a little more gradually. With the one week time frame of their engagement, I understand that this was what was behind that. But it didn't feel one hundred percent natural to be honest. My small issues aside, this did fulfill my cute and sexy requirements when I decided to give it a shot. Lauren Blakely has created a story that will hit all the right buttons for those out there who are fans of the friends to lovers trope, and manwhore POV books. Don't let my below 4 rating dissuade you from giving this a try. For me, it missed the mark a little on the "wow factor" but I can see it being a big hit for a lot of people. The humor was plentiful and the steam was pleasingly hot. I'm hoping that Nick, Spencer's (male) hipster best friend will get a chance to have his story told soon. There's a whole lot of potential there, I was thoroughly intrigued by him. It seems I have some stalking to do over his potential book. FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON: advanced-copy friends-to-lovers jan2016 ...more 67 likes Like Comment Alba and Her Secrets..♥ 862 reviews 1,148 followers January 20, 2016 4.5 "Happy wife = happy life" Stars! Obviously, I was super excited about this book because.. of course.. THE COVERGASM! I mean, it totally got my attention lol Also, it was not my first book by this author and I knew I would probably enjoy it. Big Rock is a stand-alone novel written by Lauren Blakely and it is about Spencer Holiday (a super-hot bussiness man, son of the owner of the famous jewelery Katherine's and NY finest playboy who claims his dick is awesome and that he is a good guy) and Charlotte Rhodes (Spencer's bussiness partner and his best friend who will become his fiancé for a week). How much pleasure has my dick wrought? I don’t kiss and tell, but I’ll leave you with this. My dick has a perfect track record. That’s why it fucking sucks that he has to go on hiatus. I really enjoyed Big Rock : it is funny, light, with little drama and super sexy! This novel reminds me of Tangled and my dear Drew Evans because Lauren decided to write this in Spencer's POV. I mean, he is so freaking funny and so sure of himself! lol Apparently, he has a lot of experience with women and he knows how to treat them as a gentleman. Also, he happens to be hung like a horse, which always helps, right ladies? ;) I’m horny as hell. I feel like I’ve taken Charlotte Viagra, and this hard-on is a cruel and unusual punishment for lusting so badly after my best friend. However, everything changes when he wants to help his father with his jewelery bussiness and he needs to be seen as a settled man. So.. he asks for help and Charlotte, his best friend, becomes his fiancé for a week. Obviously, throughout this week Spencer starts to realise that he has stronger feelings for Charlotte and falls in love with her. These two together!!!!!! OMG, so hot and so sweet! And idk... I suspected that she felt something stronger since the beginning, which made it even better for me. Seriously, loved this two together! “What do you want?” I curl my hand around the back of her head and tug her down to me. Her lips hover inches from mine. I thought I didn’t want sex and sympathy. I was right on that account. I want sex and something else, though. Sex with her. Sex with feelings. Sex with the only woman I’ve ever felt this way for. I whisper in her ear, “You.” I think it's great to fall in love with your best friend.. I think it has to be that way: first friends and then more. And Spencer and Charlotte know each other very well but they needed an 'excuse' to finally be together forever. I loved the secondary characters as well: Spencer's father, his sister Harper, his friend Nick.. And I hated Emily and Abe's guts!!! They were so fucking selfish.. Still, our couple gets their HEA at the end so.. they win!! lol I burn up all over as I watch her. I am comprised of nothing but heat. Her lips. Her mouth. Her eyes. Everything. She is my fucking everything. Therefore, my rating for Big Rock is 4.5 STARS because I really enjoyed this story and its characters: it was funny and it was sweet and hot at the same time. Always love that! And.. Lauren already has announced that there will be a book with Harper and Nick's story, which I am super excited about! Still, I did not rate it with 5 stars because I felt the ending was a bit rushed (but I still enjoyed it!). So, if you want a feel good book to read, I totally recommend this one :) CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE: 4-stars alpha-male best-relationship ...more 63 likes Like Comment Bex | TotallyBex.com 547 reviews 199 followers January 6, 2016 A brief disclaimer: I floved this book and more specifically, Spencer! Most of this review is going to be about him and my love for his character. *cue blubbering and gushing* Ok, moving on... There are several things you know you are going to get when you read a Lauren Blakely book: hot characters, steamy scenes, great writing, and a story you will love. Big Rock is all of that and more! Lauren Blakely over delivered with Spencer and Charlotte’s story, and I’m overjoyed by how much I loved it. I truly enjoyed every minute of being inside Spencer’s head. Big Rock is big fun and totally adorable. I am a massive fan of male point-of-view stories, and from just reading the blurb, I knew that Spencer was going to be awesome. What I didn’t expect is that while he’s confident (*cough* cocky), he also has a heart of gold. I have big love for Spencer, and I think he’s a fabulous character. Like, Samantha Jones from Sex and the City fabulous, and I am convinced he is the male version of Samantha. My reasons: 1) He knows he’s fabulous and he’s not shy about it. 2) He loves sex. 3) He doesn’t ‘do’ commitment or emotional attachments. 4) He’s always got your back, no matter the situation. 5) He’s speaks his mind and he knows how to talk dirty. 6) He knows his booze. 7) He knows what he wants in life and he’s not afraid to work hard for it. (See what I mean??) Meanwhile, Charlotte is no wallflower in this story. She has moxie, and she has it in spades. Her willingness to help Spencer when he needed her most was enough to endear her to me immediately. There are several laugh-out-loud funny moments during the banter between Spencer and Charlotte that had me cracking up. They’re best friends for a reason, and I found myself wanting to be besties with them, too. I also admired Spencer’s relationship with his family. His sister and parents provide laughs and advice, but they aren’t afraid to slap him upside the head when he needs it. There is no animosity or brokenness here--that in and of itself is a breath of fresh air. There is no doubt in my mind that Big Rock is my favorite book by Lauren Blakely. I can say with 100% certainty that it will be on my Best Reads of 2016 list. I can’t wait to see more of these characters when Mister Orgasm comes….I mean, arrives in October. Sidenote: If you haven't had a chance to watch Lauren's naughty book readings and puppet theater, please do yourself a favor and head over to her Facebook page to watch them. Her voice was in my head the entire time I was reading this book. You're welcome. ▸ ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review. ▸ Order: Kindle | Paperback | Kobo | iBooks ▸ For more reviews, visit arc fake-relationship friends-to-lovers ...more 62 likes Like Comment Alp 761 reviews 441 followers August 21, 2018 NOT MY CUP OF TEA. I had a very hard time getting into this book and I was bored to tears waiting for the actual story to begin. None of the characters could even remotely grab my attention. It was difficult for me to enjoy this one because I couldn’t connect to the characters, and couldn’t care less about them. This writing style didn't work for me. There was so much happening that seemed irrelevant to the story. There were too many fillers that I found myself skimming through them. I think this book could have been half as long as it is without losing anything. I was sick of Spencer’s inner monologue which went on a lot of the time. Normally friends-to-lovers romance is ok by me, but for the reasons I’ve just said, this book didn’t hit the spot for me. For the most part, the story made no sense to me. According to the story, Spencer is a PLAYBOY. And he’s spent most of his free time with Charlotte because she’s his BEST FRIEND?! He really enjoys her company, so much so that he would rather go to her house, watch TV shows, and eat gummy bears than hang out with his male friends?! This was very unrealistic. Sorry, but I didn’t buy it. Spencer is not my kind of hero. I wanted to see him being man enough to protect Charlotte, but on the contrary, what I saw was that Charlotte jumped to protect him twice. Gah! Sorry buddy, I love alpha heroes, and you’re not! Well, there were some parts that made me laugh uncontrollably, and there were also some sweet moments that made my heart swell with joy. (See? I’m not that harsh!) There was no actual drama in this book. NO DRAMA! The drama should be the drama, but it wasn’t the drama, so why in the world did I read this book for? At this point, I no longer cared about the epilogue. I didn’t get what I wanted, and I was so upset! And by the end, I got nothing from the story except steamy sex scenes. Yeah, they had mind-blowing sex and the sex was freaking scorching hot! But it wasn’t enough for me. This is a love story, so am I wrong for wanting something that truly touched my heart? (Looks like I didn’t get that either.) However, this one wasn’t bad by any means; it was just not to my taste. Please don’t let my review discourage you from picking up this book. ---------------------------------- **BR with gorgeous ladies at Abtastic Ab Loving Geishas . friends-to-lovers new-adult weak-hero 63 likes Like Comment Jilly 1,838 reviews 6,395 followers June 12, 2016 I'm so very not sorry that I had to read this filthy book! But, it was like a prerequisite for a college course. Really, it was. Because I'm reading the next smutty book in this series with half of goodreads starting tomorrow, so it was of the utmost importance that I had an understanding of this complex world and the characters. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Dammit, I knew I shouldn't have taken that test! So, this is a friends-to-lovers story with the hero of the story being a dick. No, literally. I'm not saying the guy was a dick, I'm saying the dick was the guy. But, actually, the guy was kind of a dick in the early part of the book too. I guess when you're packing that kind of heat, you get a little full of yourself. Plus, I think his brain was packed into that thing. Men and their roosters! Am I right? Anyway, the story was okay - cute & fun. But, this book is all about the smut. If you want some good smut, here you go. Enjoy a giant-sized portion! mmmm... foot long! contemporary-fiction romance 56 likes Like Comment Melanie 1,224 reviews 101k followers January 29, 2021 This was just too predictable and I never felt like anything was really at stake. Also, this book tried way too hard to be funny and just kept missing the mark. I truly should have DNFed after the opener, my god. Trigger and Content Warnings: talk of cheating in the past and a lot of misogyny. Blog | Instagram | Youtube | Ko-fi | Spotify | Twitch audiobook contemporary read-in-2019 ...more 53 likes Like Comment ~ Paulette & Her Sexy Alphas❥✘❤️ 1,036 reviews 105 followers May 13, 2017 Big Rock Author: Lauren Blakely Release date: January 6, 2016 Cliffhanger: No One of my friends Recommend is book to me while back & I am sorry to say that I am just now reading it Big Rock was exactly the kind of story I needed to read. I need a good comedy & good laugh… I think I had a smile on my face throughout the whole book. I've read a few really intense books lately and this was a refreshing change. Big Rock is romantic comedy at its finest. This what you can find on Page 1 & tell me after reading this, you don’t want find out more about Spencer "My dick is fucking awesome. But don't just take my word for it. Consider all its accomplishments. First, let's start with the obvious one. Size. Sure, some people will tell you that size does not matter. You know what I'll tell you? They lie. You don't want a tiny diamond on your finger when you can have three carats. You don't want a one-dollar bill when you can have a Benjamin. And you don't want to ride a miniature pony when you can saddle up on a rock-star cock at the rodeo of your pleasure." If you need Lil more Info Spencer Holiday-I’m Twenty- Eight: single, rich, hot & gentleman… Like it’s a surprise when I get laid I loved seeing into Spencer's mind. I found him funny, smart, sexy, cocky & so loveable. It's a friends to lover’s story, a romantic comedy… When Spencer Holiday propositions his best friend, Charlotte to be his fake fiancée for a week in order to help his dad seal a business deal, he thinks the most difficult part is going to be living without sex for the duration. ...Spencer's best friend (Charlotte) & business partner are so hilarious in his book … ** Big Rock is a standalone romantic comedy** Recommended if you want a light hearted, sexy read- Friends to lovers romance- Steamy sexy I can’t wait to read Nick & Harper’s book next - Mister O romantic-comedy 50 likes Like Comment Jen 804 reviews 602 followers January 9, 2016 4.5 Snufalufagas Stars “Okay. So we’ve got no anal, no sleepovers, no weirdness, no lying. We do this for a week, and we return to being friends.” Sounds simple enough. My favorite overused, done to death trope when it comes to books of the romance variety is the friends to lovers one. I absolutely love it! I can’t get enough. It doesn’t matter if there’s an unrepentant manwhore involved and he’s just doing his bestie a solid by relieving her of her pesky virginity. Or a troubled gal who’s been hurt one too many times and seeks comfort from her always understanding but socially awkward male BFF. Bonus points if we get a male POV and he manages to turn into a beast in the sack. Hook. Me. Up. I guess it’s no surprise that Hard Rock worked for me in a big way. Yes, it’s got the friends to lovers trope in spades, but the goodness doesn’t stop there. Spencer and Charlotte fell quick and hard once they allowed the attraction to finally register. The fact that either one of them seemed to know what to do about it was an enjoyable bonus. Even then, there was no pushing the other away because they weren’t sure what to do with all of the feels or unnecessary f**ing drama! God save me from men that ignore their feelings and push their ladies aside “for their own good.” Something is happening. Something strange and completely foreign. My heart is speaking a language I don’t understand as it tries to fling itself at Charlotte. Great. Now, that’s two organs I have to do battle with every day. How can you not love this sweet, clueless and hot as hell man? contemporary-romance friends-to-luvahs half-star-needed ...more 48 likes Like Comment Beth Hudspeth 535 reviews 312 followers January 27, 2016 Steamy romance, swoon-worthy lead, humorous moments - What more can I ask for? BIG ROCKS EVERYWHERE! This is was just really fun to read. I loved watching Spencer and Charlotte's friendship blossom into L-O-V-E. It was super cute. This book was flirty and sweet and hot! Lauren Blakely does a great job of making sure her characters have chemistry which is something I have to have in a romance. 2016-reads book-reviews 50 likes Like Comment Catarina 896 reviews 2,213 followers January 11, 2016 3 Princess Cut Stars When Spencer’s father business needs a little push, he decides to clean up his act in order to help. In order to do that he asks his best-friend for help, all he needs is that she pretend to be his fake fiancé for one-week. But when their fake relationship evolves for a more real think, they may realize their friendship will never go back to the way he was. This was a sweet and hot reading, high on steam and low on angst. Perfect if you’re looking for a quick and fun romance book. To be honest, the story was a little predictable and find myself having my mind wandering during the story and not paying attention to the book, the predictability kind of made me lose a bit of interest. However, if you’re a fan of the friends-to-lovers plot, or if you like sweet romance in male POV’s you’ll probably like this book. Rating: 4 Stars. Characters Development: Spencer was nice, and his mind was a fun place to be, despite seeming a little forced at times. I liked him but if I’m going to be honest he felt like a watered version of Drew Evans. (Tangled Series). What I really liked was how effortless his relationship with Charlotte was. They were cute as friends and it was a natural transition to more. Charlotte was sweet and likable, but to be honest there’s not much more to say about her personality. Steam: Hot. Sensible Subjects: No. Love Triangle: No. Cheating: No. HEA: Yes. is-getting-hot-in-here 49 likes Like Comment Inês Sagres 185 reviews 278 followers March 17, 2017 The first three lines of the book had me already laughing so hard. “My dick is fucking awesome. But don’t just take my word for it. Consider all his accomplishments.” Spencer and Charlotte have been business partners for years and had never been more that best friends until now when they decide to play a dangerous game. “But we made a pact long ago, and re-upped when we went into business together on this bar. If either of us needs a fake girlfriend or boyfriend to gracefully get out of a sticky situation, we’ve sworn to step in and act the part.” But this time is more serious because Spencer asks Charlotte to pretend to be his fiancé in order to help his father sell his business but then, the pretend turns real. “I want to imprint this moment on my permanent memory. To never forget how it feels to take my shirt off Charlotte.” I truly don't have the words to describe how much I loved this book. I freaking loved Spencer. He's the sexiest and funniest man alive. All experienced and all but when it comes to the woman he cares he's just a sucker. “As I draw a delicious line around her belly button, I’m intensely aware of how much I want this night to be amazing for her. I want her to feel worshipped and fucked at the same time.” Also loved the fact that his family is different from all the rich families we read nowadays, they're all "normal" and happy with life. Seriously, this is a must read ! 45 likes Like Comment Anniebananie 591 reviews 471 followers August 21, 2017 4,5 Sterne Ich muss gestehen, dass ich dieses Buch total geliebt habe! Klar kratzt es mit seinen unter 300 Seiten teilweise nur an der Oberfläche, aber ich mochte es trotzdem total gerne! Allein die Erzählperspektive des männlichen Protagonisten hat mich total interessiert, da in diesem Genre ja zumeist eher aus weiblicher Sicht (oder wechselnder) erzählt wird. Ich fand Spencer auch einfach klasse. Ich fand ihn nicht unsympathisch oder eingebildet, sondern total witzig und ich hatte das Gefühl, dass er sich selber nicht zu ernst nimmt. Charlotte fand ich auch klasse, weder zickig noch dumm-naiv. Der Plot war vielleicht nicht der aller komplexeste aber ich fand es wahnsinnig unterhaltsam. Eine humorvoll erzählte Geschichte, perfekt für einen schnellen Weekend-Read! 👌🏻😊 45 likes Like Comment Viri 1,205 reviews 438 followers March 10, 2017 A ver... ME ENCANTÓ. Fue un libro fresco, divertido, entretenido y muy ligero y sin complicaciones. SIMPLE. Porque a veces lo simple es lo indicado, y no se necesitan grandes dosis de drama para hacer un libro fabuloso. Este libro fue en una palabra: DELICIOSO. Me encantó la narración ágil y sencilla. Me encantó el protagonista que es mucho más que un player egolatra. Me encantó la protagonista que es más que la amiga siempre perfecta. Me encantó la Harper, me encantó Nick y me encantaron todos. Vamos que en este libro ni si quiera hay un villano central para que me entiendan. Fue un libro simple, lleno de clichés, (es verdad) pero que fue 100% disfrutable. Me pareció una lectura ágil y espontánea llena de romanticismo. El único punto malo (es que soy muy quisquillosa) es en cuanto a las escenas +18... la verdad, yo francamente podría habérmelas pasado y no afectaba en nada en mi calificación. Al contrario. Al ser un libro sencillo, no hay tanta profundidad dentro de la historia o los personajes, pero es que ¡justo eso es lo que estaba buscando! Estaba un poco harta de tanto dramatismo y una historia como está es justo lo que necesitaba. Además está el hecho de que a mí las historias FRIENDS TO LOVERS me derriten como nieve al sol, y si a eso le agregas un romance falso ... bueno, le da muchos puntos extras Haha. Lo cierto es que la declaración de amor me parece de las más románticas que he leído. (Si, ya sé que soy súper cursi) pero es que entiendan... Spencer hizo y dijo las palabras correctas en el momento adecuado. PD: UFFFFF con el primer beso, estaba a dos de raptar al prota y secuestrarlo FOREVER. (Inserte emojis de fuego, en llamas) divertidos romance-contemporáneo so-hot 43 likes Like Comment Auntee 1,324 reviews 1,428 followers January 28, 2016 Cute, lite, sexy and FUN! First of all, kudos to the author (or publisher) for the eye-catching cover/title/graphics. Seriously, would you give this book a second glance if just a diamond ring was on the cover? This was a cute friends-to-lovers story that I kept imagining as a Hollywood RomCom movie, or at least a Lifetime/Hallmark one.:) Spencer and Charlotte are the hero and heroine, twenty-something buddies since college who own a couple of NYC bars together. Spencer is known about town for his horndog reputation (and his big endowment), and Charlotte is the one woman who he hasn't slept with. Spencer's dad owns a chain of fine jewelry stores (think Tiffany's) and is looking to sell the business so he can spend some more time with his wife. But the ultra-conservative buyer for the business frowns upon Spencer's playboy reputation. What can Spencer do to help the parents he loves and make their dream come true? How can he appease this wanna-be owner of his father's business? Why a fake engagement, of course! And who better to go along with it than the woman who knows him best, and would do anything for him, but Charlotte! If you loved Emma Chase's Tangled you'll love this story. It's told in first person, from Spencer's pov, and he has a funny, dirty mind ala Drew. He's sexy, funny, cocky, charismatic, and has a big heart. Yes, he's a bit clueless about his real feelings for Charlotte, but he comes around in time. Of course there's plenty of heat between this couple (not surprising given that cover) and tons of chemistry. Since they've known each other for years, you tend to believe in them as a couple and pull for them to realize that yes, they belong together and when will they realize that? If you're looking for something light and sexy, with no real angst or big misunderstandings, then this is the book for you! 4 1/2 stars 2016_reads contemporary-romance e-books ...more 41 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,450 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 36 quotes 14 discussions 12 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Inventing Victoria by Tonya Bolden | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $7.38 Rate this book Inventing Victoria Tonya Bolden 3.38 513 ratings 125 reviews Want to read Kindle $7.38 Rate this book In a searing historical novel, Tonya Bolden illuminates post-Reconstruction America in an intimate portrait of a determined young woman who dares to seize the opportunity of a lifetime. As a young black woman in 1880s Savannah, Essie's dreams are very much at odds with her reality. Ashamed of her beginnings, but unwilling to accept the path currently available to her, Essie is trapped between the life she has and the life she wants. Until she meets a lady named Dorcas Vashon, the richest and most cultured black woman she's ever encountered. When Dorcas makes Essie an offer she can't refuse, she becomes Victoria. Transformed by a fine wardrobe, a classic education, and the rules of etiquette, Victoria is soon welcomed in the upper echelons of black society in Washington, D. C. But when the life she desires is finally within her grasp, Victoria must decide how much of herself she is truly willing to surrender. Genres Historical Fiction Young Adult Historical Teen African American Young Adult Historical Fiction Romance ...more 272 pages, Hardcover First published January 8, 2019 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Tonya Bolden 68 books 179 followers Author and publisher Tonya Wilyce Bolden was born on March 1, 1959, in New York City to Georgia Bolden, a homemaker, and Willie Bolden, a garment center shipping manager. Bolden grew up in Harlem in a musical family and loved to read; she attended Public M.E.S. 146, an elementary school in Manhattan, and then graduated from the Chapin School, a private secondary school, in Manhattan in 1976. Bolden attended Princeton University in New Jersey, and, in 1981, obtained her B.A. degree in Slavic languages and literature with a Russian focus. Bolden was also a University Scholar and received the Nicholas Bachko, Jr. Scholarship Prize. Upon graduating from Princeton University, Bolden began working as a salesperson for Charles Alan, Incorporated, a dress manufacturer, while working towards her M.A. degree at Columbia University. In 1985, Bolden earned her degree in Slavic languages and literature, as well as a Certificate for Advanced Study of the Soviet Union from the Harriman Institute; after this she began working as an office coordinator for Raoulfilm, Inc., assisting in the research and development of various film and literary products. Bolden worked as an English instructor at Malcolm-King College and New Rochelle School of New Resources while serving as newsletter editor of the HARKline, a homeless shelter newsletter. In 1990, Bolden wrote her first book, The Family Heirloom Cookbook. In 1992, Bolden co-authored a children’s book entitled Mama, I Want To Sing along with Vy Higginsen, based on Higginsen’s musical. Bolden continued publishing throughout the 1990s, releasing Starting a Business from your Home, Mail-Order and Direct Response, The Book of African-American Women: 150 Crusaders, Creators, and Uplifters, And Not Afraid to Dare: The Stories of Ten African-American Women, American Patriots: The Story of Blacks in the Military from the Revolution to Desert Storm and The Champ. Bolden became editor of the Quarterly Black Review of Books in 1994, and served as an editor for 33 Things Every Girl Should Know, in 1998. Bolden’s writing career became even more prolific in the following decade; a partial list of her works include:, Our Souls: A Celebration of Black American Artists, Maritcha: A Nineteenth Century American Girl, MLK: Journey of a King, Take-Off: American All-Girl Bands During World War II, and George Washington Carver, a book she authored in conjunction with an exhibit about the famous African American inventor created by The Field Museum in Chicago. (source; http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biogr... ) Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.38 513 ratings 125 reviews 5 stars 64 (12%) 4 stars 160 (31%) 3 stars 210 (40%) 2 stars 63 (12%) 1 star 16 (3%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews Hannah Author 6 books 227 followers Read November 28, 2018 Okay, this wasn't totally the big magic I was hoping it would be based on the cover (! gah) or the description (period piece! wealthy black people! a piece of history you pretty much never read about, especially in fiction!), but it was still some magic for sure, and I would hand it to a lot of kids if I were still working as a librarian. Where it fell flat was pacing and characterization. I know, I know, that's all a book is, right? But no. There's also setting and plot skeleton and sundry. Anyway, I really love everything about the idea of this book, all the descriptions of beautiful dresses, all the history. But it all feels like an outline for a book, not a book proper. Everything is a bit too simple, with too light a touch. I think one of the problems is that it's written in third person, which is very appropriate for a period piece, but it means Victoria herself seems emotionless, which makes the stakes feel....not high. There was so much room to deal with the sociopolitics of black wealth post-Reconstruction, and I know this wasn't trying to be The Most Complex Novel Ever, and I actually really like that it's written at a younger YA as far as reading complexity, but that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice intellectual complexity. And this book sadly kind of did that. Still, I don't think it will disappoint readers who just adore historical dramas with some romance; I just wish it had done more. That's the problem when we finally start to get diverse books; we have to hang all our hopes on a single title because we don't have enough to let some books be some way and others be another way. 2018 historical-fiction ya 27 likes Like Comment Katy O. 2,537 reviews 713 followers January 6, 2019 (free review copy from the publisher) Inventing Victoria is a young adult novel about a time period in American history not often written about, especially in YA. Set in 1880's Savannah, Georgia then Baltimore, Maryland then Washington DC, this is a story about Essie, the daughter of a prostitute - a former slave who "came to Savannah on General William Tecumseh Sherman's famous march to the sea". Essie wants to make a better life for herself against the backdrop of limited opportunities for Blacks in the south after Reconstruction, and is miraculously swept up into the graces of a wealthy female benefactor, Dorcas Vashon, who wants to take her away and turn her into a society lady. Essie accepts and immediately begins her etiquette training in Baltimore before being moved to Washington to mingle with the likes of Frederick Douglass. Before I begin my critical review, I want to note that I will be purchasing this book for my MSHS library and will be including it on the recommended reading list to accompany our community read of the book that won the Great American Read this past fall - To Kill a Mockingbird. The list will feature #ownvoices books about racism and social justice in the US throughout history, and this fills an important time period and viewpoint void on that list. I will also be recommending it to my middle school teachers as a good choice for historical fiction lit circles. And now a few thoughts on why this book didn't blow me away, despite its very well-researched tale of a time period and viewpoint so unique to this genre. While the book is marketed as YA and features a main character in her late teens, it is written at such a lower level that I view it more as a middle grade writing style. That's not a bad thing necessarily, and will make it accessible to a wider range of readers, but it is definitely worth noting. The only thing making it questionable for younger middle grade audiences is the often-referenced prostitution of Essie's mother, but this isn't explicitly written in any way. Just very THERE, and depending on the audience may need some explaining. The book is relatively short, and the terse writing style makes it an incredibly quick read. I could see this fleshed out and made so much richer at double the length with quadruple the character insight and development. Also, the transitions between chapters and flashbacks seemed a bit awkward and stopped me short while reading a few times. Overall, the book was always very transparent in what it was doing - giving me a history lesson on wealthy blacks in post-Reconstruction middle and southern America. However, typically history lessons in 5 star fiction aren't quite so blatant, and instead are veiled in compelling and addictive storylines that make the reader forget all about the "realness" of it all. Bottom line: Teachers and librarians: please do buy it for high school libraries and classrooms. ADULT READERS: If you are wanting a short and interesting fictionalized history lesson, read it. If you are wanting a deep and satisfying tale, this one might not be the book for you. advanced-reader-copies young-adult 12 likes Like Comment D.T. Author 5 books 77 followers July 12, 2023 Well, Inventing Victoria is not exciting (it's mad dry and needs some lotion), but it is a good portrayal of some of the horrors/realities African-Americans experienced during the 1800s (blatant discrimination/racial attacks but new triumphs as well). We don't get too much insight into Essie's head, so this story is more plot-driven. Honestly, I don't know too much about Essie. Besides her circumstances and the shame she feels from her mother, and her love of drawing, what does Essie like or think about? If I connected more with Essie, maybe I would've enjoyed the journey more. Anyway, in the story, Essie's mother is a prostitute in a brothel house(?) where the uncles "white men" make their nightly visits. Her mother sometimes copes with this by using alcohol to get through it. Now, the uncles pay well (most of the time), so Essie does enjoy the gifts until she learns how they were bought. [Not a spoiler!; she dies on page 1] Jumping to the future, Essie's mother dies which gives Essie a glimmer of a new opportunity. She gets her own room now (no more sleeping in a closet) and a renewed desire to leave the past behind. Essie is bi-racial with light-skin. Despite wishing she was as far away from white as possible, her complexion/ colorism works in her favor for going up the black elite ladder. She finds her fairy godmother in the lovely Ma Clara and Dorcas Vashon. Can we give a handclap to Ma Clara? YOU THE REAL MVP! The journey to Essie becoming the high-class Victoria should have been more interesting. I was thoroughly bored and exhausted (just like you, Essie) with the many tasks/trials she had to endure. I really like the growth Essie had from simply wanting to become elite to wanting to give back to her community. There's some last minute romance that actually, I promise, happens in a span of five pages . "Was this love?" I don't know, Essie you just met him. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I thought they would tease the love interest a bit more and show us a glimpse of him earlier. It's okay though because that's not the primary focus. On another note, it's a bit awkward when the characters meet Fredrick Douglass. I like to keep fictional characters separate from real people. I don't mind timely references, but I dislike historical figures in fiction stories. How am I supposed to know if they're in character? Haha. Overall, this book is the perfect blend between Middle Grade and YA. The writing's simple but does not shy away from implications (racial, sexual, violent, etc). I recommend for older kids because I don't think it can keep most younger kids' interest. I loved Essie's mentors and the strained mother-daughter relationship. Aww, her mama had kept the broken pearl necklace ;__; ashy-needed-lotion black-fiction disappointed ...more 8 likes Like Comment Jessica Author 27 books 5,767 followers June 25, 2019 Born after Sherman's March, raised in Savannah, Essie wants to be better than her mother, better than her surroundings. Given the opportunity, she becomes the protegee of a wealthy woman who educates her in everything she needs to rise in society. But this means leaving everything she knew behind, even those who helped her to rise. historical-fiction own youngadult 5 likes Like Comment Panda Incognito 4,046 reviews 71 followers February 4, 2019 Don't let the beautiful cover fool you. This is not a polished, elegant young adult book about a young black woman rising socially during the Reconstruction Era. Instead, it's a rambling mess that squanders its premise and strongly resembles the style and substance of the Out West Pioneers story I wrote the summer after sixth grade. Thematically, this book and my story have nothing in common, but they are both similarly terrible in their inability to harness plot, character, or setting towards any real purpose. This book has a wonderful concept, and it could have been dazzling, especially since it's on such a rarely addressed subject. However, even in the scene where the heroine meets Frederick Douglass, every page remains a snooze-fest. I wish I had taken the advice of critical Goodreads reviewers and passed on this book, but I just didn't believe it could be that bad. Unfortunately, it was worse. This reads like a first draft, and a terrible one at that. I really liked "Crossing Ebeneezer Creek," this author's previous YA novel, but apparently, even though she can write evocatively and memorably in free verse, she cannot write in prose. Her sentences are proficient, but the story is just a string of lifeless, detached events strung together, with no real plot or character development. Even though the story concept is full of potential for dramatic conflict, the droning, lecturing narrative voice squanders every opportunity. Why dramatize the details and life of a pivotal conversation, when you can just summarize it afterward? One of my besetting failures in my sixth grade story was my inability to dramatize, and my constant rush through different events, making them even more vague and lifeless in my hurry to get to something with some spark. This reads in much the same way, like the author is impatient with what she is writing and is eager to get on to the next thing. I don't think there was a single dramatized scene in this entire book. Everything is just reported, in the driest and most boring way imaginable. This is why some people grow up thinking they don't like history, but honestly, the gigantic tome that I'm reading for my current college class on Jacksonian America reads like an adventure novel in comparison to this. It's possible for history to be well-researched and engaging, but this book just name-drops famous figures, incorporates facts, and never even tries to recreate the period with any life or interest. The book I'm reading in class is full of telling details and human interest, but this novel is flat, boring, and utterly lifeless. Honestly, this book was such a disappointment that I feel duty-bound to post my review on Amazon to preserve people from spending money on this. This so-called novel is a travesty. historical-fiction read-in-2019 young-adult 5 likes Like Comment Rena 482 reviews 282 followers June 4, 2019 Ehh, I wanted more from this one. library 5 likes Like Comment Brandy Painter 1,687 reviews 305 followers May 6, 2019 This book mostly suffers from me wanting it to be something other than what it was. I thought Crossing Ebenezer Creek was a riveting and important book. I was looking forward to reading a book that explored the time period after Reconstruction failed. I liked that some of the characters from Crossing Ebenezer Creek were in this book, and from a historical perspective it was quite good. It was just so very dry. I wanted to know the characters more and really get inside their head. The vagueness and jumping over time that worked well as a story telling devices in Crossing Ebenezer Creek didn't work as well for the story being told here. I did really like what we got of Victoria. I just wish it had been so much more. historical-fiction young-adult 3 likes Like Comment Emma 1,266 reviews 159 followers August 15, 2021 Actual rating is a 3.25 C/W: death of a parent, references to sex work, mentions of drug + alcohol addiction, bullying, discussions of slavery Inventing Victoria tells the story of Essie, a Black teen trying improve her circumstances in the 1880s. Essie's story is told in vignettes that flashback to show her childhood and then jump to the present-day as she receives a once-in-a-lifetime offer from Dorcas Vashon to leave her life of poverty behind and learn to become a lady. To start with the positives, Inventing Victoria was a well-researched book that did an excellent job immersing the reader in the time period. I learned a lot about how relaxed segregation had become in 1880s as well as the ways in which the gains of Reconstruction were already being eroded. The side characters Ma Clara and Dorcas Vashon were lovable women who left their mark on Essie in different ways. The vignette style made for a fast read even though the plot itself was relatively slow paced. Inventing Victoria is told from a third-person POV which, when coupled with the vignettes, made it hard for me to get a grasp of who Essie was as a character. Her determination to make the most of the opportunity Dorcas offers her is clear but other than that, I felt like I didn't really know her at all. There were also times when the story focused too much on details -- like all of the fancy dresses Essie gets or the titles of the books she has to read in her lady's education -- that felt like a bit of a slog to get through. Overall, I really loved getting to read some YA historical fiction set outside of WWII and Inventing Victoria is a neat slice-of-life look at life in the 1880s. 2021 ya-historical-fiction 2 likes Like Comment Lost in Book Land 695 reviews 157 followers February 8, 2019 I want to first say thank you again to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book, I was super interested in this book when I came across the title online and I just really wanted to read it as soon as humanly possible, so thank you to them for making that happen! This is a historical fiction novel (and I was super interested to read it because I love history)! Anyhow this book centers around Essie in the 1880s. Essie is living in Savannah and she has big dreams but these never seem to match up with what society dictates and what is real for her. Then one day Essie meets Dorcas she is a very rich and cultured African American woman, and she totally fascinates Essie. Dorcas makes Essie a deal and Essie is entered into the life she has dreamed of. Getting new fancy clothes, mingling with the upper class, and being welcomed into D.C. However, just when she is about to have all she has ever wanted and more Essie hits a big snag and has to decide what its worth to have her dreams. I really enjoyed Essie’s story and I thought the struggles and wants she expressed were interesting to read about. I gave this book 4.5 stars on Goodreads. **This is not a paid review! I just really am thankful and love this book! 2 likes Like Comment USOM 2,787 reviews 267 followers December 31, 2018 (Disclaimer: I received this free book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.) There were so many things I appreciated about the story - the setting, Essie/Victoria's determination to move up in society, her relationship with the mother figures in this book - but at the end I was craving a bit more expansion. The story, in and of itself, is one that is well rounded, all ends tied up, a fantastic setting, history, and a main character you can empathize with. While I got a sense of who Victoria was, I never really felt like I knew her. Whether this be because most of the book is about her inventing this new identity of Victoria, I'm not sure. But at the end of the day, I'm not sure what made Essie tick. full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi... 2 likes Like Comment Tara 84 reviews January 3, 2019 It's probably not fair to comment on a book that I am unable to finish reading, even though the reason for stopping is because I just couldn't stay with it any longer-I did look at the end and saw that it was concluding in an even more pitiful way that I would have thought. It's a nice idea, to follow a girl whose mother was a slave-turned-prosititute as the girl escapes her meager background to flourish in society. I couldn't stay with it because the conflict was so slight and uninteresting, then to top it off, her crowning achievement in the end was to marry well. The girl didn't seem to be changing except in a superficial, trite way. The author does have potential in her writing which is spare and close to verse although it lacks the emotional power of poetry. Also, the cover choice is misleading because it looks like a book for middle schoolers (and reads like one too) but is categorized as YA, likely because the mother is a prostitute. Actually, the mother was the most interesting character in the book with her multifaceted, conflicted existence in the era of reconstruction while the girl was pure virtue, (yuck). Or at least that was what I could glean from staying with the story for half the book. 2 likes Like Comment Rebekkah 56 reviews February 3, 2021 So good! I loved how lesser-known historical figures (Lewis Sheridan Leary, O.S.B Wall, Mary Church Terrell!) were woven into the narrative. My one quibble is the mention of Mary Church Terrell wanting to "earn" a bachelor's degree and a master's degree. Oberlin College bestowed master's degrees upon alumni who distinguished themselves in the years following their graduation—it wasn't something that one could set out to earn as we do today. 2 likes Like Comment Rachel E. Meyer 902 reviews April 9, 2020 It started out pretty interesting, then slowly took a downward plummet into boredom. Honestly, it felt like something I would have written as a young writer, full of long descriptions of dresses, weird cuts between scenes, time jumps, and no actual story. There were a few good parts, but the rest was boring. Such a pity, because it looked interesting and the concept could have been done well. 2020-reads historical-fiction ya-novels 2 likes Like Comment Kristie Lock 410 reviews 1 follower March 8, 2019 Victoria smiled wide. “It never ends, does it?” “What?” “Learning?” “Not if you are awake to the world.” 2 likes Like Comment QNPoohBear 3,225 reviews 1,522 followers August 5, 2020 #BlackLivesMatter collection Companion to Crossing Ebenezer Creek Essie's earliest memories are of a hot bitter drink poured down her throat and cotton stuffed in her ears, then an attic room, Mama's house decorated in red, Mama sleeping during the day and a parade of "uncles" visiting at night, the smells of whiskey and laudanum. By 7 she was begging to go to school but bullied for her unkempt appearance. Taken in by a kind cleaning woman, Ma Clara, Essie finally knows love and kindness. She reads voraciously, everything she can get her hands on, first the "colored" paper and when that gets shut down, the white papers. By 13 she realizes the schoolyard taunts about her mother were right and Essie wants no part of that life. She's determined to better herself and become someone. While her mother might be content to sleep her way to the top, Essie knows the key is education. She takes a job at a boardinghouse where she meets Binah, a bit slow to learn but a good friend just the same. Essie encourages Binah to learn to read to broaden her horizons but Binah decides her brain is too full for more learning. Then Essie meets the beautiful and glamorous Miss Dorcas Vashon who has the life Essie has always dreamed of. Dorcas Vashon offers Essie the opportunity of a lifetime, a chance to live her life the way she's always dreamed. Life with Miss Vashon doesn't live up to Essie's expectations. Does she have the patience and strength to wait and hope for something better or should she return to her old life and keep working and hoping and dreaming? This book is extremely timely. It takes place just after Reconstruction ends. Essie mentions Confederate monuments going up, white police harassing poor blacks in the marketplace and the strict color line she can't cross in Savannah. Sound familiar? Essie also mentions people who should be included in history class but haven't been. There were many prominent Black people in the 19th-century: lawyers, statesmen, writers, philanthropists, inventors and more. Of course Frederick Douglass is a household name and Booker T. Washington is well known but Orindatus Simon Bolivar Wall and the others are unknown to me. *sigh* Essie has never heard of any them, aside from Douglass, whose book My Bondage and My Freedom she reads over and over. This history behind the story is fantastic! However, it's too much info dumping. Names are mentioned and people are highlighted but the story doesn't go into depth about any of them and only Frederick Douglass appears in the novel. Did you know there was a Civil Rights Act of 1875?! I was shocked by how less segregated Washington, DC was then compared to what it was when I lived there two decades ago. Tonya Bolden has written more non-fiction than fiction and it shows. Her research is impeccable, her author's note makes me want to learn more but the novel didn't really do anything for me. I didn't care for the way the story was told. The writing style is all tell and not much show. As much as I love historical fashion, don't just copy/paste a description from a fashion magazine. The same with food. I can read Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management and the rest online. SHOW Essie learning and describe Essie trying some of these foods for the first time. At first I thought this was a novel in verse but it was just a book full of very short sentences and short chapters. It's told in flashback, catches up to the present and then flashback again. I didn't understand that at first and was really confused. Character names are mentioned on the first page without explanation. I did get into the story eventually and was eager to see where it was going. I really hoped that it wouldn't be too YA tropey. It wasn't and it was. I was afraid Essie/Victoria was being groomed to pass as white but fortunately she wasn't. I was afraid there was going to be a cheesy romance and there was. One interesting thing I noted, possibly to keep the book YA, the slur Essie hears about her mother is never actually written down but astute readers can guess from the beginning who the uncles are and what's going on. I found it hard to really like Essie/Victoria. I completely and totally relate to her desire for an education and to move up in life. While I had the complete opposite upbringing, I still longed to get out of my small hometown and make something of myself. I still experienced bullying so I did find Essie sympathetic in the beginning. Her feelings about her mother make me not like her very much, especially once Ma Clara explains Mamma's background. I don't remember Praline from Crossing Ebenezer Creek but a quick look at my review tells me how horrific the enslaved experience was for the main characters. I don't actually fault Praline for doing what did to survive. I don't think she was as selfish as her daughter believes. I think she thought she would sleep her way to a better life and eventually someone would take care of her or give her enough money to give her everything she wanted. She didn't understand her daughter's dreams and desire for education but I believe they shared a common goal- to rise above the circumstances of their unfortunate births. Praline, born enslaved and Essie, born to a formerly enslaved woman living in poverty. Really, the story should break your heart. Essie is, of course, a teenager and teens always hate their mothers no matter what! Essie becomes more unlikable the longer she's away from Savannah. I couldn't STAND that sort of idle, society life. She wants to help her people but Dorcas makes her wait and wait... then the way she suggests helping isn't very helpful. Clubs really? I know that's all women could do in the 19th-century but I'd rather work for a living and help my people. I'd want to go to college and maybe teach but not wait around to get married and socialize with shallow people forming "clubs" as hobbies to help people they aren't interested in being near. I thought that's what Essie wanted, especially when she wants to become friends with Claire and rejects the elite Black girls she's supposed to socialize with. I really like Claire and would want to be like her but even so, she HAS to marry and marry an elite man. Ma Clara and Binah are my favorite characters. They don't have much but they're content. Ma Clara lavishes all her love and attention on Essie to help Essie accomplish her dreams. Ma Clara knows how difficult life is for Black people in Savannah, especially women and she doesn't seem to fault Praline but she doesn't approve of Praline's lifestyle. Ma Clara is the grandmother Essie will never know. Binah is a sweet, uncomplicated girl. She isn't clever and is in awe of Essie's book learning but is uninterested in learning herself. Given that she was abandoned and has a crippled arm, she's doing very well for herself. She could so easily end up far worse. I love how loving Binah is and how uncomplicated life is for her. She makes friends easily and becomes devoted to them. I couldn't ask for a better friend. I'm not sure I would be brave enough or eager enough to cut all ties to my past. I'm not sure I like Dorcas Vashon either. She doesn't share her intentions with Essie or ask really what Essie wants to do with her life. She says be patient! Be patient! Miss Hadwick is very tough and seems to have every classic household management, etiquette, cooking book memorized and is determined to fill Essie's head with useless knowledge. I had no idea there was a difference between a butter knife and butter spreader, nor do I care, as much as I really want to live in the elite 19th-century world Essie is training to be a part of, I don't think going back in time and trying it would suit me. It's better not to be smart and just accept your place in society. Clementine, Fanny and Penelope are as bad as the white girls. They create divisions even among Black women and that just isn't right. They judge people based on skin tone and socioeconomic success while sitting around ding nothing more important than needlework. There is a corny teenage romance in this novel, of course. I'd like the story better without it. Wyatt is sweet and kind. He has big dreams and I admire him a lot. He's not wealthy and has dark skin so the other girls turn their noses up at him. I think he sees Essie/Victoria as someone like himself but he doesn't know ALL of her and that could cause problems. This book is important to read, especially now, but I wish the author had just written some non-fiction books expanding on the author's note. Content/Trigger warning Strong hints that Essie's mother is a prostitute and wants her daughter to follow in her footsteps. Essie is never assaulted or raped but she does receive looks and at school, two boys tried to make off with her, presumably to have their way with her, but she screamed and was rescued by her teacher. clean-romance kisses-only victorian-gilded-age ...more 1 like Like Comment Nadine Keels Author 42 books 191 followers November 16, 2023 To my knowledge, there are very few historical fiction novels that deal with this part of American history: the Black upper class, sometimes called the Black aristocracy or the Black Elite, that existed in the 19th century. Granted, changes in civil laws—the nullification of the Civil Rights Act of 1875, the legalization of segregation, and much more—would shift the flow of history for Black Americans. But the Black Elite did exist, and I decided to read this young adult novel almost immediately after seeing the cover and skimming part of the blurb. The opening stages of Essie's story have an atmospheric quality, and I was drawn in. I didn't remain that engrossed the whole time, however. I thought the story could have used more emotional flavors, including dashes of distinct humor, and a little something more to the relationships. On the whole, the novel didn't quite strike the right balance between history and story for me. I do appreciate historical fiction that's steeped in its period, and this book has no lack of American history nuggets. Yet, in the midst of the many nuggets as well as all of the details on culture and style—the lists of real people, the lists of real books, the extended descriptions of fashion and furnishings and foods and whatnot—Victoria gets fairly lost as a character, as does the sense of a plot surrounding her. Through much of the novel's second half, the vignettes concerning Victoria the person seem to rush by with little in the way of emotional development or connection. Even with the introduction of Victoria's love interest in the fourth quarter, I didn't sense a real build of emotional chemistry between the couple, so I didn't connect with the romance. Still, as Victoria's past eventually comes to meet her present, I'd say the novel does come back around to feeling more like a story again before the conclusion. And the history is yet valuable. Anyone who reads this novel must be sure not to skip the Author's Note at the end. black-authors-or-main-characters 1 like Like Comment Theresa 578 reviews October 7, 2018 I read an ARC from Bloomsbury YA via NetGalley. I read Crossing Ebenezer Creek and found it really compelling. Had I not read Tonya Bolden before, I might not have picked this book up based on the cover. I wouldn’t normally read something about high society. However, I knew I liked Bolden’s storytelling and this book did not disappoint. You don’t have to have read Crossing Ebenezer Creek first, but if you did it’s nice because this book takes place after those events and lightly includes secondary characters from Sherman’s March that we met in that book. Essie is young black woman in 1880’s Savannah. She struggles living with her mother and has found solace in Ma Clara who looks out for her and helps her find good work in a boarding house away from her mother. While working at the boarding house a black woman of culture makes Essie an offer she can’t refuse to make a new life for herself. Essie’s education is ripe with people of historical significance, which is educational for the character and the reader. She meets people like Frederick Douglas. The story started out a bit disjointed with flashbacks, but once past the first quarter of the book it found its rhythm and I was fully invested in joining Essie on her journey. She is a fiercely determined and an engaging character that faces challenging decisions. This is an interesting look at post-Reconstruction America prior to Jim Crow Laws. Short chapters make for rapid page turning. Some romance. Don’t judge the book by its cover. This is good historical fiction for teens and adults alike. art bipoc coming-of-age ...more 1 like Like Comment Savannah 22 reviews July 15, 2020 I enjoyed this book in the beginning, but I ended up just getting extremely confused the more I read it. The transitional period between her lives just felt like a blur and if there was no structure, and the teachings she had really felt rushed. Overall, though, the story was amazing. I began to connect with the characters and her story, and I ended up loving her through it all. I think it plays an important role in teaching students what it was like to live during this time as a black woman, and I could see it being used as a teaching tool in my classroom- more likely middle grades more than high school. 1 like Like Comment Vanessa 721 reviews 33 followers February 6, 2019 very compelling read about an era in history I know almost nothing about! I really love when a book highlights a little known period or part of history. The reference guide at the end is of particular note int his case; I'm glad to know the author took the work seriously, and has directed us to places to learn more. I found the flashbacks at the beginning very captivating; I think I read the first 100 pages in one or two sittings! historical ya 1 like Like Comment Blu3Mask3dTurt1e 2 reviews March 27, 2024 Reading the first few pages was rather confusing, I thought it was poetry at first, but then it started to change as I kept reading the next pages. The overall story of the book was ok. It is about this girl named Essie, in the 1800s who gets an offer from a rich lady proposing that she travel away and train to become a proper lady. Essie accepts, cuts ties with her past, and gets to upper-class society. Then she gets married. Short book, okay read, 3.8 stars. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review 1 like Like Comment Briony 413 reviews April 3, 2019 Inventing Victoria initially intrigued me, and I read the first 30 pages in one sitting. However, as the story progressed, I started to lose interest. I think "Victoria" started off as a strong character but slowly descended into a superficial character. I ended up cutting my losses halfway through and put the book down. Too bad because I thought it had so much potential. 2019-chapter-books historical-fiction ya 1 like Like Comment Monica Wilson 20 reviews 2 followers February 11, 2019 3.5 1 like Like Comment Sidik Fofana Author 3 books 308 followers November 2, 2019 SIX WORD REVIEW: Secrets revealed in Black genteel society. 1 like Like Comment Terri 958 reviews 38 followers Read March 20, 2019 See my review for this book at: http://www.alan-ya.org/alan-picks-feb... 1 like Like Comment Bethany 725 reviews 5 followers March 25, 2019 I feel like there was so much potential here and it all just came to nothing. What a bummer! The story was good, the quality of research was so high, and I really loved reading about a side of history I don't often read about. However the writing just didn't work for me. This is a ~young~ teen book, probably middle grade at the highest. It feels so young in both language and story telling. It's also told in a timey-whimy way, flip flopping sometimes from past and future. That didn't really bug me, but it was rather hard to keep track of when we were. The one thing that I found really annoying though, was that the writing made the story lack any sort of emotional depth. The book would take us right up to a great moment, then the next chapter would start by describing what happened in that great moment in a vague past tense. It just resulted in no actual emotional investment from me. Another reviewer described it as reading a detailed outline rather than a completed book, and that's what it felt like at parts. Perhaps if it had been aimed for an older audience I might have enjoyed it more. I have found lately that there are very few middle grade books that I really love anymore - which is fair, since I am not the target audience! young-adult 1 like Like Comment Kathy Martin 3,694 reviews 97 followers December 13, 2018 This historical fiction story tells about Essie, a young black girl in Savannah, in the 1870s and 1880s. Essie's mother is a prostitute who came to Savannah on Sherman's March to the Sea. The first few chapters tell about Essie's childhood being hidden in closets when her "uncles" came to call. Essie was befriended by a cleaning woman who convinced her mother to send her to school. While she learned to read, she eventually left because of bullying by those who looked down on her because of her mother's profession. She relied on the cleaning woman - Ma Clara - for emotional support and to learn to take care of herself. She depended on books she found at a second hand store to continue her education. When she was fourteen, she found a job at a boarding house and fell out with her mother. She was given the opportunity by a visitor to the boarding house to change her life. Dorcas Vashon offered to give her a new life if she was willing to leave her past behind. Because she wanted to better herself and find a purpose in life, she took the offer. Part of her new life involved a new name and, at sixteen, she became Victoria. The story details all the things she had to learn and the books she read while learning to become a member of Washington, D.C.'s elite black society. She really did change her life as she learned those things. The lists of the books she read was daunting. She needed to learn how to fit into a society the paid attention to art, fashion, and etiquette. She got so involved that she almost lost her original purpose of making things better for her people. It was realistic, but disappointing, that she needed to find a husband to realize her dreams. It was also difficult to know that this was the period before the rise of the Jim Crow laws when the small gains earned by blacks after the Civil War were going to be wiped out. I would be curious for the author to write more about Essie's (Victoria's) life. Like Comment Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) 2,490 reviews 4,114 followers December 20, 2018 I think Inventing Victoria is a case of a really great concept with a mediocre execution. The story follows a young black woman raised in poverty who is given the opportunity to reinvent herself and join black high society in Post-Reconstruction America. It is chock full of black history from that era, highlighting key events and figures often left out of textbooks. It's the sort of thing that could be great as assigned reading for a high school history class (and would add some much needed dimension to the curriculum!). Unfortunately, the overly didactic narrative and heavy emphasis on unnecessary description cause it to be rather dull as a novel. Essie/Victoria is compelling as a character, as is her journey toward self-betterment, purpose, and love. But while we get bits of that, it all takes a backseat historical information and detailed accounts of things like clothing, fabric, table settings, etiquette, and architecture. All of which could have added color and interest to the narrative if deftly woven in, but the application is very heavy-handed and it reads like an odd blending of textbook and fictional narrative. Again, this sort of book certainly has its place in terms of educational value, but I found myself skipping over unnecessary passages and wondering why the interesting relational parts (like the beginning of a romance) are given such short shrift. So while I am very much in favor of elevating black history in this period and like what the author is trying to do, I can't wholeheartedly recommend this as an enjoyable read. I think if you are looking for a way to learn more about this period without reading nonfiction, it is a good option. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. black-authors Like Comment Tasha 4,117 reviews 127 followers January 17, 2019 Set in the 1880s, this novel explores the world if Essie, a young African-American woman who grew up with a neglectful mother and was rescued from poverty and prostitution by a kindly cleaning woman. Determined to keep learning even though she left school at an early age, Essie continued to read everything she could get her hands on. While working at a boarding house, Essie meets Dorcas Vashon, a wealthy African-American woman who sees potential in Essie and offers her a way to transform her life. Taught etiquette and new manners by Dorcas over several grueling months, Essie becomes Victoria and takes on the persona of Dorcas’ niece. As Victoria enters the social elite in Washington, D.C. she must hold to the lie that she is living until she can’t manage it any longer. Bolden captures a period in American history that is rarely seen in books, much less teen novels. It is the period after Restoration gave African-Americans new rights but before the Jim Crow laws came stripped them away. It is a dazzling time to be a member of society and Bolden gives us details about the books, the manners and the dresses that make up that world. The setting of Washington, D. C. society is beautifully depicted as well. Essie/Victoria makes for a wonderful set of eyes to view this world through. While she is taken with her new lifestyle and the opportunities it brings, Essie wrestles with the lies she must tell to keep it that way. Her strength of character is particularly evident when she is pressed such as learning etiquette and at the end of the book when she must make a moral decision. It is then that Essie fully steps into her own. A fascinating look at a neglected piece of American history. Appropriate for ages 12-16. teen Like Comment Jade Lazaro 88 reviews 7 followers October 26, 2020 So in the beginning, I was kind of frustrated with the back and forth flips to the past. I was very confused because it first almost started sounding like I was reading a poetry book and almost a novel. The words were strong and I had a hard time placing where we really were in the story. Eventually, I got the hang of what was going on. I will say this book has a great character development, but I felt that that’s what the book was mostly about- a rags to riches story for one person. I did like how the character had a unique background, as it made her a different kind of person in society. I wish the author had included more about Victoria’s exchange with Frederick Douglass. I felt that her conversation with him was brief, not that impactful, and could have been left out. I kept hoping to see more of what Victoria would have established in later years- her home for children in need of help. However, I will say that there appears to be more books by the author, so maybe she further elaborates there. I did like the story, but I just felt like I was watching a girl who grew up in a rough spot go to an affluent society and marry a guy. Victoria in my eyes was supposed to be this strong, smart, and independent woman who was going to make big changes in the world. Yes, she did get out of a tough spot. However, I’m waiting to see what will she give back to the community. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review Like Comment Libby V 233 reviews 4 followers November 14, 2019 It took me a little while to get into this book and understand and appreciate the writing style, but once I did I enjoyed it. It's a quick read. The descriptions of food, clothes, books, etc. are beautiful but neither the world nor the characters are really fleshed out, but I found that I didn't really mind because it was on purpose and not what the author was trying to do. It's an accessible historical fiction book for teens. Whether you like the stream of consciousness style or not I would recommend this book because it covers a topic and time period that isn't as well known. In 1870s Savannah, Essie lives with her mother, a prostitute, who was born into slavery and traveled south on Sherman's March. Through luck, determination, and the kindness of strangers she is able to make a better life for herself as Victoria first in Baltimore and then in Black upper-class Washington DC. She has to leave her past and family behind to become an educated socialite. I enjoyed reading about the window of Reconstruction after the Civil War and before the racist backlash of Jim Crow laws where there was a culture of Black wealth and power in the south. I hope there will be more books about this time period. 2019 historical-fiction young-adult Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion 1 question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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The Ask and the Answer (Chaos Walking, #2) by Patrick Ness | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Chaos Walking #2 The Ask and the Answer Patrick Ness 4.18 96,775 ratings 8,385 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book We were in the square, in the square where I'd run, holding her, carrying her, telling her to stay alive, stay alive till we got safe, till we got to Haven so I could save her - But there weren't no safety, no safety at all, there was just him and his men... Fleeing before a relentless army, Todd has carried a desperately wounded Viola right into the hands of their worst enemy, Mayor Prentiss. Immediately separated from Viola and imprisoned, Todd is forced to learn the ways of the Mayor's new order. But what secrets are hiding just outside of town? And where is Viola? Is she even still alive? And who are the mysterious Answer? And then, one day, the bombs begin to explode... "The Ask and the Answer" is a tense, shocking and deeply moving novel of resistance under the most extreme pressure. This is the second title in the "Chaos Walking" trilogy. Genres Young Adult Dystopia Science Fiction Fantasy Fiction Adventure Teen ...more 536 pages, Hardcover First published May 4, 2009 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Patrick Ness 47 books 18.4k followers Patrick Ness, an award-winning novelist, has written for Radio 4 and The Sunday Telegraph and is a literary critic for The Guardian . He has written many books, including the Chaos Walking Trilogy , The Crash of Hennington , Topics About Which I Know Nothing , and A Monster Calls . He has won numerous awards, including the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, the Booktrust Teenage Prize, and the Costa Children’s Book Award. Born in Virginia, he currently lives in London. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.18 96,775 ratings 8,385 reviews 5 stars 42,423 (43%) 4 stars 35,498 (36%) 3 stars 14,443 (14%) 2 stars 3,124 (3%) 1 star 1,287 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 8,384 reviews karen 3,997 reviews 171k followers July 7, 2018 okay, so i loved the knife of never letting go but this one was somehow even better. oh, jeez, i am afraid i am just going to write a gushing fangirl review here. does anyone mind? i will try to avoid saying anything too specific, because this book is such a gem, i want everyone to sort of discover its folds and depths for themselves. because there is a great deal of depth up in here. the action of this book takes place after a colossal thing happens which separates viola and todd. and this book is a split-narrative between the two of them, as they are pursuing their individual paths to selfhood under extreme duress and uncertainty. vague, right? but it is so well-handled. ness can actually write! viola and todd sound like two different characters! and fully developed characters with insights and psychologies all their own, at that! and i love them both so much. fangirl squeee! the scope of the book has widened. the first book starts out as a sort of smalltown pastoral with creepy-dark religious/cultish overtones, while this one expands to re-emphasize the earlier themes of colonialism and clannishness but to build upon those themes with the politics of war and love and betrayal and sacrifice (oh, the sacrifices...) and helplessness and growth and trust and - just all of it, all leading up to the most amazing cliffhanger of tolkien-esque proportions. it made my head go "aaaahhhhhh!!!" the best moments in these books are the small revelations, the tiny realizations. not even the big game-changing events, although those are phenomenal. but as viola and todd are separately coached under questionable authority figures, which are shaping their character, but still managing to retain their individual sparks that make them such strong characters, and while trying so hard just to get back to each other - the tiny reveals that pepper this story as they bildungs their roman are genuinely surprising and so devastating. shivery. because they spend most of this novel apart, this becomes a novel about faith. faith in the beloved other. because while technically not a YA romance, because there isn't any kissing, it has the perfect shape to become one: the first book is spent fighting together towards a common goal, learning each others' strengths and weaknesses, making sacrifices (sob) to protect the Other, comforting each other and never letting the other lose hope or give up.it is a perfect foundation. this chapter has them apart, developing their own personal codes in the middle of this new situation and creating a sort of armor around themselves to protect themselves from outside influence, to keep the faith in the other safe until they can be together again. which adds the layer of independence so fundamental to a successful romance. none of this twilight self-sacrifice twaddle. it's just gorgeous. i hate the things that happen to todd throughout, as he struggles to balance his humanity while giving up portions of it just to stay alive. and although viola's situation seems less dangerous on the surface, it is only more adroitly manipulated, and so her ultimate realization/betrayal is even more powerful for it. aaahhhhh!!!! there is too much in this book and it is all in my heart. i am trying to read the third book really slowly so i never have to leave this world. there are probably more useful reviews out there. this is just be babbling. don't let me slow you down on your path to this book - go now! come to my blog! why-yes-i-ya 305 likes Like Comment Emily May 2,059 reviews 312k followers January 27, 2019 This stunning sequel to The Knife Of Never Letting Go manages to measure up to its predecessor in a way I never thought possible. After reading the first book, I felt sure that Ness would be incapable of delivering something equally brilliant. But he did. This is an even more important book than part one, though admittedly not quite as fast-paced. It deals with feminism, terrorism, war and genocide. The alternating narrative works well and develops the reader's bond with the character of Viola. For me, it was an even darker novel than the first book, with Ness sparing no details on the violence and torture undergone by those suspected of being members of the Answer. It's a very shocking story and it questions what makes a person 'good' and whether an individual is solely responsible for their actions or if society and social factors can be blamed. Ness openly tackles the possibility of redemption in the most dire cases and he carefully blurs the lines between hero and villain. Is it okay to sacrifice one innocent person for the greater good? How about a thousand? Is terrorism a crime or a fight for freedom? The answers you think you have now may not be so easily applied when reading the book. It may make you question all that you've ever believed in. Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube 2011 dystopia-utopia young-adult 183 likes Like Comment Charlotte May 763 reviews 1,217 followers April 17, 2018 "So, who are you then, Todd Hewitt?" He says. "What makes you so special?" Now that, I think, is a very good asking." What a crazy ending! I enjoyed this one a lot more than the first. I was more invested in Todd and Viola's characters, and accustomed to the writing style so I could fully focus on the story. Yay for second books! So Todd and Viola found their way to Haven only to discover it was not the safe land they were hoping for. Pitted back against Todd's old nemesis Mayor Prentiss, Todd and Viola become separated - each on either side of an ongoing war. One between the people of Haven, calling themselves the Ask and those having escaped Haven and fighting against those in power - The Answer. This book was full of chilling scenes, including the torture of civilians, namely women. Some of the themes were extremely powerful, sexism, violence, terrorism, to name a few. The Noise is still rife in this book - yet Mayor Prentiss has chosen to provide 'the cure' to some of his chosen favourites. I'm intrigued to see where Ness will go with the final book. This series seems to redefine genre - with elements of Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Dystopia and maybe even horror. The ending was mad! I can't get over the arrival of a Spackle army - they are such weird creatures, I still don't fully understand them I've ordered the third book immediately - I need to know what happens! "We are the choices we make" 500-page-plus dystopia end-of-the-world ...more 173 likes Like Comment Caz (littlebookowl) 303 reviews 39.8k followers March 4, 2015 This was an alright sequel, I didn't love the plot but the ending has left me very curious to see how the trilogy ends! I hope there is lots more action and intensity in the final installment :) audiobook owned 134 likes Like Comment Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘ 870 reviews 4,085 followers February 15, 2021 What would you choose if you had the faith of someone you love in your hands? Would you betray your beliefs? I must confess that the only honest answer I can give you is... Of course I'd be so proud if I was able to say that I'd do the right thing whatever it takes, and I want to think I'd do it. Really. Of course there are situations where what to do is obvious because one of the possibilities is utterly bad . But sometimes - sometimes there's no such thing as a right choice . The Ask and the Answer is supposed to be a children's book. Yes, for sure it is. I mean, that seems crystal clear , huh? The main characters are young, aren't they? Yes... But still . Is it enough to tell? Really? Because this book?! It actually made me think more than most of those I've read for years . And I read a lot . The Ask and the Answer gives rise to ethical reflection and disturbs us. What is it that makes you a good person? Is there a boundary line? Where is it, I'm asking, where is it? Is it what you do ? What you think ? What you allow others to do? WHERE? - Blur - "And they seem to unnerstand. That's the thing. They unnerstand way more than a sheep would." Make no mistakes, I hated Mayor Prentiss - President - Prentiss something fierce. I really did, from the beginning. Then, I never liked a lot this Mistress Coyle either. But these choices our characters must face? They're difficult. Harsh. *blush* Can I say it? I only wanted for Todd and Viola to be safe. To be together. To be happy. Yes, I can be idealist that way. And maybe it makes me a coward, maybe it makes me weak, but - There was a moment I was just thinking one damn thing : "Run!" Fuck 'em all , and run! (shut up) But of course it'd be selfish. Of course life isn't so simple. And of course the story would be over, and way less interesting. I may be a romantic but not that dumb. I know that. But still . I'm just saying I thought about it. Fortunately for us, readers who want to be moved but oh my god that's so harsh - Fortunately for us, Todd and Viola are amazing characters and oh so more stronger than me. I'll let you know something : This book is a gem, a real one, but that was painful. "Cuz she's out there somewhere. (please be out there somewhere) (please be okay) (please)" I've said my heart ached for Todd in The Knife of Never Letting Go ? Scratch that : It just broke in this one. All over again . I sure can't say that I agreed with all the choices he made. It'd be far from the true - some of his actions are really unforgivable one word : 1017 . But, you know, Patrick Ness is such a genius - yes, because I know that the talent (or the lack of) of a writer plays a large part in our feelings towards the characters - that even if I hated Todd sometimes, I couldn't help but love him. Something fierce. Whatever it takes . That's the whole point, huh? (Viola?) You could think that this sentence, "Love is stronger than anything" is a pious platitude. You'd be right. I mean, we all know how this sentence is often used in romance novels to, you know, try to hide the lack of plot ? And yet you'd be so wrong. This book is not a romance. So then? Where does it lead us? To a wonderful book about choices . The choices we make and why we make them and how can we be sure that we're right? We just can't. Let it be known that I will forever be destroyed by this quote. FOREVER - "And someone calls, "Murderer!" from across the square. But of course it can't be her - But at least there's someone. At least there's someone." ... Because what are we hoping but for someone to speak up? I want to be that person, and even if I'm not gonna lie, it scares me to death, I sure hope I would be, because what's the point of life if we can witness atrocities and just stand there? I am in awe of Patrick Ness . His books are brilliant, and I'm already looking forward to reading the next. Because of course there's a cliffhanger. Again. Edit 05/29 : I've started editing this review, but nothing could express my confusion and emotion more than the few words I wrote straight away. Perhaps it's for the best that my obsessional perfectionism can't influence everything. Perhaps sometimes, beautiful sentences and neat organization would be nothing else but a lie. For more of my reviews, please visit: all-time-favorites genre-dystopia young-adult 113 likes Like Comment Claudia Lomelí Author 8 books 80.9k followers July 1, 2017 It's 4.5 stars. Not perfect 5 stars because the first part was a little slow and boring for me, but THEN the final chapters were so awesome and full of twists and turns and UGHHH Patrick Ness just loves to kill the characters I like! Anyway, this book was so much better than the first one! I think that's because we get to know (not really, though) mayor Prentiss. He's one of the best villains EVER. Also, I ship Todd and Viola so much. 2015 fav-villains i-ship-them 113 likes Like Comment Tatiana 1,453 reviews 11.4k followers December 21, 2009 I won't lie, I am really disappointed in and exhausted by this novel. "The Ask and the Answer" is very little like the first book in the trilogy "The Knife of Never Letting Go." If the first one is a fast-paced chase kind of story, which keeps you hooked by gradual revelation of the New World's mysteries of Noise, Haven, Viola's origin, etc., this book is basically an account of a civil war between Mayor Prentiss's army and the resistance called here the Answer. The book raises various issues of genocide, war ethics, torture, and holding onto one's identity under pressure. All issues are interesting, but I find myself surprisingly uninterested in them, mainly because in this book I am strangely detached from Todd and Viola. In these tough circumstances they are nothing more than naive petulant children used as pawns in various evil plans. They are described as so strongly attached that they are willing to do almost anything for one another and yet they are so easily led to mistrust each other.This mistrust constantly gets them and people around them in trouble, it's painful to read. I think pretty much in this book you simply can't find even one likable person. Todd is the one I dislike the most at this point. No matter how hard the author tries to make us believe that Todd still holds on to his innocence and thus is better than everybody else, it's pretty hard to swallow when you know what Todd has done for no good reason other than his dear girlfriend left him. In addition, there are the same plot holes as in the first book. I still don't understand the "specialness" of Todd, there is still a lot of build-up and allusions to various secrets that end up being not that interesting or important. I have to give Ness some credit for skillfully creating an atmosphere of urgency in his books and showing that nobody is truly innocent in war, but unfortunately, this just isn't enough for me. Gray shades are great in theory, but I would like to see some clearer morality in my books, especially in the books written for young adults. I find that at this point the only side I would want to succeed in the story is Spackle. Not sure if Ness meant it this way though... Reading challenge: #1 - N. 2009 tres-annoying ya 101 likes Like Comment Regan 469 reviews 113k followers June 9, 2023 Patrick Ness's writing is a thing of magic. He aptly portrayed the horrors of civil war on both sides, and how war has no clear "good guy" and "bad guy". The psychological aspect of this book is intense, being in the minds of both Viola and Todd as they try to pave a path for themselves in the hell that surronds them is both riveting and humbling. books-owned-read favorites 90 likes Like Comment Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus} 861 reviews 1,541 followers February 23, 2019 One taught me love, one taught me patience, one taught me pain. These books are only teaching me PAIN and STRESS dystopian sci-fi 88 likes Like Comment Helen 2.0 462 reviews 1,216 followers July 17, 2017 Objectively, this whole series so far has been fabulously written. Really, really skilled author. Objectively, the book deserves five stars. But... I'm only human, and subjectively I wanted to rip this book apart and then burn the shreds because it both makes me furious and scares me to death. Chaos Walking is the kind of story where every character is evil and corrupted in their own way and you're at a loss for someone to like/support. To make things worse, the main characters are children thrust into and twisted by a cruel world, driven to horrible acts by horrible circumstances. Through Ness' unique writing style, the reader can follow along right in Todd's head, and it all feels a little to close and real for comfort. This series really shook me, and I think I need a little time before I can finish the last installment. aliens anti-hero brs-done ...more 83 likes Like Comment Hamad 1,136 reviews 1,510 followers October 25, 2018 This review and other non-spoilery reviews can be found @The Book Prescription “In this world of numbness and information overload, the ability to feel, my boy, is a rare gift indeed.” 🌟 Yay, I was exactly the 60,000th thousand person to rate this!! I guess you know the drill by this point, I usually compare the second book in a series with the first and see what improved and what didn’t. 🌟 I didn’t know what to expect after the ending of book 1 so my Ask was if I will enjoy this as much and the Answer is apparently yes, it was a very good book. 🌟 The writing is as good as book 1. These books are large (500-650 Pages) but the good news is that they feel like 300-400 pages instead. Patrick’s writing is easy to follow, full of suspense and can be poetic at the same time. “We are the choices we make. And have to make. We aren’t anything else.” 🌟 The Pacing in book 1 was faster which is always a plus for me, the pace here is slower but not too slow so it is still enjoyable. 🌟 There weren’t many new characters but the characters we know developed and I expected the change in some characters which was awesome and devil! 🌟 Every one were talking about the plot twists in this book, I saw most of them before they happened and specially at the ending I was like what if this and that happened, that would be terrific and guess what? It did happen 😀 I liked how this was much darker than book 1 and some of the scenes were graphic so beware, I don’t think it is a suitable book for younger children. I discovered lately that I really love darker reads just because they are more realistic, the real world is not sunshine and flowers! 🌟 The world also expanded and I think we are getting more of it in the next book. 🌟 Summary: The Ask and the Answer was as almost as good as book 1, if you liked book 1 then the series is definitely worth continuing. It was slower paced, darker and more twisted. The story is balanced and I can’t wait to know how it ends. 2018-reads e-books good-covers ...more 72 likes Like Comment Heather 297 reviews 13.9k followers December 20, 2016 Ugh, I just can't do it. This book is contrived and ridiculous. The characters of Todd and Viola have reached a level of stupidity that I didn’t think was possible. I was put off by the first chapter, but continued to read for another 50 pages before I finally chucked it. Enough is enough. I had already ignored my instincts by picking this book up in the first place. Having read and been let down by book one, I was hoping that Ness would redeem himself. But alas, no such luck. Not only has Ness failed to create likable characters, he has massacred any redeeming quality in Todd or Viola in order to create a plot for his series. He should have left well enough alone, and ended this story in The Knife of Letting Go. I detest authors who rely on character idiocy to move their plot forward almost as much as I loath this book. If you aren't looking for any type of rhyme or reason, just itching for someone to get beat or killed, then by all means, read on, otherwise, read at your own peril. 2009 72 likes Like Comment Amanda 282 reviews 313 followers July 7, 2013 **Some spoilers for those who have not read the first book** I just wrote an exhausting review of this novel, but Goodreads screwed me and lost the entire thing. Pissed does not even begin to cover what I feel right now. All of that brilliance, now lost to the cyberspace void forever. I didn't so much read the first book in this series, The Knife of Never Letting Go , as inhaled it. Original and disturbing, Ness is not afraid to take some risks as he tells the story of Todd Hewitt, a boy about to become a man in Prentisstown--a town inhabited only by men. As we read, we find out that Todd lives on a colony planet so distant from Earth that it takes decades to get there. Upon arrival, the first colonists went to war with the indigenous inhabitants, the Spackle. In a desperate effort to defeat the invaders, the Spackle release a germ that kills all of the women. The men survive, but with a strange side-effect: they can hear each other's internal monologue. At least this is the story Todd was always told, but when he discovers a real girl in the swamp Todd is forced to flee for his life and learns that everything he thought was true is a lie. The Ask and the Answer picks up where The Knife of Never Letting Go left off. Todd and Viola, whose uneasy truce forged a devoted friendship, are separated when Mayor Prentiss (the antagonist from the first novel) names himself President, quarantines the women from the men, and establishes martial law in New Prentisstown. As Mayor Prentiss exerts his power, a female rebel force known as the Answer rises against him, and Viola finds herself swept up by their cause. Meanwhile, Todd is forced to do President Prentiss's bidding in order to keep Viola safe. He's put in charge of managing the enslaved Spackle workforce being used to build the New Prentisstown envisioned by the President. What is so fascinating about the novel is how Ness explores the brainwashing and mind games employed by each side as they use Viola and Todd as expendable pawns in their quest for victory. Viola struggles with the terroristic tactics used by the Answer against innocent civilians in the name of their cause, while Todd is forced to face his shame in killing a Spackle in the first novel as he witnesses the dehumanizing treatment of the thinking and feeling alien race. As Viola and Todd try to navigate the labyrinthine truths, loyalties, and beliefs that are relics from a war that occurred before either of them were born, they begin to question themselves and their trust in each other. This psychological complexity is heightened by the fact that the reader still isn’t sure who the bad guys and who the good guys are—if, in fact, there are any good guys. There are no easy answers and Ness forces readers to think through the complex issues of war, justifiable violence, and racism. Cross posted at This Insignificant Cinder blog young-adult 71 likes Like Comment Izzy 139 reviews 33 followers February 22, 2012 “So who are you then, Todd Hewitt? What makes you so special?” Where to start, where to start? In that first chapter, I was just so proud of you Todd. I feel like we’ve come a long way and it just never stops for you does it? But seriously, where to start? I thought the last book was good. This one is better . Like, sell your aunt and your soul to the devil kind of good. It's just so full of stuff . First off, despite my many attempts, I could never guess what would happen. When I gave up trying and just went with it, it was still like running into a brick wall with your eyes closed. You knew it was somewhere but you didn't know where. In fact it was like running into MULTIPLE brick walls. The characters were even better than before. Not only do we get to hear from Viola's point of view (who is better than I could've hoped for) but all the characters are well developed and waaaay too realistic. I also developed some weird emotions for Davy Prentiss- seriously, right from the start. I just wanted to hug him though he was such an ass. But most of all, Todd. Sweet Todd. You scared me Todd. I got wrinkles from you Todd. DON'T DO THAT TO ME AGAIN TODD! I'm sort of speechless. And still, after everything... I miss Manchee. Angharrad was sweet but if anything it made me miss Manchee even more. Poo? Todd? Poo? Manchee would've stopped this from happening. He was a bloody good dog . amazing-man did-not-see-that-coming don-t-break-my-heart ...more 68 likes Like Comment Dannii Elle 2,119 reviews 1,705 followers May 10, 2021 This is the second book in the Chaos Walking series. This delivered everything I hoped it would and a million things more. I felt genuine sorrow for all those individuals who read the first book as it was released and had to wait a whole year until this was published. Ness is the king of the cliffhanger! Honestly, he is as sublime a writer as he is a cruel one, and the pain, anxiety, and anguish I felt whilst reading this was only offset by the beauty and grace of the penmanship. I am so glad I had all three books to hand, as I waited approximately one nanosecond between finishing the first book and taking a sneap peek at chapter one of the second. This book was completely and utterly unputdownable and, if possible, I loved it even more than the first. Ness gave the reader everything - every breadth of emotion, beautifully crafted writing, extensive and original world building, corporeal characterization, legions of plot, and action, action, action for days! He has already proven himself such a brilliant story-teller that I expected nothing less but was still blown away! The book opened in the midst of the action of the end of the first book, plunging you straight back into the depths of the plot. Without skipping a beat I was there, living and grieving and loving alongside my beloved main characters, Todd and Viola. If anything, this book had a more poignant edge to it. I felt heartbreak one hundred times over in The Knife of Never Letting Go but here it was intensified. I could previously isolate Todd and Viola's stories and remove myself from their plight when I got too involved but, with the addition of the Spackle (the indigenous species to the New World that the humans raged war with and later enslaved) it all just felt too real. The colonization of the planet and the hateful treatment and enslavement of the native Spackles felt so horribly, historically accurate that I couldn't switch my emotions off. I felt somewhat responsible whilst reading this and almost ashamed to belong to the hate-fuelled, discriminatory and domineering human species. It was heartbreaking to read, yet accurate. In short, reading this made my heart hurt. And by that I mean that the writer did a good job. The explored themes of colonization, war, gender divides, power, coming-of-age and the good/bad binary, which all ensured this a book where you got to learn whilst you read and where you got to know yourself and your stance on these issues, too. There wasn't a pain-free moment as the lines between good and bad were continually blurred, erased, and altered, which made my empathy and the pain I felt equal for all. I am still not sure there even is a definite good and bad side. There are just sides. Both sides have a cause. Both sides have experienced pain and anger and heartbreak. Both sides have inflicted pain and anger and heartbreak. Both side is justified. Yet, neither side is justified. How is the reader supposed to know who to fight for if the characters don't know their own hearts? I guess I am just going to have to continue with book three and find out. science-fiction-sagacity young-adult-books-read 55 likes Like Comment Whitney Atkinson 985 reviews 12.8k followers August 3, 2017 This series is just turning out to be rather "meh" for me, and that's totally not a bad thing, I just can't describe it better. It's not bad. I really have no problems with the characters or writing or plot, but at the same time, it isn't the absolutely coolest and best thing i've read. It's fast and unique and the writing is cool, but I don't necessarily find myself connected to the story or the people. It's fun to read when you're doing it, but I wouldn't consider this series one of my favorites. It's very hard to describe my feelings for this book because right now i'm just feelin meh about it. And now i'm in the mood to grab something more exciting lol. audiobook read-in-2015 50 likes Like Comment Choko 1,307 reviews 2,639 followers July 13, 2017 *** 2.75 *** A buddy with my friends at the MacHalos, because we obviously hate ourselves... I am not going to write a real review for this one, because if it continues in the same vain, I will have to repeat myself when I finish the third and last book in the series. I am just frustrated... Usually, when I read dystopian YA of substance, I am full of emotions which propel me to inspiration, and I have no problems putting them down in a review. Usually most of those feelings are positive. And just as always, I try to balance my personal feelings with objective overview of the qualities of writing, plot, storytelling and so on... But sometimes, like right now, my emotions let me down and my objectivity starts failing... I feel like with the exception of couple of books, in the last couple of weeks I have fallen into a well of depression, dispair, and unlikable characters, and there is no one to throw me a line to drag myself out of it... I am becoming convinced that there is a wave of writers who have decided that having a great style and flawless control of their craft, they are going to use it to depress their readers. The do that by barraging them with slightly veiled truths of historical and contemporary human mistakes and failures, putting them in made up worlds, dressing them up as fables, and condensing them into powerful concentrates, serving them usually as trilogies, every one of them chipping away at our faith in humanity... All are good but also bad, all are apathetic, all are easily thrown out of balance, and everything goes as long as survival is guaranteed, to hell with higher values, dignity and beliefs! Those are the first victims of the battle for survival... Once again an obviously talented author is putting his talent to work at convincing us that personal feelings of love, selfish desire to be with the one you love no matter how many people would be sacrificed for it, come before the lives of others. As long as you get what you want, the world can burn... I wonder, is that what those authors see when they look into the world around them? Do their work give the readers a justification for their sense of entitlement? Or is it an attempt at a cautionary tale gone wrong? I am not sure anymore, and honestly, I am to tired of negativity with no true promise of redemption to care. ... I am so saddened that we had to witness the complete deconstruction and degradation of couple of promising characters... At the moment I feel contempt​ for the two "protagonists", hatred for most of the adults, and dejection with the human character. Weaknesses, gullibility, stupidity, willing complicity, enslavement, greed, strive for power... Kill less you get killed, never leave an enemy alive or they will come back to haunt you... Never mind that the label of "enemy" could be put on anyone who happens to disagree with you... I get it! We are all horrible people and we do bad things despite wanting to be good, although obviously we have no idea what being good means! I hear it loud and clear! You guys have pounded it over and over into our brains. Now, WHAT SHOULD ALL OF US DO ABOUT IT? What do YOU want us to come away with after reading your work. What is the point? It is not entertaining, so we can say we spend some fun times with the book, it is not "enjoyable", since there is not an ounce of joy in the whole series, at least not for now. Should we feel good for coming out of it disillusioned and depressed, angry and frustrated??? If that is the goal, congratulations! You have succeeded! Has it become impossible to write something dystopian but still convey a sense of honor and a spark of hope? I know that is not true and this is why I reach for the next book in the series. Because I have hope that there will be some light in the end of the tunnel and a gifted storyteller like Mr. P. Ness will not waste his and our time with books aimed at bringing us down. Reality does a good enough job at doing just that, and this is why we look for inspiration and emotional guidance in books.... I am disappointed with this book, but I am invested enough to want to read the finale. I hope it is as good as all those great reviews make it out to be! Now I wish you all to find a book that makes you feel HAPPY! We all need it🙂🙂🙂... dystopia post-apocalipse ya 49 likes Like Comment Isamlq 1,578 reviews 703 followers December 4, 2010 I imagine Viola, reluctant healer, the worst in fact, bumbling around; Todd working, slaving away. And I imagine their growing closeness despite everything that’s going on around them; despite the forced physical distance between them. This book is a such a visceral experience. And it's more. I read it and I see everything in my mind’s eye. Not stills; I have a movie playing in my head. I sort of gag when I think of the stench from the Spackles’ corner in the morning. I can almost catch a whiff of smoke after all those bombs go off. I can imagine how sticky the blood must be when Viola’s mends someone’s wounds. I tear up when I think of how they both feel: betrayed, abandoned, alone… And I try to wrap my mind around what the Noise must be like, or what the President’s scarier, controlled Noise must be like. But I am not imagining how upset I am at the turn of events. I really do choke up a bit at where the two end up. And I’m left feeling so many, many things: angry, sad, confused, a bit more sad, and whole lot more angry. No sophomore slump here. None. As Todd would say, it is effing amazing (and I didn't really say effing either.) 45 likes Like Comment Rachel Hartman Author 14 books 3,895 followers February 26, 2012 Most of the things I had issues with in the first book aren't a factor here, except for one. And it's kind of a big one. I'm going to have to meditate upon this for a time before I can write a proper review. Over all, though, I liked this one much better. Ness does relentlessly horrible like nobody else, and I say that with all the love and respect in the world. ***************** AVAST, YE SCURVY DOGS, THAR WILL BE SPOILERS! Yaaarrr! I don't know why I hate the Global Spoiler Warning, I just do. If we had the option to dance a spoiler hornpipe instead, I would take it. I encourage you to imagine me leaping about piratically for a few moments. SPOILERS, SPOILERS, SPOILERS, yo HO! If that didn't scare you off, there's really nothing I can do for you. ****************** I loved this book. Loved it really hard. If you will recall my review of The Knife of Never Letting Go , I loved that book a lot, too. I also hated it, and the result was the most passionate three stars I've ever given a book. Many of my problems with the first book do not occur here. No dogs are killed (BOOHOOHOO! MANCHEE!)(I will never get over that! Never!). The narrative is in first person present tense again, but there are two narrators. Viola's voice is a bit more articulate, which is kind of a relief, but more importantly, they're not keeping secrets from the reader. That was my very biggest beef before, that Todd was learning things in real time and magically having the ability to conceal that from the reader. That struck me as cheating. I was irritated with the crazy, indestructible Aaron before. One could argue that Mayor Prentiss is both of those things - his ability to wriggle out of tight places is a bit uncanny, and yes, he's not what most of us would consider entirely sane. Even so, I found him much more subtle and sophisticated than Aaron and understandable to a degree Aaron simply was not. Best of all, however, is the fact that the Mayor isn't the only evil. There are others, and every single one is ambiguous. Every single one of them raises interesting philosophical questions. Does fighting against an evil necessarily mean you're good? Are there necessary evils? Where is the line between freedom fighting and terrorism? Why show mercy to the oppressed if they're not grateful? To what extent is any individual expendable? To what extent is caring a weakness? How can you control people through manipulation of information, and how can an individual fight back against that? That's the part of the book I loved, this exploration of war and what it was doing to everyone. I don't think I've ever read a book that dug into both sides in quite this way, showing the psychic cost, how things escalate, how war takes on a life of its own that nobody can control. It was brilliant and horrifying. It was the end that knocked off a star, for me. Because there it was again, staring me right in the face, this notion of Todd as somehow "innocent" and "not a killer". HE KILLED A SPACKLE IN THE FIRST BOOK. I had a problem with it in THAT book, and here it is again. Todd can't kill! Um, gee, yes he DID. That, to me, sent the ending completely off the rails. I thought Viola forgave him too easily. I thought the psychology and explanation of him retaining his ability to feel things all through the horrors (when he turned his emotions OFF? I couldn't wrap my brain around that contradiction), the assertion that this somehow made him "innocent" where the others were monsters... that just didn't add up to me. Here's where I wish I had the book in front of me, and where I'm just going to have to come back later and explain things better. There were two quotes that really stood out as thesis statements, as if the whole book were some kind of geometric proof, a+b+c ergo CONCLUSION. And it didn't add up for me. The thesis statements were great -- one about love being a strength instead of a weakness, one about living in a world of information overload and how do you decide what's important. They were beautiful. They just weren't the answer to the equation I felt had been set up in the text. I think Todd and Viola would both have come out of this a lot more damaged than they seem to be. I get that they love each other; I get that he's trying to say something about how powerful love is (I suspect Davy Prentiss is able to do good in the end because he loves Todd, even though it's never spelled out exactly). Yes, love is powerful. But hurt is also powerful, and I can't quite accept that they're able to forgive each other and be quite that unshakeably bonded after all that they've been through. I'm still going to read the next one, though. And again: there was a lot to love in this. A lot of horrible, painful, well-done stuff to love. Whether you find the ending completely psychologically believable or not, there's a lot to think about in this book, and that's really what I'm in it for. 42 likes Like Comment Bradley Author 5 books 4,426 followers February 10, 2017 Stockholm Syndrome, anyone? The Mayor has the upper hand and a stronger mind than anyone. I feel sorry for Tod and Viola for the most part, and the telepathy angle is growing a bit more interesting, but it's really the descent into evil that captures most of my imagination. As it should, I'm sure. This dystopian SF was designed for the YA crowd and while it is very decent for what it is, the plot is not quite as strong as the characterizations and the world building is kinda lacking. If you're looking for answers, look elsewhere. The Answer is just the rebels made up of mostly women. The question, at least in my mind, is what causes men to turn into cattle, whether it's the mayor turning otherwise intelligent people into subservients or what really happened to all the others that are literally being kept in pens. Lots of emotions flying about everywhere and I feel like I should be feeling a lot of pathos for the MC's, but unfortunately, I'm either in the wrong place to enjoy this or it just kinda feels a bit average. Perhaps I'm just getting tired of reading the same kinds of stories in certain markets. Maybe it's just a little too simple for my tastes. This is kind of a disappointment from the previous book in the series. *sigh* 2016-shelf dystopia-yes-pls sci-fi 38 likes Like Comment Denisse 509 reviews 298 followers March 14, 2016 4.5 The writing style is so powerful, something about those half sentences just give me the chills. The ask and the answer is a very complete sequel, with more layers and feelings than its predecessor if that’s possible. It is . Not as fast paced or action packed like The Knife but with way more material and exposition to what is the main plot line in this book; war and sides; society and decisions; love and friendship; good and evil…and everything in between. With excellent character development and self-trust in the story. A YA like the ones we don’t see anymore this days. The Ask and the Answer is a complete success and the perfect door to the big finale. "I was only following orders"....The refuge of scoundrels since the dawn of time. Si eres fan del YA que esperas para leer esta trilogía? No, enserio, a que esperas? Porque déjenme les digo que un YA que trate con tanto respeto, fuerza e inteligencia a sus lectores jóvenes no lo encuentras en cada esquina de GR. Esta trilogía tiene mucha profundidad pero esta escrita con truco, asi que seria muy fácil leerla por encimita. Les recomiendo que se tomen su tiempo a procesar lo que tienen en frente, ya que el autor no se toma la molestia en sobre-explicar las situaciones delicadas. Patrick Ness expone tan bien la guerra y como reaccionan a ella los hombres en conflicto, que llega a parecerte un libro adulto en ciertos momentos. Y asi como Todd, terminas dándote cuenta que muchas cosas no son como creías y conforme el va madurando tu vas abriendo mas los ojos ante el mundo que lo rodea. Todo lo de Davy fue tan triste. Maldito Mayor estúpido, te odio! Mira que decirle eso a tu propio hijo cuando se esta muriendo…es de hijos de puta. Otra gran cuestión es la división de sexos. Es algo que ya teníamos desde el otro libro pero aquí se refuerza bastante, lo fácil que es dividirnos por el simple hecho de ser hombres o mujeres. Y como nuestras diferencias la gran mayoría del tiempo si juegan en nuestra contra. Las acciones de nuestros protagonistas, Todd y Viola, se ven influenciadas no solo por sus propias convicciones si no por la situación en general, dándonos cuenta que realmente no puedes describir a alguien con las palabras “buena persona” o “mala persona” y que el resto de la gente y el ambiente en el que vivimos toman gran parte en nuestra toma de decisiones y nos llevan a traicionarnos a nosotros mismo la gran mayoría de las veces. Un libro que te grita su trama, te grita a sus personajes y te grita su final. Y no podrás evitar hacerle caso. 36 likes Like Comment NAT.orious reads ☾ 879 reviews 387 followers March 21, 2021 2 STARS★★✩✩✩ This book is for you if… you tend to listen to the majority of reviews instead of a distinguished few. ⤐ Overall. Honestly, Patrick was browsing through a selection of books with second book syndrome to find inspiration for this. UGH. Waste of time. The whole plot seemed rather exaggerated and abstract. Some concepts (the ask and the answer) were too vague for me to be a source of excitement rather than detached confusion. I get that you need to set yourself apart from all the other dystopian novels out there. It's hard to create something that's still gonna hit it home for your target group if they've been overstimulated for years. Going bat shit crazy on a plot is not going to help with that, though. It's also questionable whether the book couldn't have been cut in half instead of making it unnecessarily long. (To be fair, ever since I started working full time I've been questioning the purpose of long books on a regular basis.) To conclude, it's probably a it's not you it's me sorta thing. Patrick did create quite a special world with Chaos Walking and maybe that's just not my vibe . I finished this book 1.5 months ago and I'm still mad I wasted time on this. So It's not me. It's you, Patrick. Just you.> _____________________ 2 STARS. Definitely a disappointment. It might not even have been worth finishing for a variety of reasons. 35 likes Like Comment exploraDora 590 reviews 293 followers February 23, 2021 Rtc. audiobook bookclub favorites 35 likes Like Comment Ayesha {Heir of Bookdom} 239 reviews 316 followers September 18, 2018 “Faith with proof is no faith at all.” Oh God, this book. Where do I even begin? Well firstly, this book was not as fast-paced as its prequel. At least the first three quarters were slow, and concentrated on world building and character development. But was it just as amazing? HELL YEAH . This book was realistic and heart-wrenchingly beautiful. This book ingrained the love I had for The Knife of Never Letting Go. It made me even more invested in the plot line and the characters. The way this author writes is addictive and almost inhumanly brutal and beautiful. Undoubtedly one of my favorite books of all time. Chaos Walking is the perfect name for this series, as its just one tragedy after the next. I was afraid that after such a stunning first novel, the author may not be able to keep it up. But boy did Patrick Ness, prove me wrong. With just one book to go, I have no clue how this will end, but I can't wait to find out! dystopia favorites-forever 32 likes Like Comment Bea 196 reviews 121 followers May 26, 2019 (re-read - May 2019) I forgot just how shocking this book is and how many plot twists Ness manages to fit in a single book. Usually the second book in a series suffers from the second book syndrome where it's the worst in the series but by far, this one is absolutely the best. If you haven't read this series yet please try it! -------------- (1st read - June 2017) Favourite book in this series! After reading Patrick Ness' More than this, (my favourite book of his) The rest of us just live here, and a monster calls (least favourite) I decided that it was time for Chaos Walking as I had mixed feelings about this authors books. (however still being one of my most enjoyable authors to read of all time.) I am writing this after finishing the whole series and it just blew me away how attached you get to a character and how much you hate others. (Love it in a book, you're not meant to like everyone.) After Davy's death killed by his own sadistic father I knew this was going places I couldn't imagine. Davy, I think, will always be my favourite character in this series with the reader most likely hating him at first (including me) but then actually crying when he is killed off just because his father wanted to prove a point. The character development is great, storyline is engaging, plot twists AWESOME and the cliffhanger at the end of each book makes you wish instantly for more. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review 5-star-reads audiobook big-books ...more 30 likes Like Comment Priscilla 146 reviews 9,459 followers May 27, 2011 Seriously. One of THE best series I've read...and I'm not even done reading it yet. Why are you so awesome Patrick Ness? First thoughts: 1) Love Todd. 2) Love Viola. 3) Love Todd and Viola. 4) The writing style is AMAZING. 5) Fully developed characters, plot, and concepts. Check out my full video review here! 33 likes Like Comment PopiTonja 115 reviews 11 followers February 7, 2017 Na prvih nekoliko strana zavrsava se zapoceta akcija iz prvog dela i onda dolazi do blagog zamora u radnji. Neko vreme skoro da se nista i ne desava. Druga polovina je ponovo odlicna. Sve se ponovo zahuhtava, vraca se tempo iz prve knjige. Da imam Buku u njoj bi se samo provlacilo: Ma daj! Ne verujem! O neee! Kako, zasto? Smrc... Onaj gubitak na kraju mi je bas tesko pao. Druga polovina knjige je toliko dobra da oduva onaj utisak dosade sa pocetka. Ne mogu ni da pretpostavim sta me ceka u trecem delu. Neko ludilo je sigurno. biblioteka 32 likes Like Comment Ivan 477 reviews 301 followers May 18, 2017 Even better than first book but lot darker one with more twists and turns. Ask and answer deals with more mature issues like slavery, terrorism and feminism as line between good and bad side blurs. But this isn't philosophical book and morality questions aren't showed in your face, instead they are knitted organically into story and setting of this incredible YA adventure. Maybe after intense book my brain short circuited but premise reminds me of first Black company book where we know who are good and bad side from start but in their methods they come dangerously close each other (sadly Black company loses part of it's moral ambiguity with each book). We see growth in every character. During first book I couldn't help but to think of Viola and Tod as single entity but here we get to see them separated and Viola gets her PoV so we see them develop as characters individually. Mayor (now president) Prentiss evolve from plain bad guy in first book into more subtle manipulator. Davy Prentiss is also no longer Joffrey under different name, we get to see him as person. Not particularly good person but real person nonetheless. Since among YA writers Ness is king of small and subtle things we again have one of highlight of the book in background. Tod's (however limited) relationship with 1017 and other Spackles as it evolves through book is one of high points. dystopia-and-postapocalyptic sci-fi young-and-new-adult 34 likes Like Comment Jo 268 reviews 1,051 followers May 12, 2020 SOUND THE ALARM: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SLIGHT SPOILERS FOR THIS BOOK AND ALSO 'THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO'. You have been warned. Initial Final Page Thoughts. SPACKLEARGH. High Point. THE RETURN OF TODD. Seriously, I missed him in like the two days between finished the first one and starting this one. Mayor .... President Prentiss. VIOLA! The Answer. Sympathy for the devil. Welcome to the dark side. Mmm, I love the smell of a love triangle in dystopia. The Holy Trinity- Oppression, Betrayal and Friendship. I am the Circle and the Circle is Me. CREEPY. Also.. the ending… Holy moly. Low Point . OK, it’s no secret how much I love this series, so I’m not even going to pretend these low points are actually serious. These books just seem to be getting better and better and I am soooo excited for the final one. So, I’m scraping at the bottom of the barrel here… STOP WITH THE CLIFF HANGER, YOU’RE KILLING ME, NESS! And yeah ok, Angharrad was kind of cute… but she’s no Manchee *sniff* so, don't even try. See, clutching at straws here. Hero/Heroine/Best Friend annnnnd LOVE INTEREST. One of the things I loved the most about this book was the dual narrative because we finally got to see things from Viola’s perspective. Her chapters are articulate, educated, compassionate and they confirmed my suspicions from the first book… she really is as cute as a button. I loved that Ness chose to show us Viola because her story and development into main character allowed her to come out of Todd’s shadow and I felt her thoughts and, most importantly, actions really added to the whole message of the book. It’s so difficult to write about this series without spoiling it and I really don’t want to do that because if you haven’t read it before- it’s amazing reading it and being permanently on edge because you really don’t know what is coming when Ness is behind the wheel. But Viola’s perspective was brilliant and I’m glad she no longer had to be supporting role. Which leads me nicely to my main man. Todd. I’m so glad that Ness kept him as he was in the first book, because it would have been so easy to turn him into this huge, unrealistic macho guy. I love that Todd is real, he’s just a kid, he’s in a world that he doesn’t understand, he’s at a loss as to what to do… but he never complains. And I’m glad Ness kept this kind of… innocence about him, but also developed him and allowed him to grow as a character. This book added a lot of depth to Todd without being too overwhelming and I think the situations Todd is placed in (in true Nessian form… CRAZY ONES) allow Ness to blur the lines of what actually is evil, which is one of the major themes of this series. And it is this whole study of moral ambiguity that I find so fascinating about this series and that makes it stand so far apart from a lot of YA series that I have read for a while. OK, now to the love… my suspicions from the first one are still very much there… if not more. Even though Viola and Todd spend half the book apart you can tell they are still in friends-against-all-odds mode and it’s a great place to be. Especially because they are so young… but I still think something could change. Unless LEE gets involved. Argh. My loyalties were stretched with this one because Viola turns into such a girl when she’s with him (“I laughed, too hard.”) Awww. But hot damn, I was a fan of Lee. I JUST DON’T KNOW. I hope MoM will go back to this because… arrrgh. I’ll say no more. Except...holy moly, unexpected friendships (one of the best parts of this books… so beautiful and nearly moved me, no-soul-Jo, to tears) and unlikely alliances! Baddie. ARGH I can’t even begin to fathom this subject. But… Ness is the master at making you question everything you’ve ever believed in. EVER. OK, maybe not. But…. The lines are blurred, man. They are blurred. Theme Tunes. The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash I am loving the jaunty juxtaposition between deep lyrics and the upbeat tempo when it comes to Ness, aren’t I? But Johnny Cash’s masterpiece really captures the tone of the book, the issues that are touched upon and THE ENDING. Creepycreepyapocalypsenow….butminusthefatmentalmarlonbrandoanddancinglawrencefishburne. And now for something that has never been done before.. I have chosen another song for this book. Because I couldn’t choose between the two of them. This song doesn’t actually have anything to do with the book… except the last couple of chapters… and THE ENDING. (I feel it needs capitals, OK?!) Sympathy for the Devil by The Rolling Stones. Angst Scale. 9/10. I kind of wanted this to be higher than The Knife of Never Letting Go, which I also gave a 9, because Ness really pumped up his game (that’s not even an expression… see what this book does to me?!) with this one and it is a lot more complex and deeper than the first book. With the perspective of Viola, the subject matter, the ambiguous baddies, the journey of Todd, the unexpected friendships (which was soo heartbreaking) and THE ENDING, this book has a higher angst factor than the first. But it never goes into whiny mode, which is strange because I think Viola and Todd are the only two characters in YA fiction I would be OK with if they just had a whole chapter that they just whinged… because, seriously, they deserve it. I don’t want to give it a 10… because I’m guessing (and secretly hoping) that Monsters of Men will steal that title and rip out my heart. Don’t let me down, Ness. Recommended For. People who have read the first one, obviously… it would not make ANY sense if you haven’t read the first one. This is really difficult… because I don’t want to spoil anything. So I’ll give you two: People who love it when sisters do it for themselves. People who were thinking that it was being a bit quiet and were on tenderhooks because they just knew that something horrifying was about to happen. AND, BOY, DOES IT. I’M SO EXCITED FOR THE FINAL BOOK. I really hope Ness doesn’t pull a Mockingjay and ruin my life*. *slight exaggeration. ** **Actually no, a part of my soul did die with that book. 29 likes Like Comment Gus 84 reviews 1,654 followers August 7, 2017 Llegará el día en que Patrick Ness me decepcione? ... Nah. 28 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 8,384 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 120 quotes 41 discussions 8 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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The Glass Queen (The Forest of Good and Evil #2) by Gena Showalter | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book The Forest of Good and Evil #2 The Glass Queen Gena Showalter 4.10 2,557 ratings 340 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Dare to enter the Forest of Good and Evil, where strength is weakness and weakness is strength. Don’t miss book two of New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter’s magical, romantic and fascinating fairy-tale series, in which the fairy tales we know and love are prophecies of the future… Pitied. Sickly. Unfit to rule. Princess Ashleigh Charmaine is known as the Glass Princess, fragile enough to shatter with a whisper of wind. Born with a weak heart, she dreams of being treated like anyone else. Unlike her headstrong sisters, she received no magical ability at birth and lives every day expecting to die. Until an oracle announces that Ashleigh is fated to play the part of Cinderella, wed a handsome royal and save the Kingdom of Sevon from the evil king and queen who once ruled the land. As war rages, Ashleigh begins to doubt her role in the fairy-tale prophecy. Animals despise her, she can’t carry a merry tune and she has zero social graces. Worse, the king she’s supposed to enchant is the newly crowned sovereign of the winged warriors known as the Avian…and he despises her, too. When Ashleigh develops a terrifying magical ability to commune with dragons and create fire from air—a power she cannot control—she must work with King Saxon to save their kingdoms and their lives. By the stroke of midnight, she must warm his icy heart…or forever break her own. Will Ashleigh ever become the queen she’s prophesied to be…or will she lose everything she’s come to love? Genres Fantasy Young Adult Romance Retellings Magic Fiction Young Adult Fantasy ...more 552 pages, Hardcover First published September 29, 2020 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Gena Showalter 248 books 27.3k followers Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over seventy books, including the acclaimed Lords of the Underworld series, the Gods of War series, the White Rabbit Chronicles, and the Forest of Good and Evil series. She writes sizzling paranormal romance, heartwarming contemporary romance, and unputdownable young adult novels, and lives in Oklahoma City with her family and menagerie of dogs and cats. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.10 2,557 ratings 340 reviews 5 stars 1,062 (41%) 4 stars 887 (34%) 3 stars 445 (17%) 2 stars 115 (4%) 1 star 48 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 340 reviews Madison Warner Fairbanks 2,642 reviews 402 followers November 20, 2020 The Glass Queen by Gena Showalter Book 2 in The Forest of Good and Evil. Best read as part of the series. Mature YA. Enemies to lovers. Retelling of Cinderella. Alternating points of view between the heroine and hero. Ashleigh and Saxon. Reincarnation or possession? Both? Good or evil? Dragons, magic, war and conflict. The heroine is wonderfully strong, often sarcastic, and will do what’s needed to prove her goodness. An epic adventure. cmcon21-reading-challenge dark dragons ...more 37 likes Like Comment Grace A. 440 reviews 39 followers April 23, 2023 I typically steer away from fairy-tale re-tellings, but I am glad I took a chance on this series. I enjoyed the fast pace of the story. It featured a gladiator-style battle to the death, fierce warriors with tender hearts, malicious war-lord in a magical world with fire-breathing dragons. What's not to love? Ashleigh had an awful beginning, and her prince did not fall in love after meeting her at a ball. In fact, after her first encounter with her prince, they became enemies; but, there was a prophecy, oracles, forces at play, and unexplainable magnetism leading to them going from enemies to friends. I know! It sounds soft and mushy, but it was a beautiful, absorbing, and a cozy page-turner. I loved it! Four stars. 32 likes Like Comment Bex (Beckie Bookworm) 2,176 reviews 1,448 followers February 18, 2021 My goodness this was good I was slightly worried that book two in this series wouldn’t match the previous experience I had but it did and I literally inhaled this I was that invested in the unfolding story. So we are back in Enchantia and this time it’s the cinder girl or Cinderella as the fairytale focus. Again this is a loosely based freshly unique retelling that borrows from that story but it’s mostly a symbolic resemblance rather than a tired seen before rehash. This is incredibly imaginative and totally separate borrowing ideas and sentiments rather than actual plot directions from the original. This time we get dual POV and like the first book this has some very dark roots and though I described the first book as mature YA I felt that this one had a much more adult vibe to it but genre-wise it’s again dark mature YA. So Saxon the Avian Prince we met in book one is the love interest here and princess Ashleigh is his potential Cinder. It’s an enemy to lovers story and is filled with magic, dragons, possession, obsession and a love story that has been playing out on a loop for aeons stuck on repeat until a new chapter again unfolds with the hope that this time it will play out differently and happiness will be achieved. I do think you definitely need to read the first book in this series as there are certain things that may fly over your head without that input. There’s also previous players that again make an appearance in this one and though a different story this is also a continuation of the plotline we were introduced to previously. Its fast-paced slow burn and very well written with multi-faceted and imperfect characters that grow so much throughout the course of all this. I was incredibly impressed with how we arrived where we did the trials that were overcome and the lesson learned along the way. Another five-star read and I’m definitely hoping there’s more to come from this fascinating world as it’s seriously addictive. I can’t wait to see who’s story will play-out next and also which fairy-tale inspiration will be the next muse. This gets the full five-stars from me no issue I absolutely loved it and do recommend. I voluntary reviewed a copy of The Glass Queen (The Forest Of Good And Evil #2). Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/ www.beckiebookworm.com arc book-reviews dark ...more 28 likes Like Comment Naomi 576 reviews 23 followers August 5, 2020 Disclaimer: I got an early copy of this book via the author. This book was EVERYTHING! Dragons. Magic. Fire. Enemies to lovers. YA but make it more mature. Hero with WINGS. Heroine possessed by an evil being. Death tournament. Need I say more? And yes, you will see characters from the first book, they all play a big part in this one as well. Honestly, Gena did it again. This twisted Cinderella retelling was nothing like I was expecting and yet so much more than I thought it would be. I loved every page and highly recommend it. I can't wait for the third retelling, especially with the small hints Showalter gave us! Gimme! all-kinds-of-shapeshifters alpha-males big-bad-vampires ...more 24 likes Like Comment Athena of Velaris 583 reviews 173 followers October 3, 2020 "She loved fiercely, with a fire of her own burning in her veins. She was a queen who didn't need a king in order to rule her people - but thankfully she wanted one." More people need to read these books. They are a ton of fun and the romances are adorable. The Glass Queen is the second book in The Forest of Good and Evil series, and though it would majorly spoil The Evil Queen to read this one first, you could do it and still understand the story. This novel is dual point of view, following totally new characters. It reminds me a little of ACOMAF if ACOMAF was a Cassian-Elide (from ToG) romance. It doesn't sound like it would work, but it does. The magic system is a little wonky and unexplained (hence the four stars), but the dialog is hilarious, the characters are well developed, and the tournament aspect was well done. I was grinning for about 3/4ths of the novel, and would highly recommended it for anyone who wants to get lost in a cute romance. enemies-to-lovers fluffy-books humor ...more 20 likes Like Comment Ashley 836 reviews 558 followers October 14, 2020 Star Rating : —> 4.5 Stars This series just keeps getting better! This was phenomenal . book-buyers-anonymous-bought curious-fictional-creatures diverse-reads ...more 11 likes Like Comment Annie 2,472 reviews 944 followers October 16, 2020 THE GLASS QUEEN is the second installment in Gena Showalter’s The Forest of Good and Evil. If you don’t know already, this entire series is based on fairy tales, so I was quite interested to see how this new book would pan out. As you can expect with this title, it’s all about Cinderella. I feel like this fairy tale is quite popular amongst Young Adult Fantasy readers, so it’s no surprise to see Showalter putting her own twist on things. I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series. It reminded me a lot of Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles series, which is one of my all-time favorite YA series. So if you enjoyed that series, I have no doubt that you’ll enjoy this one too. Although this is a YA book, I enjoyed the fact that Showalter doesn’t change her writing style very much. It’s eloquent and quite complex, which actually makes me really happy. Sometimes, I find that her writing can be a little choppy, but this one worked for me. I didn’t love all points of this plot, however. But of course, you can’t love everything. All in all, I think it was something fun and different. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. arc author-gena-showalter fairy-tale ...more 11 likes Like Comment Alex (The Scribe Owl) 380 reviews 113 followers May 26, 2021 Come see this review and more at my blog, The Scribe Owl! 1/5 stars The Evil Queen: ★★★☆☆ The Glass Queen : ★☆☆☆☆ Thanks to Edelweiss for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and anything could be fixed/changed in post. I just don't think these books are a good fit for me. They're stylistic, I'm just not sure it's my style. I liked the whole retelling part, but the writing fell a little flat. Like I said, it's more of a stylistic choice, and I prefer writing and books with a bit more depth. Would it just be plain horrible if I said I cared more about the cameos from the characters in book one than our new MCs? I just loved it when Everly or Roth would pop up, and lose interest when we went back to Ashleigh or Saxon, especially Saxon. They were both decent MCs, not much in either direction. I did enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope though, so I'll award bonus points there. Though this is part of a series, it seems more like a bunch of standalones set in the same world. I have no problem with that, except it's still called a series so I'd like a bit more of a segue into each book. The Glass Queen deals with reincarnation, something that we didn't even know existed while reading The Evil Queen! It would have been nice if it was at least hinted at, so I could get a better sense of the world. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I think Gena Showalter has been reading too much Sarah J Maas. We have "females", "males", and "mates", which are a staple in any of SJM's books. This book in particular felt like a dollar store version of ACOTAR. We have almost-Illyrian wings, and even symbolic feeding to represent love and mating. If I wanted to read that kind of stuff, I'd just pick up ACOTAR. Something new, please? Again, I've said this before, but there seems to be no end to the cheesiness. Starting with the rhymes that start each chapter. I get that she did them in the first book and wants to keep doing it, but she'd honestly be better off dropping them. They just bring a whole new level of the cheese factor to a land that's been named Enchantia. How much cheesier can it get, you ask? Well, that's easy. Avians that shed dust to show love! Yes, you read that right. I'm not kidding. I've learned to deal with a lot of cheese (well obviously, I read YA) but this is a whole new level. Gena Showalter used to write paranormal romance, correct? Then why are her sex scenes so disgusting? I don't mean to offend, I'm sure you're a fantastic person Gena, but they just weren't for me. Too much moaning "touch my wings." Ew. On the brighter side, there were a few things I liked about this book. The dragons! They were adorable, almost like Phobia the spidorpion from book one. I loved them! So cute. I also appreciated Ashleigh's character growth from a breakable girl with heart problems to a strong, magic-wielding dragon momma. All in all, this book had its ups and downs and ended up just not being for me. I enjoyed parts of it, skim-read parts of it, and ended up with a low rating. arc edelweiss fantasy ...more 9 likes Like Comment Alaina 6,581 reviews 214 followers October 23, 2020 OMG please tell me there's going to be another book? The Glass Princess was beyond addicting to read. Just like the first one, I devoured this within hours. There's just something about retellings that sucks me into the book and I never regret it. In this wicked retelling, you will meet Ashleigh and Saxon. At the beginning, I didn't know what I was going to think about this story but I ended up devouring and loving every second. It all started when the King was acting like a crazy douche and the sweet Cinderella had to die. Dun dun dun! Enter Ashleigh who is all grown up and basically the snow white of the kingdom because she's kind of kept away from everyone. Until Saxon enters her life and makes her his maid. Oh lord, the things he asked her to do and the sass she gave back - it gave me life. Also, it made me think if I was in this book and I gave the amount of sass and sarcasm that I do on a daily basis... I would technically die in the very beginning of the book. Most likely because I would probably say.. 'Are your arms broken? Your legs? No? Do it your damn self then.' Other than that, the romance, twists, and the magic just made me enjoy every second. It was very easy to ship these two together and I'm really happy that I got the chance to dive into this book. If there is ever a third book, I will be completely and unapologetically available to read it. 2020-ng audiobook contemporary ...more 10 likes Like Comment Danielle The Book Huntress 2,676 reviews 6,404 followers March 1, 2023 I was not expecting to love this book so much. Hear me out. I didn't like Saxon because of some of the events of the first book, The Evil Queen . As a result, I wasn't too enthused about him as a romantic lead. However, I am so happy to say that I was wrong. Saxton definitely won me over. The audiobook is excellent. Ashley and Saxton have different narrators for their parts, Caitlin Kelley and James Fouhey, which worked very well. I enjoyed both. Can I say, I was so seduced by the narrator who voiced Saxton's parts? His voice was so deep and silky. I have loved other books narrated by Kelley and I definitely plan to look for more books read by Fouhey. This book is for fans of fairy tale retellings that don't just follow the script line by line, and also those who love the metafictional analysis of fairy tales, where you look at the subjects and story elements from the inside in and people in the story also are self-aware of the fairy tale stories they are living through. Ashley is The Glass Princess of Flora. She has been mistreated by her father and her people because of her heart infirmity. Ashley still has dreams that she strives for, her goal to be a maker of her weapons that she designs. She desires a simple life, and to live. However, Ashley has a problem. Her body is inhabited by an evil persona who sometimes makes her do bad things. Additionally, that persona is the sworn enemy of Saxton, the boy for whom she has unrequited feelings. Apparently, that persona has destroyed his previous incarnations and caused trouble for his people, the Avian. Saxton is holding a grudge and has a plan to make sure that persona can never both him or his people ever again. It did take me a little while to get invested, but it wasn't for dislike of Ashley. I loved her from the beginning. I didn't like the way Saxton was treating her initially. It kind of reminds me of how the hero would treat the heroine in Harlequin Presents books (admittedly I love them). I wasn't sure what way this story would go, but I'm glad that I kept listening. Ashley is so sweet and just a wonderful person. She's suffered so much, but never gives up. She is very resourceful and thoughtful. Her view of the world just lit up my heart. I think that her character is very good disability representation from the standpoint of a character whose body doesn't work optimally, how she's treated by others, and how she works around and through those issues. People with chronic illness and fatigue issues will probably appreciate her character. I wanted her to have the world. I just wasn't sure I wanted her with Saxton. But oh, when Saxton turns around, he turns around so good. I love that there is no stupid misunderstanding or big lie or anything like that. Instead, they join forces to fight for their love and life together. Saxton did have a lot of qualities that were extremely appealing. He turns into such a devoted hero. He's intelligent, a formidable warrior, and really cares about his people and those who are important to him. I'm so glad his point of view was very well developed, because it made falling for him possible. If I was only seeing the story from Ashley's perspective, I don't know if that would have happened. But seeing the way his feelings change for Ashley and how it feels so natural and so right, and how it's so clear he would burn down the world for her (I'm a sucker for that), made me just adore him. Although this is a young adult book, it doesn't quite feel like that. For one, it's very violent. Much of the plot revolves around a type of gladiator game that Saxton and others participate. The fight scenes are really quite gruesome. I won't spoil too much, but there are some scenes where Ashley is harmed that were so hard to listen to (not sexual and not by Saxton). In contrast, while there are love scenes, they are more sensual and about the emotions than with physical descriptions. I also feel that it's written with a type of maturity that I appreciated as I don't think young adult books should be babyish. The concepts of family legacy, the desire to help one's people, and having hopes for one's life in the face of serious obstacles are very impactful. Also there are some interesting themes of fighting against oneself and the warring inside a person's own psyche (admittedly through the lens of possession and reincarnation). Readers who enjoyed the previous book will appreciate seeing characters from that book and catching up with them. I am a huge Everly stan, so I was glad she was in this book so much. In fact, I loved the contrast between her and Ashley, and I love Ashley just as much. As I said when I reviewed The Evil Queen , I've been a fan of Gena Showalter's writing for a long time. I think she is topping her previous works with these books. I can see influences there from other media, but she's made this story her own and infused it with so much depth. I literally couldn't stop listening to this book. I listened to it in the car when I ran errands and I had to put it on when I was cleaning up and cooking dinner last night because I had to know what was going to happen next. This is absolutely a five star read for me. I hope there are more books in the series. audiobook enemies-to-lovers fairy-tale-theme ...more 9 likes Like Comment Scholar inArmor 121 reviews 25 followers February 6, 2021 REVIEW OF THIS BOOK: I like the retelling of fairytales, so this book was a TOOT for me. Saxon & Ashleigh had a good amount of drama between them, but also a lot of romantic and badass moments. Loved seeing their dynamic evolving throughout the book. The only problem I had with it was confusing family relationships and royal relationships. Honestly, after two books set in the same world, I still can't name the kingdoms and their respective kings or queens. I was ecstatic to see Everly and Roth playing a part in this story, though. Ophelia and Noel were delightful too. BEFORE READING: Did someone say 'dragons'? 2020 the-forest-of-good-and-evil 6 likes Like Comment Cindee 919 reviews 39 followers October 13, 2020 I loved this book so much best sequel ever I actually loved this book better than the first book by a whole lot. I loved all of the characters so much new and old but the characters I loved most were Ashleigh and Saxon. What I loved about Ashleigh was her spirit and the resilience to be more than that fragile glass princess I also loved how deeply she loves and her determination for things to be how they should of been the last couple lives ago. What I really loved about Saxon was his ability to learn from his mistakes and his deep and all consuming love for Ashleigh he would do anything for her. I really loved the plot so much it started with a sad girl whose mother has died and is seemingly hated by a boy for no reason. The story is so much more than that I amazingly well written romance with so much heart. So overall I loved this book so much and I am really looking forward to the next book. 5 likes Like Comment Romance Schmomance (Malia) 1,223 reviews 99 followers September 29, 2020 As soon as I finished The Evil Queen , I was pretty eager to start this one right away. With this being my second read by Gena, I kind of had a sense of her writing style and expected about the same with this one. The Glass Queen is what I'd say is a new adult fantasy romance with the enemies to lovers trope. This is a Cinderella retelling and one of the things I really enjoy about this series is figuring who is who. I actually really liked Ashleigh and Saxon, they both go through some character development as the story progresses, but I was definitely hoping for a little bit more. I really have to hand it to Gena, she does a phenomenal job with her world-building. I'm definitely not used to the way that she writes it, but with this being my second book, I had a better idea of how she approaches everything. She hooked me in completely with this world and characters. I loved that we got to see Everly and Roth again, I don't think I could ever tire of them. Even though this has the enemies to lovers trope, they still managed to pull the emotions out of me. I did feel their connection and chemistry, but to me, it felt like it could have gone a tad bit deeper. Like the first, I struggled with how lengthy the book is and sometimes felt we were just going through the motions of the story. However, I'm completely sold on this series, I've been enjoying every bit of it and can't wait for the next book in the series. CHECK OUT THE REST OF MY REVIEW | HERE BLOG | INSTAGRAM | AMAZON | BOOKBUB | TWITTER 4 likes Like Comment Cisz Geverink - Strasters 827 reviews 33 followers June 22, 2022 The forrest of Good and Evil (2): Breekbaar als Glas ~ Gena Showalter HarperCollins YoungAdult, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ik vond het eerste deel al heerlijk om te lezen, maar dit tweede boek vinkte ook alle hokjes weer af! Geweldig hoe ze om een bestaand sprookjes toch weer een heel nieuw verhaal heeft weten te schrijven. Enorm genoten van deze glazen prinses. Wat een verschrikkelijk stoer wijf! Het verhaal is nu afgesloten, maar er wordt toch weer geteased voor een derde deel. Bij deze al op de wishlist, heerlijk! 4 likes Like Comment Helen - Great Reads & Tea Leaves 980 reviews October 5, 2020 Okay ... I am a sucker for fairytale retellings. Here is one that is reimagined in a totally modern way - intrigue, drama, action and romance. This particular retelling is Cinderella as you never could have imagined. The Glass Queen is the second book in The Forest of Good and Evil series, however, readers can easily pick up and quickly get up to speed. It almost reads as a standalone. ‘I wasn’t just Cinder. I was a mother of dragons, the fated one of Craven, a designer of spectacular weapons, and a slayer of wicked phantoms.’ Maybe not so much Game of Thrones but definitely traces of Once Upon A Time are evident here. Fun modern twists on traditional classics. Ashleigh is quite the Cinder - brave, strong and very determined. I love the fact that in this world of reincarnation, no one is truly sure what fairytale role they will fulfill in the prophecy. There are loads of characters here that bring much to the story and the whole concept of working through lives to reach your destiny is clever. ‘The second I remembered I stood in the presence of an enemy, I shot around, facing her again. I jutted my chin. More than anyone else in Enchantia, I knew the devastation this girl could cause. I knew the cruelties that lived in her heart.’ The few issues I had concerned some of the dialogue which was far too cheesy for me (but that might just be my age! LOL!) It is questionable whether this is ‘teen’ and rather more young adult due to the sexual content (my age once again!) It was also rather long and could have been edited to lose some of the scenes that added little to the storyline eg. What was happening in the tournament? Who cares! As fairytale retellings go this was a winner for its unique and action packed twist. This is a great world created by the author and I look forward to what she has in store next for this series. “You know as well as I that the tales are symbolic rather than literal. The obvious is never the answer. What seems to be right is always wrong. What seems to go this way always veers that way. But I would take care, if I were you.” His voice turned menacing. “The king who despises his daughter has a queen who dies far too soon.’ This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release. 3 likes Like Comment Dee 378 reviews 36 followers October 15, 2020 no i will not explain why i picked up a cinderella retelling sequel to a book i haven't read during my century long slump what in the sarah j mass was this... i was not expecting h word avians and r rated jokes nah it Was entertaining tho i'll give it that and i liked ashleigh despite her naivety and cluelessness 4 likes Like Comment Mandy Roth Author 211 books 1,919 followers September 5, 2020 Gena Showalter does it again! The dark and twisted journey Gena takes the reader on in The Glass Queen is full of magic, mayhem, and romance that simmers to the point it sizzles. I'll never look at the fairy tale of Cinderella the same again. I cannot wait for more in this series. 4 likes Like Comment Jasmijn 101 reviews July 12, 2023 I loved this! I am a sucker for a fairytale retelling and this was perfect! Enemies to lovers, characters from book one were also in this story, intrigue and just a very fun plot! I literally cannot wait for the next book! 🤩🤩🤩🤩 my-favorite-books 4 likes Like Comment Donna 4,148 reviews 111 followers December 25, 2020 This is Young Adult - Fantasy - Retellings. It wasn't quite 4 stars for me, but I rounded up because it was one of my favorite retellings that I've listened to. Some of this sounded so sensible. I was happy to go along with the author's logic in her fairy tale retelling. It was creatively thought out. At times this seemed a little long, but usually the pace was not a problem. There was plenty going on. Also, the boom-chicka-wow-wow parts were a little gag worthy. They were repetitive and drawn out for so long which probably contributed to the pacing issues. Not a deal breaker. I'm still rounding up because this retelling was unusual and fun to listen to in audio. fantasy youth-young-adult-fiction 3 likes Like Comment Nena Wyers 41 reviews March 25, 2022 I actually really liked this story, it was a good retelling in a different and beautifull way. I also think the title has a beautiful meaning. But for me personally the main charcters were to 'in love' and it was just weird that they were saying 'i love you' and such things whole the time. I think it's nice if they say it but not that much as they did. 3 likes Like Comment Olivia Darstedt (oliviasbocker) 13 reviews 1 follower August 17, 2022 För de som gillar ACOTAR! 🥰😍 3 likes Like Comment Inkyard Press 207 reviews 106 followers Read July 1, 2021 Categories Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult Romance, Young Adult Social Themes, Young Adult Fairy Tales & Folklore Miniseries The Forest of Good and Evil (Book #2) 3 likes Like Comment Sandy 1,050 reviews 14 followers October 9, 2020 The majority of The Glass Queen takes place shortly after The Evil Queen. The only real exception is the very beginning. There is a scene from Ashleigh's birth and then another from 14 years later when her mom died. And then the rest takes place in the present-day. Ashleigh plays the role of Cinderella in this retelling. She was born with a weak heart (physically) and her father never wanted her. Only her mother's love saved her, but her mother died when Ashleigh was 14. She meets Prince Saxon at her mother's funeral and he immediately begins to glare at her with hatred in his eyes. The two have a short confrontation that Ashleigh doesn't remember involving fire being shot at Prince Saxon. Outraged, he vows she will pay reparations. Her father then exiles her to a temple where she works as a servant until called back to her father's side to work as "palace liaison" to Prince Saxon in a tournament to win her stepsister's hand in marriage. Saxon is determined to use this opportunity to make Ashleigh pay for her past sins. More sins than she even realizes she's committed. The players of The Glass Queen were much more obvious than The Evil Queen. At least in that Ashleigh never questions that she plays the role of Cinder in the prophecy and Saxon the role of the "marriage-minded prince." The two are drawn to each other despite having a more complicated history than Ashleigh knows in the beginning and despite appearing to be doomed. I found it enjoyable to not feel 100% confident in who was who when I read The Evil Queen, but I think I enjoyed it even more in The Glass Queen to feel confident in knowing who each character represented. One of my complaints about The Evil Queen was the maturity levels of the characters. Each of the main characters had a retaliation mindset. You hurt me now I have to hurt you worse. And Saxon had that attitude as well. At least in the beginning. But Ashleigh was leagues above this mindset. She was the type of character that endures true hardships and remains positive, remains hopeful, and refuses to attack those who have harmed her in the past. Even when she has the power to do so. I like rooting for this type of character. Because Saxon and Ashleigh started off in such a rocky place, I enjoyed their journey very much. Hate to love relationships often turn out to be some of my favorites. Theirs was no different. Favorite quotes: -Noel polled a bunch of random strangers about our situation, and asked if it was all right to hurt an innocent girl in order to kill an evil phantom. Apparently, polling random strangers is the best way to make a decision in the mortal world... -“Stop being ridiculous, boys. For the lastish time, I’m betraying you both.” -“From my vantage point, I don’t think fate has ever helped me.” “Then you aren’t paying attention.” One thing I did find contradictory...The characters seemed a little hypocritical when it came to their feelings about death and killing. They didn't seem to mind fighting in a tournament that including much killing. Roth and Saxon were doing a large portion of that. And the tournament was really just a ruse. Yet when it came to Ashleigh's father or even other major characters at the end, they couldn't bring themselves to kill out of punishment or justice. Yet for sport...as a distraction...didn't seem to bother them. And actually, Ashleigh comments about how attractive Saxon is multiple times after he battles others resulting in his killing them during the tournament. It just felt a little disjointed and contradictory to me. I read The Glass Queen really quickly. I didn't want to put it down even when I had to. As a matter of fact, I had to force myself not to read a couple of times in order to get things done around the house. I enjoyed Ashleigh and Saxon's relationship journey as I tend to do with hate-to-love relationships. I also appreciated knowing who each character represented in the retelling. The Glass Queen gets 4 Stars. Have you read The Glass Queen? What did you think? Let me know! 2020 arcs 3 likes Like Comment Laura 220 reviews 6 followers August 22, 2020 Thank you to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for the opportunity to review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The Good • Wilting roses! This was so much more rewarding than book one and I did love book one. Cinderella is one of my favorite fairy tales so I was instantly attached to this. • Absolutely adored Ashleigh and her ferociousness and fight for life. She had every reason to stop fighting but never did. She was protective and passionate and I love her dearly. • THE ROMANCE. This was such a rewarding slow burn with a twist on the enemies to lovers trope. I really liked what set this apart. The character growth between Ashleigh and Saxon was exactly what I needed..not too insta and no one fought against what was inevitable more so than one would expect. Thank the stars. ..just let me adore you.. • I was SO excited to get a Saxon story. I’m really not super into sequels that follow secondary characters from the first one but this one was just fine for me. He was such a mystery in the first book so getting to see this side of him was *chef’s kiss* • The dialogue and writing were much better in this book. Ashleigh was a much more likable character than Everly was. Just enough sass but a world full of maturity. But I also loved the little entrances of Everly and Roth. I was glad to see them again. Heart. The Bad • Honestly, I think the only thing I can really come up with was that the dialogue between Saxon and Ashleigh got real cheesy at the end. It was a little cringey but since it hadn’t been a cheese fest the whole book, I dealt with it. I mean, it was sweet..but cream cheesy. I was looking for a cheesy gif but then this gem showed up and you just never miss an opportunity to present He-Man gifs. • I mean, it wasn’t perfect but I can’t find anything else off color that I feel needs being said. It’s a fairy tale retelling that was fun and easy and cheesy. The Wicked • Wicked Good: Saxon!! He was such an incredibly sweet man and I loved getting more of his history and personality. I loved the relationship between he and Ashleigh and how so fiercely protective he was of her. He just accepted like, “this my girl and these are her dragons so I guess I’m a father now”. We stan. • Wicked Bad: I must be in a forgiving mood because again, I honestly can’t say anything bad about this other than the cheese fest at the end and it was bearable so not wicked. Final Thoughts This is much more Once Upon A Time than Game of Thrones so don’t get confused. The only GOF similarity I guess is the ‘mother of dragons’ bit and Ashleigh is the pre-school teacher version of Daenerys so..no, not quite. That isn’t a bad thing though and by pre-school teacher I don’t mean she is a Mary Sue. Quite the opposite really. She is brave and fierce and strong. Just not, *GOF spoiler* murder the entirety of King’s Landing fierce. If you like fairy tale retellings with a little twist and a lot of sass and battle action, pick this one up. I feel like you don’t have to read the first one to read this because characters and events are explained well enough. This was fun and *hot* with some fantastic characters. You will swoon. You will gasp. You will cheer. 3 likes Like Comment Linda 197 reviews 5 followers August 8, 2021 I wanted to love this book as much as a I loved the first instalment, but I just couldn't. These are my thoughts: 1. I knew that the second instalment wasn't going to be about Everly, even though I wanted it to be. I knew that it would be a different fairy tale (Cinderella) and that Everly, Roth, etc would show up in supporting roles. But I honestly didn't think Saxon would become one of the main characters, and worse, that I wouldn't like him anymore. 2. I just couldn't get into Saxon, and I overall didn't feel like he had much of a personality? One minute he hates her, and the next he doesn't? I'm going to talk about some pretty obvious spoilers below, so stop reading now if you cannot handle any type of spoiler. I think Saxon is a bit basic. He hates her, makes her do chores and penance (which is weird) but doesn't kill her even though he wants to? Yet kills other people in battle like it's nothing? It sort of doesn't make sense to me. People aren't like that. Then, all of a sudden he begins to love Ash, like there's no "like" at any point. One minute he hates her and the next he'll die for her. It's kind of weird. And a bit over the top. I had to skip some of the last pages where he's just professing his love over and over and over again. Like we get it. You love her. Good for you. Oh, you'll die for her? Great. Oh, you'll give your life for her? Cool. I mean, that's sort of like saying you'll die for her, but sure, tell us how much you love her again. Saxon whispers "I would not live so that she could live". 3. The armour dust was weird. Really weird. That shouldn't be a thing. It's just making me picture them all being covered in pollen (which I guess is kind of like, uh, flower sperm, so it's fitting, but still weird). 4. Dior should have been Cinder and had more of a role in the fairy tale. I thought she was great. 5. Where are the dragons? They needed more ink time (like air time in tv shows but for books). 6. Ash's magical ability was such a cop-out. How convenient that she happens to have the strangest power which somehow provides her with the best solution? 7. Philip needed to be put in his place a bit better. He also needed a bit of a better back story as to why he hated Ash. It all felt very superficial. At least pretend he hated Ash because she broke his favourite watch or something. I don't know, I don't care, just give me something. 8. MORE EVERLY. MORE ROTH. AND FOR GODS SAKE, MORE HARTLY. There really should have been a bit more about them. I don't care if it's not really their story. They're the heart of The Forest of Good and Evil, and I want more closure. 3 likes Like Comment Amanda 218 reviews January 22, 2021 This book was a really good read. You have princess Ashleigh, who was born with a malformed heart, her mother tries to get a witch to imbue her with magic to make her stronger, but it turns out that the "witch" in the dungeons was a phantom instead. So the phantom decides to go into baby Ashleigh. Leonora is the phantom that possesses and haunts princess Ashleigh. It seems as though I can’t go a page or two without seeing Leonora’s name at least two or three times, honestly it gets annoying after a while. Authors should be more careful with the verbal vomit, just my opinion. Ashleigh is attracted to the handsome prince Saxon, or is she? Little does princess Ashleigh know, prince Saxon and Leonora have a very long history and disastrous relationships from the past. Leonora and Saxon have been reincarnated three times, each time Leonora destroys everything and everyone he loves. Leonora is obsessed with Saxon, to say the least. Obviously she can’t take the hint that he doesn’t truly love her. Princess Ashleigh is considered weak because of her malformed heart, and everyone treats her as such. But she is anything but weak. She constantly finds ways to undermine prince Saxon and avoid his orders while with him. He thinks that Ashleigh attacked him with fire, unbeknownst to him at the time that it was Leonora taking control of Ashleigh. Prince Saxon is an avian, part human part something else, I forget. He has wings. He certainly doesn’t intend to fall in love with Ashleigh, especially as he knows that Leonora resides within her. He certainly tries not to like her, but he inevitably fails at this as you can guess. Ashleigh has a passion for making weapons, although everyone overlooks her and her work because she’s a female and because of her condition. Turns out she has a real talent for it, a talent that could make her a fortune one day. In this tale it’s hard to say who you can trust, especially those apple babies, Noel and Ophelia. They constantly answer questions with riddles instead of straight forward answers. And everything they say or do seems to go against the greater good sometimes. They’re oracles and can see the future and give prophecies, and people pay an extortionate amount of riches for the privilege. This story was a very good read as was the last book, The evil queen. Very inventive and imaginative stories from a very talented author. I hope to see more of these books in the future. 3 likes Like Comment Alyson Stone Author 4 books 65 followers September 1, 2020 Book: The Glass Queen Author: Gena Showalter Rating: 2 Out of 5 Stars I would like to thank the publisher, Inkyard Press, for providing me with an ARC. I just don’t think that this book was for me. It’s nothing that the author did or that there’s anything actually wrong with the book. I just don’t think it’s one for me. I’ve been reading a lot of epic fantasy and this was just a chance for me. I honestly didn’t care about the characters either. They just weren’t what I was looking for in a book and just didn’t have that punch that I wanted. I mean, they were fine, but I just felt like they were kind of flat for me. I want something more and something a bit more fleshed out. I found it very difficult to keep everyone straight because of that. It honestly felt like the author was trying to write Sarah J Maas characters, but it just didn’t work. I think had we had some more development then it would have worked a lot more. I felt like the writing was kind of flat as well. The overuse of the rhymes just didn’t work. I personally think that the book would have worked a lot better had the author chosen to drop them. I wanted something a little bit more and something a little bit, once again, fleshed out. I just think it would have worked a lot better. I just felt like the author wanted to cross that line, but couldn’t make herself. If you aren’t going to cross that line, then you really shouldn’t be bringing it up into books. That’s just my opinion and all. Anyway, this book comes out on September 29, 2020. arc fantasy how-about-no 3 likes Like Comment Luckie 130 reviews 673 followers February 11, 2021 My obsession with The Forest of Good and Evil series continues. After enjoying the main character of The Evil Queen so much, I was extremely apprehensive about the change of main character. My experiences with fairy-tale series that switch characters each book have not been positive (I'm looking at you, Lunar Chronicles and Curse so Dark and Lonely), but I was really glad I mustered up the courage to read Glass Queen. Much like book one, Glass Queen has an over-dramatic soap opera vibe to it, with a cliché enemies-to-lovers romance, but this time, inspired by the fairy-tale, Cinderella. Cinderella is not my go-to princess, but the main girl was witty, funny and easy to grow fond of. The love interest, who was previously a side character in Evil Queen, was everything my dark-and-tortured-bad-boy-enthusiast self wanted in a character. Their romance was predictable, but again, like Evil Queen, the predictability of it all made it fun. I think the two characters complemented each other nicely, and I was rooting for them from start to finish. To ice the cake--Dragons. Say less. The down side of this book is that I CANNOT IMMEDIATELY READ THE NEXT ONE. From clues alluded to in book two, I'm predicting four books in total, with one of them being Little Mermaid themed, but my Disney princess knowledge does not span far enough to guess what a forth book would be inspired by. Regardless, I'm excited. ya-fantasy ya-romance 2 likes Like Comment Blue 1,591 reviews 91 followers September 23, 2020 Want to see more... Bookstagram Website Thank you Harlequin for this book in exchange for an honest review The Glass Queen is the sequel to Evil Queen and reminiscing on the Evil Queen it was one of those books that was a building up to something… So when The Glass Queen popped up for review I knew that I had to read it to see where the story went! The Glass Queen was more enjoyable than the Evil Queen, the sequel contained more sass, humour and you can see the change in the characters while they didn’t change or mature much in the first book. Whilst it was entertaining at the beginning and end of the of the book, the middle did seem to lag and I wasn’t a huge fan on the inner monologue, I felt as though it took the love and suspense away from the book. 3 likes Like Comment Shae 2,789 reviews 342 followers January 31, 2021 Full thoughts coming soon 3 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 340 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote 1 discussion 13 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $7.99 Rate this book The Name of the Rose Umberto Eco , William Weaver ( Translator ) 4.14 366,508 ratings 13,091 reviews Want to read Kindle $7.99 Rate this book The year is 1327. Franciscans in a wealthy Italian abbey are suspected of heresy, and Brother William of Baskerville arrives to investigate. When his delicate mission is suddenly overshadowed by seven bizarre deaths, Brother William turns to the logic of Aristotle, the theology of Aquinas, and the empirical insights of Roger Bacon to find the killer. He collects evidence, deciphers secret symbols and coded manuscripts, and digs into the eerie labyrinth of the abbey (“where the most interesting things happen at night”) armed with a wry sense of humor and a ferocious curiosity. Genres Fiction Historical Fiction Mystery Historical Literature Italy Italian Literature ...more 552 pages, Paperback First published January 1, 1980 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Umberto Eco 843 books 11k followers Umberto Eco was an Italian writer of fiction, essays, academic texts, and children's books. A professor of semiotics at the University of Bologna, Eco’s brilliant fiction is known for its playful use of language and symbols, its astonishing array of allusions and references, and clever use of puzzles and narrative inventions. His perceptive essays on modern culture are filled with a delightful sense of humor and irony, and his ideas on semiotics, interpretation, and aesthetics have established his reputation as one of academia’s foremost thinkers. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.14 366,508 ratings 13,091 reviews 5 stars 161,614 (44%) 4 stars 124,575 (33%) 3 stars 56,548 (15%) 2 stars 16,243 (4%) 1 star 7,528 (2%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 13,090 reviews Walter Ullon 270 reviews 129 followers July 17, 2018 Eco's writing is so infectious, lively, and likeable that I thought it appropriate to pen my review in his style. 1. In which I, as reader, feel used. Yes, I'm almost certain Eco wrote this thing for the sole purpose of informing us of how knowledgeable he is of the finer points of monastic orders, book trivia, and medieval philosophy. Knowing most would not put up with this crap for 500 pages, he wisely chose to interrupt his many digressions on poverty, heretics, whether or not Jesus laughed, Aristotle, architecture, etc, with an amateurish mystery plot. It's pedantry disguised as fiction. I've been used. 2. In which the pace sucks. Just when you thought it was getting interesting, just when the plot is getting meatier and it grabs your attention, here comes a dissertation or a long drawn description of doors, churches, parchments, beasts, characters that are totally irrelevant to the plot, and backstories that do nothing to shed light on the events. You must often wait a chapter or two to get back to the mystery that drove you to read this thing in the first place. Do yourself a favor and quit after he has solved his first "mystery" (page 25?). 3. In which its heavy-handedness is offensive. Lurk around bookworms long enough and you're bound to find some pompous pseudo intellectual enraptured by the rich, textured, yet subtle literary clues so artfully crafted into this piece: "You mean to tell me that Jorge De Burgos, the blind monk, is actually a nod to Jorge Luis Borges, the blind Argentinian writer? Whaaat?" So clever... I'm sure the late Borges heard this, face-palmed, and then turned in his grave. EDIT: I have been duly informed, perhaps by the type referenced above, that Borges was actually alive when this "work" was published. He died shortly thereafter... 4. In which the plot fails to deliver. Provided you made it as far as the end, all in hopes of finding a conclusion so stellar as to redeem the drudgery that preceded it, what one is most likely to find is disappointment. Most, by the time they get there, will already know who the culprit is, and given the setting and the tools the protagonists are carrying, what will happen in the final scene. Is it a fantastic twist? A conspiracy centuries in the making? No. Just lunatic ravings akin to the ones that drove Eco to romanticize about love, lust, knowledge, etc... nope 1,149 likes 9 comments Like Comment Matthew 1,221 reviews 9,560 followers June 18, 2017 Go ahead, throw your tomatoes at me! I know that in general this book is loved. Many count it amongst their favorites. I found it very dull and very boring. I had an extremely hard time staying interested in the story, which is weird for me and mystery/suspense stories. Never have I fought so hard to finish a book (in general, I do not DNF). So, if you couldn't stand it either, let me know that I am not alone. For those that loved it and are ready to launch rotten produce at me: historical-fiction least-favorite mystery 744 likes 2 comments Like Comment Jayson 2,291 reviews 3,630 followers March 10, 2022 (A-) 84% | Very Good Notes: A medieval Sherlock Holmes manages sectarian politics and investigates serial murders in a dense but effective read. 500-599-pp author-western-european era-medieval ...more 681 likes Like Comment Peter 3,328 reviews 560 followers June 7, 2019 This was one of the biggest novels in the 80s. I remember the book very well. A crime story set in a monastery with much Latin and Greek and some dubious monks trying to solve some murder cases. The denouement was brilliant. The whole story was absolutely outstanding (the lost book on comedy) and extremely sophisticated. So much wisdom and philosophy in one novel. It's very seldom that you come across a book like that. There is also a famous movie with Jean Connery as William of Baskerville but the book tops the novel by far. Back then in school everybody read that novel. Must read and absolutely recommended! 354 likes Like Comment هدى يحيى Author 10 books 17.2k followers March 31, 2022 إن كنت ستقرأ إسم الوردة فاترك خيالك وراءك فأنت بكل تأكيد لست بحاجة إليه فهنا ستجد دقائق الأشياء تتجلى وكل تفصيلة صغيرة تتوهج أمامك لست بحاجة لتخيل شكل الغرفة أو حجم المتاهة أنت بحاجة لعقلك واعٍ ولكل ما تحمل من حنكة لكي تحاول أن تفهم عند تتمة القراءة ما مدى رمزية المتاهة تلك وما هي التأويلات التي يمكنني أن أستقيها من ذلك كله؟ ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; هذه رواية امتزج فيها كل شيء بحكمة بليغة فلقد اجتمعت حالات عدة شديدة الاختلاف وتبتعد عن بعضها في الزمان والمضمون وكونت بفضل صياغته الماهرة عالماً واحداً متسقاً إن ما هو أساسي في هذا النص يعود وأستعين هنا بمقدمة كتاب حاشية على إسم الوردة- "التصور الإبداعي الذي يجعل من النص فرجة معرفية لا تنتهي ، أو يحول المعرفة إلى وضعيات إنسانية ترقى على الفردي وتتجاوز اللحظة العرضية الزائلة" ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; إن كان إيكو يخدعك طوال الرواية بأنها بوليسية ويجعلك تبحث وراءه عن اللغز فهو لم يبخل عليك ببعض التلميحات ، تاركاً وراءه بعض الأدلة لك أنت وحدك كي تصل إلى ما أرادك أن تصل إليه أن تعرف ما هو نوع هذه الرواية بالضبط ولما قد تبدو سخيفاً حين تركض وراء اللغز تاركاً الشفرات تداعبك هنا وهناك دون أن تتمهل لحلها ؟ ! في الحقيقة ولهذا الزخم ولذكاء المؤلف الغير عادي لم أكن أقتفي الأثر كثيراً وانش��لت لبعض الوقت بحواراتي الداخلية جاعلة منها نصاً متوازياً مع الرواية بحين أناقش هذه وتلك كان ما بداخلي يفور ويتجلى أمامي بنقش عجيب يجاور منمنمات الرهبان وهناك يد ما تسلط بقعاً ضوئية على النصين بحيث لا أدري أهي من صنع خيالي أم ما أراده المؤلف ويتداخل النصان أمامي فأضطر للتمهل كي أترك إيكو يتلاعب بي قليلاً حتى أستمتع أكثر ولكن للحقيقة أظنني خلال قراءتي كنت أتناقش جواره،لا معه ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; عندما تقرأ كماً لا يُستهان به من الكتب تدرك أن ما أورده إيكو هنا عن نص النصوص هو حقيقة غريبة قد لا نعيها أحياناً ألا تشعر أحياناً أن كل ما قرأت يمكن بسهولة ضمه في كتاب واحد كبير قد نطلق عليه كتاب العالم مثلاً؟ ألا تشعر بمدى وحدتنا أحيانا عندما نعود كلنا للأصل كمجموعة من البشر تقطن على كرة أرضية ضئيلة تكتب وتقرأ في نفس الوقت وتصنع تاريخها ؟ غالباً ما تتحدث الكتب عن كتب أخرى و تتحدث الكتب نفسها فيما بينها يقول إيكو على لسان غوليالمو بدت لي المكتبة مخفية أكثر من ذي قبل فهي مكان لتهامس طويل وسحيق لحوار لا يدرك بين رقّ ورقّ ، وهي شيءٍ حي و مأوى لقوى لا يقدر الفكر الإنساني على السيطرة عليها هي كنز من أسرار أبدعتها عقول كثيرة وبقيت حية بعد موت من أبدعها أو من كان رسولها وفكرة ان يصنع إيكو فصلاً هو نصوص كثيرة من كتب كثيرة برطها ببعضها لتصنع وحدة واحدة كانت من أهم ما وجدت في هذه الرواية العجيبة وأعجبني في مقدمة الصمعي لها ذكره بأن " نص إيكو يشبه مكتبة الدير أوالمكتبة المصغرة التي تكونت لإدسو بعد جمع مزق الرقوق وبقية المجلدات التي خلفها الحريق" أحببت هذا التشبيه وأتفق معه كثيراً الصورة لقاموس لاتيني من القرن الرابع عشر ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; كيف صنع إيكو هذا النص؟ أرجح أنه خلق عالمه المادي وترك شخصياته تقوده إلى الأحداث ، وترك المجرم ينقاد إلى جريمته دون تدخل منه وهكذا قد تجد نفسك أنت هو المجرم الحقيقي هنا وربما تبدأ بالشك في نفسك ! في الحقيقة مدى براعة إيكو في خلق نصه تدعو للإعجاب فعندما ذكرت أنه خلق عالمه المادي فقد عنيت أنه فعل ذلك بالفعل لقد صنع هذا الدير وأراد له هذا المكان الجغرافي وفكّر مطولا في كيفية بناء المتاهة وكيفية تخزين الكتب فيها كان يعد الخطوات بين كل غرفة و يعد درجات السلم وهكذا اختلط التاريخ بالحكاية بالجغرافيا بالفلسفة وكل ذلك في إطار قد تدعوه بوليسياً وأعطيك مثالاً لنفرض أن راهبين في الرواية يتحاوران وهما يتمشيان في رواق قاصدين غرفة معينة فإن المسافة التي يقطعها الراهبان تكون منضبطة تماماً مع عدد الكلمات في الحوار بحيث ما إن يصلان وجهتهما حتى يكون الحوار قد انتهي ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; قديماً قال شكسبير ماذا في الاسم؟ إن الوردة تعطي نفس العطر بأي اسم شئت أن تعطيها ويختتم إيكو روايته المذهلة ببيت شعر لفيلان كانت الوردة إسماً ونحن لا نمسك إلا الأسماء والتي يعني بها أن كل الأشياء تندثر ولا يبقى منها غير الإسم ما الذي قصده إيكو بذلك وما مدى علاقة ذلك كله بعنوان الرواية ؟ في الحقيقة إن القراءة عن تفكيره في العنوان ذاتها ممتعة ربما قد تكتشف في النهاية أنه " لا وجود لأي وردة " وأنه يمكن للغة أن تكون قوية كفاية كي تتحدث عن الأشياء الموجودة والغير موجودة بنفس القوة وتمتلك نفس التأثير للإقناع وفي نفس الوقت ربما تكتشف أن الرواية لا علاقة لها بالكلمات ! والكثيرون قد رأوا أن التأويل الأنسب للوردة هو فكرة الدوائر وعلاقتها بشفرات إيكو اللامتناهية فالشفرات تتحول لدوائر تدور حول بعضها وذلك يثير في القاريء العديد من الإيحاءات التي أرادها المؤلف والتي ربما لم تخطر له على بال فالوردة كبنية جمالية تبرهن على ما يحاول إيكو أن يصنع بهذا النص أي التاويل والتاويل المضاعف فإيكو أساساً دارس ومهتم بالسيميولوجياأي علم العلامات والإشارات والرموز ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; هذا النص كنت أحاول قراءته منذ ثلاث سنوات وكل مرة كنت أقرأ بضعة سطور ثم أغلقه قائلة العام المقبل عندما أكون أكثر نضجاً ، وجاهزة له لذا إن شعرت بهذا افعل مثلي انتظر حتى تكون مهيئاً له ثم اقرأه لأن الفكرة ليست في أن أول مائة صفحة هى التي ينبغي تجاوزها كي تستمتع بباقي الكتاب بل عليك أن تشعر أنك تقرأها مستمتعاً بهذا الإيقاع لأن على ذلك يترتب مدى استمتاعك وتفاعلك مع الرواية ولقد استغربت أن ما فكرت فيه كان يقصده المؤلف وذكره في دراسته الشخصية حول كتابته للرواية ! ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; لا يمكنني الاختتام إلا بالحديث عن بورخس الذي امتد تأثيره ليشمل الفكر العالمي كله والذي لا ينفك يمتعني بعبقريته لما قام إيكو بهذه الإحالة إلى بورخس؟ في الحقيقة حين قرأت وجدته يقول أنه لا يدري وإن كان تأثره البورخيسي واضح تماماً في بنية الرواية عندما توضع في يدك رواية يخترع صاحبها وجود مخطوط غير حقيقي وتقابل فيها حارساً للمكتبة لا يبصر والمكتبة عبارة عن متاهة و تمتليء بالمخطوطات واسم الحارس Jorge of Burgos ما الذي يمكنك التفكير فيه إذاً خاصة وأنت تتفرج على طبيعة خورخي الأعمى الكاره للضحك ؟ لما أراد إيكو منحه هذه الصفات وهذه النهاية؟ أية صفات وأي نهاية؟ ممممم اقرأ لتعرف ;) هامش #1 قراءة حاشية على اسم الوردة مهمة للغاية وأنصح بها #2 بعض اللوحات المختلفة التي تصور الرهبان في العصور الوسطى history novels_novellas philosophy ...more 360 likes Like Comment s.penkevich 1,201 reviews 9,511 followers November 26, 2011 This is one of those rare near-perfect books that crosses through many genres and could be universally acclaimed. There are dozens of great reviews on here already, but this book struck me as so profound that I felt I needed to briefly put down my own thoughts. I could not bring myself to put this down and it was always a battle to not skip work and continue reading in the parking lot after lunch break. Eco crafts a novel that could be labeled as historical fiction, mystery, theology and philosophy, metafiction, a plot-boiler, literature, and many others - hell, there's even a bit of love and sex thrown in and of multiple sexual orientations! He essentially takes Sherlock Holmes and Watson and recasts them as monks in a 1300's Abbey where murder and theological debates appear around every corner. The two main plots, the murder mystery and the religious debates, weave together effortlessly, each feeding off each other as the tensions rise and the plot thickens. This is no simple plot-driven thriller however. Eco brings a tome of medieval and christian history to the table, working it as a period piece and educates the reader as well as entertains. This has drawn a lot of comparisons to works such as Dan Brown's Da Vince Code , yet Eco surpasses Brown in almost every category. This book truly deserve to be considered "literature", as there is much more to it than a history and research tossed into a plot. Eco can spit prose with the best of them and he will keep your dictionary close at hand. His character's speech is all believable and what fascinated me the most was how expertly he wrote the theological arguments between the Abbey occupants. Through these characters, many which were real people, he presents believable, and often fiery, multifaceted discussions on a range of topics such as heretics, vows of poverty, and gospel interpretations. Eco has a vast knowledge of medieval studies and it shows. He is also a professor of semiotics, which play a critical role in this novel. William's method of deduction hinges on his ability to "read the signs" in the world around him. He carefully crafts syllogisms, which brought me back to my logic and reasoning courses at MSU, to produce his theories. Eco puts his best foot forward and gives the reader a good introduction to his own fields of study with Rose. However, he also throws in the loophole that the world may not be comprised of any inherent meaning and that it is senseless to try to apply meaning to randomness. This could present quiet a dilemma for a monk who's life draws meaning from the gospels. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of this novel was that it was a book about books. The whole novel spins around several texts, such as Aristotle and Revelations, but is made up of other books. He even draws the readers attention to this as William explains to Adso how the contents of one book can be discerned by reading other books. He strings together hefty allusions to other medieval texts and also to one of Eco's, and one of my own, personal favorite authors: Jorge Luis Borges. This novel is saturated with allusions to Borges works, there is even a blind librarian (much like the real Borges) named Jorge of Burgos. I would highly recommend picking up a copy of his collected fictions, simply because it is a phenomenal read, and to read selected stories such as The Library of Babel simultaneously with The Name of the Rose as Eco drew much of his inspiration for this book from Borges story. The scenes in the labyrinthine library of the abbey are gold, I wanted to get lost with William and Adso as they flipped through great works together while trying to make sense of their obfuscating surroundings. Eco's use of metafiction greatly adds to this novel, as an acute reading will show Eco is often talking more about the book itself than the actual plot with his two leads. He also leaves in plenty of untranslated Latin while having William conclude that true scholars must first master languages, and to key in on the idea that this book was a text found and translated by the character of Eco. He leaves some detective work for the reader, and I thank him for that. You really need to read this book. There are scant few people who would not find something of interest within it's pages. It is a deep, dense ocean of a novel and not a little plot-driven pool to be waded through just for enjoyment, but with just a little effort it will provide a fountain of enjoyment. That was a weird, out of place and senseless string of water metaphors, but you get the idea. Easily a 5/5 305 likes 1 comment Like Comment فايز غازي Fayez Ghazi Author 2 books 4,401 followers September 23, 2023 - رواية كاملة متكاملة تأخذ من معظم الحبكات، المتعارف عليها، لتشكل جسداً روائياً تاماً. تحدث القصة خلال الفترة التي انتقلت فيها البابوية من موقعها التقليدي في إيطاليا إلى أفينيون، حينما قام ملك فرنسا بتعيين يوحنا الثاني والعشرون "بابا" على رأس الكنيسة الرومانية المقدسة. - "اسم الوردة"، اسم غريب، ناقص المعنى لكنه سيكون واضحاً اذا ماعرفنا ان في ذلك العصركان للوردة معنى محدد: فحين ينعقد مجلس تحت ستار السرية، كانت الوردة تعلّق فوق الطاولة وكل ما تمت مناقشته "تحت الوردة" كان سرًا ويبقى. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sub_rosa )، كما ان للوردة معاني عديدة بدءاً من السومرية (معبد إنانا) الى الفرعونية (رمز الإله حورس) الى اليونانية (ألياذة هوميروس) والرومانية.... - المقدمة: رغم انها تعريفية لكنها على على عادة المقدمات العربية تحاول تأطير القارئ وقولبته في رداء معين! الترجمة ممتازة وسلسة ايضاً - النص: هذا واحد من تلك النصوص المثالية التي تتأرجح من الخيال التاريخي وغموضه ، الى اللاهوت والفلسفة مروراً بالأدب نثره وشعره، الى الرواية البوليسية بحبكتها وحلها، الى التقاطع بين المصادفة والمؤامرة، الى التعريج ناحية الحب والجنس (حتى الى العلاقات المشبوهة الشاذة)، فالمتناقضات (الفقر والغنى، الله والشيطان، الدين والدنيا، الرعية والشعب، الإكليروس والشعب، الكنيسة والمهرطقين...) وصولاً الى الكتب: أرسطو، ابن رشد، ابن سينا، كتب السحر، الشعوذة، الأعشاب الطب.. مروراً بشعوب عديدة من اقصى الشمال الى اقصى جنوب افريقيا... - الشخصيات: يأخذ أمبرتو إيكو شارلك هولمز والدكتور واتسون ويعيد صياغتهما كراهبين يصلان "دير مالك" سنة 1300، حيث كانت تلك الفترة تتسم بالجدل والنقاش اللاهوتي الحاد حول احقية الكنيسة في التملك او استعمال الملك، وحول فقر السيد المسيح وحواريه. اتسمت شخصية "غوليالمو" (تلميذ روجر بيكون) بالسيميائية والأرسطية، فهو كان قادراً على قراءة العلامات وترتيبها مستعملاً المنطق الآرسطي في الإستنتاجات. اما الشخصيات العديدة الاخرى، والكثير منها شخصيات تاريخية، فقام بوضعها متواجهة من خلال حوارات نارية حول تفاسير الاناجيل، والهرطقة، والزندقة، والسحر، ومحاكم التفتيش... ينسج إيكو على خطين متوازيين احدهما هو الجدل الديني والآخر محاولة فك لغز القاتل، ويبدع حين يقاطع بين الخطين لاحقاً ويجعل احدهما من نسيج الآخر! ويشبك ما بين نتائجهما! - النسق الروائي: تبدأ القصة لدى وصول غوليالمو ، والوفاة المفاجئة لأحد الرهبان (القتل أم الانتحار) يتبعها وفاة راهب آخر مما يشيربوضوح إلى أن شخص في هذا الدير المنعزل هو القاتل. يبدأ التحقيق في مقتل الرهبان، ويبدأ الغموض بالإنتشار اكثر كلما تعمق في التحقيق وتأخذ الوفيات نسقاً يطابق رؤيا يوحنا! يزداد الغموض مع ادخال عنصر "المكتبة" الغامضة التي تحتوي على واحدة من أفضل المكتبات المعروفة، ومن المثير للاهتمام أن لا أحد غير أمين المكتبة ، أو مساعده، أو شخص ما بإذن من رئيس الدير نفسه يمكنه أن يدخل المكتبة ، التي تحميها متاهة معقدة. يتمكن غوليالمو من قراءة الكتابة الصغيرة للراهب المقتول، وتكون فاتحة الإستنباطات العقلية اللاحقة لحل لغز المتاهة. تبدأ الجثث بالتراكم فيلحّ رئيس الدير على غوليالمو لكشف السر قبل وصول المبعوثين. احد المبعوثين هو "برنارد غي"، وهو سفاح أحرق العديد من "الزنادقة" في تاريخه الطويل كمدافع عن الإيمان (يتولى بيرنارد مسألة الوفيات في الدير ويقوم بإجتثاث العناصر الشيطانية بواسطة التعذيب، ويستخدم المحاكمة لتقوية موقف البابا بأن فلسفة الفرنشيسكان الخاصة بفقر المسيح سيتم القضاء عليها). يستكشف غوليالمو وأدسو المتاهة لإكتشاف القاتل والدافع وراء هذا القتل المتكرر! - القراءات: هل هي رواية بظاهرها فقط؟ أيمكن القول انها قصة "أشخاص" و "دير" ولغز" وكفى؟! هل هي سرد تاريخي لأحداث وقعت في الماضي؟! أم ان المعنى يتعدى ظاهرها ويصح تأوّليها! هل إخفاء كتاب لأرسطو دلالة على الإنتاج الإنساني في خدمة الإنسانية ليكون بديلاً عن الإنتاج الرباني لقيادة الإنسانية (الكتابات المقدسة)؟! هل الإستدلال العقلي بناء على الدلالات والعلامات وربطها ببعضها البعض لتكوين صورة عقلية اولاً يتم اعادة سكبها على الواقع للخروج بنتيجة هو ادق وافضل مما جاء من غيب غير محسوس يشابه السحر رغم محاربته له؟! لنذهب ابعد، هل المكتبة هي ذاتها "شجرة المعرفة" وهل القتلة وسوس الشيطان لهم ليحاولوا القطف منها؟! وهل النتيجة الحتمية للأرض، كما للدير، هي الإحتراق!؟ هل المعرفة محدودة؟ هل هناك حقيقة مطلقة ام انها تخضع لهوى المفسرين؟!... - المعنى، بالنسبة لي: وردت جملة في آخر الكتاب تقول" كل كتاب لذلك الرجل (أي أرسطو) حطّم جزءاً من المعرفة التي جمعتها المسيحية طيلة قرون" وأعتقد ان هذا هو الإستهداف من هذه الرواية: إعمال العقل بدل الإيمان الأعمى!... - خاتمة: اظن ان هذه الرواية تتسم بالعديد من الطبقات ولذلك تحتاج لعدة قراءات، كما انها تحث القارئ على البحث عن معانٍ واسماء عديدة وردت بين سطورها، واحداث كانت مخاضاً عسيراً في التاريخ الإنساني (وهو مخاض يعاد استنساخه في بقاع اخرى من العالم اليوم!)، كما انها تفتح عيون من ينادون بعصمة الأشخاص وطهارتهم بناء على الشكل او الموقع او اللباس، وتظهر الأسرار التي قد يحتويها مكان ناء فكيف بالعالم الحديث! اما بالنسبة للمقارنة بين هذه الرواية و "عزازيل" فأعتقد ان "عزازيل" رواية قزمة وضحلة امام "اسم الوردة" رغم انها متكأة عليها فكرةً (الرقوق المكتوبة) ومضموناً (الصراع بين الطوائف المسيحية) وأسلوباً، لكنها (اي عزازيل) مجبولة بالجنس (ربما لأنها تخاطب القارئ العربي) بينما "اسم الوردة" عرّجت بشكل بسيط على هذا الموضوع وبطريقة انسانية بحتة! favorites 281 likes Like Comment Ahmad Sharabiani 9,564 reviews 155 followers August 19, 2021 (Book 293 from 1001 books) - Il Nome Della Rosa = The Name of the Rose, Umberto Eco The Name of the Rose is the 1980 debut novel by Italian author Umberto Eco. It is a historical murder mystery set in an Italian monastery, in the year 1327, an intellectual mystery combining semiotics in fiction, biblical analysis, medieval studies and literary theory. It was translated into English by William Weaver in 1983. In 1327, Franciscan friar William of Baskerville and Adso of Melk, a Benedictine novice travelling under his protection, arrive at a Benedictine monastery in Northern Italy to attend a theological disputation. This abbey is being used as neutral ground in a dispute between Pope John XXII and the Franciscans, who are suspected of heresy. The monastery is disturbed by the death of Adelmo of Otranto, an illuminator revered for his illustrations. Adelmo was skilled at comical artwork, especially concerning religious matters. William is asked by the monastery's abbot, Abo of Fossanova, to investigate the death: During his enquiry he has a debate with one of the oldest monks in the abbey, Jorge of Burgos, about the theological meaning of laughter, which Jorge despises. عنوانهای چاپ شده در ایران: «آنک نام گل»؛ «نام گل سرخ»؛ «گل سرخ یا هر نام دیگر»؛ نویسنده: اومبرتو اکو؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز بیست و هفتم ماه آگوست سال 2009میلادی عنوان: نام گل سرخ؛ نویسنده: اومبرتو اکو؛ مترجم: رضا علیزاده؛ تهران، روزبه، 1391؛ در 880ص؛ شابک 9789643344344؛ با عنوان آنک نام گل؛ خراسان رضوی، آهنگ قلم، روزنه، چاپ دوم 1394؛ در 864ص؛ شابک 9786005452761؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان ایتالیا - سده 20م عنوان: نام گل سرخ؛ نویسنده: اومبرتو اکو؛ مترجم: شهرام طاهری؛ تهران، شباویز، 1365؛ در دو جلد؛ چاپ پنجم 1368؛ شابک 9645511275؛ عنوان: گل سرخ یا هر نام دیگر - چند گفتار و گفتگو از اومبرتو اکو؛ با ترجمه: مجتبی ویسی؛ تهران، اختران، 1386؛ در 160ص؛ شابک9789648897197؛ نام گل سرخ، یا «آنک نام گل»؛ نخستین رمان «اومبرتو اکو» نویسنده ی «ایتالیایی» است، که سال 1980میلادی منتشر شد؛ کتاب یک داستان جنایی تاریخی است، که در صومعه ای در «ایتالیای» سال 1327میلادی می‌گذرد؛ معمایی روشنفکرانه است، که نویسنده نشانه شناسی در داستان را، با تحلیل انجیل، پژوهشهای مذهبی سده های میانی میلادی، و نظریات ادبی را آجین میکند؛ در سال 1986میلادی بر اساس این رمان فیلمی به همین نام ساخته شد چکیده داستان؛ («ویلیام باسکرویل»، کشیش تیزهوش و «فرانسیسکن انگلیسی»، به همراه «آدسو»، شاگرد جوانش، برای شرکت در مباحثه ‌ای الهی درباره ی «عیسی مسیح»، به صومعه‌ ای در شمال «ایتالیا» می‌روند؛ راهب بزرگ صومعه، آنان را از مرگ مرموز یکی از کتابداران کتابخانه آگاه می‌کند، و وقتی فردای آن روز جسد راهب دیگری که مترجم یونانی بوده، در کتابخانه صومعه پیدا می‌شود، «ویلیام» و «آدسو» برای یافتن علت مرگ آنان به بخش کتاب‌های خطی کتابخانه راه می‌یابند…)؛ نقل از متن: (در ابتدا کلمه بود و کلمه نزد خدا بود و کلمه خدا بود؛ خدا چنین آغاز کرد و وظیفۀ هر راهب مومنی است که فروتنانه در مناجات، این یگانه واقعۀ تغییرناپذیر را که می‌توان بر حقیقت انکارناپذیرش تأکید گذاشت، هر روز تکرار کند؛ اما ما اینک از پشت شیشه‌ ای تیره نظاره‌ گر هستیم و حقیقت پیش از ‌آن‌که رو در رو بر همگان آشکار شود، در خطای دنیا پاره پاره (افسوس چقدر نامفهوم) دیده می‌شود، پس باید علامت‌های اصیلش را حتی وقتی برای ما مبهم است، و انگار که نیتی پلید آنها را به ملغمه‌ ای تبدیل کرده است، هجی‌کنان بخوانیم)؛ پایان تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 31/06/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 27/05/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی Like Comment Vit Babenco 1,560 reviews 4,355 followers August 11, 2020 Are all the libraries receptacles of knowledge? Are all the books vehicles of wisdom? Are all the librarians propagators of good? “Which books?” Benno hesitated. “I don’t remember. What does it matter which books were spoken of?” “It matters a great deal, because here we are trying to understand what has happened among men who live among books, with books, from books, and so their words on books are also important.” “It’s true,” Benno said, smiling for the first time, his face growing almost radiant. “We live for books. A sweet mission in this world dominated by disorder and decay.” The Name of the Rose is a very special mystery tale, luxuriantly allusive and bookishly labyrinthine – it is the postmodernistic Sherlock Holmes’ inquisitional outing. In these last few years, as never before, to stimulate piety and terror and fervor in the populace, and obedience to human and divine law, preachers have used distressing words, macabre threats. When faith turns into fanaticism, it becomes evil… a-hundred-of-the-best-novels 265 likes Like Comment Mohammed Arabey 709 reviews 6,089 followers November 11, 2017 إكتب يا أدســو، إكـتب، فمن يكتب لـن يموت أبدا فقد يأتي يوما ما أحدهم ليقلده ويزيد عليه بعضا من غوايات عزازيله الفاسقة ومذكرات أدسو في "أســم الــوردة" ورحلته مع الراهب غوليالمو ذو الماضي المعقد بذلك الدير الرهيب هي عملا مزخما مليئا بالتفاصيل ,وبالرغم من أن الأحداث في القرن الرابع عشر، الا انك ستشعر بصداها في زمننا رغم من قدمها قدم الزمان ويجب أن اعترف أنها لم تكن قراءة سهلة بالنسبة لي , ولكني سأقارنها لكم بقراءاتي المعتادة السهلة لأني فعلا لا اعرف كيف أكتب مراجعة عنها أســم الــوردة 1980 VS عــزازيـل 2008 Hypatia 1853 وبالمرة هيباتيا الثلاث روايات تروي حكاية راهب صغير السن يتعرض اثناء رحلته في الرواية بين أديرة مختلفة للتصادم البشع بين رجال الدين والفلسفة والعلم ذلك التصادم الذي كان في اوقات ما يؤدي للقتل سواء علنا أو حتي في السر بالمؤامرات وبينما كان تشارلز كينسلي القس الانجليزي المعتدل والمؤرخ والروائي قدم في 1853 رواية راهب صغير في القرن الخامس , في عصر تحول الامبراطور الروماني للمسيحية بينما مازال بعض رجال الامبراطورية والدين نفسهم لديهم تلك العصبية والوحشية الوثنية القديمة ويتجلي الصراع في الأصطدام الوحشي بين الدين والعلم والفلسفة متمثلا في الفيلسوفة هيباتيا والذي انتهي نهاية مأساوية علي أرض الأسكندرية بسيل من الدماء وتأتي في 2008 رواية مماثلة لها في كثير من الأحداث - مع بعض الزيادات الغوائية الغرائزية وتشكيك في الدين المسيحي نفسه بمواقف كثيرة مستندا لرواية أخري سنذكرها لاحقا- وهي للباحث الشهير يوسف زيدان ولكن جاء مدخل الرواية باسلوب منقولا نقلا بتصرف بسيط من أمبرتو أيكو أسم الوردة ولكن علي جانب أخر قدم أمبرتو أيكو روايته في القرن الرابع عشر واصطدام أخر , بل عدة اصطدامات ولكن هذه المره بين رجال الدين بعضهم البعض حيث يحكي أدسو الذي يكتب تلك القصة في احد الاديرة في اخر ايامه حكايته ورحلته وهو شاب مع الراهب والمحقق السابق غواليالمو ,ويشهد صراع طائفتين هما الفرانشيسكيين والبندكيتين -او ايا من المسميات الأخري للطائفتين المتعددة والتي ستجعل قراءة التفاصيل بالرواية امرا مرهقا بحق ولكي أسهل لكم الموضوع كما فهمت أن الفرانشسكانين ينادون بفقر وتواضع رجال الدين والكنيسة أسوة بمبدأ أن المسيح عليه السلام لم يمتلك شيئا دنيويا...وهو أمر بالطبع وافق عليه جدا رجل الحكم , الأمبراطور في ذلك الوقت فبهذا المبدأ بالتأكيد سيجعل الشعب يرضي بالفقر علي جانب أخر البندكيتين يرون ان الكنيسة يجب ان تتحكم بالمال والعشور والثروات و و و و, ثم توزع علي الفقراء بمعرفتها وبالطبع البابا وقتها "صاحب صكوك الغفران" كان مع هذا المبدأ ولاينتوي بالطبع التخلي عنه وعن ثروات الكنيسة.. حتي لو تكلف هذا من الدماء أنهارا فظهر جانب من الفرانشسكيين ينادي بالعنف ايضا, كان من بدأه دولتشينو واتباعه, الا ان البوهيميه التي كانت تميز اتباعه بالطبع لم تكن مقبولة في الدين..وللاسف ادي ذلك لمزيد من الدماء وكل ذلك وفقر الشعب "زي ما هو"..الشعب غارق في الفقر ورجال الدين والحكم في صراعاتهم ****************************** الجنس في الثلاث روايات امرا لايمكن تجنبه فالبطل في كلا منهم راهب صغير السن...في ريعان شبابه..الامر محتم اذا تصادف وجود مغريات لم اطلع علي هايباتا بتفصيل ولكن عزازيل كانت من الأغزر في التفاصيل الجنسية وبخلاعة وتقريبا ببذاءة زائدة عن اللزوم -وبدون هدف سوي ان الراهب في روايته مهتاج جنسيا طوال الوقت منذ طفولته ومشاهدة للحمام وتزاوجه!!!- بينما الأمر مختلف تماما في أسم الوردة المحاور: لماذا كان آدسو في رواية اسم الوردة ينشد ” نشيد الإنشاد حينما كان يمارس الحب مع الفتاة الفلاحة؟ Song of the Songs إيكو: كان ذلك من أجل متعة التلاعب بالأساليب الأدبية، لأنني لم أكن مهتمًا كثيرًا بفعل الجنس بحد ذاته في المشهد، بقدر ما كنت مهتمًا بوصف كيف لراهب شاب أن يختبر تجربة الجنس من خلال تعليمه الديني. فصنعت تركيبة مما لا يقل عن خمسين نصًا من النصوص الروحانية القديمة فيها وصف للذّة النشوة، وأضفت عليها بعض الآيات من سِفْر نشيد الإنشاد (أحد أسفار العهد القديم في الكتاب المقدس) . ففي الصفحتين اللتين خصصتهما لوصف مشهد الحب، بالكاد توجد كلمة واحدة من ابتكاري. شخصية آدسو لا يمكنها فهم ممارسة الحب إلا عبر ثقافتها التي تعرفها. بإمكانك أخذ هذا كمثال لمفهوم الأسلوب الأدبي، كما أعرّفه. احم احم, لا اجد ما اعلق به بعد ذلك,سوي ان في عزازيل كما قلت في الريفيو كان الراهب يصف كأنه ينشد انشودة "حط ايده ياه" للفنانة بوسي سئل إيكو في ��وار لأنه لم يأتي علي وصف مشهد جنس إلا مرتين فقط في روايتين هما باودولينو و اسم الوردة فهل للجنس الادبي ليس له أهمية عندك ؟ قال: لاني أحب أن أمارس الجنس علي أن أكتب عنه يبدو ان الحرمان له اثر بالغ في روائيينا العرب شكرا للصديق باسم "نايت بيرد" من الجودريدز لأمدادي بذلك الحوار لأمبرتو أيكو ولكن قدم امبرتو ايكو ايضا بجانب ذلك الصراع بين الطائفتين امرا اخر وصراع من نوع مختلف صراع لم يتخيل الراهب غواليالمو انه سيقابله, فظن انه جاء للمفاوضات بين الطائفتين فحسب.. الا انه اصطدم بتعنت بعض رجال الدين بخصوص العلم والفلسفة ...مما أدي لدماء اخري بالرواية , ولكن في اطار لغز غريب غامض ,وهذا ما لم يكن في الروايتين السابقتين مما يحولنا للمقارنة الثانية أسم الوردة 1980 VS The Da Vici Code شفيرة دافنشي 2003 قدم دان براون في 2003 روايته المعاصرة حول لغز قديم قدم الميلاد..حول سر ما يخفيه رجال الدين منذ الحملة الصليبية, سر يعود لحياة السيد المسيح عليه السلام ونشأة الدين المسيحي وذلك الحدث المهم في القرن الرابع الميلادي عندما تم تعميد الأمبراطور الروماني للمسيحية ذلك السر المجهول الذي يحتوي علي تكهنات بني عليه دان براون ��بكة روايته "شفرة دافنشي" في اطار جماعة دينية معاصرة تحافظ علي ذلك السر حتي وقتنا هذا, وفي حمايتهم لهذا السر يتعرض اعضاءها لحوادث أغتيال رهيبة واحدا تلو الأخر سر دافنشي لدان براون كان يحميه رمز الوردة كذلك كان يحمي سر جرائم القتل بالدير رمز الوردة, ولكن علي هيئة مكتبة متاهية , أو متاهة مكتبية وربما هذا كان من اكثر عوامل الجذب في تلك الرواية بالنسبة لي, ذلك اللغز الغريب الذي يحيط بمصرع كل من يحاول الوصول الي كتاب او مخطوطة معينة بالمكتبة التي تفوق الحراسة عليها حراسة حجرة ثروات وكنوز الكنيسة ولكن السر الذي بسببه كانت الدماء تراق في شفرة دافنشي كان مختلفا,مبني علي بعض امور الدين المسيحي نفسه والتي اقتبس بعدها يوسف زيدان الكثير منها في عزازيله بينما سر القتل الغامض بالدير في اسم الوردة لا يقترب لهذه الأمور بل امرا اخر وحتي اسلوب القتل يجعلني اقارن المقارنة الثالثة أسم الوردة 1980 VS Angels and Demons ملائكة وشياطين 2000 يبدو أن العبقري المبدع حقا دان براون كان متأثرا ولو بنسبة ضئيلة ليقوم في روايته بجعل البطل يحاول حل لغز مقتل رجال دين قبل مقتل المزيد منهم والواضح ان هناك نمط ما يحدث به تلك عمليات القتل والتي تنتهي بحل الغز رهيب واذا كنت اعتبر ان دان براون فعلا قدم في تلك الرواية نموذج مثيرا بحق "ومختلفا بالطبع" عن الجرائم التي حدثت في دير امبرتو ايكو والتي كانت الجرئم ايضا تتبع نمط لنبؤة نهاية العالم..الا انك عندما تنتهي من قراءة الروايتين ستجد ان الهدف كان واحدا تعنت بعض رجال الدين من العلم..والذي قد يؤدي لتسلط وتعصب ودماء..كل ذلك لمنع المعرفة..كل ذلك لقمع الأرادة الحرة للانسان في طلب العلم والذي منحه له الله ولكن بعض رجال الدين لا يعتقدون سوي في سلطتهم ******************************************** أخيرا , هو قد يكون عملا مزخما بالمعلومات والتفاصيل الا انها معرفة لا بأس بها بذلك الوقت, أخطاء تصدر من رجال الدين في كل عصر تسئ للدين ويعتقد رجال الدين انها تحميه فلسفة وجريمة ترتكب بأسم الدين..وتقسيمات غبية هدفها السلطة والمال فحسب ..وليس الدين للاسف عملا ذكيا مرهقا بحق بل وبه اثارة وغموض لكن للأسف أفسد لي بقوة المترجم اللغز والغموض بكشفه في المقدمة الخاصة بالمترجم والتي انصح من يقرأ الرواية ان يتخطها تماما فلا اهمية ولا طائل منها ايضا لا تشتري طبعة القطع الصغير, فالفواصل بين الجمل يجعل الترجمة اكثر صعوبه وارهاقا وبالرغم من ان الرواية كانت نحسا بالنسبة لي "راجع الريفيو المبدئي في اخر الصفحة" الا ان اثارني التطويل في جزء الكتب الفلسفية والعلمية وكتب الأعشاب والكتب التي كتبها علماء العرب وقت مجدهم "عندما كانوا يلقبونا بالكفار!!" وغيرها وايضا بالأخص المنمات عن الحيوانات الخيالية والتي فتحت خيالي لعشق كتابي المفضل او بالأحري عالمي المفضل ...عالم جي كي رولينج وهوجوراتس بالأخص عندما وصل لجزء وصف الكائنات الخرافية سواء بكتب الكنيسة او بجداريتها الرهيبة القناطير ووحيد القرن وحوريات البحر وغيرها ذكرني بكتاب جي كي رولينج الصغير "الوحوش العجيبة واين تجدها" والتي سيتحول لفيلما قريبا من الأخر, يبدو انه ليس قراءة مختلفة كثيرا عن قرائتي, بل هو كتاب الهم بشكل مباشر او غير مباشر كثير من المؤلفين بعده ولكنه يظل قراءة مرهقة..وان كنت شايف انه مش كتاب نحس اوي زي ماقلت في الريفيو المبدئي : --------------الريفيو المبدئي------------ أزاي تعرف أن الرواية نحس؟ - عينيك توجعك وتقفل لاول مره من 20 سنه في صباح يوم ماحتبدأ فيها - المترجم العبقري يقولك مفتاح لغز الروايه -تقريبا اللي هو الحاجه الوحيدة اللي كانت ممكن تخليك تكملها" في المقدمة , لأ وكمان بخط عريض وتقيل في تاني صفحة -متلاقيش مكان في 2 من الاماكن المفضلة اللي بتقرأ فيها بسبب ماتش منتخب مصر في تصفيات افريقيا , ولما تقعد بره الكافية في مكان مش بتحبه تلاقي دوشه غير طبيعية لان منتخب مصر أول مره يكسب من بعد الثورة -تاني يوم بالرغم من العلاج عينيك تلتهب وتقفل اكتر -استاذتنا دينا نبيل "احد مؤسسي الجودريدز النذل", اللي بالرغم من انها تفضل الروايات الأكثر عمقا بكثير من قرائتي عاما تقول ان الرواية دي مش أد كده "الريفيو في مدونتها رفايع -الملل ..الاسماء.. أغرب لغة عربية وأعرب اسلوب ترجمة وأغرب أسماء شفتها في حياتي -حتي استاذ أبراهيم عادل صاحب الاختيارات "الثقيلة" في الروايات هنا في الجودريز لم -واعلن انه لن- يكملها حتكملها؟ للأسف, من مبدأ اتعلمته وانا صغير اوي من امي "لو مكملتش طبق الرز بالبسلة بتاعك حيجري وراك يوم القيامة" من يوميها مش ببدأ في حاجه الا لما اخلصها, حتي لو مش بحب بفضل البسلة وللاسف فتحت الكتاب وبدأت اوله وبعدين عيب اكتب ريفيو رواية مش حقرأها ولا ايه؟ -بس ربنا يستر علي عيني بكرة محمد العربي في 11 اكتوبر 2014 اقرأ ريفيو الرفيقة دينا نبيل احسن http://suchasmallaffairs.blogspot.com... --------------------- محمد العربي من 10 اكتوبر 2014 الي 18 اكتوبر 2014 240 likes Like Comment Brian 741 reviews 402 followers March 12, 2019 “The Name of the Rose” is a horribly pretentious, pedantic, verbose “novel”. And it stinks too! Under the guise of a medieval mystery Umberto Eco has written a diatribe on philosophical ideas (and not presented all of them accurately) in order to impress upon the reader how very smart he is indeed. Characterization, moments of human reality & truth, and most importantly accessibility to the reader are clearly repulsive ideas to Mr. Eco. I can sum up the book, which takes place at a monastery in northern Italy in 1327 thus: -Monks have crazy visions, lots of them and their visions don’t advance the plot one iota. -Umberto Eco knew Latin, and he wants you to be damn sure to know it. -The narrator has a vison in which Eco shows off that he knows Bible stories, lots of them, and can throw them into a blender to create some post-apocalyptic nonsense, again to no point in the story. My mommy read Bible stories to me too. I get the references Eco was making. I imagine that would disappoint him. He clearly hates novels that actually involve the reader. -Eco is actually a very bad version of Dan Brown. Read that sentence again. Yep I said it. The text’s great dénouement is straight out of one of Brown’s novels with the same obvious villain/ religious fanatic that the reader can see coming a mile away. Mr. Brown can’t write, but he is a good storyteller. Eco can’t write (and editing is out of his frame of reference) AND he is a horrid storyteller. -The arrogant and meandering “Postscript” written by the author (he takes 40 pages to explain to you how great he and his book are) is truly terrible. It will make you detest the writer. As if you will need help after finishing this torture. Did no one ever tell this guy to shut up? Throughout these 40 pages he contradicts himself, and talks down to the reader too many times to count. Really my biggest frustration with “The Name of the Rose” is that it infrequently presents an interesting idea which if followed up would have made for intriguing reading. Among them, the idea of “books speaking among themselves” and some thoughts on the nature of learning that had much potential. There are nuggets throughout the text that if taken out of context are quite insightful and worthy of thought. But then Eco’s ego gets the better of him and he pontificates and belabors each point he makes. Every time he presents an idea (philosophical, educational, religious or other) he makes the point in 2-3 pages and then goes on to lecture the reader for another 10-20 pages on the same point redundantly. If those redundancies alone had been cut the text would have been 300 pages and significantly less bad. A member of my book club picked this text, and the way the meeting for this book went clearly demonstrates its flaws. It was not a discussion and an exchange of ideas, but a lecture. When you have a group of educated people and 1 or 2 has to tell the rest of them how valuable a text is…well…I think that says it all right there. Ironically Eco writes in the book “Without an eye to read them, a book contains signs that produce no concepts, therefore it is dumb.” Unless you are a book by Mr. Eco of course, then if people don’t read your work because it does not speak to them they are the fools. There are quite a few fans of this text who may believe that whopper. I for one am not biting. fiction 236 likes 6 comments Like Comment Pakinam Mahmoud 922 reviews 4,220 followers February 8, 2024 إذا شعرت، وأنت تقلب الصفحة الأخيرة في الكتاب الذي تقرأه أنك فقدت صديقاً عزيزاً، فأعلم أنك قد قرأت كتاباً رائعاً... اسم الوردة..مش بس كان صديق غالي جداً لمدة خمس أيام و لكن علمني من أول و جديد يعني إيه متعة القراءة.. الرواية صعبة ومرهقة جداً.. حتخليك تقرأ الصفحة بدل المرة إتنين وتلاتة..حتخليك تسأل..حتخليك تدور..حتخليك تفكر..ودة في حد ذاته متعة وتحقيق لنوع مختلف من الرغبات زي ما قال إيكو عنها الا وهي رغبة الفكر أو شهوة المعرفة.. الأحداث باختصار بتدور في القرن الرابع عشر في دير في شمال إيطاليا وبتبدأ بوصول الراهب الفرنسيسكاني غوليالمو مندوب الامبراطور لودوفيك لحضور إجتماع مع مندوبي البابا من أجل وضع حد للخلاف اللي بينهم لاختلافهم في تأويل الانجيل وبالتحديد في موضوع فقر المسيح.. رئيس الدير بيستغل وصول غوليالمو لانه كان محقق سابق عشان يساعده في محاولة كشف غموض العديد من جرائم القتل اللي حصلت في الدير ..اللي حنعرف إنها كلها كانت بسبب كتاب! طيب هي ليه رواية عبقرية؟ الرواية فيها جانب تاريخي بيتكلم عن الصراعات بين الطوائف الدينية المختلفة في العصور الوسطي وفي رأيي الجزء ده أصعب جزء في الرواية عشان مليان أحداث وأسماء كتير ومرهق أوي لأي قارئ...بيتداخل معاه بقي جزء فلسفي ممتع جداً في الاحاديث اللي بتدور بين غوليالمو و التلميذ بتاعه.. و أخيراً الجزء البوليسي ومحاولة حل لغز جرائم القتل.. طريقة إيكو في ربط الاجزاء كلها وجعلهم مرتبطين ومكملين لبعض في آخر الرواية بيبين قد ايه الرجل دة عبقري.. هل بس دة السبب اللي خلاها رواية عبقرية؟ لا طبعاً و زي ما قال إيكو لا يجب أن نتسائل أمام كتاب ماذا يقول ولكن ماذا يريد أن يقول، الكتب لم توضع كي نؤمن بما تقوله ولكن كي نتحري فيها.. وهو دة اللي إيكو عاوز يقوله..إننا نقرأ كل حاجة ونفكر ونعرف إن مفيش حقيقة لا يعتريها الشك.. بس هل يا تري في سقف للمعرفة؟هل تستطيع التبليغ بعلمك أو حتي برأيك ؟هل الاخرين حيسمحوا لك بذلك؟ هل كل واحد ليه قناعات ومش حيغيرها؟هل اللي في إيده سلطة سواء سلطة دينية أو غيره من حقه انه يحجر علي فكر الناس؟هل إتهام الناس بالهرطقة وحرقهم اللي كان بيحصل زمان ،مش بيحصل برده دلوقتي في عالمنا الحديث بصورة أو بأخري؟ أسئلة لا تنتهي حتسألها لنفسك طول ما أنت بتقرأ... و أخيراً مهما إتكلمت عن الرواية مش حعرف أديها حقها.. تستاهل كل دقيقة ،تستاهل كل التعب والمجهود ويكفيني فخراً لو حد سألني ايه إنجازتك في القراءة حقوله :يا عم وسع من هنا..أنا قريت اسم الوردة:)) 222 likes 1 comment Like Comment Lawyer 384 reviews 916 followers December 17, 2013 "The Name of the Rose" is not a book to be picked up lightly with the expectation that you, the reader, are about to embark on a traditional work of historical fiction. Umberto Eco expects much from the reader of this book. Almost immediately the unsuspecting reader will find himself dropped into the midst of the High Middle Ages, a society completely foreign for the majority of modern readers. In historical context, the story occurs during the time the Papacy had moved from its traditional location in Italy to Avignon. John XXII is a Pope brought to the head of the Holy Roman Church by the King of France. John is not the first Pope to leave the Church's Italian home. However, it is 1327, and great dissatisfaction pervades Europe that a French King should have political influence over the Church. Traditionally, following the division of the Roman Empire between West and East, the secular protection of the Church had fallen to the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, a title held by members of the royal families of Germany. In that year, Louis IV would declare himself the King of Italy and in 1328 he would crown himself the next Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Louis' entrance into Italy was inevitable, as King Phillip of France had encouraged an alliance with the "French" Pope through his connection with the King of Naples. Louis' sympathies, or perhaps his political acumen, led him to support the Franciscan Order, committed to the life of poverty. This was in direct contradiction to the Papal Bulls issued by John XXII, who saw the Franciscan Orders as a disruptive force among the common people. Off shoots of the Fransiscan's, particularly the Psuedo-Apostles, led by Fra Dolcino, had led to absolute chaos in Italy. Dolcino's common followers attacked the wealthy to bring about a universal state of poverty. There should be no rich. There should be no poor. The ultimate goal of Dolcino was to abolish the need of the Church and place it under the authority of the people. Under this theory, there was no need for Popes, Cardinals, Bishops, or ecclesiastical offices of any type. William of Baskerville's purpose in going to the Abbey of Melko is as an emissary of the Imperial Theologians to negotiate a meeting between legations appointed by the Pope and Louis to resolve the conflict between the Papacy, the Minorite or Franciscan orders, and Louis. What is at stake is a reinterpretation between Church and State. That the underlying issue concerns who will wield true power in Europe is obvious. However, William's true mission is delayed. For, upon his arrival, he discovers that a young Illuminator in the Abbey's Scriptorium has met an untimely death. Was it murder or suicide? The death of a second monk, clearly indicates that someone in the closed society of the Abbey of Melk is a murderer. Accompanied by his scribe, Adso, William sets out to investigate the deaths of the two monks. The mystery only deepens as more deaths occur. The circumstances seem to follow the sounding of the trumpets as revealed in the Revelation of John. Eco continues to complicate the facts of William's case by revealing that the Abbey contains one of the finest libraries known in the contemporary world. Interestingly, no one but the Librarian, his assistant, or someone with the permission of the Abbot himself can gain entry to the library, which is protected by a labyrinth seemingly incapable of being navigated. William of Baskerville is the equivalent of a Medieval Sherlock Holmes. Adso, whose French name happens to be Adson, conveniently rhyming with Watson. William is a man committed to logic. He is a student of Roger Bacon. He is a contemporary of William of Occam. It should come as no surprise that he is capable of the art of deduction through that logic, nor that he should be in possession of a pair of optical lenses, serving him as eyeglasses enabling him to read the tiny writing of a murdered monk, barely perceptible to the naked eye. The monk's almost invisible writing lead William and Adso to discover the secrets of the labyrinth and to search for a book that seems to hold the motive for the accumulating bodies, day by day. The Abbot pointedly tells William that the matter of these deaths must be resolved prior to the arrival of the two legations. The Papal legation is headed by Bernard of Gui, an infamous inquisitor who has burned many a heretic in his long history as a defender of the faith. Surely Bernard will take over the question of the deaths at the Abbey and use them to strengthen the Pope's position that the Franciscan's philosophy of the poverty of Christ be eliminated by the Pope. William and Adso's exploration of the labyrinth to discover a missing book, the seeming motive for the murders, intensify. And they succeed in discovering their way through the labyrinth. However, they are unsuccessful in unraveling an endless thread of textual clues leading from one manuscript to the next prior to the arrival of the two opposed legations. As feared, the discovery of yet another body, the herbalist Severinus, leads Bernard Gui to take over the inquisition to root out the evil present in the abbey. Bernard is ruthless. Torture is an accepted practice to disclose the works of the devil. As expected, Bernard announces he intends to inform the Pope that the Franciscan orders of Poverty should be prohibited. Nevertheless, William and Adso will solve the mystery of the labyrinth, the secret manuscript it contains, and the identity of the murderer. In keeping with my practice not to reveal any spoilers of plot, I will not address the identity of the murderer, nor the motive for the crimes. But, I will say this. "The Name of the Rose" is a labyrinth complete within itself. While a labyrinth may contain a solution, and one may escape its twists and turns, it is not always possible to end up with an answer that leaves no ambiguity. There is more than one labyrinth present in Eco's wonderful work. One question relates to the interpretation of knowledge itself. Is knowledge finite? Are there universal truths? Or is it a matter of what appears to be the truth only subject to interpretation by individuals? To the librarians of the Abbey Melko, knowledge was something to be protected from disclosure. As I mentioned to one friend, the library took on the connotation of Eden's Tree of Life, from which man and woman were forbidden to eat. It was knowledge gained from eating the forbidden fruit that led to the loss of innocence. Considering that the library contained many works considered by the librarians to be the work of infidels, it would be their purpose to hide those works from the innocent. Yet, the mere possession of that knowledge also led to its misinterpretation and the accusation of heresy. Clearly, during the heated debate between the Papal and Imperial Legations, knowledge did not exist independent of the thinker's perception. One postulation of a particular theological theorem was subject to debate on the most minute detail out of political motivation. But, Adso may well have had the most significant statement to make regarding books and their contents. It will be one of my favorite passages: "Until then I had thought each book spoke of the things, human or divine, that lie outside books. Now I realized that not infrequently books speak of books: it is as if they spoke among themselves. In the light of this reflection, the library seemed all the more disturbing to me. It was then the place of long, centuries-old murmuring, an imperceptible dialogue between one parchment and another, a living thing, a receptacle of powers not to ruled by a human mind, a treasure of secrets emanated by many minds, surviving the death of those who had produced them or had been their conveyors.” Even William was subject to hearing words so familiar, he knew he had read them before, but could not remember the name of the book. “It seemed to me, as I read this page, that I had read some of these words before, and some phrases that are almost the same, which I have seen elsewhere, return to my mind?” Books find themselves the creator of other books,when they become so deeply planted in our subconscious. A famous contemporary example is found in Nabokov's "Lolita." Nabokov's character first appeared in a short story "Lolita," written in 1916 by Heinz von Eschwege. The story lines are quite similar. Nabokov has been said to have created artistic improprieties, or been subject to a phenomenon known as "cryptomnesia," a hidden memory of a story he had once read. Michael Marr, author of "The Two Lolitas," wrote, "Literature has always been a huge crucible in which familiar themes are continually recast..." Perhaps James Baldwin said it best. "It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, or who had ever been alive." As "The Name of the Rose" contains a multitude of Latin phrases, I think it fitting to add one more, not included in the book itself. That is "sub rosa." The concept first appears in Egyptian culture. The rose was the symbol of the Egyptian God Horus, most often represented by a child holding his finger to his mouth as if he were saying, "Shhhh." It became symbolic of silence. It reappears in Greek and Roman mythology. Venus/Aphrodite gave a rose to Cupid which served as a symbol of silence regarding her many indiscretions in love. By the Middle Ages, the rose had a definite meaning. In those times, when a party of individuals met in a council hall, a rose was hung over the table. Whatever was discussed "under the rose" was secret and all parties meeting under the rose agreed that the subject of their discussions was confidential. Much lies under the surface of this novel. It was deemed by the characters to be secret. And so, I believe Eco would have us treat this novel in modo sub rosa, leaving each reader to discover its secrets in their own manner. The further one delves, the more secrets remain to be discovered. 14th-century books books-about-books ...more 206 likes Like Comment Luís 2,097 reviews 885 followers May 29, 2023 We more readily remember the film than the book, and today I admit that the two mix, but I enjoyed both so much! Eco's writing is erudite and detailed but still pleasant to read; the delicacy of the descriptions (architecture, characters, books) is an absolute pleasure. We are in an absolute thriller with suspense, intrigues, and an investigator as fine as mysterious, a closed, scary world! e-5 historical-fiction italian-literature ...more 186 likes Like Comment Andy Marr Author 3 books 980 followers November 7, 2022 By page 30, I was all ready to name the rose Barry and be done with it, but for some reason I pushed on through to the end. This is less a novel than a smug and rambling treatise by a self-worshipping author desperate to show the world how clever he is. Utter garbage, but two stars because it was still much better than Shantaram . 170 likes Like Comment Jason Pettus Author 12 books 1,362 followers March 11, 2008 (Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted here illegally.) The CCLaP 100: In which I read a hundred so-called "classics" and then write reports on whether or not I think they deserve the label Book #7: The Name of the Rose, by Umberto Eco The story in a nutshell: In one of the more fascinating stories of how a novelist was first drawn to his profession, scholar Umberto Eco was actually an Italian history professor and Medieval expert for years before ever turning to creative writing; according to legend, it was his thrilling and exacting retelling of actual Dark Age stories that inspired his friends to keep urging him to write a novel based in those times, which he finally did in the late 1970s. As such, then, The Name of the Rose is a bizarre amalgam that you scarcely ever find in contemporary literature -- a genre actioner (murder mystery) with a lot of melodramatic elements at its core, but at the same time a detailed historical look at actual 1300s Europe, with a big part of the reason to read this book being so that one can be exposed to the meticulous detail of Eco's prose on the subject, from the period's clothing and architecture to its religious structures and philosophies. But on top of this, turns out that Eco is a postmodernist and accomplished semiotics expert as well, turning the book not just into a potboiler mystery and historical novel but indeed an entire thesis on the nature of language itself, on the meaning behind symbols, and on why human behavior repeats itself so often no matter which age you study, and no matter what the rationale behind such behavior during any given age. Plotwise it's the story of a Franciscan monk named William of Baskerville, which is just the start of the sly references to Sherlock Holmes Eco deliberately inserts; turns out that William is also British, a champion of logic and deductive reasoning, and even has a clueless teenage assistant named Adso who stands in symbolically for the equally clueless audience. William is in Italy, helping a fellow monk investigate a mysterious death in the fortified abbey where the man leads; turns out, in fact, that this is one of the largest and most renowned of all the Christian Dark-Age monastery libraries, attracting an international team of egghead monks and a scholarly atmosphere more akin to modern universities. Both the novel and the investigation take place over seven days at this fortress/abbey, where William and Adso spend their time gathering clues, pontificating on all kinds of subjects that intellectuals in the 1300s pontificated on, and examining in detail such historical details as the church's then-ongoing debate over whether it's better to be rich or poor, as well as why the Benedictine monks and the Franciscan ones hated each other so intensely back then in the first place. This being a murder mystery, of course, the actual plot is something best left for the reader to discover on their own, although I'll warn you that the actual "whodunit" part isn't very suspenseful; as mentioned above, the real point of this being a murder mystery is for Eco to show just how similarly humans behaved back then as we do now, even as the times themselves inspire completely different motivations and excuses. (So in other words, a lot less "I love my baby's mamma" in the 1300s, a lot more "The devil made me do it.") The argument for it being a classic: Fans of this novel (and there are a whole lot of them; it's hard to dislike this book, frankly) argue that this book deserves the "classic" label more quickly than a lot of other contemporary novels do (after all, the book's only 27 years old at this point), precisely because it deals with issues from an age of classics; so in other words, because it's set in Medieval times, is written in Dark Age vernacular and includes historical details worthily accurate of the respected academe Eco is, fans claim that of course The Name of the Rose will eventually be a classic, such a foregone conclusion that we might as well declare it one now. Ah, but there's also a much stronger argument for this being considered a classic right now; as mentioned, many of those who study the esoteric academic field of semiotics claim that the novel is a perfect example of what they do, explained in layman's terms so that non-academes can finally get it. As such, then, these people claim that The Name of the Rose is not just an exciting DaVinci-Code -style historical thriller, but also a densely layered examination of stories about stories about stories, of symbols about symbols about symbols, of the meaning behind meaning behind meaning. Yeah, see what they mean when they say that semiotics is a hard thing to explain to the general public? The argument against: The main argument against this being a classic seems to be one brought up a lot with well-written yet contemporary books ("contemporary" in this case being any less than half a century old) -- that the book is simply too new to be able to reasonably judge whether it should rightly be called a timeless classic, one of those fabled "books you should read before you die." For just one example, when The Name of the Rose first came out in 1980, it was the first time anyone had ever tried setting a rational Holmesian-style mystery story within a Medieval monastery; in the years since, we've had all kinds of projects on the subject, including a popular weekly BBC/Masterpiece series. It's a great book, even its critics are quick to point out, even if somewhat on the dry side at points (ugh, all those debates about papal decrees); but who's to say if anyone's going to even remember this novel a hundred years from now, or the notoriously spotty career Eco has since had as a novelist. (Don't forget, Eco is mostly a scholar and historian; although considered a rockstar in the academic world, his reputation as a writer of fiction is much more contentious.) My verdict: So let's make it clear right off the bat -- that from a pure entertainment standpoint, The Name of the Rose is one of the most delightful novels I've read in years, years . It's funny, it's smart, it's insightful, it's thrilling, it's nerdy; Cheese And Rice, it's everything a lover of books could possibly ever want from a well-done one. But is it a classic? Well, unfortunately, I think I'm going to have to agree with the critics on this one; that although it could very well become a classic one day, one of those Catcher in the Rye style "one-hit wonders" that populate so many lists, I think it's simply too early to make such a call either in a positive or negative way, especially considering Eco's otherwise spotty career as a novelist. That's part of the point of "classics" lists existing, after all, and why those who care about such lists take them so seriously; because ultimately such a designation should reflect not only how good a book itself is, but how well it's stood the test of time, of how relevant it's continued to be to generation after generation, of how timeless the author's style and word-choice. One always has to be careful when adding newish books to such lists, especially novels less than 30 years old, because we have no idea at this point how such books are going to stand the test of time; load up your classics list with such titles, and your list suddenly becomes worthless fluff, as relevant and important as a whole evening of handing out freakin' Quill Awards. It's for this reason that I'm excluding The Name of the Rose from my own personal Canon, although still highly encourage all of you to actually read it, just from the standpoint of pure enjoyment. Is it a classic? Not yet 166 likes Like Comment Tim 2 reviews 10 followers April 21, 2008 If I had to spend a year on a desert island and was only allowed to take one book, this would be it. At the time of its publication, one reviewer described `The Name of the Rose' as "a book about everything". At first glance, it may seem to be a book largely about obscure Fourteenth Century religious controversies, heresies and sects, with a murder mystery mixed in. But this is a book that rewards repeat readings (I've just finished it for the seventh time), and the heart of the novel is in its exposition of semiotics - the world as a blizzard of signs and life and thought as their constant interpretation. Just as Brother William of Baskerville guides the naïve Adso through the world of the monastery and the wider world of knowledge and reason, so Eco guides the reader through a story where few things are what they seem and everything can be read several ways. Even the `obscure Fourteenth Century sects', which many readers find bewildering, dull or both, represent far more than they seem at first glance. The long controversy over the poverty of Christ and its application in the medieval Church forms the focus for a wide-ranging analysis of how ideals can motivate and inspire different people in different ways. In this novel we find skeptics (like William), mystical non-conformists (like Umbertino de Casale), terrorists and revolutionaries (like the Dolcinite heretics) and rigid fundamentalists (like Jorge and Bernard Gui). At the time of its first publication, the parallels between the book's religious politics and modern manifestations of the same ways of thinking, including Cold War political expediency and terrorists like the Red Brigades, would have been obvious to Italian readers. These days, in the wake of 9/11 and the Iraq War, Eco's analysis has not lost any of its resonance. Some warnings for new readers - if you think (the truly appalling) `The Da Vinci Code' was "masterful writing", you probably want to save yourself time and effort and read something else. It's not as daunting as many make out, but "Rose" is far from a light read. Eco also deliberately made the first 100 pages a difficult read, but stick with it. All those obscure politics and odd names do make some sense after a while. Secondly, many reviewers have complained about the untranslated Latin passages. Despite what some of them have said, these are rarely more than a line or two and usually short lines at that. Medievalists will recognise most of them anyway (they are quotes from the Vulgate, Occam and Aquinas and so on, and usually famous ones), but non-specialists will usually get the essence of them from their contexts. In almost all cases they are roughly translated or paraphrased in the dialogue that precedes or follows them anyway, so they aren't actually `untranslated' at all - they just look that way. Thirdly, people who approach this novel merely as a medieval whodunit a la the Brother Caedfel mysteries are likely to find `Rose' a strain. While the mystery story forms the basis of the plot, there is a lot more to this novel than plot. Some have said they found the mystery clichéd and derivative of other mysteries. Ummm ... yes - Eco is a postmodernist. It's *meant* to be derivative. The real joy of this novel is its layers of meaning, which is why it's one that can be read and re-read with new discoveries every time. It's a delight to read and great exercise for the mind and spirit, as well as a counter to those who think the Middle Ages was simply a period of superstition and ignorance. Far from being an anachronism or a prefigurement of more `enlightened' times, William of Baskerville represents the medieval voices of reason, innovation and logic that are ignored by most popular representations of this badly misunderstood period. A must read - but with your brain well and truly in high gear. 162 likes Like Comment Piyangie 542 reviews 622 followers April 19, 2024 I was attracted to The Name of the Rose some years ago when I learned that its story is centered on a medieval mystery set in an Italian Abbey. Now, I'm quite a fan of the mystery genre and I love history. Hence it went onto my "to read" pile. But it was there for quite some time, almost forgotten. But two years back, I visited the Melk Abbey, and I had a vague recollection that I've got a book in my collection that had some reference to the Abbey. Back at home, a quick search made me realize that it was The Name of the Rose . And what with my interest in history, mystery genre, and my visit to Melk Abbey, the book naturally gained priority in my reading order. That is the history. Now I'll come to my reading experience. The Name of the Rose is by no means an easy book to read. It is heavy with medieval history and religious calamities of the time. The mystery, although cleverly written, felt more like an average mystery because its plot was so disturbed by historical and religious details that poured abundantly from Eco's pen. At first, it was difficult for me to get into the book. I felt the plot to be treading uncertainly, groping in the darkness to find its true path. Yet, though the plot suffered, I was drawn to the book as if by some magic. Eco's rich prose, through which he brings us a forgotten historical account of medieval time, recompensed enough to engage my attention. If I admired a book while still being exasperated to no end, I can easily say that The Name of the Rose falls within the category. The plot of the book revolves around a series of murders that take place in a wealthy Franciscan abbey in Italy and one Franciscan friar's attempt at finding the criminal. The story sounds pretty interesting when summed up like that, but unfortunately, the historical and religious details make inroads into the plot and impede its smooth continuity. As a result, the story feels disjointed and incoherent. However, Eco throws in an interesting and diverse character set that, no matter what flaws founded in the plot, the story was felt alive and moving. Eco's rich prose and humour at times when you least expect it added much to the enjoyment. Honestly, it was the history, the setting, the characters, and Eco's writing that helped me sail through it. Rating the book was quite a chore. So, I finally decided to break the story into sections and to rate it accordingly. The plot - 3 stars; the history, setting, characters, and writing - 4 stars. The scale was heavy on the latter side, hence the overall rating of 4 stars. I'm sure this rating gives quite a clear and honest picture of the book. If you are a mystery fan and are plot-driven, and not interested in medieval history and ancient architecture, this is not for you. But if you are quite in the opposite, I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did. historical-fiction historical-mystery italian-lit ...more 164 likes Like Comment فؤاد 1,081 reviews 1,954 followers May 25, 2018 مى خوايد راجع به فرقه هاى فرانسيسكن و بنديكتين و فراتيچلى بخونيد؟ توى اين كتاب هست. مى خوايد راجع به دادگاه هاى تفتيش عقايد بخونيد؟ توى اين كتاب هست. مى خوايد راجع به گسترش دانشگاه ها و آغاز رنسانس بخونيد؟ توى اين كتاب هست. مى خوايد راجع به نوميناليسم ويليام اوكام بخونيد؟ توى اين كتاب هست. مى خوايد راجع به كتاب گمشده ى ارسطو بخونيد؟ توى اين كتاب هست. حتى اگه بخوايد راجع به شرلوك هولمز و خورخه لوييس بورخس و لودويگ ويتگنشتاين هم بخونيد، دست خالى از اين كتاب بر نمى گرديد. و البته جز اين چه انتظارى ميشه داشت از اومبرتو اكو؟ مردى كه همه چيز رو ميدونه. و اين ريويو هم ناچار تكه پاره هايى پراكنده خواهد بود، از نكاتى كه اينجا و اونجا به ذهنم رسيده. ١. ويليام باسكرويل و شرلوك هولمز شخصيت محورى داستان، ويليام باسكرويل اقتباسى شيطنت آميز از شرلوك هولمزه. جداى از ظاهر مشابه، شيوه ى استنتاج مشابه و اصليت مشابه، اسم «باسكرويل» ناخودآگاه معروف ترين داستان هولمز (درنده ى باسكرويل) رو تداعى مى كنه. ويليام و هولمز هر دو به سنت فكرى كمابيش مشابهى تعلق دارن: ويليام نومنيناليسته، و هولمز پوزيتيويست. هر چند به علت آشنايى بيشتر اومبرتو اكو از مكتب فكرى شخصيت داستانش (نوميناليسم)، استنتاج هاى باورپذيرترى مى كنه. به اين ترتيب كه وقتى ويليام به مشكلى بر مى خوره، احتمالات مختلف رو در نظر مى گيره و به دو طريق احتمال هاى مختلف رو كنار ميزنه و يك احتمال رو نگه ميداره: ١. شواهد بيشتر به نفع يك احتمال؛ ٢. احتمالى كه مقتضى فرض هاى كمتر و علت هاى سر راست ترى هست رو انتخاب مى كنه. اين به روش يه محقق واقعى نزديك تره تا هولمز كه معلوم نيست چطور از شواهد موجود همه ى حقايق رو استنتاج مى كنه و در عمل هم نه در تحقيقات علمى و نه در تحقيقات جنايى چنين چيزى امكان نداره، هر چقدر هم فرد باهوش باشه. از توضيحاتى كه هولمز ميده هم نقص روشش واضحه و اگه يك محقق موشكاف بخواد استدلال هاى هولمز رو به بوته ى نقد بذاره آشكار ميشه كه چقدر سست و بى پايه ن و چقدر از احتمالات ممكن رو بى توضيح قانع كننده اى ناديده گرفته. و اين سستى به خصوص در يك دنياى واقعى كاملاً نمودار مى شد، جايى كه قادر متعال (نويسنده!) پشتيبانش نبود تا همه ى استنتاج هاش رو به طرز عجيبى مصاب كنه، در يك دنياى واقعى هولمز با همين استدلال ها، تقريباً در تمام موارد به راه اشتباه مى رفت و بى مقدمات كافى، دچار قضاوت عجولانه مى شد. ٢. كتاب گمشده ى ارسطو ارسطو كتابى داره به نام «بوطيقا» ك�� «فن شعر» ترجمه ميشه، اما بر خلاف اون چيزى كه از كلمه «فن شعر» برداشت ميشه، ربطى به شعرى كه ما امروز مى فهميم نداره، بلكه درباره درام نويسيه. ارسطو درام رو به دو نوع تقسيم مى كنه: الف، تراژدى. كه موضوعش مسائل جدى و فضيلت هاى انسان هاى بزرگه. ب، كمدى. كه مسائل جدى رو به مضحكه مى گيره و نقص ها و اشتباهات انسان هاى پست و دور از فضيلت رو نشون ميده. اما بوطيقاى فعلى، فقط به تراژدى اختصاص داده شده. همين باعث شده عده اى حدس بزنن كه احتمالاً بوطيقا جلد دومى راجع به كمدى داشته و اين كتاب دوم مدت ها پيش، به دلايل نامعلومى گم شده و هيچ اثرى ازش باقى نمونده. ۳. کتابخانه خورخه لوییس بورخس نویسنده و کتابخوار معروف که در پایان عمرش نابینا شد، داستانی کوتاه داره که کاندیدای عجیب ترین داستانیه که توی عمرم خوندم، به نام «کتابخانه بابل». این داستان در حقیقت توصیف یک جهان موازیه، که تماماً یک کتابخونه عظیمه. کتابخونه از هر طرف ابعاد بی نهایتی داره، مشتمل بر بی نهایت کتابه، در نتیجه هر کتابی که قابل تصور باشه، در این کتابخونه موجوده، تمام دانش های جهان، به علاوه بی نهایت کتاب بی معنی و رمزی دیگه. معماری این کتابخونه، به شکل خاصیه. کتابخونه از بی نهایت اتاق چند ضلعی تشکیل شده که از هر طرف با دالان هایی به هم متصلن. اومبرتو اکو کتابخونه داستانش که محور اصلی داستانه رو با شیطنت از بورخس اقتباس کرده. اولاً کتابدار این کتابخونه، پیرمردی نابینا به نام «خورخه بورگوس»ـه، که هم از نظر نام و هم از نظر نابینایی و هم از نظر کتابخوار بودن، شبیه به بورخسه. ثانیاً کتابخونه در حقیقت استعاره ای از تمام جهانه، و تمام کتاب هایی که هیچ کس حتی اسم شون رو هم نشنیده، در اون وجود دارن. و سوم، معماری کتابخونه است، که شبیه کتابخانه بابل، از تعداد زیادی اتاق چند ضلعی تشکیل شده که از هر طرف با دالان هایی به هم متصلن. جدای از کتابخونه، پیرنگ اصلی داستان هم از یکی از داستان‌های بورخس به نام «مرگ و پرگار» اقتباس شده. موضوع هر دو داستان اینه که یک کارآگاه معتقد به علوم غریبه، ابتدا تصور می‌کنه که قتل ها نظمی دینی دارن و بر همین اساس سعی می‌کنه قاتل رو کشف کنه، در حالی که قاتل داره با این ترفند، با اعمال نظمی ظاهری در قتل ها، کارآگاه رو فریب می‌ده. ۴. پست مدرنیسم در مورد این که هنر پست مدرن دقیقاً چیه؟ بحث های زیادی بین نظریه پردازهای پست مدرن شده. اما از این بین نظر چارلز جنکس (معمار امریکایی) و اومبرتو اکو کمابیش شبیه هم دیگه است. چارلز جنکس در تعریف هنر پست مدرن، اصطلاح «کدگذاری مضاعف» رو به کار می بره، که یه چیزی توی این مایه هاست که هنرمند پست مدرن، بدون این که اعتقادی به مضامین و سبک های سنتی داشته باشه، به شکلی بازیگوشانه و طنزآمیز از اون ها در اثر خودش استفاده می کنه. بر خلاف هنرمندان مدرن که - مثل ازرا پاوند که معتقد بود «جدیدش کن!» - اصرار دارن که سبک ها و مضامین سنتی باید دور ریخته بشن و هنر باید به سمت «چیزی» جدید بره. پست مدرن ها دیگه به این «چیز» باور ندارن. به هیچ «چیز»ی باور ندارن. در این بی باوری، تنها کاری که باقی مونده، اینه که با سبک های قدیمی بازی کنن و با هم مخلوطشون کنن و جدیت دوران قدیم رو به شوخی بگیرن. اومبرتو اکو کمابیش همین نظر رو داره. اکو میگه: هر چیزی، هر مضمونی، تا حالا بارها گفته شده. در نتیجه هنرمند دیگه نمی تونه صادقانه و «معصومانه» حرفی بزنه، چون هر چی بگه تقلید و دزدی ای از گذشتگانه. در نتیجه، تنها راه اینه که کاملاً تصریح کنه به این که داره از گذشتگان تقلید می کنه. تصریح کنه که داره از «شرلوک هولمز» و «خورخه لوییس بورخس» و «لودویگ ویتگنشتاین» تقلید می کنه. و وقتی این طور اذعان کرد که آثارش چیزی جز تقلید نیست، اون وقت می تونه با خیال راحت، بدون متهم شدن به تقلید و دزدی، حرفش رو بزنه. داستان-خارجی صد-رمان-برتر-دیلی-تلگراف فیلمش-رو-دیدم ...more 186 likes Like Comment Em Lost In Books 955 reviews 2,080 followers February 10, 2023 I just loved it. Far away from modern technology, all dependent on human intelligence and cunning, this was a treat to read. 1980-89 2023 stand-alone-read ...more 148 likes Like Comment Fernando 700 reviews 1,095 followers September 16, 2022 “Huye, Adso, de los profetas y de los que están dispuestos a morir por la verdad, porque suelen provocar también la muerte de muchos otros, a menudo antes que la propia, y a veces en lugar de la propia.” A veces me pregunto por qué razón tardo tanto en leer ciertos clásicos, por qué pasa el tiempo y tomo la decisión de comenzarlos. No es la primera vez que sucede. Con esta novela casi perfecta de Umberto Eco me ha pasado lo mismo. Cuando finalizo uno de estos libros, me doy cuenta de mi error, omisión o torpeza. Nunca había leído a Eco, con excepción de un libro a modo de entrevista (muy lindo por cierto que se llama "Nadie acabará con los libros) aunque conocía perfectamente de quién se trataba. Como con otros autores, me asombro del enorme nivel de erudición y conocimientos que tenía este profesor italiano, ensayista, experto en semiótica ocupando la cátedra de la Universidad de Bolonia, filósofo, novelista, traductor y crítico literario, en fin, un genio... Su legado es vasto, enorme y seguramente seguiré leyendo algunos libros más de su autoría como "El péndulo de Foucault" o "El cementerio de Praga". Poco más puedo agregar que no se haya dicho de esta, su mejor novela de todos los tiempos, publicada en 1980 y aclamada por todo el mundo, que originariamente había llamado " La abadía del delito" y la que luego, cambió por "El nombre de la rosa". En sus "Apostillas", Eco nos dice que optó por este título lleno de significados y propenso a la confusión por parte de quien lee en sus "Apostillas": «Ya casi los ha perdido todos: rosa mística, y como rosa ha vivido lo que viven las rosas, la guerra de las dos rosas, una rosa es una rosa, los rosacruces, gracias por las espléndidas rosas, rosa fresca toda fragancia» , que se relaciona a la trama de la novela, tan desconcertante por momentos y en donde se trata de llegar a una solución final que está oculta. Los hechos son narrados por Adso de Melk, quien, cuando joven es asistente de Fray Guillermo de Baskerville, una especie de monje mezclado con Sherlock Holmes, de una brillante capacidad de raciocinio altamente deductivo, a quien le encargan averiguar un asesinato u homicidio sucedido en una abadía benedictina. Con Guillermo y Adso como personajes principales, iremos conociendo a otros que serán muy importantes durante todo el desarrollo de la novela como el Abad Abone (pieza clave de todo este asunto), el monje Ubertino, el Inquisidor Bernardo de Guidi, Malaquías de Hildesheim y luego los demás monje de la orden que completan parte de la primera línea de personajes secundarios como Adelmo da Otranto, Berengario de Arundel, Venancio de Salvemec, Bencio de Upsala, Remigio da Varagine, Severino da Saint'Emmerano, Alinardo de Grottaferrata (con sus épicas trompetas proféticas) y varios más. Todos ellos crean un conjunto de posibles sospechosos o víctimas, según el lector lo considere, ya que a partir de la primera muerte los hechos comenzarán a tornarse muy intricados y el suspenso irá en aumento. Lo notable de "El nombre de la rosa" es la diversidad de características que posee, ya que es una novela de neto corte policial, es una impresionante reconstrucción de la época medieval, dado que la acción transcurre en el año 1327, es un compendio de latín,porque las frases en este idioma aparecen prácticamente cada párrafo por medio y obviamente se relacionan con lo religioso, es un tratado de Teología y de historia de la fe católica, es un acercamiento al mundo de los libros llamados incunables, o sea, aquellos que fueron impresos desde la aparición de la imprenta hasta el año 1500 (Eco poseía en su biblioteca personal una gran cantidad de ellos, obviamente invalorables), posee también la inclusión de un sinnúmero de referencias a la Biblia (lo que demuestra el conocimiento total que Eco poseía de ella), es en cierto modo una gran crítica al sistema sacerdotal y a la supuesta mezcla de conspiraciones, decadencia y corrupción que este encierra, ya que a modo de crítica, Eco remarca cómo a lo largo de la historia, Papas, sacerdotes y obispos han estado (y aún sigue estando) involucrados en hechos de corrupción, blasfemia, sodomía y abusos de todo orden y todo nivel y es uno de los puntos principales de los que trata "El nombre de la rosa", el del intento de desenmascarar a los verdaderos culpables no sólo de los crímenes que se comenten en la abadía, sino también de demostrar que no todo es santo en este ámbito, que está impregnado de decadencia, corrompido por los mismos hombres que fomentan el bien cuando en realidad son justamente lo contrario. A partir de cada muerto que va apareciendo, la novela se va asemejando a esos thrillers del estilo de la película "Siete pecados capitales", logrando que todos desconfíen de todos y en medio de semejante desconcierto, Guillermo de Baskerville trata de no perder el foco de su investigación, mientras que también Adso es arrastrado por la vorágine de perversión y muerte. En la novela nos encontramos también con verdaderas clases de latín, una acalorada discusión acerca de la risa, una conexión con la carnavalización bajtiniana, una acercamiento al misterio del Apocalipsis, libros apócrifos, compendios árabes, textos en griego, lecciones de botánica que abarca plantas, flores y venenos, la filosofía de Roger Bacon, la corrupción de los valores, la caída del hombre hacia la corrupción de la carne, las alianzas y traiciones entre los monjes, (al fin y al cabo son humanos) y un sinfín de perversiones, deseos, alucinaciones, suicidios, crímenes, accidentes y tragedias. Párrafo aparte para el homenaje de Umberto Eco hacia Jorge Luis Borges, en la figura del bibliotecario ciego, Jorge de Burgos, uno de los personajes más importantes de esta novela, que resume toda la sabiduría que el gran escritor argentino poseía. En la biblioteca del piso más alto de la abadía está la clave para desentrañar el misterio de todo lo que sucede, pero ya en las primeras páginas, el Abad se lo prohíbe a Guillermo (y a nosotros los lectores), y para complicar inclusive mucho más la investigación de Guillermo, está construida como un auténtico laberinto (otro guiño a Borges y a su cuento "La biblioteca de Babel" del libro "Ficciones"), entonces, el único recurso que nos queda es acompañar a Guillermo y a Adso a descubrir la verdad, si es que esto puede lograrse ya que el camino hacia la verdad es tortuoso y en medio de él están los hombres y es justamente por esa razón que tal vez, sea inalcanzable... favorites 149 likes Like Comment Valeriu Gherghel Author 6 books 1,720 followers April 24, 2023 Ante scriptum. Acum e o modă să-l contești pe Umberto Eco. Totuși, nu mă va convinge nimeni că am citit un roman mediocru... *** La o nouă ediție, revizuită, un comentariu nou cu privire la scena de bibliofagie din finalul cărții. În Biblie, există două împrejurări (una în Vechiul Testament, cealaltă în Noul Testament) în care un personaj e îndemnat să înghită o carte, să practice, astfel, bibliofagia: cele două personaje sînt, toată lumea știe, profetul Iezechiel şi sfîntul Ioan Teologul. Citez din Apocalipsa celui din urmă: „Şi m-am dus la înger şi i-am zis să-mi dea cartea. Şi mi-a răspuns: Ia-o şi mănînc-o şi va amărî pîntecele tău, dar în gura ta va fi dulce ca mierea”. Prin înghițire, adevărul cărții, semnificațiile ei sînt complet asimilate. Înghițirea e o formă de lectură somatică. Umberto Eco se va fi gîndit, cu siguranță, la aceste locuri din Biblie cînd, la sfîrșitul romanului, îl pune pe sinistrul călugăr Jorge de Burgos să înghită ultimul exemplar din continuarea Poeticii lui Aristotel. Citez încă o dată: „A început, cu mîinile sale descărnate şi delicate, să sfîşie încet, în bucăţi şi în fîşii, paginile înmuiate ale manuscrisului, băgîndu-şi-le ghemotoace în gură şi mestecîndu-le încet, ca şi cum ar fi mîncat ostia sfîntă, şi ar fi vrut s-o preschimbe în carne din propria lui carne. Gugliemlo îl privea fascinat şi părea că nu-şi dă seama de ceea ce se întîmpla. Apoi s-a scuturat şi s-a repezit înainte strigînd: - Ce faci? Jorge a zîmbit, dezvelindu-şi gingiile golite de sînge, în timp ce o şuviţă de bale gălbui îi curgea de pe buzele albite pe firele albe şi rare de păr ale bărbiei. - Tu eşti cel care aştepta sunetul celei de-a şaptea trîmbiţe, nu-i aşa? Ascultă acum ce spune glasul: pecetluieşte cele ce au spus cele şapte tunete, şi nu scrie, ia-le şi devoră-le, ele vor amărî pîntecul tău, dar pentru gura ta dulci vor fi, precum mierea. Vezi? Acum pecetluiesc ceea ce nu trebuie spus, în mormîntul care devin”. Există, cu toate acestea, o mare deosebire între scenele de bibliofagie din Biblie și aceea imaginată de Umberto Eco. În Biblie, înghițirea este un mod de a face viu înțelesul cărții, de a prelungi existența ei în ființa însăși a „cititorului”, a devoratorului. În Numele trandafirului , Jorge de Burgos vrea pur și simplu să distrugă manuscrisul păgîn despre legile comediei. Distrugerea manuscrisului coincide cu distrugerea celui care îl înghite. Ceea ce nu se întîmplă în cartea lui Iezechiel sau în Apocalipsă. În Biblie, rostul înghițirii este cu totul altul... 142 likes Like Comment Kevin Neilson 41 reviews 10 followers April 27, 2010 What a didactic, tedious, prolix piece of trash! Eco writes whole paragraphs in Latin and then leaves them untranslated, because he's such an awesome polyglot that chicks want to do him. Readers are also expected to know Dutch. Eco likes to hear himself talk, too. Want to hear pedantic 14th-century theological arguments that stretch on for pages and have nothing to do with the plot? You've got it! Want a lame Dan Brown mystery, with the same stilted dialogue, but embellished with entire chapters of the author showing off how much trivia he knows about ancient Arab codices? No problem! The guy is such a tool that this is how he describes himself on the jacket: Umberto Eco is a world-famous specialist in semiotics, a distinguished historian, philosopher, aesthetician, and scholar whose interests range from St. Thomas Aquinas to James Joyce to Superman. I'm going to hurl. Aesthetician? Please. More like ass thetician. Do you think I'm exaggerating? I've proof: I've copied this terrible passage wherein the hero discovers how to enter the secret chamber, using his knowledge of the genitive case in Latin. Be careful not to hurl as you read this. [ The old Monk, William, and the narrator apprentice, Adso, are hiding out in the stables. :] To his right, the the third animal in line raised his head, sensing our presence, and whinnied. I smiled. "Tertius equi," I said. "What?" William asked. "Nothing. I was remembering poor Salvatore. He wanted to perform God knows what magic with that horse, and, with his fractured Latin he called him 'tertius equi.' Which would be the u." "The u?" asked William, who had heard my prattle without paying much attention to it. "Yes, because 'tertiu equi' does not mean the third horse, but the third of the horse, and the third letter of the word 'equus' is u. But this is all nonsense..." William looked at me, and in the darkness I seemed to see his face transformed. "God bless you, Adso!" he said to me. "Why, of course, suppositio materialis, the discourse is presumed de dicto and not de re....What a fool I am!" He gave himself such a great blow on the forehead that I heard a clap, and I believe he hurt himself. "My boy, this is the second time today that wisdom has spoken through your mouth, first in dream and now in waking! Run, run to your cell and fetch the lamp, or, rather, both lamps we hid. Let no one see you, and join me in the church at once! Ask no questions." ... I ran into the church. William was under the tripod and was rereading the parchment with Venantius's notes. "Adso," he said to me, "'primum et septimum de equator' does not mean the first and seventh of four, but of the four, the word 'four'!" For a moment I still did not understand, but then I was enlightened: "Super thronos viginti quatuor! The writing! The verse! The words are carved over the mirror!" "Come," William said, "perhaps we are still in time to save a life!" 139 likes Like Comment Nayra.Hassan 1,259 reviews 5,974 followers November 15, 2022 ضرير الروح لا يرى وإن أبصر وبصير القلب لو أغمض عينيه يرى أكثر* لكن في رحلة صعودي الشاقة لدير امبرتو هل أبصرت؟ام انشغلت بوقوعي المستمر من اعلي الجبل؟ في رواية تناقش الوصاية على المعرفة وقع امبرتو في الفخ الذي ينبذه و تعالي علي قراءه و قرر انه لن يستمر في الصعود للدير معه الا من يستحق فقط و بالفعل بدأنا ستة عشر و انتهينا اثنى عشر قارئ نتساند سويا في مطلع شاق؛ لمئات الصفحات *كل الأشياء تندثر ولا يبقى منها سوي الاسم* فَماذا يبقى لنا من اسم الوردة بعد ما خلصنا عليها و خلصت علينا؟ سألت نفسي هل هي رواية تحثنا علي البحث و نبذ ثقافة التلقي؟ هل تحثنا علي التفكير الانتقائي ام الشك؟ هل تؤكد ان العلوم الصحيحة سيتم تناقلها و لو منقوشة علي الجثث؟ ام ان العلم/المكتبات من حق العامة قبل الخاصة؟ هل صار للرواية نفس البريق و الجدوي و الاهمية بعد التطور التكنولجي الذي اذهل وضايق امبرتو؟ ام ان المعلومة التي نتوصل لها بضغطة زر ما زالت تحت الوصاية و يتم تصديرها لنا؟ *يمكن أن يولد الدجّال حتى من التقوى،* بسرد ينتمي للمدرسة التفكيكية السيميوطيقية؛ تحدي امبرتو قراءه للصعود معه جبلا عموديا؛ تاركا اياهم يعتمدون علي عقولهم فقط لتفسير دلالات و رموز سرده البطئ المنساب حسب ساعات اليوم  و عبر استطرادات تاريخية عن كافة مكونات الكون؛ ليس مجرد نقاشات فلسفية مطولة عن الدجال و الفقر و الحب والشيطان ونائبته المرأة!! بل وصف مسرف لنباتات و وحوش و حضارات وابواب و مباني و مبادئ و ذلك علي لسان شخصيات كثيرة بلا ابعاد انسانية ثرية؛ بل ارتباطك ببعضها مسؤليتك الخاصة ننطلق مع الراوي ادسو راهب مراهق الماني يصاحب بطلنا غواليمو الفرانشسكاني البريطاني الذي يحقق في جرايم تجتاح الدير البندكتي قبيل مجئ الوفد الباباوي و الوفد الفرانشسكاني؛ ليتناقش الكل في حل نهائي لقضية فقر المسيح ببطء شديد نتعرف علي رئيس الدير و برناردو والراهب يورج الكفيف الحاقد علي الضحك و البحث و القراءة  و الكل كليلة وسيفرينو المداوي خبير السموم و النباتات النادرة سلفاتوري المختل البهيمي صاحب الماضي الغامض والمتمتم للابد.بمصطلحات عجيبة ومالاخي أمين المكتبة الصارم الذي لا يسمح لأحد بدخول المكتبة؛ و المترجم و ادالمو الباحث =القتيل الاول و غيرهم من رهبان تجمعهم جدران و تشتتهم افكار و يكون الموت هو نهاية منطقية لتعبهم طرق القتل و علي رأسها اغراق راهب في سطل دماء الخنازير.. تعتبر مصدراً بالطبع لعدد من روايات و افلام بوليسية و رعب و لكن يظل "سم الفضول؟" الكامن بين دفتي كتاب مخفي هو سر الوردة و سبب سحرها للعامة امثالنا حفظ المعرفة؟ ام البحث عن المعرفة؟ ايهما ُتثمن؟ في الجزء المخفي جمعت في مذاكرتي للوردة اقتباسات عدة نتجت عن معيشتي في الدير.. لأسبوعين ؛ فهل هي للتاريخ  ام للبحث؟ الحقيقة الوحيدة هي أن نتعلم كيف نتحرر من شغفنا المُنْحَرف بالحقيقة الشيطان   هو   صلف   الفكر،   هو   الإيمان   دون   ابتسام، الشيطان قاتم لأنه يعرف   أين   يذهب* ما كان على أبي أن يرسلني عبر الدنيا، إذ هي معقدة أكثر مما كنت أظن الضحك يقتل الخوف و لا ايمان بدون خوف و بدون ايمان لا وجود للرب الضحك أقرب ما يكون إلى الموت وإلى فساد   الجسم الإنسان  ينفرد  من  دون  جميع  الحيوانات   بقدرته  على  الضحك هنا   ينقلب   دور   الضحك، ويُرفع   إلى مستوى   الفنّ،   وتُفتح   له   أبواب   دنيا   العلماء   ليُصبح   موضوعًا   فلسفيًا   ولاهوتية   خادعة .. القياس   الأخير،   بأن   الضحك   هو   غاية   الإنسان !  الضحك   يبعد   لبضع   لحظات،   السوقي   عن   الخوف. ولكن   القانون   يُفرض   من   خلال   الخوف،   واسمه   الحقيقي   هو   الخوف   من   الله. السوقي   الذي  يضحك، لا   يهمه   في  تلك   الآونة  أن يموت. «لا   أظن أنه  شفاه  من الداء. لقد  علّمه كيف   يضحك من   الداء» الكنيسة   يمكنها   احتمال   بدع   السذّج،  * كي تكون للعالم مرآة ينبغي أن يكون للعالم شكل* هناك تدرّجاً في الأخطاء وفي الإثم.* لأن نوم النهار كخطيئة الجنس: كلما أصبت منه أردت الزيادة الهراطقة هم أولئك الذين يضعون في خطر النظام الذي تقوم عليه حياة شعب الرب. أُعلّمك أن تقرأ العلامات التي يُكلّمُنا بها العالم وكأنّهُ كتابٌ كبير « لأن الكلام عن العلّة والمعلول صعب، ولا يقدر على الفصل فيه إلّا   الله .  و أستاذي، كان يتركُ الغرور يتملّكُهُ عندما يعطي بُرهاناً على حدّة ذكائه . كثير من   المحاكمات لا يؤثر الشيطان فقط في المذنب بل ربما - وخاصة  - في القُضاة؟ » لعلّ البُرهان الحقيقي الوحيد على وجود الشيطان   هو القوة التي يتوق بها الجميع في تلك الآونة إلى معرفة أنه بصدد العمل ... » لا يقتل الإنسان دون سبب، وإن كان ضالاً  » .* العلم في انحطاط؛ العالمُ بأسره يسيرُ رأساً على عقب، عُميان يقودون عُمياناً آخرين إلى الهاوية، ديراً بدون كتب هو كمدينة   بدون صناعة أو قلعة بدون جند أو مطبخ بدون أوان ليس هناك شيء أقرب إلى الزوال من المظهر الخارجي الذي يذبل ويتغيّر كأزهار الحقول عند وصول الخريف لأنّ كل الحقائق ليست لكلّ الآذان، ولا يمكن لنفس ورِعة أن تدرك   كل الأكاذيب على حقيقتها توجد أيضاً في المكتبة كتب تحتوي على أكاذيب فالمكتبة تدافع عن نفسها بنفسها * ما   تسمّيه العامة شيطاناً  هو  الربّ نفسه، * لأن الشيطان هو المعرفة والرب هو  فعلاً  المعرفة، توجد صبوة للألم، كما توجد صبوة للعبادة،   وحتى صبوة   للخشوع  إذ يكفي   القليل   للملائكة المتمردة حتى تتحول صبوة العبادة فيها  والخشوع   إلى صبوة كبرياء وثورة،  فما   قولك بمخلوق إنساني؟ في   أُكسفورد قد  علّموك  عبادة العقل،   و أخمدوا  ما في  قلبك   من   قُدرة   على   التنبؤ!» هدف   العلم   هو   أيضاً   العمل   من   أجل   تمديد   عمر   الإنسان . أربعين (و هو   رقم   كامل  حقّاً،   ناتج   عن   ضرب   المربع   في   عشرة،   كما   لو   عظمت   الوصايا   العشر   في   الفضائل   الأساسية   الأربع الإله  « بالصّورة وبالرمز » يستطيب شيئاً فشيئاً تلك الطبيعة نفسها التي تنتمي إليها الوحوش التي يخلقها ويتلذذ بها، وفيها، ولا يرى من بعد إلا من   خلالها لا تهدروا الأيام السبعة الأخيرة* ولكن هذا العلم لماذا لا يبلّغه أصحابه إلى أمة الله بأسرها؟ » لأنّ أمّة الله ليست متأهّبة لتقبّل كل تلك الأسرار يمكنك أن تقول عنها إنها من أعمال السِّحْر، ولكن السِّحْر نوعان :  هناك   سِحْر هو من عمل الشيطان ويهدف إلى هلاك الإنسان مستعملاً حيلاً لا يجوز لنا   الحديث عنها .  وهناك سِحْر هو آية إلهية، عندما يتجلّى علم الإله من خلال علم   الإنسان ليس هناك حيوان أخ��ّن من الديك، إذ هو أحياناً رمز للشيطان وأحياناً رمز   للمسيح ؟؟ سيطرت الخطيئة على الباغي،   وامتلكت دخيلة قلبه، فلا ترى في عينيه خشية الله - فهو يعمل أمامه بخداع إن الفارق بين الدواء والسم ضئيل جداً كلاهما يسمي فارماكون كل   منهما  يأمل  أن  يستثير  موافقة الآخر،   الذي   كان   يرهبه ويمقته . البُسَطاء   لا   يجب   أن   يتكلموا   وهذا   الكتاب   كان   سيبرّر   فكرة   أن   لغة   البُسَطاء   تحمل   بعض   الحكمة. هذا   ما   كان   ينبغي   منعه، ربما كان واجب من يريد الخير للبشرية هو أن يجعلها تضحك من الحقيقة لذلك سعدت فعلا باننا جعلنا من تحديثات الرواية ارضا للضحك بيننا و للموقع كله..  فالضحك وحد بيننا و جعلنا نحتمل مشقة رحلة فكرية لم اكن لاكملها ابدا بدون الرفقة لكن كان لابد منها؛ لانها من روايات ال Must read و سعدت. بالتحول الديمقراطي المثمر 😇 هذه السجالات الفلسفية اللانهائية؛ المرشوشة بسكر يسمي: من القاتل.. ليست لامثالي مطلقا.. ممن يفضلون اما الخيال؛او الواقع؛ و هو ما بحثت عنه فوق جبال امبرتو و لم اجده.. بل وجدت خدعة من نوع ما و فيلسوف و باحث يبهرني طوال الوقت بمعلومات استعراضية غزيرة لا اعرف هل ستنفعني يوما.. لكن بالنسبة لي يجب علي المؤلف كسب القارى لا امتحانه و تحديه لو قيمتها ككتاب فلسفي تحليلي جدلي لاعطيتها خمسة بلا جدال.. لكن كرواية؛ فاسلوبها الروائي ثقيل رتيب كل هذا ربما لاني لم اجد العلاقة بين علامات امبرتو بل وجدت بشرا متناقضين في صراعهم الابدي بين النور و الطين historical religious thriller 143 likes Like Comment Murray Author 147 books 669 followers July 25, 2023 Why are the Monks Dying? 🩸An intriguing and well-written medieval mystery piece that is not easy for the novel’s sleuths or its readers to solve. The monastics are dying off from unnatural causes, but the monk protagonist, sent in by higher authority, despite his best efforts, is unable to discover the source. Though it seems it must be one of the brethren who is doing the killing. The monastic community does not come off well in Eco’s story. Critics claim the book is a deliberate and planned attack on the Christian faith and the Roman Catholic Church. You’ll have to decide for yourself. 🩸It is well put together. Labyrinth upon labyrinth upon labyrinth within the mind and within the monastery. 🩸A worthwhile read. 139 likes Like Comment Amira Mahmoud 618 reviews 8,654 followers March 24, 2016 الكتب لم توضع كي نؤمن بما تقوله ولكن كي نتحرّى فيها، لا يجب أن نتساءل أمام كتاب ماذا يقول ولكن ماذا يريد أن يقول. كي تعرف ما يقول كتاب يجب أن تقرأ كتبًا أخرى. هناك نوعان من الأعمال المرهقة؛ الأول أمقته بشدة وأشعر أثناء قراءته بملل لا ينتهي وتشتت يدفعني لاحتمالهما واجب إنهاء الكتاب. يعتصرني حتى النهاية، وقد أكون صبورة بالقدر الكافي لإنهائ�� وقد لا أفعل. والآخر رغم أنه مرهق لكنه ممتع (أو ربما هو ممتع لأنه مرهق، لا أدري)، يعتصر عقلي، يُربكني، وبشكل ما لا أستطيع تحديده ولا صياغته في أفكار ملموسة فور الانتهاء، يُلهمنيّ. قبل القراءة لإيكو والتي كنت أقوم بتأجيلها كثيرًا لا أعلم لمَ؟ كنت أعتقد أن القراءة له من النوع الأول الذي يضجرنيّ ولن استطيع الانتهاء من التجربة الأول، لكن ألم يكن هذا شعوري أيضًا حين بدأت القراءة لساراماجو؟ لم أكن أفهم أسلوبه وطريقته، ماذا يريد أن يقول هذا الرجل؟ ولمَ يستعمل هذه الطريقة المضجرة والمرهقة في الكتابة؟ ثم صرت الآن اقرأ أعماله "بعشق" وأكبح رغبتي في قراءتها جميعًا حتى لا ينتهي السحر سريعًا. لذا قررت أن اقرأ لإيكو وفي دخيلتي إن لم يكن اللقاء الأول جيد فلا بأس، سيكون هناك لقاءات أخرى كثيرة لكن لم يكن إيكو عند سوء ظني وقدم رواية متكاملة بحيث أيًا ما كان اهتمام القارئ سيجده. الرواية تجمع بين الكثير من الصفات؛ فهي تاريخية دينية فلسفية بوليسية كل ذلك في إطار يربطه أكثر الأشياء التي تثير شغف أي قارئ (المكتبة= الكُتب= المعرفة) لكن بالنسبة لتاريخية الرواية فهي لم تثير شغفي كثيرًا لأكثر من سبب، منها قراءاتي السابقة في تاريخ المسيحية في العصور الوسطى وحتى تاريخ فلسفتها ورغم أنها لم تكن قراءات كثيرة وغزيرة بشكل يجعلني مشبعة منها لكنني أزعم أنها كانت كافية لأدرك أنه ليس بها ما يجعلني أتعمق أكثر بها. كما أن قراءة عزازيل زيدان جعلت فكرة القصة غير ملفتة كثيرًا، لا الفكرة ولا الحقبة بالتالي الجزء التاريخي في الرواية لا يهمني كثيرًا؛ اللهم المجادلات حول فقر المسيح والحواريين ورغبة البابا في نفيها حتى يستطيع أن يكتنز من الأموال والنفوذ ما شاء ورغبة الإمبراطور في إثباتها للحد من سلطان البابا وكل هذا بالدين وبمعونته. مرة أخرى أجدني أقول؛ ما أبشع الأشياء التي تُرتكب باسم الإله! وهذا هو الجزء الديني في الرواية الذي استوقفني، خاصة وأنه يتشابه كثيرًا مع واقعنا الحالي (حتى يورج في صلفه وجموده في الدفاع عن فهمه الخاطئ لدينه ورغبته في فرض هذا الفهم حتى وإن كان صحيحًا بالنسبة له على كل من حوله عنوة، حتى يورج في اعتقاده أنه يد الرب لا يختلف كثيرًا عن أولئك المنتشرون في واقعنا، حُراس الفضيلة وملاك الحقيقة المطلقة!) ربما لذلك استوقفني الجزء الديني من الرواية على العكس من الجزء التاريخي؛ صلته بشكل أو بآخر، متشابه إلى حد كبير بواقعي. الجزء الفلسفي هو أكثر الأجزاء متعة على الإطلاق –لأن هذا ما يثير اهتمامي كقارئ- يليه الجزء البوليسي الأقل متعة والذي في رأيي استمد متعته من الجزء الفلسفي ومن طريقة غواليالمو في تحقيق الاستنتاجات ووضع مقدمات منطقية وافتراضات ونتائج عديدة ومتنوعة يعاكس أحداها الآخر (وربما اجتهد لأتعلم شيء كهذا) والتي في النهاية تنتهي بوضعها في قالب فلسفي بديع. من الجزء الفلسفي، ومن الأشياء التي تفلسف بها إيكو على لسان غواليالمو كان الحديث عن المعرفة والحقيقة (المكتبة وما تحتويه من كُتب وما تحتويه هذه الكُتب بدورها من معرفة ستساعدنا بشكل أو بآخر في صياغة الحقيقة إذا كانت موجودة أو على الأقل صياغة حقيقتنا الخاصة التي تقنعنا وترضينا كما أعتقد) هي أكثر الأشياء التي شحذت عقلي. كم كان منظر الطبيعة جميلاً ولم تمسسه بعد يد المعرفة الإنسانية، التي غالبًا ما تكون مُنحرفة! ولكن في اليوم الذي تبرر فيه كلمة الفيلسوف الألعاب الهامشية للمخيلة المشوشة، عندئذ ما كان على الحاشية يقفز حقيقة إلى المتن ويُفتقد من المتن كل أثر. لمَ قد تكون المعرفة شيء مخيف إلى هذه الدرجة التي تجعلها مدفونة ومحُرمة؟ هل خوف على ما نؤمن به؟ لكن إذا كان ما نؤمن به هشّ إلى درجة انهياره مع أول طرقة من المعرفة؟ إذا كان المتن قويّ وصحيح لن ينمحي أثره بالمعرفة بل سيتضح ويصبح أقوى. وإذا لم يكن ما أؤمن به قوي ومتماسك بالدرجة التي تجعل المعرفة داعمة له وليست هادمة فلا حاجة ليّ به من الأساس! لمَ وبأي مبرر يحرمنا من في يديهم السلطة من أولئك الذين في يديهم المعرفة؟ إننا أقزام، ولكننا أقزام نقف فوق أكتاف أولئك الجبابرة، ورغم صغرنا نستطيع أن نرى في بعض الأحيان أبعد منهم في الأفق فالرواية التي تقول أن آدم طُرد من الجنة لأنه أكل من شجرة المعرفة، وتحليل غواليالمو الرغبة في المعرفة على أنها شهوة تمامًا كشهوة الجنس وشهوة الأكل جعلني أفكر كثيرًا خاصة وأن كل قارئ شغوف بطبعه، ولديه الكثير من الفضول. وأنا أزعم أن لدي أطنان من الفضول والشغف أو أنني كما يقول إيكو أحب الإصغاء إلى الكلمات ثم التفكير فيها. هل تتحول رغبتنا في المعرفة إلى مجرد شهوة عمياء لا يقودها عقل ولا يستطيع التحكم بها؟ خاصة وأنها بخلاف شهوتيّ الأكل والجنس لا تنتهي بمجرد الإنتهاء من إشباعها، فهي لا تُشبع أبدًا بل تزيد وتصبح أقوى من ذي قبل. هذا يجعلك تفكر، هل تقرأ للبحث والمعرفة والثقافة، كي تجد ضآلتك أم تقرأ فقط "للرغبة في القراءة؟ يبدو أن حتى القراءة والمعرفة شأنها شأن أي شيئًا آخر إذا لم يحكمها العقل ستصبح مجرد شهوة كما وصفها غواليالمو. غواليالمو الذي اتفقت كثيرًا من أفكاره مع أفكاري، وأخرى كنت أفكر بها ولا أستطع صياغتها كما صاغها هو بسهولة، وأخرى ��لهمني إياها. شخصية غواليالمو تلمع بكثير من الصفات التي أعتقد أنها صفات إيكو الخاصة، وأنه وضع في هذه الشخصية كثيرًا منه. مجرد تخمين ربما يتضح صحته من عدمه في القراءات القادمة له. إن أقصى ما يمكننا فعله هو أن ننظر أحسن. في النهاية، ربما هذا بالفعل أقصى ما يمكننا فعله مراجعتي عن حاشية على اسم الوردة تمّت translated أدب-روايات قراءات-طويلة_أمهات-الكتب-والمجلدات 126 likes Like Comment Whitaker 295 reviews 524 followers July 16, 2014 Forget Christopher Hitchens. Away with that Richard Doggins guy. For a truly penetrating look at religion and atheism, Umberto Eco, he da man. The Name of the Rose is a profoundly nihilistic book. It is ostensibly a book about a murder mystery: A man, a monk rather, Brother William, arrives with his assistant, Adso, at an abbey high in the Italian Alps. A murder has been committed, and Brother William will apply reason and logic—a Sherlock avant la lettre—to deduce the murderer. Or does he? He does indeed find out the process by which the victims die. And there is a villain. The novel begins, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” And it then proceeds to systematically dismantle all words—merely signifiers leading to other signifiers labyrinth without end. Umberto Eco stares in the abyss, and the abyss laughs mockingly back. I was profoundly moved, depressed, and discombobulated. Five stars –whatever the hell that means. modern-canon recommended-unreservedly z_2009-read 124 likes Like Comment Dream.M 684 reviews 90 followers January 19, 2023 «آنک نام گل» شاهکاری ملقب به «Deus magisteriorum (خدای شاهکارها)» نوشته «امبرتو اکو»، کتابیه که سرنوشت خواننده اش رو عوض می‌کنه! درباره این رمان ریویوو ها و مقاله های عالی بسیاری نوشته شده که بعضاً از یک فصل کتاب هم طولانی ترن و اغلب شون تمام جنبه های فرمی و محتوایی کتاب رو روشن کردن؛ و خب من فکر کردم چی بنویسم که قبلا نوشته و گفته نشده؟ بنابراین سعی میکنم اول از احساسم درباره کتاب بگم. 💁‍♀ ❤‍🔥 در ستایش اکو: تبدیل شدن اکو به یک چهره برجسته در دنیای رمان، برای شاگردانش همونقدر عجیب و باورنکردنی بود که دیدن یک یونیکورن توی جنگل های گیسوم. وقتی امبرتو اکو، استاد نشانه شناسی و نویسنده کتاب های علمی، این اولین رمانش رو در سال ۱۹۸۳ منتشر کرد، کسی از اطرافیان و شاگردانش تصورش رو هم نمی‌کرد که این کتاب توی اولین سال انتشار یک میلیون نسخه بفروشه و اینچنین طیف وسیعی از مخاطبان و منتقدان رو مجذوب خودش کنه، اما کرد! اکو همون نویسنده ایه که بقیه رمان نویسان جهان باید ازش متنفر باشن؛ چون با خواندن حتی فقط یکی از کتاب هاش، خواننده اش چنان لذت والایی از سفر به دنیاهای چندگانه و داستانی، درک شعور، تسلط به دانش و دورنمایی از زیبایی اندیشه رو تجربه میکنه که دیگه امکان نداره  هرگز بتونه در هیچ کتابی از هیچ نویسنده ای دوباره تمام این ها رو کنار هم و باهم تجربه کنه. مطمعنا تاثیر شگفت انگیزی که اکو روی روان و روح خواننده می‌ذاره تا آخرین روز زندگی باقی می مونه، بطوریکه این تاثیر ممکنه کمرنگ بشه ولی همیشه آدم رو زیر سایه خودش نگه میداره. ❤‍🔥 در ستایش رمان نام گل سرخ: اما رمان « آنک نام گل»، همون چیزیه که هر کسی ( یا کتابخوانی) باید حتما حداقل یکبار توی زندگیش اونو بخونه تا متوجه بشه یک داستان عالی چیه و از چه اجزایی تشکیل میشه. ترکیبی از داستان های معمایی، پلیسی، نوآر، گوتیگ، مذهبی، فرقه ای، تاریخی، فلسفی، فانتزی، شامل صحنه های عشقی، گرایشات جنسی مختلف و با ارجاعات متعدد به وقایع واقعی، که با یک خط داستانی پرکشش و پرتعلیق به هم زنجیر شدن و مغز خواننده رو اونقدر باد میکنن که دیگه سرش از یقه لباس رد نشه. (من البته از همه این اجزا لذت بردم بخصوص از قسمت یونیکورنش. 😌) حتی برای آنهایی که داستان دوست ندارن، «نام گل» یک دایره المعارف از مذهب مسیحیت و فرقه های مختلف اون، تاریخچه قرون وسطا، گیاهشناسی، سم شناسی، کتابشناسی، نشانه شناسی، و تصویر چهره هولناک دادگاه های تفتیش عقاید هست که با این حجم از اطلاعات و دانش، به جرات خواننده اش رو به چندین سطح بالاتر از یک رمان خوان معمولی ارتقا میده و حقیقتا کتاب مفیدیه. و اما برای اونها عشق که به کتاب توی رگ هاشون جریان داره، «نام گل سرخ» ویژگی خاص و جذاب دیگه ای داره که نمیشه ازش گذشت؛ چون همونطور که اغلب ستایشگران این رمان میگن، هیجان انگیز ترین جنبه اش اینه که این کتابی درباره کتاب هاست. کل ماجرای هیجان انگیز این رمان حول چند کتاب و دست نوشته خاص میگرده که کتاب گمشده ارسطو یکی از مهمترین آنهاست و حتی کاراکتر نابغه کتاب چند جا به خواننده آموزش میده که چطور میشه با خواندن یک کتاب، مفهوم کتاب دیگه ای رو فهمید. خب! من دیگه نمی‌دونم یک کتاب باید دیگه چی به خواننده اش بده که تبدیل به شاهکار نشه؟ و تعجب میکنم با همه این توصیفات چرا هنوز به لیست خواندنی هاتون اضافه اش نکردید؟ ❤‍🔥 اسپویل خط داستانی: خب میرسیم به قسمت مورد علاقه خودم از ریویوو نویسی، یعنی اسپویل داستان 🤭 این رمان با یک ��اجرای معمایی نشانه شناسی شروع میشه که همه ما شبیه اونو توی فارسی چهارم دبستان خوندیم (حکایت الاغی که چشم چپش کور بود و پای راستش می‌لنگید و بار گندم می برد) و اکو قراره با همین شروع جذاب خواننده رو درجا تحت تاثیر قرار بده، و دوتا شخصیت اصلی داستان رو که معادل شرلوک هلمز و دکتر واتسون هستن به ما معرفی کنه و هوش و نحوه استدلال شون رو به رخ بکشه. این دوتا شخصیت «ویلیام باسکرویل» مستنطق سابق دادگاه تفتیش عقاید و دستیار جوانش «اودسو» هستن که برای بحث درمورد الهیات و حل اختلاف نظر بین دو فرقه فرانسیسکن ها و دومینیکن ها، راهی یک صومعه ایتالیایی میشن ولی به محض ورود با صحنه مرگ یک کشیش جوان روبرو میشن و شروع به تحقیق درباره اون می کنن. با گذشت زمان، قتل های بیشتری توی صومعه اتفاق میوفته و داستان رو وارد ماجراهای پیچیده تر و هیجان انگیز تر می‌کنه که خودتون باید بخونید. در جریان این تحقیقات ، رییس صومعه به ویلیام و اودسو اجازه میده به همه جای صومعه سر بزنن بجز کتابخانه اسرار آمیز و هزارتوی اونجا، چون اونجا یک مکان مرموز و محافظت شده است که گنجینه تمام علوم دنیا در اونجا توسط کتابدار کوری نگهداری میشه و اونقدر تودرتو هستش که ممکنه هرگز نتونن ازش خارج بشن. اما خب، چی برای یک کارگاه جذاب تر از یک مکان ممنوعه وجود داره؟؟ ویلیام با دنبال کردن چند قتل اول و دنبال کردن نشونه ها، این فرض رو دنبال می‌کنه که با یک قاتل متوهم و مذهبی رویروعه که برای کشتارش از توصیف کتاب مقدس از آخرالزمان الهام گرفته. اون همچنین این قتل‌ها رو به کتابی از ارسطو ربط میده که بعضی مردم تصور میکنن گم شده و اغلب تصور میکنن هرگز نوشته نشده اما در حقیقت توی کتابخانه هزارتوی صومعه پنهان شده. در نهایت و بعد کلی قتل و زنده سوزوندن آدما، اون متوجه می شه که قاتل اصلی کتابدار کور صومعه، خورخه اس، که پیر ترین و قدیمی ترین راهب اونجاست و تمام اسرار صومعه رو میدونه. اون تمام این قتل ها رو  بخاطر حفاظت از تنها نسخه موجود از دومین کتاب شعر ارسطو (همونکه بالاتر گفتم) انجام میده و انگیزه اش هم اینه که کسی به این کتاب دست پیدا نکنه. چرا این کتاب اینقدر برای خورخه مهمه؟؟ چون کتاب دوم ارسطو درباره کمدی نوشته شده و خنده رو تشویق میکنه، چیزی که برخلاف اعتقادات خورخه و صومعه است و اونو گمراه کننده و شیطانی میدونه. در اخر، وقتی خورخه مثل پایان داستان های شرلوک هلمز همه اسرار رو فاش میکنه، با فرار، کتابخانه رو به آتش می کشه و خودش هم با حقه مرموز خودش میمیره. اینطوریه که صومعه هم توی آتیش میسوزه و ویلیام در نهایت میفهمه هیچ برنامه‌ای برای قتل‌ها وجود نداشته و تحقیقات اون فقط به اشتباه به خورخه رسیده و تصادفی فهمیده قاتل کیه و نشانه شناسی و استدلال پشم!. بعد از ویرانی قسمت اعظم صومعه ویلیام و اودسو هم اونجا رو ترک میکنن و هرکدوم راه خودشون رو میره، ولی سال ها بعد اودسو که پیرمرد شده برمیگرده از ویرانه‌های صومعه دیدن می‌کنه و چندین کتاب رو پیدا کرده نجات میده و داستان رو برای ما تعریف میکنه. ........ ❤‍🔥 حرفهای شخصی : درسته که از خواندن و بعضی جاها شنیدن این داستان بینهایت لذت بردم، ولی دلم میخواست توی همخوانی با رفقای خفنم میخوندمش تا بیشتر بفهمم و کیف کنم. حیف همشون امتحان داشتن و سرشون شلوغه. ولی خب اون رویکردی که توی همخوانی یادگرفتم ازشون، اینجا بهم کمک کرد. ....... ⁩‌(⁠ ⁠T⁠_⁠T⁠)⁠＼⁠(⁠^⁠-⁠^⁠) این کتاب باارزش هم هدیه ای بود از یک دوست باارزش ‌(⁠っ⁠˘⁠з⁠(⁠˘⁠⌣⁠˘ ⁠)⁩ gifts novel-long-story 118 likes Like Comment Nandakishore Mridula 1,267 reviews 2,423 followers April 6, 2016 This is one humdinger of a book - medieval history, Gothic noir and classic whodunit rolled into one. It's very slow - but taking your time to read it slowly provides rich dividends, IMO. This is a book to be savoured. Brother William of Baskerville - the name, as well as his appearance marks him as a sort of medieval Sherlock Holmes - is the detective par excellence, and Adso of Melk is the perfect Watson. The story unfolds in the fashion of the classic mystery. The secret, when it is revealed, is sufficiently shocking - and points a finger to a real historic puzzle. A word of advice: please don't watch the movie before you read the book. ----------------- PS: Umberto Eco incidentally passed away the day I originally posted this review. So let this be my tribute to a great writer. general-fiction 109 likes Like Comment Adriana 7 reviews March 27, 2016 I had wanted to read The Name of the Rose for a long time, mostly because I enjoy both fiction and non-fiction about the Middle Ages, and also because of its importance as a piece of modern Italian literature. Although I liked it for the most part, I have to admit that it disappointed me in many ways. As a mystery novel, I was expecting it to be a fast-paced page-turner, whereas in reality The Name of the Rose is very slow and ponderous. I appreciate the attention to detail and the minute and accurate descriptions of real historical events, but I feel that the narrators voice often became mired in these details, to the detriment of the plot. When the narrator, Adso, slipped into these trains of thought that were only tangential to the story, I frequently forgot what was going on by the time he emerged. In addition, much of the historical background read like a text-book, and not a novel. There were too many dates and names to keep track of, and while these elements may have been central to the story, who/what they were was never fully explained. On the positive side, the translation is done beautifully, and I can only imagine that the original Italian is even more agile and lyrical. For those who want to stick with a 500 page novel, The Name of the Rose can be quite rewarding. I feel that I learned a lot about life in a medieval Italian monastery, and about the most important philosophical and religious concerns of the time. I just would have preferred it if Eco had focused more on writing a cohesive, engaging novel, rather than a history lesson surrounded by the vague framework of a plot. 106 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 13,090 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 545 quotes 93 discussions 29 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Maigret by Georges Simenon | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Inspector Maigret #19 Maigret Georges Simenon , Elena Callegari ( Translator ) 3.69 1,242 ratings 124 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Maigret accese la pipa, lasciò che il fiammifero bruciasse fino in fondo e poi si alzò chiamando: «Cameriere!». Ritto in mezzo alla sala con la sua mole imponente, aspettava il resto guardandosi tranquillamente attorno. «Dove andiamo?» gli chiese Philippe quando furono usciti. Maigret si voltò a guardarlo come se fosse stupito di trovarselo davanti. «Tu vai a dormire» rispose. «E tu, zio?». Il commissario alzò le spalle, si ficcò le mani in tasca e si allontanò senza rispondere. Aveva trascorso una delle peggiori giornate della sua vita. Per tutte quelle ore, seduto nel suo angolo, si era sentito vecchio e rammollito, privo di risorse e di idee. Ma adesso dentro di lui era scattato qualcosa, si era accesa una fiammella. Doveva approfittarne subito. «La vedremo, perdio, eccome se la vedremo!» borbottò per farsi coraggio. Genres Mystery Fiction Crime France Detective Noir Thriller ...more 134 pages, Paperback First published January 1, 1934 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Georges Simenon 1,863 books 1,899 followers Georges Joseph Christian Simenon (1903 – 1989) was a Belgian writer. A prolific author who published nearly 500 novels and numerous short works, Simenon is best known as the creator of the fictional detective Jules Maigret. Although he never resided in Belgium after 1922, he remained a Belgian citizen throughout his life. Simenon was one of the most prolific writers of the twentieth century, capable of writing 60 to 80 pages per day. His oeuvre includes nearly 200 novels, over 150 novellas, several autobiographical works, numerous articles, and scores of pulp novels written under more than two dozen pseudonyms. Altogether, about 550 million copies of his works have been printed. He is best known, however, for his 75 novels and 28 short stories featuring Commissaire Maigret. The first novel in the series, Pietr-le-Letton, appeared in 1931; the last one, Maigret et M. Charles, was published in 1972. The Maigret novels were translated into all major languages and several of them were turned into films and radio plays. Two television series (1960-63 and 1992-93) have been made in Great Britain. During his "American" period, Simenon reached the height of his creative powers, and several novels of those years were inspired by the context in which they were written (Trois chambres à Manhattan (1946), Maigret à New York (1947), Maigret se fâche (1947)). Simenon also wrote a large number of "psychological novels", such as La neige était sale (1948) or Le fils (1957), as well as several autobiographical works, in particular Je me souviens (1945), Pedigree (1948), Mémoires intimes (1981). In 1966, Simenon was given the MWA's highest honor, the Grand Master Award. In 2005 he was nominated for the title of De Grootste Belg (The Greatest Belgian). In the Flemish version he ended 77th place. In the Walloon version he ended 10th place. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.69 1,242 ratings 124 reviews 5 stars 243 (19%) 4 stars 485 (39%) 3 stars 412 (33%) 2 stars 92 (7%) 1 star 10 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews Adrian 606 reviews 233 followers March 15, 2023 March Lunchtime Listen I vaguely remember reading this 3 years ago, but still didn't remember much about it. I wonder if Simenon , like Conan Doyle tried to finish with his creation and so in his case, just retired him, as this was quite early through the series of novels, or if he just wrote out of order 😊 Anyway in this book , Maigret is retired to the country ( by some of the later books, he and Mme Maigret are thinking of buying a small place for their retirement. ? ). Anyway, as I said below when I read it, his nephew rudely awakes him with the news he's panicked whilst on a stake out, done something stupid and is about to be arrested for murder. Huffing and Puffing Maigret gets dressed and heads for Paris in the early hours of the morning to try and sort out the mess, but some in the Police Judiciaire are not that happy with his return. Maigret Series Read started in 2019 So another Maigret, my 19th, in my self imposed quest to read all the Maigret's in order. Interestingly this is the first of my reads that appears to be out of order, because in this book our intrepid hero , has retired with Ms M to the country. Unfortunately his nephew who joined the Judiciaire as Maigret was leaving has made a rookie error and is being accused of murder. Maigret woken early in the morning dashes back to Paris from his Loire retirement to investigate knowing that if he doesn't his nephew will be found guilty. Although back in the city he knows best Maigret finds it difficult to concentrate on detection and to focus on what to do next for the best. Ultimately all his skills come to the fore as he tries to trap the leader of the gang to confess. An enjoyable Maigret , as they all have been so far, just not one of the best det-georges-simenon zz-owned-books 68 likes Like Comment Ivonne Rovira 2,086 reviews 219 followers February 28, 2016 In the simply titled Maigret (also published as Maigret Returns ), former Detective Chief Inspector Maigret abandons his comfortable retirement in the Loire to return to Paris to extricate his nephew from a murder charge. Philippe Lauer, the son of coddling Madame Maigret’s sister, had prevailed on his uncle to obtain a position for him with the police. But due to his naïveté and blundering, Philippe finds himself charged with the murder of Pepito Palestrino, a scoundrel of a night-club owner. Maigret no longer has any official capacity, so he can’t officially question suspects, detain anyone, arrest anyone. In addition, he’s stymied by the jealousy of his petty successor, Chief Inspector Amadieu. But Maigret still has his intelligence, his encyclopedic knowledge of human nature, and the loyalty of his longtime assistant, Sergeant Lucas. And, with that, he’s able to exonerate his nephew and nab the real mastermind behind the murders of Palestrino and two others. Readers — whether longtime Maigret aficionados or newbies — will adore this suspenseful read. 17 likes Like Comment Albus Eugene Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore 500 reviews 86 followers January 12, 2020 Philippe. Le crétin! … Maigret è à la retraite nella sua casa di campagna sulla Loira con la sua amata signora Maigret. Suo nipote Philippe, che lui stesso aveva fatto entrare au Quai des Orfèvres, va a chiedere il suo aiuto. Il trafficante che lui sorvegliava è stato ucciso e lui rischia di essere incriminato per l’omicidio! Toccherà al buon Jules Maigret tornare a Parigi e provare a tirarlo fuori dai guai … Ogni volta che mi immergo nella lettura di un ‘Maigret’, questi ha la faccia burbera ma carica di umanità di Gino Cervi e la sua signora quella di un’adorabile e schiva Andreina Pagnani. Gli sceneggiati televisivi della RAI in bianco e nero (quando ancora la rai era servizio pubblico …) hanno egregiamente interpretato il Maigret ‘simenoniano’, tanto da diventare un ottimo esempio di trasposizione televisiva. Un po’ come è avvenuto, credo, con l’interpretazione che Zingaretti ha dato del commissario Montalbano di Camilleri. E forse non è un caso che, all’epoca, Camilleri abbia lavorato (anche come regista!) alla realizzazione della serie televisiva di Maigret. Le atmosfere e i luoghi sono quelli della Parigi degli anni ’30, con i suoi lungosenna, le sue brume, le sue brasseries fumose dove gli avventori giocano ‘à la belote’ e gustano un demi o un blanc-Vichy , con le sue “boites” dove però anche le professionnelles assomigliano molto ad Irma la Dolce … Maigret, ormai fuori dal giro, prova un po’ di imbarazzo incontrando i vecchi colleghi: «Comment allez-vous, patron? Vous êtes venu prendre l’air de Paris?» . Girovaga tra le Quai des Orfèvres e la vecchia brasserie “Chope di Pont Neuf”, si affida ancora al fido Lucas e si muove invece con passo deciso all’interno du Dépôt . I dialoghi sono sempre essenziali, talvolta ricchi di quell’ironia sorniona tipica del commissario Maigret, ma sempre in grado di far cogliere la psicologia dei personaggi. Insomma, finisci di leggere, e mentre Maigret/Cervi pian piano svanisce avvolto nella nuvola di fumo della sua inseparabile pipa, ti sembra di sentire…… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbhO_4... Formidable! 11 likes Like Comment The Frahorus 877 reviews 92 followers February 23, 2020 Questo, secondo le intenzioni di Simenon, sarebbe stato l'ultimo romanzo sul commissario Maigret. Vi troviamo il commissario ormai in pensione e che vive in una villetta appartata con sua moglie, quando suo nipote va a far loro visita e chiede aiuto a suo zio: è indagato per omicidio e si professa innocente! Così il nostro commissario si ritrova a Parigi dai sui vecchi colleghi per indagare e dimostrare l'innocenza di suo nipote. Che dire, ho trovato un Maigret che non perde mai il suo stile da vero poliziotto (arriva a stare ore e ore dentro un bar per osservare quello che accade) e nonostante le invidie e le gelosie dei suoi ex colleghi, riesce, con pazienza, a far parlare il colpevole (che capiamo subito chi è già nei primi capitoli). Ho trovato un Maigret che rischia anche la vita (quando la banda capisce che lui sa chi è il colpevole dell'omicidio) e ne è consapevole visto che vuole aiutare suo nipote e dimostrare la sua innocenza. Anche a me ha ricordato, in questo romanzo, il tenente Colombo, e anche il commissario Montalbano. Mi ha colpito il suo forte senso del dovere, il suo schierarsi sempre dalla parte della vera umanità e non dei buoni o dei cattivi, e sarà proprio una debolezza umana del colpevole che gli darà la chiave per risolvere questo giallo. Alla fine dell'avventura il nostro ritorna da sua moglie e va a pescare dei pesci, come se l'autore volesse dirci: addio, Maigret, goditi la tua meritata pensione. Ah, poi Simenon dopo cinque anni di pausa riprese a scrivere nuovi romanzi col commissario Maigret come protagonista, per nostra fortuna! adelphi belga favorites ...more 11 likes Like Comment Daniel 723 reviews 50 followers March 24, 2018 A short take: I wondered if Maigret would be “retired” for long and, sure enough, Simenon not only concocts a nifty excuse to bring Maigret back, he also takes full advantage of Maigret’s civilian status to make the ensuing investigation more interesting. This installment is notable for a fantastic exchange between Maigret and his successor, who says: “You have to admit that your method is impossible to apply in a case like this one...Usually, you get involved in people’s lives; you try to understand their thinking and you take as much interest in things that happened to them twenty years earlier as you do in concrete clues...” This is exactly Maigret’s method and also the main reason why I like these books. Of course, after struggling with this particular case, Maigret eventually does crack it by understanding the nature and history of his adversary. I’m nineteen books deep in this long-going series and keen for more. 9 likes Like Comment Three 274 reviews 63 followers August 24, 2019 mamma mia.... senza una parola di troppo, né una di meno (in centotrentaquattro pagine c'è posto per una storia gialla, per lo spaesamento di Maigret che è andato in pensione, per le ripicche dei suoi colleghi che non accettano volentieri di vederlo ancora girare per gli uffici, per l'angoscia di una madre il cui figlio è stato arrestato). uno dei migliori, o forse il migliore di Maigret 8 likes Like Comment Jack Heath 5,343 reviews 133 followers November 22, 2020 3 Stars. Good but not great, yet I'll be back! I had seen Rowan Atkinson's brilliant portrayal of Detective Chief Inspector Jules Maigret on TV and been intrigued. The series has 75 novels and 29 short stories; Simenon was prolific! Maigret and his wife, Louise, just call her Madame Maigret, have recently retired to a small farmhouse near Orleans about 140 kilometres southwest of Paris. At some ungodly hour, there's a pounding on the door. Her nephew, Philippe, is standing there. He's a young police detective who blurts out, "Uncle I'm in big trouble." Maigret's successor, Chief Inspector Amadieu, had sent him on a stakeout at the Floria nightclub in Paris. While Philippe hid in a closet, his target, Pepito, was shot. Philipe's mistake? He handled the murder weapon and was seen leaving the place by that little weasel Audiat, one of the underlings for Cageot who owns the place. Now he is about to be arrested and pleads for Maigret's help. The two return to Paris but Maigret is no longer a police officer. You will enjoy his innovative handling of the case, as well as the night he spends with Fernande, a lady of the evening. Paris is so much fun! (July 2020) category-f-mystery other-j-characters other-l-fifty ...more 7 likes Like Comment Mikee 604 reviews December 10, 2012 This is a strange book, a sequel to the last one (The Lock at Charenton). Maigret is still retired but comes back to Paris to help out his nephew (a cop), who is being framed for murder. The usual suspects (and types) but the storyas a whole is not that interesting. It almost seems like Simenon is planning to "retire" the whole Maigret series, an event which luckily does not come off. There is, however a long hiatus in Maigret novels after this one. maigret mystery simenon 6 likes Like Comment lise.charmel 421 reviews 175 followers July 19, 2023 Audiolibro magistralmente letto (e interpretato) da Battiston. Trama: Maigret ormai è in pensione e vive in campagna, ma è costretto a tornare a Parigi a causa di un nipote pasticcione che commette una sequela di errori su una scena del crimine. Meno interessante del solito dal punto di vista introspettivo e dei personaggi (ma la comparsata della cognata è un piccolo capolavoro), però le descrizioni dei luoghi sono magnifiche. audiolibri gialli 5 likes Like Comment Zuberino 400 reviews 70 followers December 22, 2017 প্যারিসের অদূরে লোয়ার ভ্যালির গ্রামে রিটায়ার করে গেছেন মেইগ্রে। বাগান করা, মাছ ধরা, এসবই তার বর্তমান কাজ, ঘর-সংসার দেখেন চিরবিশ্বস্ত মাদাম মেইগ্রে। হঠাৎ শীতের রাতে দরজায় সজোর ধাক্কা। "খালু! খালু!" রাত দুপুরে ট্যাক্সি নিয়ে সোজা প্যারিস থেকে চলে এসেছে ভাগ্নে ফিলিপ - পুলিশ বাহিনীতে ওর চাকরির ব্যবস্থা মেইগ্রেই করে দিয়েছিল। অঘটন ঘটিয়ে ফেলেছে বেচারা - মোমার্ত্রের এক নাইটক্লাবে খুনের ঘটনায় জড়িয়ে গেছে কিভাবে। উপায়-বুদ্ধি না পেয়ে ছুটে এসেছে খালুর কাছে সাহায্য চাইতে। অবসর নিয়েছে তো কি হয়েছে, মেইগ্রে নিশ্চয়ই কোন এক পথ বাতলে দিতে পারবেন। গল্প-উপন্যাস মিলিয়ে মেইগ্রে সিরিজের ১০৩টি অধ্যায়ের ১৯ নম্বর এটি, ১৯৩৪ সালে প্রথম প্রকাশ। ক্ল��সিক ঘরানার মেইগ্রে - প্যারিসের রেডলাইট ডিস্ট্রিক্টের স্বাদ-গন্ধ আছে, আছে মোমার্ত্রের বার-ক্যাফে-ক্লাব পাড়ার ঘনিষ্ঠ পরিচয়। রাত বাড়লে নিওনের লালচে আভায় যে এলাকা এত রগরগে আকর্ষণীয়, সকালের ফ্যাকাশে আলোয় তাই আবার মলিন ম্রিয়মাণ। হাতের তালুর মতোই এই পাড়া চেনেন মেইগ্রে - আর তার সাথে সাথে বহু যুগ ধরে মেইগ্রের একাগ্র ভক্তপাঠক। প্রথম যেবার প্যারিস গিয়েছিলাম, কথা না বাড়িয়ে সোজা চলে গিয়েছিলাম মোমার্ত্র। ৭০-৮০ বছর আগে সিমনোনের দেখা পথ-ঘাট-গলি হয়তো বদলে গেছে অনেক, কিন্তু মাতাল পাঠকের রোমাঞ্চ কি আর যায়? ভালোমন্দ (মূলত মন্দ) মানুষে ঠাসা এই মোমার্ত্র - বারের মালিক, দেহপসারিনী, নাইটক্লাবের ওয়েটার, অবৈধ ইমিগ্র্যান্ট, ড্রাগ ব্যবসায়ী। এদের মধ্যে থেকেই একজন ছোটখাটো গডফাদার - জের্মা কাযেও - যে খুনের পেছনে, তা ঠাহর করতে মেইগ্রের বেশী বেগ পেতে হয় না। কিন্তু মুশকিল তো অকাট্য প্রমান জোগাড়ে। কাযেওর মতো লোক কাঁচা কাজ করবে না, একাধিক খুন সে ইতিমধ্যে করিয়েছে। কিন্তু তার চ্যালাচামুন্ডাদের মধ্যে কে সবচেয়ে নাজুক, কার উপর চাপ প্রয়োগ করলে আঁটি ভাঙবে? লেডিজ ম্যান ইউজেন বের্নিয়া? নাকি মোড়ের বারের কর্তা লুইস? নাকি ক্যাফের ওয়েটার জোসেফ, যেই কিনা ভাগ্নের সর্বনাশ ডেকে এনেছে? সময় বেশি নেই - ভাগ্নের জেলহাজতের ব্যবস্থা করছে ইন্সপেক্টর আমাদিউ। মেইগ্রেকে অপছন্দ করার মতো লোকের অভাব ছিল না পুলিশ হেডকোয়ার্টারে। রিটায়ার করার পরেও দেখি নিস্তার নেই, চলে এসেছে অকম্মা ভাগ্নেকে বাঁচাতে, পুলিশী তদন্তে বাগড়া দিতে। কিন্তু মেইগ্রে তো প্রশান্ত আইসবার্গের মতো। একবার গতিপথ ঠিক করে ফেললে তাকে ঠেলে সরানো কি সহজ কাজ? দুটো চিরাচরিত সেট-পিস আছে এই উপন্যাসে - "তাবাক ফন্টেন" বারের এক কোনে বসে প্রায় পুরো একদিন ধরে ক্রিমিনালদের গতিবিধি লক্ষ্য করেন মেইগ্রে। আর দ্বিতীয় সেটপিসটি তার চিরন্তন সাইকোলজিকাল এনালাইসিস। সেখানে কোনান ডয়েল বা ক্রিস্টির গল্পের মতো কে কোথায় কখন ছিল, কে কি clue অসাবধানে ফেলে গেল, এইসব পোলাপাইন্না জিনিস যত না গুরুত্বপূর্ণ, তার থেকে ঢের বেশি জরুরী ক্রিমিনালকে বুঝতে পারা, তার মনের সাথে মিশে যাওয়া, এমন এক মানসিক স্তরে চলে যাওয়া যেখানে আপন ভাইয়ের মতোই জের্মা কাযেওর চরিত্র আর মোটিভেশন সমূহ উপলব্ধি করতে পারবেন মেইগ্রে। ৯১ সালে নীলক্ষেতের ফুটপাথ থেকে কেনা আমার সর্বপ্রথম বই ছিল সবুজ কভারের একটি সিমনোন। পকেটের ১০ টাকার সবটুকুই দিয়ে আসতে হয়েছিল, ভাড়ার টাকাও বাকি রাখেনি। আজ অবধি সেই মুহূর্তটিকে আমার জীবনের অন্যতম শ্রেষ্ঠ ডিসকভারি বলে বিবেচনা করি। ঢাকার সেই মুগ্ধ কিশোরও একদিন মরে ভূত হয়ে যাবে, কিন্তু সিমনোন আর তার অমর সৃষ্টি মেইগ্রে অবশ্যই বেঁচে থাকবেন, অবিনশ্বর হয়ে। detective family fiction ...more 5 likes Like Comment Jim 2,202 reviews 717 followers December 1, 2015 As far back as 1934, Georges Simenon wrote a book about Inspector Maigret in retirement, forced to return to the scene of his travails when his nephew Philippe, also with the police, maladroitly becomes accused of a murder he did not commit. Mme Maigret and her sister appeal to the retired detective to take matters in hand. But as a retired police officer, Maigret has no status except his outsize reputation: Maigret knew he was a thorn in everyone's side and that they would have liked to tell him to go to hell, but still he persisted. He stood there for ages, his massive bulk hovering over the chief, blocking his line of vision. Eventually the chief gave in and phone calls were made from one office to another. As if his ambiguous position were not bad enough, he is pitted against an unusually clever bank of gangsters who seem to be immune from prosecurtion. But, as we can surmise, Maigret eventually comes out ahead using a clever trick. This is a new translation by Ros Schwartz of a novel variously called in English Maigret or Maigret Returns . france mysteries simenon 5 likes Like Comment Pinko Palest 882 reviews 41 followers March 22, 2019 definitely not one of the best; felt quite laboured, and there was little in the setting or the characters. Almost like somebody else was writing this 4 likes Like Comment Elina 502 reviews February 25, 2017 Τί να πει κανείς για τον Επιθεωρητή Μαιγκρέ....αγαπώ πολύ 4 likes Like Comment Kenneth 1,061 reviews 60 followers February 28, 2022 Maigret has retired to the Loire Valley, but his wife's nephew, Philippe, shows up. He had gotten a job in Paris as a cop, but he has become a suspect in a murder. He claims to be innocent. Maigret goes with him back to Paris and the story proceeds from there. You see the seedy underbelly of Parisian life and one comes to understand how Philippe had gotten involved. Since Maigret is retired, he cannot investigate straightforwardly. Nevertheless, he moves forward, and justice is done. 3 likes Like Comment arcobaleno 637 reviews 157 followers February 29, 2020 Maigret implacabile e ostinato Maigret è in pensione e vive in campagna, dedicandosi alla cura delle sue piante e del suo giardino. Una "disavventura" capitata allo sprovveduto nipote lo costringe a tornare a Parigi, più per amore verso la moglie che per suo dovere di zio. E a bazzicare, suo malgrado e spesso mal visto nell'ambiente, i suoi vecchi colleghi. Gli avvenimenti non sono complicati e non ci sono scene efferate. Ma sono proprio la freschezza della storia, la razionalità del racconto, la spontaneità dei personaggi, gli accenni discreti e lirici ai luoghi e ai rumori delle vie parigine,... che attraggono e coinvolgono come possono fare i buoni romanzi, indipendentemente dal loro "colore". Da non sottovalutare, poi, la semplicità della scrittura che ritengo in assoluto un pregio e che mi ha permesso, in questo caso, di godere della lettura in lingua originale. Con l'edizione Adelphi accanto, mi sono poi divertita a tradurre le parole per me inusuali e a interpretare direttamente i modi di dire, affidandomi ad Elena Callegari. - Di solito lei lavora calandosi nella vita della gente, tenendo conto della mentalità delle persone, finanche di quello che gli è successo vent'anni prima, più che degli indizi. Ma in questo caso ci troviamo di fronte a individui di cui sappiamo pressoché tutto... letteraturastraniera noir-giallo 3 likes Like Comment Richard 1,972 reviews 166 followers May 30, 2015 As we know at this time of Simenon's writing Maigret has retired; whether it was his intention to pension him off full time I'm glad he changed his mind eventually. Here however the former detective is in a difficult position. Called in by his sister-in-law to save his nephew from a murder charges, he still commands respect from his former colleagues but has no power and the criminals know he may still have a bark but he has no bite. The author therefore plays with this frustration and Maigret seems unable to break the case even though it is clear guilt lies elsewhere, no-one will grass within the criminal gang. Maigret's usual skills and methods are not helpful since he cannot question directly; his intuition wasted as he cannot get the proof he requires to exonerate his relation. This is a very interesting book, seeing Magret almost a comic figure, impotent to change events. He tries to get involved with the main players but they keep him on the outside, away from the truth, so that he is no better than a spectator. How Maigret finally understands his man is another great insight into his character and a must to read for all fans of these books. own 3 likes Like Comment Martha 79 reviews December 7, 2015 When Margaret Atwood said in the New York Times column "By the Book" that one of the books she was reading was Georges Simenon's Maigret, I decided to take this as a tip to read a good book. Soon I was reading about the detective she called "gritty." I had read Holmes, Poirot, Marple, and Nero Wolfe, but I had never heard of Maigret. This 1934 novel is one of dozens of novels and short stories built around the character. Maybe he is gritty, but I would more likely call his shrewd, intuitive, and a seeker of justice. The story is simple -- Maigret's nephew Philippe is going to be arrested for a crime he didn't commit. Philippe takes a taxi from Paris to the Loire to get his retired uncle to come back to Paris to assist him. Maigret assesses the situation and figures out a way to expose the truth -- and that is the story. Juxtaposed to a 2015 detective story, it is sparse, but you will soon be a fan of this new/old detective. 3 likes Like Comment Russ Hall Author 59 books 32 followers January 12, 2016 A retired to the countryside Maigret returns to Paris to extricate his nephew from the charge of murder. But he is no longer chief inspector, and has little clout and few real friends on the Police Judiciare. But he knows his way around Paris, and working from a hotel he is soon smoking his pipe, drinking a libation, and on the path of a well-alibied leader of a drug ring. 3 likes Like Comment David 261 reviews 3 followers April 8, 2016 This is the second book of Simenon's I've read. The man was more prolific than Stephen King, but better at plot. I don't much care for mysteries, and this book didn't make me like them any better. fiction 3 likes Like Comment Anne 416 reviews July 6, 2016 A little convoluted and far-fetched in plot but I loved the descriptions of a Maigret battling between the desire to stay in retirement and the pull of his love of criminal police work. 3 likes Like Comment Jack Laschenski 649 reviews 7 followers October 19, 2016 Vintage Maigret. Back in Paris after retirement trying to rescue his policeman nephew who is accused of murder. Twists and turns. 3 likes Like Comment Steven Heywood 348 reviews 3 followers April 17, 2017 A neat novella in which Maigret almost literally sleepwalks his way to a solution, a study in the art of patiently doing nothing very loudly to provoke a fatal error. 3 likes Like Comment Adi 857 reviews May 7, 2017 Not as good as some of the other Maigret novels I've read, but it was still interesting. 3 likes Like Comment Jack 2,699 reviews 26 followers May 22, 2017 Maigret, retired, returns to Paris to assist a relative, despite the resistance of some former colleagues. 3 likes Like Comment arcobaleno 637 reviews 157 followers February 29, 2020 Implacable et obstiné Maigret è in pensione e vive in campagna, dedicandosi alla cura delle sue piante e del suo giardino. Una "disavventura" capitata allo sprovveduto nipote lo costringe a tornare a Parigi, più per amore verso la moglie che per suo dovere di zio. E a bazzicare, suo malgrado e spesso mal visto nell'ambiente, i suoi vecchi colleghi. Gli avvenimenti non sono complicati e non ci sono scene efferate. Ma sono proprio la freschezza della storia, la razionalità del racconto, la spontaneità dei personaggi, gli accenni discreti e lirici ai luoghi e ai rumori delle vie parigine,... che attraggono e coinvolgono come possono fare i buoni romanzi, indipendentemente dal loro "colore". Da non sottovalutare, poi, la semplicità della scrittura che ritengo in assoluto un pregio e che mi ha permesso, in questo caso, di godere della lettura in lingua originale. Con l'edizione Adelphi accanto, mi sono poi divertita a tradurre le parole per me inusuali e a interpretare direttamente i modi di dire, affidandomi ad Elena Callegari. - D'habitude, vous vous mêlez à la vie des gens; vous vous occupez davantage de leur mentalité et même de ce qui leur est arrivé vingt ans auparavant, que d'indices matériels. Ici nous sommes en face de zèbres dont nous connaissons à peu près tout... francese letteraturastraniera noir-giallo 2 likes Like Comment Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) 2,106 reviews 217 followers January 26, 2018 First published in 1934, this installment shows that Simenon was getting tired of his MC, or perhaps just running out of ideas. Without warning he has thrust Maigret into late middle age and retirement, underscoring his tiredness, his unwillingness to return to Paris from his country cottage and fishing, and his lack of influence in the Quai des Orfevres. This lack of influence doesn't stop him from haring off back to the city to rescue "Phillipe", Mme Maigret's hapless nephew who has joined the force and put his foot in it in fine style, to the point of being accused of murder. It was rather distressing to discover that "Philippe" (in later novels "Paul", and working concurrently with a non-retired Maigret) was originally a redhead, instead of the dark and debonair Paul he morphed into. But never mind, Simenon gaily changed Madame's name from Henriette to Louise and moved her back and forth at will, from being originally from Alsace to being born in Belgium without batting an eye. I really didn't enjoy the first half of this short novel, but Simenon's depiction of Maigret as a tired old has-been was very well done. That's what made it so unpleasant, being used to later novels where Maigret is energetic within his trademark stolidity. However, as the story progresses we are back to our man Jules living on pipe tobacco and alcohol in various forms (man, he drinks a lot!) and waking up more with each passing page. He has no jurisdiction, which made me wonder why the new "patron" didn't just show him the door and say, "That's your way, Granddad, don't let it hit you as you leave." I guess when you're a legend on the Force they cut you some slack--unrealistic as that would be in real life. The wrap was bizarre, especially if the reader is unaware of how telephones worked in the thirties, but at least the book ended better than it began, instead of the other way round as is more common. 1920s-1930s not-up-to-standard roman-policier 2 likes Like Comment Nick Jones 336 reviews 5 followers November 28, 2017 Although it later become the convention of the series to have Maigret’s name in the title, the earlier ones didn’t (although the later English translations often included his name): this is the first one that proclaimed itself as a Maigret novel with the simple title Maigret. But I read it in an old Penguin edition, translated by Margaret Ludwig as Maigret Returns. In the previous book in the series Maigret had retired to live in the country, but now he ‘returns’: his nephew, a young police officer, has been framed for a murder and Maigret sets off to Paris to sort it out. But, of course, he isn’t a police officer any longer and those now running his old office don’t want him interfering. Typically this isn’t a whodunit, Maigret quickly realises what has happened and who is behind the murder, the problem is to prove it, especially as he has no official support from the police. Maigret tries to push events along by niggling the suspects, but he is largely frustrated – and it is only when he gets some official support that things turn in his favour. There is a certain variation in the usual format because of Maigret’s lack of official position, but overall I found it one of the lesser Maigret novels. I wonder if Simenon was trying to bring the series to a close and only continued because of commercial pressures – and he wasn’t going to write another for eight years. 2 likes Like Comment Bookread2day 2,375 reviews 63 followers July 26, 2018 Retired Inspector Maigret's, nephew Philippe has travelled from Paris to see his Uncle Maigret. Philippe knocks on his door in the middle of the night. Philippe is in big trouble and needs his Uncle to help him. Philippe explains to his Uncle Maigret that he was hiding out in the toilets of a club until all the customers had left, when he heard gunshot and finds Pepito who works in the club dead. Philippe then did something so stupid that he is sure that he will get arrested for a murder he did not commit and wants his Uncle Maigret to help him find out who really killed Pepito and why. Retired Inspector Maigret once again finds him self in the familar Police Headquarters in Paris, helping clear his nephew's name and finding out who really shot Pepito and why. Georges Simenon is a writer who, more than any other crime novelist, combined writes with a high literary reputation with popular appeal. 2 likes Like Comment Nanosynergy 746 reviews 3 followers October 9, 2015 The nephew of now-retired Inspector Maigret is a police officer in Paris working in Maigret's former department. The nephew is accused of killing a criminal during a stakeout - and Maigret returns to Paris to prove his nephew is innocent. Without authority to investigate, Maigret faces significant challenges in his attempts to clear his nephew. Not unsurprising given there are about 70-some books in this series, to find the next installment pulls Maigret from his French countryside retirement back to Paris to investigate a crime. And what can be sufficiently strong enough motivation than to save a nephew whom he helped get the job. But there are possible hints that Maigret may want back into the game. 2015read fiction fiction-1930s ...more 2 likes Like Comment John Frankham 673 reviews 12 followers April 9, 2017 The nineteenth Maigret (these written between between 1931 and 1934), and in this one Maigret has retired to the country and comes back to Paris when his nephew, a rookie policemen, is suspected of murder. I imagine that Simenon had decided to finish Maigret, just as Conan Doyle tried to do the same with Sherlock Holmes. The next one was not until, 1940, and in the end there were 75! This one is superb again, with the characters of the worlds of nightclubs and the underworld displayed in all their grimness. And Maigret solves this with a true tour de force. Great. crime-detective 2 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote 1 discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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The Murder Room: The Heirs of Sherlock Holmes Gather to Solve the World's Most Perplexing Cold Cases by Michael Capuzzo | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $14.99 Rate this book The Murder Room: The Heirs of Sherlock Holmes Gather to Solve the World's Most Perplexing Cold Cases Michael Capuzzo 3.63 4,560 ratings 720 reviews Want to read Kindle $14.99 Rate this book Thrilling, true tales from the Vidocq Society, a team of the world's finest forensic investigators whose monthly gourmet lunches lead to justice in ice-cold murders Three of the greatest detectives in the world--a renowned FBI agent turned private eye, a sculptor and lothario who speaks to the dead, and an eccentric profiler known as "the living Sherlock Holmes"-were heartsick over the growing tide of unsolved murders. Good friends and sometime rivals William Fleisher, Frank Bender, and Richard Walter decided one day over lunch that something had to be done, and pledged themselves to a grand quest for justice. The three men invited the greatest collection of forensic investigators ever assembled, drawn from five continents, to the Downtown Club in Philadelphia to begin an audacious quest: to bring the coldest killers in the world to an accounting. Named for the first modern detective, the Parisian eugène François Vidocq-the flamboyant Napoleonic real-life sleuth who inspired Sherlock Holmes-the Vidocq Society meets monthly in its secretive chambers to solve a cold murder over a gourmet lunch. The Murder Room draws the reader into a chilling, darkly humorous, awe-inspiring world as the three partners travel far from their Victorian dining room to hunt the ruthless killers of a millionaire's son, a serial killer who carves off faces, and a child killer enjoying fifty years of freedom and dark fantasy. Acclaimed bestselling author Michael Capuzzo's brilliant storytelling brings true crime to life more realistically and vividly than it has ever been portrayed before. It is a world of dazzlingly bright forensic science; true evil as old as the Bible and dark as the pages of Dostoevsky; and a group of flawed, passionate men and women, inspired by their own wounded hearts to make a stand for truth, goodness, and justice in a world gone mad. Genres Nonfiction True Crime Mystery Crime History Mystery Thriller Science ...more 426 pages, Hardcover First published January 1, 2008 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Michael Capuzzo 14 books 40 followers Michael Capuzzo is a syndicated animal columnist and author of "Wild Things". Formerly a feature writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer and Miami Herald, Capuzzo has written for Esquire, Life, and Sports Illustrated. His numerous awards include the National Headliner Award and his animal stories have been honored by the ASPCA and American Humane Association. He lives in Wenonah, New Jersey. A four-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, his recent bestseller, "Close to Shore: A True Story of Terror in an Age of Innocence", tells the blood-curdling truth about the deranged great white shark that became the prototype for the villian of Peter Benchley's "Jaws". Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.63 4,560 ratings 720 reviews 5 stars 1,133 (24%) 4 stars 1,484 (32%) 3 stars 1,270 (27%) 2 stars 472 (10%) 1 star 201 (4%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 721 reviews Dorothea 227 reviews 74 followers October 29, 2012 I was very excited about The Murder Room -- before I began reading it. It purports to be nonfiction, describing the efforts of the Vidocq Society to solve interesting "cold cases" -- crimes which the officials have given up on. The Vidocq Society, founded in 1990, is not a club for amateur detectives; its members are required to have well-regarded professional experience in criminal investigation. I had just read Connie Fletcher's Every Contact Leaves a Trace , which collects real crime-scene experts' descriptions of their work. This fascinated me, especially in contrast to the fictional detective stories I've read in which one clever amateur solves the case with a brilliant insight. In reality, it seems, most mystery-solving is done through strict procedure, in which all details of a crime pass under the observation of maybe dozens of people. I hoped that unsolved cases re-investigated in the 1990s and 2000s by a large group of experts would combine the realism of CSI procedure with the exciting deductions of fictional detectives. I expected that The Murder Room would be a paean to group effort, to the value of new science, new methods of documentation and analysis, and the combined knowledge of specialists working for a common purpose. I thought that, surely, an author who chose to write about this subject would be a person who aspires to mental organization, clarity, and accuracy. No. Of course, a person who writes about this subject could instead value sensationalism, cliffhangers, atmosphere. This person might believe that the best way to interest an audience in the work of a group is to select three members of it to be the Protagonists whose dominant and unusual (read: hackneyed) characters drive all the action. This person might be so attracted by the idea of mythical archetypes being built into the human psyche that he forces allusions to King Arthur into his narrative. This person might be so addicted to adjectives, adverbs, and epithets as a way to impress sophistication and dramatic urgency on the reader that he chooses not to refrain from describing things as "sartorial" and "penultimate" even when it is perfectly clear that he has no idea what those words mean. This person might find that blondeness is a trait that enhances a murder victim's pathos, and that gazing appreciatively at a waitress's legs is a behavior that raises a protagonist in the reader's esteem. This person, it seems, is Michael Capuzzo. I am not in his target audience. 30 likes Like Comment Diane in Australia 668 reviews 816 followers August 29, 2018 I really enjoyed this book. It's about a team of forensic investigators, called the Vidocq Society, whose monthly meetings seek to bring justice to cold-case murders. Leading this group are 3 dynamic men - forensic sculptor, Frank Bender; FBI and U.S. Customs agent, William Fleisher; and forensic psychologist/profiler, Richard Walter. The 82 members of the Vidocq Society are chosen from the best minds worldwide. I found each of the founding members to be VERY interesting individuals. You get a chance to learn a bit about them, on a personal level, and how they got involved in creating the Vidocq Society. Frank Bender is especially intriguing. I know a lot of the other reviewers are complaining about purple prose, lack of editing, etc. ... but I'd wade through all that, just to read about these men, and their drive to solve cases. I didn't find any of the above mentioned faults to be a distraction. I was too immersed in the topic. 4 Stars = It touched my heart, and/or gave me much food for thought. nonfiction-crime 25 likes Like Comment Brian 649 reviews 283 followers March 17, 2011 (3.0) Very interesting subject, could use a little more editing and reorganizing I heard about this book on the radio (probably Fresh Air, safe bet) and was immediately intrigued. The best of the world of investigation and forensics coming together to solve the toughest (or just covered-up) murders around. The book mostly lives up to this so was enjoyable, but has some flaws that could've been improved with editorial input. First, there are many instances of quotations recycled a couple of times throughout the book. I had many feelings of deja vu as I encountered the same sentiment 30 pages apart. The first instance of this was a comment that Frank Bender (forensic sculptor extraordinaire) made about how well his wife and girlfriend get along, and that he doesn't want to upset them so he doesn't bring home any women that they don't approve of. There were then many more, usually quoting the speaker in one case, then paraphrase in another, but the effect is still sloppy. More significant though was the organization. I didn't like the structure; in fact, I was about 100 pages in and still wondering what the structure was. It turns out to be a few vignettes of crime to establish the motivation for the sleuths, some biographical narrative of the three founding members, then the history of the establishment of the Vidocq Society intertwined with cold cases they work on and usually solve. Soon the history of the Society wanes and cold cases dominate the narrative, but they still intertwine. The cold cases come and go, leaving you hanging (not in a good suspenslike way, more of a wait-is-this-a-new-case-or-an-old-case-I'm-not-really-following way). I'm sure he's trying to "recreate for the reader the effect of being haunted by unsolved cases"...something the law enforcement all say they've experienced. But it didn't enhance the reading, just meant it was difficult to juggle all of the corpses and psychopaths at once and was, again, sloppy. I was also a bit disappointed not to see any of the Vidocq Society's failures. We hear about the amazing breaks in cases that seem to imply psychic powers belonging to some of the sleuths. It became a little fantastic because every mystery is solved, and usually by Richard Walters (forensic psychologist) within a minute or so of hearing the case background. It all became a lot less believable when we don't see them hit dead ends. Still quite entertaining though, so I enjoyed. 19 likes Like Comment Davie 162 reviews September 21, 2010 Wow -- if I had even read one page of this thing in the bookstore before buying it, I would still have my $$$. This book is truly horrifying. Examples: "A tear of hatred slowly trilled down his cheek" "Walter was unsurpassed in his understanding of the darkest regions of the heart" "After four courses served hot, Antoine LeHavre was ready for revenge, served ice cold" and then on the next page, "As strong as his feelings were, [LeHavre] didn't want revenge, only justice." Ass-kissing abounds. If a detective once sang in their elementary school glee club, they have the voice of an angel. If they ever glanced at a picture of a soccer ball, then they could have been in the Olympics if only they weren't too busy fake-solving crimes. Capuzzo 100%, unquestioningly ascribes to the Great Man Theory of history/crime solving, and seems to think the idea of questioning or verifying whatever his Great Men say would be no less than a slur on their honor. One of the first chapters is titled, "The Man Who Got Away With Murder", and it concludes with one of the renowned detectives accusing the *very person* seeking justice for the crime of being the murderer (twist!). The accused "murderer" walks away, and the accusing detective gloats: "another murder solved". This is an awesome definition of solving a murder, because it means that I solve a hundred murders every year when I watch Law & Order and make random guesses about the killer. There is a small chance this whole thing is a parody, in which case, BRAVO. The book is almost worth reading in the same way that a D- horror movie can be mesmerizing -- but in the case of the godawful horror movie, no one is pretending to make a real contribution to an actual, horrendous crime that people want help with, and no one is profiting from someone else's authentic suffering. This book makes the world a worse place to live in. But really, shame on me. Malcolm Gladwell already called bullshit on FBI criminal profilers three years ago: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/20... Negative 5 stars. abandoned 10 likes Like Comment Carol 843 reviews 542 followers August 15, 2010 I feel creepy saying I loved this book that deals with murder. Maybe a better word would be fascinated but even that sounds crude in light of the subject matter. I know I'm not alone in wanting to know what makes someone who can kill, tick. I also have a thing for cold cases in both fiction and non-fiction so when I heard about The Murder Room by Michael Capuzzo, I knew it would be on my list. I had read Capuzzo's Close to Shore about a series of shark attacks in 1916 on the Jersey shore. Having read that I felt he had the credentials to pull this one off. The subtitle of The Murder Room, The Heirs of Sherlock Homes Gather to Solve the world's Most Perplexing Cold Cases is an excellent description of the premise of this look into the sleuths of The Vidocq Society. The society was the dream of three men, William Fleisher, Richard Walter, and Frank Bender, possibly the best of the world's crime solvers. Named for Eugène François Vidocq, the ground-breaking nineteenth century French detective who helped police by using the psychology of the criminal to solve "cold case" homicides, NPR calls this a dedicated group who solve mysteries over soup. Part one of The Murder Room invites you to a luncheon like no other. After a 5 course meal including such gourmet food as pork and mallard duck sausage hosted in an elegant hall with glittering eighteenth century chandeliers, coffee is served to backdrop images of the battered remains of a blond young man cast aside in a restaurant alley. I'm hooked. Capuzzo's style here, give the reader a teaser in each chapter, leave em' hanging for the outcome, and then providing closure somewhere down the road, if known, can be a bit frustrating at times. But liken this to the "not knowing"that the families of cold case victims live each and every day, sometimes forever, and I decided Capuzzo's method was fitting, if not a dead on perfect way to format this book. The Murder Room outlines many gut wrenching cases with many being solved but not all. What hits home loud and clear is the dedication and drive of the men and women who make up The Vidocq Society; professionals who will not rest until the case is closed, justice is done and the families know the victims have not been forgotten. Fascinating reading it is! non-fiction 7 likes Like Comment Christine 6,872 reviews 525 followers May 13, 2012 I found this book intersting because I live in Philly so I knew about some of the cases. Yet, some of the writing is all over the place, and the book loses steam. It need more of a coherent over-arcing something. It is too wide in scope and needs more focus. crime-and-trial home-cheeseteak-home 7 likes Like Comment Elizabeth (Alaska) 1,404 reviews 518 followers December 6, 2015 This is the story of the founding of the Vidocq Society and some of its success in solving cold cases. The Vidocq Society is named after Eugène François Vidocq. Vidocq is considered to be the father of modern criminology and of the French police department. He is also regarded as the first private detective. But it was Vidocq's remarkable story of redemption and his belief in the redemption of others that touched Fleisher most deeply. The chief cop of Paris was a great friend of the poor and said he would never arrest a man for stealing bread to feed his family. Vidocq was Hugo's model for Javert, the relentless detective in Les Misérables , as well as for Valjean, the ex-con who reforms and seeks redemption for his deeds. The Vidocq Society deals only with murder cases. In The Murder Room , you can expect the telling of these cases to be rather graphic. The book includes, in layman's language, the psychological makeup of some murderer types. The personalities of three of the founding detectives is also revealed in more detail than a few of the others whose work is also included. Some GR reviews have complained of the personalities and the telling of some of the private lives of the founding detectives themselves. Two of the founders, in particular, were not especially likeable. Frank Bender acted upon a very active sex drive, Richard Walter was especially confrontational in his use of language. In answer to a question about whether a police chief was satisfied with the Society, he replied "He was as happy as a pervert with two dicks." Thus, it can be expected that this book will have the reader engaging with the underside of life. Some have complained about what seems to be a haphazard organization and I admit that at first the book seemed to wander, but I came to understand it and realize any other presentation would have been chaotic. The timeline is a difficult one. There is the founding of the Society (in 1990), together with the background of the three founders, how they knew each other and how they worked with each other. Then there are the cold cases, which obviously happened in the past. The difficulty with this is that the Society encounters the cases in an entirely non-linear order. Cases but a few years cold might be presented before a case 20 or 30 years cold. Some cases were not solved in the first presentation, though the detectives continued to work on them and make progress. This progress is told to the reader in chronological order as Society members had new/better ideas or evidence. I rarely read true crime, but I was glad to have picked this up. twenty-first-century 6 likes Like Comment Robert J. Sullivan Author 15 books 9 followers June 20, 2011 I have to put in a warning here – I was unable to finish this book. Heck, I was unable to take it seriously enough to barely start it. The Vidocq Society is a real group of law enforcement professionals who get together informally to see if they can provide insight into cold crime cases. I'd heard of the society and occasionally read true crime books, so I decided to give it a try. The first chapter begins …. “The great hall was filled with the lingering aroma of pork and mallard duck sausage as black-vested waiters appeared, shouldering cups of vanilla bean blancmange …. the image of the corpse …. materialized in the center of the room.” Okay, Mr. Capuzzo, how do you know about the lingering aromas? Is the ventilation in the room that poor? As for the waiters 'shouldering cups of .. blancmange,' how large were these cups? Is it possible they were shouldering trays containing the cups? Is the image in the middle of the room a Star Wars 3D image, or did they project it on a screen? If it was in the middle of the room, how did the people on the other side see it? We go from there to 'eccentric, moody geniuses,' that one of the 'experts' is a psychic and another 'used the polygraph to … peer into the hearts of men … to redeem them.' That's who I want working on a murder case, psychics and polygraph experts, a technology that's so good it isn't allowed to be used in most legal cases. I wonder why they included these people; couldn't they find a reader of chicken entrails? Wouldn't the accused submit to trial by ordeal? I soldiered on for a few more pages, then dropped into the book at random, finally admitting defeat and giving up. In a true crime story, I expect the author to provide evidence. Capuzzo gives the reader dialogue I doubt happened (how many people these day use the word 'whilst?'), ascribes emotions to people, and frames it in language more suited to Victorian romance than non-fiction (baleful glares and flashing eyes). My b*llsh*t detector was pegging the needle. With writing like this, I find Capuzzo's evidence unconvincing. The Vidocq Society may do good work, but I was unwilling to scrape away Capuzzo's frosting to look underneath. 1 and a half stars. 6 likes Like Comment Jill Hutchinson 1,525 reviews 103 followers January 5, 2013 I almost gave this book five stars but was put off by some of the over the top purple prose that was totally unnecessary in a book of this type (or in any book for that matter). The book is the biography of the Vidocq Society, an organization made up of the world's greatest crime experts.....psychologists, police, FBI, medical examiners, polygraph operators, lawyers, etc. Membership is by invitation only and this group of international sleuths study cold cases and offer their assistance and advice to the local authorities. The author pays particular attention to the founders of the group, William Fleisher from law enforcement and an expert interrogator; Frank Bender a sculptor who "saw dead people" and sculpted their faces; and Richard Walter, a forensic psychologist known as the "living Sherlock Holmes". They are fascinating and quirky individuals who put their heart and soul into their work and who, along with the other Society members, solve 90% of the cases presented to them. Some of the cases may be familiar to the reader although the Vidocq Society may not be since they do not take credit for their work. A fascinating book. biography 6 likes Like Comment Kate 309 reviews October 16, 2010 I did enjoy reading this book. Its three main characters are fascinating guys, and the cases they work on are also fascinating. The book is useful to me in my own work, and there's a modest but solid selected bibiliography at the end that I'm glad to have. However. This book reads like a first draft rushed through to press. The lack of editing — and the dire need for editing — scream from every page. A couple hundred pages in, Capuzzo is reintroducing main characters as if they were brand new. That kind of repetition is all over the place, as is prose so purple that you'll crave Hemingway — or the phone book — for a breather. For example: "'A tear of hatred slowly trilled down the man's cheek,' the thin man noted. 'It was lovely.'" Noooooooooooo! There is a tightly organized, breathtaking narrative buried in there somewhere. Once I sighed and realized I had to read it like a manuscript, it was okay. But what the hell, Gotham Books? 6 likes Like Comment Kate 392 reviews 57 followers December 18, 2010 I listened to this on audiobook in the car, and for the first few hours I thought I had found the Best Audiobook Ever. I enjoyed the purple prose, and the characters and situations were so interesting and dramatic I thought it HAD to be fiction. In fact, I kept picking up the audiobook case (unsafe driving) and double-checking that it was, in fact, nonfiction. But pretty soon, I was picking up that case to confirm that my version wasn't abridged, because the story was so frustratingly jumpy that it was hard to follow -- and increasingly hard to care about. And by the end, I was picking up the case to see how many more CDs I had to get through, because the meandering, repetitive, gruesome and choppy story had worn me down to the point where I was finishing it out of obligation. Another reviewer said this felt like a rough draft, and I think that's right on. Generally, I loved all the parts with one of the real life characters, Richard Walter. And the narrator did a great job. I would say, pick this up and read/listen to the first half, and then move on. That's what I should have done. 4 likes Like Comment Cynthia 633 reviews 43 followers August 19, 2010 I sat down to read the first chapter of this book and never put it down again. There are three crime experts at the heart of the book. They formed a club that they named after the famous French criminal, Vidocq, turned crime fighter in 1833. The club has 82 members to coincide with Vidocq's age. Most interesting to me were the parts based on Richard Walter's criminal profiling. He's so precise with his profiles which are based on seemingly little information. He's able to pin point either who might have committed the murder and sometimes even finger the exact person. It's so hopeful to know there are people who use their skills to put old cases to bed and I imagine this helps give victim's family members peace. This is a nonfiction book that reads like a grim thriller. There are even literary references old and new. books-read-in-2010 5 likes Like Comment Kristen 2,352 reviews 69 followers February 1, 2013 This is an utterly fascinating, mesmerizing, but deeply disturbing book. Once again, a true story that reads like fiction nobody could possibly dream up. The murder room of the title is a location - which has changed through the years - in which the Vidoque Society meets on a monthly basis to discuss, and solve cold murder cases. The Society was created in 1990 by three undisputably brilliant criminal investigators: William Fleisher, Richard Walter, and Frank Bender. Although they have been dubbed - as the book's title notes - the heirs to Sherlock Holmes, the men felt more kinship with Eugène François Vidocq, a former criminal who ultimately turned to solving crimes and is considered the father of modern criminology. The book follows the Society as it grows from just the three founding members discussing their fury at the number of murders unsolved every year, and their righteous indignation at the lack of justice for the victims or their families. Ultimately, the Society grew to 82 members - the number of years in Vidoque's life, and became legendary at solving - although not always obtaining convictions - 90% of the cases they took on. They always worked pro bono, and never took on a case unless it was at least two years old, out of respect to the police forces in the case. They also rarely received any public credit for the many crimes they were instrumental in solving so it's hard not to admire what they accomplish. The real murders the book discusses are heinous to say the least, and I found myself wishing this WAS a work of fiction rather than a true story, because as Walter reminds us [quoting Nietzche] "If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you." If you are squeamish, this is probably not the book for you, because the examinations of the various murders the group investigates, and the amount of detail about the murders and the murderers are detailed, however, if you are a true crime fan, then you will probably not mind this, and will find the manner in which the three main characters profile and identify the killers fascinating. The additional interesting aspect to the book, is a biographical profile of the three men behind the Vidoque Society. Each of them, in addition to being brilliant investigators, also have abuse and drama in their formative years, but it allowed them to grow into men who were passionately, obssessively determined to obtain justice for murder victims who had never received it. Each of them are very odd individuals, with some serious quirks, but they are each likeable in their own unique way and I enjoyed learning about each of them, and tagging along in their lives, as much - maybe even a bit more - as I was intrigued following the murders they solved. The book is very detailed, and the author was given unprecedented access to the inner workings of the society so this is a comprehensive perspective on this very impressive society of crime fighters. I really enjoyed the book, despite the disturbing subject matter. If you are a true crime, or psychology fan, you may enjoy this book best-non-fiction favorites 4 likes Like Comment E. 8 reviews 9 followers April 15, 2014 What can I say? I don't intend to write a real review here, but I'd like to add a few comments. The Murder Room 's subject matter makes it interesting, but complaints that the majority of other readers have about this book, here and on Amazon, are valid. Capuzzo tries to make his prose evocative, moving, and lyrical, but the result is just purple. Details about the personal lives of the protagonists are repeated too many times, as if he wasn't sure exactly where in the book to place them. On the good side, Capuzzo excels at creating character portraits. I saw a photo of Fleisher, Bender, and Walter after I had read most of the book, and they each looked almost exactly as I had imagined them based on the way he described them. The dialogue is engaging; each is an interesting figure. In some chapters, the breathless prose still succeeds at creating a suspenseful atmosphere, and some moments in the book are genuinely chilling (for me, none more so than the description of a suspected killer's drawing of a murder, but a lot of the information about the Boy in the Box case was also unsettling). However, there are some really obvious issues of factual accuracy and consistency. Leisha Hamilton becomes "tall" (in the chapter where Walter visits her at work to confront her) after Capuzzo has described her several times as "petite and charming." At another point, Capuzzo describes an ancient Greek tragedy focusing on events around the Trojan War as having been written or taking place "seven centuries ago"; the Trojan War took place circa 1250 BCE and the play in question was first performed around 458 BCE. Richard Walter is described as visiting "from Pennsylvania" when the narrative strand that focuses on him has not yet covered his move to that area, and the reader should still be assuming that he's coming from Michigan. And when he's introduced, Walter is described in a way that makes him sound like he's British, so it's jarring to learn a few chapters later that he's actually originally from Washington State. The problem is that mixing up details like this, or presenting them this clumsily, casts doubt on anything Capuzzo says that I can't confirm with personal knowledge (or, if I'm really curious about it, research). Where else did he make assumptions or mix up his papers or lose part of the sense of his story by moving chapters around? This book was created with good intentions, has an interesting narrative, and is probably worth reading if it sounds interesting to you, but the editing is some of the shoddiest I've seen in a while. A final nitpick: Capuzzo misused the word "penultimate," which is one of those things that's on so many "frequently misused words" lists that it's depressing to see it get by any professional writer or editor. It doesn't mean "even more ultimate than ultimate," guys, it means "second to last." 4 likes Like Comment Lamadia 600 reviews 23 followers November 27, 2015 I found this book strangely put together. Every single time a chapter finished at the end of the page, I was surprised to turn the page and find that the chapter had ended. None of the chapters felt like they were done. They felt like they were put in haphazardly and without order. There were a couple chapters in the middle that were really short and seemed to reintroduce the people you had already spent a lot of time reading about. Some of the phrases were even repeated in their entirety like the chapter wasn't meant to stay in and was overlooked during editing. The style was overly florid and ridiculous. The fact that it was supposed to be fact made it even worse. I'm sorry, but you cannot get from an interview the details of what the person thought the scenery was looking like in florid prose during something that happened years ago. None of these guys are going to be talking like this, so clearly some of the details were enhanced by what the author thought would set the scene. It was written as if it was fiction with internal thoughts of people he couldn't possibly have spoken to and the most annoying descriptions of people. Every new chapter would reintroduce the same people through description to an annoying degree. When you've spent hundreds of pages with these people, you don't need to start each chapter calling him "the thin man". We know his name already. I know that often real people are too ridiculous to be believable. It's the old saw "truth is stranger than fiction", but the manner in which they were described and presented made them seem beyond ridiculous. He should be tamping down the amount of "best" and "most amazing" types of descriptions. It just makes everyone in the book seem like an arrogant prick. The chapters needed to be reorganized and not so choppy, the style needed to be less florid and over the top. There needed to be less about how awesome these people were so that it doesn't seem like he's blowing smoke up their asses. The true crime parts were very interesting and is the only thing that made this book worth finishing. If only it had been written in a completely different style that wasn't amazingly frustrating. He also misuses "penultimate". mystery nonfiction true-crime 4 likes Like Comment Wayne McCoy 4,063 reviews 25 followers February 20, 2011 Have you ever read a book that was written in a way that drove you crazy, and yet you slogged through it because the subject matter was so compelling? The Murder Room is one of those books. This is a non-fiction book about the Vidocq Society, a group of amazing crime fighting minds, who gather monthly for a sumptuous meal and the chance to solve a cold case brought to them by a police agency or private individual. The Society has 3 founding members, a forensic artist, a criminal psychologist and a man referred to as "the living Sherlock Holmes." The Society is named after Eugène François Vidocq a crook turned cop from the 18th century who is considered to be the inspiration for Poe's character Inspector Daupin and influential on the creation of Sherlock Holmes. The book details how the society was formed, gives good biographical details about the three founding members and deals with some of the cases they have worked on over the years. Fascinating stuff, right? But... Within 20 pages of starting this book, I wanted to throw it down in disgust. The author deploys a pulp writing style that seems a bit disrespectful of it's subject matter. I actually almost counted the number of times I encountered the word 'buxom' within the first 100 pages. The chapters all start in a way that makes many of them feel like individual short stories. How many times do we need to be introduced to the 3 main characters of the book that we've read about for the past 300 pages? The cases presented are, I assume, in chronological order. This means that complete case histories are scattered amongst chapters, leading you to follow multiple threads at the same time. Really poor structure. I did stick it out, and I am glad I did. The case that overshadows the whole book is about a young boy found in a box in a field in 1957. To this day, that case has never been solved, and it provides much of the impetus for the book and what drives these men. The Society is a fascinating idea. They do solve many cases, but some are merely academic as there may not be enough inherent evidence to convict. This book gets a 2 for writing and a 5 for subject matter. I would like to read a much better book about this subject matter. non-fiction 3 likes Like Comment Katherine Addison Author 17 books 3,124 followers December 31, 2020 This is not a very good book. The prose is frequently purple, the mood is hagiographic, and Capuzzo expects his readers to find Frank Bender---portrayed as a kind of wild priapic psychic man-child---as charming as he does. Reader, I did not. There's also this completely weird-ass thing with King Arthur and Capuzzo burbling about Joseph Campbell and the archetype (sorry, I think I need that in quotes, the "archetype") of the king, the knight, and the wizard, as if it maps onto the 3 founders of the Vidocq Society. It's a painful stretch, and as far as I'm concerned, he would have done better to check the mysticism at the door. So this is a history of the Vidocq Society, which is a social club for elite detectives. They get together once a month for a gourmet lunch and a cold case, and in general help victims' families try to get justice. It's also a partial biography of the three men, Frank Bender, William Fleisher, and Richard Walter, who founded the Society. I found Capuzzo's attempts to bring his three principals to life annoying and would have preferred a far tighter focus on the cases and a less fancy, more chronological approach. He does a fine job of recounting the cold cases and the process by which the Society do or do not succeed in convicting the various murderers. This book also felt, not necessarily misogynistic, but very man-focused. There ARE female members of the Vidocq Society, and a few of them even get speaking roles. Maybe it's just because he's focused so hard on Fleisher, Bender, and Walter, but I felt excluded from the text in a way that I don't usually, even in books with all, or almost all male casts. (I'm not saying that there should be more women in the book. I'm saying that it's possible to write about one gender without making the other genders feel unwelcome.) Maybe it's the archetype he's chosen, which certainly has no room for women in it. 20th-century 21st-century library 3 likes Like Comment Michelle 811 reviews 79 followers May 30, 2014 Dear Slow and Horrible Computer, Thank you for deleting my review. I effing hate you. I wrote three whole paragraphs of feelings that included: how fascinating William Fleisher, Frank Bender, and Richard Walter are, but how uneven the author was in covering our three main characters (need more cool Fleisher stories, yo) how compelling/disturbing these cases are, especially for me, a person that might watch crazy L&O sh*t, but generally stays away from real cases because I know they will scare the bejeesus out of me. Mission accomplished. I will never forget the words of a cannibal to the victim's mother. how we needed to conclude things better with the Boy in the Box case/maybe not feature it in the book so much since it's STILL not solved. I understand this is nonfiction, we can't have our pretty bows sometimes, but c'mon, even Capote took some liberties with the ending of In Cold Blood (to be reviewed soon, I just finished it yesterday). how I hate that Katy Perry song that mentions Jeffrey Dahmer. Katy Perry and Guy Rapping Whose Name I Will Never Bother to Figure Out, do you know what Dahmer did to his victims? Have some damn respect for the victims and their families, you jerks. Read this book if you need just a little more info. how intrigued I am to learn more about Capuzzo's research methods. And did he like Richard Walter best of all? Because that man got the best one-liners and comes across as the most fascinating and intelligent of the bunch. I keep thinking about his perspectives on psychopaths and serial killers...He probably loathes this sort of fangirling. Hmm. I ended up writing more the second time around. Count yourself lucky, Slow and Horrible Computer from Hell. Love, Michelle 3 likes Like Comment Melinda Elizabeth 1,150 reviews 12 followers June 19, 2011 I really wanted to give this book more credit. However the three stars provided was for the idea of the book moreso than the actual execution of it. I agree with many other readers who have mentioned that the book is all over the place, and with the right finesse, this wouldn't have been an issue, but with the various murders being spoken about throughout the book it makes it hard to recall which one is which. You started in the present, then it jumped to the three main characters as kids, then to the future, then to this priest, then back to the boy in the box, and on and on. The most frustrating part of the book for me was its ending, which really wasn't an ending at all. Had I been reading this book on the kindle, rather than in paper format, I truly would have felt that I had a corrupted file and was missing the last few chapters. Considering the build up to the boy in the box (and is significance was repeated somewhat annoyingly throughout the book) to leave it as the book did felt like a bit of an insult. And why did the book keep on referring to RIchard Walter as "the thin man"? why not just call him by his freaking name? I think a good third of the book was spent descibing "the thin man" smoking "kool's" and "scowling". If that was the way they wanted to describe the characters, perhaps a little more about Bender being the "Sex maniac psychic" would have been called for. If you want an educated understanding of the Vidocq Society, this book is not for you. If you would like to read about the "thin man", and are looking for a present day equivalent to Sherlock Holmes (and I assume this is a large selling point for the author as again, it is mentioned plenty) then you may enjoy the book. 3 likes Like Comment Anita Dalton Author 2 books 164 followers February 22, 2012 If you read just one tiresome, unorganized true crime book that reveals little while saying a lot, don't make it this one. Crappy books are crappy books but I'm sure even with these negative qualifiers, you could still do better than this. This book is so poorly arranged and utterly forgettable that a couple of weeks later all I can remember is Frank Bender making that bust of John List and I knew that before I read this book so really, it wasn't worth the time I spent trying to make sense of the disjointed timeline as Capuzzo discusses several cases at one, sliding into a new one without any real attempt to allow the reader to keep up with him. And nothing is better than pages and pages and pages about the infamous Boy in the Box case wherein the author does the literary version of the movie High Tension, not once, but twice. He gives us two relatively intensive profiles of who may have killed the boy, including a creepy discussion of a foster mother who kept the boy in the basement for her own amusement only to go all YOINKS! Just kidding, this is what may have happened, pay no attention to that strange, sickening, intense profile I just gave you. Really, this book is a turd. Polish it if you want, but ultimately, Capuzzo did the Vidocq society no favors with this hot mess. books-we-own forensics non-fiction ...more 3 likes Like Comment Melissa Bond Author 13 books 23 followers January 17, 2011 Some of the best detectives in the world have enough stories to tell to keep readers gripping the pages, turning to the next one to see what happens next. However, this book was attempted to be told in literary fashion, but unfortunately in dealing with real life, there is a delicate balance to keep it tightly woven to flow nicely. This book was a mess, with the events going back and forth, miles apart from each other, taking the reader away from what was most wanted, the facts. It read like fiction, and too many times I found myself frustrated, wanting the author to "get on with it" and reveal the history of the Vidocq Society, their most compelling cases and how they worked in a world full of uncertainty and evil. Ultimately, I was left unsatisfied, even questioning if I was reading true history or some made up fascination of notable crime solvers. This made me suspect that Capuzzo did not have all the facts or full insight to accurately recount the cases mentioned, because on some, I have heard more about them from television specials alone. 3 likes Like Comment Emmy 63 reviews 7 followers December 31, 2018 The book deals with formation of the Vidoq Society in Philadelphia by three dedicated participants: • Frank Bender: Forensics sculptor: talented, ex-boxer, questionable sex-drive, funny, hedonistic • William Fleisher: the Founder if the society. FBI, gifted networker, genial • Richard Walter: Psychologist and profiler: very serious, no fun, cynic The narrative is alternating between three main themes: 1- the cold cases/crimes 2- the main characters and their backstories 3- the Vidoq Society and its history The presentation of the cases were many a time interrupted by another theme and were not picked up until a few chapters later. This broke the continuity and Some if the cases were not brought to an end. However I found the book to be a great read. It was the start to read more about the Vidoq Society and its principals. 2018 3 likes Like Comment Ellen Laverdure 15 reviews September 18, 2015 So, I REALLY wanted to like this book. But it was sort of crazy, like a B movie in black and white, where the tough guys and all the cops speak out the sides of their mouths. Made it pretty well through - this was on audio. Did a lot of cooking to it. But like old gum, I finally had to rip it out and toss it. Phew. Feel much better now! 3 likes Like Comment Stacia 884 reviews 118 followers Shelved as 'abandoned' May 11, 2020 This is a non-fiction book, but it reminded me of Jeannette Walls' book Half Broke Horses in that it may be a mix of fact & fiction. Walls did that type of writing skillfully & (as I remember) said that was what she was doing in the beginning of the book. Capuzzo did not say that but there's no way he would know some of the details or quotes he puts (imo), so I feel like he's elaborating on fact to make the story better. I don't necessarily mind that but it feels disingenuous since there's no acknowledgement of it (from what I've seen so far). It's about the Vidocq Society & that part is quite fascinating. I've now spent some time reading Wikipedia & the group's own webpage about who they are, what they do, etc. The writing is not great & the mix of fact & fiction takes away from it, imo. I've seen similar comments on Goodreads. Where was the editor? 2 likes Like Comment Mike 511 reviews 135 followers April 29, 2011 This is an excellent book about an amazing group of people and well-written to boot. I must confess that I snagged it off the shelf because it is a "detection"-themed book, but never looked closer than the title/subtitle; as a result it took me a while to figure out that it was not fiction! But, in my defense, I thought that the author was just doing a superb job of story-telling, which, of course, he was. The key figures in this book are probably better known to the average person who watches news magazine shows or "America's Most Wanted" (which I don't). As there are several examples of their interaction with that TV show in the pages. The author spent a lot of time (over several years) getting knowledge and history out of several of the members of the organization. His effort has clearly paid off. I don't want to put any spoilers in this review, but forget what fiction TV shows or books have taught you about criminals, profiling, and solving crimes - this book will set you straight. It's part biography, part criminology, part history and all public service. The people involved are not part of any "Sherlock Holmes" group, instead they formed their own organization, honoring the first real-world detective. Taking inspiration both from his life and his methods, they began with a "fraternity", but evolved into a force for good and justice. The people and their accomplishments seem larger-than-life, yet it is all true. There are some nasty details, but for the most part such things are described or alluded to more than pushed into your face. If for no other reason than to enjoy a well-crafted book, pick this one up, read it, and decide for yourself. 2 likes Like Comment Christine 941 reviews 36 followers December 31, 2012 Frank Bender, a forensic sculptor, Richard Walter, criminal profiler and U.S. Customs Agent William Fleischer are as different as three individuals can be, yet they share one thing in common; an unwavering desire to find the truth about crimes. Together they formed the Vidocq society. Named after the French “father of criminology” they invite law enforcement specialists from all over the world to their monthly luncheon meetings in Philadelphia, where along with the meal the society is served cold cases. They have rules and standards and never get involved with ongoing investigations. They must be invited by the local authorities where the case took place and do not involve themselves in cases such as gang related activities. The Vidocq society has been featured on television shows such as America’s Most Wanted and ABC’s Dateline and 48 Hours. If you are a fan of either of those shows or find yourself watching CSI or Criminal Minds this is a book you want to pick up. Well written and well documented the only complaint I have is that the book is a little disjointed. The reader is introduced immediately to the case of the “Boy in the Box” yet must wait until the final pages of the book to discover the murderer. The thread is carried throughout the book, interspersed with biographies of the criminologists and other cases. Despite that one flaw (in my humble opinion) this book is truly fascinating. A must read for true crime enthusiasts. 2012-reads 2 likes Like Comment Pattie O'Donnell 323 reviews 30 followers October 6, 2010 It could have been SO much better. I heard the author interviewed on a local NPR show, and he made me want to go right out and get the book. But it wasn't what I expected, based on hearing the author. We could have done with a lot less about Walter and Bender, and more about the other members, as well as more details about how the Vidoq Society solved (or were unable to solve) the crimes that they analyzed. If there had been a drinking game where you had to take a sip of beer every time the author mentioned or described Frank Bender's libido, you'd be on the way to the ER with alcohol poisoning before you were half-finished - so OK - we get it - the guy is a brilliant horndog. Good for him. Now let's hear a little more about that trailblazing forensic dentist you mentioned in passing, or what exactly Walter was teaching his state-police protoge.... And the "Boy in the Box" case description was a just a mess. mystery non-fiction 2 likes Like Comment Stacy 208 reviews 18 followers May 19, 2023 Really nice book about the Vidocq Society, a symposium of law enforcement and forensic specialists who got (get?) together to solve cold cases. Frank Bender was a founding member, and his bust of John List resulted in List's capture and prosecution. His partner-in-solving-crime was Richard Walter, a forensic psychologist. The book explores several of the many cases they and the Vidocq Society helped solve. No idea if the Society is still active, but its very existence should give crime and comic writers some great story ideas. And these guys did a lot of good. Read it. EDIT: Welp, it turns out Richard Walter is a fraud who made up many of his credentials, and got some innocent people put in prison from his "expert-fu." And now Capuzzo blogs about conspiracy theories. I've changed the rating to one star and would encourage everyone to AVOID this book. It's bullshit. books-read-2016 nonfiction true-crime 2 likes Like Comment Kimberly 566 reviews 38 followers November 20, 2018 It took me a while to get into this book. There were times that I found it repetitive and aimless. But I think that was due, in part, to the author’s attempt to write the story in an historical timeline. The result was that an investigation started in one chapter and wasn’t revisited until several chapters later, at which point, I had all but forgotten the thread of the story. However, this method seemed to illustrated the challenges Vidocq Society members faced when conducting their inquiries. Their undertakings weren’t for the faint of heart and could take years, even decades, to solve. The investigations were always quite disturbing, and although not every perpetrator was brought to justice, just about every crime was solved. If you can make it to the middle of the book and ignore those parts that needed additional editing, this proves to be an interesting read. mystery-suspense non-fiction reading-challenges-2018 ...more 2 likes Like Comment Maria V. Snyder Author 69 books 17.2k followers April 5, 2014 This was an interesting book about a society/group of experts who get together and solve cold murder cases. It focused more on the 3 founding members and while I enjoyed reading about them, I was a little frustrated by the choppy style of going from one man to the next. Also the cases were revealed in various chapters, so you didn't get a full start to finish on any of them in one chapter - just bits and pieces until the end. While the organization of the cases and biography was annoying, the content was fascinating. If I wasn't a writer, I'd like to be a criminal or forensic psychologist like the one character, Richard Walter. It was worth reading and I think the 3 main men in the book may already have full biographies, if not, they should! 2 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 721 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 8 quotes 2 discussions Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. 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Watcher in the Woods (Rockton, #4) by Kelley Armstrong | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Rockton/Casey Duncan #4 Watcher in the Woods Kelley Armstrong 4.14 9,644 ratings 1,079 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book In #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong's latest thriller, the town of Rockton—and her fans—are in for another hair-raising adventure. The secret town of Rockton has seen some rocky times lately; understandable considering its mix of criminals and victims fleeing society for refuge within its Yukon borders. Casey Duncan, the town's only detective on a police force of three, has already faced murder, arson and falling in love in less than the year that she's lived there. Yet even she didn't think it would be possible for an outsider to find and cause trouble in the town she's come to call home. When a US Marshal shows up in town demanding the release of one of the residents, Casey and her boyfriend, Sheriff Dalton, are skeptical. And yet only hours later, the marshal is shot dead and the only visible suspects are the townspeople and her estranged sister, in town for just the weekend. It's up to Casey to figure out who murdered the marshal, and why they would kill to keep him quiet. Genres Mystery Thriller Fiction Suspense Mystery Thriller Adult Audiobook ...more 356 pages, Hardcover First published February 5, 2019 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Kelley Armstrong 281 books 31.7k followers Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed. Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.14 9,644 ratings 1,079 reviews 5 stars 3,388 (35%) 4 stars 4,492 (46%) 3 stars 1,543 (15%) 2 stars 178 (1%) 1 star 43 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,080 reviews Diane S ☔ 4,853 reviews 14.3k followers January 20, 2019 Rockton, a place of last resort, hidden deep in the Yukon territory. Such a multifaceted place, filled with people being given a second chance. In this fourth outing, Casey and Eric face another possible crisis, someone in town who is maybe more dangerous than previously thought. But who? And how did someone unexpected find their town? Also brings another newcomer, closely related to Casey. Love this series, such a great blend of mystery and adventure. So enjoy the idea of this place, the mysteriousness of it and the mix of people that have been brought together. A great blending of a thriller, with some interesting character development. Find Matthias absolutely fascinating, and hope we see more of him in future outings. For some reason this reminds me of one of a few TV shows I used to diligently watch. The series Lost, I think because of the atmosphere and never knowing where this is headed. A very enticing series. ARC from Netgalley. lor-2019 118 likes Like Comment Paromjit 2,944 reviews 25.4k followers November 15, 2018 Kelley Armstrong writes the 4th of this series set in the huge wilderness of the Yukon territory in Canada. It worked reasonably well as a standalone as this was my first dip into this series. It has an unusual premise of a highly secret town named Rockton, with little in the way of mod cons, like the internet and away from all signs of civilisation. Problems are virtually guaranteed, given the residents are criminals or victims fleeing and disappearing from society with their secrets in the hope of finding a refuge in Rockton. With so many rules, there is a police force of 3 police officers to enforce them. 32 year old Casey Duncan is the only detective, her boyfriend is Sheriff Dalton. All efforts to escape detection are for nought when a stranger appears. He turns out to be a US Marshall claiming that a dangerous and violent criminal is in the town. Whilst doubting this, Casey and Dalton look into this. When the Marshall is shot dead, it suggests that he was correct, only there is far more to it as their investigation is to prove. Given the nature of Rockton, there are an unenviable high number of suspects for obvious reasons. Casey's estranged older sister, April, comes for a medical emergency, providing the opportunity for the two of them to address their differences. There are political machinations and intrigue with the disagreements that are emerging about the principles underlying Rockton and its purpose for the mission statement in the highly secret ruling Council, with members providing finance for the town. As the title of the book hints, there is a watcher in the woods. Armstrong writes a riveting piece of crime fiction, with twists, and with plenty of depth in her descriptions and in her characterisation. The storylines are complex and gripping with a fantastic location. I found the novel entertaining and well plotted, and such a gripping read. Many thanks to St Martin's Press for an ARC. crime-fiction mystery netgalley ...more 95 likes Like Comment Mackey 1,104 reviews 362 followers January 17, 2019 Casey Duncan is back in this fourth installment of the Rockton saga – a series involving the secluded town and its people in the frozen Yukon of Canada. Admittedly, Watcher in the Woods is part of my favorite series. It’s got a terrific cast of characters, all of whom are quite flawed or they wouldn’t be in the town of Rockton. Rockton, you see, is a secret, very secluded town for those who need to escape either because they are the worst in society or from the very worst in society. It makes for an eclectic and often frightening mix of personalities. In addition to the town’s people, you have a two group of renegades living (wandering/surviving) in the forest surrounding Rockton: those who are true survivalists who didn’t want to go back down south after their time in Rockton was finished and those who are simply too savage to live anywhere at all. They add an additional layer of worry and suspense to the story line. Watcher in the Woods takes place approximately 2-3 weeks after the last book which means the characters are still reeling from a murder, a crazed woman whom they intimately trusted and a wounded man who is part of their patrol. They have been without a doctor in the town since the former doctor was killed and they desperately need to get medical help for their resident, Kenny. Secreting away in the night, Casey and the sheriff bring back help but they also bring back more than they bargain for as they are followed by a US Marshall looking for his bounty. He refuses to say who it is or why it is so important that he finds “his man” – or woman. When the Marshall is killed, it becomes imperative that Casey – the town’s only detective – discovers who the Marshall was after and why. More importantly, she has to find out how the Marshall was able to follow them and plug any leaks there might be regarding Rockton’s well kept secret location. All of the Rockton tales are action packed and full of secrets, double backs and, yes, romance. That is what makes them so entertaining to read. This one, however, was a bit slow for me in the beginning and I suspect that it was because there was a great deal of minutia laid out for readers who might be joining here at book four rather than at the beginning. There was quite a bit of repetitiveness, who’s who, explanations about the town and how it works, which is fine if you are new to the series but by the fourth book in, it was a little tedious. Once that was past, the book was actually better than any of the previous stories. It was more complex, there was more action, an introduction of new characters, two of whom I suspect are going to be key in future books, and quite a few secrets revealed that led to some “aha” moments. All of this had me looking forward to the next book already and forgetting the tedium that had me skimming in the beginning. If you haven’t read any of this series you should be able to read this one as a stand alone but I highly recommend that you begin at the start and work up to this one. There is a lot of back story and past history that will make it more interesting for you. Then you can join me in skimming over the mundane catch-up in this book but completely enjoying the majority of the rest. It IS a series that I highly recommend. It’s fun, entertaining, suspenseful and, generally, a quick read. My thanks to #Netgalley, @StMartinsPress, @MinotaurBooks and Kelley Armstrong for my advanced copy of #WatcherintheWoods. books-read-2019 crime-police-procedural fiction-general ...more 68 likes Like Comment Susanne 1,171 reviews 38.3k followers June 14, 2020 Rockton is a town in the Yukon where people go to hide out. Criminals and Victims alike. It’s a sanctuary of sorts and it costs a pretty penny to get there. Casey Duncan is Rockton’s Detective. She and Sheriff Eric Dalton make a pretty good team, personally and professionally. For once, things seem to have quieted down, that is until a US Marshal shows up demanding that they release a resident into his custody. Once that happens all hell breaks loose. I’m talking murder & mayhem and for a place like Rockton that spells trouble. Trouble that Casey and Dalton simply can’t afford, not if they want to keep Rockton a secret. “Watcher in the Woods” by Kelley Armstrong is a taut character driven mystery suspense which is filled with thrilling, tension filled moments. What I appreciate about this series is that Kelley Armstrong delves into the characters backstories stories, and here, we see the relationships between the characters continue to develop. At its heart, this series is about the characters, trying to survive under the most unconventional of places, where safety is of the utmost concern. Kudos to Ms. Armstrong for keeping it interesting and bringing both heart and suspense to a great series. Thank you to my local library for loaning me a copy of the audiobook and thank you to Thérèse Plummer for being such a fabulous narrator! Published on Goodreads on 6.13.20. 65 likes Like Comment Jilly 1,838 reviews 6,395 followers February 19, 2019 This series has an awesome concept: a town in the middle of the Yukon that is exclusively for victims of crime, witnesses, or others who need to be safe - like Witness Protection. But, well... nothing ever works out exactly to plan, does it? And, running a town in the middle of nowhere takes lots of money. So, yeah, maybe they also have a criminal or two that had enough money to buy their way in... or a serial killer or two. Like I said, nothing works out exactly to plan... Casey is our hero and she is a detective that the town needed for their police force. It seems, strangely, that they have a crime problem. Weird, huh? Who could have anticipated that having an isolated town in the middle of nowhere with a shortage of females and a mixture of victims, crooks, and killers would have problems? Casey ends up in a relationship during the first book, and I like them as a couple. It's like they are grown-ups or something. When there is a problem or hard feeling, they *gasp* talk it out and resolve it. It's almost like the author didn't realize that book couples are supposed to over-obsess and hide things from each other until it's a huge clusterfuck. A mature relationship in a book? It's almost unheard of! Oh, come on! It's romantic for a old guy to sneak into the bedroom of a teenage girl to watch her sleep! So, each book is basically a mystery and police procedural story in a very strange setting. You get to know many members of the town and the relationships are always growing and changing - which I like. This book has a murder as its beginning and solving that is the main storyline. In the background are a few other things, including the addition of Casey's sister. She was an interesting character, along with another new person. The only thing that I would say I had a problem with was something weird, but it bothered me. I know, how untypical of me, huh? Okay, so Casey can't sleep and wakes up in the early morning hours to go over her notes. She is sitting on the floor, reading, and her boyfriend comes downstairs to find her there wearing only her bra and panties. I'm like, wait what??? What kind of psycho girl would sit around alone only in her bra and panties as her "comfies"?? I know the author is female, but this sounds like something a male author would come up with. Uh, yeah. That sounds like my usual morning routine... Reality check? We women hate our bras! They are torture chambers that only serve to help us fight gravity or not take an eye out when we run. When we get home to relax? Those suckers are the first thing to be flung from our bodies. Sometimes, we don't even bother taking our shirt off first. The armhole trick works to get that instant relief. Every female that sees this can immediately feel that sensation. Ahhhh.... Yeah, so the idea that any girl would sit around like this alone? Not buying it. I will buy that she was wearing his t-shirt and some pajama pants along with fuzzy socks and a ponytail. And, maybe a hoodie. Girls being comfy is more like this: See? This I would believe. Anyway, other than that, I liked the book. I am even looking forward to the next one because of the new characters. mystery 67 likes Like Comment Tim 2,282 reviews 244 followers May 4, 2019 While this may qualify as a thriller, it is not a good one. Too many personalities and conflicts dampen and deluge this story like a thunderstorm. 3 of 10 stars 52 likes Like Comment Carolyn 2,402 reviews 671 followers January 5, 2019 This is the first book I've read in this series but I'm definitely going to go back to the start of the series and see where it all began. And yes, it would have helped to have read them in order as there are references to prior events, but enough information was given to bring me up to speed and it didn't affect my ability to follow this episode. Casey Duncan is a Detective, the only Detective, in the tiny town of Rockton in the Yukon. Rockton is a secret town, isolated and totally off the grid, where people pay to go to hide from their lives for a few years before starting a new life. Some of them are hiding from abusers or people who mean them harm and some of them may be criminals running from collapsed businesses and schemes or even people who've done prison time but need to vanish after their release to become anonymous. How Casey ended up in Rockton is the subject of earlier books but she has chosen to stay and be the town's only Detective. Part of the attraction for her is the town Sherriff, Eric Dalton, the man she loves and lives with and together they make a great team. When Kenny, one of the residents of Rockton gets shot and the bullet lodges near his spine, Casey and Eric make a risky trip to Vancouver to try to enlist Casey's sister April, a neuroscientist and surgeon, and convince her to come to Rockton to operate on Kenny. Not long after they return with April they detect a stranger in the woods watching the town who declares himself to be a US Marshall with a warrant for one of the town residents. Refusing to tell them who, he unfortunately gets himself killed before they can find out. Now they not only have to hunt down the Marshall's killer and find out who he was looking for but also find out how he knew about Rockton and how to find it. I enjoyed the setting of this book very much - the ruggedness and beauty of the Yukon. The characters are all flawed or fragile in some way, although many have hardened shells, so it makes them an interesting bunch to watch interacting. Casey and Eric are very much on their own solving the town's problems and many of their solutions are inventive and pragmatic rather than standard practice so it makes for an interesting read. There are red herrings and false leads as Casey and Eric try to find the culprit and prevent further deaths in this gritty thriller. 2019 netgalley netgalley-2019 ...more 51 likes Like Comment Maureen Carden 289 reviews 70 followers January 30, 2019 Sisters, sisters There were never such devoted sisters… Caring, sharing… But in tight places We think and we act as one... uh-huh These song lyrics from White Christmas are most definitely not written about Det. Casey Duncan and her sister Dr. April Duncan. Casey has a very problematic relationship with her genius sister. However Rockton needs Dr. April Duncan, so Casey and her lover/boss/best friend Sheriff Eric Dalton sneak April into Rockton to remove a bullet from the spine of a Rockton resident. Let’s keep talking movies. Big strong lawman, either Wayne or Eastwood finds his way into town to arrest a serious criminal. In Watcher in the Woods the arrival of a Deputy U.S Marshall (DUSM), Mark Garcia, at the seemingly protected and extremely hidden Yukon town of Rockton is far more serious than the news of a dangerous criminal hiding out. After all, the entire town is made up of the wrongly convicted, or survivors hiding out from abusers and stalkers, and maybe a few white collar criminals who bought their way in. But sanctuary for serious criminals, nah, couldn’t happen. BWAHAHAHA. The DUSM refuses to tell Casey and Eric who he has come to arrest and take back to the States; and even more worrisome, how he found Rockton, a supposed impossibility. When the DUSM Garcia is shot dead, Rockton’s problems just went from dreadful to dire, because sure enough this guy really was a Deputy U.S. Marshall. The killing of a U.S. lawman is an extremely serious event, a Federal agent even worse. Garcia is incorrectly referred to as a U.S. Marshall. Marshall’s are high political appointments, one over each U.S. judicial district. The correct nomenclature for Garcia is Deputy U.S. Marshall. DUSM are the worker bees of the Marshall’s service. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Casey discovers that her perceptions of her parents, her life and her sister might be partially wrong and wouldn’t that be a kick in the backside. It’s touching to watch Casey make these realizations first with not a small amount of push back and chagrin, then with grace. As much as I love Rockton; the fascinating stories, the splendor of Yukon's boreal forest, the terrifying hostiles that live outside of Rockton, it is the residents of Rockton I miss from book to book. Where else can you find a madam asked to treat someone “on the spectrum”, or a butcher to treat a sociopath, or even find an assassin/comic book illustrator? Rockton gains some fascinating new residents, while losing a few. Some old relationships are partially mended, others are shattered. Watcher in the Woods is a terrific, serious crime story, but it has some extremely amusing dialogue and situations; sometimes the same scene. Bear bowling, anyone? Armstrong is revered for her various world-building series. Rockton might be the most normal; I think it might be the best. One thing hasn’t changed. The rabbits. They are still waiting. Thank to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. amusing detective just-so-damn-good ...more 43 likes 1 comment Like Comment Madison Warner Fairbanks 2,642 reviews 402 followers February 22, 2023 Watcher in the Woods by Kelley Armstrong Rockton / Casey Duncan series #4. Begins where the last story left off. Thriller. A U.S. Marshall shows up in Rockton, asking for a resident to be handed over, yet he won’t give a name or photo of the person he’s looking for. By the next morning, the Marshall is dead and Casey’s sister is one of the suspects. It’s up to Casey to follow the clues and weed through all the lies and hidden stories of the Rockton residents. Twists and turns as Casey analyses clues, people and lies. Storm is still a favorite. audible cops dark ...more 37 likes Like Comment Brittany McCann 2,155 reviews 481 followers August 16, 2023 The best part of this book was getting to know more about Casey through the addition of her sister as a character. Other than that, it was a good mystery and a great addition to the series, but my first non-5-star read of this series so far! Unfortunately, I did have to break this up into 2 reading sets due to not rechecking it out. Hence, my reading of it was a bit more spread out than I would have liked and perhaps added to the breaking up of the mystery as more than I wanted and made it feel like the investigation got a bit too lengthy. I like that there is a new romance brewing, and it is interesting to learn a bit more about the council, but the main mystery fizzled out pretty early on for me, and then it was just a matter of going through the motions. Bastion is very intriguing as a character, and I am excited to see what comes next and what more we will learn about the council. Anxiously awaiting Book #5, Alone in the Wild, and I hope there is much more to come. 4 Stars for me My Take on the Rockton Series #1 City of the Lost 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 #2 A Darkness Absolute 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 #3 This Fallen Prey 🌟🌟🌟🌟 #4 Watcher in the Woods 🌟🌟🌟🌟 #5 Alone in the Wild 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 #6 A Stranger in Town 🌟🌟🌟🌟 #7 The Deepest of Secrets 🌟🌟🌟 4-stars action contemporary ...more 34 likes Like Comment Heather 219 reviews 74 followers September 20, 2019 This is a fun and entertaining series to read! I especially enjoy the vivid Yukon imagery and well developed characters. This one makes me want to travel to Dawson City, mine for some gold, enjoy the scenery and traipse about on the wooden sidewalks. I wasn’t as engaged in the murder mystery depicted in this one, but welcome the introduction of Casey’s socially unique sister, the ever encroaching hostiles and of spooky Bastian. Looking forward to how it all comes out in the wash with these new characters in the next book. 29 likes Like Comment ♥Rachel♥ 2,020 reviews 884 followers February 5, 2019 If you haven’t read the previous books being that this is the 4th installment there are bound to be spoilers here. If you haven’t picked up this series yet, you are definitely missing out! This series is riveting , suspenseful, and full of twists and turns! I always want to set aside a chunk of time so I can read each book straight through! Watcher in the Woods picks up right after the events of This Fallen Prey. Eric and Casey are desperately looking for a doctor to come up and treat and assess Kenny, determine if there’s any permanent damage from the shooting. The counsel, of course is being less than helpful so Eric and Casey decide to take matters into their own hands and enlist Casey’s sister for help, sneaking her in before the counsel knows. Casey and her sister, April have never been quite in sync growing up and the death of their parents didn’t help, so there’s a tension between them. Being together in Rockton forces Casey to look at their relationship, slowly realizing things may not have been as they seemed. April is brusque and different. I’m enjoying her character and eager for future developments. With all this going a on a man claiming to be a US Marshall shows up to claim one of the Rockton residents. Casey and Eric wisely question the situation and from there things get dicey! There are a few characters here that I continually love to hate, like Roy! That guy is a prick at best. I’m glad Casey basically kicked his ass in the last book. Unfortunately, he is more than a nuisance in this installment. Jen as usual is annoying, and I’m not sure why Casey puts up with her or keeps her on as part of the militia. She’s more trouble than she’s worth, IMO. Could be a case of keeping the problem child close and occupied to avoid issues? Interesting developments with Petra. We get answers after that shocking turn of events from the last book. Phil doesn’t seem quite as bad as Val, the last representative of the mysterious, far away Rockton counsel. The jury is still out on him, though. I’m still stunned by Val’s actions in the last one! We meet Sebastian, a new and interesting addition to the mix. I’m looking forward to seeing more of him. The Rockton series just keeps rocking, (lol!) and I LOVED this installment! As usual there were lots of twists and turns, and non-stop action. But the thing I love most about this series is the characters! Of course, Casey and Eric are my favorite, and I love how they reason out whatever mystery or conflict they face; smartly analyzing the situation and motivations of all involved. And they continue to present a strong, united front. Their romance continues to shine, and I’m glad none of the drama of this story comes from their relationship. A copy was kindly provided by Minotaur Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. favorites romance romantic-suspense ...more 28 likes Like Comment Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede 1,970 reviews 837 followers February 14, 2019 WATCHER IN THE WOODS is book four in Kelly Armstrong's Rockton series. I've read all the books and this is a series that I love and I hope that Armstrong will keep on writing several more books. READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION ! read-2019 30 likes Like Comment Jennifer 2,016 reviews February 6, 2019 4.5/5 stars Watcher in the Woods is the fourth book in the Rockton/Casey Duncan mystery/thriller series. I love Kelley Armstrong and I absolutely adore this series. This book takes place approximately 2 weeks after book three. The narrator is once again 32 year old detective Casey Duncan. These books take place in a small off the grid hidden town called Rockton (in the Yukon/North West of Canada). Each of the books in this series have a self-contained mystery. But we get to see many of the same characters in all of the books. The title for this book was particularly fitting to me, as there is someone watching them from the woods. My favorite people in this series are Casey and her boyfriend Sheriff Dalton. I love them so much! I'm also completely obsessed with the hidden town of Rockton. I love how there are only 200 people in this town. I love that it is completely hidden from the rest of the world. And I love the forest that borders the town and all the trouble that occurs there. The mystery in this particular book has to do with a US Marshal who is searching for a particular Rockton resident. Which resident was he after? Also is that same person after the Marshal? This mystery was really exciting and I really enjoyed this aspect of the story. The author reminds us of what happened in the last book, which I appreciate. And we are introduced to a new special character. I really hope that this new person appears in the next book. There were some amazing twists and turns in this book. And it all leads up to an amazing conclusion. I just love this series and can't wait for more of Rockton! Thanks to netgalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this book. favorites-2018 netgalley-ebooks 25 likes Like Comment Fiona 1,341 reviews 271 followers February 24, 2023 Watcher in the Woods is the latest entry in the Rockton series, and one of the best yet. While most of the books can be read alone, this and This Fallen Prey should definitely be read together; I wouldn't say they can't stand alone, but it would make for a pretty poor experience. We begin where we left off - five or six situations that look like they're about to explode into chaos at any minute, a couple that already have, and it's Casey and Eric at the centre of it all trying to perform the world's most intense juggling act. By now, though, they've got most of the town behind them, and it's glorious to finally see Rockton really coming together to support the people who keep putting their life on the line in their service. Speaking of, we're back in town for this one, and though there's a couple of excursions it's where most of the book takes place. That's a big plus for me - and the interactions between April and Casey were another. I do love the way Kelley Armstrong has handled people talking to each other in this series - it's so uncommon, and it's so welcome to see people just talking things out. And never fear, it's not some preachy "talking will heal the world" message - she's realistic about just what it can accomplish. But as the reader, it's just so nice to see plot that works without having to force your characters to isolate themselves from each other. Another great book in the series that I hang out for between books. I don't know if we're nearing the end, but I certainly hope not, because I'll keep reading them as long as they keep coming. absolute-favourites cold-is-cool found-family ...more 22 likes Like Comment Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) 3,066 reviews 392 followers February 27, 2019 As always I love this little backwoods, backwards strange town and all it's crazy messed up residents. Another well done, well plotted and well developed mystery. I loved all the info we learn about not only more of the residents (and new ones too!) but about Casey, her family and of course, about the council. I can not wait for more! I seriously adore this series. e-galley 23 likes Like Comment Monica 590 reviews 242 followers March 1, 2019 Extremely solid read! There were a lot of characters and back stories to keep up with... but I enjoyed the fact I had to pay close attention. Otherwise I sometimes skim over the details! This is a great read for those who enjoy thrillers and crime stories. I will definitely look for the earlier books set in Rockton. Thanks to NetGalley for this book in exchange for my honest review. netgalley 25 likes Like Comment Brenda 725 reviews 145 followers February 17, 2019 I really enjoy these trips to Rockton! What a crazy cast of characters, and it changes when someone must leave at the end of their contract, is kicked out by the Council, or dies. This keeps the series fresh; there’s always something new to learn. Some long-time residents appear in this book, but some backstory is missing. It would be wise to read this series from the beginning. A neurosurgeon is snuck into Rockton because there is a patient who needs her skills. A U. S. Marshal shows up and is promptly dealt with, but how does he even know about Rockton? Their newest resident is an unknown factor. And we get to meet a member of the Council. Casey and Sheriff Eric Duncan are juggling grenades and mostly handling them well. Things get very hectic with so many characters involved! The action is fast but easy to follow. Dialogue is natural and sometimes funny. I find it very interesting to see the relationships between the residents of Rockton and to learn about why they are there. Many are not who they seem to be. I’m really looking forward to the next installment. 22 likes Like Comment Julie 1,897 reviews 566 followers February 19, 2019 A few months ago, I accidentally requested a review copy of this book, not realizing it is book 4 in a series. So I started back at book one and read my way to Watcher in the Woods. I'm very glad I did! Not only did it introduce me to a new-to-me author, but this series has quickly become one of my favorites! Rockton is a town in the middle of nowhere in the Canadian wilderness. It's not on any map. The city is hidden from airplanes flying overhead. And there is no electricity, no internet, very few conveniences. No cell phones. The residents there are effectively cut off....completely off the grid. On purpose. People go to Rockton to disappear, and pay a lot of money for the privilege. The corporation that funds the town and its security team take the secrecy and safety of Rockton seriously. That's why Casey Duncan and her boyfriend (Rockton's sheriff) are completely shocked when a U.S. Marshall shows up demanding to take one of the residents. He's secretive about who he has come for and why. Before he can elaborate, the marshal is shot dead, leaving Casey wondering if one of their residents might be much more dangerous than they know. The characters in this series are just awesome. They all have a past or a significant flaw, but they all work together to make Rockton function. The corporation that funds the town is constantly causing problems by sending problematic residents, hiding important information or putting their bottom line above the safety of the town. Add in some rather violent people who live in the forest surrounding the town, and there's always some thrilling action and danger in each book. This newest book in the series is my favorite so far. There is some interesting character development in Watcher in the Woods, plus lots of suspense and action. Loved it! I'm eagerly awaiting the next book! I'm especially loving the addition of the dog! Kelley Armstrong is the author of several series including Darkest Powers, Women of the Otherworld, Cainsville and Darkness Rising. While I'm waiting for another Rockton book, I will start reading her other books! Witches, ghosts, necromancers, vampires....her other series offer a lot of dark paranormal action. I look forward to it! Full stars for Watcher in the Woods.....I love this series and thoroughly enjoyed this latest visit to Rockton. I saw an "in development'' blurb on IMDb for a Rockton television mini-series....so excited!! Please, please, please make the series! And....DO IT RIGHT. Armstrong has created strong characters and awesome plots....no weird changes necessary. Stick with the source material....it will be a kick ass mini-series. ("In development" also means that the project could be cancelled, changed, indefinitely delayed.....but I hope this gets produced! I love this series!) I recommend reading this series in order because of character development and background information. The books will make more sense to readers if read in order. **I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from St. Martins Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** read-review-copies-2019 20 likes Like Comment Dianne 6,791 reviews 590 followers January 25, 2019 My Rating: 3.5 Stars A town that seems not to exist. Citizens hiding from the rest of the world looking for a second chance at life… and murder. Kelley Armstrong’s WATCHER IN THE WOODS has all of the intensity of a wonderfully dark suspense. It also has three preceding books in a series that apparently MUST be read first! Anti-heroes abound, iffy calls and actions are taken, but, to the clueless reader who accepted the invitation to review, unless you have background, it is not rehashed. There was so much potential missed for me, so much reading enjoyment lost, but I can say, this is edgy and dark. For followers of the series from the beginning, you are surely in for a treat! I received a complimentary ARC edition from St. Martin's Press! Series: Casey Duncan Novels - Book 4 Publisher: Minotaur Books (February 5, 2019) Publication Date: February 5, 2019 Genre: Mystery | Suspense Print Length: 368 pages Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com arc-read netgalley own ...more 18 likes Like Comment Erin 3,244 reviews 476 followers February 10, 2019 Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. First and foremost, I am a longtime fan of Kelley Armstrong and have read many of her book series and I will read her in the future, but I probably should have read the first three books in this series or at least book one. Fact is, I was completely lost as character after character seemed to run through the forest of this small town. I just couldn't keep my Paul's and Peter's straight. Rockton, a town where people with a past reside needed to be better understood So, I certainly would NOT recommend reading any of KA's books in this series in anything else than in order. Because the fact remains that Armstrong is the Canadian Queen of fast paced action. In summary, writing is great, characters are intriguing, setting is fascianating, but read the books in order. kindle-kindle-unlimited netgalley series 17 likes Like Comment h o l l i s 2,566 reviews 2,196 followers April 7, 2019 My least favourite of the series so far but that's only notable because of how good the first three are. I thought the beginning was strong, and I liked how it wrapped, but there was a lot of action in the middle that I just wasn't super invested in. But I'm hoping there's much more to come for Rockon because it's a fascinating concept for a series and full of excellent characters. " Someone's in a very good mood. Had a productive afternoon, I take it? " " Nope. Had such a fucking shitty and utterly pointless afternoon that the mere sight of you -- when when you're annoyed with me -- puts me into an exceptionally good mood. " Also, d'aw, the romance is so cute. 2019-reads contemporary finished-in-april-2019 ...more 17 likes Like Comment Marialyce 2,081 reviews 694 followers January 26, 2019 Sometimes, I wish I could escape to the Yukon, to Rockton, a place where you are secluded, know nothing about the world's problems, and feel a sense of safety. Well, perhaps safety is not quite the proper word, if living in a town where most residents come from nefarious backgrounds and are there hiding out from those seeking to punish them, reside. For you see, Rockton houses those running from all sorts of goings on that would land them in jail, dead, or even worse. Even more sobering is the fact that there are many looking to deliver their just desserts to the residents. We are back in Rockton once again in this third book of the series. Much has happened as it always does in this "quaint" little town. Our intrepid police are always prepared for any eventuality, but when a US Marshall finds the town, that is not on any map or GPS coordinate, something is wrong, very wrong. How did he find this town and who and what is he here for are some of the questions plaguing our police people, Casey and Dalton, want answers to. Adding to their woes, is Casey's brilliant yet quite different sister, April, brought by them to the town to perform surgery on one of the townspeople who had been shot in the back. April and Casey have had not much of a sisterly relationship so we expect sparks to fly between the sisters. All comes to a very surprising halt when the marshal is shot and dies. Who did this? Since this town is the place where many a law breaker resides, it could be anyone. Now Casey and Dalton are on the hook to find exactly who the murderer is and how all of this is tied together. I found this to be the best book of the series as Ms Armstrong seems to have fallen into a comfort zone with her characters. It's like she is writing about family and figuratively she is. I do recommend the entire series, but this book in particular is I feel the crowning jewel of the lot. An adventurous, gripping tale, making one truly like Casey and Dalton even more, this book is sure to make those who love adventure, murder, and mayhem quite happy to turn those pages. Thank you to Kelly Armstrong, Minotaur Books and NetGally for a copy of this book. This book is due to be published on February 5,2019 My reviews can also be seen here: http://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpress... books-of-2019 netgalley 16 likes Like Comment Pat 2,310 reviews 467 followers January 28, 2020 Nooooooooo. I’m now fully immersed in the world of Rockton, the hidden town in the wilds of the Yukon, and I have to wait for the next book 😩😩😩. Luckily it’s not a long wait but if the series doesn’t wrap up soon it will be a longer wait for any further books. Luckily it seems Armstrong is a prolific writer so it might not be so bad. It reminds me, a little bit, of Blake Crouch’s Wayward Pines series in that there is an isolated town, cut off from the rest of the world that needs to be self reliant and that is surrounded by danger on ‘the outside’. And that’s where the similarities end, but it’s a good premise that an author can do a lot with. In this episode, following from the shooting in the previous book of one of the militia members who still has a bullet lodged near his spine, Casey (the town’s only real detective) and Eric Dalton (Sheriff of the three person police department) travel to civilisation to enlist the help of Casey’s sister who is a neurosurgeon. She reluctantly agrees to travel to Rockton to operate on Kenny and ends up having to stay longer than expected. Meanwhile a US Marshall (apparently) turns up and says he needs to take in one of their residents. But he won’t tell them who he is after or why. How did he even find the place? Dalton and Casey are very uncomfortable about it all and try to work out who he might be after. Is he even a real Marshall or just a bounty hunter? If a Marshall, is he on official business? Before any of these questions can be answered he is shot dead and the small police department has its hands full keeping a lid on things and solving this and other murders. There is a lot of running around the forest again and, strangely, I just loved that aspect of it. Suspects are found and discarded and new suspects identified and the pace was relentless. I have to hand it to Armstrong. These books have a large cast of characters, all with their own complicated back stories and she expertly juggles the balls and dribbles out the clues and you just cannot stop reading. This is a very addictive series that must be read in order but, if you commit to that, you will (probably) not be disappointed. Highly recommended. 13 likes Like Comment Karen ⚜Mess⚜ 824 reviews 62 followers February 4, 2019 Mystery, murder and mayhem in the town of Rockton. Rockton is located in an area I like to call "The Misfit Territory". The people who come to live in this hidden town come to seek asylum from some sort of wrong doing. The isolation of Rockton tends to bring out quirkiness in people. The real crazies live out in the wilderness surrounding Rockton. Eric and Casey are back, locking up the bad kids, patching boo boos, and putting bodies on ice. First, Casey must enlist her sister (a doctor) to come and remove a bullet from Kenny's back. Simple? Not if your feet touch Rockton soil. Queue in Dr. April Quirky (I'm liking this word). Next, a Marshal shows up and now nap time is over for all our little quirkies. Casey shows us she's still pro at solving mysteries, and Eric is still menacing and sexy. Watcher In The Woods picks up pretty much where This Fallen Prey ended. I can't help but feel this book is setting up for something big in the upcoming book. I love Kelley Armstrong's writing and her mystery building technique. I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, so I could give an honest review. arc 13 likes Like Comment Linda Strong 3,880 reviews 1,675 followers August 1, 2019 4.5 Stars Rockton is a little known town in the Yukon area of Canada. Casey Duncan is the only female detective in a team of three. She's only lived there for a few months, but she's already seen more crime than anywhere else she's been. A stranger appears in town claiming he is a US Marshall looking for one of their residents... but won't give her a name. She and her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton, are highly suspicious of him and his claim, but when he's shot and killed, they start taking a closer look. Since most of Rockton's residents are criminals or victims fleeing or disappearing from society looking for a safe refuge from all their secrets, the number of possible suspects are countless. This may be closer to personal for Casey, as her sister is also a resident. Although 4th in this unique story, it is easily read as a stand-alone. As usual, I highly recommend starting at the very beginning. The residents .. and their stories ... are well worth reading about. The characters are memorable. This one is a real page turner. Many thanks to the author / St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this distinctive crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, the opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own. netgalley-2019 read-in-2019 12 likes Like Comment Carole (Carole's Random Life) 1,897 reviews 551 followers February 12, 2019 This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books . This was really good. I have really enjoyed all of the previous books in this series so I was really eager to dive into this newest installment. This is the fourth book in the Rockton series which is a series that I think works best when read in order. This was an exciting story that I found hard to put down. I had a fantastic time with this story. I love the basis of this series. A super secret city filled with criminals and other individuals in hiding definitely has its own unique set of problems and challenges. Over the course of the series, I feel like I have got to know some of the more colorful residents of this odd little community. Casey and Eric are a vital part of this community. Eric is the sheriff and has a lot of authority over all of the day to day decisions within the town. Casey was a detective before coming to Rockton and fills that role within the town. I really like all of the dynamics between the characters in this series. Everyone has their roles to fill and I love how Casey is very aware of needing to let Eric take the lead on some things. The psychology behind the behavior of some of the residents is really quite interesting. I love how there is just a touch of romance with Casey and Eric's relationship but it doesn't overtake the story, only adds to it. This was a rather exciting installment. A US Marshall shows up in Rockton intent on getting his hands on one of the residents which is a giant problem for both Eric and Casey. At the same time, they are worried about how someone found the town even though they just snuck in someone themselves. There were several mysteries happening at the same time and I was never quite sure how things would work out. I do highly recommend this series to others. This is a series that I could really see myself picking up again just so I could watch everything play out a second time. I cannot wait to see what will happen next in the town of Rockton! I received a digital review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Initial Thoughts This was good. A lot of things that happened in earlier books from the series came into play in this installment. This time around Casey and Eric must deal with an outsider determined to get to one of their residents. There are several different mysteries going on and a lot of excitement to go with it. I can't wait to see what will happen in Rockton next! 2019 2019-netgalley-challenge mystery ...more 12 likes Like Comment Mogsy 2,131 reviews 2,687 followers February 9, 2019 4.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/02/07/... I don’t read as much mystery-thriller as I do sci-fi & fantasy, but this is one series I have been following religiously, and every book that comes out just makes me love it even more. Watcher in the Woods is the fourth installment that returns readers to Rockton, a secret town hidden in the wilds of the Yukon. Ex-homicide detective Casey Duncan and her boyfriend Sheriff Eric Dalton are doing their best to police this community of eclectic residents who share only one commonality—they’ve all come here to escape their pasts. But somehow, despite repeated assurances from the council that everyone in town has been vetted and deemed not a threat, dangerous criminals seem to keep cropping up in their midst. Rockton has only just gotten rid of their last serial killer when it turns out there may be another high-risk fugitive hiding in town. Worse, a US Marshall has come a-knocking, demanding Eric and Casey release this individual, whom he won’t name, into his custody. But how did this US Marshall—if he is who he claims he is—manage to find Rockton, when all the security measures and precautions put in place were supposed to keep them off the grid? And who is he looking for? Meanwhile, Casey also has her own secret she is trying to keep under wraps. Her good friend Kenny has been grievously wounded, and unfortunately, their town doesn’t have much in the way of medical care. Taking a great risk, Casey calls up her estranged sister April, who is a surgeon, and convinces her to fly in to operate on Kenny. But smuggling April into Rockton is sure to invoke the wrath of the council if they find out, and relations between the sisters aren’t exactly amicable after years of bitter resentment. There was a lot going on in this book, and I loved it. Having found some of the plot twists in the previous volumes to be a tad on the predictable side, I was glad to see Kelley Armstrong back on form with her terrific plotting and strong sense of timing. It’s a testament to her skills that this is the fourth novel in a series that takes place in the middle of nowhere and features only a limited number of characters, yet she still manages to fill each book with enough suspects and motives to keep her readers on edge and guessing at every turn. With Watcher in the Wood, I felt like I was constantly being hit with new developments and surprises from all sides, but in the best way possible. Even more amazing was how it all came together so marvelously. And speaking of the new elements introduced, I think my favorite one was the storyline involving April. Casey’s strained relationship with her sister has been a strong theme running through the series since the beginning, but only now are we seeing it so directly addressed and explored. While I thought it was a little unrealistic that it took only a town full of strangers a few days to diagnose and theorize a possible cause for the emotional conflict that has plagued the sisters all their lives, the whole episode still revealed an interesting side to Casey that we’ve never seen before. Of all the new characters Armstrong has brought in so far, April is the one I’m most excited about. I also like that this series continues to focus its attention on the mystery and thrills, with the romance being served like a delicious sauce on the side. The author hasn’t stopped developing the relationship between Casey and Dalton, but they’ve settled into a comfortable and loving place for now, and I enjoy reading about them even more for it. I feel much the same way about the setting, which Armstrong also continues to build and expand. In this book, we get to learn more about life in the Yukon, and that includes a quick trip to the town of Dawson City. We also get more information about the inner workings of the council and glean clues that support the possibility of them being compromised, setting up potential storylines for future books. In conclusion, Watcher in the Woods was another fantastic sequel in a series that has captured my attention in so many ways. Mystery, action, romance, and suspense—Rockton has it all. Once more, Kelley Armstrong has me waiting on pins and needles for the next book. Audiobook Comments: This is a series I adore in audio, and the main reason for that is Therese Plummer, a narrator extraordinaire who has proven herself to be the perfect voice for Casey Duncan. She delivered an awesome performance as always, and I look forward to listening to her read again for the next book. audiobook mystery review-copy ...more 14 likes Like Comment ❤️ Dorsey aka Wrath Lover Reviews ❤️ 1,000 reviews 312 followers February 13, 2020 4.5 Suspenseful Stars!! In this forth book in the series a U.S. Marshall somehow makes his way into Rockton despite the secrecy of the remote isolated town. The Marshall reveals that a dangerous violent criminal is hiding in Rockton and he’s there to retrieve him. Casey and Dalton throw the Marshall out of town to protect the identities of the rest of the residents. In a attempt to learn the identity of the fugitive Dalton and Casey go in search of the Marshall’s campsite in the surrounding woods but before they get any viable information the Marshall is murdered.....now it’s up to Dalton and Casey figure out if there is any truth to his story. I loved that we got to meet Casey’s sister and we learn more about their troubled relationship. There were also some surprising revelations about a few of the residents that brought more depth to those characters. Like all the prior books, the mystery and suspense keep me guessing throughout the book. I can’t wait for the next book!!! *Narrated by super talented Thérèse Plummer who as always did a excellent job! audio_books 11 likes Like Comment Matt 4,055 reviews 12.9k followers February 4, 2024 I continue to find solace in this well-paced police procedural series by Kelley Armstrong. Set in the northern community of Rockton, Yukon Territory, this Canadian series has all the elements of a great set of mysteries, peppered with strong character development and vivid descriptions. Armstrong has planted some wonderful seeds and captivates the reader with all that is going on, even with a small collection of individuals in this secreted community. I entered the series with high hopes, all of which have been met or surpassed. I am eager to keep reading to see how things will morph and what will occur to further my enjoyment. The covert town of Rockton—tucked into the rural landscape of Canada’s Yukon Territory—has its moments of solitude and others of extreme drama. This is to be expected, as its residents are a mix of victims, criminals, and those who have something weighing on their consciences. Casey Duncan is one of those, having fled a murder charge in Southern Ontario. After joining the police force as a homicide detective, she’s shown her mettle, all while falling for the local law enforcement leader, Sheriff Eric Dalton. After sneaking her older sister, April, into Rockton, in the guise of running some medical tests, Casey finds herself in more trouble. A US Marshal has made his way up to Rockton and is searching for someone, though he will not tip his hat as to who it might be. While Casey and Sheriff Dalton are not sure this is all real, things definitely take a turn when the Marshal is shot and killed hours later. It is up to Casey to look for the killer and determine what the Marshal was seeking, all while keeping the calm in this community. As her relationship with Sheriff Dalton grows, Casey knows that her past could come crashing into the present, Many know of her past, especially Sheriff Dalton, who admitted her to the exclusive community, but this is nothing compared to the issues that could ensue if she is discovered and brought to face justice. Juggling emotions, law and order, as well as making permanent roots, Casey will have to face them all, with April eager to share the ‘real Casey’ with anyone who will listen. Armstrong does a great job with new story arcs to enrich the already strong series once more. Kelley Armstrong is both a strong writer and a great storyteller. She uses her knowledge of surroundings and great styles to keep the reader enthused. I quite enjoy her narrative approach, which paints vivid pictures of threatening struggles and characters who pepper the pages to deliver great bits to the larger piece. The momentum of the book grows with each passing chapter, which vary in length to tell detailed or superficial aspects of the story’s elements and keep the reader guessing. More faces emerge, while other characters add depth to their personalities in this piece that has just what I needed to stay connected. There are strong plot elements that keep the story fresh and the reader on the edge of their seats. Armstrong builds both within this novel and connects the previous ones in arcs that tell poignant aspects of Rockton and its citizenry. The action is high and the twists are always revealing something, leaving the reader to bask in all that is going on, while remaining curious as to what awaits them. I am eager to see how things will develop, as Armstrong has more books ready for me to devour, given the time and effort. Kudos, Madam Armstrong, for an ongoing dedication to great writing. Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at: http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/ audiobook 10 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,080 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 5 quotes 4 discussions 1 question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Ben H. Winters | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters Ben H. Winters , Jane Austen 3.28 12,023 ratings 1,227 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book From the publisher of "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" comes a new tale of romance, heartbreak, and tentacled mayhem. "Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters" expands the original text of the beloved Jane Austen novel with all-new scenes of giant lobsters, rampaging octopuses, two-headed sea serpents, and other biological monstrosities. As our story opens, the Dashwood sisters are evicted from their childhood home and sent to live on a mysterious island full of savage creatures and dark secrets. While sensible Elinor falls in love with Edward Ferrars, her romantic sister Marianne is courted by both the handsome Willoughby and the hideous man-monster Colonel Brandon. Can the Dashwood sisters triumph over meddlesome matriarchs and unscrupulous rogues to find true love? Or will they fall prey to the tentacles that are forever snapping at their heels? This masterful portrait of Regency England blends Jane Austen's biting social commentary with ultra-violent depictions of sea monsters biting. It's survival of the fittest, and only the swiftest swimmers will find true love! Genres Fantasy Fiction Horror Humor Classics Romance Historical Fiction ...more 340 pages, Paperback First published September 15, 2009 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Ben H. Winters 52 books 2,014 followers Ben H. Winters is the author most recently of the novel The Quiet Boy (Mulholland/Little, Brown, 2021). He is also the author of the novel Golden State; the New York Times bestselling Underground Airlines; The Last Policeman and its two sequels; the horror novel Bedbugs; and several works for young readers. His first novel, Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, was also a Times bestseller. Ben has won the Edgar Award for mystery writing, the Philip K. Dick award in science fiction, the Sidewise Award for alternate history, and France’s Grand Prix de L’Imaginaire. Ben also writes for film and television. He is the creator and co-showrunner of Tracker, forthcoming on CBS. Previously he was a producer on the FX show Legion, and on the upcoming Apple TV+ drama Manhunt. He has contributed short stories to many anthologies, as well as in magazines such as Lightspeed. He is the author of four “Audible Originals”– Stranger, Inside Jobs, Q&A, and Self Help — and several plays and musicals. His reviews appear frequently in the New York Times Book Review. Ben was born in Washington, D.C., grew up in Maryland, educated in St. Louis, and then grew up a bunch more, in various ways, in places like Chicago, New York, Cambridge, MA, and Indianapolis, IN. These days he lives in LA with his wife, three kids, and one large dog. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.28 12,023 ratings 1,227 reviews 5 stars 1,957 (16%) 4 stars 3,129 (26%) 3 stars 4,118 (34%) 2 stars 1,941 (16%) 1 star 878 (7%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,226 reviews Rhiannon Ryder 298 reviews 22 followers February 15, 2010 Nothing offended me more than in first year university English when I had to listen to a classroom full of people gripe and moan about Jane Austen, and how they thought Pride and Prejudice was like a soap opera. I sat there and blew steam out of my ears and looked forward to the day when I could discuss the book with people who actually understood how brilliant it was that you could compare her book, written between 1797 and 1813, with a modern soap opera. But for Christmas this year, my good friend Mel gave me Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, and I've got to say, I think Quirk Publishing might have just found the way to make this book fun even for the nay-sayers! They started with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (which I'm going to have to pick up now, since pride was always my fave anyhow), and then moved on to Sense and Sensibility. Sense and Sensibility with Sea Monsters, is a great parody all in that dry humor vein which is so classically Austen. To begin with the book seems nearly identical to the original except for the comments thrown in to set up the sea monster theme; lots of them very comical. For instance Willoughby is a treasure hunter, and wears a wet suit for the entire book no matter what he's doing "Marianne began now to perceive that the desperation which had seized her at sixteen and a half, of ever seeing a man who could satisfy her ideas of perfection, had been rash and unjustifiable. Willoughby was all that her fancy had delineated in that unhappy hour, and in every brighter period. He was the sun shining on smooth rocks; he was a clear blue sky after monsoon season's end; he was perfection in a wet suit." As the story moves on there are progressively more and more fun changes, the fashionable hub of society is Sub-Marine Station Beta an under-the-sea city, instead of London. There are Pirates, and Sea witches, one of which has cursed Colonel Brandon to have a Squid face. "Otherwise, he was very pleasant. His appearance, besides the twitching tentacles that overhung his chin, was not unpleasing, despite being an absolute old bachelor; for he was the wrong side of five and thirty." And in almost every emotional scene there is an attack by some type of sea monster happening at the same moment. Picture Lucy unburdening herself to Elinor of her secret engagement to Edward while Elinor fights off a two headed Sea Serpent. Finally, without giving away the big ending, i have to say there is a truly wonderful parody at the end of this book of the usual readers Discussion guide. "10. Is Monsieur Pierre a symbol for something? Name three other well-known works of Western Literature that feature orangutan valets. Are those characters also slain by pirates?" This book had me giggling on and off for days, not to mention reading bits out for people whenever they'd listen. I highly recommend it for both Jane Austen fans and those who thought she was a bore in first year university. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, by Jane Austen and Ben H. Winters Published by Quirk Books, September 2009 44 likes Like Comment Roxanne Author 1 book 56 followers January 19, 2010 It takes a lot for me not to finish a book, but I have to say, I'm 50 pages in to this and really not loving it. All the things that were fun and sassy about Pride & Prejudice & Zombies feel annoying and forced here. In P & P & Z , Grahame-Smith seemed to really care about the characters and the story and wove the zombies in beautifully, and the end result is a book that will attract new readers to Austen. Winters, however, doesn't seem to have any respect or love for Austen; unlike Grahame-Smith, Winters seems to start from thinking Austen is boring and in need of livening up. He turns Austen's rich characters into caricatures of themselves, and he slaps sea beasts into the story at random. He also takes a lot more liberties with the original text. Overall his version of this novel feels like a childish dig at the English teacher who forced him to read Austen. Sorry, but that's really not the way to approach a classic and well-loved text like this. (Although if he'd done it to Emma , I'd have a little more sympathy--she's far more deserving of an octopus attack than the Dashwood sisters.) There were a few moments I appreciated--for example, Willoughby's physique-accentuating wetsuit, and just the concept of Brandon with tentacles--but it's really not enough to make me want to keep reading. ::edit:: Despite what I wrote above, I did, however, return to the book, and skimmed and skipped around until I got to the end, mostly just to see what Winters did with it. I have to say, I kind of loved the conclusion of the Lucy Steele plotline--that was almost excellent. But just about everything else got on my nerves. Winters really hates these characters--Elinor's gaping neck wound, Marianne's bout with malaria AND yellow fever? Yeah, still not down with this adaptation. 23 likes Like Comment Anna 269 reviews 71 followers September 16, 2009 When Quirk Classics’ first literary mash-up, “Pride & Prejudice & Zombies,” came out earlier this year, we Austen-obsessed Watermarkers kept it displayed close at hand, for the sheer delight of watching customers’ reactions to its cover, which features a well-coiffed Regency lass missing several important parts of her face. As one might gather, comments fell into two camps: the “That is the most horrible thing I’ve ever seen!” variety, and, like my own, “That may be the single greatest idea anyone has ever had!” (Take that, penicillin and the wheel!) It seems the general populace leaned towards the latter, because “P&P&Z” has been hanging out on the New York Times bestseller list for months now. Last I heard, the movie rights were in hot contention. May I suggest, Hollywood, that no one could pull off Mr.-Darcy-as-action-hero better than Clive Owen? “Sense & Sensibility & Sea Monsters” mines the same vein, with gleeful results. You see, some time before the action takes place, a horrible change took place in the oceans of the world; known as the Alteration, this mysterious event turned all the creatures of the sea into vicious monsters, bent on destroying mankind. Needless to say, this left England, being mostly coast, rather susceptible to attack by sea serpents, gargantuan jellyfish, razor-toothed crawfish, and the like. It’s a downright Lovecraftian premise, crossed with a little H. Rider Haggard (in a subplot about young Margaret Dashwood’s glimpses of an alien geyser-worshipping civilization on the secluded island where Barton Cottage stands). And where is Austen in all this? Well, “Sense & Sensibility & Sea Monsters” has, despite appearances, the same basic plot as its more respectable namesake, and in fact, many of the same words. What’s brilliant about these two Austen-horror hybrids is actually their fidelity to the originals—I think most of the humor would be lost on someone who hadn’t read the non-zombified-and-sea-monstered versions. For instance, in the parody, poor Colonel Brandon is not only old (at 35) and less than dashing: he’s been cursed by a sea witch, and the bottom half of his face is covered with tentacles. Thus, in the early conversation between Willoughby and Marianne over their shared dislike of him, Austen’s words get oh-so-subtly spun: “‘Brandon is just the kind of man,’ said Willoughby, ‘whom everybody speaks well of, and nobody cares about; whom all are delighted to see, and everybody is sort of mildly afraid to look at him directly.’” I can, of course, understand why Austen purists object. “Sense & Sensibility & Sea Monsters,” and its predecessor, are thoroughly silly exercises in subversion. Me, I think they’re *hilarious.* As for what Quirk Classics should tackle next, I’m torn: “Northanger Abbey” is *begging* for a vampire or two, but giant robots would liven up “Mansfield Park” considerably, wouldn’t they? humor reviewed-for-watermark 22 likes Like Comment Meaghan 1,096 reviews 25 followers November 1, 2009 I think this book is an improvement on the previous one in the series, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies . The zombies in the first book were really just window dressing. On the other hand, the sea monsters in this book were actually a major part of the plot and really livened up the story. (I cannot help but find Jane Austen's stories to be dull, dull, dull.) I look forward to see what classics they warp next! classics historical-novels read-in-2009 18 likes Like Comment Kara Babcock 1,992 reviews 1,441 followers August 18, 2010 Jane Austen and I have had a rocky relationship. I respect her as a writer and believe she deserves a place in the canon of great English authors, but I sometimes wonder if she is overhyped. When it comes to Sense and Sensibility , it has a lot of Austen's trademark wit, but as a first novel it also has the immaturity and inexperience of a writer learning the craft. So with Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters , Ben H. Winters has an opportunity to take a promising tale of two sisters and ameliorate it with his marine menaces. Indeed, this is probably the intention, but as I'm going to emphasize over and over again, it did not work out that way. Before I launch into my main criticism, I want to note two errors that jumped out at me while I read. The first is excusable, or at least explainable. The second, not so much. Both are good examples of the carelessness that plagues this book. The first error is in the first paragraph of Chapter 9. The Dashwoods have arrived at Pestilence Isle and are settling into their new home. As part of these activities, "they had strung the encircling fence with garlands of dried kelp and lamb's blood, which Sir John Middleton had proscribed as the surest method to ward off" sea monsters. Rather than proscribed , which means forbidden, I think the word Winters intends is prescribed . The two words are antonyms in meaning but only one letter apart. Hence, this is probably just a rather unfortunate typo. Copy editors are human too. (Well, most of them.) I cannot quite as easily dismiss the second error. Later in the book (Chapter 46), Marianne is planning her new life without Willoughby: "I shall learn engineering; I shall study hydrology and biology and aeronautics; I shall endeavour to understand Mendel's principles and comparative zoology." Managing that last resolution would be quite an accomplishment, because Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk known for his experiments with heredity and generally credited for discovering genetics, won't be born until five years after Austen dies. So the Marianne of Sense and Sensibility wouldn't know about Mendel. To be fair, Winters never specifies when this book takes place. Maybe it takes place in a later part of the nineteenth century, after Mendel starts his experiments. Yet this explanation is unsatisfactory for two reasons: firstly, Mendel's work didn't garner much attention until the early twentieth century; secondly, even if the Alteration changed that and led to an earlier realization of genetics, moving the time period forward even by fifty years would place Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters into the Victorian era. And I think that would make for a different tone of book. No, the easiest explanation seems to be that Mendel's mention is an anachronism. It only took me a few seconds to check Mendel's birth date on Wikipedia. What is Winters' excuse? That question, while pertinent, probably will not bear much fruit. Instead, let's consider two complementary questions. Does the sea monsters story need Sense and Sensibility or could it have worked on its own? Conversely, is Sense and Sensibility helped or improved in any way by the addition of sea monsters? Spoiler alert: the answer to both questions is "no." Prior to reading this book, I was under the impression that the eponymous sea monsters were anomalies. They are actually much more than that. Some time prior to the story's start, the Earth's oceans experienced an "Alteration," and all marine life became hostile toward humankind. Ocean voyages now hold great peril; even living near a lake is dangerous. Forget Sense and Sensibility for a moment: the Alteration is a great starting point for an alternate history novel set in Regency England! Considering Britain's status as a naval power, a far-flung empire, and an island, there would be plenty of interesting developments as a result of the Alteration. So many questions to explore, characters to create . . . . . . and it's all wasted on Jane Austen. No offense meant to Austen, of course. But in trying—and I do emphasize that word, trying—to graft the plot and characters of Sense and Sensibility onto his Altered England, Winters misses the mark. Instead of creating a story truly worthy of such a fantastic setting, he tries to stretch a story that wasn't made to fit this canvas—and oh, how it shows. Take, for example, the cause of the Alteration. Winters throws out some half-hearted speculation. Henry Dashwood dies pursuing the source of a poison stream he believes the cause. Sir John Middleton believes the Alteration is a curse upon England by one of the victims of British imperialism; he has devoted his life to finding the primitive tribe responsible, with no success. Edward Ferrars favours a theory that blames Henry VIII's split with Catholicism. All these sound interesting, but under scrutiny they all fall apart. The Alteration's name (indeed, the very fact that it has a Name) suggests that the oceans were not always like this. So there should be a simple way to test, say, Edward's theory about Henry VIII: what do written records say about ocean voyages prior to Henry's reign? Surely a calamity as great as the Alteration would be recorded: "June 7, waters calm. June 8, the dolphins killed my first mate. God help us all!" I find it very difficult to believe no one knows when the Alteration began. The poison stream and tribal curse theories are also rather silly, but slightly less so, and I suppose the latter works well as a background for Sir John. It just galls me that Winters takes such an off-handed approach to what may be the most important question in his universe. There's also something suspect about the number of people who spend their time near or on the ocean, considering its dangers. Let's start with Pestilence Isle. Sir John lives on an archipelago off of Devonshire, specifically on Deadwind Island, and he lets a cottage on Pestilence Isle to the Dashwood women. It makes sense that Sir John would live on a tiny island. He's an adventurer, and he likes danger. But why would he put women needlessly in danger by giving them a cottage on a smaller island where he doesn't live? Why would the Dashwoods ever agree to live there? As the frequent sea monster attacks show, the decision is practically suicidal. And don't get me started—yet—about what happens to Margaret. Moving on: Sub-Marine Station Beta. Actually, I kind of see how this one makes sense. It may be—nay, it is —stupid to build a gigantic dome habitation at the bottom of the ocean off the British coast and then invite all the upper class people to spend the winter there. If this were a James Bond movie, Sub-Marine Station Beta would be part of a trap by the villain. (It would also feature an awesome underwater fight scene, in which Bond dispatches several baddies and a couple of sharks. But I digress.) However, Sub-Marine Station Beta is consistent with the British attitude of stalwart arrogance in the face of adversity. In a time of war, which this is, the British keep those upper lips stiff and like to show that they remain steadfast. How better to show that you do not fear the enemy than building a stronghold in the middle of his or her territory? Sub-Marine Station Beta is an exercise in nationalism and a display of bravado. It's also rather stupid. The icing on the implausibility cake, however, are the pirates. Are we supposed to believe that there are outlaws who subsist by taking some of the few ships that survive sea monster attacks? And that these ships themselves somehow avoid succumbing to those same attacks? I love reading about pirates, but they are the most obvious example of something included in this book because it's cool instead of its potential contributions to the plot. No, when I look at it this way, it is a shame that Winters had even to try to follow an outline of Sense and Sensibility in writing this book. It is a waste of a world that could have been so much more. And all of these flaws read like they are the result of carelessness, of unintentional neglect caused by starting with the idea of "it's Sense and Sensibility , but with sea monsters" and then throwing everything at the book to see what sticks. I kind of feel sorry for the setting. Having determined that the sea monsters suffer at the hands of Sense and Sensibility , can we say the same in reverse? Yes, indubitably. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters does not merely besmirch its source material's good name; it follows Sense and Sensibility down a dark alleyway, beats it senseless, and then slinks away to commit more crimes against Austen's oeuvre. Harsh much? I thought so too, at first. I wanted to find this book amusing. I wanted to chuckle at how Winters cleverly transposes the class humour and familial squabbles of Austen's characters into this Altered England. The more I read, however, the more I realized that Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters does not just fail to live up to its source. I could handle that. But no, it's much worse. This book actively dismantles everything that makes Sense and Sensibility great English literature. Nineteenth-century English society holds our interest in part because its class system is very different from the way contemporary society is stratified. But it's not enough merely to mock or to belittle this difference. To successfully satirize Regency England, one must deconstruct its customs and culture and examine why our contemporary society finds it humorous. Otherwise, all you're doing is pointing and laughing; on a scale of sophistication, that is barely above toilet humour. As its title specifies, Sense and Sensibility is about the balance between reason and emotionalism. Elinor, with her calculating and practical ways, embodies sense; Marianne, the emotional and impulsive one, sensibility. Winters pays lip service to these differences as he develops the plot along the same lines as the original novel. While the developments in relations between characters, sea monster attacks aside, are the same, the emotional and thematic significance of these relationships are mangled in translation. For instance, I never feel the angst of Elinor's realization that Edward, whatever their feelings for one another, is unavailable. Winters develops this, cashes in on the irony, and even makes Lucy Steele a sea-witch. But all the window dressing gets in the way of the nuances at play among Elinor, Edward, and Lucy. Similarly, Marianne's obsession with Colonel Brandon's face adds nothing to the character's obsession in the original novel with his age. The revelation of Lucy's identity as a sea-witch also bothered me. Specifically, Sir John explains why sea-witches must take human form: . . . the only certain way for a sea witch to prolong its foul existence is by consuming human bone marrow, which is therefore, to them, the most precious of elixirs. Hence their occasional appearance, in the guise of attractive human women, among the terrestrial world—where they make love to an unknowing man, marry him unawares, and then, when the opportunity presents itself, kill him and suck out his marrow. It is the last sentence that presents a problem: why bother marrying the man before feeding upon him? Surely it would be more effective to jump his bones (literally) and skip the tiresome courtship. In fact, why bother with a man at all? Why not just subdue some children and feed off of them? It might seem like I'm nitpicking, but I think these are reasonable questions about something that involves the motivations and actions of an important character. At about the point where the situation at Sub-Marine Station Beta becomes dire, it dawned on me that the scope of Winters' narrative is entirely unsuited to Austen's original story. Sense and Sensibility is, like all of Austen's work, an intimate novel that uses a few families to portray all of English society in microcosm. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters is about a couple of girls crying about guys, kicking sea monster ass, escaping a doomed underwater city, and then witnessing the rise of an apocalyptic Leviathan. The plot has suddenly become much bigger than the original story, dwarfing the characters and their problems, which are supposed to be centre stage. And . . . Margaret. What the hell? I have no idea what Winters was trying to do with Margaret's—I can only call it a "seduction" by the island. The whole subplot of Margaret discovering an entire species of subhumans who have existed "since the dawn of time" and worship the Leviathan is unnecessary and, frankly, uninteresting. Once again, like Lucy the sea-witch and the cause of the Alteration, Winters has included something that probably seemed like a good idea but, taken together with the entire work, just adds clutter and confusion. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters promises that it "blends Jane Austen's biting social commentary with ultraviolent depictions of sea monsters biting." An examination of this very blend belies this claim. I do not doubt the sincerity of the claim; it's clear that Winters and Quirks Classics have tried very hard to do justice to Austen's novel. In some ways, it would be better for everyone if this were some pernicious attempt to mock the source material—as it is, I feel a little pity for Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters . Its mistakes are made in a labour of love, but they are born from carelessness that could easily have been avoided. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review 2010-read 2010-worst10 alternate-history ...more 16 likes Like Comment Viola 410 reviews 63 followers November 17, 2020 Vēl viens Dž. Ostinas romāna pārstāsts ar negaidītu piedevu - dažādiem jūras mošķiem. Māsas Elinora un Marinanna, radinieku nekrietnās rīcības dēļ, pārceļas dzīvot uz mazu piekrastes pilsētiņu, kur jūras ūdeņos mīt dažādas baisas jūras radības, kuras tā vien gaida, kā kādu naivu jaunkundzi ievilkt jūras dzelmē. Šajā romānā drosmīgi vīri iet bojā nevis, piemēram, nokrītot no zirga, bet tos saplosa asinskārs krabis. Arī daži romāna varoņi izskatās kā tēli no Karību jūras pirātiem, Deivija Džounsa komandas ( glumi taustekļi pie ģīmja utt.) Jāsaka, ka variants ar zombijiem man likās interesantāks, bet varbūt kādam Ostinas fanam arī šis liksies ļoti ok. 10 likes Like Comment Brent 358 reviews 171 followers May 19, 2022 I kept telling myself that I was going to read the original first, but who am I kidding, I'm not reading Jane Austen. Anyway this was pretty fun, with long meticulous conversation about the minutiae of each character's emotions, punctuated by a mysterious sea-monster plot. fantasy horror humor ...more 9 likes Like Comment inciminci 492 reviews 190 followers April 25, 2021 Well, that was silly. Regency Era England has been marked by a phenomenon called the Alteration which "turned the creatures of the ocean against the people of the earth; which made even the tiniest darting minnow and the gentlest dolphin into aggressive, blood-thirsty predators, hardened and hateful towards our bipedal race; which had given foul birth to whole new races of man-hating, shape-shifting ocean creatures, sirens and sea witches and mermaids and mermen; which rendered the oceans of the world naught but great burbling salt-cauldrons of death." In this utterly hostile environment Austen's famous Dashwood sisters not only deliver wisdoms and witty conversations on the nature of relationships and men, they also fearlessly battle vengeful fish, mutated crustaceans and other abominable sea creatures. Seriously though, this book is fun, but somehow the idea of the book is more fun than the actual realization, if you know what I mean. Every time I sat down for a read I started feeling as if it is too much for me and it actually took me a long time to finish it. I have read "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies", which follows the same principle, before and was smitten by that book, which had such a nice flow. So I was expecting the same impact from this one too. I don't know to what degree that might have been the case because I prefer "Pride and Prejudice" to "Sense and Sensibility" but anyway, it was a fun read nevertheless. audiobooks challenges-ha-a-z-with-a-twist-21 ebooks ...more 8 likes Like Comment Brittney 278 reviews March 22, 2010 Ok, I knew this was going to be a risk, trying this book. I thought I would like it though. I like people who take serious things and turn them on their head to be funny, like Princess Bride or Monty Python (or pretty much all British comedy) for example. I thought this would be silly and fun. It turns out that it was just boring and stupid. I cannot remember the last time I didn't finish a book until I tried reading this one. Not even halfway. The author basically takes the original story and adds in the fact that there are human eating sea monsters everywhere that go out of their way to try to kill humans. Colonel Brandon is half human-half octopus. Maryann and Elinor spend their free time whittling wood and trying to kill sea monsters before they are killed themselves. If I were British, I would say something like "complete and utter rubbish, this book!" But, since I'm not, I'll just tell you to not waste your precious reading time. 8 likes Like Comment Kinsey 309 reviews 7 followers November 3, 2017 I'm not ashamed to admit that - even with a tentacle-face - I would still bang Colonel Brandon like a screen door in a hurricane... 8 likes Like Comment ladymurmur 184 reviews November 17, 2016 If this book hadn't satisfied needs in two different challenges, I don't think I would have finished it. Silliness. And not always in a fun or good way. This was "austenesque" in that it used an Austen plot and Austen's characters, at least in name. But the feel, the language, the "oh dear, my thesaurus has vomited on the page" excesses... not Austen-like at all. Yes, yes, there were some amusing parts, and it can be amusing to exaggerate and poke fun at familiar scenes. And how politely everyone tried to ignore bits of grossness or violence - impossible not to giggle at the ridiculousness of it all. I knew what I was getting into when I picked it up, so have no one to blame but myself. :-) austen-associates 7 likes Like Comment Bon 1,324 reviews 170 followers March 3, 2020 I love how BADASS these twisted versions make the females. Jane gave them strong CHARACTER - these give them strong muscles and propensity for violence. A+. regency-era 7 likes Like Comment Cass 488 reviews 127 followers February 12, 2011 Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters is a fabulously witty mash-up of Austen's work of (almost) the same name. The author remains faithful to the characters and story while brilliantly weaving throughout the book an absorbing tale of sea monsters overrunning the country. If I sound like I am gushing, that is because I am. Parodies, or mash-ups of almost all of the works of Jane Austen have appeared in bookstores over the last few years. This author really manages to weave an interesting tale throught the book, rather than relying on the current pop-culture interest in zombies to sell books (yes I am talking about Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and the even worse Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls ). This author actually writes a book that would be interesting even without Austen, he actually manages to mash two great ideas together to come up with a very witty laugh-out-loud novel. What the author does really well is to weave a funny and interesting story very cleverly through the original. He does this by manipulating the less important characters, manipulating locations and weaving sea monster drama through crucial scenes. In does all this in such a way that compliments, rather than changes, Austen. When Marianna remains focused on Willoughy while crazed lobsters go on a murderous rampage through a ballroom we, the reader, nod our heads assured that that is exactly how she would have behaved if Austen was doing the retelling. The Austen romance is still happening, Colonel Brandon still loves Marianne who still loves Willoughby who still loves (well I won't give it all away) but the minor characters, under the pen of Ben H. Winters add a complete new dimension to the story. Lady Middleton becomes a show-stealing amazon beauty who would readily cut the throats of the entire party given the chance. Her entrance had me laughing aloud, her behaviour and caustic comments made me fall in love with her. Margaret becomes a central character giving a focus for a mystery surrounding their new home on Pestilent Isle. Even the Miss Steeles receive a little boost. What I love best is that, again, he has managed to elevate these characters to more prominent roles without changing their intended nature. Instead his changes actually extend and compliment the characters, providing insight into behaviours that Austen wrote about. He creates a completely plausible reason, within the context of a society that daily battles with sea monsters, for the aloof behaviour between Sir John and Lady Middleton. At the same time making the oddities of Mrs Jennings seem reasonable. The author has taken the time to read and understand the Austen characters. Not only this but he has felt the injustices that our heroines feel, and by allowing us to laugh at them, has given us closure. Mrs Ferrars praising the absent Miss Morton Beautiful indeed! But she does everything well. Have you seen her peel a banana? It is like listening to a symphony." The author has added some delicious details which give rise to some 'book club' type questions. The characters seem always to be eating seafood, are they are eating this due to the abundant supply of meat from dead sea monsters, or could this overconsumption be somehow related to the sea monster attacks? London is transformed into Sub Marine Station Beta an undersea dome in which all residents must wear precautionary floation devices and eat tasteless powdered foods. Is this a reflection on the lengths that people go to in order to remain fashionable? I love that the author has manage to make me consider the possibilities and wonder about hidden subtexts in a mash-up. I love that I see the humour in a world of humans feasting on sea fare while at the same time being afraid of being eaten by a sea monster. Never had he found proof of his belief, let alone any amelioration of his homeland's peril... Amelioration means improvement, and the latter word would have worked just as well. I am becoming quite taken with an author who would occasionally choose such an obscure and difficult word, when a more common one would do. Austen's Sense and Sensibility has always been a novel that had layers, this adaptation does no discredit to this. His humour is clever and shows a great appreciation of the original work. I am laughing constantly at what is turning out to be very clever humour, while feeling clever myself for seeing subtle things. Then I cleverly realise that surely the best way to a rave review is to make the reader think they are the only person clever enough to 'get it', and then I decided we are all very clever indeed. This retelling could indeed been how it actually happened, perhaps it was Jane Austen that left these pieces out, rather than Winters who added them in. 2011 fan-fiction i-highly-recommend 6 likes Like Comment Stuart Dean 637 reviews 2 followers December 9, 2020 I never thought a Jane Austen book could be in any way improved. I thought they were all so irredeemably boring that there was no salvaging them. Tiresome self-absorbed girls, pretentious wooden men, long inner monologues about their mournful lot in life, they have it all. Little did I realize that they were practically perfect missing just one essential element: sea monsters. Watching two vapid twenty year olds comparing boyfriends is so much more interesting when they are also under attack by a two-headed fang beast. Banal dinner party conversation is vastly improved with a delicious soup made from the bile ducts of sloths. No visit to the shore for a clambake can be complete without at least one guest being eaten by giant jellyfish. Jane Austen without the constant threat of watery death is like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" without the vampires, just a bunch of teenagers whining and acting as if their little problems were the most important things in the world. The silliness Winters brings to this work is beyond over the top. People are literally annoyed at a servant for having the poor manners as to be skewered by a swordfish while the ladies are having tea. It's all like that, as the characters totally ignore danger and actual death while treating courtship rituals and social standing as earth shattering importance. The nonsense is hilarious. If Jane Eyre had had a few erewolves I might even have finished it in high school. 6 likes Like Comment Esonja 409 reviews 5 followers June 22, 2013 This book is ridiculous. Started off at 2 stars, slid home at 3.5-4. Seriously, I started this book thinking 2 stars was going to be generous (and not at all sure I would finish it), but am happy to say it easily improved from there. Gross, but fun, especially after you stop looking for Austen homage, rather than a sea monsters book written by someone who clearly loves Austen's works. I stand by my first impression, though; it's ridiculous. Also, I note that I don't care that much about Sense and Sensibility, and, conversely, I will not read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies for the exact opposite reason. 6 likes Like Comment Clare Snow 1,080 reviews 103 followers November 30, 2019 I do love a mashup of Jane Austen with stupidity. audio-book borrowbox comedy ...more 6 likes Like Comment Kirsten 1,657 reviews 281 followers June 19, 2020 This was a lot fun. Not only was it a mash-up of two of my favorite things: Jane Austen and monsters, but it also had a little Lovecraftian joy added in. I haven't read the original in some time. I really should because I don't remember a 3rd sister and there was one in here. The action scenes and illustrations were well done and the characters stayed in the original character with very few modifications. Great fun! historical horror romance 5 likes Like Comment Shelly 34 reviews 17 followers August 13, 2011 I didn't think that I could be more disappointed than I was with "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" but that is exactly what happened. I didn't like it. My advice is to stick with the original story which is amazing. horror 5 likes Like Comment Kristina Coop-a-Loop 1,251 reviews 502 followers June 23, 2019 Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Jane Austen and Ben H. Winters is not the easiest book to read. I think you’d have to be a Jane Austen fan, but not a stick-up-your-ass Austen enthusiast, but rather a reader who is familiar with her novels, loves them, yet still can enjoy them being the butt of a good joke. SSSM is more of a homage to the novel that pokes fun at the romantic plot. It’s worth taking the time to read, but you really have to persevere to finish it. Winters for the most part follows closely the frame of the plot of Sense and Sensibility . He does include (from what I can discern) original text from the novel, but he writes the whole novel in Austen’s style—and I think he’s fairly successful in copying her. Even sentences like this are very Austen-like: “Marianne hardly knew what to say, and she was additionally attempting to dislodge a catfish bone from where it had become lodged in her throat since lunch. She could not wound the feelings of her sister on any account, and yet to say what she did not believe was impossible. At length she coughed, pounded a bit on her breastbone, and replied” (22). The author is very good at emulating Jane Austen, to the point that I found the book required as much concentration and brain work as an actual Austen novel. He is much more successful than the authors of Pride and Promiscuity who attempted to pass off their “discovered” sex scenes as having been written by Austen; they didn’t even come close. While the overall story of this book echoes the original, Winters changes it to include the sea monsters. The England of this novel is not populated by gently rolling hills with grazing sheep and lots of trees and hedgerows and manor houses. Oh no. It takes place in England after the Alteration, when “the waters of the world grew cold and hateful to the sons of man, and darkness moved on the face of the deep” (7). Great monsters have surfaced from the seas and bedevil the English coasts. Land mass has been reclaimed by the sea and much of what is left is foggy, dank and swampy. Living along the coast is dangerous; not only must you watch out for bogs, but hermit crabs the size of ponies. Violent, gruesome death by marine life is a common occurrence. No one knows the cause of the Alteration, but there are many theories ranging from a poison that infected all of the waters the world and its sea creatures to pissed off monster gods. Thus, the ocean and its sea life is humanity’s greatest enemy and source of food (there is no mention of mutton in this book but they are constantly eating something fish-oriented and nasty-sounding). The characters still keep their essential personalities and storylines, but with a sea monster-twist. Sir John (Mrs. Dashwood’s cousin who invites them to live at Barton Cottage) is an adventurer who has spent much of his adult life seeking out the cause of the Alteration. During his travels, he acquired many prizes, but his greatest is his wife, Lady Middleton. She was formerly an island maiden named Kukaphahora. Sir John acquired her when he and his compatriots murdered all the men on the island and dragged away the women in nets. Mr. Palmer, one of his adventurous companions, also acquired his wife in the same manner. Colonel Brandon “suffered from a cruel affliction, the likes of which the Dashwood sisters had heard of, but never seen firsthand. He bore a set of long, squishy tentacles protruding grotesquely from his face, writhing this way and that, like hideous living facial hair of slime green” (37). Apparently Col. Brandon pissed of a sea witch who then cursed him with a squid face. The romantic yearnings and schemes of the characters play out against this backdrop of murderous sea creatures. The fateful trip Elinor and Marianne take to London with Mrs. Jennings is transformed into a trip to Sub-Marine Station Beta, a kind of underwater London (although it’s never called London)—a major metropolis built under a dome miles below the sea. To get there, they travel in submarines (which makes this novel kind of like steampunk) and when there they visit the Aqua-Museo-Quarium and Kensington Undersea Gardens. Even at Sub-Marine Station Beta, they are not safe as giant lobsters (trained like seals to perform) turn on the audience and eat them and sea creatures coordinate to attack the Dome itself. Highly emotional and pivotal scenes from the book (which I remember more clearly from the 1995 Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet movie) are paired with sea monster attacks. This is quite funny—Elinor trying to keep up polite conversation with Lucy Steele while they are being attacked by the Devonshire Fang-Beast and Lucy is oblivious: “Good heavens!” cried Elinor, swinging her oar towards the flat head of the Fang-Beast, as astonished by the sheer size of the creature she faced, as by her dawning understanding of Lucy Steele’s meaning. “What do you mean? Are you acquainted with Mr. Robert Ferrars? Can you be?” The Fang-Beast, meanwhile, easily avoided the strike of the oar, which splashed uselessly on the surface of the water (125). The pivotal scene in the which Marianne confronts Willoughby at a dance is transformed into a mix of comic farce, heartbreak and violence and gore as the giant lobsters begin decapitating the audience while Marianne is questioning the faithless Willoughby: “But have you not received my notes?” The entire novel is like this: the formal language and decorum of society contrasted with various (and frequent) gory deaths by sea monsters. I particularly enjoyed the odd conversations. Fanny and Mrs. Ferrars (her mother) are comparing Elinor’s whittling skills to those of Miss Morton, the woman they want Edward Ferrars to marry, and praising Miss Morton: “Beautifully indeed! But she does everything well. Have you seen her peel a banana? It is like listening to a symphony” (209). Despite myself, I enjoyed this very weird book. It’s very well written and the author does an excellent job of keeping the formality of the Austen prose even when describing attacks by giant seafaring eyeballs (with tentacles). There’s an excellent pirate encounter towards the end of the book, Elinor vs. Dreadbeard, which showcases Elinor’s ability to remain calm under pressure and to kick pirate ass. My biggest complaint about the book is that it’s too damn long. Winters follows the story of Sense and Sensibility too closely. I think he could have simplified some of the romance plots (although Lucy as a man-eating sea witch is a great addition and focused more on the mystery of the cause of the Alteration. The added weirdness of Margaret’s alteration and the other sea beast was just…well, weird. I can’t complain about it; the whole damn book is screwy. The author even includes a fake Reader’s Discussion Guide, maybe because he (like me) despises them and wishes publishers would quit including the stupid things. But he asks great questions like: “Which would be worse: being eaten by a shark or consumed by the acidic stomach juice of a sand-shambling man-o’-war?” and “Have you ever been attacked by giant lobsters, either figuratively or literally?” If you have read Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility and have a sense of humor about it, try out this book. It can sometimes be a bit of a slog (like Jane), but it’s worthwhile (also like Jane). Likewise, if you’ve never read any Jane Austen books but would like to, Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters would be a great introduction to her classic novels. classics fiction got-rid-of ...more 4 likes Like Comment Annadee 127 reviews 1 follower November 18, 2023 I liked the part where the giant tuna almost swallowed one of the ladies out of revenge. 4 likes Like Comment Liberté 253 reviews April 28, 2013 If I disliked this book less, I could talk about it more. No wait. I can definitely talk about it. Content Warning: This review contains references to implied rape and colonialist murder of native peoples. Contains spoilers. First of all, I'm fairly certain that Jane Austen would be annoyed, not amused, at Winters' so-called adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. Aside from displaying a basic sense of not beating a dead horse (or as Winters would probably put it, flaying a dead octopus), there are several aspects of this book which depart from the spirit of Jane Austen. In short, Winters would have been better off writing his own story about an Alteration which transforms Regency England into a dangerous, ocean-threatened place instead of disgracing Austen's work so thoroughly. For reference, he could look to Naomi Novik's Temeraire series as a good way to handle historical AU. Before anything else, "Lady Middleton" needs to be addressed. In this version of events, Lady Middleton has been kidnapped from her native land (unspecified, but possibly near Manzanar) to be the "wife" of Sir John Middleton. In modern parlance, we would describe her as a sex slave. She has children with Sir John, but at every turn she is described as a woman who hates her husband and wants to return home. At first Winters doesn't even treat her as a full character, but as a caricature. Eventually, she does manage her escape, but her mother and sister (Mrs. Jennings and Mrs. Palmer) stay in England, allegedly content with their new "situation" - the very paragon of the "civilized native". There are also multiple references to Mrs. Jennings' sons being murdered by Sir John and his crew, offhand and without critique. We never learn the real names of Lady Middleton, Mrs. Jennings or Mrs. Palmer, as these are names which Sir John "gave" them after kidnapping them. For just this reason, this book is extremely problematic. Secondly, while the Alteration may have produced a geographic change, it is Winters who produces a character change within the Dashwoods and their acquaintances. There is a scene where a servant who is cleaning the outside glass of an undersea city loses his air supply and his cries for help are a) ignored by Elinor, Lucy, Marianne and Edward, and b) when he is eventually eaten alive, their only concern is that someone will have to clean up the bloodstains. While Regency England was not the pinnacle of workers' rights, it strains the imagination that a character we are supposed to root for sits idly by while someone in their employ is eaten alive. There is also a general theme of the Alteration having changed the standard of courtesy and delicacy in Regency England, without effecting any material change elsewhere. Lastly, this book comes with a Discussion Guide at the end, but teachers should not be fooled into thinking this makes the book suitable for classroom discussion. "Have you ever been romantically involved with someone who turned out to be a sea witch?" and "Could one woman, with no previous training in nautical engineering, really teach herself to pilot a submarine?" hardly meet the base standard for critical thinking. This book also contains allusions to the stereotype that women are really out to "suck men dry" by turning one of the characters into a sea witch who literally sucks the marrow out of her husband's bones. It is not a positive representation of women, of healthy discussion about what implies consent in marriage, or of Austen's original work with a "twist". 0/0 stars if I could; would not recommend. 4 likes Like Comment Amanda 484 reviews 31 followers August 5, 2011 This time around, the penniless Dashwood ladies are sent to live in shanty on a small island. Not only must they deal with the fact that they are now poor and in need of wealthy husbands, but the nearby ocean is crawling with monstrous sea fare. The tentacle-faced Colonel Brandon has taken a bashful fancy to Marianne, who prefers the monster-killing Willoughby, while Elinor works her way into the heart of Edward Ferras. Can the Dashwood sisters find true love amid the violence of sea monsters and pirate-like enemies? Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters continues the same ideas of the previous novel in the "Jane Austen and monsters " series, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, but goes a step further. Instead of relying on some overdone paranormal element, like vampires or werewolves, the editors at Quirk Classics decided to be a little more original and create their own element -- "sea monsters." The sea monsters aspect of this novel is taken from all kinds of influences, ranging from Pirates of the Caribbean (evidenced by the Davy Jones-like look of Colonel Brandon), Jules Verne (thanks to a detour trip to a station on the bottom of the ocean), classical mythology and others. Some of the best things here don't even seem to be part of any specific genre, like giant jellyfish attacks, giant fighting lobsters and pet orangutans. In fact, my favorite scene is when the dashing Willoughby comes to Marianne's rescue. Instead of twisting her ankle and getting caught in the rain, Marianne is attacked by a giant octopus, which Willoughby harpoons, and is rescued -- but not after being drenched in octopus blood and guts first, of course. I began reading this book while hanging out with my boyfriend by the pool one afternoon. I kept laughing aloud so much that he had to ask what I was reading. After having to explain far too many scenes of over-the-top violence and insanity to him, I ended up reading several passages aloud, which sent both of us rolling in hysterics. Even my boyfriend, who isn't a big fan of Austen or classical literature, liked this. This book was hilarious -- even better than Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. The ratio of silly to serious (sea monster to Sense and Sensibility) content has been amped up since Zombies. Instead of 85% Austen and 15% quirks, Sea Monsters has 60% Austen and 40% quirks, which opens the door for even more original adaptations of the classic. While some hardcore fans of Austen's novels will continue to decry this line of books for altering classic literature, they have to admit that it's gotten better this time around. I'm a big fan of Austen's original works, and I found this revised version of Sense and Sensibility to be fresh and fun while still keeping true to original concepts and ideas in the original. Sure, Sea Monsters is even further away from the original than Zombies, but it allows for the sea monsters aspect to come alive instead of feeling like a pasted on afterthought to the original plot. If you liked Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, than you will love Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. It's filled with the same creative zaniness that readers have come to expect from this line of Quirk Classics, but taken to a whole new level. Readers who were not particularly impressed by the zombie version of P&P, but thought it had potential, should try out the sea monster version of this other Jane Austen classic. It won't disappoint. 4 likes Like Comment Brenda 228 reviews October 30, 2009 A mash-up of Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility" with tales of sea monsters, pirates and adventure on the seven seas. This is what I was hoping "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" was going to be. Author Ben H. Winters gets into the fabric of the book and threads his humourous take on sea monsters into it. He keeps the slightly aloof, very proper tone of the original throughout. The humour comes in the way he twists events on those 19th century manners. He also manages to preserve the integrity of the individual characters. Different explanations as to the manner in which certain people behave may be given, but everyone is fully recognizable from the source. I also found it terribly fun and clever that Winters uses assorted outbreaks of monster activity to echo the inner turmoil of various meet-ups between the characters. Highly recommended. 4 likes Like Comment Dreadlocksmile 191 reviews 61 followers November 10, 2009 Following on from the instant cult success of the tongue-in-cheek adaptation of Jane Austin’s classic novel with ‘Pride And Prejudice And Zombies’ (with adaptations by Seth Grahame-Smith), came Philadelphia-based publishing house, Quirk Classics’ second such literary adaptation, this time with ‘Sense And Sensibility And Sea Monsters’. Utilising this newly fangled concept of carving up a classic piece of literature to make way for a more B-Movie-esque style of writing, Quirk editorial director Jason Rekulak struck absolute gold, with an eager audience ready to lap up the next Quirk instalment into this imaginative new genre. ‘Pride And Prejudice And Zombies’ was received incredibly well right from the start of its initial release. However, it became apparent to the publishers that the fanbase for these surreal re-workings wanted a higher percentage of new (monster laden) text. Whereby ‘Zombies’ incorporated a mere fifteen percent of new text, ‘Sea Monsters’ ladled in a massive forty odd percent of fishy frolics into the mix. For those who don’t already know the classic story by Jane Austin, here it is in a nutshell: The whole story sets off with the unfortunate death of a Mr. Dashwood, whereby he leaves the entirety of the family estate to his only son and child from his first wife, John Dashwood. John is convinced by his greedy wife Fanny to rid their newly acquired property of its current occupants - his three half-sisters (Elinor, Marianne and Margaret) as well as his recently widowed step-mother. The Dashwood women soon take up residence with Mrs Dashwood’s wealthy and eccentric cousin Sir John Middleton. Whist adjusting themselves to their new lifestyles, the two sisters, Elinor and Marianne, find themselves experiencing both joyful romance and utter heartbreak. Love and lasting happiness is eventually achieved for both sisters after they each find equilibrium between the two contrasting characteristics that are so predominant between the two sisters; Elinor guided by her sense (logic) and Marianne who in turn is guided by her sensibility (emotion). With this overall storyline already in place, all of the basic elements and characters are kept completely intact with Ben H. Winter’s mashed-up reworking. However, the surreal inclusion of his ‘aquatic imaginings’ of often Lovecraftian proportions to the entirety of the storyline, brings a whole new angle (and dare I say ‘life’) to the tale. Instead of simply being too long in his years, Colonel Brandon is now not only a gentleman of fine wealth and good manners, but now he has been inflicted with a mass of tentacles that adorn his otherwise human face (as well as other regions). Throughout the novel Winters plays with the original text of the tale in similar such ways, as well as introducing his sea monster attacks during the moments when the character’s emotions are at breaking point. This doubled-up approach of mirroring the emotional peril with a B-movie monster attack at each point in the tale, delivers a thoroughly entertaining but doubly surreal element to the book. On so many occasions, Winters valiantly tackles the character’s altogether important dialogue with a gigantic aquatic attack at exactly the same moment. Hats off to the man, for each and every time he juggles these two dramatic elements with nothing short of an imaginative and truly inspired flare. The novel as a whole runs smoothly throughout, with the light-hearted alterations never taking themselves too seriously. As the tale builds towards its traumatic finale, the inclusion of the ‘Captain Barbossa’ style pirate ‘Dreadbeard’, is brilliantly comical. With so much emotional turmoil crashing down on the characters, Winters throws in a litany of sea monster mayhem in these final chapters, bringing the aquatic menace to gigantic proportions. The cunning change of setting from London to the underwater city of Sub-Marine Station Beta, created a whole new opportunity for Winters to weave in his chaotic deep sea devilry. Whilst Elinor and Marianne are suffering their individual emotional heartbreaks all those leagues under the sea, Margaret in turn is dealing with a much darker Lovcraftian-esque affair. All in all this imaginative reworking has managed to successfully inject some satirical b-movie mayhem to a previously untouched classic. Ok, so the whole concept behind these re-workings will certainly not be to everyone’s taste. But Quirk Classics have really found themselves a niche market to exploit, that as long as it never takes any of what it is doing too seriously (which is highly unlikely), then it has a rich new ground to sow many seeds of sheer imagination. ‘Sense And Sensibility And Sea Monsters’ is a brilliant way to spend a number of hours chuckling at imagination run riot. The re-working’s not designed to be ripped apart, nor indeed analysed for its overall impact on the emotional ordeals of Elinor and Marianne. Instead, it’s exactly what the title proclaims. Nothing more and nothing less. And I for one bore a huge grin throughout each and every one of the 340 tentacle infested pages. The book also contains fourteen black and white illustrations interspersed throughout the novel, usually of the more dramatic (and therefore sea monster heavy) moments. A ‘Reader’s Discussion Guide’ is also included at the end of the book that includes ten purely tongue-in-cheek questions that could be used as discussion points on the novel’s content. There is also a quick excerpt from ‘Pride And Prejudice And Zombies’ over the last four pages of the book. The final icing on the cake is the excellent cover artwork painted by Lars Leetaru that appears on the front of the book. This one painting truly captures the essence of what the Quirk re-workings are all about. 3 likes Like Comment Rebecca 960 reviews 121 followers September 22, 2022 I read this when it was first published and found it mildly interesting. I preferred Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I tried rereading it now and find it practically unreadable. The original rating will remain though. 3 likes Like Comment Georgiana 1792 2,062 reviews 140 followers November 17, 2011 Un Cartone Animato Confesso di aver iniziato a leggere questo mash-up senza molto entusiasmo: venivo dalla lettura di Wuthering Bites , un’alterazione con vampiri del tutto inutile nel già fin troppo violento e passionale Cime Tempestose . Invece… mi sono divertita! Perché Ben H. Winters ha sicuramente centrato in pieno il giusto spirito del mash-up, seguendo la trama di Jane Austen e riportando un buon 80% del suo romanzo, ma riuscendo nel contempo a snaturarlo completamente. Durante l’arco di tutta la lettura si formano nella nostra mente le immagini un cartone animato: non si riesce nemmeno a dare un volto umano ai personaggi, e le illustrazioni di Eugene Smith sono sicuramente un ottimo ausilio a questo scopo. Alcuni personaggi diventano esilaranti, come Lady Middleton, che in Sense and Sensibility era un personaggio quasi trascurabile e spesso dimenticato, e qui diventa una principessa esotica rapita da Sir John, che cerca durante tutto l’arco del romanzo di organizzare la sua fuga; o come John Dashwood, che si presta a programmi di sperimentazione cercando di raggranellare qualche sterlina (l’avaraccio!), facendosi impiantare appendici, squame e posticci d’ogni genere in varie parti del corpo, salvo poi emettere strani versi nel bel mezzo di un discorso. La stessa Marianne diventa una caricatura della fanciulla delicata che è quando una spina di pesce le resta incagliata in gola: prima cerca di espellerla con smorfie e versi gutturali poco femminili (e anche molto poco educati), poi addirittura utilizza la spina finalmente espulsa come stuzzicadenti! Ora voi nell’immaginare una scena del genere pensereste a Marianne o a Gatto Silvestro ? Il ton, poi, si trasferisce per la season non più a Londra, bensì alla Stazione Sottomarina Beta , una ricostruzione subacquea della capitale, sotto un’enorme cupola di vetro. Qui i divertimenti, più che i balli ed i consueti svaghi che ritroviamo in Jane Austen sono esibizioni pseudo-circensi di mostri marini, che sfuggono però spesso al controllo dei loro domatori, con risultati cruenti, ma che non spostano di un capello la compassione di coloro che restano incolumi dopo l’attacco. Inoltre sono onnipresenti banchetti luculliani a base di pesce, che mi hanno ricordato una sorta di Impero Romano Sottomarino . Un romanzo assolutamente scenografico, una via di mezzo fra un film apocalittico ed un cartone animato, con diversi riferimenti allo Squalo , a Pirati dei Caraibi , a Ventimila leghe sotto i mari e a L’isola del tesoro di Stevenson… A tutto, tranne che a Jane Austen, insomma! Nonostante l’80% del testo sia tratto da Sense and Sensibility ! Anche le malattie sono scenografiche: non bastava che Marianne fosse in fin di vita, doveva addirittura risultare deturpata (non permanentemente, per fortuna!) dalle punture di zanzara anofele, dalla febbre gialla e c’è chi sostiene che abbia avuto anche il lupus! Insomma, la povera secondogenita delle Dashwood, che già Jane Austen guarda con un velo d’ironia per via del suo carattere impulsivo e passionale, sembra essere addirittura messa alla berlina da Winters! A parte il carattere goliardico del libro, che ci fa assistere a scene apocalittiche e morti cruente senza battere ciglio (del resto sono sempre i servitori le povere malcapitate vittime), Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters dovrebbe essere ritenuto un libro di fantascienza: ogni tentativo di sottomettere la natura è destinato a fallire. Così è stato per la Stazione Sottomarina Alfa, per la Beta, e lo sarebbe anche per la Gamma, se venisse costruita. Inoltre, sebbene le cause dell’ Alterazione , che ha portato ogni pozza d’acqua ad essere pullulata da mostri acquatici, siano sconosciute, sicuramente sarà stata causata dal comportamento degli uomini. Margaret meriterebbe qualche riga a parte: in questo romanzo è molto più presente che nell’originale (nonostante i tentativi di sua madre di zittirla e, talvolta anche di dimenticarla), ma anche Winters, che desta la nostra curiosità nei suoi confronti per tutto il libro, alla fine ci fa perdere interesse, affidando a Mr Palmer la spiegazione del mistero che la riguarda. Una lettura davvero divertente, diciamo adatta alla cura delle acque (ihih!) di Bath, sicuramente da tradurre, perché, nello snaturare Ragione e Sentimento Winters è riuscito a creare un romanzo adatto ad un target che è quasi agli antipodi con gli estimatori di Jane Austen, originalissimo e divertente. Ma che poi gli estimatori di questo mash-up possano essere attratti a leggere il testo originale, ho sinceramente i miei dubbi… Puoi leggere TUTTE le recensioni delle Lizzies QUI: http://oldfriendsnewfancies.blogspot.... old-friends-new-fancies 3 likes Like Comment Kathy Davie 4,791 reviews 714 followers March 18, 2011 I suspect this hysterically, satirical story is readable on its own although I think I got more out of it because I had read the original Jane Austen---if only for the tremendous contrast (and similarity) of the two. I am really impressed with Winters’ interpretation. “Lucy continued, ‘But I cannot help notice you are squeezing your eyes shut and holding your head between your legs. I should be sorry to have you ill. Heaven knows what I should have done without your friendship.’” “…they saw that a servant, who had been changing the water filtration tank and come detached from the breathing hose of his special Ex-Domic Float-Suit, was clamoring for their attention. The operations of the Station’s various life-sustaining apparatuses were meant to be entirely invisible to the inhabitants, and the man’s noisy exhibition was a rather embarrassing violation of decorum; Elinor and her guests studiously ignored him, and his increasingly insistent thrashing became the background to the ensuing uncomfortable exchange.” The research that boy had to do for all the seagoing information! His imagination is out of this world, almost literally as he creates a world, an England, whose coastline and people are threatened by man-eating sea creatures. Every walk carries a club or pickax. “’Is there a felicity in the world superior to this?’ asked Marianne with a grin. ‘Margaret, we will walk here at least two hours, and if we are set upon by any sort of man-beast with giant lobster claws, I shall swiftly butcher it with this pickaxe I brought for that purpose.’” “The Dashwoods swiftly refreshed their wardrobes, making sure to don their Float-Suits over their new ensembles. The Float-Suits were composed firstly of arm-bands, one worn around each bicep, and a kind of waist-sash, all of which could be swiftly inflated by tugging on a cord tucked up one’s sleeve; and secondly of a reed worn under the nose, continuing enough oxygen for four minute’s worth of respiration.” The sea-going power of which we know has never evolved, as sailing on the sea has become a life-defying venture and every meal is fish. “Alas! A quarter mile off the coast of Sussex, Mr. Dashwood was eaten by a hammerhead shark.” “’Shall we see you tomorrow at dinner?’ said Mrs. Dashwood, when he was leaving them. ‘It’s prawns dipped in butter buckets.’ He engaged to be with them by four o’clock, and to bring his own bib.” “Thomas returned downstairs to begin slicing up crayfish for tomorrow’s breakfast.” Winters has done an incredible job of writing both the dialog and the content maintaining the flavor of Austen’s original writing. When combined with his fishy flavorings, you can’t help but laugh. The cover is such a lovely parody of Austen’s cover with Marianne being embraced by the fishily-visaged Colonel Brandon. fantasy romance 3 likes Like Comment Jen 426 reviews 2 followers November 13, 2009 The Dashwood family had been living in Sussex until the untimely death of their father, who was eaten by a hammerhead shark while trying to discover the source of "the Alteration", "when the waters of the world grew cold and hateful to the sons of man, and darkness moved on the face of the deep." The dying man is washed onto shore and manages to write, with his remaining hand, his final wishes: his desire for his son John to care for his half-sisters and their mother financially. But, of course, as the story goes, John's wife persuades him otherwise, and the Dashwoods find themselves at the mercy of their relation Sir John Middleton, who has offered them a "haphazard shanty, built atop a jagged promontory on the windward side of Pestilent Isle" off the coast of Devonshire. The Dashwoods' new acquaintance Colonel Brandon falls in love with Marianne. But alas, Colonel Brandon suffers from the curse of a sea witch: he bears "a set of long, squishy tentacles protruding grotesquely from his face, writhing this way and that, like hideous living facial hair of slime green . . . Otherwise, he was very pleasant." Though he is the undisputed hero of the novel, "Brandon is just the kind of man, if man he truly be, whom everybody speaks well of, and nobody cares about; whom all are delighted to see, and everybody is sort of mildly afraid to look at directly." And the story continues on in familiar and not so familiar ways. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters begins as just silly but ends up being truly absurd. Winters is not just adding punchlines; instead, he transforms the book into a tragicomedy, which takes surprising sophistication (think Kierkegaard or Camus), but also the purely ridiculous: death lobsters, gelatinous food-flavored cubes, Sub-Marine Station Beta, and a pet orangutan named "Monsieur Pierre". Austen's subtle satire and social commentary are not able to withstand intact; what does it matter, after all, whether one is guided by one's passions or societal decorum, when certain annihilation by a Leviathan is just around the, er, pond? I prefer to read Austen without Winters, but I was impressed with the sophistication: it was like reading H.P. Lovecraft, watching the last episode of the 1960's television show "The Prisoner", and reading "Oscar and Lucinda" all at once. And that's saying something. 2009 fiction-adult humor 3 likes Like Comment Cecelia 400 reviews 254 followers January 4, 2010 I’ve discovered, much to my surprise, that I like classic novel mash-ups. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies? A delicious farce, and one of my favorite books of the year. I won’t defend it as real or wonderful literature. I only found it extremely enjoyable. It was laugh-out-loud fun, and quotable too. Definitely something to throw out into the conversational arena when you need a little humor or a couple of raised eyebrows. So when I heard Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters was coming out, I was delighted. Actually cackled with glee. So obviously Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters should be a favorite, just based on the title, and the description sounds pretty fantastic, too. And in parts it was hilarious. There were moments when I felt the need to read aloud. But unfortunately the combined effects of typographical, continuity and factual errors kept me from really enjoying the book. I felt that I couldn’t focus on the content for the sake of the grammar. And that’s a shame. The book has an added mystery, which I quite enjoyed, as it gave the reader something to puzzle over while ‘admiring’ the addition of sea monsters to a beloved text. So it’s not just S&S PLUS sea monsters, it’s an extra parallel storyline. The thing was, during the last third of the book especially, this additional content was not integrated well into the whole, and mistakes such as spelling troops ‘troups’ were littered all over the place. I can forgive a lapse or two – as my brother Joey says, “I find a couple of typos a book.” It’s when you find that there are enough to count, to keep track of…that’s when the reading gets tough. I got the feeling that this book was pushed through the editing process to make a deadline, and not given the same care and attention as the previous title, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Either that, or it was meant to look sloppy. In any case, I have a hard time recommending it because I wasn’t able to enjoy it fully. Here’s hoping for better luck with Quirk Classics in the future. 3 likes Like Comment Wendy White Author 12 books 26 followers February 27, 2010 I have not read the previous book in this series - Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - but when it first came out I was not particularly interested. I've read Austen but her novels aren't really my kind of book. And while adding zombies is an amusing gimmick, I didn't think it would make the new take worth reading. I was given this book for my birthday, and decided to give it a go despite my trepidations about the series, which turned out to be pretty much accurate. The concept is amusing, but to me personally it would have worked better as a skit or short film rather than a book. Winters has made some entertaining additions to the plot (although I barely remember what the original was like) and he achieves what he set out to do. It's just what he set out to do isn't really enough to grab me. Your mileage may vary. My favourite part at of the book is actually the "essay questions" at the end - those were entertaining. Also the crack about the Colonel's "appendages" towards the end of the book. Was disappointed that there weren't more naughty tentacles jokes. Would have given it 3 stars if there had been. Because I'm a bad person. If you want a comedy relating to the works of Jane Austen, I'd recommend you read the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde - I've read the first two and they were a lot of fun. 3 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,226 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 5 quotes 3 discussions 2 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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The Lady Jewel Diviner (Lady Diviner, #1) by Rosalie Oaks | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Lady Diviner #1 The Lady Jewel Diviner Rosalie Oaks 3.83 1,183 ratings 208 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Diamonds, Death, and Devonshire tea… Miss Elinor Avely's proper upbringing cannot prepare her for the tiny, spinster vampire who crashes into her sitting room and demands to be fed with a sheep. Elinor already has enough troubles without having to catch ruminants. First, her secret gift for divining jewels has landed her in scandal, exiling her from London society. Second, a nobleman of dubious repute wants her to find a cache of smuggled jewels, hidden somewhere along the Devon coastline. Last – and worst – she is invited to cream tea at the local manor. And while the autocratic and magnificent Earl of Beresford might be there (and perhaps the jewels themselves too), Beresford is the last person Elinor wants to meet over cream tea. When a dead body is discovered along the cliffs, of course, such delicate considerations become secondary. Fortunately, Elinor now has a small vampiric chaperone – even if said spinster has a habit of appearing stark naked – and together they are ready to risk the hard questions. Where are the jewels hidden? Who killed the smuggler? And just when is the cream tea being served? Genres Fantasy Mystery Historical Fiction Romance Historical Paranormal Vampires ...more 255 pages, Kindle Edition First published January 11, 2021 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Rosalie Oaks 9 books 107 followers Rosalie Oaks writes magic and mystery into Regency England, with side servings of jam, jewels, and the occasional naked shapeshifter. As a child, Rosalie loved conducting home-made theatre productions with her three younger brothers. Now she directs her characters instead, but like her brothers, they don’t always do what she says. While writing, Rosalie consumes vast quantities of tea and chocolate. Fuelled by such divine sustenance, her debut series, the Lady Diviner series, released in January 2021. Join Rosalie’s newsletter to get writing updates, as well as the exclusive prequel novella, A Pendant for Trouble . Find out more at https://rosalieoaks.com Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.83 1,183 ratings 208 reviews 5 stars 313 (26%) 4 stars 469 (39%) 3 stars 311 (26%) 2 stars 71 (6%) 1 star 19 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews Intisar Khanani Author 16 books 2,366 followers November 9, 2021 An utterly delightful alt-regency fantasy with a light romance line that is all it needs to be . Our dear Elinor has retired to the country in disgrace after a great social faux-pas. The story opens with Elinor adopting a miniature vampiress chaperone and then discovering a smuggling operation that involves people as well as jewels. Add to that the shockingly un-ladylike ability to divine the location of said jewels, as well as a spurned not-quite-lover and a dollop of legendary plum jam, and you've an absolute treat to read. Also, I burst out laughing at the high-action climactic moment of the book, and really, how can I not love a book that does that for me? Definitely recommend! 38 likes Like Comment Olivia Atwater Author 12 books 2,121 followers November 22, 2020 I had the pleasure of reading The Lady Jewel Diviner before its release, though I've still ordered a copy of my own for posterity. This book was a lovely, low-stress read that included many of the things I most enjoy in a novel. It was humorous, witty, and magical by turns, and it went to great pains never to take itself too seriously. The story begins with Miss Elinor Avely, who has recently found herself in social exile in Devonshire. We soon find out that Elinor has the magical ability to hear the "singing" of nearby jewels; after a misunderstanding in London, where Elinor was accused of attempting to steal a jewelled necklace, she was forced to disappear from polite society. Naturally, the lady is now attempting to lay low and avoid making waves. Within a few pages, however, a tiny naked vampire has crashed through Elinor's window, asking to feed upon a sheep. A cozy mystery follows, at a sedate but humorous sort of pace. All the while, Elinor does her best to hide her new vampiric chaperone (a small lady of very fine breeding, in spite of her initial appearance), avoid the handsome Lord Beresford and his delicious Beresford jam, and uncover the location of another missing jewel. Somehow, this all culminates in quite the dramatic comedic shown-down, during which time I laughed loudly enough to spook my cat. All in all, The Lady Jewel Diviner is a sweet comfort read, with plenty of wit and comedy. Every Regency novel should come with magical powers and tiny naked vampires. I cannot wait to see what Rosalie Oaks writes next. historical-fantasy historical-fiction historical-romance ...more 18 likes Like Comment Sarah 545 reviews 31 followers January 11, 2021 'Miss Elinor Avely's proper upbringing cannot prepare her for the tiny, spinster vampire who crashes into her sitting room and demands to be fed with a sheep. Elinor already has enough troubles without having to catch ruminants. First, her secret gift for divining jewels has landed her in scandal, exiling her from London society. Second, a nobleman of dubious repute wants her to find a cache of smuggled jewels, hidden somewhere along the Devon coastline. Last – and worst – she is invited to cream tea at the local manor. And while the autocratic and magnificent Earl of Beresford might be there (and perhaps the jewels themselves too), Beresford is the last person Elinor wants to meet over cream tea. When a dead body is discovered along the cliffs, of course, such delicate considerations become secondary. Fortunately, Elinor now has a small vampiric chaperone – even if said spinster has a habit of appearing stark naked – and together they are ready to risk the hard questions.' ___________________________ The Lady Jewel Diviner is the first book in Rosalie Oaks' debut series and is a historical mystery with a paranormal twist. Although this is the first book in the series, I would highly recommend reading the prequel novella first as it details Elinor's ability to sense nearby jewels and the events leading up to where this book kicks off. Elinor and her family have removed to Devon in disgrace and Elinor is now at odds with the Earl of Beresford. I love Elinor, she is quirky and amusing and takes everything going on around her with aplomb. I love the dynamic between Elinor and Beresford. He's very haughty and overbearing in this book and Elinor is having none of it. And when they're not at odds they are teasing and bickering. I adore them. I really enjoyed the mystery aspect of the book, there was a good sense of danger and humor throughout. Reading the prequel, my hope was that the paranormal aspect of this series would be expanded upon and the author did not disappoint, but I don't want to give anything away so I'll stop there. I highly recommend giving both the novella, A Pendant for Trouble and The Lady Jewel Diviner a read, starting with the novella. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series and learning more about the main characters. _____ I would like to thank Rosalie Oaks and BookSirens for sharing an eARC of The Lady Jewel Diviner with me. This is my honest review. booksirens favorites ghosts-goblins-and-witches-oh-my ...more 10 likes Like Comment Megan Rivera 416 reviews 62 followers January 15, 2021 Elinor already has enough troubles without having to catch ruminants. First, her secret gift for divining jewels has landed her in scandal, exiling her from London society. This was a great book and thank you to the author for allowing me to read this book. 4 likes Like Comment PlotTrysts 812 reviews 348 followers February 24, 2021 We loved this whimsical take on the Regency historical in the style of Gail Carrigar's Parisol Protectorate! Elinor has a past with a sexy earl, and she's fled London to escape both him and the scandal that has come between them. Fortunately for the reader, Beresford's estate is just down the road, and he happens to be in town for unrelated reasons. Or are they really all that unrelated? For a book that's not exactly a romance, we got a lot of fulfilling relationship drama along with the mystery plot. There are lots of fun fantasy elements to the book as well. Elinor meets a vampirini. What's that? A cute little "spinster" vampire who can change into a bat [as vampires do] - but her human form has about the same mass as her bat form. There's also a selkie, some French spies, an avaricious member of the ton, and Elinor's loving family. Check this one out if you're in the mood for a fluffy little fantasy caper! 48-Word Summaries: Laine: Elinor doesn't know how or why she knows where jewels are. After "finding" is mistaken for "theft," she flees London and bonds with a tiny vampire who actually understands Elinor's power. Elinor divines missing jewelry of French refugees while learning the motives of an earl and a selkie.⁠ ⁠ Meg: Elinor’s rusticating in the countryside after a scandal. How Regency romance! Once there, however, she meets a vampire, a selkie, and the very earl whose proposal would have solved their scandal - if only she’d accepted it. Now he’s acting missish because she’s hanging out with naked supernatural beings.⁠ This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the book. www.linktr.ee/plottrysts booksirens non-pod romance-adjacent 4 likes Like Comment Jessica 2,164 reviews 67 followers February 21, 2021 Continuing with my magical Regency mystery phase. This has a more goofy feel than the others I've read in this genre mashup (there's a Thumbelina sized vampire!). It also "feels" more like a cozy mystery but the romantic elements are also really noticeable. One of the side characters is openly bi or pan (it's not named in the text but it is clear), which made me happy to have some queer rep. One kissing scene between the heroine and her love interest. historical-fantasy mystery 4 likes Like Comment Cheryl 2,096 reviews 21 followers January 11, 2021 If you like a good paced story that is quite whimsical and has a little romance, then I think you would enjoy this. I know I did! Miss Elinor Avery is able to divine jewels and is on a quest to discover some lost gems. Elinor, with her brother Perry get mixed up with smugglers, add to this a vampiri and a selkie and it makes for an entertaining read. There is also the relationship between the Earl of Beresford and Elinor. Will anything come of this? I’m looking forward to the next in the series. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 3 likes Like Comment Angustia⋆Cósmica 243 reviews 9 followers March 25, 2021 Gosh, reading fantasy after SO. LONG. was such a thrill. Plus mixing it with a cozy mystery? A great mix. The story has everything a girl likes. Jewels, handsome magical men, cool af female MCs, it had everything I could have wanted and more. Elinor and Miss Zooth were so likeable, I found myself rooting and suffering along them on every new chapter. (And even the annoying-ish brother is kinda cute lmao.) By the end of the book you'll want to be a musor too. Or have your own little vampiri friend. cozy-mystery favourites 3 likes Like Comment Helen Hollick Author 56 books 520 followers March 15, 2021 Miss Elinor Avely finds herself exiled on the Devon coast with her mother and brother after her reputation was ruined in London in a most public fashion. Accused of stealing a jeweled necklace, she self-destructs further when she shuns Lord Beresford, who tried to save her by declaring before one and all that she was his fiancee. Exiled from society, Elinor is determined to keep her head down and be a dutiful daughter. Until, that is, her evening is interrupted by a bat flying into her room, turning into a tiny, naked woman, and demanding to be fed a sheep. The two form an unlikely alliance when a local man turns up dead, piles of jewels and gold are missing and presumed to be smuggled to France to pay Napoleon, and an identity of an English spy may hit too close for comfort. This was an entirely agreeable cosy mystery. Or cosy fantasy. Either one would be accurate. Honestly, though. Who wouldn't adore a Regency cosy mystery fantasy romance? Elinor is a typical figure in many Regency romances and mysteries. She is curious, intelligent, and not at all afraid to speak her mind. If only Lord Beresford could appreciate that about her! Or does he? Aldreda Zooth, the tiny bat-woman, is a vampiri from France. She is in England to search for a necklace that belonged to her lost beloved and she convinces Elinor to help. Elinor is what Eldreda calls a Diviner, one who can find hidden objects by a sixth sense. This is, of course, what led to Elinor’s disgrace in London - she found a necklace but was accused of stealing it. Elinor agrees to help Eldreda but they are soon both drawn into an intrigue. Elinor gets to display her bravery and intelligence in several instances, but is still able to be a damsel in distress. Eldreda is an ideal chaperone, even though she is fairy-sized, and is a plucky and fun character. Elinor’s brother, Perry, is a bit flat in terms of character development, but I really don’t think it matters a whole lot since he is not the main attraction of the novel. He is in it enough, though, that a little more depth for him would be appreciated. Perhaps this will come in future books, as the second in the series is set to be released on 1 March 2021. I will definitely be on the lookout for that book as well as others by this author. A light, somewhat silly (in the 'fun' sense), cosy mystery is exactly what I needed to read as pure escapism. Enthusiastically recommended. Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds 2 likes Like Comment Zorica Grujin 44 reviews February 11, 2021 This is an interesting tale of magical creatures intertwined with the intrigues of London's 19th century high society. Full of twist and turns, awkward situations, good humor, and of course with a love story. I really enjoyed it. 2 likes Like Comment Kalyn✨ 508 reviews 91 followers July 13, 2021 I read this with my fiancé and we both found it incredibly cute, wholesome, and fun! The world would be a better place if every book featured miniature spinster vampires. 2021 2 likes Like Comment Alexis Drake 1,100 reviews 18 followers January 13, 2021 A full review will be up on my blog soon, I hope. Delightful historical fiction, I decided to read it because of the spinster vampire and the original gift of Elinor, the main character. I wasn't disappointed! Elinor is such a great MC, I really liked her, but the best is Miss Zooth, the vampire. She's amazing!! Their interactions, as well the interactions between Elinor's brother and Miss Zooth are hilarious sometimes, and very well written. The mystery is well developed, there's a touch of romance that I really appreciated, even if I'm not a romance reader, and there's food! I love food, this book made me crave for cream tea. Oh, how much I miss cream tea! I will definitely read the other books in the series, I can't wait! Thanks to Booksirens and the author for a copy of this book! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. cover-love ebook english-books ...more 2 likes Like Comment Inkslinger 246 reviews 47 followers January 11, 2021 ARC provided by Rosalie Oaks via Booksprout. All opinions are mine and freely given. Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | BookBub 01-11: 'The Lady Jewel Diviner' by Rosalie Oaks is a rather light tale that follows the path of one Miss Elinor Avely, her burgeoning friendship with a tiny vampiri named Aldreda, and their search for a cache of missing jewels. Already having fallen into scandal in London because of her gift of divination, having only tried to be helpful, Elinor and her family escape to the county of Devon. Tucking themselves away in the home of a friend's father, she's seemingly pursued by a most determined Lord Treffler.. who wants her help finding the cache which is supposed to be hidden somewhere along the coastline. Aided by her brother, Perry and Miss Zooth, the vampiri lady.. Elinor grows more and more intent on locating the jewels herself after coming across a pair of French refugees who tell her the story of their own lost jewels.. taken by the very same people who smuggled them into the country. Desperately wanting to assist her new friends, Elinor finds herself running afoul of the Earl of Beresford.. a nobleman who'd tried to save her from the situation in London previously and a cast of unsavory characters thought to be involved in the smuggling at hand. The story is quite charming, as is the cast. Oaks has some skill, the strongest of which seems to be that of misdirection. She's careful not to telegraph the most important facts and displays an ability to create characters with interesting potential for backstories of their own. That being said, the book is only slightly above average overall for me because the aforementioned potential doesn't really come to fruition. We're really only given bare bones about the characters and so I never felt any real investment in most of their situations. As we're allowed to get to know Aldreda a little more than the others, I found myself moderately concerned for her well-being.. but the rest, no matter how dire their situations.. just couldn't summon a care within me. Likewise, the story is much more 'tell' than 'show.' The only character we get a pretty good description of is Jaq, who certainly sounds handsome enough.. but then when faced with the opportunity to really give him some depth of history.. it's just not delivered. Most expanded details on the characters are presented briefly toward the end of the book. In fact, the novel is so devoid of description in many cases.. that I didn't realize I had no idea what Elinor looked like until something mentioned as the story wound to a close.. yet there was a tendency to almost waste words on overdoing greetings each time people came together. While I know there's a formality she was trying to achieve to reflect the societal ways of the period, it simply wasn't necessary for each person to greet each other in nearly every meeting. Regardless of those small constructive criticisms, I still DID enjoy the story. It was told with a sort of levity that isn't overly common in modern releases, where being edgier is viewed as being more 'interesting.' There's a small, but creative mix of fantastical beings and what could certainly be a creative magic system.. if only it were developed and presented more thoroughly. If you're looking for an easy read at the end of a rough day, this might be for you. Kick back.. relax.. and explore what Oaks' world has to share.. PURCHASE LINKS: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSAMILLION | WATERSTONES 2 likes Like Comment Margaret Both 69 reviews 7 followers February 3, 2021 Truly enjoyed the characters and the time frame. So many books about this time period treat the female characters as idiots so it was wonderful to have a strong female lead. Loved this particular entwining of historical/mystery/murder and fantasy. Aldreda and Jaq definitely added to the richness of the story. Especially Aldrada!! Many Thanks to Rosalie Oaks for the complimentary copy of The Lady Jewel Diviner via Voracious Readers Only. Looking forward to the sequels. 2 likes Like Comment BookishWeeb Olivia 346 reviews 32 followers January 26, 2021 This book was so different than anything else I've read in such a great way. Who doesn't love a bit of a scandal in London society? There's so much happening in this book that I wasn't able to put it down until I finished it all in a sitting. There's supernatural (a vampire), historical mystery, scandals, great characters, adorable bickering, and of course, danger. It was such a lovely read and would highly recommend reading the prequel first before this one! chapter-books favourite-novels historical-victorian ...more 2 likes Like Comment Caitlin 922 reviews 72 followers July 5, 2023 The Lady Jewel Diviner is a blend of cozy fantasy and historical romance that follows Miss Elinor Avely, who has recently had to retire to the countryside of Devon after a scandal forced her to leave London. Elinor's secret gift for finding precious gems, a gift that lead to the scandal causing her self-exile, leads her into further adventures in Devon as she gets the attention of a lord who wants her to find a secret cache of jewels and a tiny Thumbelina-size vampire that would like her help with another treasure. And to top it all off, she's invited to tea by the mother of Lord Beresford, the earl whose reputation she damaged. When a dead body turns up in a nearby village, it's up to Elinor to investigate, with the help of the tiny vampire and the reluctant aid and occasional interference of Lord Beresford. While I recognize that I'm really not a fan of most cozy fantasies, I was hoping that the blending of historical romance would make this one of the few that works for me. Unfortunately, I had mixed success with Lady Jewel Diviner. I appreciated Elinor's wit and the element of a tiny vampire lady made this light-hearted and fun. There's some banter and tension with Beresford as he tries to keep Elinor out of trouble and it's clear there's something between them. The banter and conflict was sometimes fun. However, I got annoyed with Bereford's high-handed attempts to corral Elinor so I never really felt interested in their potential relationship. It is a clean romance, for those who are into that, with a kiss being as far as Elinor and Bereford go. And while the stakes aren't quite as low as something like Legends and Lattes, it's pretty close and much like L&L, I found myself losing interest around halfway in. I'm kind of tempted to try a sequel just to see if it expands enough on Elinor's gifts and the romance to change my mind but I think this is one of those that just isn't my cup of tea. If you're a fan of cozy fantasy stories and historical romance, I'd definitely say this is worth checking out. It's fun, light-hearted and filled with banter from intelligent and capable characters. As someone who enjoys historical romance more than cozy fantasy (and frankly not that fond of clean romances), this was fine but didn't quite win me over. fic-fantasy fic-fantasy-cozy self-published 2 likes Like Comment Jacquelyn Benson Author 13 books 359 followers November 23, 2020 The Lady Jewel Diviner sees the launch of a charming new series from debut author Rosalie Oaks. Miss Elinor Avely is a clever woman with a tarnished reputation, a love for cream tea, and a magical ability to sense the presence of precious jewels. Even after fleeing undeserved scandal in London for the remote coast of Devon, Elinor's power draws her into trouble as she sets out to find a stash of stolen gems. Smugglers have been relieving French aristocrats of their fortunes while helping them flee Napoleon's regime. That's an injustice Elinor is determined to set right, especially after two of these noble refugees end up taking shelter in her cottage. Elinor is aided in her quest by Aldreda, a diminutive shapechanging vampiri who quickly becomes her close friend and confidant. As the pair set out to identify the smugglers and restore the jewels, the plot is thickened by rumors of spies, a dashing and morally ambiguous selkie, and the interference of Lord Beresford, the rugged earl with whom Elinor landed into trouble back in London. (An incident covered in Oaks's free prequel to the series, A Pendant for Trouble , available through her website. I recommend reading it before diving in to The Lady Jewel Diviner.) Oaks excels at building a rich fantasy world populated with charming characters. I'd likely have been entertained following Elinor and Aldreda on a trip to the market, never mind a high-stakes adventure rife with cutthroat villains and dangerous secrets. Regency romance fans and cozy mystery readers alike will delight in this magical twist on the genre. twisty-historical-mysteries 2 likes Like Comment Catherine 182 reviews 3 followers February 7, 2021 I came across this book while browsing Reedsy Discovery. Captivated by the cover, I read Rosaline Ross’ great review and bought the book so I could read about a tiny little spinster vampire or vampiri. I’m not familiar with that term, and honestly it doesn’t matter – because I loved this Regency England vampire / smuggling / love story. Kudos to reviewer Rosaline Ross for the review that made me want to read more. Miss Avely, who has the magical gift of sensing when precious stones are nearby (you know – a Jewel Diviner), has removed herself from London Society to a borrowed home in Devon, with her mother and her brother Peregrine. The jewel divining had gotten her into a bit of a sticky wicket, and leaving town was the family’s best option. By page ten, Elinor has met her vampiri and the two are well on their way to forging a partnership of mutual aid and protection. The little bloodsucker, Miss Alfreda Zooth, is not the only magical creature in Devon, as it turns out. Intrigue, smuggling, magic, and scandal ensue (well, the scandal had already occurred), and as in every English Regency novel, sparks soon fly between Elinor and the dashing nobleman who was instrumental in her retreat from London. Oaks has mastered the art of telling her spirited and unconventional tale in a most conventional Regency setting. I was sad that the book had to end – but the good news is that if you sign up for the author’s newsletter you get access to a free prequel novella that tells the story of the garden party that led to Elinor’s departure from London. Even more good news is tht Book 2 of the series, called The Moira Pearls, was released earlier this month (February 2021). Five stars, defnitely. 2021-50-books 2 likes Like Comment Katie 338 reviews 15 followers January 28, 2021 I was really really not feeling this... and I’m not sure if it was just me. The story launches off somewhat abruptly with our heroine mouldering in obscurity after she apparently met her love interest, royally fucked something (??) up and humiliated herself/him/assorted snobs and then fled to a hovel in the deep countryside in shock and shame. Within the first few chapters we get vague illusions to the above backstory, she meets a miniature vampire right out of hibernation and they both goes tromping around looking for jewels. At which point it lost me. So that is a really early dnf. I had high hopes for this one after reading books that successfully blend regency with fantasy/fairytales (half a soul being a recent example). I also don’t mind getting launched into partway into a romance. What winds me up is skipping the exciting shit, being launched into non-exciting weirdness, putting up with oblique references to said exciting shit then having to wait for chapters and chapters before we even meet or get proper mention of Lord Beresford. So yes - this really annoyed me. I had to skip to the end to meet the mysterious MMC but which point I was just angry. I mostly blame my baby for the rage (sleep deprivation IS torture)... but this one sadly must take some share of the blame for my pissy mood. abandoned-unfinished-pass fantasy just-not-feeling-it ...more 2 likes Like Comment Stella Raven Author 1 book 4 followers October 7, 2021 I received an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book, especially the last 10 chapters. The characters gradually unfold in front of us, with the plot confusing the reader for a good portion of the book. The use of the English way of speaking back in the 1700s does a marvelous job at transporting us to a different time and place and throughout the book, we are able to get a glimpse of the social and political situation of England during that time. The story drags a little in the first chapters and it's generally slow-paced, which can put some readers off. However, it is definitely worth it to keep going. My favorite characters are by far Miss Zooth and Zaq, their unique character and quick comebacks make them irresistible! I also really enjoyed the main character, Elinor. It cracked me up every time she talked about jam and cream tea, that girl has her priorities straight! The romance is slow and agonizing and I was waiting for something, anything to happen with so much excitement! We didn't get to experience much of the rest of the magic and the people involved with it in this book but we do have a great start for the next one. The plot twist was well played out and the resolution well done. All in all, The Lady Jewel Diviner is a very pleasant read, if one is patient enough and loves slow pacing and a slow burn romance. fantasy ya 2 likes Like Comment Eli Isenberg 21 reviews 2 followers January 18, 2021 I absolutely adored this book. What a unique and interesting world the author created! Regency romance meets fantasy is absolutely my lane and this book couldn’t be better suited to me. The main character a multi-layered individual and feels very human, full of curiosity and a rather reckless bravado that often gets her into trouble. I loved her immediately. The England she inhabits is both familiar and steeped with mystery, and we as the reader go along with Elinor as she first encounters a hidden supernatural world. The descriptions of Devon are lovely, and the characters are all so interestingly drawn. The author does a great job of making the banter between characters feel realistic and enjoyable. I found myself laughing out loud several times, which I definitely didn’t expect!! The mystery is well-crafted as well. I pride myself in figuring out endings long before the end of the book and this one pleasantly surprised me. It’s so enjoyable to read a well-done plot, which is definitely the case with this book. I have devoured several books by this author and each installment is better and better. If you love Regency romance with a little supernatural twist, you will become a fan of Rosalie Oaks. 2 likes Like Comment Eden 1,987 reviews June 1, 2021 2021 - Did Not Finish. I tried, goodness knows I tried. I've seen others review this favorably, but I kept trying to read it and then just not getting into the book. Perhaps it is the fact that I'm reading it in ebook format. My eyes don't like reading materials on a screen. Perhaps it is the fact that the characters seem small-minded and very self-centered. Perhaps it is the setting and the relationships between people. Maybe I'll try again another time, but maybe not. paranormal 2 likes Like Comment Etta (Chonky Books Review) 1,099 reviews 12 followers December 30, 2020 A selkie, a Vampiri, a jewel diviner, and other humans all become entangled in an adventure to uncover a mystery involving stolen jewels during Regency era England (during Napoleon’s take-over of Europe). It’s mainly a mystery novel with magical abilities and a romance wrapped into a captivating story. The Lady Jewel Diviner is the first novel in the Lady Diviner series with a prequel that gives background to an event mentioned multiple times called A Pendant for Trouble . Although you absolutely do not need to read the prequel to understand the story (I did not read it and I had zero difficulty), it does give you great foundation before moving on to novel number one. Miss Elinor Avely is a jewel diviner, a person with the ability to sense jewels nearby. She is living with her brother, Perry, and her mother in Devon in a semi-social exile due to a misunderstanding in London involving an accusation of jewel theft (this is the prequel’s story). Now she and her family are trying to lay low in the quiet countryside and try to put themselves back together to eventually re-enter society. Elinor, however, keeps finding herself entangled in adventure when she meets a tiny female vampire named Aldreda Zooth that keeps finding herself without clothes when she transforms between human and bat. She also meets a selkie named Jaq along the way where a seal can transform between an animal and a handsome man. While using her divining gift, Elinor comes across some French refugees who had their jewels stolen in transit. Elinor decides she will partake in the quest to recover the jewels and to find the smugglers as these two refugees were not the only victims of jewel theft. The quest to find the jewels and the smugglers lead her to reconnect with Lord James Beresford who she has not seen since his involvement in the jewel misunderstanding in London. Without knowing who to trust and who is behind the thefts, Elinor is unsure how to proceed without getting herself into too much trouble. Unfortunately, she keeps finding herself in situations and the reader journeys along with Elinor to try to uncover who is behind the jewel thefts and recover the missing items. The characters in this story are all witty and fit their individual personalities. Each of them plays a part in the story and are consistent throughout as there are not moments when one of them says or does something completely out of character. The reader does not get a super in-depth look into the characters as the story focuses on the mystery and slowly revealing more details about each character. As this is a series, most likely the reader will have to continue reading to gain greater insights into the characters. It is one of the best and worst parts about series. It can get frustrating in some series, but I did not find that it was an issue in this novel as you become enthralled in the tale that you do not notice that some characters details are not present and you are anxious to read more. Overall, I admit that I did not go into this novel with high expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I became absorbed in the pages. It is light-hearted as the story does not take itself too seriously and it is an enjoyable read. The writing itself is easy to understand and the story flows well to keep the reader interested even as the author is building the story and setting the stage for the scenery, time period, characters, etc. Each character is likeable and witty in their own way. A very enjoyable read and I cannot wait until 2021 to get my hands on the next novel in the series, The Moria Pearls . An excellent start to a promising series! **Thank you to BookSirens for the ARC for me to read. Opinions expressed are completely my own.** Check Out My Other Reviews: Chonky Books Review booksirens 1 like Like Comment Mc Chanster 476 reviews January 29, 2021 Well, this was just freakin’ delightful! I loved Oaks’ reimagining of the era and laughed just as much as I was enthralled with the plot. Miss Elinor Avely, with all her best intentions, has become the center of a scandal in London. She escapes to Devon with her mother and brother, partially to wait out the unfortunate misunderstanding, and partially to try and “rest” her gift of diving jewels. Life in the countryside is somewhat dull, but the sudden appearance of a tiny vampiri and some too-tempting requests and Elinor finds herself in the middle of a jewel heist mystery that proves more dangerous and troublesome than she previously thought. Oh, there was so much I enjoyed in this novel. Elinor was a great main – curious, brave and a wonderfully quirky. Her natural sweetness and slight naivety was a wonderful counter to Beresford’s brooding and serious nature. I very much appreciated that even though there was a bit of a romance between the two, the plot remained focused on the jewel heist, rather than getting caught up in their romances. The twists were well placed and while I suspected the culprit, it felt as if it could have been anybody! Also, I absolutely adored Miss Zooth. What a wonderful interpretation of a vampiri – I loved that she is not an evil, soul-sucking monster, but just well-intentioned blood-drinker who needs a little help, and offers help in return. Jaq, as well, was a wonderfully written character who, despite only popping up now and again in the story, definitely leaves an impression. Overall, a superb book set in Regency times. Funny, sweet, a little romantic and full of guessing, The Lady Jewel Diviner is definitely recommended and I will be looking for the next in the series! Thank you Voracious Readers and Rosalie Oaks for my copy! adult-reads arc-reads completed-series ...more 1 like Like Comment Julie 21 reviews 1 follower January 19, 2021 *** I received a free digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. *** I literally devoured this book in one afternoon. It is one of the best stories I have read lately and I am really keen to read book 2 and the prequel, and any other stories Rosalie will produce! The synopsis really intrigued me. I love young adult dystopian stories but I also love regency romance. I was wondering how an author would be able to combine everything I like without one of the genres overpowering the other. More as I have become very picky when it comes to books. This story contains: - Regency England - Mystery - Bit of magic - A dashing young man - I mean romance! - Witty remarks - LOL moments and even if it is part of a series, you could easily stop at the end of this book. If you are fond of Cindy Anstey's romance and mystery books but also love a bit of magic, you are in for a treat! The story is refreshing. You have not read this before - HURRAH! You get straight into the middle of the story and, not having read the prequel, I didn't feel like I was missing on anything. I cannot recommend this book enough! 1 like Like Comment Anne Forbes 2 reviews November 27, 2020 This is the first novel in a new series (although I'd highly recommend checking out the prequel novella A Pendant for Trouble ) set in a quietly magical version of Regency England. It's cosy, funny and full of quirky charm. The story follows Elinor's self banishment in Devon, after she gets herself into trouble with an incident at a Ducal garden party. It seems however that she can't resist the 'call' of jewels hidden along the Devon coast, not to mention the call of a cream tea, and she's soon involved in a high-stakes, deadly intrigue. With a cast of miniature vampires, selkies, refugees from the French revolution, and of course the seemingly unavoidable Earl of Beresford, this was a hilarious romp through a magical version of Regency England. I may never go back to reading a straight Regency romance again! 1 like Like Comment Laura Engelhardt Author 9 books 112 followers December 26, 2020 A clean and wholesome paranormal mystery ala Amanda Quick. The first in a new paranormal romantic mystery series by Rosalie Oaks is a fun & frothy romp that does not disappoint. The chapter headings are amusing & in tone with the book's light-hearted style. The plot moves quickly & the paranormal elements -- miniature vampires, selkies & paranormal gifts that are not-to-be-discussed-in-polite-society -- are effortlessly woven into the story. It was an easy & quick read that made me smile. The plot hinges on English-French post-revolutionary drama & the author drops some nice historical references into the book without it feeling like a history lesson. The language the author uses in the book really gives a regency vibe without making it hard to read. I received an ARC for free & while that doesn't influence my review, I always take into account the actual purchase price of a book in my reviews (I expect more from a $12.99 ebook than I do a $2.99 or KU download). This is FAR better than most KU books in this genre! From a critical perspective, the characters were a little flat for me. I didn't quite understand how the MC had so easily bounced back from the London debacle that had gotten her accused of being a jewel thief and tossed out of "polite society." I also had trouble getting a handle on her relationships with the other characters -- her brother, her mother & her love interest in particular. However, for me, the plotting, pacing, and sheer fun of the book more than made up for any lack of characterization. The author must seriously love her cream tea & jam -- something I seriously feel the need to look up after reading this book. The paranormal elements of the story were lighter in tone than most steampunk or magical historical fantasy like McShane's Extraordinaries series -- to me they felt like they were added more to make the book feel fun and allow the MC to step out of a more traditionally-accepted role for women of the time -- than to create a uniquely different world. That's not a criticism, more of an explanation, so you know what you'll be getting. All in, I would totally recommend this for anyone who likes Amanda Quick. I will also likely read book 2 when it comes out. 2021 once-done reviews 1 like Like Comment Claudia 51 reviews 9 followers January 3, 2021 I read this book on a recommendation from Olivia Atwater. I absolutely love historical fiction, but I don’t typically read cozy mysteries, so this was a first for me, but after reading the review from Olivia, I was eagerly waiting for an opportunity to get my hands on it. This book was fun, lighthearted, twisty, witty and thoroughly enjoyable! I really liked Rosalie’s take on Regency England and had a good laugh at how the characters remained unfaced by the sudden appearance of paranormal beings. In Rosalie’s verse, you can have tea with a countess and be a vampiro snack in a blink of an eye and without so much as batting your eyelashes. I truly envy the heroine’s fortitude! I also liked the fact the author remained somewhat true to the era’s restrictions on women and that the whole affair involved the heroine’s brother. I said somewhat, because the heroine did have a penchant for ignoring convention when it suited her… The writing felt effortless and the book had a good pace. I would highly recommend first reading the prequel A pendant for trouble, which was also quite fun, to understand the whole debacle that landed the family in the wilds of Devon. Overall, this was an excellent start for this first-time author, and I am looking forward to reading the next installment in the series. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. 1 like Like Comment Sameena Hussain 57 reviews 7 followers February 11, 2021 I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. In an interesting and unusual mix of genres, this book is regency meets cozy mystery meets magical creatures. It has interesting characters, some witty writing and is a light, entertaining caper. There are no horror elements present despite the presence of a Vampiri. Infact she's tiny and adorable. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to readers who enjoy cross genre reads. 1 like Like Comment Heatherinblack 652 reviews 8 followers March 14, 2021 Cute I enjoyed the not-overly-done magic and magical creatures. Hopefully there will be continued tension between Elinor and Beresford. Pretty good mystery. The marquise daughter seems a superfluous character. Perhaps she will do something meaningful on a future book. I want my own Mrs Zooth! 1 like Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote 1 discussion 2 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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All of You (Between Breaths, #1) by Christina Lee | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Between Breaths #1 All of You Christina Lee 3.89 9,307 ratings 747 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Avery has just met her hot upstairs neighbor. He's irresistible. Tattooed. And a virgin. Nursing student Avery Michaels wants nothing to do with dating—she's perfectly happy single. Privy to too many of her mother's bad decisions and even worse taste in boyfriends, all Avery can handle is a string of uncomplicated hookups whenever the mood strikes. When she meets smoking hot tattoo artist Bennett, she wants him—for just one night. But he won't accept a no-strings-attached arrangement. He lives by a straight-laced code of values based on his own troubled upbringing. Bennett sees something special in Avery and he wants more from her. Way more. As Avery wrestles with her emotions for Bennett, danger and tragedy force them to open up to each other. And Avery must face the terrifying realization that she wants more from him, too. So she needs to make a choice—let Bennett go or finally let him in. Genres New Adult Romance Contemporary Contemporary Romance College Abuse Chick Lit ...more 303 pages, Kindle Edition First published September 17, 2013 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Christina Lee 54 books 2,013 followers Christina writes romance in different sub-genres, mostly with LGBTQ characters, not only because she's part of the community, but because representation matters, and everyone deserves a happily-ever-after. You can find more info on her website: www.christinalee.net . From there you can link to her Facebook reader group as well as her IG account and newsletter. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.89 9,307 ratings 747 reviews 5 stars 2,955 (31%) 4 stars 3,426 (36%) 3 stars 2,141 (23%) 2 stars 544 (5%) 1 star 241 (2%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 747 reviews Catarina 896 reviews 2,213 followers September 22, 2013 4 Sweet Stars!! Avery doesn’t do commitments. She will never be like her mother, putting her happiness in hands of mans. She will take care of herself and she strongly believes that love is not on her future. Not only because she refuses to search for it, but also because she doesn’t believe being worth of. On the other side, Bennet doesn’t do one-night-stands. He’s looking for love and for the girl who will change his life. Being the only male role-model in her sister’s lives, he swears will never play with a girl’s hearth and show her sisters that they can fall in love and be happily ever after. But in their search for completely different things Avery and Bennett’s worlds will collide and their beliefs will all change. Feelings will start to get in the middle and they’ll soon have to find out that when all of their rules start to seem wrong… that maybe it’s time to create new ones. This was not an original book. It was a NA book that was already written hundreds of times: Girl meets boy, they’re both broken and have to face some obstacles, they fall in love anyway. However, it was so well written, the characters were so likeable and the story was so sweet that you end up forgetting it. One thing I’ve got to say it was great to read, not to mention a very good change of pace, was the fact that in this book the girl was the “player” and the guy was the virgin. Usually is the other way around and I loved to see things from the opposite perspective. If you’re looking for a nice NA book, sweet, romantic, with just a little angst and some steam… well… this is just the book for you! : ) new-adult perfect-book-boyfriend the-bad-boy-look 61 likes Like Comment Aestas Book Blog 1,059 reviews 75.2k followers Want to read August 5, 2013 What's this? A tattooed hero who is not only "not" a manwhore, but is actually a VIRGIN??! This I must read! In this powerfully emotional debut New Adult novel, Avery has just met her hot upstairs neighbor. He's irresistible. Tattooed. And a virgin. Nursing student Avery Michaels wants nothing to do with dating—she's perfectly happy single. Privy to too many of her mother's bad decisions and even worse taste in boyfriends, all Avery can handle is a string of uncomplicated hookups whenever the mood strikes. When she meets smoking hot tattoo artist Bennett, she wants him—for just one night. But he won't accept a no-strings-attached arrangement. He lives by a straight-laced code of values based on his own troubled upbringing. Bennett sees something special in Avery and he wants more from her. Way more. As Avery wrestles with her emotions for Bennett, danger and tragedy force them to open up to each other. And Avery must face the terrifying realization that she wants more from him, too. So she needs to make a choice—let Bennett go or finally let him in. soon top-tbr 55 likes Like Comment Pavlina Read more sleep less blog 2,434 reviews 5,108 followers September 22, 2013 4,5 STARS Attension please!!! I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!SO SWEET <3 <3 <3 "Love is like a loaded gun, slide your bullet into the cold metal chamber as a safeguard for the inevitable day that everything went to shit. At the first sign of trouble, you blew your opponent to pieces long before their finger found the trigger." This is a story about a girl who is afraid of commitment...and does only one-night stands.. and a boy who wants a commitment and love before he has sex... Avery has had a rough past....Her mother doesn’t care for her and a terrible incident that happened..make her change... She is very determined to keep control and to have control over boys... She wants nothing more than random hookups..and she allows boys only into her pants and not into her heart... Until she meets Bennett....... He moves into Avery's apartment building and instantly there is attraction between them... Bennett has his own problems..sow his mother relationship with men went wrong.. and decide to stay a virgin until he will meet the woman who will make him o and happiness.. Bennett (OMG OMG HE IS SO CUTE <3) What I love about him is that he is a good guy. He isn’t a player but he has tattoos and works as a tattoo artist so I guess you could say he combines what we love about the bad boys ;) Avery wants him only for one night...but soon finds out that one night just isn't enough for either of them... They quickly become friends...Avery and Bennett find out that they have more in common.. Feelings quickly develop between them but wounds are not easily healed... Walls around hearts are hard to break down...But Avery must face her demons and she must figure out if all of these worth it... "As I sat there listening to him, something profound happened in the very centre of me. Stuff began rearranging and clicking into place. My heart burst through my chest and landed at Bennett's feet- asking, pleading, begging him to smooth out her creases, sooth all her wounded 0parts and med her shattered centre." Sometimes she try my nerves with hiding her feelings.. but she was the way she was for some specific reasons and I accept some of her not great decisions...But I like the fact that she was real for me!! "I'm incredibly turned on when I'm with you. I feel every kiss.Every touch.Everything." "Bennett was kissing the shit out of me and I couldn't breathe but I didn't care because if this is what kissing him felt like,I could get my fill of oxygen later." This story is definitely differend from other books that I have read!!Normally it's the heroine who is the innocent... but in this book it is the male who is the virgin...and the reason is so sweet... I recomend it to everyone!!! Read it!!You will not regret it!! best-cover favorites hot-male ...more 53 likes Like Comment Christina Author 54 books 2,013 followers August 30, 2016 I wrote this book. ;-) I loved living in Avery and Bennett's world. And I hope you do, too. A little teaser photo: "An unforgettable read! Christina Lee's All of You will melt your heart, curl your toes, and awaken all the butterflies in your tummy."--Katy Evans, NYT bestselling author of the Real series "At its core, All of You is pure NA goodness, full of mistrust and hardened hearts, angst and anguish, hot and steamy scenes, and a satisfying HEA. But, the way the author has reversed the roles in terms of the experienced vs. innocence trope turns the classic model on its head, making it new and oh-so compelling."--New York Times bestselling author Jasinda Wilder "A one-sitting read simply because I could not put it down. From steamy to sweet and every emotion in between, Christina Lee had me glued to the pages in her unforgettable debut, ALL OF YOU. This is one New Adult you don’t want to miss."--New York Times and USA Today bestselling author A. L. Jackson "Christina Lee's debut is a smoking hot read. With a heroine who is real and unapologetic, a hero who made me swoon, ALL OF YOU, is a must read. Hands down one of the best I've read this year."--Juliana Stone, author of THE SUMMER HE CAME HOME "Bennett stole my heart! If you like hot, sweet, sexy, caring good guys, he'll claim yours too."-- NYT and USA Today Bestselling Author Lauren Blakely books-i-wrote 40 likes Like Comment Ash Wednesday 441 reviews 541 followers September 13, 2016 One of the recurring themes in this book was a high school game Avery and her friends devised where they answer a certain question with five words or less. And since I can’t even find a quote remotely interesting enough to start off this review I’m just going to Five Finger this, baby: DULL. POINTLESS. WASTE. OF. TIME. There are books that waste your time with a bad story or unlikable characters or implausible plot development or cheesy dialogue or… really I could go on, but this one suffered a healthy dose of each of that plus the enraging promise of something that is original, interesting and gourmet but ultimately delivering something bland, lazy and gag-worthy. Avery Michaels is a Nursing student who sleeps around, shying away from any form of commitment after her mother’s old boyfriend attempted to rape her when she was sixteen. Adding insult to the injury, her mother refuses to believe her claims and instead sees her as competition. She then meets Bennett Reynolds, the art student slash tattoo artist who just moved in her apartment building. He smells like coconuts (he smelled like coconuts NINE fucking times in this book, by the way) and she kinda wants to hook up with him… except he’s a virgin. ”Are you waiting for marriage?” “No.” He looked me dead in the eye. “I’m just waiting for love.” Seeing as this was technically the sole reason I gave this book a shot (Because really, I need another sexually adventurous heroine with father figure issues like a higher interest rate on my mortgage) I was quite interested why an attractive, strapping young man with an adequately sized penis would make this decision. I mean, a petri dish as soaked in hormones and alcohol as college is, it’s practically The Road Not Less Travelled. Unfortunately, Bennett’s explanation was quite fuzzy and confusing. He claims he swore off casual sex altogether because he has to take responsibility of his family seeing as his mother is unreliable and his sister got pregnant when she was sixteen. Which is sweet, though a bit extreme and when called out by Avery on this bullshit reason the conversation strayed to some slut-shaming. But don’t you think that’s extreme?” I asked. He rolled his eyes, like he’d heard that one before, too. Probably from the hordes of girls that wanted him so badly. But still, I tried making my point. ”There’s plenty of good birth control out there, and lots of people are having sex and not getting pregnant.” “Like you?” Oh yeah? Oh fine, he can actually drive. And he apologizes after, but then apologies are only good until you repeat the offense and Bennett’s judgment of Avery’s lifestyle was quite stark and recurrent throughout the time when they weren’t together yet. I really should feel more enraged by this but Avery’s such a cardboard heroine. I’m still not quite sure she has an issue to begin with. I hardly remember anything about her. She’s made out to be a “hardened, broken and closed off” character when her depth was more along the line of coconut scenting, checking out Bennett and those who are checking out Bennett and hanging out with friends who I am supposed to believe are close to her because they call each other bitch, dickhead, asshat, asshead, dick, dill weed among other things. She’s supposed to be strong and independent but gets the first tattoo Bennett suggests while they were making out. Christina Lee wants me to believe she’s experienced and mature but sends her to Bennett’s room to talk about their relationship after he expressly tells her he needs time alone to think. Much of the tension and kerfuffle came from Avery and Bennett NOT having sex that I was expecting some climactic profession of love and overwhelming emotion when they eventually DID have sex… which of course didn’t happen. In the end I was scratching my head why they held it off for so long in the first place while gagging over the cheesy dialogue courtesy of our virginal hero in the throes of passion: ”Avery, I have this overwhelming need… to be inside you.” I melted into the covers, my body becoming liquid. “Will you let me?” Followed by… ”Jesus, Avery, you feel fucking incredible.” And then… ”Fuck, baby, I’m so deep.” Oh and also… ”You’re so warm, Avery. God, so warm.” And finally… ”Oh God, Avery.” He thrust himself back inside, the tempo controlled and deliberate. “You… I… Jesus, this is unbelievable.” Yes, this was ALL WITHIN ONE SCENE between Bennett and Avery's Magical Vagina. It’s like listening to ESPN with the players commentating on the sport as they play. And Bennett must do a lot of cardio to be able to do all that action and think of all that craptastic sex-talk. I was going to list down what this book did right but it just gave me too much of a headache. I was going to say something nice to balance out all that animosity because to be fair, I did finish it. Someone might mistakenly find a reason to pick this up and I don't want that on my conscience. Also on BookLikes. Where the gifs are better -_-. college contemporary-romance new-adult ...more 33 likes Like Comment Patrycja 639 reviews 4,064 followers August 23, 2013 All of You is sweet and sexy story that totally caught my attention and kept it to the last page. It’s one of this novels that warm you heart and make you grin like an idiot long after you finished. It’s powerful and emotional and full of explosive chemistry! It’s book that you read for pure fan and just to close your eyes for a minute and daydream. Avery is not interested in dating or falling in love. Her issues from childhood are still present, so she shields herself from men that can break her heart or body. That’s why she looks only for casual sex, that will never lead to something more. One night she calls the dibs on Bennett, extremely sexy and mysterious guy. Unfortunately he seems not interested, with stinging rejection Avery comes back to home, only to realize Bennett is her neighbor. Bennett is tattoo artist. His childhood wasn’t the best one, so he made a rule, to sleep only with the one he loves. But kisment made him feel this explosive chemistry with woman that is not interested in commitment. 'I'm sorry you have to be attracted to someone like me. I can't be that girl for you, Bennett.' 'You can't, or you won't?' 'Both.' Do they have a chance in happily ever after? Can Avery sacriface her independance and have normal relationship? Or will Bennett forget about his rule and become fuck buddy? „What made you want to kiss me?” I whispered. I wasn’t even sure he heard me, until he finally spoke. „Explosive chemistry… powerful conversations… beautiful” All of You is refreshing read. Finally we have roles that are reversed. Instead of getting normal inexperienced girl and man whore we have a girl with commitment issues, who enjoyes to sleep around and boy who’s a virgin with strong beliefs. I don’t know if it’s only me who thinks that tattooed men virgin are sexy as hell, but Bennett is one of the sexiest book boyfriends I’ve read about in ages. Of course rock stars or dirty talkers who know what they are doing are hot, but the orginality and innocence that oozes from Bennet made him the hottest man on the planet for me. He’s the boy I would fall in love with in reality. As much as I like bad boys, they are only good to read about and fantasize, but Bennett is definitely a man who could steal my heart, mind and soul within minutes. I wouldn’t think twice about marring a man like him. Good, caring and gentelman, with artistic spark and this sexual vibe which changes girls into pile of mush. He’s realistic character and for the first time I saw young man who knows he needs love. True love. All of You is phenomenal way to spend evening with butterflies in stomach. It’s great story that will make you smile and wish for that kind of romance for yourself. It’ll make you swoon and tingle. It’s truly romantic story about first love and fighting for it. **ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest review ** More reviews on Smokin' Hot Book Blog and my Facebook Page 29 likes Like Comment Lucia 737 reviews 897 followers September 16, 2013 My Avery and Bennett: 21 years old Avery never dates. Avery is not looking for love, she uses boys only for her sexual release. Avery built a steel cage around her heart and she blames it all on her mother who definitely was never a good example of how relationships should work. When new hot neighbour moves into her apartement building, Avery has to have him. For one night only. But sexy Bennett is chivalrous gentleman who is looking for much more than just one night stand. Will they be ever able to work out their differences? "I was jumping off a cliff, sinking, drowning, and couldn't care less about being saved as long as he kept kissing me." When I found out that book hero in this book is virgin, I had to read it. There are plenty of books out there about womanizers and inexperienced girls. But to have roles reversed - male virging looking for The One and sluty girl with commitement issues - my attention was picked. I never mind that Avery was "A Slutasaurus rex" as she called herself, but her idea of strong and independent woman was over the top. She was so extremely stubborn when it comes to her perception of men and it caused many personal problems in her life. On the other side, Bennett was incredibly adorable, caring and so hot! I really liked his character! Moreover, I liked the fact that once I learned exact reasons behing Avery's and Bennett's decisions to live their lives the way that did (sluty vs. virgin) I did believe it and found if realistic . All Of You is lovely sexy story with explosive chemistry between the main characters. Maybe I would prefer if it was a litle bit longer, but I enjoyed reading it a lot! *ARC provided by publisher as an exchange for honest review* MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG Reading Is My Breathing 27 likes Like Comment Monica Murphy Author 103 books 16.4k followers June 3, 2013 Five words to describe this book (and you'll get this once you read it): Hot, sweet, emotional, page-turner, awesome. I'm a sucker for a virgin hero and Bennett didn't disappoint. I love a good story where on the surface the characters don't look like they have anything in common but once you start getting deeper, you see the commonalities that draw them helplessly together. That's Avery and Bennett. Great dialogue, delicious sexual tension and I loved the secondary characters too. Add this to your Goodreads shelf people!!! *copy provided to me for possible cover quote* 23 likes Like Comment Paula 704 reviews 232 followers November 5, 2015 -- A Romantic Book Affairs Review Promiscuous Heroine meets Virgin Hero – of course I would be drawn to this story like bees to honey. I love virgin heroes. Two of my all-time favorite books have virgin heroes. I really liked the idea that the roles were reversed in this story. And I liked the fact that Avery didn’t apologize for her promiscuous ways. At a party one night, Avery zeroes in on Bennett Reynolds aka ‘Hot Boy’ from across the room. Like a lioness after her prey. She’s taking him home. But when Bennett doesn’t show any interest towards Avery, she feels rejected. That stung. Come to find out Bennett is her new neighbor. When Bennett intercepts someone trying to break into Avery’s apartment, they become friends. Avery is a nursing student working on getting her RN degree at the local university. She doesn’t do commitments. She only does one-night-stands with no-strings attached. The men she sleeps with, whom she calls her fuck buddies, are a quick fix to sexual frustration. No emotional ties. Her issues with men stem from her childhood, when she was almost raped by her stepfather. She feels ruined. Her issues go even deeper because of her mother, who has always had a string of men come and go out of her life; always putting them before her children. Bennett is a tattoo artist and comes from a similar background as Avery. They’re able to connect since they both come from broken homes. But the one thing they don’t have in common is the number of sexual partners. Bennett is a virgin and his philosophy on sex is the opposite of Avery’s. He wants to save himself for when he falls in love. He’s a commitment kind of guy. The first time Bennett sees Avery, he’s actually very attracted her. He sees something special in her that he’s drawn to. Bennett slowly starts to break down her defenses and shows her that being intimate with someone can be more than just a quick fix. It can beautiful… If only Avery could let go of her emotional baggage and let herself feel. I adored Bennett. He’s super sexy, protective, patient, charming, and genuine. I admired him for standing by his beliefs. I could fall for a guy like Bennett. Avery is a likeable heroine. She’s strong but has a lot of emotional baggage, which is what this story is centered around. Bennett was the perfect guy to help her along her journey of finding herself again. Though, I wouldn’t have minded if the author went deeper into Bennett’s character. I like a hero with flaws. Instead, he was depicted as this nearly perfect guy. Avery and Bennett have really good chemistry together that was prevalent right from the beginning. There is tons of lust that I definitely felt. The author does an excellent job with the sexual tension and the slow building romance, but I wanted more passion between them… more heart to the romance. It was hard to rate this book, since I really liked the characters, but the story just wasn’t that interesting. With an intriguing blurb like that, I was hoping for more substance – I wanted to be wooed and wowed and emotionally impacted. Instead, I was left wanting more. What didn’t work for me, might work for another person. This is a quick and light read that I do think a lot of readers will find enjoyable. The romance is very sweet and sexy and there is a happy ending that will make you say AWE. I KNOW the ladies are going to love Bennett. He is definitely swoon-worthy. Rating: C Heat: Hot Find us on Twitter and Facebook too! contemporary-romance new-adult-romance 14 likes Like Comment Megan • Reading Books Like a Boss (book blog) 500 reviews 687 followers February 11, 2016 When I saw that this book was about a male virgin, I had to knew I had to read it. I'm always on the hunt for books that are outside of the norm. All of You was very entertaining and emotional read that I really enjoyed. "Guys were easy to figure out-at least in the hormonal sense. You needed only appear helpless or horny, and their pants instantly dropped to their ankles." Twenty-one year old Avery is a player.  She sleeps with a lot of guys and keeps any emotions out of the picture.  The story opens with Avery on the prowl at a college party and she seems a guy, who she calls "Hot Boy".  She has her mind set on taking him home, but *gasp* he doesn't even give her the time of day.  Turns out "Hot Boy" is Avery's new upstairs neighbor.  And hot boy has a name, Bennett. Avery has a past, a past that has shaped who she is.  What happened to her caused her mind to flip a switch.  She is now in complete control of her body and what she does with it.  The traumatic past storyline bothered me to be quite honest.  Do I think it is overused?  Yes.  But I don't have a problem when it is done really well.  Here, while I didn't hate it, I didn't love it.  Avery's reasons for being the female version of Travis Maddox just didn't do it for me. Bennett Reynolds is student, but he is also a tattoo artist.  Though, he isn't your typical bad boy tattoo artist looking for the next chick to bed.  No, he's more of the strong silent type.  I get tired of the same overprotective alpha males rescuing the seemingly weak girls.  Bennett is more subdued and he's a virgin (remember?).  Growing up, Bennett's mom was more focused on her next boyfriend rather than caring for him and Bennett's three sister, leaving him to raise his sisters and set a good example.  For this reason, he swore off casual sex until he found someone to make that experience mean something. I really did like seeing the female be the sexual prowess in the story.  Though, at times, I felt like the author was trying to hard to do a complete gender role reversal.  It seemed a little forced to me.  Nonetheless, I liked that Avery had to hold back her physical attraction from Bennett.  It forced her to learn more about him as a person and really feel what it was like to be with someone who cares about you instead of the wham bam thank you...um...sir. "When he reached over to turn the volume on the remote, his thigh rubbed again my shorts and I nearly flinched. I was like some lovesick tween desperate to have my crush finally notice me." I'm a huge fan of the slow-building romance.  That's why I have such predilection towards the young adult genre.  Don't get me wrong, I love new adult, adult contemporary, and a good smut book.  But there is something special about the tug and pull of a good tension filled romance. All of You had that feel to it, given the character's sexual situations.  But once the fires were going it was hot! I loved it so much! "Bennett was kissing the shit out of me and I couldn't breathe but I didn't care because if this is what kissing felt like, I could get my fill of oxygen later. He pulled my lower lip into his mouth, and then my top lip, taking his time sucking each one of as my fingers dug deeper into his neck. His hands never traveled south even though I would have welcomed them. All of his focus was on my lips. And then on my neck. And then on my ear. His hot breath making my toes curl. This man knew how to kiss." Avery and Bennett were great together.  I loved seeing Avery finally get to experience what being in love was like and experiencing butterflies towards another person.  With the fling lifestyle she had BB (Before Bennett) she cut off any chance of having feelings towards another person. Overall, I really enjoyed this story, especially the ending.  There were a few scenes that I've gone back and reread a few times just because I loved them so much.  However, I felt like the overall plotline was a bit predictable.  I did appreciate the sort of role reversal with the male being the virgin, instead of the girl.  I am getting tired of the female virgin storyline, so this was somewhat refreshing.  Many of the conversations between Avery and her friends focused on their sexual conquests and I felt like it was over-the-top and unnecessary. I look forward to reading Before You Break , the next book in the All of You series .  It is a companion novel and will feature a different couple. *I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ________________________________________ Find more of my reviews and other bookish things here: ✥ Read this review on my blog ✥ My blog Reading Books Like a Boss ✥ Like on Facebook ✥ Follow on Twitter ✥ Subscribe by Email 12 likes Like Comment Naoms 706 reviews 166 followers September 11, 2013 Confessions of an Opinionated Book Geek What is the formula for new adult fiction? I am glad you asked! I have the ingredients below: 1. College kid in living situation they shouldn’t realistically be able to afford with their background and economic status? 2. Messed up parents? 3. Abuse, most likely sexual, in their past? 4. They are not looking for romance, more they don’t want it, but a guy falls from the sky? Now, Naomi, does ALL OF YOU have those ingredients? Check, check, check and check. This book is one if the most formulaic books I have ever read. There are no surprises. Everything you think is going to happen, happens. The villains are exactly who you think they are. The tragedies come exactly when you expect and the relationship progresses exactly how you imagined it would when you read the synopsis. 100% formulaic. The author made a feeble attempt to shake it up… Lets make the girl the player and the boy the Virgin! My biggest problem with the book is that the guy is still the better character. Avery, the girl and narrator, is strong, sexual, confident, the aggressor and I am still more interested in the boy. The girl is a player and the boy is a Virgin trope is new for me, but just didn’t work. Why? Because Avery is still a bland Mary Sue heroine. The boy still wears the armor.The boy still has to take care of the girl, still has to do all the heavy lifting and has to hold the girls hand in the journey to commitment. I hate this kind of romance. The kind where the girl is all over the place and expects the guy to keep up. Avery says on one page that she respects Bennett’s choice to stay a virgin, then pushes her way into his bathroom and forces an intimate encounter that he went into the bathroom to get away from. She says she’s not the girl for him, because she doesn’t want a commitment then gets mad when he doesn’t call. When he sees her with his boss, a man she has slept with, and gets upset she flips out and immediately thinks he’s judging her. But, doesn’t think it’s strange that she gets jealous when a girl stands next to Bennett. Honestly, Avery is an emotional basket case in the worst way. She’s the kind of mess that makes us girls look like messes. For once I would like to read a book about a promiscuous character who does not malign the opposite sex. Avery is very similar to her male counterparts. She has lots of sex, but looks down on her sexual partners. Why are sexual characters in books either misogynists or man haters? Why can’t they just have lots of sex, because they like sex? If authors really believed in sexual freedom they would write characters who just enjoy the opposite sex.Why does something always have to be wrong with them? Why do they always have to feel that the ppl they sleep with are not good enough for them? Avery thinks that Bennett is judging her sexual lifestyle every single time he twitches. If she was really so sexually free, why does she care what people think? Why does she expect everyone is judging her? I picked up this book, because the twist of experience girl and virgin boy was too much to resist. Unfortunately. The twist does carry the book. It’s like every other book in this genre. With one distinction; the experienced males in New Adult romances wouldn’t treat their love interest the way Bennett is treated. In one scene he is overwhelmed and tempted, so he takes himself away from the situation and Avery refuses to take no for an answer. She bursts into his shower and begins foundling him. If a male character did that to a female virgin we would have posts upon posts calling this guy out for his complete disregard for the virgin’s personal space, rights and choices. This book has 2 stars, because Bennett is actually pretty good. arc disappointing do-not-recommend ...more 10 likes Like Comment caren 538 reviews 107 followers August 15, 2013 Seeing all the buzz around this book in my Twitter feed made me run straight over to request a copy so I could read it immediately. Especially after I read the summary. I mean, how often do we encounter a boy who's a virgin? I don't think I've ever read it before, to be quite honest. So yeah, I was sold. Plus? Pretty, pretty cover. And inside that cover? We meet Avery, a nursing student who's as independent as they come. She's kind of a maneater. Not looking for a relationship, and completely okay with that. She's funny, and a little quirky, and I liked her character a lot (for the most part). While at a party with her friends, she first encounters the yummy that is Bennett Reynolds... My gaze locked on the guy entering the back door through the kitchen. A red baseball cap was slung low on his head and inky black curls escaped beneath it. His arms were muscular, and his charcoal T-shirt hugged his lean chest. He was Grade A Prime Meat and probably knew exactly how to put those full lips to good use. I'll be totally honest, even though Avery didn't annoy me *much*...Bennett was why I kept reading. After these two strike up a friendship, Lee had me totally sucked in. The sexual tension between them was smokin' hot. "I like when you wear your hair down." He twined his fingers through the ends of my curls and it sent a shiver ricocheting through my body. "You haven't come up," he breathed against my ear. "I figured it was time to be a big girl and sleep in my own bed," I said. "Understood." He held on to my waist and swayed along with me. His fingers trailed beneath the hem of my shirt and a couple of inches upward. I found to keep my breaths under control. "I know this is going to sound crazy," he whispered. "But I kind of missed you." *sigh* Serious. Swoons. And it took some time, but Bennett's easygoing sweet side, and his convictions about life and love help Avery start to see that there's something to trusting another person with your heart. Despite the fact that I'm a huge new adult fan, oftentimes I end up disappointed. And while I did feel like the pacing was a bit too rushed in the beginning of the book for my liking, I still enjoyed the heck out of it. Plus, the plot was fresher than others I've read in that the tables were turned and instead of the usual bad-boy we find in books, Bennett was the sweet guy who was saving himself for someone he loved. Who can resist that ? It also had a bit of a Wait For You vibe for me, which is one of my very favorites. So that was a definite plus. There were a few editing issues, but considering that I read an ARC, I can forgive that. And yes, there were times when I was annoyed with one or both of them, but for the most part, I enjoyed these characters--not just Bennett, but especially Mrs. Jackson, too. And I also liked the story. Oh, and have I mentioned the sexual tension yet? Because damn. So, in short...I'm pretty sure a lot of people who read and love the same things I do will enjoy this one just as much as me. ;) book-boyfriend galley-arc husband-material ...more 11 likes Like Comment Akanksha❤ Søren♰ 654 reviews 2,658 followers September 20, 2013 I really enjoyed this book!! 10 likes Like Comment Elizabeth (Liz) 638 reviews 405 followers September 25, 2013 Christina Lee…may you write books for many, many years to come!!  In my opinion—and, as always, take that for whatever it’s worth to you—All of You was a phenomenal debut! I’ll be perfectly honest, as I am without fail, and say that when I first read the summary for this book, I was hooked.  I mean, I had to read it.  Had to!  ‘Cause, c’mon.  Who writes a virgin, tattoo-artist hottie as a hero, right?!  That’s a story begging to be read!  However, and here’s where the honesty comes in, even while I was adding All of You to my to-be-read stack, I was contemplating the sexiness, or lack thereof, of a virgin hero.  I know.  Shallow, right?  But…I like my bad boys best, and I just couldn’t imagine how the author was going to pull this off.  Plus, Christina Lee was new to me.  I won’t keep anyone in suspense.  Christina Lee wrote the rockingest, sexiest, most soulful tattoo-artist, virgin hero EVER!  Um, of course, he could very well also be the only tattoo-artist, virgin hero ever.  I dunno. So, let’s talk Avery for a bit.  Avery was a tough nut to crack, but I understood where she was coming from, based on her past.  I’m not always the biggest fan of female characters housed in tough, bitchy outer shells.  The reason for that, I’m pretty sure, is because that’s usually the only side of them I tend to see.  Avery was different.  I could feel Avery’s complexity.  She had a three-dimensional personality, and only one of those dimensions featured what, at first glance, appeared to be a tough girl with no time for relationships.  The more I came to know about Avery, the more I understood what made her tick.  Her past, her relationship (or non-relationship) with her mother, the feeling of responsibility for her younger brother, all of these made Avery into an independent, no-nonsense young woman who was emotionally closed off to just about every other than her brother and Mrs. Jackson, one of her patients in the nursing facility.  She was blindsided, meeting Bennett. OMG, Bennett!!!  I fell so hard for this guy.  I did have a couple of rough moments early on where I wasn’t sure if I was going to connect with him like I needed to.  There were a quick couple of scenes where he just seemed entirely too innocent for his age.  BUT!  Those passed, and I kept reading, and I am so, so glad that I did!!  Bennett had legitimate reasons for making the decision to stay a virgin until he found someone he loved, someone he believed would go the distance with him.  As with most people, family and circumstances helped to shape Bennett and formed the basis for his choices.  Also, as with Avery, Bennett was a fully-formed individual.  Neither Avery nor Bennett were one-dimensional characters.  Throughout the first part of the story, I believed him to be a sweet, gentle, loving, deep soul,  who was almost in a role reversal with Avery.  However, the scenes with Bennett’s mother and sisters very much added another layer to his personality.  He became almost a different person with them.  He was confident and take-charge, and I loved seeing that side of him! Together, Avery and Bennett were a fascinating couple.  Truly, I was completely absorbed by their story and the feelings which grew between them.  Also, let’s just say, for a virgin hero, that dude was scorching HOT!!  Those two had real chemistry together…chemistry and intimacy.  The relationship evolved over time.  There was no instant love, though I do believe Avery knew she’d met someone whom she wouldn’t be able to maintain her usual distance with.  As fascinating as I found the two of them together, I feel like Bennett had that same fascination with Avery.  He was deeply attracted to her, but I also think he knew a kindred spirit when he met one, even as different as they may have seemed on the outside. I also have to discuss how impressed I am with Christina Lee as a writer and storyteller.  There were a number of unquestionably beautiful lines in this book.  There were moments of such lovely and well-crafted wisdom interspersed throughout the story, and I have more highlighted passages in my copy than I could ever share here.  All of You had a wonderful flow, and I was just…enamored…with Christina Lee’s style, her ‘voice’. Finally, just for me, I have to give a shout-out to Mrs. Jackson, Avery’s favorite patient in the nursing facility where she worked.  When you read this book, I think you’ll understand.  At least, I hope you will.  But, I fell in love with Mrs. Jackson.  Honestly?  I would have read an entire book all about her <3 5 Stars! 5-star-reads favorites 10 likes Like Comment Samantha Williams 58 reviews 5 followers September 24, 2013 This is how I picture Bennett Can we all just take a minute and say how dreamy we think he is... Ahhh. I loved Bennett like really really loved Bennett. I'm pretty sure if he walked into my life, I would totally leave my husband for him because he is just AH-MAZING! The thing that makes it even better is he's a virgin... I mean c'mon there aren't that many men out there that save themselves for love anymore. So reading about one has me throwing my panties across the room. I wasn't a huge fan of Avery, she was too moody, and I know the author had to write it like this to make the book more interesting, but I found her very whiny at times. Not my favorite lead character, but Bennett saved the book but his amazingness. We start out learning that something has happened in Avery's past, she doesn't exactly tell you what happens but you kind of know right from the get go. So one night her and her friend Ella and Rachel are at this party and that's where she meats Bennett. She's instantly attracted to him, and doesn't know why. All she does know is that she can't get him out of her head. So the next day when she's leaving for work she's surprised to see he is moving into her apartment building, and from there you can figure out how it ends by reading it. I promise it is a very quick read and you'll be doing a lot of this at the end. and this and even some of this TEAM BENNETT! GO BUY THE BOOK NOW! IT'S AMAZING! Go check out my blog! http://welivetoreadandwrite.blogspot.... favs new-adult 8 likes Like Comment Jo 945 reviews September 23, 2018 ... The heroine sleeps with the Hero (They have even kissed) but since has no intimacy (sex) and she is hot for him ... she goes and sleeps with a friend to get rid of the sexual frustration he feels for him. Virgin Hero? Not that much. Exactly the same as the "virgins" heroines, and has oral sex, etc. I hate that. It always seems to me that the authors take us for fools, saying again and again that is innocent/virginal. La heroína duerme con el héroe (incluso se han besado) pero como no tienen intimidad (sexo) y ella está caliente por él ... va y se acuesta con un amigo para deshacerse de la frustración sexual que siente por él. ¿Héroe virgen? No tanto. Exactamente lo mismo que las heroínas "vírgenes", y tienen sexo oral, etc. Odio eso. Siempre me parece que los autores nos toman por tontos, diciendo una y otra vez que es inocente/virginal. Ah, y la historia, los personajes, tienen cieeertooo tufillo al libro Make Me Yours de Kendall Ryan ... Da la impresión de estar leyendo a los mismos protagonistas con sus mismos problemas y/o pensamientos. Incluso está la amiga más "centrada" (que estudia psicología) que acaba con el chico atormentado... EDITED: How true! https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review genre-contemporary h-not-celibe-after-connection-hero heroine-annoying-unlikable ...more 9 likes Like Comment Annie Brewer Author 14 books 778 followers Want to read August 5, 2013 Jeeeeeesus, that blurb has me salivating for this book. A male virgin? Am I reading that wrong?! I need to get me hands on theeeees book. Yes I know I'm misspelling words. But I really need it. Grrrrr! 2013-must-have 9 likes Like Comment J 254 reviews 397 followers September 17, 2013 Love is like a loaded gun. You slid your bullet inside the cold metal chamber as a safeguard for the inevitable day that everything went to shit. At the fist sign of trouble, you blew your opponent to pieces, long before their finger found the trigger. That's what Nursing student Avery Michaels mother has taught her. She wants nothing to do with love —she's perfectly happy single. All Avery can handle is a string of uncomplicated hookups whenever the mood strikes. When she meets smoking hot tattoo artist Bennett, she wants him, only just for one night. Avery has never met a guy that won't accept a no-strings-attached arrangement. Bennett lives by a straight-laced code of values. His own upbringing affecting the way he sees relationships. But Avery is different. He is drawn to her. He sees more than what she portrays. But his values are what have him from holding back. He wants more but won't settle for what he believes in. They start up a friendship, they have explosive chemistry and constantly find themselves in the heat of the moment. Avery knows this is dangerous. She respects Bennetts decisions to hold off on a sexual relationship, but can't seem to walk away. Avery needs to decide if she is going to let Bennett go, or let go of the walls she holds up to protect her. ~ Because I was so not ready for someone as amazing as Bennett Reynold. And I never would be. I was fucked up, and it wouldn't take him long to figure that out and hit the road. ~ Bennett manages to break down her walls and starts getting deeper. It scares her. She doesn't know how to deal with the closeness that he brings or the emotions that he evokes. ~ "They don't make me feel anything. Not one. Damn. Thing." I shove against his chest and his face crumpled. "But you…. You already own a piece of me. Don't you get it? I yelled, stumbling back. ~ Bennett makes her feel alive and helps her let go of the darkness that holds her back. She has no control over how he is slowly beginning to hold her heart. ~ As I sat there listening to him, something profound happened in the very centre of me. Stuff began rearranging and clicking into place. My heart burst through my chest and landed at Bennett's feet- asking, pleading, begging him to smooth out her creases, sooth all her wounded parts and med her shattered centre. When Avery's past comes back and puts her back in danger, she finds herself holding on to the one man that she trusts with all her heart, giving her the strength to face her fears and move forward from the one thing that has always held her back. ~ He has somehow embedded himself beneath my skin, made me feel secure and protected, and here I was telling him one of my deepest, darkest secrets. ~ I loved this. Bennett was so hot and sweet. I haven't read a lot of books with a Virgin Hero, but the ones I have read I absolutely loved! There is just something about it. And Bennett is no different. Their 1st time, was so hot! You feel their Passion. I can't wait for more from this author. She really has a way with words. Normally, I'm not a huge fan of NA. But do enjoy it when it's hits all the right spots. Christina Lee definitely hits all the right spots. Definitely give this one a go, you won't be disappointed. ~ "There's a kind of love that's unhealthy all- consuming. You give up entirely who you are for that other person. And the other kind of love is freeing. It allows yo to be your best self. Your seamless when you're with the person you love unfathomably- but never invisible." ~ ★ 4.5 Stars ★ Buy it Read it Love it *Arc provided by PENGUIN GROUP Berkley via NetGallery in exchange for an honesty Review* 8 likes Like Comment Rose 1,903 reviews 1,070 followers November 6, 2013 Initial reaction: Not bad, but I'll admit I'm disappointed because while I could see the author was trying to approach different things, it never strayed from the New Adult formula and I found several things here to be problematic. Full review: I give credit to Christina Lee in the set up of the storyline, in that a Nursing student (Avery) ends up meeting a guy one night who happens to be a virgin and seems like a upstanding guy (Bennett). He's an artist, he lives upstairs, he's cute (hot in her terms), and all I could think of at first was "Thank goodness this guy isn't a jerk! Someone who's actually *normal* for a change and isn't going to bash some other guy's head in for sheer abrasiveness." That reaction lasted all of about a minute before I realized...oh, wait - Avery's the abrasive one instead. Oh dear. I blame this book for getting the phrase "Slutasaurus" implanted in my head. (And yes, Avery describes herself as this when she considers her relationships with men, and somehow corrupting Bennett's innocence. Because he's a virgin and she's not.) I'll applaud Lee in that there really aren't that many male heroes who are portrayed as virgins, but the stereotyping against sexuality and choice is still in full thrum here, as are a number of other different stereotypes that are often seen in New Adult. The more I think about this novel, the more I realized I thought it was okay, but it didn't leave any lingering impressions on me personally. It's too cut from the same cloth from the genre for me to really connect with it. I did like the focal touches to Avery and Bennett's family, among other details, But it progresses pretty much how you think it would, what with Avery's tragic past and that having a mark on her relationships and sexual interludes, and Bennett - while a decent character, really wasn't memorable to me as a hero that I could connect to more. A light read, and probably appealing to fans of the genre, but it left me wanting more. Overall score: 2/5 stars Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Intermix/Penguin Group. contemporary netgalley new-adult ...more 7 likes Like Comment Plamena 166 reviews May 13, 2014 3 Stars! “Your whole life can’t be defined by that one single moment. Or even a series of awful moments.” This story started as a total cliché- a damaged girl that doesn’t believe in relationships (doesn’t trust men) and sleeps around only in order to prove herself she is independent and no one could control her. Yep…this plot is not new and doesn’t surprise me. But what actually DID surprise me is that the hero in the story...is a virgin! Well…this was interesting :D It’s really refreshing to read about a girl that has more experience than a guy . The story: Avery knows everything about men- they are unreliable, untrustworthy and simple-minded. She is perfectly happy with the fact she is single and the only relationship with a guy she has is a ‘friends with benefits’ one. “Guys were easy to figure out —at least in the hormonal sense. You needed only appear helpless or horny, and their pants instantly dropped to their ankles.” But this is until she meets her new neighbor who is hot, tattooed and absolutely irresistible. Like a mentioned before…he is also a virgin. Avery knows she can’t give him what he wants (true love and a relationship) but she just cannot stay away from Bennett. He sees her true side and will try to break all her barriers. But will Bennett be able to wait for her and will Avery ever be ready to open up?!?! ‘All Of You’ is a really nice and sweet story. I am giving it only three stars because there was something missing for me and the last 40% were a bit boring. But I heard that the next books in the series are better so I will definitely give them a chance. For more reviews check our book blog: The Blue Owlary 7 likes Like Comment Kassiah 802 reviews 88 followers July 27, 2015 4-1/2 stars. Or 4 stars. Or whatever. The bottom line is: I. Loved. This. Book. Nursing student Avery Michaels is happy with her no-strings-attached lifestyle hooking up with guys whenever it suits her when she runs into a new Hot Boy at a frat party. My gaze locked on the guy entering the back door through the kitchen. A red baseball cap was slung low on his head and inky black curls escaped beneath it. His arms were muscular, and his charcoal T-shirt hugged his lean chest. He was Grade A Prime Meat and probably knew exactly how to put those full lips to good use. He brushes off her advances, something that's rarely happened to her. A couple of days later, she runs into him again outside her apartment building and finds Hot Boy (aka walking dreamboat art student Bennett Reynolds) even more intriguing. "You're a tattoo artist?" Holy Mother of God, this man just got hotter. I looked at his arms but saw no telltale signs. "I'd think you'd have more tats on you." My fingers slid over the back of my ear near the tattoo I'd gotten when I'd turned eighteen and finally escaped my mother's house. He'd probably think it was amateurish at best. "Nah, just a couple of well-placed ones." His cheeks pinched into a grin and he looked down at his feet, almost shy about it. His teeth were perfectly white and straight and mesmerizing. "Sometimes less is more, you know." The only problem is they both want totally opposite things. Avery refuses to allow herself to be vulnerable and enter into any kind of relationship and Bennett won't settle for less than love. In fact, he never has--Bennett's a virgin. You know, some guys like to take things a bit slower." Was this guy for real? Suddenly I felt like a bonafide man-eater. A Slutasaurus rex. "Huh, guess I didn't take Nate as the relationship type of guy," I said. A deep shade of plum tinged his cheeks. We were speaking in code here, but we both knew the real deal. "And just by association, as Nate's friend , I figured you must be the same way." "Not true. I'm a commitment kind of guy." His voice was low and smooth, like he was very sure of himself on that one point. "If the right girl comes along." They dance around each other a bit, trying to deny their chemistry. After a mysterious almost break-in into Avery's apartment, Bennett insists that she sleep over at his place and two start out on a journey of friendship. And crazy sexual tension. "I can't stop thinking about you." He placed his head in his hands. "You're the sexiest woman I've ever met." They try to cool things off after reaching an impasse. Meanwhile, both of them are dealing with issues in their families and with their mothers that solidify their reasoning for not wanting to give in to each other. I liked the way that such similar situations with them caused each one of them to head toward opposite ends of the spectrum. Of course, there are ups and downs and there's even a part where Avery thinks Bennett might have given up on her and is moving on. Would Rebecca try to move in on him? Would he let her today? "No," he said, meeting my eyes. "Never." Had I said that out loud? Or was he just reading my mind? "I...I...what?" "I know what you're thinking." He released his grip, and my muscle quivered from the contact. I still couldn't get any damn words out. "I wasn't..." "I wouldn't do that, Avery. Even if I'm still ticked and unsure about things. He jammed his hands in his pockets and then clenched his jaw. "Because all day, every day, you're still stuck in my head--in my every damn thought." Avery's BFF, Ella, finally convinces her to let Bennett in and tell her the real reason she won't allow herself to have a relationship with a man. After Avery's tearful confession, they understand each other so much more and decide to see what happens if they both give in a little. "I said I was a virgin, Avery. Not a saint ." I want to tell you more and quote all the things but I can't without giving everything away. I found myself swooning and flailing and grinning and just...I just loved it. There were a couple of things that I didn't love. There were a few moments where Avery's focus shifted from I don't want a relationship so hear me roar! to I'm too fucked up for him to ever really love me . I pretty much hated that. Also, for all the fighting for her Bennett does, he seems to give up on her pretty easily, even if it doesn't last long. I felt like this was just a way to prolong the drama and it wasn't necessary. In spite of those things, I loved so much more about this story. I actually really liked Avery and her kick-ass attitude. I also really liked Nate and Ella. You already know I flailed and swooned over Bennett (did I mention that he called her precious ?), and I loved the way Lee writes. The words at times were visceral and I felt like I was in the moment with them. His hands on her in the tattoo shop--*dies* And I didn't even mention the five words game they play and the note on the flowers he sends *flails forever*. If you're looking for an amazing New Adult novel with a great twist on an overplayed storyline, a girl you'll root for, and a hot, tatted artist boy that you'll fall in love with, then All of You by Christina Lee is the book for you. I can't wait to read more from this author. favorites-of-2013 ft-girls-who-kick-ass ft-swoonworthy-guy ...more 6 likes Like Comment JB 377 reviews 235 followers September 19, 2013 **Find this and other reviews at The Demon Librarian ** Bring On The Heat! A male virgin. We don't see many of those in books, do we? I think I can count on one hand (maybe two, if I really dig through my book memories) the number of times I have read about one. In the literary world, male virgins are the equivalent of Bigfoot, or the Chupacabra, or other creatures made famous by urban legends. Do they really exist, or are they just a figment of our imaginations? They exist alright, and as proven by Mr. Hottie McHotterson, aka our hero, Bennett, they can be every bit as swoonworthy as the more experienced heartthrobs we're used to reading about. But I digress. This is supposed to be a review about the entire book, right? Right. So let's talk about it! The story begins with a crash-and-burn at a party, is followed soon after by an almost-crime, and then it's off to the Avery and Bennett races as a relationship is slowly formed. And what a relationship it is! Sweet and gentle, and fiery and passionate by turns, it totally sucked me in. I looooove when there is sexual tension between characters, and let me tell you, there is a LOT of tension between Avery and Bennett. Holy smokes! I am pretty sure that my skin was steaming during certain parts. Christina Lee did a fabulous job turning the smallest actions into big, sexually-charged moments. Avery....oh, Avery, Avery, Avery. Girl's got issues, for sure, but they were issues I understood. She was the way she was for some very good reasons, and that helped me accept some of her not-so-great decisions. Yes, Avery was flawed, but she's got a heap-ton of redeeming qualities too. More than anything, though, she was real, and for me, that was everything. I was completely invested and caught up in her story. The pages practically turned themselves. As for Bennett....oh, sweet mercy! I could rant and rave about him (like, a lot) but I really think y'all need to discover the wonderfulness of him for yourselves. Make room on your book boyfriend list, that's all I'm sayin'. All in all, my dears, ALL OF YOU was a thoroughly enjoyable book with a lot to recommend it. It's got feels, hurts and laughs; sweetness and intensity; and two characters who heat up the pages in all the right ways. I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for Christina Lee's next book. 4 Stars ★★★★ ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. contemporary feel-the-feels friends-to-lovers ...more 6 likes Like Comment Jacqueline's Reads 2,939 reviews 1,514 followers August 9, 2016 4.25 Letting your heart in Stars I really liked All of You. It was intense, sweet and very romantic. Summary Avery doesn’t have the best childhood. Her mother is loose, she doesn’t have a father figure and she’s trying to become a nurse so she can be able to take care of baby brother. Because of all of this, she doesn’t have relationships and she’s a fan of one-night-stands. Bennett is your tattooed boy next door. Bennett lives in the same apartment complex as Avery. Avery thinks Bennett is hot and wants him, but Bennett isn’t looking for a friends-with-benefits kind of relationship. Both have issues and both aren’t willing to compromise. Avery and Bennett I’ve never been fond of loose heroines, but I liked Avery. I got her. She has a tough home situation and she copes by using guys for sex, so when Bennett comes into the picture, it kind of throws her off. Bennett is not your typical Hero. I really liked Bennett because he is so different! As much as I love the bad boys, I have a soft heart for the good ones too. He’s sweet, loyal and very suborn. He values Avery and doesn’t want to cheapen her to a relationship based on sex. It was a refreshing change for me to have the Hero turned down the Heroine so much. Overall Of course there’s plenty of tension and sexual tension. Avery wants a no strings attached relationship and Bennett is looking for more. What I enjoyed the most is watching the two characters form a friendship and work out their issues. The book is very fast pace and I wished it was a touch longer, but overall, it was a very pleasant read and I will be sticking to the series. AN ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review AMAZON 4-star-books arc 6 likes Like Comment Ashley Williams Author 1 book 280 followers August 3, 2013 SQUEE!!!! I finished this book last night.. and I seriously-freaking-loved-it!! It is going to be a hit, one of my top 10 NA reads of the year! All of You puts a refreshing spin on the NA genre, one that doesn't copy the market norms. It has all of the swoon of new love that will totally give you 1,000,000 excited butterflies in your tummy! Lee's writing is perfect, and totally entrances you with this amazing love story! More to come, but if you have a chance to grab this from Netgalley the I highly suggest you get your bottom over there and request! At least add it to your TBR list. BTW <3 <3 <3 Bennett! 6 likes Like Comment Christine 235 reviews 34 followers August 19, 2013 I became slightly obsessed with the idea of reading All of You as soon as I saw the words irresistible, tattooed and virgin. What's that you say? A hero who is not a womanizing manwhore? Where do I sign up? It was fun going into All of You, knowing that there would be a role reversal of sorts. I am so used to the shy, inexperienced women, who fall for the bad boy who has been around the park on more than one occasion. Now we have Avery, who would very much be classified as the school slut. This isn't slut shaming, she wears here title proud. She hooks up on regular occasions, and only has one guy who she uses as a multiple booty call. Other than that, love 'em and leave 'em. “Guys were easy to figure out-at least in the hormonal sense. You needed only appear helpless or horny, and their pants instantly dropped to their ankles.” Avery. I don't know if we are supposed to like Avery in the beginning. It sure as heck took me a little while to warm to her. Her entire attitude was standoffish, and just on the wrong side of arrogant. But it started to become clear that this was part of her façade. You could see the walls that she had built up to keep any and all real emotion out. By the end, I came to love her and was rooting for her as she started kicking those walls down. “I want something real," he whispered. "And I'm willing to wait for it.” Bennett. There was no having to warm up to him, he is perfection. From the very first time he is spotted by Avery, you are in love with him. I was curious to find out the reasons that he had for abstaining from sex, and when it's explained I was happy with his answers. They made sense to me. Now of course, even Bennett says this to Avery, he may be a virgin - but he is no saint. “I don’t know what this is or what the hell we’re doing,“ he said. “But if I don’t kiss you right now, I might explode.” What does Bennett mean by being no saint? It means he may have never done the deed but he has done plenty of other things... and this means that Avery and Bennett do plenty of those other things also. Honestly, the sexual tension dripping off of these two is intense. Every slight kiss, every touch, every moment they are alone together feels electric. And I have to say... I loved it. I loved the constant foreplay. It was hot. Too many times the main characters are so eager to jump into sex. Avery and Bennett manage to become intimate, but at the same time saving themselves for that special moment together. It made their relationship that more intense and real. “I was jumping off a cliff, sinking, drowning, and couldn't care less about being saved as long as he kept kissing me.” Now, my only major gripe. Avery's friends. It's not that I didn't like them per se, it's just that I didn't like how they spoke to each other. They were forever calling each other names. Maybe these were meant as terms of endearments between friends, and a way to get us to see how close they were. But it annoyed me to no end. They were constantly calling each other things such as bitch, dickhead, dickwad, asshead, dillweed... and so on. I physically cringed every time it happened, unfortunately it happened a lot. I just didn't understand it, as it didn't seem like normal behavior to me. And in no way is that gripe enough for me not to suggest that you read All of You. I really found it hard to put it down once I started. I was up until 4:00am, then started again as soon as I woke up the next day. I was also very happy with the ending, an epilogue would have been nice... but that is just me wanting more. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Bennett. My feelings in five words or less: Sweet, sexy, love, HOT. “I'm not sure I can ever get enough of you," he murmured as he captured the skin at the hallow of my throat. "I know the feeling," I whispered.” Christine Rainy Day Reads ** I was given an eARC copy of this novel directly from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.** read-in-2013 5 likes Like Comment Krista 1,075 reviews 83 followers July 7, 2014 I love starting new series and discovering new authors. The Between Breaths series and Christina Lee was recommended to me by a good friend, and since I have to read series in order... Avery is a girl wading through her college life with detached sexual encounters and nothing of substance. Her mother's similar lifestyle and the tragic results it brought have taught her that love and relationships are a farce. She sets her sights on hottie Bennett at a party, but he shuts her down hard. Coincidentally, he becomes her new neighbor. Thankfully, he's also a bit of a knight in shining armor, as he demonstrates when he saves Avery from a break-in at her apartment. This starts a sweet friendship between the two of them, especially when they find out their parental situations are actually very similar. All of You had everything I absolutely love in a new adult book. There was a hot tattoo artist, a slightly damaged bad ass chick, a situation that puts them in peril, and a virgin just waiting to be deflowered. The awesome thing is, in this case, the virginal half of the relationship is the guy. I freaking loved that about this book. Bennett was definitely a surprise. He's a bad boy with a twist. He's tatted and confusing and complicated. He also paints beautiful pictures and is saving himself for someone who loves him. His mother's track record of going from man to man to man and not caring about any of them, occasionally making babies with them, and then not wanting to care for said babies, has taught him that if you're going to do the deed, make sure it's with someone who means something to you. Then, if something unforeseen happens, at least it would be with someone you love. Damn. That might make Bennett the most sexy book boyfriend EVER. Avery has her own issues and a really tragic past. She's buried it deep down below a layer of nonchalance and superficialness. Thankfully, Bennett proves to be her biggest challenge. The friendship they forge was so incredibly sweet. There was all this underlying sexual tension that was totally palpable, but above all that was a kinship and an understanding between Avery and Bennett that was even more sexy than the sexy times. And yes - despite Bennett's lack of experience, there were sexy times, and wow. Were they fun. I enjoyed All of You so much, I've already purchased the second book in the series. I look forward to continuing to discover this new-to-me author as I go through all the books in the Between Breaths series. 2014-reads 4 likes Like Comment Amanda (Good Choice Reading) 294 reviews 35 followers September 25, 2013 All of You is definitely one of the best NA contemporaries that I have read so far. I liked Avery and Bennett. I enjoyed watching Avery come to terms with the way she has lived her life, and I loved that Bennett wasn’t your typical bad boy, dropping innuendos every time he opened his mouth. He was nice, wholesome, and still hot. As sad as it may be, that’s a rarity in books these days. PLUS he’s a tattoo artist. Most people love that he has tattoos, but I was more interested in the fact that he’s an artist. The only thing as mesmerizing as a great tattoo is the fact that another human being put it there. I have to say, the sex left me questioning what being a virgin really means. There is the literal definition of the word, of course, but I don't think it's that simple. At least not in situations like this, where his virgin status is supposed to help define the character. In my opinion, there’s only one way you get good at things like oral sex, and that’s having experience doing it. So I kind of got the impression that the only reason Bennett’s labeled a virgin is because he hasn't had actual intercourse, but he seems to have done everything else. If we’re supposed to believe it just came naturally, I find that a bit unrealistic. I don't think that's what was implied, which leads me back to the question--what does "virgin" really mean? If he's done everything else enough to do it so well, does his being a virgin matter at all? To the characters? Maybe.... To me, as a reader? I don't think it does. Nevertheless, All of You is an easy and fun read, with just enough depth to keep it from falling into the “fluff” category. But, aside from the fact that the roles were reversed, everything else followed the typical NA formula. Which is exactly what I was in the mood for so that worked for me. If you’re looking for a good new adult contemporary novel, this is probably a good pick for you. If you’re looking for something unique to the genre, I’d have to say this isn’t it. Either way, I’d recommend everyone give it a shot. 5 likes Like Comment bibliophile (Romance Addict) 176 reviews 172 followers May 11, 2015 2 stars!! So I have started reading this book with my hopes high. I thought it would be a very touching story, and that I would love it. However I got smacked on my face with the most annoying heroine ever. When I started reading this, I thought Avery will be a bit more bearable, a bit less annoying. I was looking for that moment when the characters develop and she wouldn't be whining about the fact that she hates boys so much, but still gets turned on on the smallest acts. Her character has so many splits, and I couldn't understand her at all. One minute she swore off all relationships and guys, the next, she's day-dreaming about Bennett. Make up your mind, gurl!! Now, what made this a two stars instead of one, is Bennett. I don't even know how he handled Avery, and why he liked her anyways. He's cute, and a virgin. However, I could't feel Avery and Bennett's connection at all. I felt like they didn't fit together, and he would be way better without her. In the end, the book wasn't that great, and it was very hard to read even though it's pretty short. Heroine: 1/5 Hero:3/5 Level of hotness: 2/5 Writing: 3:5 overall:2/5 abuse annoying dnf ...more 5 likes Like Comment Katerina 793 reviews 300 followers July 1, 2017 How could anyone not have a real soft spot for Bennet? Responsible, sweet, sexy Bennet! Even with the exclusion of his "virgin" status, he just had so much more going on for him! I low-key need to find myself a Bennet. I also pictured him as Steven Kelly. He could have been more forceful in his pursuit, but the problems predominately came from the heroine, and her refusal to have a relationship with him even though it was clear that was what he wanted. They weren't together, but after she met him, it annoyed me that she still had sex with her f*ck buddy. Obviously feelings hadn't caught on then, but there was a very strong mutual attraction, and her constant flirt with other men that had me all "grr" even if I was completely fine with her having a past. But I'm one of those readers who can deal with a heroine's OM drama but way more sensitive to a hero's. Hypocritical, totally. But I also think that's because hero OW drama is over used. Summary of the plot is... good guy making a cynical girl believe in love? 5 likes Like Comment FV Angela 1,368 reviews 127 followers September 24, 2013 Review originally posted at http://fictionvixen.com/review-christ... The blurb for All of You immediately jumped out and grabbed my interest…. I mean come on, the hero is an irresistible, tattooed VIRGIN and since I’m all for having irresistible, tattooed virgins in my reading material I requested it for review and had high hopes when I started reading. Bennett and Avery are our two main characters. Bennett is a handsome, swoon worthy art major who works at a tattoo parlor, sells his art at shows and, because of his hot mess mother, is used to being the caregiver of his family. He’s learned lessons from his mother’s mistakes and is bound and determined that he won’t give away his virginity to just anyone. He wants real love. Then there’s Avery who is in college taking classes to get her RN, works in a nursing home and deals with the pain of her traumatic childhood by basically being a man-eater who only lets men in enough to give her an orgasm. Whenever they get too close she runs in the other direction in order to keep from giving them the wrong idea, because she just doesn’t have any interest in a relationship. Our story opens with the heroine Avery is at a frat party looking to hook up for the night. The man she has set her sights on across the room is gorgeous, sexy and doesn’t seem to have any interest in her. She flirts, she gives him some come hither glances, but he never takes the bait so she decides to head home to sulk (I mean come ON, she doesn’t normally have to hit on men, they hit on HER). Since there wasn’t anyone else at the party that interested her in the same way, she goes home alone. Even turning down getting lucky with her fuck buddy Rob. Amazingly enough the very next morning she sees the pretty boy from the night before is in the process of moving into her building. From there they start a complicated back and forth, push and pull relationship that about drove me nuts. I think what problems I had with this story start and end with Avery. First let me say I’m all for women owning their sexuality and love it when I get a heroine who is empowered enough to go after and get what she wants. That being said, if Avery were a guy I’d be calling her a douche. She grated on my nerves from the very beginning. I understood where the author was coming from when creating her back story and giving her a way to deal with it, and I so wanted to feel some kind of compassion for her. I just couldn’t get over my feelings of dislike enough to get to there. Then there’s the way she deals with Bennett… Bennett is the hottie who moves in her building and immediately strikes up a friendship with her. I say friendship, but their relationship is laced with sexual tension from the very beginning. Their friendship takes a deeper turn when Bennett chases away a prowler trying to break into Avery’s window one evening. This brings them closer and Bennett’s protectiveness gets to him so he asks her to stay over so he can watch over her. He’s such a sweet, giving man and really is the saving grace of this story. As Avery pushes him over and over to move onto a sexual level he resists (although, it seemed to be a very difficult thing for him to do) until he finally has to admit that he wants her, but is a virgin. A sexy virgin who didn’t do much fumbling around in the bedroom, but a virgin nonetheless. To be honest, I understood both Bennett’s reasonings for staying a virgin and Avery’s for sleeping around and staying away from commitment. They were two sides of the same coin. Both having to deal with similar backgrounds, but handling their feelings of the past in opposite ways. Avery had an added traumatic experience that pushed her into her extreme dislike of relationships, but the further I read the more I had the impression that she and Bennett had more in common than either realized. I think I would have enjoyed this story a little more if I had been able to connect to Avery, but for some reason I just was never able to. She was abrasive and didn’t become remotely likable until the very end. She pushed for sex and then stepped back from Bennett so many times I felt like she was playing him after a while. She held back from telling him things he aught to have known, things like having once had a one night stand with his boss, then gets upset when he is pissed. What? When they finally do the deed I still wasn’t sure if I believed their commitment to each other. The dialogue between her and her two best friends is another thing that turned me off. I understand banter and have two bffs myself, but the constant use of name calling toward each other became old after a while. There is just so much asshat, bitch, dillweed, dickhead and asshead one can take in a conversation. And these people supposedly like each other. My feelings over the heroine aside, this story did show some promise and I enjoyed Bennett and the grandmotherly figure, Mrs. Jackson, enough that I was able to keep reading to see where this relationship ended up. Final Grade- D Favorite Quote: “I want something real, ” he whispered. “And I’m willing to wait for it.” My throat closed up at his words. “Are you … waiting for marriage?” “No.” He looked me dead in the eye. “I’m just waiting for love.” contemporary new-adult read-in-2013 ...more 3 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 747 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 9 quotes 8 discussions Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Mujeres que corren con los lobos by Clarissa Pinkola Estés | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $9.99 Rate this book Mujeres que corren con los lobos Clarissa Pinkola Estés 4.13 76,325 ratings 5,944 reviews Want to read Kindle $9.99 Rate this book Dentro de toda mujer alienta una vida secreta, una fuerza poderosa llena de buenos instintos, creatividad y sabiduría. Es la Mujer Salvaje, una especie en peligro de extinción debido a los constantes esfuerzos de la sociedad por "civilizar" a las mujeres y constreñirlas a rígidos papeles que anulan su esencia instintiva. En este libro, la autora revela ricos mitos interculturales, cuentos de hadas e historias para contribuir a que las mujeres recuperen su fuerza y su salud, atributos visionarios de esta esencia instintiva. / Within every woman there lives a powerful force, filled with good instincts, passionate creativity, and ageless knowing. She is the Wild Woman, who represents the instinctual nature of women. But she is an endangered species. For though the gifts of wildish nature belong to us at birth, society's attempt to ""civilize"" us into rigid roles has muffled the deep, life-giving messages of our own souls. In Women Who Run With the Wolves, Dr. Estes unfolds rich intercultural myths, fairy tales, and stories, many from her own family, in order to help women reconnect with the fierce, healthy, visionary attributes of this instinctual nature. Through the stories and commentaries in this remarkable book, we retrieve, examine, love, and understand the Wild Woman, and hold her against our deep psyches as one who is both magic and medicine. Dr. Estes has created a new lexicon for describing the female psyche. Fertile and life-giving, it is a psychology of women in the truest sense, a knowing of the soul. Genres Nonfiction Feminism Psychology Spirituality Mythology Self Help Womens ...more 726 pages, Paperback First published January 1, 1992 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Clarissa Pinkola Estés 51 books 2,929 followers An American poet, psychoanalyst and post-trauma specialist who was raised in now nearly vanished oral and ethnic traditions. She is a first-generation American who grew up in a rural village, population 600, near the Great Lakes. Of Mexican mestiza and majority Magyar and minority Swabian tribal heritages, she comes from immigrant and refugee families who could not read or write, or who did so haltingly. Much of her writing is influenced by her family people who were farmers, shepherds, hopsmeisters, wheelwrights, weavers, orchardists, tailors, cabinet makers, lacemakers, knitters, and horsemen and horsewomen from the Old Countries. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.13 76,325 ratings 5,944 reviews 5 stars 38,034 (49%) 4 stars 20,126 (26%) 3 stars 10,932 (14%) 2 stars 4,483 (5%) 1 star 2,750 (3%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,942 reviews Laura 385 reviews 594 followers July 1, 2008 When I worked at Ballantine Books in the early to mid-1990s, this was by far the most successful book the house had ever published (it probably still is). I couldn't get over it -- this piece of shit was a runaway best-seller? Overblown, overwritten, self-important, pseudo-intellectual -- what the hell was to like? And to top it off, the author acted like a complete asshole, with personality traits that matched her book to a T. Her visits to the office were ludicrous; she used to prance around, puffed up like a little marshmallow, waiting for everyone to fall at her feet. Shockingly, Clarissa (upon whom some of us bestowed a nickname that was, um, less than flattering, and which you can probably figure out) never wrote another book that got the slightest amount of attention (unless you count The Gift of Story , a little nothing of a book that she tossed out in a couple of weeks just in time for the Christmas rush. [Yep, nothing cynical about Dr. Estes.] I won't even tell you the advance they gave her for it because it will make you lose your will to live.) Can't imagine why. I mean, let's face it: you know a book is a must to avoid when you have Alice Walker saying stuff like, " Women Who Run With the Wolves isn't just another book. It is a gift of profound insight, wisdom, and love. An oracle from one who knows." Yeek. non-fiction overrated 494 likes Like Comment Lilith 5 reviews 36 followers January 28, 2008 This book saved my life. I was seriously struggling with an enormous amount of class-related stress, centered around a completely unsuspected attack on my creative potential. After a few months of being shredded mentally and creatively by the people I'd expected to lean on for support and physically by the demands of moving to a new country, I was at a horrible place, alternating between periods of blind rage and near suicidal depression, and for the first time in my life I was watching my ability to create dim and all but vanish. I had two weeks to pull together a film shoot with a script that I needed to edit and then direct, I knew no one, I had no idea what I was doing and felt like I was running into a brick wall with everyone but one of my tutors, a woman who I've subsequently given a copy of WWRWW (she loves it). This book brought me through that time. My level of self-awareness as both a woman and a product of my culture has reached a new peak, and through Estés' writing I have made one of the most difficult and empowering decisions of my life. This is a book for anyone who has ever asked why, and then shushed themselves. This book is a loud, shameless 'prayer for the wild at heart still kept in cages' (thank you Tennessee Williams), and as it boldly refutes the constraints imposed upon a wild nature by propriety, society, and that nature itself it cannot help but resemble a tall glass of water in the middle of the desert. Buy this book. Read it. If it offends with cliché, force yourself to ignore it and take in the message anyway. favorites 464 likes 1 comment Like Comment Bea Zee 61 reviews 24 followers December 1, 2014 Yeah yeah, the book may be seen as a cry of independence for all women out there who need to get in touch with their "wild" side. However, my reservations: - The author tried to say that women should be who they are, but continually portrayed one single type of women: women who had artistic urges, thick thighs and who had always felt like they were born from the wrong parents. So, if you are a skinny archivist who had a decent childhood and no artistic talents, there's something terribly wrong with your psyche. - The author makes assertions and that is all. No evidence whatsoever is given to any of the sentences in any of the 500 pages this book has to offer. It's all "All women are like this. She may think she is not, but it's only because it's hidden in her subconscious or she needs psychoanalysis". - I really mean it, the assertions-with-no-evidence just permeates the whole book. Even the analyses of the stories, "the skull means her instinct" kind of thing. Why? Why can't the skull mean her fears, her past, or just simply a literal skull? I can give different plausible interpretations to all of her stories and dreams. - Highly repetitive. You could read the book just by reading the first sentence of each paragraph, because they all had circular logic/unnecessary illustration: "women are like wolves. wolves are wild and women are wild so women are like wolves". - I question all comparisons with animals. Can I compare myself to a scorpion and say that I should kill myself when facing an attack from which I can't escape? Of course women share some characteristics with animals, but not all. Disappointing. (This book is highly recommended in pagan circles, because it tries to elevate the status of women. And in goddess-centered religions, that should be nice, right? But.. I can read a book about religion and just accept its assertions, because that's the nature of religion. But I can't read a book about psychoanalysis and just accept it. And I think that instead of elevating the status of anything, it lowers it. A poorly written book accepted and revered by a whole community makes you question the judgement of that community. So I think it's the responsibility of the members of that community who think this way to stand for what they believe in.) 416 likes 3 comments Like Comment Phoebe 10 reviews August 6, 2009 Here's the deal on this book. 1) It is all too easy to make fun or roll one's eyes or be actually pretty nasty about it, because it's obviously got a ridiculously embarassing title. I personally got the book as a cheerful joke from my dad one Christmas, and I thought to myself, "gag me!" 2) But: Once I read it, I realized how smart this book is. (Eg, I learned the ever-useful term piloerection here.) What this book is is a master-key to the pictorial language that our right brain "speaks," (via dreams, myths, stories & films), particularly when we are in trouble. If you are a writer, an artist, a scholar of poetry, fiction, or ancient oral traditions that don't make "sense," or even just someone who has gone through or is going through a hard time, you can use this book; you can "work" this book. It's a guidebook to the picture language and the narrative logic of our right brain and even if you think the author is a little full of herself, which I personally do, it doesn't matter. The subject is fascinating. 3) So: By all means, ignore the parts that turn you off or feel cheesy. But give your critical eye rolling side a break, remember what it was like to be a kid who adored Andrew Lang and C.S. Lewis , and dare to realize that this book has a highly pragmatic, powerful core that can change the quality of your life. For more along these lines, try also the books of Joseph Campbell , Mircea Eliade or Erich Neumann . creativity 238 likes 1 comment Like Comment Cameron Richert Hendrie 16 reviews 8 followers December 27, 2010 Every feminist/spiritual/literature/writing related teacher I've ever had has told me I should read this book, so I finally did. Frankly, it was annoying. The ideas are wonderful, but the writing is obnoxious. I didn't know what the phrase "purple prose" really meant until I read this book. She also refers to the "Rio abajo rio" frequently, and EVERY SINGLE TIME, she writes: "The rio abajo rio, the river below the rive ..." It's just not necessary. After reading 200 pages of this I wondered how much shorter the book would've been if she'd cut out even half the unnecessary adjectives and repeated translations. I'm sorry. Maybe this makes me a shitty feminist, but this book is really annoying. I gave it 3 stars because I still think some of the ideas in it are really good, and maybe one day I'll try reading it again when I've developed greater patience. 220 likes 1 comment Like Comment بثينة العيسى Author 23 books 27.4k followers May 2, 2020 لو قيل لي اختاري كتابًا واحدًا لتقرأه ابنتك في حياتها كلها، سيكون هذا. رغم أنه لا يأتي بجديد، ليس تمامًا، لكنه يذكرنا بما نحن عليه، بما نسيناهُ عن أنفسنا. الكاتبة مختصة في علم النّفس وهي سليلة مدرسة كارل يونغ للتحليل النفسي، تستخدم القصص لل��لاج؛ حكايات منتخبة من الأساطير، قصص الجنيات، والحكايا الشعبية التي تجمعها في تجوالها. إنها تستخدم كل حكاية (بعد إزالة شوائب التحريف التي طرأت عليها بفعل صعود ديانات وثقافات جديدة، ذكورية ومهيمنة).. المهم أنها تستخدمها كمسرح للنفس الأنثوية وتبدأ في فحص عناصرها. عبر هذه العملية، عبر فحص المشتركات بين اللا وعي الخاص واللا وعي الجمعي، تبدأ في الإنصات إلى صوت الحكمة القديمة، صوت المرأة الوحشية، صوت الحدس الذي أُخرس بفعل المدنية المفرطة، تشوهات الثقافة العامة، والانفصال عن الطبيعة. إن أعظم ما حققه لي هذا الكتاب هو إعادة علاقتي بحدسي، وقد يبدو الأمر ثانويًا للبعض، لكنني أعرف الآن بأنني كنت لأتجنب حماقات كثيرة في حياتي لو أنني لم أفرط بهذه الملكة، الإنصات إلى الحدس يعني أن أضع حياتي في حالة نمو مستمرة، وأن أخرج للغابة مرارًا، وأن أعرف، دائمًا، ما هي خطوتي القادمة. 164 likes Like Comment Ahmad Sharabiani 9,564 reviews 155 followers March 17, 2022 Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild ‭Woman Archetype, Clarissa Pinkola Estés Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype is a book by Jungian analyst, author and poet Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Ph.D, published in 1992 by Ballantine Books. In Women Who Run with the Wolves, Estés analyses myths, fairy tales, folk tales and stories from different cultures to uncover the Wild Woman archetype of the feminine psyche. The book stems from these interpretations of old tales and creates this wolf-woman parallel, by incorporating her own previous studies that suggest "wolves and women are relational by nature." The notion of the archetype is associated with the work of Carl Jung. Estés produces this new collection of words to describe the female psyche in Women who Run with the Wolves as it is a psychology of women in the truest sense, a knowing of the soul. تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز بیستم ماه ژوئن سال2006 میلادی عنوان: زنانی که با گرگها میدوند اف‍س‍ان‍ه‌ ه‍ا و ق‍ص‍ه‌ ه‍ای‍ی‌ درب‍اره‌ ک‍ه‍ن‌ ال‍گ‍وی‌ زن‌ وح‍ش‍ی‌؛ نویسنده ک‍لاری‍س‍ا پ‍ی‍ن‍ک‍ولا اس‍ت‍یس‌ (استس)؛ مت‍رج‍م س‍ی‍م‍ی‍ن‌ م‍وح‍د؛ تهران، پیکان، سال1383؛ در648ص؛ چاپ دوم سال1384؛ چاپ سوم سال1386؛ چاپ چهارم سال1387؛ چاپهای پنجم و ششم سال 1389؛ شابک9789643284305؛ چاپ هفتم سال1390؛ چاپهای هشتم و نهم سال1392؛ چاپ دهم سال1394؛ چاپ سیزدهم سال1396؛ چاپ چهاردهم سال1397؛ موضوع زنان روانشناسی - از نویسندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا - سده20م دکتر «کلاریسا پینکولا استس»، در این کتاب، با استفاده از گنجینه ی غنی داستانهای: «اساطیری»، «کهن الگوها»، «افسانه های پریان» و «قصه های ملل»، راه پیوستگی دوباره به این نیروی توانمند و سالم طبیعت غریزی زنان را، نشان میدهند. نویسنده در این کتاب، نخست داستان و افسانه ای را بیان میکنند، که بیشتر ما آنها را شنیده یا خوانده ایم، و با توجه به آن داستانها، و کنکاش روانشناسانه ی آنها، به بیان نکاتی، درباره ی «روح زنان» و چگونگی توجه به آن، و شنیدن حرفهایشان میپردازند، تا زنان بتوانند: اعتماد به نفس خود را افزایش داده، و در تصمیم گیریها، به احساس و درون خود ایمان داشته باشند تاریخ بهنگ��م رسانی 25/03/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 25/12/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی Like Comment missy jean 611 reviews 16 followers December 23, 2011 Jungian psychoanalytic theory applied to folktales and fairy tales from around the world. Yes? Yes. I want to carry copies of this book around and hand them out, proselytorily, to everyone woman I encounter who feels confined, constrained, and soul-sick. This book has helped me to reconnect with my intuition, reevaluate what it means for me to live authentically, and reimagine what my life can look like when I live it wildly and freely. It really has been a gift to me. There is lots of gender essentialism in here, but for some reason I don't care. A friend and I were talking about this the other, trying to figure out why Estes gets away with saying essentializing and even heteronormative things that we would never swallow from another writer... we thought it might have to do with her practice of putting essentialisms in the context of universal archetypes that we can accept or reject as we choose. Whatever it is, I can't say anything about this book other than that I love it. non-fiction 144 likes Like Comment Chelsey 29 reviews 12 followers March 23, 2010 Another reviewer summed it up: this book's cover was misleading! I know that authors often have nothing to do with how their books are advertised, and perhaps I should have read the introduction before I bought it or something, but it *still* isn't fair that I wasted my money on a book chock-full of Jungian psychoanalysis when what is advertised and what I expected was a book about the literary and mythological archetype of the wild woman. What's worse, the book isn't so much about Jungian psychology in general as it is about the author's experience. I just get the feeling that this book was clearly written for the author, other woman just happen to become "empowered" by her writings on wild women. And honestly, I understand wanting to reclaim wildness and all, but making essentialist claims about all women-- even if they aren't "negative" (or turning a negative into a positive)-- is still annoying. I just wanted to scold, "No, not all women are 'robust'." And so is comparing women to (non-human) animals. These assertions and comparisons may be an attempt to reclaim or subvert sexist tenets about women, but Estes seems to forget that women have been compared to and thus treated like animals throughout history, and that this has negative consequences! I understand what she's attempting to do, I know she isn't ignorant of these facts, and I can appreciate the worth and need of a focus on women's psychology, but this just doesn't work for me. One thing I can laugh at is the fact that I would have adored this book during high school, when I was really into Jung, Freud, psychology and feminism in general and I suppose I could finish reading it out of embarrassed nostalgia. But who reads a 500+ page book out of pure nostalgia? Not I. 2010 115 likes 1 comment Like Comment Quirine 99 reviews 2,166 followers December 7, 2023 I hate self-help books. I find them preachy, and I find them privileged. They give me the shivers and they annoy me so I stopped reading them years ago ('the art of not giving a fuck' is what really sealed the deal for me). So read this review knowing that I hate self-help books and that I would never shelf this book under that category. Women Who Run With The Wolves did not change my life, like self-help books love to promise. It didn't change my life because it didn't tell me anything I didn't already know - and I mean that in the absolute best way possible. This book felt like a soul-call, a reminder of the ancient knowing that lives inside all of us. This book didn't change my life, but this book called me home. I have been struggling with a lot of collective female rage and trauma these past years. That feels weird to share here because it is deeply personal, but it's true: sometimes the suffering of all women throughout history and throughout the world today bears down on me so heavily I don't know what to do with myself. This book healed part of that wound for me. The pages wrapped me in their arms and said 'you are right to feel this way. You are right to question. You are right to feel angry. You are right to want to kick of your shoes, run barefoot through the trees and scream in internal rage from the top of a mountain'. If you ever felt that urge, you need to read this book. If you never felt that urge, you may feel it after reading this book. Or you may think 'wow, this sounds like the preaching of a cult', and quickly run the other way - I wouldn't blame you. But this book doesn't try to teach you something, it doesn't tell you what you need to be or how to live your life. It is rather an ode to women, an ode to wisdom, an ode to spirituality, an ode to nature, an ode to life and death and the cycles we live through. There is poetry in its wisdom, and it feels like lovingly being carried by the hands of generations of wise and wild women from all over the world. It took me eleven months to finish this. This is not the type of book you read in one go and be done with it. This is a book to savour, to put away for a while, to come back to, to question, to underline, to ponder. It is dense, it is difficult, sometimes it is repetitive. If you feel the need to put it away for a few weeks or months, do so, and wait for its call again. “The doors to the world of the wild Self are few but precious. If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if you have an old, old story, that is a door. If you love the sky and the water so much you almost cannot bear it, that is a door. If you yearn for a deeper life, a full life, a sane life, that is a door.” favorite-books 109 likes Like Comment Arianna 11 reviews 5 followers November 12, 2017 I couldn't even finish this shit. It was patronizing and self-mastabatory, as well as incredibly reaching, overflowing with weak arguments, and otherwise full of shit. (Seriously. That story of her and the couple telling her the myth of the coyote and the penis was *SO* funny they were howling, weeping, and banging the table for an extended period of time? Fuck off.) Check out Goddesses by Campbell or Goddesses in Everywoman. Much better analysis of the Divine Feminine in literature and mythos than this narcissistic shit show of "analysis." Who the fuck gave this woman a doctorate? 101 likes Like Comment Lea 123 reviews 672 followers April 8, 2021 Written from the perspective of a Jungian analyst, the book is covering the interpretation of myths, fairy tales, folk tales and stories from different cultures aimed at exploring the Wild Woman archetype of feminine psyche. Pinkola Estés argues that the archetype of the Wild Woman is an essential archetype for a female path of individuation. The writing style is more in line with books of popular psychology/self-help books than more “serious“ books about analytical psychology, which explain the way was more appealing to the general public than some better quality, more significant books in a similar niche, but sadly, less appealing to me. I think it is always hard to rate books that cover topics you've already read a fair amount about, in this case, analysis of fairy tales and myths and the path of development of the female psyche. But this book unarguably carries a lot of unique wisdom and gave me greater comprehension from which I will benefit both personally (in reconnecting to parts of self) and professionally (in helping others do the same). Because of that, it deserves a higher rating as I value more the change of perspective than a writing style and literary accomplishment (especially in non-fiction). But if you decide to read this book, be prepared that it is painfully uneven and somewhat repetitive, and would benefit greatly from a good editor. Folk tales, fairy tales and myths carry deep knowledge and collective wisdom about sex, love, marriage, birth, motherhood, death and transformation. The strongest analysis I adored were; Bluebeard, Vasalisa the Wise, The Ugly Duckling, The Red Shoes and The Little Match Girl, really worth reading even without reading the whole book. If you are into the archetypal, creative, cyclic, intuitive, erotic, passionate, authentic, and FEMININE side of life you will certainly enjoy this book. If you feel depressed, dried out, weak, powerless, silenced, confused, and unexcited about life, you could benefit from this book, as well if you want to nurture, heal or just explore yourself further. If you liked this book and what to dive deeper in the topics of female development as well interpretation of fairy tales I would recommend: Amor and Psyche: The Psychic Development of the Feminine and Leaving My Father's House: A Journey to Conscious Femininity , for path of female individuation, and The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales and The Interpretation of Fairy Tales for a psychodynamic approach to fairy tales. feminism mythology-fairy-tales-folk-tales non-fiction ...more 93 likes 1 comment Like Comment ☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣ 2,482 reviews 19.1k followers August 24, 2018 Evocative and exhilarating! I need to reread this. Many, many times. Q: ... a scar is stronger than skin... (c) Q: The body is a multilingual being. (c) Q: Even if one has friends, those friends may not be suns. (c) Q: When a life is too controlled, there becomes less and less life to control. (c) Q: Nothing makes the light, the wonder, the treasure stand out so well as darkness. (c) Q: Talismans are reminders of what is felt but not seen, what is so, but not immediately obvious. (c) Q: Stories are medicine. (c) Q: Though fairy tales end after ten pages, our lives do not. We are multi-volume sets. (c) Q: Stories set the inner life into motion, and this is particularly important where the inner life is frightened, wedged, or cornered. Story greases the hoists and pulleys, it causes adrenaline to surge, shows us the way out, down, or up, and for our trouble, cuts for us fine wide doors in previously blank walls, openings that lead to the dreamland, that lead to love and learning, that lead us back to our own real lives as knowing wildish women. (c) Q: Dogs are the magicians of the universe. (c) Q: There is nothing wrong with ducks, I assure them, or with swans. But ducks are ducks and swans are swans. (c) Q: I like to use mice. What if you were raised by the mice people? (c) Q: Wild Woman comes back. Through night dreams, through events half understood and half remembered. ... To take the world into one's arms and act towards it in a soul-filled and soul-strengthening manner is a powerful act of wildish spirit. (с) Q: We are all filled with a longing for the wild. There are few culturally sanctioned antidotes for this yearning. We were taught to feel shame for such a desire. We grew our hair long and used it to hide our feelings. But the shadow of Wild Woman still lurks behind us during our days and in our nights. No matter where we are, the shadow that trots behind us is definitely four-footed. (c) Q: Don't waste your time hating a failure. Failure is a greater teacher than success. Listen, learn, go on. (c) Q: Every creature on earth returns to home. It is ironic that we have made wildlife refuges for ibis, pelican, egret, wolf, crane, deer, mouse, moose, and bear, but not for ourselves in the places we live day after day. We understand that the loss of habitat is the most disastrous event that can occur to a free creature. (c) Q: I hope you will go out and let stories, that is life, happen to you, and that you will work with these stories... water them with your blood and tears and your laughter till they bloom, till you yourself burst into bloom. (c) Q: Be wild; that is how to clear the river. The river does not flow in polluted, we manage that. The river does not dry up, we block it. If we want to allow it its freedom, we have to allow our ideational lives to be let loose, to stream, letting anything come, initially censoring nothing. That is creative life. It is made up of divine paradox. To create one must be willing to be stone stupid, to sit upon a throne on top of a jackass and spill rubies from one’s mouth. Then the river will flow, then we can stand in the stream of it raining down. (c) Q: The doors to the world of the wild Self are few but precious. If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if you have an old, old story, that is a door. If you love the sky and the water so much you almost cannot bear it, that is a door. If you yearn for a deeper life, a full life, a sane life, that is a door. (с) Q: A woman may crave to be near water, or be belly down, her face in the earth, smelling the wild smell. She might have to drive into the wind. She may have to plant something, pull things out of the ground or put them into the ground. She may have to knead and bake, rapt in dough up to her elbows. She may have to trek into the hills, leaping from rock to rock trying out her voice against the mountain. She may need hours of starry nights where the stars are like face powder spilt on a black marble floor. She may feel she will die if she doesn’t dance naked in a thunderstorm, sit in perfect silence, return home ink-stained, paint-stained, tear-stained, moon-stained. (c) Q: Practice listening to your intuition, your inner voice; ask questions; be curious; see what you see; hear what you hear; and then act upon what you know to be true. These intuitive powers were given to your soul at birth. (c) Q: It is good to have many personae, to make collections, sew up several, collect them as we go along in life. As we become older, with such a collection at our behest, we find we can portray any aspect of self most anytime we wish. However, at some point, most particularly as one grows into past mid-life and on into old age, one's personas shift and meld in mysterious ways. Eventually, there is a kind of 'meltdown', a loss of personae complete, thereby revealing what would, in its greatest light, be called 'the true self. (c) Q: Go out in the woods, go out. If you don't go out in the woods nothing will ever happen and your life will never begin. (c) Q: When the personal soul life is burnt to ashes, a woman loses the vital treasure ... In her unconscious, the desire for the red shoes, a wild joy, not only continues, it swells and floods ... (c) Q: You are born to one mother, but if you are lucky, you will have more than one. And among them all you will find most of what you need. (c) Q: I was an aesthete rather than an athlete, and my only wish was to be an ecstatic wanderer. (c) Q: I’ve not forgotten the song of those dark years, hambre del alma, the song of the starved soul. But neither have I forgotten the joyous canto hondo, the deep song, the words of which come back to us when we do the work of soulful reclamation. (c) Q: Healthy wolves and healthy women share certain psychic characteristics: keen sensing, playful spirit, and a heightened capacity for devotion. Wolves and women are relational by nature, inquiring, possessed of great endurance and strength. They are deeply intuitive, intensely concerned with their young, their mates, and their pack. They are experienced in adapting to constantly changing circumstances; they are fiercely stalwart and very brave. (c) 88 likes Like Comment Lauren (Shakespeare & Whisky) 256 reviews 462 followers March 29, 2017 “I hope you will go out and let stories, that is life, happen to you, and that you will work with these stories... water them with your blood and tears and your laughter till they bloom, till you yourself burst into bloom.” Three times in my life this book found its way into my greedy little hands at a time when I needed it most. Every woman should own a copy of this book. Women Who Run With the Wolves is a collection of short stories/ fairytales interspersed with commentary by the author. It sounds weird, perhaps a little too academic, maybe even a bit of a literary wank. It isn't. This book is the best "self help" book I have ever read. It takes really painful experiences, swallows them, then regurgitates them into metaphors and stories my heart could hear and respond to. It's hard to talk about this book without getting into really personal details about why it means so much to me. I'll use an example I'm comfortable sharing. When I was in rehab for drug addiction I struggled terribly. I was isolated, I hated having every aspect of my life controlled by staff, and worst of all I wasn't sure I would succeed- when I thought about never using again I was filled with a yawning horror. This was the second time Running with Wolves found me in need of nourishment. I had been in rehab for a month or two when someone dropped in my lap and said they thought I might like it. I can't begin to describe how soothing it was. The stories in Leg traps, Cages, and Poisoned Bait such as the girl with the red shoes taught me how to accept who I was and what I would become if I kept chasing relief in all the wrong places. It dealt with addiction in a way that allowed me to sidle up to it and get used to the idea before facing it head on. The Handless Maiden and The Girl with Golden Hair helped me acknowledge and honour the pain that had crippled me originally and led to my addiction. Sealskin/ Soulskin and La Llorona helped me to find myself again. I have been clean and sober for six years. It would be an exaggeration to say this book is the reason why, but it did help enormously. This isn't a book to be deliberately read. It is a book that you stumble across, a book that a friend lends to you in a time of need. It's a book my hand brushes against when I'm reaching for another. I pull it out, flick through the pages and decide it is time to read it again. I'm not a religious person, I don't believe in god. But when I read this book I feel spiritually connected to the world. I feel some inkling of the wonder and awe others feel when they commune with their god. If you haven't read this book yet, put on your shelf. You might stumble across it again when you most need it. 5-star-books favorites feminist-fiction ...more 77 likes Like Comment Alphekka 154 reviews 18 followers May 23, 2011 pfft. 73 likes Like Comment Dalia Nourelden 613 reviews 891 followers February 26, 2024 هذا الكتاب سيكون على ما اعتقد اطول واصعب كتاب قرأته لهذا العام ٢٠٢٠ ، الكتاب الحديث عنه ليس سهل ، ولا اقول انى استوعبته بالكامل كما انه من الكتب التى حين بدأتها لم أكن واثقة انى سأكمله وحين سألنى الاصدقاء عنه اخبرتهم بعدم ثقتى انى سأكمله وانى ربما اتركه .لكن الكاتبة والموضوع جذبنى وشعرت طوال الوقت ان هذا الكتاب لابد ان يقرأ وان يعاد طبعه .كنت كثيرا ما أكرر قراءة الجمل احيانا للاستيعاب واحيانا نتيجة الانبهار وده طول من وقت القراءة للكتاب . لن انكر انى احيانا شعرت بالملل لكن مقارنة بأوقات اعجابي واندماجي مع الكتاب فهى لحظات قليلة . الكتاب ليس بسيط لكنه ليس بذلك التعقيد الذى يجعلك لا تقراه هو يحتاج للتركيز والتأني فى القراءة ، وفى الغالب سأستعين بحديث الكاتبة نفسها . من هى الكاتبة؟ كلاريسا بنكولا، المؤلفة الأمريكية الجنسية ذات الأصول المكسيكية والإسبانية وكذلك المجرية بالتبني، أنفقت أكثر من عقدين من عمرها في إعداد هذا الكتاب وتجميع مادته. إن المؤلفة شاعرة وقصاصة تخصصت في الميثولوجيا وكرست من عمرها سنوات طويلة في جمع الأساطير التي تتناول المرأة قديماً. وربطت بين الميثولوجيا القديمة فيما يخص المرأة وعلم النفس الحديث، وتحديداً مدرسة التحليل النفسي لـ"يونج"، إذ إن المؤلفة تحمل درجة الدكتوراه في التحليل النفسي، كما مارست الطب النفسي في عيادتها كطبيبة، بالاستعانة بالأساطير والقصص والأحلام في العلاج النفسي للمرأة. فلنبدأ بعنوان الكتاب نساء يركضن مع الذئاب، الاتصال بقوى المراة الوحشية .. بداية فلنعرف ماذا تقصد الكاتبة هنا بالوحشية وحتى لايخونني او اخطأ التعبير سأستعين بمقدمة الكاتبة وتعريفها للوحشية : ماهي المرأة الوحشية ؟ هى روح الانثي ، بل اكثر من ذلك ، هى مصدر الأنوثة، انها كل ماهو فطرى في كلا العالمين الظاهر والباطن ، انها الاساس فنحن جميعا نأخذ منها الخلية النشطة التى تحوى كل الغرائز والمعارض التى نحتاج اليها في رحلة الحياة انها قوة الحياة.. انها الحاضنة ، هي البديهة ، هي النبوءة والوحي ،هى القلب الأمين . انها الافكار والمشاعر والدوافع والذاكرة. هى المنبع والضياء والليل والظلام وهى الفجر . الصوت الذي يصرخ فينا هذا هو الطريق هى التى تصرخ في وجه الظلم انها الجذور الراسخة لكل النساء . هي الاشياء التى تدفعنا للمواصلة ، حين نوقن اننا خلقنا من أجلها . هى العقل الذي يفكر بنا ونحن الافكار الاى ينسجها لكن قد نتسائل لماذا الركض مع الذئاب ؟ لماذا الذئاب تحديدا يتناول الكتاب مجموعة من الحكايات الشعبية والأساطير من مختلف الثقافات ويجري لها تحليلاً نفسياً وفك خيوطها لنفهم وندرك مايحدث ، بجانب حكايات من الكاتبة نفسها لذا فمن خلال الحكايات و الاساطير  تفسر لنا كلاريسا الكثير ، ليس من منطق مالدرس المستفاد من القصة لكن المعنى وماتخفيه كل تفصيله فيها و مزجه مع حياتنا بطريقة يصعب على وصفها او التعبير عنها ، والتحليل السيكولوجى لكل  حدث فى الحكاية او الاسطورة . بشكل مبسط لكنه ليس هو مافعلته الكاتبة بالظبط لكنها شبيهة بالاختبارات النفسية اللى بتفسر معنى اختياراتك. ‏ .هناك قول قديم : الجهل هو عدم معرفة أى شئ و الانجذاب نحو الخير .. البراءة هى معرفة كل شئ والاستمرار في الانجذاب نحو الخير من خلال ١٥ فصل وكل فصل يحتوى على حكاية او اسطورة اساسية ، وحكايات اخرى اثناء حديثها . بتتطرق لأكثر من موضوع وعوائق ومشاكل بتواجهنا . أحيانا يكون لجملة او قصيدة أو لقصة صدى عميق بالغ التأثير ، يجعلنا نتذكر للحظة على الأقل المادة التى يتكون منها نسيجنا الحقيقى وأين يقع موطننا الأصلى . وهو كتاب يخص الرجل أيضاً ويساعده على استكشاف الجانب الأنثوي في سيكولوجيته، وان يتعرف على المرأة. عن الحب والزواج ورسالة للرجل ليتعلم كيف ان تقبله لكل جوانب المرأة يساعد فى تقوية حبهم والعلاقة بينهم واستمرارها . كما أنه يساعد المرأة على أن تغوص إلى أعماق نفسها ، وتشجيعها على ان لا تستسلم وتعتنق قوتها ، ان تحافظ على وعيها وتقوى حدسها ، ان تحافظ وتقوى قوتها الابداعية والمشاعر الفياضةوقوة الحكم الصحيح على الامور .عن الامومة وانواع الامهات وتأثيرهم على مستقبل ولادهم . عن تقبل الذات وتطويرها . عن علاقتك بجسدك . عن الغضب و التعلم منه وتحويله لطاقة . عن استرجاع والحفاظ على ابداعنا حتى وان حاربنا المجتمع والآخرين من أجل الحفاظ على انفسنا هى تحاول ان تعطينا دفعة للامام ، لقتل الخوف لمحاربة الظلام ، لاستعادة نفوسنا من جديد ، لاستعادة قوتنا واحلامنا ، لقتل الوحوش التى تحاول سلبنا حريتنا وقتل افكارنا و كسر ارواحنا . حين لاتشعرين انك تنتمى لمحيطك وحين تكونين مختلفة يجب ان لاتتوقفي وتستسلمى بل تبحثى عن المكان الذى تنتمي له . هو كتاب للبنت وللأم والحبيبة والزوجة وللرجل ايضا ، هو كتاب عما نواجهه في الحياة وكيف نتغلب عليه . شعرت احيانا ان هناك جزء من اسلوب التنمية البشرية فى حديثها وانا لست من محبي هذه النوعية من الكتب  لذا عندى حساسية تجاه هذه ال��حاديث 😄 لكن هنا الامر مختلف والدليل انى احببت واكملت الكتاب 😉😃، لن انكر ان هناك اجزاء ضايقتنى واجزاء لم اتفق معها فيها او لم تقنعنى ، واجزاء لم افهمها او استوعبها جيدا . واجزاء جاءت مثلما يقال على الجرح بداخلى . .مالغذاء الأساسي للروح ؟ حسنا ، انه يختلف من مخلوق لآخر، لكن هناك بعض التركيبات .اعتبريها نباتات نفسية مطيلة للعمر . لبعض النساء يكون الهواء والمساء وضوء الشمس والأشجار هى الغذاء الضروري . لبعضهن تكون الكلمات والأوراق والكتب هى الأشياء الوحيدة التى تشبع . للأخريات اللون والشكل والظل والصلصال هى الأساسيات . بعض النساء يتحتم ان يثبن ويتقوسن ، لأن ارواحهن تتوق إلى الرقص .إلا ان الأخريات يحتجن فقط إلى سلام شجرة تنحني في وئام . الكتاب ده هيكون من الكتب اللى هحاول اقراها تانى بعد فترة ان شاء الله . وواضح ان السنادى ٢٠٢٠ هتبقى سنة  للكتب اللى مكنتش اتخيل انى لما هقراها هحبها واستمتع بيها والكتب اللى متخيلتش انى ممكن اكملها بس كملتها و حبيتها وطبعا فى شوية كتب مكملتهاش عادى برضه يعنى 😂 ٨ / ٩ / ٢٠٢٠ best-in-2020 favorites قراءات-٢٠٢٠ ...more 73 likes Like Comment Melody 680 reviews 8 followers June 9, 2017 To me, this book is a little like Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter . Sometimes she says something incredibly insightful, and then she starts talking about crumple-horned snorkacks. However, while I love Luna, I don't love this book. Not only that, but it seemed that while she was trying to mend centuries of women being put into a particular box that is damaging, she put them all into a different box. There were several times in the book that she said something like, "All women are ...." fill in the blank, and I don't think that all women are necessarily what she was describing. There are people that I love beyond all reason that would love this book. It just wasn't for me. read-2017 71 likes Like Comment Kylie Young 245 reviews 10 followers June 19, 2017 WORST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ She says, quite negatively, that women were once only considered to be kept as fallow gardens, yet in the next pages she states that she's only felt like she was a wild woman when she was a mother. Again, I felt she was just reinforcing the belief that women are still just "fallow gardens." Contradictory to the notion she was trying to convey that women are more than just a womb. Does the author need help? I feel like these are the scratchings of a crazy person. It was so non sensical, rambling and repetitive that I found it absurd and ridiculous. I was surprised to read that the author has a PHd and is a psychoanalyst... I guess she would have passed the bit where you over analyse everything - which I guess she did well, although terribly. It's so badly written and boring also. My mind is very open, I am very spiritual and I have walked the hard path, however this is just nonsense. I thought this would be a collation of stories written by inspiring women, however they were just ramblings of the authors, with no logical direction or factual references. On page 57 it says; "the young woman summons her psychic brothers. What do these represent in a woman's psyche? They are the more muscled, more naturally aggressive propellants of the psyche." What a huge contradiction to the meaning of this book. The book is supposed to be an ode to women and their naturally strong 'wild woman' instincts. Inspiring confidence in its female readers. Encouraging our do it yourself/we can do anything attitude. Yet she continued to stay with the women are the weaker sex stereotype. The entire book is just explaining what a wild woman is "she is .. she is .. she is..." ok get on with it. This is not how you write a book. It reminds me of grade 1 homework I once did. We had to write as many pages as possible in our diaries, explaining what we did on the weekend; instead I took this as an opportunity to suck up to my teacher and filled the pages by writing "I really like Mrs. ... I like her very very very very very (x3 pages of this) much. That was a better story than this. As a woman and a feminist, she tried in her words to describe what a woman is. I feel she has a very singular view of women. I feel we are neither that complicated or that simplified. I say complicated because this book is very confusing. And I say simplified, as she quite often pigeon holed women as purely mothers, wives and caregivers. Yes we are those things, but some of us aren't and some of us are also maternal, yet happy not to be mothers. We are strong without another's acceptance. We are beautiful without another's appreciation. There was just too much stereotyping and judging going on here. I don't understand anyone who could like this book but I guess I could have misinterpreted the whole book (I don't think so though). I was massively disappointed in this book, as I have been waiting to read this for so long, yet quite frankly, it is the worst book I have ever read - not kidding. 64 likes Like Comment Sine 344 reviews 388 followers December 9, 2018 dün gece uykuyla uyanıklık arasında bitirince beş yıldızı verip bırakmışım. 10 aydır okuyorum, iki cümle yazmazsam ayıp. aslında bu kitabı okuyabilmek, biraz akademik okuma alışkanlığı ile bağlantılı. içeriğinin kurgusal olmamasının yanında, ders gibi bir kitap olduğundan; ders çalışma, ders için okuma, makale okuma gibi alışkanlıklarınızın taze olduğu bir dönemde okursanız çok daha hızlı okuyabilirsiniz. zira ders gibi ama sıkıcı değil, gayet akıcı ve bildiğiniz bir şeyi okusanız bile oldukça keyifli -ki bu kitapta yazan her şeyi "biliyor" olmanız da pek mümkün değil zaten. ufuk açıcı bir kitap. update yaparken yazdığım gibi, kırmızı ayakkabılar masalının geçtiği bölüm çok güzeldi; hala da favorim o. ama bu asla sabit değil bence. zira bu kitabı okudum, bitirdim diye rafa kaldırıp unutmak pek mümkün değil. sürekli açıp açıp rastgele bölümleri okuyabilir, özellikle zor zamanlarda bir rehber gibi kullanabilirsiniz. dolayısıyla okurun yaşı ilerledikçe, tecrübeleri çoğaldıkça zevk aldığı bölümün de değişeceği kanısındayım. velhasıl zor oldu ama asla pişman değilim okuduğuma. herkesin, tamamını olmasa bile, okuması gerektiğini düşündüğüm kitaplardan biri oldu. 2018-bizimbuyukchallengeimiz 65 likes 1 comment Like Comment Clelixedda 94 reviews 14 followers December 31, 2018 Sooo many words to not really say a lot of things. This book was definitely not written for me. First of all, I think it’s remarkably tedious to read. It’s full of enumerations, repetitions and random Spanish or German words (which are then translated - every single time, even after the 500th instance) that do not enforce, but cloud the message the author wants to convey. Second, I was very annoyed that most “messages” were covered in more metaphors than her stories. It felt like reading a horoscope - everyone can interpret her interpretations in a way that fits them. Also, her insistence on women being “creative creatures” that love to paint, sculpt and write (her favourite examples) felt sexist to me. I know a lot if women who would not identify as “the creative type”, and they have not “lost touch” with their psyche - they just do not fit in that tiny, neat little box this book provides. books-read-in-english non-fiction our-shared-shelf 51 likes 1 comment Like Comment هدى يحيى Author 10 books 17.2k followers Read February 19, 2018 على قائمة الإنتظار حتى يسمح المزاج معرفش ليه طول مانا فاتحة الكتاب أوبرا كارمن في وداني خصوصاً الجزء ده وضحكة كارمن مسيطرة ع الموقف :D:D نوع من التمرد الممتع ربما :P"/> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lspRhX... psychology spirituality waiting ...more 50 likes Like Comment Krystal 1,941 reviews 423 followers June 19, 2019 This is the longest it's ever taken me to read something I've enjoyed so thoroughly. I had to take regular pauses because it's so dense, and if my heart wasn't in it I read something else instead rather than risk missing bits through lack of attention. Imagine Wonder Woman gave birth to a girl who was even more badass than her mother and was raised by wolves. And her sole goal in life was to tell stories to women to inspire them to be just as badass and basically wreak femininely havoc on the world. It is not an easy read. The language is fancy and elaborate (I'm pretty sure she made a ton of words up but I'm okay with that) and the material is so rich that every sentence is a loaded one. There are themes that will make you feel uncomfortable, and if you're a bit cynical there'll probably be a lot of eye-rolling. But if you approach this with an open heart and mind, I promise you will get so much out of it. This book is like a fluffy wolf cub that you wanna cuddle coz it looks so cute and friendly but then when you go to stroke its furry little head it's face launches towards you and you feel the searing pain of teeth in your hand as it rips a chunk out of you. And you wanna get mad at it but then it looks all cute and starts licking the wound and you kind of just think, well, it is a wolf cub, after all ... I love myths and legends. I love how stories from the past and from different cultures can teach us so much about our present-day lives. To see them so thoroughly explored here was absolutely fascinating. Each story is delivered then followed up with a chapter that divulges how the story can represent a facet of the female psyche. Familiar stories like Bluebeard and The Ugly Duckling took on new meaning. I love symbolism, and when the dots were connected I could see the new picture quite clearly. There were so many times I picked up this book only to find the next portion I read directly related to a current aspect of my life. I've never considered myself to be a feminist, so parts of this did make me feel a bit awkward. But it also allowed me to understand a bit about that awkwardness. It is an incredibly empowering book, and I do certainly feel more comfortable in my feminine presence. I'm a woman, yo. I am a strong, beautiful, wild creature that cannot be contained by the rules and regulations of a rigid society. *flexes* That being said, I do wonder how this would be received by non-traditional genders. (Forgive me if that's an offensive term, I am consciously incompetent on the subject). I really appreciate that it inspires women to be badass and embrace their wild woman, but I wonder if that means it will be less relevant to non-female readers? BE WARNED: This book may make you want to strip naked and dance under the moonlight. It may make you want to sell everything you own and journey out into the wild world with nothing but the clothes on your back. It may make you want to quit your job, bathe in the ocean, practice witchcraft, or howl at the moon. It may awaken your soul in unexpected ways. It may also have you scratching your head wondering what the heck is going on. If that's the case, put it down. Give yourself time to grow. Pick it up again when you feel a little more open to new ideas. Honestly this is such a wonderful, empowering book and I cannot recommend it highly enough to woman looking for strength, growth and just that little something that might be missing in life. faves non-fiction owned ...more 45 likes Like Comment Caterina 1,037 reviews 35 followers August 6, 2023 İKİNCİ OKUMA EDİTİ: Türkçe çevirideki bazı sıkıntılar yüzünden sıksık ingilizce edisyona müracat etme ihtiyacı hissettim. 14. Hikaye, Yeraltı Ormanında Erginlenme'yi okurken çok zorlandım. Sanırım o hikayeyi sakin bir kafa ve dingin bir ruh hali ile yeniden okumam gerekecek. İlk okumamda şarap gibi bir kitap demiştim. Fikrim hala aynı, hayatın her döneminde okunan zamana göre yeni farkındalıklar yaratacak bir eser. Bu okumamda kadın yerine "insan" diye düşünsek nasıl olurdu diye düşündüm mesela... İkinci ama son değil... Bir sonraki okuma zamanı gelene kadar şimdilik virgül. Bazı yerlerde tıkandığımı hissetsem de belirli bir zaman geçtikten sonra yeniden okumak niyetindeyim. İkinci okumamda farklı yerlerin dikkatimi çekeceğine eminim. Şarap gibi bir kitap velhasıl, okudukça yeni ufuklara yelken açabileceğiniz .. bookshelf e-book kobo ...more 50 likes Like Comment Saadiah 17 reviews 5 followers June 22, 2007 Juicy and satisfying, this book is for any woman who feels an urge to connect with wild and ancient concepts of what it means to be female: messy, raw, and full of luminously passionate creative energy. If this book doesn't make you want to howl out loud, I'm not sure what will! 49 likes Like Comment kate 234 reviews 17 followers April 4, 2009 I have read this book a few times. I pick it up from time to time to look over a chapter of this or that - it affected the way I think about other fables and even the movies. I am half convinced that the end of the Wedding Crashers is really about two healthy psyches driving away together into the future, married to themselves. I was rereading this book about the same time I saw that movie. Any woman who is interested in empowering herself will be inspired. It is a jungian read on the darkest version of popular folk tales and fairy tales. for me, that made it very accessible. Some chapters resonated deeply, others not so much - I think it would be different for each individual reader. This is not the easiest book to get into or read, but someone recommended I skip the first three chapters. Once I tried that, I dived right into the book and, reading some chapters, every page turned revealed some piece of knowledge I had been trying to grasp on my own. I read this book at a time of great searching within myself for answers, and if you are at that kind of a point in your life, I would recommend it. 45 likes Like Comment Leila 442 reviews 228 followers March 31, 2018 This is a fabulous book of almost 500 pages. It is described as..."Myths and Stories of the Wild Women Archetype. Written by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph. D. It is a gift of profound wisdom and love. It is...'Full of wonderful passionate, poetic, psychologically potent words and images that will inspire, instruct, and empower women to be true to their own nature........ These are not my words but just a few of many on the back cover. It is almost like a bible and not an easy read but certainly worth dipping into now and then. a-dipping-into-book-of-wisdom my-challenge-books my-wow-books ...more 38 likes Like Comment Ksenia Anske Author 10 books 634 followers November 7, 2016 If I could buy this book for every woman in the world, I would. This book will become your mother when you need a mother and there isn't one around. Hell, it will be a mother you've never had. A mother of all mothers, from the birth of time. And a heart that will keep you alight when you think you're surrounded by darkness that blinds you, suffocates you, destroys you. A book every woman needs to read, if only to know she's not alone but standing on the bones of all the other women who died for her so she could keep blazing her path, to make it easier for the women who'll come after her, our daughters. favorites 37 likes Like Comment Maria Espadinha 1,063 reviews 444 followers May 27, 2022 A Mulher Intuitiva A Vida confronta-nos constantemente com escolhas desafiantes. Escutamos conselhos e opiniões, pensamos, repensamos... as dúvidas multiplicam-se, a ansiedade instala-se... À posteriori, todo esse processo redundará num de dois resultados prováveis: ou duvidamos penosamente da decisão tomada, ou permanecemos incapazes de decidir!... E porquê? Porque, face aos problemas que enfrentamos socorremo-nos apenas da mente. Esta analisa prós e contras, adiantando possíveis soluções. Porém, é a intuição que escolhe. E é essa voz, esse guia interior, que somos incapazes de escutar, ao permanecermos indefinidamente conectadas com a mente. Amordaçámos a Mulher Intuitiva. Este livro propõe-se retirar-lhe a mordaça!!! 👍🌟🌟🌟🌟 37 likes Like Comment Mum 32 reviews 6 followers March 25, 2007 I learned a lot from this book. The big ideas for me were: 1. "even if the mother vine is damaged, it doesn't mean her children are" and 2. "it will never hurt you to go after something you want or something that is calling to you" The books is sort of a slow-read, but I find the author generous and familiar and enjoyed the way she reconstructed women's psychology through myth. It's good to have new (complete?) stories in my mind as well. 38 likes Like Comment foteini_dl 482 reviews 139 followers February 7, 2024 -Σου άρεσε αυτό το βιβλίο με τις γυναίκες και τους λύκους; -Κοίτα, θα σου γράψω 2 αποσπάσματα. "Κι εμείς γινόμαστε οι παραπόταμοί της, οι λεκάνες απορροής. Είμαστε οι λίμνες και οι λιμνούλες, τα ρέματα και τα άδυτα". Α, και "Υπάρχουν εντροπίας δημιουργίες που αποτελούν σταθερά τμήματα του εσωτερικού μας κόσμου, και είναι καθήκον μας να συγχρονιζόμαστε με αυτά". Για να μην πω που βαρέθηκα να βλέπω την ψυχή γραμμένη με Ψ κεφάλαιο. -Κάτι μου λέει ότι δεν σου άρεσε. -ΚΑΛΑ, ΠΩΣ ΤΟ ΚΑΤΑΛΑΒΕΣ; Παιδιά, για όνομα. Κάτι τέτοια είναι η απόδειξη που πολλοί, εμού συμπεριλαμβανομένης, κοιτάμε με δυσπιστία κάποιους που δηλώνουν ψυχαναλυτές. Λάθος, "φύλακας παλιών ιστοριών", ψυχαναλύτρια και ακτιβίστρια. Η Εστές γράφει για την Άγρια Γυναίκα (προφανώς κεφαλαία, duh), δεν έχω καταλάβει τι σημαίνει αυτό μα την Παναγία, αλλά απορώ που υποκλίνονται πολλοί που δηλώνουν φεμινιστές (βάλ'το το σε όποιο φύλο θες). Βέβαια, δεν φταίει κανένας, εγώ φταίω (που έχασα τον χρόνο μου διαβάζοντας μόνο τις ιστορίες και 2 από τις αναλύσεις αυτών). Και μόνο η φράση "Αρχέτυπο της Άγριας Γυναίκας" θα έπρεπε να είναι ντιπ για ντιπ red flag για μένα. Λίγο το εξώφυλλο, λίγο το ότι δεν πρέπει να επιλέγουμε βιβλία με 40+ βαθμούς, ορίστε. Ας πούμε ότι το καλοκαίρι κάποιες δεν έχουν κάνει λάθος επιλογές μόνο με γκόμενους, αλλά και με βιβλία. Υγ.: Δώσε ρε Goodreads επιλογές για μισά αστεράκια, να βρούμε την υγειά μας. non-fiction 36 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,942 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 570 quotes 45 discussions 14 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. 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Bound (Turning Moon, #1) by Julie Embleton | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Turning Moon #1 Bound Julie Embleton 4.10 281 ratings 65 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Would you sacrifice love to stay alive? Nyah’s wolf has been bound by dark magic. Defenceless and terrified she finds sanctuary on the run, but choosing to live demands an impossible price. The new Alpha of Nyah Morgan’s pack has aligned with dark forces, and his plans for Nyah break the most absolute of Lycan Laws. With her entire pack under his thrall, and her own wolf maimed by his magic, she turns rogue, her incapacity landing her in unfamiliar Lycan territory where she catches the unwanted attention of Dean Carson, an Alpha determined to learn the truth she hides. With her crazed Alpha closing in and the safety of another pack at stake, Nyah is forced into making a choice. Her bound wolf is killing her, both Alphas can save her, but which one, and at what cost? Now available in Audio! Genres Shapeshifters Urban Fantasy Paranormal Science Fiction Fantasy Paranormal Romance ebook First published January 1, 2012 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Julie Embleton 19 books 68 followers Julie Embleton is a paranormal fantasy author from Dublin, Ireland. She writes tenacious, kick-ass females who can rescue themselves, thanks very much, gutsy heroes with tender hearts, and heinous villains who thrive on chaos. Her stories weave suspense, romance, and magick, mostly with happy endings, but she does enjoy leaving her readers hanging with the occasional cliffhanger. Julie lives by the shores of the moody Irish Sea, and when not writing, can be found with her second great love; tarot. Her Me-Time typically includes reading, enjoying the outdoors, or watching Turkish soap operas. Want to be the first to hear about new releases, giveaways, and exclusive sneak peeks? Sign up to Julie’s newsletter by visiting www.julieembleton.com Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.10 281 ratings 65 reviews 5 stars 125 (44%) 4 stars 80 (28%) 3 stars 61 (21%) 2 stars 10 (3%) 1 star 5 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews Kat Author 11 books 530 followers April 18, 2022 I really enjoyed this shifter paranormal romance. Nyah is the daughter of the Alpha. Her father passes away just before the book starts and we see her wolf pack go into a period of transition. One thing I really loved about BOUND was the way the author developed the world building and pack structure so thoroughly. An Alpha is chosen to replace Nyah’s father… but when he is killed in an accident, because of an arcane law, Simon Northfell, a wolf who has been away from the pack for many years, and who no one likes, who had challenged for the position of Alpha, automatically becomes Alpha. The scenes between Nyah and Simon were creepy and well written. As Simon uses black magic to take over the pack and force them to do his bidding, Nyah escapes, eventually finding Dean’s pack. I liked how the relationship was developed between Nyah and Dean, how it took time for trust to form. I’m really excited to see where the rest of the series will go! kindle-unlimited 23 likes Like Comment Caitlin 342 reviews 2,808 followers July 13, 2023 I miss reading werewolf wattpad books 18 likes Like Comment Julia Blake Author 18 books 174 followers February 14, 2020 I really didn’t think I was going to like this book. Being less fond of the whole werewolf trope than I am even of the vampire one, I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it. Focusing evenly on the personalities and conflicts of the actual human side of the characters, rather than only their wolf personas, meant this was a balanced and interesting read. Well written, the plot was nicely paced and jogged along at an enjoyable rate with shocks and surprises interspersed with touching moments of intimacy between the main character and her friends, and it was these unexpected plot twists that kept me reading. I really felt for the main character, associating with her rising sense of panic and fear as her life falls apart and she’s left with no choice but to desperately plan her escape. There was some romance, but not as much as I assumed there was going to be, and what there was fitted into the plot and was appropriate and, more importantly, wasn’t the main focus of the plot, no, this book’s main strength is the heroine’s sense of hopelessness and helplessness. It would have totally overwhelmed a weaker person, but she is made of stronger stuff than that and fights back, with us, the reader, cheering her on all the way. All in all, an exciting and heartfelt read that both thrills and entertains and has made me already buy the next two books in the series. 5 likes Like Comment Becky Wright Author 7 books 153 followers September 9, 2022 BOUND by Julie Embleton is the first book in the Turning Moon series. I read the kindle, and then when the audiobook version narrated by Elyse Osterhaug was released, I had great joy listening too. While grieving the loss of her father, Alpha Morgan, the feisty heroine Nyah is drawn into a cat 'n' mouse game of survival from an unwanted intrusion; a wolf who has aligned himself with evil forces and threatens the existence of their wolfpack. Firstly, I have to say that this was far removed from my normal genre; I don't usually read werewolf fiction. But let me tell you... A brilliant, well-written story with great characters stands firm no matter what genre. I think I went into this thinking it would be fuelled by romance, and whilst there is romance, BOUND is far more a well-rounded thriller and gripping adventure. I loved it. I read and then listened to this as if watching it on the big screen. The scenes were vivid, with great dialogue from believable characters, and the landscape is richly described to draw you into Nyah's story. Highly recommended. 4 likes Like Comment Ruth Miranda 284 reviews 57 followers August 31, 2019 I was expecting a simple shifter story with a bit of hot romance thrown in. Lo and behold, the concept surprised me, as it was not simple at all. Dark sorcery in order to compell and control werewolves' packs? I'm in. The main character Nya was relatable, her struggles too, and the romance bit was rather heart-warming. All in all, if you're a fan of paranormal and werewolves, this is one book you'll want to read! 3 likes Like Comment Jessica Cantwell Author 5 books 32 followers February 15, 2021 Turned me into a werewolf fan! I can’t say enough good things about this book! I picked it up and could not put it down. I ended up blowing through this in two days. I am not a fast reader so when I devour a book like this it means it was absolutely amazing! What Twilight and True Blood did for vampires, Bound does for werewolf’s. HBO, Netflix - you need to get on this! I will be honest, I was never into werewolf’s - until now! 3 likes Like Comment Caroline Noe Author 7 books 74 followers February 10, 2019 Nyah mourns the loss of her Alpha father, but a worse ordeal is to come in the terrifying person  of Simon Northfell. This was a fabulous pageturner with a great premise, a feisty heroine and a lovely sense of community in the wolfpacks. The central romance had me rooting for both, whilst the villain and his mind control was truly creepy. And who wouldn't love Alpha Dean. Highly recommended. 3 likes Like Comment T.L. Brown Author 5 books 77 followers May 9, 2022 I Devoured This Exceptional Book I sat down late on a Thursday evening to start reading “Bound” (Turning Moon Book 1) by Julie Embleton . I thought, I’ll read a couple of chapters, then really dive in on the weekend. When my Kindle indicated I was 75% of the way through the ebook, I stopped reading – and ONLY because it was quarter after midnight. Friday evening, I finished the rest of this wholly original and spellbinding book. “Bound” left me breathless! Embleton’s writing is superb. I’ve read book after book using the same wording over and over to set a scene. And of course, simplicity is fine and many of those books were very good. But when an author as talented as Embleton purposefully puts the setting into our brains using phrasing like: “Bare limbs clacked overhead, the sound too close to rattling bones for Nyah’s comfort…” – we are no longer reading a good book. We are experiencing art. Author Julie Embleton is an artist. Throughout this novel you will find examples of her creative prose. Read this favorite snippet of mine: Black droplets of molasses-like liquid oozed between the fingers of the clenched fist. They snaked over the pale, porcelain skin, worming their way to the edge where they gathered in a dropping glob before snapping free and falling… I can see it - almost in slow motion, like time itself has stopped. You will also enjoy Embleton’s subtle humor, expressed by her protagonist, Nyah Morgan, in snippets like: “I’ll never forget you,” she whispered to the comfy couch, patting its arm as she stuck her feet into her boots. “But last night was just a one-time thing.” It’s the little details that round out the author’s main character in these quieter scenes. But early on in “Bound” we learn all is not peaceful in Nyah’s world. No, following the loss of a family member and a dear friend (and protector), Nyah is at the mercy of a truly vile Alpha leader of the wolf pack to which she belongs. This despicable counterpoint to Nyah’s own highly-principled self is one of the most frightening characters I’ve met (on the page) in a long time. Embleton’s imprisonment of Nyah’s consciousness in her own body was terrifyingly brilliant. Reading this passage actually made me feel claustrophobic. Embleton effortlessly conveyed her main character’s helplessness. The desperation felt through Nyah’s experience is heightened at the additional magical punishment dealt to her by the evil Alpha’s decree. She is also cut off from the love and safety of her friends. She witnesses the devastation tearing through her pack. And then, fate? Good fortune? Another pack’s Alpha might deliver help – and this brings the reader hope. Embleton gives us something to hang onto during Nyah’s grim journey. We put our hands to our chests, we’re able to catch our breath. And then we get to peek at this epic story through another POV (just a little): the honorable Alpha of the other pack. I share the above (the dark and the light) because I want to celebrate Embleton’s pacing of this storyline. She does not rush, and she does not allow things to drag along either. She has masterfully plotted this storyline so that the reader never stops and questions how it all is playing out on the page. You will never need to “reread something” to understand what is happening, nor will you ever want to skip ahead to get to the “good stuff.” Because it’s all great stuff. I love how Embleton chose to create a strong main character who is not invincible. In a fantasy tale such as this, readers are already suspending disbelief. I tire of some protagonists who never stop kicking butt, who never fail or lose. Yes, this is a dark fantasy, and it’s a believable one. At times I read “Bound” with warm smile – there is a poignant flashback scene to Nyah’s friend Alan adding his name to her family tree when they were seven so she wouldn’t be alone. Other times I read pages through wet eyes, my heart breaking at the loss experienced by more than one character. Sometimes I held my breath. Through it all, I loved this book. I devoured this book. The ending is completely satisfying. Sure, things will never be the way they were, but this novel had a beginning, a great story throughout, and a proper ending. And another book in the series is ready to pick up the tale: “ Released ” (Turning Moon Book 2). I’ve already started it. A huge applause for this exceptional work of art from author Julie Embleton! Ms. Embleton, you have written an extraordinary book – I can’t wait to find out what happens next in this series. 2 likes Like Comment Barbara Lennox Author 6 books 22 followers April 2, 2022 The first part of a justifiably popular series and a fantastic introduction to the world of werewolves. I’d always been a bit wary of werewolf fiction but I loved the culture of these particular werewolves. They are charming, honourable, ruled by the law, strong but not mis-using their strength, sensitive to the world in which they live, and apart from but not despising the lives of non-shifting humans. The characters themselves were very compelling. The author has the rare talent of creating characters about whom the reader immediately cares. This applied not only to the main characters in this particular story, but to more minor characters. For example, the werewolf Michael plays a small but important role in this book but by the end I was worried about what was going to happen to him and delighted to find that he’s the main character in the next book of the series. The story itself starts off slowly as we get to know about the world of the wolves and what threatens their ordered existence, but once the scene is set the story takes off at a cracking pace, and I read the whole book in two nights, frantically turning pages to find out if the main character, Nyah, would manage to escape from her arch-enemy and the fate he plans for her. She reluctantly accepts the help of the leader of another pack who is very much a love interest. I adored the interaction between these two extremely stubborn and determined characters, and the villain in the plot is suitably evil and controlling. If you like fast-paced werewolf fiction with feisty women, well-muscled but respectful heroes and evil unredeemable villains, then this is the book (and series) for you. reviewed-books 2 likes Like Comment Ian Hornett Author 8 books 23 followers October 18, 2021 ‘Bound’ is the first book in the ‘Turning Moon’ series. I am very pleased that there are at least 3 more already out, and hopefully others to come. The premise is good: Nyah’s inner werewolf is bound by the dark magic of the Alpha male who takes control of her and the people she cares about in her pack. She has to escape, but in so doing she endangers the lives of another pack and its own alpha male who is obligated and determined to protect her. The resulting conflict within herself and with those who want to help builds and builds into a climax that kept me anchored in my seat, right until the last page. I liked the idea of packs of werewolves living ‘normal’ human lives but always strongly connected to their inner werewolf. A harmonious relationship, yet always aware the wolf could spring out of control at any time. That tension gave the story an edge to a compelling plot which rolls along at great pace as Nyah struggles to survive while trying to avoid putting others in danger. Add to that hints of the existence of other dark creatures and you have yourself a book which makes it impossible to stop at book 1. So I won’t. 2 likes Like Comment Jennifer Rose 497 reviews 24 followers February 18, 2021 Wow, where has this book been the whole time? I have never heard of it! I wish I would have because this book was absolutely phenomenal. The book starts out rather sad with Nyah's father who was the pack leader who had passed and now Nyah is the new pack leader. This is a rather common transfer of power as one would expect from any paranormal book. However, someone wielding magic enthralls the entire pack and no one can escape their clutches. I really didn't like Simon one bit (which I'm guessing that was the whole point being evil and such). When Nyah got away she was in an enemy pack's territory when she runs into Dean Carson. Dean automatically wants to know who Nyah really is and she doesn't want to tell him because if she does it will put his pack in danger. Their romance is absolutely sweet and breathtaking and I really enjoyed their interactions and connection. I can't wait to continue this series, which I believe is a trilogy. I also am a sucker for the whole "mates" trope and you give me that and I am all in for any paranormal book! 2 likes Like Comment Helen Garraway Author 15 books 267 followers January 18, 2023 An excellent fantasy wolf shifter adventure with black magic and demons thrown in for good measure. Embleton has created a range of wonderful characters whom drive the plot forward as they desperately search for a way to survive and save their pack. I loved Nyah. Feisty, determined, lovable and prepared to sacrifice her life for those she loves, and up against a dark horror no one can defeat. Embleton keeps the tension high as we follow Nyah fleeing for her life and trying not to draw trouble down on other innocents. I love that Embleton didn't take the easy option at the beginning and draws us into the new alphas nefarious plans. Stumbling though the world with her wolf instincts bound by dark magic, Nyah accidentally ventures into another packs territory. Dean, the packs alpha is another wonderful character we all happily fall in love with. The banter between the two, and Nyah's reactions are brilliantly portrayed and very well written. You are drawn into the troubles of all the pack members, and even the minor characters are well fleshed out, and sympathetic so you are rooting for them as well. A fast paced, easy to read, thrilling adventure which will keep you hooked thoughout. I can't wait to read the rest of the series. fantasy indie paranormal 2 likes Like Comment Ellen Read Author 20 books 94 followers June 21, 2021 Having only read one other book about werewolves, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I wanted to try something different, and I wasn’t disappointed. The author weaves a very believable Lycan world in amongst of own, setting a good pace with action and surprises mingling with the growing feelings of love and terror of the main protagonists. I found the characters easily relatable. I wondered if I would, but I loved Naya’s story and that of the other strong werewolves. This is definitely a 5 Star read. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series. 2 likes Like Comment Rachel Stanley Author 4 books 27 followers April 16, 2021 Bound by Julie Embleton was SO good that I've already started the second in the series. It's about Nyah, a werewolf woman who's grieving the loss of her father, her pack's alpha, when all hell breaks loose. The pack is (eventually) taken over by Simon, who clearly has nefarious plans. However, only Nyah seems willing to stand up to him! Eventually Nyah runs away, straight into the arms of her mate, who she must also run away from if she doesn't want his life to be put in harms way along with hers. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I did find it a little slow to get started but from chapter 8 onwards I literally couldn't put it down. I enjoy werewolf stories anyway but they can be a little samey. This one, however, was unique with an interesting story line. Book two is already proving to be as enjoyable! 2 likes Like Comment Linda Lou 354 reviews 13 followers February 17, 2020 Bound goes from 0 to 100+ mph in the first few chapters and by chapter six all hell breaks loose, leaving the Blackwater Ridge Pack in utter turmoil. Nyah is trying to adjust to all of the changes following the death of her Alpha father; but nothing could prepare her for what happens. A dark and sinister cloud of dark magic has taken over the pack. Julie Embleton is a master world builder. She built this lycan world amidst a human one...hiding in plain sight. Then she threw in this demonic one summoned by Northfell, hell bent on a collision course and almost destroyed everything. The world building is phenomenal in Bound and is most certainly this author’s strength. Nyah is a strong and intelligent female character. She manages to escape the plans that Northfell had for her with careful planning, guts, ingenuity and luck. She is a badassery woman minus the magic. So, just move over, Aelin! And Dean! I just love this “mate” thing. I know, a bit “fairytalish” but it so gives me such a warm fuzzy. I have read all three books in the Turning Moon Series back to back and they are three different stories; but are related much like a tree. Bound is the trunk with Release and Haunted as branches. That being said, the characters are intertwined which helps keep the stories grounded. I think, perhaps, there may be one more story to tell. I sure hope so! By the way, all three books are ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ That, fellow readers, is a plus and hard to beat! 2 likes Like Comment Becky Wright Author 7 books 153 followers August 17, 2022 BOUND by Julie Embleton is the first book in the Turning Moon series. I read the kindle, and then when the audiobook version narrated by Elyse Osterhaug was released, I had great joy listening too. While grieving the loss of her father, Alpha Morgan, the feisty heroine Nyah is drawn into a cat 'n' mouse game of survival from an unwanted intrusion; a wolf who has aligned himself with evil forces and threatens the existence of their wolfpack. Firstly, I have to say that this was far removed from my normal genre; I don't usually read werewolf fiction. But let me tell you... A brilliant, well-written story with great characters stands firm no matter what genre. I think I went into this thinking it would be fuelled by romance, and whilst there is romance, BOUND is far more a well-rounded thriller and gripping adventure. I loved it. I read and then listened to this as if watching it on the big screen. The scenes were vivid, with great dialogue from believable characters, and the landscape is richly described to draw you into Nyah's story. Highly recommended. audiobooks 2 likes Like Comment Nannette Kreitzman Author 36 books 51 followers December 19, 2019 Loved it! I’m a sucker for a “will they or won’t they” romance, and Bound is that and so much more! This story is well written with just the right amount of suspense and intrigue, all with a realistic backdrop of modern day werewolf society. A great read! 2 likes Like Comment Sandra Damiani 79 reviews 5 followers June 25, 2022 Bound is a paranormal romance novel that pulls the readers into the world of werewolves. Nyah is the daughter of an alpha male whose bloodline is sought after by other alpha males. However, Nyan has other plans. I especially liked Nyan’s determination to save her pack and find her soul mate. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. 1 like Like Comment Julia Scott Author 7 books 54 followers September 29, 2019 A real page turner. It always takes me a while to get into books but I was compelled by Nyah's character and the action starts so early on that I just kept on reading and reading and reading! I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to the others. 1 like Like Comment Julia DeBarrioz Author 6 books 52 followers October 31, 2020 I've found my new favourite shifter series! I thoroughly enjoyed Bound by Julie Embleton, once I started it I couldn't put it down. It is filled with characters you wil love, and love to hate. The villain was just. So. EVIL! . Nyah, the main heroine, is a pistol. The daughter of the recently deceased Alpha, she is kind and caring for her pack, but she also isn't one to just lay down for evil to take over. Which is exactly what happens when the unwelcome lone wolf Simon shows up, acting like he owns the place, looking to become the next Alpha. He has wicked plans for Nyah, but she manages to thwart him with her strength of will and escapes by thinking fast on her feat--and I adored her for it. Seriously. Her ingenuity impressed me. . Enter Dean, the dreamy Alpha of the territory next door, who is determined to help Nyah, whether she likes it or not.🔥🔥😂 . I liked the world building here, the pack structure and politics, the way the werewolves interacted with each other. It read as very believable, which maybe is a silly thing to say about a fantasy series, LOL, but it really made sense. Ms. Embleton has clearly done her research as to how real wolves interact, and spun it into a world I didn't want to leave. :) . This book was funny, well written, and the ending was perfect! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! 1 like Like Comment Bruce Spydar Author 9 books 37 followers February 2, 2021 If you are a fan of fantasies, you are bound to like this one! Having discovered this author on Instagram, I had been meaning to read one of her books for some time. While werewolf stories are not something I am naturally drawn to, I decided to give this one a try, and was pleased that I did. Bound is a wonderful tale of good versus evil, power struggle, dark magic, love and sacrifice. Simon Northfell is a beautifully painted villain, who you’ll despise right from the start. In contrast, Nyah, the main character, has you rooting for her from the start. The author has cleverly woven the plot in a way that makes you think you know what will happen next, but you are never quite sure. It also has a well-constructed climax that doesn’t leave you dangling and frustrated, while also setting the scene for the next book. This is an enjoyable page-turner, and if you are a fan of fantasies, you are bound to like this one! 1 like Like Comment Linda Ganzini Author 1 book 38 followers December 17, 2021 “Bound,” the first book in the Turning Moon series, is the first paranormal shifter novel I have read. I blew through this full-on page-turning werewolf adventure in one sitting! “Bound” is well-written, gripping, and visual with great characters and world-building—it rolled out in my mind like a good Netflix film. The many plot twists kept me flipping pages, as did the unexpected love story that kept me hooked until the end. The main character, Nyah, was strong, stubborn, and feisty like me—I loved her. “Bound” is an entertaining tale of the battle between the forces of evil, the power of love, and what you’re willing to sacrifice to protect the ones you love. Kudos to a fantastic fantasy and five-star read. 1 like Like Comment Sherry Ross Author 4 books 32 followers October 5, 2020 BOUND, by Julie Embleton, is book one in her Turning Moon Series. She has built her world so well, a lycan world (which means werewolves), that even though I have little experience in reading about lycans, I was fully into the story in no time. This book both explains lycan society well while throwing you into the heart of conflict and action almost immediately. The lycan world is embedded and hidden within our present day human world. In fact, her werewolf characters are very human, but with the powers, pros and cons of being lycan, human-like shape shifters who become sentient wolves. And just as with humans, lycans are good, bad and everything in-between. BOUND offers us a delightfully wicked villain, a strong female protagonist in Nyah, exciting conflict between good and evil, and a great love story between Dean and Nyah. Dean is a strong male character who is of another wolf clan than Nyah’s. This is my first venture into lycan literary territory and I will be reading book two, RELEASE. 1 like Like Comment R R Author 2 books 154 followers October 2, 2020 Thank you to Julie Embleton for giving me a copy of her book Bound for an honest review. "Dean held on to where Nick's grasp offered grounding. His wolf snarled, fear urging it to phase so it could return to searching for its mate. If he learned one more gut-twisting truth, he wouldn't have the strength to hold it back. "I can't lose her." Bound is the first book in the Turning Moon series. This Adult Fantasy starts off grabbing us as our lead, Nyah, stands at a grave stone mourning her father. I found this book had a little of everything; from wolves and shaman to good friend feels and an addicting chemistry between our lovers. Embleton has a writing style that draws you in and is easy and fun to follow. The descriptions of the surroundings and characters are clear and relatable which again allowed me to drift into the story and become part of their world. Our lead male, Dean, is a perfect balance of dominant, confident yet sweet and sexy. Although, this is an adult fantasy, YA fans don't turn away too quickly. There is no gory or hot and sexy intimate scene, allowing this novel to straddle multiple genres. I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone looking for a new shifter series, and I'm excited to read the second book. 1 like Like Comment Sydney Mann Author 3 books 58 followers May 30, 2019 I’ve read my share of werewolf books and I have to say this is one of the better ones I’ve read. It was well-written and kept my attention from the very beginning. It was a mature story, with real loss and real heartaches rather than the unnecessary, excessive violence or brutality so many books resort to for shock value alone. I admired Nyah for her selflessness in wanting to protect another pact from suffering her own’s fate. I grieved for her friends, Alan and Michael. An enjoyable read and one I would recommend to lovers of paranormal! 1 like Like Comment Danielle Smith 315 reviews 6 followers July 7, 2021 This book had my attention from the first page. Every chapter had a new twist and I was especially surprised by the romantic elements. The plot of the book is fast paced and keeps you guessing. Julie built the werewolf world and structure of the community and network in a way that felt like they could really be living among humans. The only thing that I wanted more of was Nyah's future choices. The future she had set and the future the book leaves us with is so different and I would have loved to see her get her entire HEA. Overall, I will pick up the next book in the series, I am eager to see Michael's story unfold, but I hope to see more of Nyah in future books as well. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the werewolf troupe and a whole lot of action. 1 like Like Comment Karen 999 reviews 10 followers March 23, 2024 3.5. Urban fantasy, fun escape. Just what I wanted! 1 like Like Comment MLW 50 reviews March 19, 2022 Bound has me hooked on the Turning Moon series! Beautiful descriptions and thorough world-building drew me in to the paranormal realm of Julie Embleton's Turning Moon series. The plight of the Blackwater Ridge werewolf pack is the premise for Book 1 which also establishes Lycan customs and intra/inter-pack relations. The early chapters were intriguing, but for me, it was the romance element that made Bound so hard to put down. The characters were well-developed. I liked that Nyah was clever and resilient despite the disadvantages of losing her wolf. She was as determined to spare her mate as he was to save her. Embleton did a fantastic job of expressing just how debilitating the missing connection was for her heroine. The combination of "do-gooder" fairness and frustration for Dean was even more attractive than his brawn and that particularly distracting lock of hair. And I loved loyal and good-natured Nick as his Beta. My only criticism was that the explanation "bound by law" seemed a flimsy argument for the ease of Simon Northfell's ascension to Alpha, given how universally despised he was by the proud Blackwater Ridge pack. Still, he met a satisfying end and as far as villains go, will be a hard act to follow. Also, I would have loved a little more "steam" between hero and heroine. I look forward to the rest of the Turning Moon series! 1 like Like Comment Michele Packard Author 10 books 75 followers February 18, 2020 Morph into werewolves! An easy enjoyable read of action and romance with lots of dialogue detailing intricacies and rights of werewolf society and their world. 1 like Like Comment Helen Starbuck Author 9 books 67 followers August 3, 2021 A surprise I don’t read fantasy as a rule, but this book surprised me. Great plot, great characters—strong determined woman and her mate. If you like werewolves, magic, and danger, this ones for you. 1 like Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. 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Home Another Way by Christa Parrish | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle Unlimited $0.00 Rate this book Home Another Way Christa Parrish 3.80 1,022 ratings 158 reviews Want to read Kindle Unlimited $0.00 Rate this book After he mother's death and her father's abandonment, tiny infant Sarah Graham was left to be raised by her emotionally distant grandmother. As a child she turned to music for solace and even gained entrance to Juilliard. But her potentially brilliant music career ended with an unplanned pregnancy and the stillborn birth of her child. In an attempt to escape the past, Sarah, now twenty-seven, is living life hard and fast--and she is flat broke. When her estranged father dies, she travels to the tiny mountain hamlet of Jonah, New York, to claim her inheritance. Once there, she learns her father's will stipulates a six-month stay before she can receive the money. Fueled by hate and desperation, Sarah settles in for the bitter mountain winter, and as the weeks pass, she finds her life intertwining with the lives of the simple, gracious townsfolk. Can these strangers teach Sarah how to forgive and find peace? A story of grace, of God's never-ceasing love, and sometimes flawed, faithful people He uses to bring His purposes to pass. Genres Christian Fiction Fiction Christian Contemporary Romance Adult Adult Fiction ...more 352 pages, Paperback First published January 1, 2008 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Christa Parrish 5 books 111 followers Christa Parrish is the award-winning author of five novels and founder of Narratology, a fair trade non-profit social enterprise. She is also a homeschool parent, speaker, and editor. She is currently at work on her sixth - and seventh! - novel. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.80 1,022 ratings 158 reviews 5 stars 272 (26%) 4 stars 375 (36%) 3 stars 291 (28%) 2 stars 64 (6%) 1 star 20 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews Anna 473 reviews 33 followers September 5, 2008 Home Another Way is unlike many of the other Christian novels I've read, and that's what I liked best about it. There are many themes within the book, such as forgiveness, adultery, abortion, divorce, and premarital sex, and Parrish is never preachy. Best of all, Sarah is unlike any character I've seen in Christian fiction (granted, I haven't read all that much) because she's not really religious. She's promiscuous, vindictive, and angry, but also vulnerable and caring. She's far from perfect...she's real. The book didn't end like I expected, and I was glad because it made it more believable. Parrish created a wonderful cast of characters in Home Another Way (she made me sad that there isn't that small-town sense of community where I live), and I hope she revisits these characters in the future. Full review on Diary of an Eccentric 6 likes Like Comment Bonnie Author 28 books 178 followers September 8, 2009 I was blown away by Christa's spectacular writing. Her characters step out of her book and right into your life. This is a real story about real people--anyway it feels that way. I will be reading a lot more books by this author. I'll be watching for her next one to release. Thanks Christa for this most excellent read--and my favorite this year. 4 likes Like Comment Sasha Bredenhof 185 reviews 9 followers August 15, 2022 Loved this book! A redemptive story about a broken woman who starts on the journey of finding her way in life, the people from Jonah helping her. christian-fiction 3 likes Like Comment Jenna 121 reviews 126 followers May 8, 2010 I disliked the way the stereotypes of the mountain people were never refuted in conversation or in general. I disliked the main character immensely. I strongly disliked the ending. If I hadn't read her second book first, I wouldn't have read it at all. 2010-read-books 2 likes Like Comment Raelee Carpenter Author 9 books 78 followers August 13, 2015 Christa Parrish's books are proving a strange phenomenon for me. While I read, I always think of this or that I didn't like about it. When I get to the end, however, I realize everything is as it should be. 3 likes Like Comment Theresa 349 reviews March 4, 2019 Growing up with a grandmother who resented her very existence and deprived of a normal family and childhood, Sarah Graham takes refuge in her music. Her violin is the only solace she has, as everyone Sarah meets bears the brunt of her anger and caustic tongue. " I'd been called heartless before. Sometimes with blatant disgust, by those I had - in their own estimation - handled too carelessly. And other times with admiration for my deft ability to remain unmoved, untouched. Either way, I'd always taken the observation as a compliment." But life is about to change for Sarah. When her father leaves a stipulation in his substantial estate for Sarah, that she must remain for six months in his isolated mountain home, Sarah begins to meet a town of characters who will forever touch her heart and life. I read this book so quickly as it drew me into Sarah's journey to find some meaningful resolution to her difficult circumstances. Christa Parrish has created a believable slate of characters in this novel of a young girl, hardened by her tragic background. Some situations, in order to illustrate Sarah's difficult personality, were a little on the raw side although never graphic. The author so cleverly presents the realities of human frailty, the universal need for caring relationships, and the individuality of personality within an enthralling story that engages the reader from the very first page. "My hate for my father had faded during the past several months, despite me. I had clung to it, but like handfuls of sand, the tighter I squeezed, the faster it had fallen away. Now it erupted as I counted my losses. Because of him, I never knew my mother, never fought with her over boyfriends, never made her a red felt valentine or a clay pinch pot for her birthday. He went off to prison, and dumped me with my grandmother. He ruined me." fiction 2 likes Like Comment Tena 242 reviews 8 followers May 1, 2020 I bought this book a long time ago and never read it. I thought the cover looked good and the description interesting. I wasn't familiar with Christa Parrish so I was in no hurry to read the story. It was on my to-be-read list. I could kick myself! I have read very few books that impressed me as much as Home Another Way. Parrish has a way of describing situations and characters that caused me to read the segments more than once. I actually wrote a few of her descriptions and dialogues in a notebook to keep. I know Parrish was not basing the characters or situations in her personal life but she captured so much accuracy in the story. I felt the cold, smelled the odors, and fought the anger as the book unfolded. I don't think it's necessary to go into a review of the story. You can read about that in the synopsis. But what I do think is so remarkable is the intensity of the story. There are so many situations that seem heartbreaking yet Parrish makes them seem normal and shows the strength of people who deal with tragedy as part of their everyday life. I did not want this book to end. That is my only regret in reading it. So, Christa Parrish, if you are reading this, please write a sequel! I'm too involved in the lives of the people of Jonah to just move on. And thank you for writing such a wonderful, heartfelt book! 2 likes Like Comment Laurel-Rain Author 6 books 252 followers December 6, 2009 A young woman, flat broke and steeped in anger, resentment, and fear travels to a small village—Jonah, New York—to claim her inheritance when her father dies. He is the anti-hero who stole her childhood when he killed her mother and then went to prison. He owes her, which is why she feels driven to collect. But she doesn't anticipate the stipulations her father has placed on the inheritance. In order to claim the modest estate that seems huge to this girl who has nothing, she must live in Jonah for the next six months. Furious, yet compelled to do so nonetheless, Sarah Graham moves into her father's cabin and begins to count down the days until she can leave. As she meets each of the townsfolk, all with their quirky characteristics and homespun charms, Sarah is both appalled and drawn to them, but the walls she has built around herself only gradually begin to diminish. Each villager offers a view of her father—Luke Petersen—that she has never seen before, and as she grows to see other dimensions to him, she also begins to expand her version of herself. Even though I was somewhat reluctant to read a book dubbed "Christian fiction," for the possible moralistic posturing I would find, I soon forgot about labels as the author described and brought each character to life through her vivid descriptions and multi-layered characterizations. Soon I could see and feel the individuals who people this story. However, I was disappointed that, at the end, the plot seemed to flatten, with the primary character sent off to continue her self-discovery "back in the city." This did not ring true for me, which was why I deducted one star. Overall, however, "Home Another Way" was a worthwhile read, just for the lively and unique characters and the world the author painted for them. 1 like Like Comment Erin 975 reviews 30 followers June 1, 2010 This debut novel blew me away! Written largely from the first person perspective of Sarah, a young lady who has never known love, the tone of the novel is often harsh and gritty but it is very believable. Sarah was raised by her malicious extended family after her father murdered her mother and was sent to prison. Never reunited with him after his release, Sarah comes to the mountain town to Jonah to claim what he left her after his death. There's one catch, however: she has to live in Jonah for 6 months before the inheritance is hers. Having absolutely nothing to return to, she decides to stay out of spite for the man who ruined her life. Sarah doesn't count on getting to know the mountain people, whose tenacious faith and care for each other begin to wear away at her defenses. As the story progresses we learn a little bit about how many of the main characters wound up in Jonah, each with a unique history and purpose. Will Sarah let her heart open for healing, or will her own past of anger and hurt cause her to wreak destruction in the lives of those trying to reach her? I groaned with Sarah on her journey. At times I wanted to smack her just like character Memory Jones does, at times I wanted to weep with her, at times I was horrified by her actions. This story kept me coming back and I have a feeling it will stay with me for a long time. (Bonus points for the small mountain town setting... living in one myself and having known its impact on my life, Parrish does a great job bringing Jonah to life! I'll be watching for more by this author.) christian-fiction Like Comment Karen 147 reviews 28 followers October 9, 2009 Home Another Way is the story of Sarah Graham, a woman consumed by bitterness, anger, and a troubled past, who finds herself relunctantly spending six months in a small mountain community in order to collect an inheritance left to her by a father she never really knew.[return][return]As you would expect, Sarah's stay in Jonah starts out rocky and gets quite a bit worse before it gets better. I would have liked to see more detail about Sarah's past brought out much earlier in the novel. She's not an easy character to like and the fact that the town's residents have the desire to help and support her is a little hard to accept when she returns their warmth with rudeness at every turn. This would have been a lot more understandable if we'd learned about her troubled childhood and the heartbreak she suffered as a young adult sooner. [return][return]Despite that, though, I really enjoyed the novel and was sorry to see it end. By the end I liked Sarah and the people of Jonah so much I was wishing for a sappy, pat, feel-good ending. Parrish doesn't deliver on that though. She gives you an ending that's a lot like life - kind of up in the air, but still satisfying.[return][return]I'm not sure how much appeal this novel will have with the general public based on its religious bent. Having recently gone through a time of searching and ultimately finding, I found it beautiful, comforting and affirming. I hope readers who don't consider themselves people of faith will give it a chance. Like Comment Amanda Nelson (The Midtown Reader) 207 reviews 30 followers October 3, 2018 I was at a very unique place in my life when I read this book. I was raised extremely religious and at the time I was attending a ministry school that I didn’t feel wanted or needed at. I was 19, stumbling around in the dark, trying to decide if I believed any of my upbringing. I doubt it was the purpose of this author to give me courage to take a step out into the unknown and pack my bags for the 12 hour drive back to Alabama from South Carolina, but that is what I did. I am not even sure where I purchased this book at or why I picked it up out of the towering TBR pile I have by my bed, but boy am I glad I did. Its true that there are undertones of Christianity, but as a now Atheist, I still think of this novel with fond memories. I loved Sarah. I love the community around her and the natural way the characters of the mountain developed. Even now while I am writing this review I can still remember lines from the book and the chilly Fall air that was blowing outside when I was reading this all those years ago. The book has an unexpected ending. At least, it wasn’t what I was thinking would happen, but it was not in the least disappointing. It is bravery at its finest. As a woman who has had to pave her own way multiple times, I appreciate characters like Sarah. She has stuck with me for almost 10 years, I just wish there was more like her out there. coming-of-age favorites feel-good ...more 1 like Like Comment Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) 1,770 reviews 3,983 followers May 27, 2019 This is a mini ‘Books For Christian Girls’ review. It is not a full content review and will not receive one. These mini-reviews are years old and just for clarity on the rating the book received on Goodreads. 1/22/2014- “DNF. Too much Sexual and Negative content plus I read a bit of the ending and I don't think it ended well.” *Main Content- Removing an ulcer on a man's foot (very detailed); Mentions of bars, drinking, alcohol, & getting drunk; Sarah says Jesus' last name and Memory whacks her; Minor cussing (darn, heck, screw, sh---, what the--, what the heck, wrench). Sarah goes home with a guy and wakes up next to him in bed the next morning; Sarah mentions about not minding about meeting a guy in a dark bedroom; Sarah wonders how long it will be until she gets Jack in a compromising situation; Beth says she talked to Dom about not having breasts & that he'll see more they her arms on their wedding night; 'sexy' and 'whore' are both said. mini-review nope-banned read-reviewed 1 like Like Comment Kerstin Gunia 211 reviews 4 followers June 14, 2019 The writing is exquisite, Parish is a master at writing first person stories. It is literary fiction at its best! Although I read this book several years ago, just by seeing the cover, it brings back the unique cast of characters. The brokenness, deceit, and desperation are authentic and the storyline is not as predictable as I first thought. You can’t help but root for the misguided young woman and cringe as she burns bridges and bites the hands that feed her. Some say it is a story about forgiveness, which is true, but it is most definitely “Another Way” to get there. contemporary-fiction literary-fiction me-on-an-island ...more 1 like Like Comment Valerie 7 reviews 4 followers January 29, 2010 I loved the story and couldn't put the book down, that's what made the ending all the more disappointing. It doesn't always have to be happily ever after, but a little more closure with the characters would have been nice, unless a sequel is in the works. It seemed like the author just got tired of the story and ended it about 10 pages too early. The characters were all so devoted to Luke. It would have been nice to hear them tell more details about how that came to be. 1 like Like Comment Heidi 189 reviews August 26, 2012 definitely a different book, as in a 'religious' book...I get so tired of the Christian genre. the people are usually entirely too perfect to be real. This book was NOT like that. Sarah slept around, both while married and after, she was bitter, angry and as prickly as a cactus. Yet Gods grace still found her. I didn't like how it ended though :( definitely needs a book 2. 1 like Like Comment Karen Ahaus 39 reviews 1 follower May 6, 2016 I was shocked at how much I enjoyed this book. Although a bit predictable in storyline, you continue to turn pages because Parrish has a gift for creating realistic characters. Characters that you smile with, get angry at, and cry with (ok, I was a blubbering mess at times). Characters that I will miss when I wake tomorrow and their story is at an end. 1 like Like Comment Julie Klassen Author 28 books 5,382 followers February 5, 2012 Imperfect, irreverent, self-destructive main character (not for young readers) but really well done: funny, moving, and redemptive. 1 like Like Comment Driftwood 210 reviews 1 follower March 16, 2012 I enjoyed the book. Could have been much more detail about the backwoods people sarah visited. I didn,t like the ending so much. It was agood read. 1 like Like Comment Renee 46 reviews 1 follower June 5, 2014 I loved this book. I never read any of her books before. However, I will be reading more. I loved her writing style & the story line was very intriguing. 1 like Like Comment Sara Brunsvold Author 4 books 390 followers November 15, 2021 This is definitely not a warm, fuzzy romance story where the ending is definitively roses and starlit eyes. It requires a different mindset from the get-go. This is a gritty story of a through and through sinner named Sarah Graham who battles her hard-knock life with ferocity, but her strength is waning. What she’s too proud to understand is that she was never meant to go into battle alone. Home Another Way deals with hard issues like parental abandonment, promiscuity, resentment, abortion, death and unforgiveness, especially toward oneself. It’s Christian fiction with unapologetic realism, and if the reader can endure through the hard, dark parts – and a main character who is decidedly NOT a Christian and acts every bit like it – they will see the light shine through by the end. They may even see a bit of themselves in Sarah’s journey, like I did. What I saw in the book was a dichotomy at play. Sarah, the main character, chooses to reject God and His people. Her foil, a pastor named Jack, who also becomes Sarah’s love interest, is the example of a soiled past made clean through the surrender to Jesus, trusting in His Grace and Mercy. Both are fallible humans. Both are hiding dark secrets that will hurt others. But it’s what they choose to do with that pain and hurt that makes all the difference. The story is unpredictable and defies more than one Christian fiction convention. At times I was frustrated with Sarah and completely turned off; and at other times, I desperately wanted to see her thrive. The ending is open-ended, so we don’t know exactly where Sarah ends up, but my personal opinion? God uses the influence of Jack and his testimony in mighty ways. If you like novels unafraid of taking on some of the hardest issues of sin and flesh and working them toward redemption, I recommend this book. christian-fiction christian-fiction-not-romance contemporary-fiction Like Comment Talitha Padayachy 20 reviews March 31, 2018 Home Another Way by Christa Parrish Not only is this book so heartfelt but it truly is direct, Parrish really captivates the reader with this story that somehow teaches a lesson. More than just the life of her lead character Sarah but also the people she finds herself surrounded by, they all have stories that Parrish so beautiful ties together in this story that results to a gripping plot. I find that the story's message lays in the character within Sarah and how she discovers herself in this small town, she discovers that there is more than just the bitterness she has lived with her entire life but that she might even be worthy of happiness. I love that Parrish has created this sort of special bond between Sarah and a few of the characters in the novel, it adds so much humor to the story. Home Another Way shows that there may be faith,hope,forgiveness,love and even happiness for those who have faced the worst. I have been taken aback with this novel, I have enjoyed it and it has allowed me to sit back,relax and refill my coffee cup. Good read indeed! - Talitha Like Comment Carmen 135 reviews November 29, 2017 3.5 Stars. I both enjoyed and did not enjoy this book at the same time. I didn't care for the author's writing style, and yet she's a superb storyteller. Some of the characters will stick with me a long time. But the setting was downright depressing. Thankfully, not at all like the small towns I'm used to. There were some reviewers who thought the character Sarah was mean and spiteful, but who wouldn't be with all that happened to her? A number of people from her past, and in her present, held the power to completely change her situation, yet did nothing. Also, some didn't agree with the ending, but I did. I thought a relationship was the last thing Sarah needed at that point in her journey. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review Like Comment Kathy Kelley 81 reviews 1 follower April 29, 2019 I loved this book. It is the story of a young woman who stands to inherit money from her now-deceased father (who she thinks murdered her mother). The catch: to inherit she must live in the town where he lived for 6 months. Their are quirky characters in the mix which add more humor and interest to the story. Along the way, the young woman becomes friends with some of the townspeople even though she can be a prickly pear at times. The novel leaves things open-ended, so I am hoping there are more books to follow. I really enjoyed discovering this author (new to me). Like Comment Cindy 431 reviews 2 followers June 17, 2019 Christian fiction usually tends be too “ Hallmarky” or “preachy” for me, but I found this book to be neither. I found myself being pulled into the small town of Jonah, NY. The characters were interesting. The fact that nobody had a cellphone was kind of odd. I’m not sure what year she intended as a backdrop for the story. There were a couple other things that were hard for me to buy into, but, the story had some twists I wasn’t expecting and I always like that in a book. If there would be “half stars”, I would have said 3.5 stars. Like Comment Vivian 981 reviews September 1, 2019 This book was interesting. I liked that it was not sappy sweet like many of the books I’ve read by Christian authors. The author did not try to make everything work out wonderful for every situation. It was very realistic, with people getting sick, dying, etc with no miraculous healings or death bed conversions. The story line Itself was well done in that the foreshadowing was so obscure that the reader had to get to the very end before piecing together what had happened with the parents relationship. Good read. Like Comment Ruth 35 reviews February 10, 2022 Beautiful sorry of a life redeemed I’m not good at writing reviews, but I just want to encourage anyone who reads my review to read anything written by Christa Parrish. I’d never read anything by her before and came across a book of hers a week ago. I devoured that book and looked for another one by her. They were both great literary works. Read her stories. You’ll be glad you did. Like Comment Della Tingle 841 reviews 7 followers July 14, 2019 Oh, I struggled through this book disliking the main character possibly more than any character I have ever come across. Sarah, Sarah, Sarah...self-centered and oh, so hard to endure. I did enjoy having to look up unknown vocabulary words: sloe-eyed, antediluvian, luthier. I have nothing else to add; this book depressed me. Like Comment Anissa Vest 39 reviews February 1, 2024 Enjoyed the book overall! A good Christian novel. The ending fell flat for me in that I wished it continued a little longer and told more of the story of the characters. I felt like so much happened the last couple of chapters and then it just ended on a cliff hanger of sorts. Still a good read though Like Comment Peggy 65 reviews Read September 4, 2019 Won't say I enjoyed this book. Not one to enjoy. One to get pulled into and feel what these people are feeling. I wish there was a follow up, because the ending left you hanging. Didn't like that part.. Like Comment Karen 152 reviews January 29, 2021 Depressing. Didn't like this book at all. I will say that I thought at least the ending was better than I expected. It would have been unrealistic for Sarah to have had a loving relationship with Jack. fiction own-on-kindle Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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A Suitable Boy (A Bridge of Leaves, #1) by Vikram Seth | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle Unlimited $0.00 Rate this book A Bridge of Leaves #1 A Suitable Boy Vikram Seth 4.12 48,292 ratings 3,038 reviews Want to read Kindle Unlimited $0.00 Rate this book Vikram Seth's novel is, at its core, a love story: Lata and her mother, Mrs. Rupa Mehra, are both trying to find—through love or through exacting maternal appraisal—a suitable boy for Lata to marry. Set in the early 1950s, in an India newly independent and struggling through a time of crisis, A Suitable Boy takes us into the richly imagined world of four large extended families and spins a compulsively readable tale of their lives and loves. A sweeping panoramic portrait of a complex, multiethnic society in flux, A Suitable Boy remains the story of ordinary people caught up in a web of love and ambition, humor and sadness, prejudice and reconciliation, the most delicate social etiquette and the most appalling violence. Genres Fiction India Historical Fiction Classics Indian Literature Romance Historical ...more 1474 pages, Paperback First published May 1, 1993 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Vikram Seth 68 books 1,610 followers Vikram Seth is an Indian poet, novelist, travel writer, librettist, children's writer, biographer and memoirist. During the course of his doctorate studies at Stanford, he did his field work in China and translated Hindi and Chinese poetry into English. He returned to Delhi via Xinjiang and Tibet which led to a travel narrative From Heaven Lake: Travels Through Sinkiang and Tibet (1983) which won the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award. The Golden Gate: A Novel in Verse (1986) was his first novel describing the experiences of a group of friends who live in California. A Suitable Boy (1993), an epic of Indian life set in the 1950s, got him the WH Smith Literary Award and the Commonwealth Writers Prize. His poetry includes The Humble Administrator's Garden (1985) and All You Who Sleep Tonight (1990). His Beastly Tales from Here and There (1992) is children's book consisting of ten stories in verse about animals. In 2005, he published Two Lives , a family memoir written at the suggestion of his mother, which focuses on the lives of his great-uncle (Shanti Behari Seth) and German-Jewish great aunt (Henny Caro) who met in Berlin in the early 1930s while Shanti was a student there and with whom Seth stayed extensively on going to England at age 17 for school. As with From Heaven Lake , Two Lives contains much autobiography. An unusually forthcoming writer whose published material is replete with un- or thinly-disguised details as to the personal lives of himself and his intimates related in a highly engaging narrative voice, Seth has said that he is somewhat perplexed that his readers often in consequence presume to an unwelcome degree of personal familiarity with him. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.12 48,292 ratings 3,038 reviews 5 stars 20,643 (42%) 4 stars 16,588 (34%) 3 stars 7,991 (16%) 2 stars 2,156 (4%) 1 star 914 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,036 reviews Paul Bryant 2,293 reviews 10.8k followers November 24, 2012 After about page 200 I realised this was like eating Turkish Delight morning noon and night and my spiritual teeth were beginning to dissolve under a tide of sickliness which didn't ever let up. All these characters are so unbearably cute, even the less-nice ones. If post-independent India was crossed with Bambi, it would be Vikram Seth's endless gurgling prose. So I stopped reading and drove several three inch nails into my head, and I've been all right since then. india novels 500 likes 2 comments Like Comment Lisa of Troy 647 reviews 5,786 followers January 24, 2024 A Mess of A Story That Could Have Been Great A Suitable Boy is a behemoth book of approximately 1,500 pages by Vikram Seth which is allegedly about a young woman named Lata who is trying to find a suitable boy to marry. The book centers on four different families as well as various political and social movements in India in the 1950’s. Never have I encountered a book that was more in need of an editor. There were far, far, far too many characters. The book starts off by displaying family trees, four family trees. However, that would not even cover all of the characters by a long shot. There were friends, politicians, teachers, sisters, musicians, and many more. The author really should have focused on a smaller set of characters and written several books rather than this mess. Additionally, this book was boring. It was like watching paint dry. If you want to read a great book set in India, I would highly recommend A Fine Balance. With so many characters in A Suitable Boy, it was difficult to connect with anyone. After the first one hundred pages, I thought that the pacing would pick up, but it didn’t. As if following 4 families wasn’t enough, this book was also some type of historical fiction. However, it didn’t work for me. The author would talk in excruciating detail about certain religious and political moments, but the reader wasn’t given enough information to put the moments into context. It would have been helpful to summarize the historical context or even hint at some of the context so that the reader could look it up. But I felt like I was thrown into the deep end of the swimming pool, drowning. After nearly 1,500 pages, the ending felt rather rushed and non-eventful. Lata makes her choice suddenly and with very little fanfare. This was rather disappointing after slogging through so much. The other disappointment with this book is that I could not find an audiobook for this book that was not unabridged, and the prose was not very smooth. The most interesting part about this book was Cuddles the dog who went around and bit everyone. Well, another one to cross off the 100 Books To Read Before You Die According the BBC….(62/100) https://www.listchallenges.com/bbcs-t... 2024 Reading Schedule Jan Middlemarch Feb The Grapes of Wrath Mar Oliver Twist Apr Madame Bovary May A Clockwork Orange Jun Possession Jul The Folk of the Faraway Tree Collection Aug Crime and Punishment Sep Heart of Darkness Oct Moby-Dick Nov Far From the Madding Crowd Dec A Tale of Two Cities Connect With Me! Blog Twitter BookTube Facebook Insta 346 likes 3 comments Like Comment Lynne King 496 reviews 752 followers April 8, 2014 This is a magnificent saga, which left me breathless and awaiting the next word, set in India at the beginning of the fifties. "Suitable Boy" by Vikram Seth's “epic love story set in India. Funny and tragic, with engaging, brilliantly observed characters, it is as close as you can get to Dickens for the twentieth century. The story unfolds through four middle class families - the Mehras, Kappoors, Khans and Chatterjis. Lata Mehra, a university student, is under pressure from her mother to get married. But not to just anyone she happens to fall in love with. There are standards to be met and finding a husband for Lata becomes a family affair in which all the members are to play a part.” “The richness of this book is remarkable. What with marriage, religion, customs, etc. it has been a really fascinating read for me.” India's caste system has four main classes (also called varnas) based originally on personality, profession and birth. I’m eternally grateful to Fionnuala for suggesting that I may perhaps like this author. Do I like Vikram Seth? No, of course not. I just happen to adore him. I think that he’s absolutely splendid. I get the same pleasure reading this book as when I’m eating lobster or tasting a superb Burgundy wine or whatever sublime other pleasures that we have in life…My… I must confess that I had never heard of Seth before and I wouldn’t if it hadn’t been for Goodreads. It’s one of those remarkable books that becomes a reference book that once read, you can open it at any page and still get that continual enjoyment. It’s a wonderful sensation to savour… It’s always so difficult for me to write a review on a book that I “love to death” but that has been the case here. This is now my second favourite fiction book after “The Alexandria Quartet” and I could never do that justice. Bravo for the past for Durrell and for the present for Vikram Seth. In conclusion, Fionnuala and Seth – thank you for giving me so much pleasure. What a serendipitous find. I love this book. 2014-books-to-be-read fiction india 168 likes Like Comment Whitaker 295 reviews 524 followers July 16, 2014 I know some GR’ers didn’t really cotton on to the style of this book. And maybe it was because I read this while on vacation in India itself, but wow! Just W.O.W! It’s a fucking long book—1,500 pages. And every single page was worth the time I spent on it and more. If Midnight’s Children is India’s One Hundred Years of Solitude , then A Suitable Boy must be its War and Peace . It’s got the same melding of personal lives seen in amidst great national events. Instead of the romance of Natasha and Pierre, it’s that of Lata and her three suitors. Instead of the war with France, we have the post-Independence and post-Partition politics of a nation searching for an identity. And instead of descriptions of war, we get exchanges of heated debate on the floor of the state parliament, and the passing of a contentious bill. Seth looks at the lives of four families intertwined by marriage and friendship. And all the detail—and it is indeed loving detail—is very very necessary to immerse you in the India of the 1950s, and what it felt like to be alive then. We get details of village life, life in the city, life of the different castes, business life, religious life, modern life, traditional life. It’s all there. And it works in tandem with several great stories of love and passion, and what these mean, both at the level of family, romance, and nation. Word has it that Seth is working on a follow up (not sure if it’s a sequel as such) to be called “A Suitable Girl”. I, for one, can’t wait. fiction-1950-and-after india recommended-unreservedly ...more 137 likes Like Comment Em Lost In Books 955 reviews 2,080 followers October 28, 2020 WOW! I didn't want this to end even after reading more than 1400 pages and heartbreakingly it ended but am glad this book made me feel so many emotions. I haven't read something like this in a long time, it was just spellbinding. 1990-99 2020 5-star ...more 97 likes Like Comment Sim 21 reviews December 4, 2013 *Spoiler alert* I finally finished reading A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth. For some reason, I used to avoid picking it up and kept putting it off. I suppose it was mainly the size (it’s one thick book - approximately 1500 pages!) but I also think it had to do with this misconception I had that it would be a tough read, that Seth’s writing would be pompous and saturated with flowery descriptions of rivers winding through the green and yellow village of GraamNagar. Imagine my surprise when I find that the language is smooth, his tone light and his narrative interesting. The fact that Seth managed to keep the threads of the numerous plots and subplots clear in his head is an accomplishment in itself, but even more impressive is how each characters of his story is real; they are people we recognize, with mannerisms we’ve noticed in ourselves and others, and dialogues we’ve heard, thought or spoken. The title might suggest that it’s the story of finding the perfect marriage candidate for the central character but that would be belittling the grand work that is A Suitable Boy. It is the story of the Mehras, the Kapoors, the Khans, the Chatterjis and a myriad of other characters, such as Saeeda Bai and Kakoli, many of whom are fleshed out substantially, even when their appearance is minimal. The beauty of the story arises from their interactions with each other, their thoughts and their ups and downs. Little details that create vivid images of a decaying courtesan’s world, a cosmopolitan Calcutta, the shoemakers’ rank (as in rancid) neighbourhoods and so on. The story covers about a year of the characters’ lives, detailing the day to day mundanity. Little decisions — a smile here, a letter there, a glass of nimbu pani (lemon-water) every now and then - are what makes the story. Yet these little decisions, these microsteps that are taken, culminate in huge changes that are noticed only in hindsight. I’m probably not giving away any surprises when I say that I was thoroughly pissed off at Lata Mehra’s decision to marry Haresh Khanna. I shouldn’t have been surprised because Lata does say in the first few pages, ” I always obey my mother” and so the ending wasn’t so much a surprise as it was a disappointment. I did understand why she did it, but I couldn’t help my acute disappointment in her all the same. I was genuinely frustrated at her pigheadedness, her thought process that led her to this decision. I was angry because I am afraid that her reasoning resonated with the coward in everyone, especially south asian girls who have had to, or will have to, at least discuss the concept of arranged marriage at some point in their lives. Ironically, her mother later suffered a number of qualms herself about whether Haresh would be the right boy for her daughter. Had Lata decided against the marriage, Mrs. Mehra would have been perfectly amenable, especially since Lata’s yuppie brother Arun did not condone the marriage either. So why did Lata decide to snub both Kabir, the Muslim she fell in love with, or Amit, the Bengali poet she could fall in love with easily? Her reasoning in the last few pages was scary because it reminded me of how we would rather our lives be a smooth ride of mediocrity than a roller coaster of brilliance that plummets from time to time. We choose to be mediocre-ly happy - the utilitarian idea that the “aim of action should be the largest possible balance of pleasure over pain or the greatest happiness of the greatest number” ( http://www.m-w.com ). She says, “I’m not myself when I’m with him [Kabir]. I ask myself, who is this - this jealous, obsessed woman….I don’t want to [passionately love him], I don’t know want to. If that’s what passion means, I dont’ want it.” Once Lata makes her decision, we know that she will lead her life contently enough. It upset me because I saw Lata in a number of people I know in real life, including myself. Mind you, I am not advocating against arranged marriage as a whole because I know they can work. Lata’s sister Savita, who marries Pran after meeting him only once in front of her elders, does genuinely fall in love with him and go on to lead a happy life. So it’s not that arranged marriages are wrong. I just felt that Lata was wrong in her decision to marry Haresh. Even if he was considered fair and good looking, confident and ambitious. Ironically, from Haresh’s side, it’s not exactly a traditional arranged marriage. He arranges his nuptials himself because he doesn’t like the parents getting involved in this matter; his parents already know that he will run away (metaphorically speaking) if they try to set him up. So to Haresh, this is a decision he’s making by himself for his own benefit. Haresh had already been in love with someone else before, had neatly folded away his Devdas romanticism for that girl and was ready now to live a contented life with someone else (it just happened to be Lata). He is oh so bloody honest about his feelings for this girl, and that he knows it won’t ever happen and so must move on… Lata wanted his practicality, his forceful ability to get things done, his willingness to help out her family members. What angered me was the underlying assumption that Kabir/Amit couldn’t be all those things, that they would be selfish beings simply because they would also love her, and she would have to him (either him) back. My favourite characters in the book are Amit Chatterji and Pran Kapoor. I know Vikram Seth denies fashioning Amit after him, but to be honest, for some reason while I was reading about Amit’s tendencies for the necessary inactivity that comes with being a writer, I thought of Seth. What I liked about Amit was that he was the uber intellectual: his tone was oft-sardonic, his amusement frequent, his observations of people accepting and piercing. He talked a lot and said very little. He was cryptic in his cynicism. I loved him. Lata rejects him on the basis of his being "high-maintenance" type - someone who needs his meals laid out for him, who wouldn’t have time for her if he was working on a novel, and whose moodswings are as frequent as her own. I don’t buy that completely. He did make the time for her, he knew how to be charming and behave in society (he wasn’t an absent-minded intellectual), he knew what he wanted and he knew how to get what he wants. Lata was right in that he wouldn’t fall apart at her rejection, but I think it’s not his insensitivity that would allow him to be friends with her after her marriage, but his excessive civility, his sophistication and his writer’s acceptance of life. My other favourite character, Pran Kapoor - a thin, dark quiet professor - is a sweetheart. The kind of nice guy who doesn’t begrudge his mother-in-law’s long vacations with them, who plays April Fools Day jokes on people because “those who aren’t conscious of the date must take the consequences”. He is the ultimate good son, who quietly accepts his arranged marriage and falls in love with his wife. His was the real arranged marriage, in the true sense of the word, and yet you cannot dislike him or his wife Savita because they are both so lovable people, that you just know that they were destined to be together, no matter how they got together. For those of you who haven’t read it, do. Trust me, I can’t begin to describe the many shades there are to each character and how nothing I say will completely do justice to them. I got mad at one character’s one decision, not at the book. Seth is amazing. His voice is uninstrusive and style very graceful. That’s the word: graceful. Despite its size, you get a soft feeling reading it. True it is a tad tedious at times. Some of the political parts and some of the characters could have been done without. But in the end, you can’t get angry at someone who gives you the whole cake when all you asked for was a slice. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review 99 likes Like Comment Rajat Ubhaykar Author 1 book 1,853 followers October 31, 2019 I don't even know where to begin gushing about this one, so panoramic is its scope and so delightful its literary charms. Vikram Seth's 800,000 word magnum opus is lengthier than War and Peace and more compulsively readable than a well-paced soap opera. It is an event in one's life. I call it a soap opera, because fundamentally, the plot is a family drama, revolving around the wooers of its principal character, Lata Mehra. Set in the early 1950s and written with a forceful simplicity akin to R K Narayan, it covers 18 months in the entwined lives of four families - the Mehras, Kapoors, Chatterjis, and Khans - and through these characters proffers an intricate peek into a most fascinating (and neglected) period in Indian history. It is an uncertain era; the subcontinent has been Partitioned on religious grounds and India is making its wobbly transition from feudalism to democracy. The First Great General Elections are to be held in 1952 and the central legislative event is the abolition of the oppressive zamindari system, and with it, an entire way of life: courtesans, Hindustani classical musicians and purana khidmatgars. Caste is beginning to make itself felt in electoral calculations, and Nehru remains a force to be reckoned with. On this level, A Suitable Boy is painstakingly researched historical fiction. Seth writes with a level of detail that is unreal. As one reviewer notes, "he writes with the omniscience and authority of a large, orderly committee of experts on Indian politics, law, medicine, crowd psychology, urban and rural social customs, dress, cuisine, horticulture, funerary rites, cricket and even the technicalities of shoe manufacture." A Suitable Boy is undoubtedly one of the biggest achievements of world literature and will remain one of my all-time favourites. I feel lucky to have read it at this point in time since I can't wait for its sequel coming out next year, the appropriately titled A Suitable Girl. EDIT: It's been over four years since I wrote this review. Seth still hasn't finished A Suitable Girl, though I'm pretty sure it's going to be worth the wait. favorites historical-fiction history ...more 78 likes Like Comment Arah-Lynda 337 reviews 592 followers December 26, 2015 I finished Vikram Seth’s tome A Suitable Boy this Sunday morning while enjoying my coffee and a white chocolate, coconut Christmas cookie that my daughter had baked just last night. All right, all right, I confess it was actually two white chocolate, coconut Christmas cookies. But who can blame me really. They were so good. Not too sweet, she had gone ahead and reduced the suggested amount of sugar, resulting in a perfect blend of sweet with just a hint of salt and a nice moist and chewy texture. And just the right size, one is not enough but two, hmmmmmm just right. Yum yum. I wish I could say that this book also displayed just the right balance. Set in the early 1950’s in a newly independent India, A Suitable Boy focuses on the lives of four large families, connected by marriage or friendship, though most notably that of Lata Mehra, whose mother Mrs. Rupa Mehra, is intent on conducting an agonizing (hers) search, that pulls in all members of her immediate and extended family, to find a suitable husband for Lata. The story immerses you into the daily details of these families’ lives and indeed of India at that time and place. No stone is left unturned and no player too insignificant to escape the authors unquestionable skill in drawing rich characterizations and beautifully imagined settings. Through these people the reader is swept into a multiethnic society during an unsettling time of religious fervour and political unrest. It is all here: love, beauty, squalor, hatred, the caste system, prejudice, appalling violence and heart stopping tenderness. For me however there was just way too much detail. I really did not need to dive so deeply into the political manoeuvrings involved in passing a bill or the entire history of their philosophic or cultural rituals. There was so much detail, so deeply layered into the story that it detracted from, rather than enhanced my enjoyment of it. I found myself remembering John Galt’s speech way too often. I mean there is such a thing as too much icing on what is an already delicious cinnamon bun. It is unfortunate, I believe that the editors did not cut some of that detail away, allowing the story to blossom in its own right as my daughter did with the sugar in her cookie recipe. i-said 66 likes Like Comment Edward 420 reviews 430 followers October 23, 2017 A Suitable Boy describes a year in the life of the fledgling Indian democracy, indirectly told through the experiences of four connected families and a litany of supporting characters, who, due to the diversity of their occupations and social positions, are able to explore various facets – political, legal, social, cultural, religious, artistic – of the India of this period, and the clash of its opposing cultural forces: traditional versus modern values, religion versus secularism, Hinduism versus Islam, Eastern versus Western culture, and democracy versus serfdom, to name a few. The titular story concerning Mrs Mehra’s search for a husband for her daughter, Lata, though just one of many stories that the novel weaves together, stands out due to what it reveals about the norms and cultural prejudices of the time. We see in Lata an intelligent young woman who has received a modern education, but is pressured by family and cultural expectations to take on a traditional female role (While her plight is no means as bleak, I was reminded of Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go , in terms of the dissociation between education and eventual societal role). In Lata’s story there is a contemplation of what it means to seek happiness, an evaluation of the importance of love, of the fine balance between passion and security, of the necessary compromise of values that is thrust on an individual by their cultural context, where to either fight or relent to pressure requires in one way or another a sacrifice or self. As an outsider, I was struck by the stratification of the society, where one must be utterly obsequious to one’s superiors, and trample upon those below, in order to reinforce one’s status. The caste system locks people into the positions they are assigned at birth, preventing social mobility. In this culture status and position are everything. There is a casual, internalised racism, a sensitivity to the degree of darkness of one’s skin, that manifests in all sorts of interactions, from choosing a mate, to business relationships, to deciding with whom to associate. There is an enormous disparity in fortunes between the wealthy and powerful, who occupy great mansions and large estates, and who are all but unreachable by the law, and the majority of the lower castes, who are forced into subservient roles, living on a pittance in utterly squalid conditions, without any hope of improving their lot. To the list of Hitchens’ Religions That Poison Everything, let us not omit the otherwise fairly innocuous Hinduism, whose dogma of karmic rebirth provides religious justification for this horrible system of oppression. There is evidence in this book of a gradual abandonment of these attitudes, which I hope has been precipitated by the last 70 years of democracy. Striking also is the extent of social and political disunity, which I’m sure is in no small part due to the “divide and conquer” policy of the British. (It’s amazing the extent that the British were able to transform the country in their own image in such a short time, and the degree to which many of the characters would define themselves as, or aspire to be, English. The closer one dresses, speaks and acts as an Englishman, the more refined he is. Conversely, the more “Indian” he appears by his accent or demeanour, the lower his standing and his desirability. Though there are surely lingering benefits of British colonialism, this kind of internalised oppression seems to me to be fairly odious.) The India of this period is depicted as a heterogeneous multicultural society, where the religious, ethnic, linguistic, cultural and ideological differences constantly threaten to disrupt stability. One gets a real sense of the fragility of the young Indian democracy, where there was a real possibility of failure and collapse. Partition was a tragedy that affects the world to this day, but overall the enduring survival of Indian democracy through these times of turmoil has been a wonderfully fortunate benefit to the world. It is easy to imagine a world where things had turned out differently. In terms of the prose, I did not enjoy Seth’s bland and relentless Realism. In nearly 1,500 pages, there is not a single sentence worth underlining, not a single interesting metaphor, and rarely anything resembling a profound authorial insight. Instead, the story is told in a flat style of alternating description and dialogue, with the omniscient narrator jumping freely between the thoughts of the different characters. This style has caused the book to be compared to some of the great works of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century, of which it is reminiscent. Many people seem to like this kind of writing, but it’s not my cup of tea. I’m rating this book more generously than its literary merits would seem to warrant. This is a very long novel, and though it is arguable whether many sections were essential to include, on the whole it paints a thoughtful, detailed and complex picture of post-independence India, with all the wonderful, as well as the disagreeable aspects of its culture. Indeed, the India of Seth’s novel is a land of contradictions, of inequality, of oppression, and yet of hope through the experiment of democracy. If nothing else, I will miss his characters, who, though they are a little saccharine (I don’t disagree with Paul Bryant's assessment ), are delightful companions with whom to undertake such a long journey. 2017 literary-fiction 58 likes Like Comment Sarah 106 reviews 24 followers September 8, 2017 Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy is one of the best books I've ever read in my entire life. It's a long book. But it is very engaging; I managed to read it in one stretch, with a break to sleep, while I awaited the movers to take me and my belongings across the country. To my chagrin I had completed it before my flight, and when it finished I didn't want the book to be over, I wanted to go back and re-read it from the beginning. It is one of the best books about life in India I've ever read, it is the anti-Kite Runner book. There is nothing trite or stereotyped about the characterization; it believably describes elements of society that are even oblique to people within the mainstream of modern Indian society; the plot is not simple, nor is it a convoluted mystery story. Writing this up I think I should go get it and read it again. Like most of my favorite books I gave it away a long time ago. foreverbooks 55 likes Like Comment Vartika 442 reviews 764 followers October 10, 2020 4.5 stars: A Great Indian Novel in both scale and scope Those familiar with the unique dramatic phenomenon that are Hindi television soaps would see why many tend to bring them up in comparison with A Suitable Boy : both are interminably long and contend, prima facie, with the quintessentially Indian concept of arranged marriage. And yet, this is where the similarities largely end, for Vikram Seth's delightful literary behemoth extends its scope beyond the personal destinies of its characters and deals, too, with that of the fledgling democracy within which their lives come together. At the center of this magnificent saga lies the young Lata Mehra, whose her mother's attempts to find her a suitable husband through love or through exacting maternal appraisal rope the reader into a story that intertwines four families—The Mehras, Chatterjees, Kapoors, and Khans—across a journey spanning vast tracts of Indian society, many of its vibrant cities, and the tumultuous year before the great elections in 1952 that officially turned the country into the world's largest democracy. The colourful cast of characters reflects people from various sections of society, from academic circles in Brahmpur to a class of anglicised professionals, poets, and foreign diplomats in Calcutta; from enterprising middle-class shoe tradesmen in Kanpur to the caste-oppressed leatherworkers and untouchable tenant farmers; from the Muslim gentry in Baitar to lower-caste muslim peasants in Rudhia; from courtesans and musicians living off of royal patronage to powerful politicians—the story is knitted, plain and purl, to display the diverse, multifaceted, and often tragic social fabric of the country. The author portrays delicacy and romance, humour and antagonism, rituals and riots, and the tragicomedy of their contingent coexistence through the immensity and realism of his pointed prose— A Suitable Boy is dramatic, but no more than lived reality, informed as it was by the painful memory of a communal Partition and the realities of class, gender, and (more prominently) caste becoming known through the electoral experiment of universal adult franchise. Seth manages to effortlessly weave into his narrative nuanced discussions on a rarely spoken about period in Indian history, including major events such as the passage and contingencies of the Zamindari Abolition Bill and the split in the Congress Party. I was pleasantly surprised to find issues such as coloniality, the oft-ignored intersection of caste with communal divide, and the Sanskritisation of 'Indian' culture and languages being discussed in what is essentially a love story with both effectiveness and subtlety. Unlike most tales in its genre, A Suitable Boy does not shy away from exploring how politics influences personal decisions, especially those concerning marriage. Arranged marriage, in particular, is a form of maintaining the prevalent hierarchies drawn along the lines of caste, class, ethnicity and religion, and therefore a 'suitable' match for Lata would, according to convention, be a Hindu and a Khatri. Whereas the author breaks prescription in some ways, he reaffirms them in others—is it perhaps too much to ask for a truly happy ending in a story set in the 1950s? Perhaps not, but it sure isn't realistic. In any case, the tale manages ample comedy in another sense of the word: given the richness of contextual humour and subtle play of words, light-hearted cultural commentary, and other deliberate jokes, I found myself laughing out loud at several points during this book, whereas the simplicity of language and fullness of detail certainly made it a delight to read. One of the most acclaimed books to come from the Indian subcontinent, A Suitable Boy does not disappoint: with its nuanced exploration of a host of serious themes and its serious physical bulk, it nevertheless remains light and well-rounded—much like life itself. 49 likes Like Comment Sue 1,322 reviews 591 followers February 28, 2017 A Suitable Boy takes place over the course of a year in an India which is adjusting not only to independence but to partition. Through the stories of some of the major families of Brahmpur, we observe and participate in not only the day to day activities of individuals but the workings of government, developing industry--some quite primitive, the existence of caste--though outlawed, religious hatred, and the search for love and marriage. There are beauty and violence, squalor and humor, festivals and riots. It is a very full year. At the center is Lata, searching for that "suitable" boy, the man she will marry.That quest is not finalized until the end of the novel and is worth reading about but so much more is happening. I came to this book with a smattering of knowledge about India and Indian beliefs and customs and come away with a feeling that I have learned enough to want to know more. This is a country both rich and poor: rich in tradition, rich in religious beliefs, rich in an amazing ability to pick itself up from disaster but poor in ability to distribute its wealth and to eliminate its history of castes (I do recognize that this novel is set in the 1950s), poor in eliminating government graft, and poor in eliminating inter-religious strife. All are on display here and have not been eliminated today. (I will not hesitate to say that the country I live in, and most others have many of the same problems to one degree or another.) But family is at the center of this novel and Lata at the center of one family. [Lata] wondered what one could do to be born happy, to achieve happiness, or to have it thrust on one. The baby, she thought, had arranged to be born happy; she was placid, and had as good a chance as anyone of happiness in this world...Pran and Savita, different though their backgrounds were, were a happy couple. They recognized limits and possibilities; their yearnings did not stretch beyond their reach. They loved each other---or, rather, had come to do so. They both assumed, without ever needing to state it--- or perhaps without even thinking explicitly about it---that marriage and children were a great good. ( pp 951-952) This is one of the examples for Lata to observe. Of course there are other, some decidedly less functional. This book does require a major investment of time and attention but for those who give it, there is a great return. Personally I find well written historical fiction a wonderful road to explore another culture. Highly recommended! favorites historical-fiction india ...more 41 likes Like Comment Rebecca Author 5 books 97 followers July 18, 2015 By the time I got to the end, I wanted to throw this book across the room, but by then I was exhausted. The book was too heavy to lift and heave properly, so I slapped the paperback covers with as much derision as I could manage. This is the longest book I’ve ever read. It’s the world’s 17th longest novel. Longer than Infinite Jest . Longer than War and Peace . You’d think they’d give me some sort of prize for reading all that. But what do I get instead? I get THAT ending? Some reviewers congratulate Vikram Seth for not indulging the romantic notions of readers who want a happy ending for his two star-crossed lovers. That elevates A Suitable Boy above tawdry romance novels. The thing is, if I read a whole book only to have the heroine choose the easy, boring choice, that is not a story . That is just someone doing the obvious, pedestrian things we go through every day. I stuck with this story for 1500 pages because I wanted to see how the girl would end up with the perfect but tragically unsuitable boy. And she didn’t! I am so annoyed and heartbroken. I was all set to give this book four stars. The boring parts—hundreds of pages of boring parts—would be forgiven because the good parts were so good. Ugh. But then I began turning those last pages with a sick, disgusted, wretched feeling. That cost the book two more stars. Now that I’m finished I have to keep telling myself it’s not real. It’s only a story. So then I should probably add a star back on because if it made me feel that emotional about it, that is effective. On some level. Not the best level, but I guess you can’t have everything. read-in-2015 summer-30-2015 40 likes Like Comment Tea Jovanović Author 346 books 732 followers June 15, 2013 Remek-delo Vikrama Seta! MUST READ... Odličan prevod Brane Radević... Još jedna indijska priča koja je postala savremeni klasik... editor-of-serbian-edition 40 likes Like Comment Megan Baxter 985 reviews 710 followers May 19, 2014 I was never entirely sure who belonged to what family in this book, but it never really bothered me. I mean, after we switched back to a different group of characters, I was able to reconstruct who they were related to fairly easily, but I never could hold the genealogies in my mind. Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here . In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook 34 likes Like Comment Alex 1,419 reviews 4,707 followers April 17, 2017 Dynasty in India is what this book really is, for all its allusions to Victorian novels. But sure, yes, it's longer than War & Peace, ensuring its place on the Books Your Friends Didn't Finish list: The Hawking Index according to me - Brief History of Time - Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell - Suitable Boy - Every book published before 1940 - The Bible And it shares with War & Peace a panoramic, many-charactered view of an entire society, against the backdrop of real events - here, the 1951 abolition of the feudal Zamindari system, and the taut relationship between Hindus and Muslims in post-colonial India, which had just divided itself in two in order to pack most of its Muslims off to Pakistan. Vikram Seth's real love is for Jane Austen, though, and the major plot is pure Austen: whom will Lata Mehra marry? The suitors include ambitious Haresh, who reads pessimistic Hardy; the poet and Seth stand-in Amit Chatterji, who (along with Lata herself) reads Austen; and the Muslim Kabir, who is in no way suitable and does not read novels (but he does act in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night). The other major plotline involves the growing up of Lata's brother-in-law Maan Kapoor, who has an affair with musical courtesan Saeeda Bai. These two families, the Mehras and the Kapoors, twine together throughout the book, along with the Chatterjis and the Muslim Khans. It can get confusing. Here are the major characters: MEHRAS (Rupa & dead husband) Arun (business douche) -> Meenakshi Chatterji daughter Aparna Varun (milquetoast) Savita -> Pran Kapoor Lata KAPOORS (Mahesh and Mrs.) Pran (professor) -> Savita Mehra Maan (Saeeda Bai, best friends with Firoz Khan) Veena -> Kedarnath Tandon the shoe guy son Bhaskar is good at math KHANS (Nawab Sahib of Baitar) Begun Abida Khan, sister-in-law politician Zainab (daughter) Imtiaz Firoz (into Tasneem, Saeeda Bai's younger sister; best friends with Maan Kapoor) CHATTERJIS (Justice & Mrs.) Amit - poet Meenakshi (a shitty person) -> Arun Mehra Dipankar (the religious one) Kakoli (silly but fun) Tapan (nobody cares about Tapan) EVERYONE ELSE Saeeda Bai the singing courtesan & her sister Tasneem - not a real sister LN Agarwhal (incompetent politician) Raja of Marh (asshole with gay son) Dr. Durrani (Muslim mathematician) Kabir Durrani (potential match for Lata) Haresh (ambitious shoemaker, potential Lata match) Malati (Lata's best friend) Whew. There are of course family trees at the beginning of the book that you should bookmark. My book club has also put together a glossary that may help you. (Thanks Kaion!) And I even made a Suitable Playlist on Spotify! It contains many of the songs mentioned in the book. The "Rise traveler, the sky is bright" song is "Uth, Jaag, Musafir." That's a lot of stuff, and this is a lot of book. It'll fully immerse you in Indian culture, which is neat. It's not difficult; it's still a soap opera, with lots of gossip and plot, and Seth writes cleanly. I found it hard to put down when I was reading it, but sometimes hard to pick up again when I wasn't. It didn't really grab me in an "I can't wait to keep reading" way until around 75%. But I really liked it. Nothing wrong with an Indian Dynasty. 2016 music rth-lifetime 34 likes Like Comment Danielle Franco-Malone 141 reviews 19 followers December 2, 2007 This is one of my five all time favorite books (along with the Handmaid's Tale, On Beauty, the Red Tent, & Corelli's Mandolin). It is a patch work story of many characters' lives; by the end of the story, you see how they all intersect. This was one of those books where when I finished the book I was completely invested in each of the character's life. The story is set in post-independence India and explores a number of social/political issues of the time (i.e. land reform, muslim-hindu relations, women's rights, arranged marriage, the caste system), but the political commentary doesn't hit you over the head, and the characters really drive the story. Despite my enthusiastic recommendations, I've had a hard time finding anyone to read this book! At 1379 pages it is apparently the longest book to be printed in English in one volume. However I found it to be a total page turner. Just resign yourself to the fact that you'll be reading this book for a couple of months and give it a try. top-10 very-faves 33 likes Like Comment Kansas 668 reviews 353 followers August 1, 2022 Un buen partido es una novela que transcurre entre 1951 y 1952 unos pocos años tras la independencia de la India, un pais multiétnico en pleno cambio y preparándose para sus primeras elecciones y Vikram Seth, su autor, para contarnos todos estos cambios sociales y politicos, nos la sitúa en la ciudad ficticia de Brahmpur alrededor de cuatro familias: los Kapoor, Khan, Chatterjis y finalmente los Mehra. Tres de estas familias están relacionadas por lazos familiares a través del matrimonio, los Khan, musulmanes, por lazos de amistad. Hindúes y musulmanes unidos y desunidos continuamente por esos lazos familiares y de amistad en una India inmersa en un continuo conflicto religioso y social. "Mide 1,65. Es alta, de piel no muy clara, pero atractiva e inteligente al estilo indio. Creo que su aspiración es llevar una vida tranquila, sin sobresaltos." Es la matriarca de los Mehra, Rupa Mehra, el personaje central y el hilo conductor que aúna los cuatro núcleos familiares. La búsqueda de un buen partido para su hija Lata por parte de su madre, Rupa Mehra, es la excusa para mostrarnos a la India de aquella época, un microcosmos en plena ebullición que ha dado el paso de la independencia y que sin embargo todavía está firmemente asentada en un colonianismo traumático, del cual se ven trazas muy firmes en algunos personajes de esta espléndida novela. Quizás pueden echar para atrás sus 1300 páginas, todo un tocho, y sin embargo, sin esa cantidad de páginas hubiera sido completamente imposible hacerse una idea del personaje principal de la novela, que realmente es la India. Hay muchos personajes pero la claridad en el estilo de Vikram Seth no hace complicado reconocerlos, todo lo contrario, poco a poco los vas reconociendo y te vas encariñando, incluso algunos más secundarios, los reconoces enseguida en cuanto aparecen tras varios cientos de páginas sin aparecer. Un consejo para leerla podría ser tomándotela como una serie de tv; la novela está dividida en 19 partes, cada parte como un capitulo de una serie y leer esa parte como un todo (al igual que vemos un capitulo de una serie del tirón). En fin, una tonteria pero podría ayudar para emprender una novela de estas características. "Cuando hay que hacer una cosa, hay que hacerla y punto. Un tio mío de Delhi cree que estoy contaminado, que he perdido la casta por trabajar con el cuero. Casta!" Es una novela además sobre raza y clases sociales, muy marcadas y diferenciadas y sin embargo, algunos personajes sirven como interconexión entre las diferentes clases sociales, personajes que al igual que el pais en pleno cambio, intentan evolucionar y ajustarse a los nuevos tiempos. En ese aspecto me parece espléndido el retrato que hace el autor de Arun, el hermano de Lata, que de alguna forma retrata ese colonianismo (mental) sofisticado y clasista de algunos indios incluso después de haberse independizado de los británicos, y por otra parte Haresh, un hombre hecho a si mismo, no perteneciente a a la élite clasista, y que de alguna forma demuestra lo que significan los nuevos tiempos por venir. "Lata se asombraba de que Haresh hubiera podido sacar tan buenas notas en la universidad y ganarse la vida al mismo tiempo. Pero su acento seguía molestándola (...) Reflexionó que Haresh, en sentido estricto, no estaba occidentalizado: percibía que en sus modales y su manera de expresarse se hallaban un poco a medio camino entre lo hindú y lo europeo." Es cierto que en este libro hay partes algo áridas referidas a la politica, al cricket y a la industria zapatera, pero es un problema completamente menor porque una vez que terminas esos capitulos explicativos, vuelves a disfrutar con las redes sociales que se van tejiendo en torno a todos estos personajes maravillosos y que una vez terminada la novela echas de menos como si hubieran formado parte de tu entorno más real. Savita, Maan, Pran, Amit, Kabir, Haresh, Rasheed, Firoz, Meenkashi, Malati, Mahesh Kapoor, Lata, Saeeda Bai ,... por nombrar a algunos, todos y cada uno de ellos muestran un rasgo identificativo de la India. Épica e inmensa novela. https://kansasbooks.blogspot.com/2022... 31 likes Like Comment Faroukh Naseem 181 reviews 180 followers March 22, 2016 I have always been impressed and awed by writers mainly because of the research and effort they put in to write the perfect tale and their imagination in bringing together characters and the details that govern each characters features... Vikram Seth has to be applauded for his effort (which seems to be such a petty word) when we talk about this Herculean book! **Extremely Mild Spoilers** The Basic plot is about Mrs. Rupa Mehra wanting to find a Suitable Boy for her youngest daughter, Lata but the story dwells into a lot lot more...Politics, Religion, intolerance, Shoe Making, Farming, Teaching...its like he has described what India literally would have felt like through the eyes of Mothers, daughters, ministers, Royals (Nawabs), Religious people, Actors, Musicians...You name it and VS has given you at least a hint on their insights to India. At its heart it really is about India, and how India deals with suddenly having to take care of itself instead of being told how to 'take care' of itself by the British.... The way minute details are dealt with is exemplary and the vocabulary used is very easy to comprehend although some words were totally new to me. The way he understood Islamic laws for example prove the detailed manner in which he must have spoken to religious scholars. And how he describes the shoe making process starting from the sacrifice of the animal...to the finished product... The chapters are long (80 pages approx) and they swing between Brahmpur/Calcutta/Delhi/Kanpur. The court scenes really bored me and more so because i reached the first one on a weekend where i excitedly woke up at 6 to read. I've never really appreciated poetry because of the cheesiness but i loved some of the poetry included in the book (and VS being a poet couldn't refrain from including dozens) , And i was glad! Some of the characters you long for while reading and VS made sure you cant get enough of so many of them. One Character i was so excited about was Zainab but she doesn't really show up later in the book. My favorites were and you will know why when you read the book - Maan, Zainab's Cameo, Dipankar, Saeeda Begum, Dr. Durrani, Rasheed. But my absolute favorite hands down was Mrs Rupa Mehra. I have used so many tags to mark pages of hers...! The way i could picture so many of my aunts acting like Rupa Mehra was hilarious....! That is one fictional Character i could literally relate someone to :) I don't want to get into too much details and spoil a mammoth book for anyone of you who might be interested in giving away at least a month of your reading time...But i really wish people would read such books to give them not just a great reading experience but a lifetime experience about how life has always been complicated, not just for us but our parents and theirs... favorites 28 likes Like Comment El 1,355 reviews 497 followers November 23, 2012 For Thanksgiving 2010 I spent the day finishing up Infinite Jest . For a while there I thought maybe I'd always try to finish up some sort of behemoth on Thanksgiving day, since the day to me means staying in my jammies and watching The Godfather on TV while I read. The food involved can easily be made while reading or the Boyfriend steps up and makes the yummies. But then last year I went with a a shorter book choice which I was able to read all on Thanksgiving. Boy, was that a mistake. But then it so happened that I wasn't able to finish this book when I had anticipated (which was about a month ago), so it wound up getting to be close to Thanksgiving. Could I finish it off on Turkey Day? You challenging me?? Yeah, I finished it today. And it feels good. It's a different kind of feeling than what I experienced with Infinite Jest. A Suitable Boy is another whopper of a book, but even the parts I didn't necessarily understand still made more sense to me than most parts of Infinite Jest. Infinite Jest was work , albeit a fun flavor of work most of the time. A Suitable Boy felt like I was in a different country (hello, India!), totally immersed in the culture. When I get right down to it, that's what I have loved about A Suitable Boy - the flavor dripping from each page. This isn't just a story; it's an experience. The reader experiences the music, the food, the costumes, the scents, the emotions, the politics, and the family dynamics. I can't remember the last time I read a book with so many layers . I started out reading this alongside Freedom at Midnight , hoping that book would help me understand some of the politics I didn't know much about going into it. And it did, probably more than I had originally expected. At first my biggest question was why Seth decided to write a book about the Republic of India in 1952, when it seems the logical (maybe laziest? easiest?) starting point should have been 1947, during the Partition. But then a couple things became obvious to me. One was that 1952 was an important year too, it was an election year. Anyone who pays attention to politics in our own country knows just how important an election year is, and just how effing crazy everything gets. That's not exclusive just to the United States. Now imagine it's the first national election after gaining independence. Yeah, that sounds crazy-making. The other thing that became obvious was what I read in the author bio at the beginning of the book (which, for some reason, I didn't read at first). Vikram Seth himself was born 1952. Now, maybe that's just a coincidence, but maybe it's not. Maybe Seth was writing his own personal history in these 1400+ pages. It's evident to me he poured his heart and soul into this work. Seems to me this was an important novel for him to write. Makes sense to me. Somewhere in all this political turmoil and unrest is a love story, or a few different love stories. There's a huge genealogy here - the family tree at the beginning of the book helps considerably, but an understanding of the entire tree is not completely necessary in enjoying the book. The chapters flow by easily, it's not a difficult read, aside from the fact that the book itself breaks your wrists as you hold it. As one reads, the genealogy comes together on its own. My point is, don't stress about it. I was most invested in Lata's story since that's where the title comes from and also I am a girl and sometimes find myself drawn towards other girls in literature. Lata and I have had completely different upbringings and family dynamics, but I can still relate to her on some level. She's an interesting character, and I believe she's the first woman in her family to have a sense of - and desire for - independence. Finding 'a suitable boy' and getting married is not her goal in life, not at this point. She's educated, going to college, she gets a part in a school play, she has some love interest(s), she's doing her own thing. She's doing her . But society isn't ready for that. With all of the changes the society is going through, fully independent women is not quite where it is yet in 1952. Lata's family isn't thrilled with it and ultimately Lata needs to make a decision with how she will proceed. Seth makes it all seem absolutely riveting. I don't know what else to say. Rumor has it (although I think it's beyond rumor stage at this point) that Seth is working on a sequel, A Suitable Girl. If it's anything as wonderful as A Suitable Boy I think we're all in for a treat. If, however, as I fear, he's just banking on the popularity of A Suitable Boy... then it could be quite the loser and snoozer. But he's won me over with this one and I will be excited to see what comes next. And, because I'm a serious nerd, I hope it's as much a whopper of a book as this one. "Oh, I don't know how it grew to be so long," said Amit. "I'm very undisciplined. But I too hate long books: the better, the worse. If they're bad, they merely make me pant with the effort of holding them up for a few minutes. But if they're good, I turn into a social moron for days, refusing to go out of my room, scowling and growling at interruptions, ignoring weddings and funerals, and making enemies out of friends. I still bear the scars of Middlemarch." (p 1370-71) 1001-books-list 20th-centurylit-late anarchism-revolutions ...more 27 likes Like Comment Emilia 10 reviews 4 followers October 23, 2020 a wonderful book, the most beautiful I've ever read. I love it! india 22 likes Like Comment Margitte 1,188 reviews 594 followers March 3, 2014 The book blurb says it all. I will only add my comments. While reading this monumental novel of 1535 pages, I was wondering how much of the original offering was edited out to end up with this number of pages as the final result! I also wondered, while ploughing through it, how much of the existing book can be cut out and still leave the essential core. Probably half of it. Compared to Barbara Kingsolver and Yung Chang, Vikram Seth needed twice as much pages to tell similar stories as these two authors. So yes, it was a long-winded journey: a story of India after Partition, that was told through the eyes of four extended families with each member profiled to the last red spot of paan on the teeth. This book really celebrates the good, the bad and the ugly of humankind. Mrs. Rupa Mehra, with her daughter,Lata, get the train rolling when it becomes time to find a suitable husband for Lata. India in all its colorful splendor is presented to the reader to almost the puking stage, to be really honest! But how fascinating the journey! Enough! Enough! Enough! I often wanted to just run away, and I did, since it is the end of the financial year (February) and what is normally a quiet relaxed month turned out to be one of the craziest in recent history. But each evening I sneaked off to bed and grabbed the book as though my life depended on it. In retrospect this book was amazing. The drama lasted the entire 1535 pages and that really makes this book outstanding! There's no villains, only ordinary people writing their own histories while living their lives. I do not want to add too much spoilers and blow the plot, or give away the story. But I cannot leave out one of the most outstanding moments in the book, for me: it was the passing of a mother and it had me crying like losing my own. " She had dispersed. She was the garden at Prem Nivas (soon to be entered into the annual Flower Show), she was Veena's love of music, Pran's asthma, Maans generosity, the survival of some refugees four years ago, the neem leaves that would preserve quilts stored in the great zinc trunks of Prem Nivas, the moulting feathers of some pond herons, a small unrung brass bell, the memory of decency in an indecent time, the temperament of Bhaskar's great-grandchildren, indeed, for all the Minister of Revenue's impatience with her, she was his regret. And it was right that she should continue to be so, for he should have treated her better while she lived, the poor, ignorant, grieving fool." Much of India's modern history could have been my own country's. Even the name of political parties, the titles of new bills, the speeches made in parliament, the way landowners got treated, sounded like it was written for South Africa. Much of the events are disturbingly similar. In fact, it is a blueprint and it turned my stomach upside down. Not that it is a surprise, but it is still upsetting to experience. I liked this book. It was a brilliant presentation of Mother India and all her beautiful children. drama family-sagas historical-fiction ...more 23 likes Like Comment John Anthony 815 reviews 116 followers May 1, 2018 I can’t believe that I’ve finished reading this – almost 1500 pages of it. I’ve been daunted by this 3” of book for years but finally I can now look the paper doorstep in the eye/spine and smile. But my life now seems so flat, so quiet, so dull (and cold!) after being in India for so long. Time there certainly didn’t drag! The British have been gone 3 or 4 years at the outset of the book. The continent has been partitioned and the resulting fledgeling independent states of India and Pakistan are simmering away like two pressure cookers. For the last few weeks I’ve divided my time largely between Brahmpur, Calcutta and Delhi but I’ve spent time in the sticks too, with all that that entails. I’ve enjoyed my time with various families (well, most of the time) and followed the national and local political scenes closely. I saw the lovely Savita married to a very suitable boy Pran. Then the fun starts all over again with her sister, Lata, as their Ma begins the quest for a suitable partner for her too. Lata is very special and will always have a place in my heart. Reading this I was reminded of that deliciously camp Bollywood movie, Bride and Prejudice (?)loosely based on Miss Austen’s novel. Plenty of drama, laughter, tears in all three. The story lines in A Suitable Boy are strong, the characters brilliantly drawn, worthy of Jane with even a nod at times to an Indian version of Charlie Dickens. I could easily imagine this mighty tome being written and serialised weekly as was Dickens’ wont. But, back to Jane again and Pride and Prejudice. The title she gave to her book would work equally well for Vikram Seth’s creation. I could ramble further but I won’t. Please read this book if you haven’t done so already. It is well worthy of 5 ***** -a mixture of scarlet and gold. But I’m feeling a tad mean about all those Hindu festivals and all the hocus pocus of ceremony/superstition I endured and now feel I must get to grips with. fiction india 22 likes Like Comment Anna 239 reviews 87 followers July 18, 2021 Over 1500 pages - and finally finished! I was looking forward to it in a way, but at the same time, not really, not any more. It took me a while to adjust to the multitude of characters and plots. I wondered occasionally if perhaps both the author and the editor forgot what this work was supposed to be about, but now, having spent a sizable portion of my time of the last two months among the clans of Mehras, Chatterjis, Kapoors and Khans, watching them in private and in official capacities, in politics, business and at home, in sickness and in health, in friendship, joy, love and sorrow - I feel something of a mixture of awe and abandonment. As the title suggests it is a story of the search for a suitable boy, but perhaps in a truly Indian fashion it is much more than that. It is a saga of India, and Indian society with all its intricate detail, at the time of one mothers search for a suitable husband for her daughter. A perfect description of what it is like, is in the following words of one of the characters: ‘What is it like to write a novel?’ asked Lata. ‘I don’t know exactly,’ said Amit. ‘This is my first novel, and I’m in the process of finding out. At the moment it feels like a banyan tree’ ‘I see,’ said Lata although she didn’t. ‘What I mean is,’ continued Amit, ‘it sprouts, and grows, and spreads and drops down branches that become trunks or intertwine with other branches. Sometimes the main trunk dies, and the structure is held up by the supporting trunks. When you go to the Botanical Garden you’ll see what I mean. It has its own life - but so do the snakes and birds and bees and lizards and termites that live in it and on it and off it. But then it is also like the Ganges in its upper, middle and lower courses - including its delta - of course.’ …. Only one thing remains - here is a banyan tree… 2021 ed-audio ed-paper ...more 22 likes Like Comment John 1,309 reviews 105 followers September 26, 2022 An epic where a girl gets a boy. I will miss Lata, her mother, Pran, Arun, Varun, Kabir, Amit, Haresh, Maan, Firoz and all the other characters. The political machinations, the insane caste system and the tension between Muslim and Hindu all create an enthralling story. India four years after independence was a fascinating and entertaining read. 21 likes Like Comment Ted 515 reviews 742 followers December 3, 2018 Have to remove this one. I know I liked it, but at over 1300 pages, and occupying almost 2 inches of shelf space, it must go. I have to admit I remember little about the novel, except enjoying the story very much when I read it. (Given that, it could be argued that a 3 rating would make more sense? But no.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Previous review: Song of Solomon Next review: The Sweet Forever George Pelecanos Later review: Inventing the Middle Ages Previous library review: The God of Small Things Next library review: The First Man in Rome lit-india 20 likes Like Comment Beverly 892 reviews 350 followers October 15, 2017 India has fascinated me ever since I saw the television adaptation of Paul Scott's The Raj Quartet called The Jewel in the Crown for tv. A Suitable boy takes place in the early 1950s just as India is grappling with her independence from Britain. There is a great deal of history here about Nehru's Congress Party and the Zamindari Act which took land from rich feudal owners and redistributed it to the workers who had lived and worked on it all their lives. It sounds dry, but is explained well through the story of 4 interconnected, middle class families along with their social mores and religious values, Hindu and Moslem. My favorite character and the main character is Lata. the lovely, college-attending, youngest daughter of the Mehras family. Essentially it is the search for a mate for her and describes 3 young men who may be the one. 18 likes Like Comment James Henderson 2,096 reviews 162 followers May 12, 2019 This is a novel of India set in the early 1950s just after the partition. In it, Vikram Seth provides a window into the culture and history of India at an early critical juncture in its history: the political and cultural climate five years after the country gained its independence from Great Britain in 1947. At the center of the novel is a romance about a young girl, Lata, whose mother, Mrs. Rupa Mehra, is searching for a "suitable boy" for her to marry. The novel's opening section succeeded in immediately arresting my attention. Some of the most notable aspects of the novel include the subtle ways that the author suggests the continuing cultural influence of England, from the impact of literary awards to the reading habits of several of the characters. Whether politics, religion, industry, university life, medicine, or law is the subject, each aspect is motivated by a character who is first and foremost a member of a family. The novel stresses loyalty to the extended family and considers this involvement as protection against a harsh world. The thirty or so family members along with an array of supporting characters emerge as memorable individuals. While Seth reveals their comic and absurd sides, he always treats them humanely. The novel is a tour de force that demonstrates his skill in writing, knowledge of India, and his ability to marry the charms of a classical romance novel within the broad reach of an historical family and national saga. Without disclosing the plot details I can only assure the reader that it is worth all 1400+ pages. The thematic development of the clash between Hindu and Muslim cultures is particularly well portrayed with the impact of historical events on the national level mirrored by dramatic events among the main families whose lives fill the plot and subplots of the novel. It is rare that such a long book is both an entertaining read and an intellectually satisfying challenge. Vikram Seth has more than succeeded in both areas. historical-fiction indian-lit u-of-chicago 18 likes Like Comment Shriya 285 reviews 176 followers February 20, 2015 A fact : I never ever understood how postpartum depression works or why women suffer from it. Yet another fact: Having finished A Suitable Boy arouses similar feelings in a reader as postpartum depression in a new Mum. Why? Well, by the you finish reading one of the longest English novels ever written and the longest English Novel written by an Indian and that Indian is Vikram Seth, you're kind of used to the story, the characters, the way their life goes on. So, when you turn the last page of something that has sprained your wrists for days, you certainly feel the sense of accomplishment which matches in effort if not in pain, to delivering a baby but at the same time you're depressed you'd NEVER be able to read this book again for the first time, that its time with you in that unique one to one bond, though cherished, will never be intimate in the same sense as before. Having expressed my feelings, thus, I will now proceed to review one of my favourite author's biggest masterpiece. To all those who wonder and have asked me, "Is there a dull moment or dry spells in the book? : NO! Not one! Not half a page and no, my blind love for Vikram Seth doesn't make me say so. In fact, as I said weeks ago about The Color Purple , it is as complete in every sense as a book could be. I love how Vikram Seth seems to have a laugh at everyone including himself. I love how his mother's life was the theme for this story. And I love how if you're remotely interested in anything in the world, be in Schubert or Classical Indian Music, Post Independence History or Indian Politics, Religion or Riots, English Lietrature or poems by Urdu/Arabic/Persian poets like Mast, Daagh, Minai or Rumi, you will not fail to love this book! Vikram Seth's characters are a class apart, supremely hilarious even in the gravest of situations, laughably filmy and over dramatic and yet as close to being real as characters could be. They don't claim to be perfect, they all have flaws, you will probably be angry at one or more of them during the course of the novel but you will not fail to love them despite all their faults! Should you read it? Certainly! I don't see why being daunted by the length of the novel, you should miss on something so exquisitely well written as this book. Will you regret spending a thousand bucks/ a couple of pounds/ a few dollars? Not at all if you claim to love literature for it is the finest piece of contemporary literature there is! Any tip for how to go about it? 1.If you're Indian, try and think of Bollywood film stars for every character. That makes the book even more fun and more lucid than it already is but that's entirely optional! 2. Have someone else read it with you, a friend or someone from your book club. You need to keep discussing it and gushing about it with someone. It's like Harry Potter that way! More than just a good read! Rather, a BRILLIANT read and already my novel of the year! books-i-own favourites tome-travelling 16 likes Like Comment George Ilsley Author 12 books 277 followers July 19, 2021 This is a fat volume, the sort of hefty tome French Canadians call a "brick." I read this brick during a quiet period, while stuck in bed with a couple of broken ribs and too much pain-filled time on my hands. This incredible book was the ideal distraction. It had been sitting around, its intimidating heft discouraging any previous attempt to get into it. However, once I started, it was perfect. I totally fell in love with this novel! It feels like a classic, because of its sweep and its massive bulk. Totally worthwhile and fascinating. I hope to read it again, this time preferably on a beach vacation, immobilized by sloth instead of pain. Rarely does a novel feel this completely rich and satisfying. fiction india modern-classic 16 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,036 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 41 quotes 23 discussions 22 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. 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The Forging of a Black Community: Seattle's Central District from 1870 through the Civil Rights Era by Quintard Taylor | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $18.99 Rate this book The Forging of a Black Community: Seattle's Central District from 1870 through the Civil Rights Era Quintard Taylor , Norm Rice 3.99 78 ratings 10 reviews Want to read Kindle $18.99 Rate this book Through much of the twentieth century, black Seattle was synonymous with the Central District―a four-square-mile section near the geographic center of the city. Quintard Taylor explores the evolution of this community from its first few residents in the 1870s to a population of nearly forty thousand in 1970. With events such as the massive influx of rural African Americans beginning with World War II and the transformation of African American community leadership in the 1960s from an integrationist to a "black power" stance, Seattle both anticipates and mirrors national trends. Thus, the book addresses not only a particular city in the Pacific Northwest but also the process of political change in black America. Genres History Nonfiction Race Urban Planning Cities College 376 pages, Paperback First published January 1, 1994 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Quintard Taylor 18 books 7 followers Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.99 78 ratings 10 reviews 5 stars 21 (26%) 4 stars 37 (47%) 3 stars 18 (23%) 2 stars 2 (2%) 1 star 0 (0%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews Graham 6 reviews November 20, 2018 The book is an excellent historical survey of the black community in Seattle covering the social, civic and economic activities of its inhabitants. It offers many insights to the origins and particular strains of institutional racism found here along with a survey of black/asian relations in the city. The book falls short in that it acknowledges the many local civil rights organizations of the day and their commitment to equality, but doesnt acknowledge that the quelling of the left, by liberal institutions, hindered efforts to keep, improve and ultimately realize Seattle's black neighborhood as truely equal with the rest of the city. The book was written in 1994 so maybe it was a sign of the times in academia 🤷‍♂️. That being said, this is an important work and definitley worth the read. 2 likes Like Comment fletch 25 reviews 6 followers November 28, 2007 Excellent and enlightening case history of the Central District: "Racial toleration is meaningless if people are excluded from the vital economic center and relegated to the margins of the urban economy. Seattle, whether in the 1870s or the 1960s, provided substantive evidence of the limits of a racial liberalism incompatible with economic inclusion. Indeed Seattle's apparent success, and its underlying failure, in its race relations paradigm has been its meticulously crafted image which promoted the illusion of inclusion." Since this book places more focus on interactions between Seattle's Black & Asian communities (as opposed to other histories that only report on black-white relations), I expected more discussion about the famed Gang of Four (Larry Gossett, Bob Santos, Roberto Maestas, and Bernie Whitebear). But maybe that developed after the Civil Rights Era, so it wasn't quite within the boundaries of his study. 1 like Like Comment Marlene Lewis 1 review October 10, 2023 Scholarly research and passionate commitment combine with eminently readable prose in this exploration of the emerging Black community in Seattle from frontier origins through the sometimes turbulent '60s. Taylor includes many historic photos that bring to life the history he relates through bad times and good, discouraging and hopeful. Like Comment Josephine Ensign Author 5 books 50 followers May 8, 2017 Fascinating, troubling, and illuminating, this now almost classic narrative history is a must-read for anyone calling Seattle home. Like Comment Lilya 105 reviews April 13, 2023 Somewhat outdated language and terms. One of the only books to write about this specific topic and did so well. I wish there was literature on later migration patterns. Like Comment Lonnie 23 reviews 2 followers November 12, 2021 What a great book with so many important lessons for how to organize today. Like Comment Faye 370 reviews April 28, 2014 The best thing about this text was the angle of the scholarship. Meaning, it explored a relatively un-researched population. I found the account too sterile and academic. I guess I prefer my scholarship in the narrative and I was spoiled because I read this right after Leon Litwack's Trouble in Mind. Like Comment Mike 50 reviews 5 followers September 26, 2007 I really don't read enough history books to know, but I think this is a pretty solid book. Like Comment Enrique 42 reviews 6 followers January 21, 2012 I enjoy his lectures on the UW channel here in Seattle. I need to read more of his works so that I might see what else he knows about Seattle's rich history. Like Comment Phillip 905 reviews 5 followers May 23, 2016 Dense with information but easy to follow and well organized. Brings outsiders perspective to Local History cities own pacific-northwest ...more Like Comment Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. 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Invisible Sun (Empire Games, #3) by Charles Stross | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Empire Games #3 Invisible Sun Charles Stross , Kate Reading ( Narrator ) 4.22 1,254 ratings 122 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book The alternate timelines of Charles Stross’ Empire Games trilogy have never been so entangled than in Invisible Sun —the techno-thriller follow up to Dark State —as stakes escalate in a conflict that could spell extermination for humanity across all known timelines. A inter-timline coup d'etat gone awry. A renegade British monarch on the run through the streets of Berlin. And robotic alien invaders from a distant timeline flood through a wormhole, wreaking havoc in the USA. Can disgraced worldwalker Rita and her intertemporal extraordaire agent of a mother neutralize the livewire contention between their respective timelines before it's too late? Genres Science Fiction Fiction Alternate History Fantasy Thriller Audiobook Espionage ...more 12 pages, Audiobook First published September 28, 2021 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Charles Stross 151 books 5,646 followers Charles David George "Charlie" Stross is a writer based in Edinburgh, Scotland. His works range from science fiction and Lovecraftian horror to fantasy. Stross is sometimes regarded as being part of a new generation of British science fiction writers who specialise in hard science fiction and space opera. His contemporaries include Alastair Reynolds, Ken MacLeod, Liz Williams and Richard Morgan. SF Encyclopedia: http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/... Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_... Tor: http://us.macmillan.com/author/charle... Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.22 1,254 ratings 122 reviews 5 stars 539 (42%) 4 stars 492 (39%) 3 stars 185 (14%) 2 stars 31 (2%) 1 star 7 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews Bradley Author 5 books 4,426 followers August 16, 2021 The good and the bad. First of all, ya'll should know I'm a big Stross fanboy -- and have been ever since Accelerando and hardly anything he's ever written since then has come off as anything less than extremely interesting. I didn't even have a problem with the Eschaton's get out of jail free card. However... this book, with some admittedly awesome ideas interspersed throughout, didn't land the way it should have. Even Charlie called it in the apology at the end of the novel. It was plagued by 2020 and the tragic death of his editor and probably a bit of burnout on a massive multiple-timeline alternate history geopolitical nightmare of a tale that was originally planned to be TWO more books rather than this rushed, smaller, single capstone. Don't get me wrong here. I loved these spin-offs of the Merchant Princes with its Cold War sensibilities and escalations between whole earth timelines where history came out VERY different. The idea behind it and the execution has been pretty awesome. Better than the Merchant Princes originals, even. Machiavellian politics and hardliner misunderstandings about what a NUKE happens to be is a very precious thing to me. Think Renaissance Italy coming up against American Politics with a whole bunch of cold war spies hopping between timelines and you've got a good picture. So what happened? This one felt rushed. When we're heading up to not just 2, but alt worlds 3, 4, and 5, with a world blasted to hell in one, and we're dealing with joint ventures to MARS, when there are succession issues in some and all-out military coups in another and things get very, very hairy indeed, I found myself feeling a bit short-changed on the character front. The basic plots were great, the tech and the drill-down of the complications are FANTASTIC and even mind-blowing, in perfect Stross style -- but I gradually found out, much to my chagrin, that I wanted to savor it. I would have been much happier with spending a lot more time with the characters, being reintroduced in a more fluid way, let them find new loves, obsessions, etc, before throwing them into the soup. In other words, I think I would have preferred two books instead of one short capstone. I think Stross's normally excellent quality got strangled by a time deadline and/or the desire to just FINISH it and move on. I can't blame him, but I can feel pity for the series. This is NOT a bad book, mind you. I'm being harsh because I've loved the others and just wanted to see it put to bed with all the accolades it should have deserved. I mean, seriously, this is some funky-cool s**t going on. I just wanted more for it. 2021-shelf sci-fi worldbuilding-sf 31 likes Like Comment Peter Tillman 3,749 reviews 415 followers January 30, 2024 Absolutely first-rate novel. Right up with his best. Far, far better than the mediocre #2, "Dark State." Suffers a bit from its long gestation, but once it gets into high gear.... WHAM. Literally MEGATONS of fun! Don't start here, if you are new to the series. Start at EMPIRE GAMES (#1), consider skipping the so-so middle book -- and you will be ready for this one. High Concept and High Action Stross at his best! 4.7 stars. I read Invisible Sun as Stross's tribute to the late physicist Freeman Dyson, who worked on the first attempt at the ORION spaceship in the 1960s, for General Atomic.* Dyson was one of the premier Space Cadets among serious physicists of the 20th (and early 21st) century. And hands down the best scientist-writer during that period. If you've missed his essay collections, start with "Disturbing the Universe," which amounts to a memoir. Well, they all are, but that one is his first & best, IMO. I have a copy OH for reread. The novel's title is another nod to Dyson, I'm almost certain: a Dyson Sphere would render its sun invisible to visible-light astronomers. And Stross has Forerunners vs a Deeply Advanced hive-machine civilization that is VERY aggressive and VERY scary.... To say more would spoil it for you. One of the coolest parts of the book! Here's the author's preview for what he says is definitely the last Merchant Princes book,#9 in a series he's been writing since 2001: "During the process of writing an adventure yarn slightly longer than War and Peace, I realized that I had become obsessed with the economic consequences of time-line hopping. If world walkers can carry small goods and letters between parallel universes where history has taken wildly divergent courses, they can take advantage of differences in technological development to make money. But what are the limits? How far can a small group of people push a society? Making themselves individually or collectively rich is a no-brainer, but can a couple of thousand people from a pre-industrial society leverage access to a world similar to our own to catalyse modernization? And if so, what are the consequences?" More: http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-... ------ *There's a good book on the ORION project, by his son George. at-slo-paso-bg-pa high-priority reread-list ...more 26 likes Like Comment Alan 1,169 reviews 137 followers November 26, 2021 Oops, I did it again. I seem to have recently made a habit (accidentally, I swear!) of skipping entries in series by various authors—I did this with Tim Powers ' Forced Perspectives , as well as with Richard Kadrey 's King Bullet , the finale to his Sandman Slim series. To some extent, I can blame the vagaries of my local library—it's rare for me to see all three books of a trilogy together on the shelf, even when the whole thing's been out for awhile. But really it's my own fault, for not keeping better track of my to-read list (aka "Mount TBR"). And now here I've done it again, with Invisible Sun , the rousing finale to Charles Stross ' Merchant Princes series. I did read Empire Games in 2017, and I do have Dark State , the middle volume, on my to-read list... but when I saw Invisible Sun on the shelf, I just had to pick it up. Maybe that was the right call; my Goodreads friend Peter T. recently suggested that Dark State was kinda... forgettable anyway. I was almost lost at the beginning of Invisible Sun , though, despite fourteen pages or so of timeline data, "Main Character Profiles" and a "Principal Cast List"—after that background information, Stross indulges in his propensity for high-speed, high-density information transfer in a way I don't think he's managed since Accelerando . But he makes it work—even if you (like me) have only been intermittently dipping into this series, you won't be lost if you pay attention. But for heaven's sake, don't start here. * I really did like this conclusion to Stross' nine-book series, despite occasionally feeling rushed. One thing I really liked: although he leaves it until rather late in the book, Stross succinctly describes something very close to what I think has to be the way parallel universes must work, if they exist at all: Every quantum event that produces divergent outcomes that a human-scale observer perceives forces a split between time lines. But most such divergences are insignificant: and they ultimately re-merge. It doesn't matter how a butterfly flaps its wings if nobody sees it, and eventually the bug collector goes home and memories fade and only the significant paths remain detectable. —p.300 This explains not just Stross' individual concept of the multiverse, but the primary narrative necessity of alternative timelines in general—why it is that the alternities we can get to have any visible, interesting differences from our own universe at all . The possibilities aren't infinite after all—they clump up . * I haven't talked about the specifics of plot or character here, and that's intentional— Invisible Sun is the end of a road that started many volumes and hundreds of thousands of words ago, after all, and pretty much any details I share would be spoilers for someone . Just know that the people you liked (and the ones you loved to hate) in Empire Games are, for the most part, back in Invisible Sun , and—pretty much—they all get exactly what they deserve. More or less. Oh, and there are aliens. Mustn't forget the aliens... because they sure as hell won't forget us . 7 likes Like Comment Aidan 35 reviews 28 followers July 28, 2021 I can’t blame Charles Stross for thinking Invisible Sun must be cursed. The capper to a series originating almost twenty years ago, it’s been serially delayed by family tragedies, the loss of a longtime editor, burnout, and COVID. It'd have been understandable if it’d never been finished. Unfortunately, reading Invisible Sun is a bit like opening the FedEx™ Tom Hanks delivers at the end of Cast Away; I’m grateful it’s arrived, and honoured by the herculean effort behind this small parcel. But the contents are past their best-by, banged up by the journey, and a bit small next to the saga of their arrival. 2.5 stars, rounded up because it'd be churlish not to. ————— To be clear, Invisible Sun isn’t a ~bad~ novel: it understands its genre, stays reasonably true to its characters, and delivers at least two spectacular para-time set pieces on the way to wrapping up a sprawling series plot. But much is sacrificed to resolve plot threads. Baroque-but-interesting frills like Mormon-Adventist rivalry in US intel services or the view from Imperial France are sidelined ruthlessly, and a War-of-the-Worlds-esque omniscient narrator has to intrude regularly with info-dumps. Prominent issues from past books — Rita’s ultimate loyalties, Elizabeth’s willingness to actually defect, the Americans’ choice between paranoid fanaticism and realpolitik pragmatism — are mentioned briefly and collapsed quickly. This’d be fine if the novel was as propulsive as its lovingly-described bombers and subs and spacecraft, but it’s a bumpy, occasionally baggy ride. The book starts with inevitable reminders about the characters, their relationship to each other, last book’s plot, etc. etc., but Stross feels the need to jog our memory almost Every. Single. Time. we shift perspective right to the bitter end. So yes, by page 400 I’m definitely solid on the fact Miriam is Rita’s birth mother and Juggernaut is a copy of Project ORION, I’ve got it, no need to awkwardly wedge that info into expository dialogue once more, but it’ll happen at least twice again before the book is over. Which is, uh, some time yet. The foreshadowing can be as frustrating as the recaps. A few times we’re given a triumphant swell of plot music as the Wolf Orchestra decisively swings into action and fine details of Elizabeth’s phone determine her future destiny, except they…don’t? The book feels littered with these little leftovers from earlier drafts, emotional dead links that don’t click through. And yet our omniscient narrator also lays out how the baddies can be beaten in such a way any experienced reader can immediately and comprehensively guess the end. Yes, Chehov’s nukes over the fireplace are totally going off in the third act, we might guess how, but I’d rather not be *told* in advance. There are plenty of other gripes to be had, from a frankly clichéd choice of baddies (whose motivations to Kill All Humans is at odds with a civilizational MO that seemingly doesn’t care about terrestrial planets? At all? Shouldn’t they be terrorising Jupiter instead? Asking for a friend?), to timeline numbering glitches to a character whose hair changes from blue to green to blue over three scenes without comment. All these nitpicks sap momentum, but Invisible Sun is hampered even more by its curious untimeliness. Some of this is plain bad luck; in 2017 you could still get mileage out of fears of a hyper-competent paranoid infosec state, but Trump and Brexit happened and those nightmares just don’t land the way they used to. Yet at its heart this is really a novel about the Cold War, with evocations of grand para-time strategy, nuclear everything, and (many, many) comparisons to the Eastern Bloc. Which is fine, you can write about the Cold War and the Bush years, but don’t be surprised if it doesn’t always feel relevant. While our parcel was struggling to be delivered, the world moved on. 5 likes Like Comment Eric 824 reviews 7 followers May 17, 2023 Delayed for reasons the author explained in his blog and in the postscript to this book. This was worth the wait, though. Edit: have read twice now, I think, and the decision to paginate is a nice excuse to reread soon ;) (5-16-23) alternate-history sci-fi thriller 5 likes Like Comment Kara Babcock 1,992 reviews 1,441 followers December 9, 2021 Oops, I am only now realizing as I sit down to write this review that I read Empire Games , the first book in this trilogy, but not Dark State , the second. When Invisible Sun came out earlier this year, I was just so excited to get back to this story that I forgot to check if I was caught up! Turns out I was not. So, if you are wondering if you can read this book without reading the one prior … the answer is yes. Charles Stross brings this trilogy to a conclusion with a bang—several hundred nuclear bangs, I should say. In one timeline very similar to ours, NSA spooks hunt a refugee from another timeline. She’s a princess, or at least could be, and politically valuable to all the players in this game. Meanwhile, in her home timeline, Miriam Burgeson (née Beckstein) and her daughter, Rita Douglas, do a delicate dance during the mourning period for the First Man. If either steps awry, it might possibly spell the end of this experiment in democracy. Finally, in a timeline where humanity is extinct but a mysterious Dome encloses a gate to yet another parallel timeline, the invasion of a swarm of machine intelligences threatens to spill out across all the timelines we might care about. My experience with Stross has rather mirrored the trajectory of his own writing career. I used to be very much into far-future, posthuman science fiction that posited nigh-omnipotent artificial intelligences and such. After I had my fill of such stories, however, I started to get bored. I dip my toe back into that subgenre here and there, but I have also appreciated Stross’s urban fantasy and near-future science fiction, including this series and its prequel series. I was a little hard on Empire Games , and honestly, Invisible Sun didn’t offer up anything else new in comparison. But it got the job done, if you know what I mean. There’s just something very enchanting about how Stross writes, something that makes me want to keep reading and devour the book as quickly as possible. Yes, the book lacks the focus of a clear protagonist—who should I be rooting for, everyone? Yes, the book is about 78% exposition—but really, what do you expect from Stross at this point? I’m not here for an engrossing story so much as for this incredible thought experiment: what if some people could travel to parallel universes, and what if in the deep past some of their ancestors came into conflict with an unfathomable intelligence that then also acquired that ability? It’s heady stuff. Something I did enjoy a lot more about Invisible Sun , though, was the commentary on the fragility of democracy. The republic for which Miriam fights is about a decade old and it is already experiencing its first succession crisis. Thanks to the omniscient narrator, we get to see things from all sides—including the Commonwealth Guard leaders who plot the coup and install a junta. I appreciate how Stross draws parallels with events in the twentieth century for which I wasn’t alive, and how he demonstrates that even when one has the best of intentions, sometimes coincidences or missed connections mean that everything goes pear shaped. This is why I’m not quite willing to stop reading Stross’s books despite the fact that sometimes the plots themselves are a little thin on the ground: he still makes me think. Invisible Sun offers up commentary on democracy, surveillance states, statecraft, spycraft, and of course, the importance of family. It has plenty of weaknesses yet also quite a few strengths, and I can’t deny that I devoured the book, so I can’t complain too heavily about it! In the end, this won’t win you over if you are new to this series. The original trilogy really holds up better in my mind. I appreciate how Stross has indicated that this story is done, but that he might revisit this multiverse one day. I think that’s a good call. For now, if you are curious about these books, go pick up The Bloodline Feud and prepare to be very entertained. Originally posted on Kara.Reviews , where you can easily browse all my reviews and subscribe to my newsletter. 2021-read alternate-history science-fiction 4 likes Like Comment L 1,117 reviews 63 followers October 27, 2021 Mostly satisfying conclusion to a long series Invisible Sun is the final book in Charles Stross 's Empire Games trilogy , which is the final trilogy in Stross 's Merchant Princes Universe trilogy of trilogies. It is really the final book, not just the latest one to come out. Stross assures us that the series ends here -- that while he may conceivably set another book in the Merchant Princes Universe, this particular story, the story of Miriam Beckstein and her extended family, ends here. It's a big story, spanning the entire Earth in multiple different universes. The principle gimmick is that some of the characters, including Miriam, are "World-Walkers" -- they can move between universes. The story devolves into a big tangle of secret-agent stuff and military complications and palace intrigue. As secret agent stuff and palace intrigue go, it's a pretty complicated story, and pretty interesting. Stross manages in this final book to tie up most of the plot lines in a neat bow and bring the story to something resembling a neat end. I entitled this review "Mostly satisfying conclusion to a long series". I am a big Stross fan. So why "mostly"? Well, I was less than thrilled with the book in two regards. First, it is all deadly serious, and humorless. That's true pretty much throughout the Merchant Princes Universe Series. This is a contrast with Stross 's other major series, The Laundry Files , which are always playful and often quite funny. I assume this is some sort of conscious choice on Stross 's part. It's worth pointing out here the tragic circumstances of the writing of Invisible Sun . While he was writing it, four people close to Stross died -- both his parents, a close friend, and the editor with whom he was working on the book, who was also a friend. Then Covid-19 struck. So, a somber tone is hardly surprising. My second issue was with the feeling of authenticity. Stross seems to see himself as an expert in military matters, in government burocracies, and in espionage. Maybe he is, but there is nothing in his biography that would suggest it. Furthermore, the jargon-filled dialogs of the officers in the books don't feel real to me. (This is in contrast to his discussions of information technology, which he does have a background in.) Now, there are at least two possibilities here: (1) Stross doesn't know what he's talking about, or (2) Stross knows what he's talking about, but does a poor job of presenting in in a way that conveys authenticity. An argument in favor of possibility (1) is his discussion of the genetics and biology of the world-walker trait. Genetics and biology are subjects I know quite a bit about, and nothing in Stross 's discussion suggests to me that he has more than the most superficial understanding of biology. For instance, he writes the following, "the Hive bioweapon had damaged the jaunt trait badly enough to render it recessive and lethal if over-used, but not to destroy it." The "Hive bioweapon" referred to here is a prion -- why I don't know, maybe it was in the news when Stross began writing. Anyway, the sentence quoted could not have been written by someone who has a good understanding of prions or genetics. However, I think the important point here is that it's Stross 's job as a novelist to make me believe the story. Whether or not he really does know about the subjects he writes of, it was his job to make them feel real. And what he managed to convey was mostly the feeling "I am trying very hard. Too hard." So that was disappointing. reviewed reviewed-2022 3 likes Like Comment James Kemp Author 4 books 46 followers October 9, 2021 A very solid end to the trilogy. I'd have loved more, but I understand why this is unlikely. fiction owned science-fiction 3 likes Like Comment Matthew 71 reviews 5 followers October 12, 2021 I've got every sympathy for the rough shit Charlie went through writing this. I enjoyed it immensely and wish it was twice as long. 2 likes Like Comment Colin Forbes 448 reviews 18 followers November 15, 2021 A solid, if not quite stellar, conclusion to this epic parallel earths sci-fi series. Stross manages to pull together the disparate plot threads put in motion in the preceding volumes and more or less tie them all off with a neat bow, which is no mean feat given the complexity of the story. If anything, although this is a longer book than the two that came before, it felt a bit rushed. I feel that most of the storylines and character moments could have had more time, whether that meant a longer book or even having two volumes? Don't want to be too negative, though. It was an enjoyable read and the series as a whole has been a very satisfying experience. Long may Charles Stross continue to flex his big intellect and story telling skills! Nitpickery that no-one will ever read hidden below this spoiler tag. A disappointingly large number of copy editing failures in the initial run of this book. (I know he usually crowd-sources for corrections to later editions!) Publisher need to do better. For a book dedicated to Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden, it's intriguing that whistle-blowing plays literally no part in the storytelling. team-laser 1 like Like Comment Deborah Ross Author 85 books 90 followers May 2, 2022 I've loved just about everything Charles Stross has written, from The Laundry Files to The Merchant Princes to the Singularity books. I'd read the first two books of The Merchant Princes and thought that would give me enough background, with a little catching up, to enjoy Invisible Sun. Alas, I was wrong. There's simply too much backstory in the previous two Empire Games novels. Finally, I set it aside to read once I've caught up. In some series, each book stands pretty well on its own, with a little backstory here and there inserted in the book or a little familiarity with the world. This isn't true for Invisible Sun. Be sure you're all caught up with The Merchant Princes and the previous Empire Games novels before diving in. 1 like Like Comment Matthias 149 reviews 53 followers Read November 6, 2021 Hard to review because so many elements of it (long asides on history economics etc, political sensibilities that are somehow simultaneously civil libertarian and tankie-adjacent, &c.) seem specifically targeted towards my own derangements. A bit Saves The Cat-y, but whatever; plot is the least interesting aspect of fiction and it’s not like I demand that font choices be original either. 1 like Like Comment Hannah Bryan 51 reviews 2 followers August 20, 2023 I was not expecting the escalation in stakes and schemes in this final book of the trilogy. Gripping and definitely political. 1 like Like Comment Natasha Hurley-Walker 533 reviews 26 followers November 16, 2021 Here follows a spoiler-laced review for the whole trilogy. It was great to see all of the characters from the Merchant Princes decades after the events of The Revolution Trade. The world-building is top notch and the politics in the two remaining time lines is pretty horrifyingly believable. And Stross doesn't make the mistake that Baxter and Pratchett made with The Long Earth by democratising world-walking. The arms race between the two overlapping nuclear-armed governments to control para-time is an excellent setting which makes the stakes feel really high. The new characters are so-so. I know it would have been cliche, but it felt like Rita never misinterpreted one side's actions, felt betrayed, and therefore made a terrible choice. Instead she just drifted from scenario to scenario, doing what the plot needed her to do, and keeping all of her questions on the inside of her head. That's... fine. But not very exciting! As for the villains, they were a little too mustache-twirling for my taste. For a political thriller there really weren't many shades of grey in these characters. I never felt inside anyone's head or in resonance with their emotions. The tech is fun, and clearly Stross knows his fans enjoy a lot of accurate military and aviation hardware descriptions. Explosions are great. But I felt like they were all quite sanitised: they happen in other timelines, where we've been conditioned to not really care, because we know there are essentially infinite timelines available. Uh-oh, Long Earth syndrome is starting to strike... I was less than thrilled when the alien Hive show up. Straight-off I knew that meant that the USA and Commonwealth would eventually make peace and attack their common enemy. Where the wheels really fell off for me was in the third book, instead of characters organically finding out where the Hive has come from and what they're doing, there are just straight-up omniscient infodumps masquerading as chapters. In the earlier books, all the transcripts were mentioned or at least alluded to, so you had a feeling that the rooms really were bugged by spies and those conversations were on tape somewhere, so you could get away with "overhearing" non-viewpoint characters. But those infodumps absolutely broke my suspension of disbelief, which was super disappointing. The ending of the third book was almost heartbreakingly brief. I didn't even realise I was seeing the last of characters, some that had been written over all nine books! There were no reunions, no "one month later"s, no real closure. And the carrot of an endless para-time war against cliche bug-robot-aliens in a future book left a bitter taste. I understand Stross lived through some utterly awful life events during the writing of the third book, and hey, how many books have I written? I feel like I have no right to be underwhelmed. But underwhelmed I was, unfortunately. 1 like Like Comment Helen 995 reviews 12 followers May 18, 2022 I think I'm glad to finish this series of parallel universe based stories. There was always the difficulty of keeping straight the characters of three time lines and two (now three) continents. It became even more difficult as people moved from one time line to another and people became spies and counter spies. I could have classified this as a spy novel, actually, but the fantasy/science fiction will do well enough. In a couple of previous books I was sure that either the Americans or the people of the Gruinmarkt would bomb the earth, leaving it a burnt out radioactive hulk. We manage to get well into this book without it happening. The First Man has died and there was to be a huge military parade as part of three days of memorials and ceremonies. Everyone dressed in black and seated in stands along the route; it was to be very impressive so that the meeting of he council to choose a new First Man would be able to present their choice to the universally accepting citizenry. The high point was to be the overflight by the Juggernaut, the Commonwealth's space ship, launched in another time line to save the populated earths from the radiation produced by the explosions. It would certainly have impressed if everyone hadn't been concentrating on the mutiny by the national guard. Important representatives were seized and imprisoned while the various groups try to figure out what has happened. The heir to the English throne, Princess Elizabeth, decided that she could have a happier life if she defected to the Commonwealth and took citizenship there. That doesn't look like working well. People don't believe Juggernaut is real and it's hard to prove because they can't land the thing. All the spies and their handlers, including the Wolf Orchestra, have to be sorted out and disposed of appropriately. Mr. Stross took this all in hand, juggled all the time lines, each with their own characters, and including a horrific invasion of the Hive, a type of sentient mechanistic community from ... where? and came up with a pretty acceptable ending which even has a touch of hope for cooperation between the time lines. I particularly liked the way he created a way for the Commonwealth to develop space travel in the short development time they had and the fact that they could destroy their whole earth if things went wrong. We visit the Gruinmarkt briefly a couple of times so that we can experience what happens when all the power of atomic energy is massively let loose - just in case readers had forgotten about 1945. They can't land this massive ship and are prepared to ditch the thing in the ocean and hope the crew can launch escape pods in order to escape. fantasy fiction science-fiction 1 like Like Comment David Harris 972 reviews 33 followers September 27, 2021 Invisible Sun sees Stross's multiple timeline story of politics, economics and development reach a potential conclusion, and also reach six books by the New Reckoning or nine Old Style (the first six, the Merchant Princes arc, were revised into three satisfyingly chunky volumes). In the course of its unfolding, the story has mutated from portal fantasy to SF, with a distinct technothrillery edge. In Merchant Princes, Miriam Beckstein, who thought she was an ordinary young woman from Boston, struggled to come to terms with the reality that she was a world-walker able to cross between timelines, and a member of an other-Earthly aristocracy from a medieval kingdom. In the course of that narrative arc, Stross explored ideas about development, the functioning of states, the corruption of democracy and the interplay between family and the wider world - Miriam's cousins in the Clan, world-walking smugglers who put their abilities to good using trafficking special cargoes under the noses of officialdom, being great fans of Family. Eventually Miriam took refuge in a nuclear-armed, revolutionary-democratic state, the New American Commonwealth, which occupies the American continent in another timeline. And so, in this last (at least for now) instalment, we see the Commonwealth squaring up to a paranoid security-state US. Paranoid, because it was attached with nukes by the Clan, who have now fled to the Commonwealth. It's a complex, game-theory driven situation, a para-time Cold War liable to go hot at any moment even before throwing in revolutionary ultras, a runaway Princess and independent-minded intelligence operatives who don't always think to clear their ploys though the chain of commend. Elsewhere, though, a much worse threat to the future of the Earths (all of them) has awoken (giving Stross the opportunity to use 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' as a chapter title). The title of the present book, Invisible Sun, picks up the "family" theme, viewing the effect on great events of family and personal connections as being like that of a great, gravitational mass moving through a solar system, warping space around it and producing unforeseen disturbances in the heavens at odds with the expected orderly progression. Notoriously, there's no exact mathematical solution to the dynamics of such a system (the famous many-body problem). So we see here the existence of not only the Clan, but another hidden family, one made rather than born, driving events in this book. (And in the author's Afterword we see the same theme occur again in real life as he explains why this book took longer to reach your hands than you might have expected). I really, REALLY enjoyed seeing that second family, the Wolf Orchestra, in action. An old-style East German spy ring composed of sleeper agents in the US, they are now stranded with no home to return to, nobody to broker prisoner swaps with or offer diplomatic cover. But they are tuning up to play one last symphony, pitting their classical spycraft, their dead-letter drops and lamplighters, but more, their discipline and their loyalty to one another, against a modern panopticon state armed with endless cameras, massive compute resources and virtual hegemony in the West. Virtual, not quite total. An entertaining subplot here features a Berlin police officer who insists on following the rules to the letter while his gang-ho DHS opposites stew in frustration. Also, those EU data protection rules which prevent the raw take from the exported to the US for processing. I also enjoyed seeing the imaginative creation that Stross has made of the Commonwealth, not a perfect place by any means (indeed in some respects a rather deadly one) but an attempt, perhaps, at a sketch of a better nation. It's one that reminds the members of the Orchestra, in atmosphere if not in specifics, of their vanished home, but also allows them to see a perhaps more perfect version of that. Their status also leads to some moments of genuine, if grim, humour; 'It's not kidnapping: they asked us for political asylum... They're not doing so as American citizens but as citizens of the German Democratic Republic. If you don't like it, you can take it up with Erich Honecker's ghost.' This book is, as I've come to expect from Stross, slick, thought-provoking but above all, fun with rapid-fire deployment concepts from science, engineering, espionage, defence, politics (of all sorts: within families, within organisations, between arms of a State, between nations, between timelines, you name it) and much, much more. (I loved JUGGERNAUT). Want to see how a princess from an ancien regime, Diving Right of Kings monarchy might behave when she escapes into 21st century Berlin? Look no further. How about a perspective on the accelerating defence technology of a rapidly industrialising revolutionary polity with paratime espionage capability? Here it is. Would you like to to know how that paratime capability might have come into being, and what it means? It's here. Yes, in this book, we finally see the veil lifted on the origin of the Clan's ability, and how it fits with that other threat, the one that the US and the Commonwealth have been ignoring as they manoeuvre and jostle for advantage. It could be that is a BIG mistake as the book pivots fully into apocalyptic SF... I would STRONGLY recommend Invisible Sun. It brings epic closure to the Empire Games arc, revisiting many much-loved characters as well as exalting in the doings of new ones such as Rita Douglas and Liz Hanover who are both EXCELLENT and should get more coverage SOON. I could also swear I saw hooks for followups, despite Stross's protestations about this in the Afterword. Maybe once he's got over writing something longer than War and Peace, he might change his mind? Like Comment Clyde 861 reviews 52 followers January 5, 2022 Great finish to a very good series. Concerning the entire series, I think Charles Stross himself sums it up best -- "I have finally achieved my genre-shift holy grail: a series that began as portal fantasy, segued into spy thriller, and concluded as space opera!" alternate-history audiobook science-fiction 1 like 1 comment Like Comment Ken Richards 773 reviews 3 followers April 3, 2022 Charles Stross ties up the many threads of the 'Family Trade' series in suitably impressive and satisfying style. The final installment of this trilogy of trilogies, which began as a world walking fantasy and morphed into science-fiction, political thriller and espionage drama finishes up in spectacular full space opera mode in a multiverse of parallel timelines, complete with a space battle and multiple ravenning nuclear fireballs. This volume brings to a close the story arc of Miriam Burgeson (nee Beckstein) as she and her family and connections as they contend with managing the defection of a rebel princess, fighting off a counterrevolution and defending against the meddling regime change aims of a paranoid avatar of the US of A. And the potential end of everything from a powerful and pitiless machine civilization, not surprisingly also awakened by the meddling of the aforesaid para-USA. The info dumps describing the machine civilization, and their interactions with the ancestors of timeline-hopping humanoids is the weakest part of the story. Rather dry, but blessedly brief. They are necessary to the storyline though. But the edge of seat chase for the rebel princess in the streets of para-Berlin and the blow by blow pacing of the counter-revolution in the Commonwealth timeline are artfully paced, and beautifully realized. More stories in the setting are possible, but Stross does not intend to reuse the existing cast of characters. Like Comment Walt Crawford Author 30 books 4 followers July 16, 2022 This review has no spoilers other than that this is, finally, the end of The Mishaps of Miriam--er, sorry. The Merchant Princes. And "the mishaps of Miriam" is my overall problem with the series except for this one: I found the endings of most books so unsatisfying as to be annoying. That probably wasn't helped because I read the first four (or two) in their original slim form rather than the combined doorstop form. There are plenty of other reviews that will summarize or hint at the multiverse in this series. Charles Stross is a first-rate writer who can plot with the best of them. (He's also good company on Twitter, for what that's worth.) After reading his afterword and apologia, I think I maybe understand what happened with the project. Again: excellent writing, some fine characters, and a set of plots that works out pretty well--but the journey was bumpy. Bumpy enough that, to be honest, I didn't read the last third of the first trilogy--either The Revolution Trade in doorstop form or The Revolution Business and The Trade of Queens in the original form. [My library can be erratic on series.] And, honestly. I don't think it likely that I'll go back to fill in the pieces. There are too many books, and given that I'm 19 years older than Stross, there's too little time. The series is recommended if you have the time and access to all six or nine pieces and like this sort of thing. And strongly recommended if you've read and enjoyed parts of the second trilogy. Like Comment Brian Palmer 887 reviews 3 followers February 12, 2023 I've been somewhat critical of the empire games series - it had felt like it had gone too off the rails in its many obvious parallels to the Bush years/patriot act/ war on terror & war on drugs and US pushing countries around -- all criticisms that may be fair but it had felt like it got in the way of the story. It's been gradually working its way through that, and this book felt a welcome end to it, mostly wrapping up threads, setting up some later ones to think about, and finally seeing some characters get some comeuppance. Part of this was set in Germany, incidentally,which made me laugh at the interactions between the spy-state Americans (in this timeline, imagine the patriot act had been doubled or trebled in power, and then agencies were routinely able to step beyond *that*) and the bureaucratic, privacy-conscious Germans. Probably the funniest segment I can remember in the series. On the other hand, in order to wrap up threads, there was a lot of infodumping from an omniscient narrator talking about some of the mysteries hinted at before and just flat out telling the reader what's going on. I'm not entirely sure the main take away is that a superpower needs a rival superpower to keep it honest, but I'm not entirely sure it's *not*. That itself has parallels to earlier in the setting, when a single set of worldwalkers needed another one to kick it out of a local maximum. 2023 science-fiction Like Comment Cale 3,779 reviews 24 followers October 25, 2021 Stross finishes the Empire Games trilogy (and the Merchant Princes universe, probably) with a complicated knot of espionage, government black ops, and external threats. It takes a while to get going, and there are so many groups to keep track of that the first half of the book is basically just reintroducing the characters and getting them into position. But when the first domino falls and the opposing factions start interacting, things get escalated into existential threats. Knowing this was the last book in the series meant that all bets are off. There's a number of all-too-realistic moments in the political maneuvering - people taking a set of facts and interpreting them completely wrong; people digging in even when they know they're wrong, and siloed organizations running at odds to each other. It all builds up to an explosive finale, although it doesn't quite measure up to some of the finales of other books in the series. Still, it does provide a good sense of closure to this world and its parallels. I also appreciated that Stross provides details on some of the more esoteric concepts he entered into the series. All told, I'm glad I read this series - Stross' take on parallel worlds is distinctive enough that it brings a lot new ideas to the setting, and very enjoyable action and intrigue. Like Comment Vladimir Ivanov 351 reviews 25 followers November 2, 2021 Ну что тут сказать - многолетнее ожидание того стоило! Стросс не подвел. История про клан торговцев, путешествующих между мирами, добралась наконец до своего гранд-финала, по дороге многократно поменяв жанры – от портальной фентези до шпионского боевика, с промежуточными остановками "политический технотриллер", "твердая НФ" и "научпоп по политэкономике". Итак, часть миров мультивселенной лежит в атомных руинах, США в нашем мире стремительно превращаются в диктатуру тотальной слежки и паранойи, зазеркальное Содружество же выстраивает дикую (но симпатичную!) политическую конструкцию, нечто среднее между ленинским СССР на ядерном ходу и современным Китаем. Холодная война нешуточно угрожает перейти в горячую. Мироходцы обеих держав исследуют соседние временные линии как на конвейере, сотнями, и наталкиваются на пугающие открытия. Герои первых книг сильно постарели, обзавелись детьми, но все еще МОГУТ. Написано чуток сумбурно - видно, что книга писалась много лет, с перерывами, в тяжелых условиях. Но оторваться невозможно. Достойнейшее завершение великой книжной серии. 9/10 P.S. На Goodreads наткнулся на невероятно умилительный отзыв на Invisible Sun – типа, книга была бы актуальна пять лет назад при Трампе, но в 2021 году страшилки про тиранию полицейского государства бесповоротно устарели, ведь при новом демократическом правительстве США это просто невозможно!! :) 2 likes Like Comment Nick B 46 reviews 1 follower January 30, 2022 Realised as I was reading this that I'd started reading this series (OK, the Merchant Princes forerunner to it) well over a decade ago. I can remember reading the author's introduction to it on his blog and thinking that sounded right up my street and mostly it has been. I'm a sucker for alternate histories and parallel worlds, especially when combined with an understanding of politics and the way governments actually work, as opposed to how a lot of fiction presents them. And I enjoyed this as the capstone to that long and sprawling series, not least because it finally got a climax and satisfying ending despite all the hurdles that have got in its way. (Seriously, the afterword's litany of what Stross went through during the writing of this makes your average Thomas Hardy plot seem like a light romantic romp) It's bumpy and unevenly paced as all the pieces for the big finales are slotted into place or kept in a holding pattern until they're needed, and there's quite a bit of infodumping en route, but the conclusions of the differing plots are good when they come. Now, where's a streaming service looking for the next series, because an adaptation of these would be great to watch... Like Comment Matthew Smith 69 reviews 1 follower October 27, 2021 I was glued to this book from the opening chapters. Maybe I was in the right frame of mind or maybe it’s just that good. I enjoyed the way the story can draw from the 8 books that came before it so that I feel like I really do live in the alternative worlds. But the plot also twists and turns within this book in its own space. I pretty much liked all the characters from all the different sides of the conflict and how they kept to their motivations. I enjoyed all the spy craft and alternative world stuff and politics. The plotting was a bit hard to follow at times but I could still mostly follow it. It suffers a bit from over-extended-ending syndrome while all the loose ends of the plot are tidied up - to me this is a sign that there was too much going on and we needed to get some of the story in another book. I reckon book 10 could have handled a lot of the ancient history lessons and timeline 4 stuff on its own - but then again, that side of the story was pretty weird. Anyway, none of that mattered to me because I just wanted to hang out with my world-walking gang one more time and see what deep trouble they could get themselves into this time. I was not disappointed. Like Comment Helen French 453 reviews 19 followers October 28, 2021 From what I understand, this book had quite the long journey getting here and that does make it difficult if you read the series as it was released (as I did). There is so much going on, so many timelines, that jumping back in after a long absence felt slightly like hard work. I struggled to pick up the threads again, and that's a shame because Stross has done some interesting storytelling here - exploring parallel worlds and (if you could jump between them), their affect on everything from politics to economics. So if you're about to start reading book 1, or even if you've just finished reading book 2, I'd suggest binging them together rather than leaving big gaps in-between. I won't go into the plot (as you may guess by now, it's complicated) but there are some fascinating ideas being explored through the multiple timelines on offer. The story hurtles from time to time as the plot progresses, only pausing to remind you how one person is related to another. I sometimes wished it would slow down a bit, and ground me more in each moment, but I guess the story demanded forward motion! 3.5 for the book and 4 for the series Like Comment The Man from DelMonte 433 reviews 8 followers March 11, 2022 I think Charles Stross is a near genius. His books are intricately plotted & have crafty nods to popular and gaming culture. They’re funny and the dialogue is spot on. He writes some of the best SF and light horror/fantasy around. The novellas Palimpsest and The Concrete Jungle are some of the most staggering things I’ve ever read (and you should all go and read them right now) The Nightmare Stacks novel is a triumph, a beautiful mix of SF and fantasy with a hefty dollop of romance. However, his one failing is a tendency to paint himself into a corner. I loved the first novel in this trilogy. The second was good but the third was a bit of a chore. Any book that has to spend the first half dozen pages detailing a list of nearly thirty dramatis personae, explaining the milieu and covering the back story of some of the principal characters is getting in over its head. So many things were happening to so many people in so many unfamiliar locations that I lost track of the principals. In the end I was just relieved to get to the finishing line with some characters I recognised. Like Comment Jesse C 385 reviews July 18, 2022 Very satisfying conclusion to the series. This novel does get a bit more infodumpy than even the previous two, which some might consider a negative. According to Stross that was due to integrating some stuff from a book/series he decided not to write. I'm not sure how 100% necessary it was. might have worked better as a long appendix vs trying to put it into the book proper. But you've got love Stross doubling-down on the ending of the first series by coming up with an even more insane way to nuke any entire world into particulate ash. It loses a little of the jaw-dropping surprise that the ending of the first trilogy invoked, but is still deeply satisfying . The happy endings for everyone finale is a little unbelievable, but given the overall bleakness of the world that is built here, including the not hard to believe future US, not going to frown too much for be given something of a happy note to go out on. . I think that while it would be good to read Merchant Princes first, definitely not necessary to enjoy this series. 2022 Like Comment Mat 104 reviews August 31, 2022 Absolutely brilliant. Stross is so deft at weaving together multiple narratives in unexpected ways and with wonderful payoffs. This is a long series. Stross has written it's just shy of 1 million characters. I read Empire Games #1 and #2 when they first came out, then there was a delay in the appearance of this volume, due to horrible personal stuff happening for Stross, then the pandemic. So before reading Empire Games #3, I went back and read the Merchant Princes omnibus volumes (3 books, comprising edited/rewritten versions of the 6 books that previously compromised Merchant Princes series). There is a fair amount of world-building, and for volume 2 (The Trader's War) I had to remind myself who some of the protagonists were. But it is a super fun read, all the way through. Empire Games then of course builds on that, and with the world building well out of the way, but flies by with amazingness. So, I highly recommend. Ideally, reading all 6 books in order for maximum payoff. Like Comment David C Ward 1,638 reviews 36 followers September 29, 2021 Excellent long running series about a multiverse has evolved from a contra factual history of early modern Europe/America to an analogy of the Cold War with the Commonwealth facing off against the USA. A spectacularly ill judged propaganda coup by the state department leads to the brink of war across timelines. In the meantime, a long dormant civilization - the Hive - has been reawakened by a spectacularly ill judged American incursion into a black hole. As before, these books are sequential and I don’t really see how anyone can understand what’s going on without reading all of them. Stross, as in the Laundry Files, is very good on bureaucracies and their dysfunctions, not least those of the American NatSec state. Like a lot of sci fi, there is a tendency to over explain that slows things down. Will wait for the Hive’s next move….. Like Comment Aaron 50 reviews 9 followers October 15, 2021 A mostly statisfying ending to the Merchant Prince/Empire Games series. Stross deftly weaves a thrilling tale of two nuclear super powers waging a cold war through parallel timelines. The tension ratchets up nicely as shit hits the proverbial fan; as the plans of these nations start to fall apart as each tries to use both clandestine and overt methodology to get leverage on the other. Not to mention the alien invasion that manages to throw a monkey wrench into the whole affair. He can easily switch from telling the story from a macro lense, to one that is focused on just one character, and still retain the exceedingly insightful discourse I've come to love from him as a writer. Well done sir! I understand if this is the end of this story (what a heartbreaking post script that was to read), but I do hope you'll consider revisiting the series somewhere down the road. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 2 quotes 2 discussions 3 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Capitalism: A Ghost Story by Arundhati Roy | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle Unlimited $0.00 Rate this book Capitalism: A Ghost Story Arundhati Roy 3.93 2,757 ratings 323 reviews Want to read Kindle Unlimited $0.00 Rate this book From the poisoned rivers, barren wells, and clear-cut forests, to the hundreds of thousands of farmers who have committed suicide to escape punishing debt, to the hundreds of millions of people who live on less than two dollars a day, there are ghosts nearly everywhere you look in India. India is a nation of 1.2 billion, but the country’s 100 richest people own assets equivalent to one-fourth of India’s gross domestic product. Capitalism: A Ghost Story examines the dark side of democracy in contemporary India, and shows how the demands of globalized capitalism has subjugated billions of people to the highest and most intense forms of racism and exploitation. Genres Nonfiction Politics Economics India Essays History Asia ...more 136 pages, Paperback First published January 1, 2004 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Arundhati Roy 101 books 11.7k followers Arundhati Roy is an Indian writer who is also an activist who focuses on issues related to social justice and economic inequality. She won the Booker Prize in 1997 for her novel, The God of Small Things, and has also written two screenplays and several collections of essays. For her work as an activist she received the Cultural Freedom Prize awarded by the Lannan Foundation in 2002. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.93 2,757 ratings 323 reviews 5 stars 767 (27%) 4 stars 1,254 (45%) 3 stars 572 (20%) 2 stars 107 (3%) 1 star 57 (2%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews Kevin 317 reviews 1,315 followers June 5, 2023 Stories find artists, but it takes a radical artist to listen to the ghosts of the dispossessed... The Good : --I read this early on in my explorations of real-world economics, and since then I’ve followed up on several loose-ends. However, Roy’s message was clear from the beginning; real-world economics is political economy (i.e. power relations), and her artist's prose brings out the social struggle that is conveniently obscured by certain stats stripped of context. --Thus, this book is an on-the-grounds view of real-world global capitalism in a non-Western (Global South) country ( India ) which did not benefit directly (or indirectly) from centuries of colonial loot, deindustrialization/dependency of competitors, slave/"coolie" labour, settler migration/genocidal dispossession, etc. The analysis might not be systematic (thus, I've tried to supplement), but it paints a harrowing picture of key trends for you to test your conceptions against: 1) Jobless growth : the phenomenon where economic growth (esp. today driven by global Finance capitalism flooding in and out of markets in miliseconds) is not tied to decent jobs (let alone social development in health/community/ecology, etc.). This is characterized by destructive extraction and land-grabs (i.e. minerals, dams) which causes mass displacements, slums, precarious work, debt dependency, etc. ...We need to supplement with systematic theory: Marx's concept of capitalism's surplus/"reserve army" of labour needs to be expanded to global history. The European working class actually saw their life expectancy drop(!) from the rise of capitalism due to "the Enclosures" privatization of the Commons ("primitive accumulation"), rapid urbanization and "dark satanic mills" without public sanitation/social services, brutal work-houses and anti-vagabond laws to enforce capitalist wage-labour discipline, etc. Perilous Passage: Mankind and the Global Ascendancy of Capital ...The West thus benefited greatly from settler migration , dispersing their "reserve army" to avoid social revolution; this allowed the European working class to recover (and eventually bargain for real-wage gains) while the settlers dispossessed indigenous lands. The infamous British colonialists Cecil Rhoades: I listened to the wild speeches, which were just a cry for ‘bread! bread!’ and on my way home I pondered over the scene and I became more than ever convinced of the importance of imperialism … My cherished idea is a solution for the social problem, i.e., in order to save the 40,000,000 inhabitants of the United Kingdom from a bloody civil war, we colonial statesmen must acquire new lands to settle the surplus population, to provide new markets for the goods produced in the factories and mines . [Emphasis added] ...Meanwhile, colonialism violently de-industrialized the Global South to feed Global North's capitalist industrialization, creating a much larger "reserve army" of labour in the South ( "modern mass poverty" , esp. in India/China/Southeast Asia). The migration option for the South's reserve army was restricted due to racism; the relatively-much-fewer who were allowed by immigration control had the status of "coolie" indentured labour to substitute slave labour in plantations/mines/railroad building. -big picture structure: Capital and Imperialism: Theory, History, and the Present 2) Capitalist propaganda (i.e. public relations): perception management is crucial to selling jobless growth. The middle-class is the obvious target, where they are promised a share in the growth. Note: during Neoliberalism (when industrial growth faltered, switching to financial bubbles), this becomes “there is no alternative”; during Nazism/Global Trumpism/cruel cultural nationalism, this becomes scapegoating (more overt divide-and-conquer): - And the Weak Suffer What They Must? Europe's Crisis and America's Economic Future https://youtu.be/z11ohWnuwa0 https://youtu.be/ZhkA3LVpbxg …Roy dives into this sprawling network: a) Corporate philanthropy as a social cover for global corporate governance (i.e. private, far away from participatory democracy), via corporate NGOs/Foundations. b) The Invisible Fist of the US foreign policy and its connections with corporate governance (ex. Council on Foreign Relations, Trilateral Commission) and US-dominated education system (the most extreme examples being Pinochet/Chicago School of Economics, Suharto, Magsaysay). …More on capitalist propaganda: Necessary Illusions: Thought Control in Democratic Societies …More on US foreign policy: - Washington Bullets: A History of the CIA, Coups, and Assassinations - The Jakarta Method: Washington's Anticommunist Crusade and the Mass Murder Program that Shaped Our World - The Management of Savagery: How America's National Security State Fueled the Rise of Al Qaeda, ISIS, and Donald Trump - Killing Hope: U.S. Military and C.I.A. Interventions Since World War II The Missing : --While Roy still tops my list of fiction authors who have impressive nonfiction, you can see I had to supplement with more systematic theory on imperialism : -accessible overview: The Divide: A Brief Guide to Global Inequality and its Solutions -accessible + next-level theory: The Agrarian Question in the Neoliberal Era: Primitive Accumulation and the Peasantry -magnum opus: Capital and Imperialism: Theory, History, and the Present - The Veins of the South Are Still Open: Debates Around the Imperialism of Our Time - Bad Samaritans: The Myth of Free Trade and the Secret History of Capitalism : note: Chang's reformist “US enlightened capitalism” is highly convenient given his home country South Korea’s rapid industrialization was aided by the US war contracts dropping more bombs in Vietnam than dropped in WWII: Drums of War, Drums of Development: The Formation of a Pacific Ruling Class and Industrial Transformation in East and Southeast Asia, 1945-1980 . …2 common responses to critiques of global capitalism: 1) Free Market fundamentalism: that’s not “capitalism”, that’s “ corporatism ”: --This is useful propaganda targeting the Western middle class. However, capitalism was built by the State, i.e. State-backed "Enclosures" privatizing the Commons to create the land market , where the dispossessed formed the labour market ; State-backed colonial ventures to secure the raw materials for capitalist industrialization (which also required State-backed financial markets : The Global Minotaur: America, the True Origins of the Financial Crisis and the Future of the World Economy ). Thus, "state capitalism" (rather than State vs. capitalist markets)... ...The State provides the security forces to preserve these capitalist markets/property rights (which the best propaganda assumes as "human nature"), both at home (police/prison system) and abroad (military/global financial + trade + intellectual property regime). This is why pro-capitalists only whine about State spending on social services, but omit State spending on police/military! --Pro-capitalists also portray a utopic "free market" as a harmonious, stable equilibrium that does not require State subsidies/bail-outs, which fails to appreciate the boom/bust history and logic of real-world capitalism; useful capitalist crises theories: a) Existential ecological crises : - Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World - Facing the Anthropocene: Fossil Capitalism and the Crisis of the Earth System b) Imperialism and crises : what happens when cheap raw materials + inflation control + reserve labour that the West takes for granted is disrupted?! (see list on imperialism above). c) Financial crises : The Bubble and Beyond 2) “It’s still better than socialism/communism/Stalinism/Maoism/Leninism/ 1,000,000,000,000,000 zillion deaths ”: --Once again, global historical context is forever absent, but it’s even more concerning when Western progressives/“democratic socialists” fall too far into this and end up soft-peddling imperialist interventions (AOC's "what Venezuela really needs right now is more democracy": https://youtu.be/MkLC3XyqrEY ) i) Before we do country vs. country comparisons, do they have comparable starting points? ii) Next, what threats did they face? Socialist revolutions faced imperialism's counterrevolution: sanctions (US, monopolizing world grain production, enforced a total trade embargo 1950-1972 to starve post-revolution China!), invasions/coups/funding reactionary groups), capital flight by disposed elites, etc. iii) What were the contradictions of decolonization's rapid industrialization (which the West achieved through centuries of colonial loot, slave/coolie plantations, dark satanic mills, military industries, etc., both directly and indirectly)? --For more history: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... - The Darker Nations: A People's History of the Third World - Blackshirts and Reds: Rational Fascism and the Overthrow of Communism --Furthermore, I’ve copied a point I’ve made elsewhere: The most frequently cited example of communism’s failure is the famine deaths of 1959-61 China under Mao. Isolating historical events knowing Western audiences have zero context (in this case, the deprivation of pre-revolution China) is nuanced propaganda. Now, there is a neighboring country (India) with: i) A similar historical context (large population of agrarian economy ravaged by colonialism, see: Late Victorian Holocausts: El Niño Famines and the Making of the Third World ) ii) Conveniently went a separate route of industrialization (capitalist markets + parliamentary democracy) in the same time frame. --Consider the comparison made in Hunger and Public Action ; note: these 2 economist authors are ideologically liberal (economically), thus pro-capitalist (with reforms)! However, they are honest enough with their empirical research where some social conditions they simply cannot ignore (perhaps because they are situated in the Global South, i.e. India): 1) China’s dramatic rise in life expectancy occurred prior to its 1979 market liberalization’s economic growth : In fact, it seems fairly clear that the Chinese growth rate was not radically higher than that of India before the economic reforms of 1979, by which time the tremendous surge ahead in health and longevity had already taken place. In the pre-reform period, agricultural expansion in particular was sluggish in China, as it was in India, and the dramatic reduction in hunger and undernourishment and expansion of life expectancy in China were not ushered in by any spectacular rise in rural incomes or of food availability per head. […] This is indeed the crucial point. The Chinese level of average opulence judged in terms of GNP per head, or total consumption per capita, or food consumption per person, did not radically increase during the period in which China managed to take a gigantic step forward in matters of life and death , moving from a life expectancy at birth in the low 40s (like the poorest countries today) to one in the high 60s (getting within hitting distance of Europe and North America). [p.208] 2) China’s focus on social support (i.e. social needs, i.e. socialist policies): As far as support-led security is concerned, the Chinese efforts have been quite spectacular. The network of health services introduced in post-revolutionary China in a radical departure from the past—involving cooperative medical systems, commune clinics, barefoot doctors, and widespread public health measures —has been remarkably extensive. The contrast with India in this respect is striking enough. It is not only that China has more than twice as many doctors and nearly three times as many nurses per unit of population as India has. But also these and other medical resources are distributed more evenly across the country (even between urban and rural areas), with greater popular access to them than India has been able to organize. Similar contrasts hold in the distribution of food through public channels and rationing systems , which have had an extensive coverage in China (except in periods of economic and political chaos, as during the famine of 1958-61, on which more presently). In India public distribution of food to the people, when it exists, is confined to the urban sector (except in a few areas such as the state of Kerala where the rural population also benefits from it, on which, too, more presently). Food distribution is, in fact, a part of a far-reaching programme of social security that distinguishes China from India. The impact of these programmes on protecting and promoting entitlements to food and basic necessities, including medical care, is reflected in the relatively low mortality and morbidity rates in China. [p.209] 3) Despite China’s Great Famine , how do life-expectancies compare? Finally, it is important to note that despite the gigantic size of excess mortality in the Chinese famine, the extra mortality in India from regular deprivation in normal times vastly overshadows the former . Comparing India's death rate of 12 per thousand with China's of 7 per thousand, and applying that difference to the Indian population of 781 million in 1986, we get an estimate of excess normal mortality in India of 3.9 million per year. This implies that every eight years or so more people die in India because of its higher regular death rate than died in China in the gigantic famine of 1958-61. India seems to manage to fill its cupboard with more skeletons every eight years than China put there in its years of shame. [p.214-215] ...Note: furthermore, stellar radical political economist Utsa Patnaik disputes the famine death methodologies used on China's famine cited by the liberal authors, which I summarize in reviewing Hunger and Public Action . 1-how-the-world-works critique-liberalism 89 likes Like Comment Julie Ehlers 1,115 reviews 1,515 followers March 23, 2017 Since reading Leslie Chang's Factory Girls and Katherine Boo's Behind the Beautiful Forevers , I've been haunted by the way capitalism seems to be establishing itself in developing nations. In a nutshell: China and India seem to have vaulted right over the part of capitalism that's supposed to be about giving everyone an equal shot at economic success and moved directly into the part that's about the vast gulf between the insanely wealthy and the rest of us. I picked up Capitalism: A Ghost Story in the hope that it would provide some insight into this issue, and it certainly did, but I was a little embarrassed at how simple (and in retrospect, obvious) the answer is: When the U.S. was establishing its economy, we didn't have corporations the way we do now. And now that we do, there's no way they're going to leave money on the table in developing nations. We're going to get in there, so we're responsible for the situation directly via the actions of our own corporations, as well as indirectly by setting the example other nations are following. The first and longest essay in this collection (also titled "Capitalism: A Ghost Story") makes this clear and outlines how disastrous it has been for the vast and largely poor country of India. It also examines the foundations formed by U.S. corporations and how they've been used to give big business a major role in governance. That was eye-opening, to say the least. The rest of this brief book is comprised of shorter essays, the most compelling and unforgettable of which deal with the situation in Kashmir. In one essay Roy nearly gets arrested for daring to refer to Kashmir as a disputed area, which goes a long way toward illustrating the problems she's describing here. I was a big fan of Roy's novel The God of Small Things but only recently became aware of the extent of her political writings. That she's used her success with her novel to become a voice for the marginalized is admirable and brave. I've clearly only scratched the surface here, but I'll be checking out her other books on these topics, as well as making time for her new novel that's (finally!) coming out later this year. essay-collections free-library nonfiction ...more 55 likes Like Comment Michael 655 reviews 956 followers August 2, 2019 A fast-paced collection of anti-capitalist articles and essays, Capitalism: A Ghost Story reckons with the violence of neoliberal rule. Addressing everything from the current state of the Kashmir conflict to the resurgence of right-wing extremism, the pieces gathered here chart with great dexterity the recent social history of India; collectively they develop a searing critique of the nation's institutionalized racism and classism, along with a denouncement of Western imperialism and complicity. Roy's a sharp thinker who laces her analysis with caustic wit, and though the collection's slight on content, it's worth checking out as an introduction to the writer's nonfiction. 2019 52 likes Like Comment Praj 314 reviews 856 followers September 6, 2016 Roy brings nothing new to this book. It comes across as a collage of newspaper articles, a copy-paste of Roy’s own previous socio-political writings with may be slight references from the Foreign Affairs Journals or a Forbes Magazine. The befitting description would be this rather intriguing anecdote, during Roy’s book lecture held in 2012 at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai . Post her speech, a student, looking at Marxist books on sale outside the venue, summed up the evening: “Dude, I am a hardcore Capitalist. I don’t believe in dismantling capitalism. But what she was talking about is not Capitalism, it was crony Capitalism. And that’s a scourge.” The above sentence, the very reason of me purchasing Roy's literary reserve. roy 44 likes Like Comment Fug o' Slavia 13 reviews 34 followers April 5, 2015 Buy this book for the person in your life who thinks ethical capitalism exists and is a fan of the Gates Foundation 40 likes Like Comment Saajid Hosein 134 reviews 702 followers February 21, 2019 capitalism is actual trash. 19 likes Like Comment Z. F. 301 reviews 90 followers May 17, 2022 A short, fearless collection of essays on the interplay between neoliberal capitalism, imperialism, xenophobia, violence, censorship, and the surveillance state in modern India, with a particular focus on the "low-intensity" war waged between the Indian military and Maoist insurgents in Kashmir. (There are also, naturally, frequent cameos by the U.S. government and American corporate entities.) Roy is not especially interested in providing the historical background to this rather dense web of names and organizations, which can make some of the threads difficult to follow if Indian current affairs aren't your strong suit. On the other hand, I think Roy's intention here is less about educating her readers or arguing a specific point and more about creating a visceral sense of the apocalyptic devastation which post-industrial capitalism has unleashed in India and around the globe—as well as the dystopian culture of repression and complicity which allows it to continue unchecked. On that level the book is very much a success: a whirlwind of almost unbelievable (and yet all-too-believable) details which add to up to a truly bleak and horrifying whole. In fewer than 100 pages Roy effectively evokes the weight and sprawl of the neoliberal death machine, and her willingness to name names and hold absolutely everyone (including herself) to account is impressive, especially given the backdrop of police abductions, wrongful imprisonment, covert executions, and mass graves she does it against. She even retains a weary trace of optimism, applauding both the resiliency of the Kashmiri people and the audacity of the much-ridiculed American Occupy protesters, whom she credits with starting an anti-capitalist dissent movement in "the heart of the empire." One can only imagine she's been cheered by the subsequent, increasingly vast protest movements here and elsewhere, as well as the general leftward shift on the part of millennials and gen Z. This was published in 2014 and was no doubt already severely dated by the time I read it in 2021 (though it does provide a little context for the ongoing Indian farmer strikes which have managed to break into the news cycle even here in the myopic U.S.). But I'm afraid I'm not naïve enough to speculate about whether those seven years have improved the basic situation Roy describes; I only wonder in what ways it's gotten worse. 2000s colonialism-and-postcolonialism essays ...more 12 likes Like Comment Dmitri 220 reviews 191 followers February 26, 2021 After reading Roy's "The Doctor and the Saint" on the Ambedkar and Gandhi debate, I anticipated great things to follow. There most certainly will be, but unfortunately this is not one of them. This is a sustained diatribe on military, industrial, crony capital, foreign funding, world banking, land grabbing, strip mining, Muslim mobbing, Dalit crushing, Hindu nationalization and privatization. Many of the issues are progressive strong points, yet the shrill tone of these essays tries one's patience. Roy's not wrong about any one thing, but the shotgun approach somehow misses the target. Yes, NGO's are trojan horses (although some do good), foundations co-opt conservatives (but fund the arts), corporations run the world (while the lower classes sleep). But what is to be done? Of course these are big problems. Concentration of wealth and power in the few is worldwide, and worsening. Roy offers no solution beyond dark intimations of civil war or revolution. With her deep knowledge of modern India, impeccable pedigree of political activism, and formidable writing talents I expected more. In the long run her empathy and insight can be put to better use. india 9 likes Like Comment Sara Salem 179 reviews 270 followers January 8, 2015 Arundhati Roy is always great but somehow expected more from this. Perhaps it is meant for an audience who doesn't know about the problems with capitalism or in Kashmir. 9 likes Like Comment Antonomasia 979 reviews 1,395 followers Read December 11, 2015 You'd be better reading a review of this short book of essays from someone who lives in India, or who's actually been there. These are basically notes for myself, habitually posted as a GR review. (I also tend to agree with the reviewer who said this epic title would have better suited a weightier tome than 100 pages of short essays.) Some problems are, it seems, the same in many countries. - According to government rhetoric, poor people can't do anything right. (Rural Indians are told to move to the cities, in the manner of Norman Tebbit's 'on yer bike' exhortation to 1980s Britons. Then they're told they're creating a problem in the cities, they don't know how to behave, they're criminal and squalid.) - Major media outlets are in the pocket of big business. (The name isn't Rupert Murdoch, but the principle's the same.) - The gap between rich and poor is growing. (Only in India there are a lot more very poor people, and the situation sounds more like a chasm. Okay, there's a chasm between a homeless person on the streets here and an emigre Russian oligarch, but there's some service provision and welfare - increasingly patchy though it is - that gives the homeless Brit half a chance of a leg up.) - Military hardware is named after aspects of mythology. (The Mahabharata, not Greco-Roman.) - Aggressive corporations sponsor arts events, subtly making potentially critical members of the middle class feel the company isn't quite as bad as all that. Things I've read about in plenty of New Internationalist articles, about plenty of different places: - Corporations and billionaires are buying up land. - Natural resources are being privatised, increasing potential future tension about access to water as the climate changes - Protestors are abused in custody. - Confrontational journalists get barred from areas of conflict. - Microlending can get aggressive to its borrowers too. - Corporate philanthropy can be a subtle means to control radical academic research. In a way, what I've presented there is a cynical agreeing with friends who don't read a lot of political non fiction because it says the same things repeatedly. But I found it worthwhile reading for the specifics, a bit more in depth than a short news article, and not on the most common topics such as the outsourcing of jobs to India, or particular crimes, and it's a view from inside, without that subtle gawping that even 'responsible' TV news often has; a significant proportion of what I've heard about contemporary India comes from Goodreads posts by members who live there, but obviously they're primarily here to review books rather than explain the country. (And seeing all those posts has made me want to understand a little more about it.) Some of the specific issues that Arundhati Roy looks at in depth: - Prolonged trouble in central India in jungle areas. Corporate encroachment on poorer farming areas, people being forced out. Maoist guerillas; locals who protest about anything else may get accused of being in league with them. - Dominance of NGOs in certain public services and areas of campaigning. Feminist activism is dominated by philosophies popular with western or western influenced NGOs, a structure which came about because the post-independence left wing and peasant activist groups of the 60s and 70s were very patriarchal in attitude, and didn't make room for women who wanted equality and active involvement – these women were instead welcomed by NGOs and the structure has more or less remained. There are grassroots groups of poorer women activists, but the more radical / communist ones are not supported by the NGOs. - Dalit advancement is becoming corporatised because business is more likely not to be bothered about ancient Hindu scriptural traditions that kept Dalits down. - Sudden biometric digitisation of a population that has always included a lot of entirely unregistered people could criminalise many. And the government is proceeding with this project, that gives a lot of money to IT companies, before ensuring universal sanitation and clean water. - “Is the most successful secessionist movement in India the secession of the middle and upper classes into outer space?” Though later she says that middle class protestors cannot be brutalised or 'disappeared' to the extent of lower castes: there seems to be hope in this, if the middle classes can press for a better society for all, but Roy sees the danger as people being distracted from that by smaller issues. - Pointing out huge economic equalities and a need for restructuring is seen as far more radical and dangerous than identity politics, which she feels are in some ways employed as a distraction or partial concession to pacify people. - Hints, not elaborated, about an official hostility to Muslims, and that fundamentalism is spoken of as a big threat whilst corporate malfeasance is swept under the carpet. - Conflict in Kashmir and imprisonment and execution of a couple of opposition leaders / fighters. - An environment which - from a British perspective, this will probably sound crass to some, I'm sorry - is a strange mixture of a suspiciously glossy C21st corporate reality, with abuses, massacres, and levels of absolute poverty that sound more C19th here. - At some point in the past I'd got the wrong-headed idea that I kind of understood the caste system via reading, and listening to school classmates from Indian families. The discussion in this book makes clear that it's more complex and more different from Western class than I'd assumed then. There's quite a lot of material in this small book which I simply don't have the background to give a real opinion on. (But you have to start somewhere, right?) In particular the discussion of events in Kashmir is very detailed and I haven't heard sufficient other perspectives on those incidents. Roy is as I understand it, essentially a Marxist, and I'm basically a social democrat. (But her views are partly because of where she's lived and what she's seen. Anyway, what would be the economics of doing social democracy with a European-style welfare state in India? Is it even feasible? Maybe that's an essay I'd have liked to read.) When Roy mentions, in not entirely flattering tones, an award that sets the standard for what is and is not acceptable approaches to activism, and later appears to have been in favour of the Black Panthers without criticising their more violent side, I wonder if I'd agree with her about that award if I knew more about it, or about the detail of some of the other issues. What she does do though, is highlight the range of inequalities that still exist in India, alongside an economic boom and the popular tagline 'the world's largest democracy'. 2015 bought-or-replaced-2015 ebooks-other-epub ...more 8 likes Like Comment Shadin Pranto 1,282 reviews 363 followers October 1, 2019 অরুন্ধতী রায় শোনাচ্ছেন ধারালো নখ,দন্তযুক্ত এক বিভীষিকার কাহিনি। আদতে এই অভিশাপ মঙ্গলের নাম, কল্যাণের কথা বলে বেড়ায়। শান্তির বার্তাবাহকের রূপ নিতেও তার জুড়ি মেলা ভার। অরুন্ধতী রায়ের এই তমসাচ্ছন্ন বিভীষিকা হলো পুঁজিবাদ। এনজিওর নামে, ব্যবসায়ের ছলে, বিভিন্ন ফাউন্ডেশনের ছদ্মবেশে বিশ্বব্যাপী আগ্রাসন চালায় পুঁজিবাদ। তবে এই বইতে পুরো বিশ্বকে মুখ্য করেন নি অরুন্ধতী রায়। ভারতের উন্নয়ন, লোকহিতকর কাজের নামে সরকার ঘাড়ে কীভাবে সওয়ার হয়েছে পুঁজিবাদ তারই বয়ান এই পুস্তক। ভারতের পুঁজিবাদী ব্যবস্থাকে অত্যন্ত তীক্ষ্ণভাবে ব্যবচ্ছেদ করেছেন অরুন্ধতী রায়। ম্যান্ডেলা গণতন্ত্রের, শান্তির বার্তাবাহক। অথচ তিনিই জেল থেকে মুক্তি পেয়ে তাঁর রাজনৈতিক দলের কর্মপন্থা থেকে সমাজতন্ত্রকে ঝেঁটিয়ে বিদায় করেন। ইন্দোনেশিয়ার কুখ্যাত স্বৈরাচার জেনারেল সুহার্তোকে ম্যান্ডেলা প্রদান করেছিলেন দক্ষিণ আফ্রিকার সর্বোচ্চ উপাধি! ফিলিপাইনে যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের নানা কুকীর্তির সহচর ছিলেন ফিলিপিনো প্রেসিডেন্ট র‍্যামন ম্যাগসেসে। অথচ সেই ম্যাগসেসের নামে প্রচলিত পুরস্কার পেয়ে ধন্য হয়েছেন ভারতের আন্না হাজারে, কেজরিওয়াল আর কিরণ বেদির মতো ব্যক্তিত্ব। উল্লেখ্য, বাংলাদেশেও এই পুরস্কার পেয়েছেন প্রথম আলো'র সম্পাদক, ব্রাকের প্রতিষ্ঠাতা এবং পরিবেশ আন্দোলন কর্মী রিজওয়ানা চৌধুরী বন্যারা। ভারতে অনেক অঞ্চলেই দারিদ্র্যতা চরমে।অনেকে ঋণে জর্জরিত হয়ে বাধ্য হয় আত্মহত্যা করতে।এখানে অরুন্ধতী রায় গ্রামীন ব্যংকের মুহাম্মদ ইউনূসেরও সমালোচনা করেছেন। টাটা, মহিন্দ্রার মালিকরা হার্ভাড এবং কর্নেল বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে মিলিয়ন মিলিয়ন টাকা দান করে।তাদেরই দেশে লোকে দারিদ্রসীমার নিচে বাস করে। এসবের তীব্র সমালোচনা করেছেন অরুন্ধতী রায়। পুঁজিবাদ এক অন্ধকারের নাম। পুঁজিবাদ মানে অসভ্যতার পানে যাত্রা করা। পুঁজিবাদ মানে ধনীর পোঁয়াবারো, গরিবের সর্বনাশ। আর সর্বনাশকে ত্বরান্বিত করছে পশ্চিমা মদদপুষ্ট বিভিন্ন এনজিও এবং ভারী ভারী নামওয়ালা ফাউন্ডেশন। তাকে পুষ্ট করে করপোরেটগুলোর চাঁদায় বেঁচে থাকা রাজনৈতিক দলগুলো। যারা গদিতে বসে ছড়ি ঘোরায়। তুর্কিনাচন নাচায় জনতাকে। বিভিন্ন কালা কানুন করে, রাষ্ট্রীয় শক্তিকাঠামো ব্যবহার করে সংরক্ষণ করে পুঁজিপতিদের স্বার্থ। তাতে সায় দেয় ব্যবসায়ী, খনিওয়ালা, অস্ত্রওয়ালাদের মালিকানাধীন গণমাধ্যম।যাদের আমরা আদর করে ডাকি, 'রাষ্ট্রের চতুর্থ স্তম্ভ' বলে! 8 likes Like Comment Malcolm 1,821 reviews 484 followers January 22, 2015 Arundhati Roy is a fine essayist, and in this collection of work exploring the underbelly of India’s entry to global power status, its ‘gush up’ economic model and its brutal war in Kashmir she conjures up images and evokes the crimes of the new world order in the ‘world’s largest democracy’ to great effect. In doing so, she walks a fine line between presenting contemporary, voraciously capitalist India with its huge inequalities of wealth, its brutal suppression of dissent and its self-aggrandising élite as ludicrous and a blight on humanity. The chilling thing about almost all of the case that runs through the collection is that every piece was written before Modi and the BJP took power as a populist, ultra nationalist, narrowly communalist party of the right. Close to a half the book (there are only 96 pages, plus end notes) is taken up with the title essay, which frames the growth of India’s major corporations and their enormous concentration of wealth in a small number of hands in the history of New World capitalism – the growth of US major corporation in the late 19th century – and then the role of those robber baron families in the support for a global system that sustains a neo-liberal, US-centric world – the Ford, Rockefeller and Carnegie Foundations. It is a compelling case based in the maintenance of a global system that favours the wealth of the few and the debt of the many, and parallels in many ways Phillip Mirowski’s fabulous Never Let a Serious Crisis Go To Waste , acting almost as a localised case study of the neo-liberal movement he exposes. Elsewhere, she investigates the extent to which anti-corruption campaigns become critiques of the state that facilitate privatisation. There may not be much economics here, but there is an impressive amount of political economy. Alongside that, the other strand is an analysis is the Indian state’s on-going was against the poor, the tribal peoples collectively (the Adivasi) and in Kashmir. These accounts are grim and harrowing, and fit with her earlier work on anti-dam campaigns and work for justice for the poor in a system that maintains their down-trodden status. We see the way that any form of rural resistance to corporate greed is repackaged as Maoist ‘terrorism’, how Kashmir is militarised but that this cannot suppress the wilful resistance and kindness of the people and how any attempt to provide an independent voice for these peoples is stamped out. Within this group of much shorter essays there are two that consider the fate of men charged with master-minding the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament; this is a tale of judicial corruption (it would be too polite to call it ineptitude), manipulation of legal system by the state and its lackeys in the police force and also by a media complex that is interwoven with the régime of power. The upshot was the execution of a man for whom there was no clear evidence of his involvement, except that he had former involvement in Kashmiri radical politics. Running through all of these pieces is a sense of a state that serves only the interests of its élite (which is what states do) but that does so in a way that denies basic principles of equality and inclusion that is the professed basis of liberal (bourgeois) democracies. Therein lies the major problem with the collection; the sense that runs through it. This is a collection of independent essays; each in itself elegantly crafted and evocative of a sense, of a place, of a politics, of an emotion but barely held together. There is an introductory piece that traces poetically some of the themes and may well have been specific to this collection, but it is hard to tell – there are no acknowledgements of original place of publication and more frustratingly no dates of original publication (a few digits at the end of each piece would have done it - surely, Verso, it's not that hard), so when there is a reference to being “in Kashmir ten days ago” (p70) we have no reference points, no hooks or events on which to hang the discussion. This lack of a time-based reference is a problem in collections of journalism and essays, and even more so here were we know, or can infer, that all of these pieces were probably written some-time between the end of 2011 and the middle of 2013, but the absence of reference points and what seems to have been a decision to reprint them unchanged means that the collection as a whole lacks coherence and in places jars. This is a minor problem over all: the essays convey a sense of oppression, a self-serving élite contemptuous of the vast mass of the people amongst whom they live, willing to use state power to brutalise those people and keep them in the servitude of poverty. In closing the collection with a transcript of a talk to the People’s University linked to Occupy Wall Street reader should be dragged out of a smug complacency that these systems of oppression exist only in India: Roy has exposed a specifically Indian form it may take, but its vampire squid tentacles may be found most everywhere else. Despite some frustrating moments, this is a wonderful collection of essays that no doubt really annoys the Indian state and its hangers on – what better reason to take notice. activism marxism-and-the-left 6 likes Like Comment Miki Herscovici 128 reviews 1 follower August 29, 2015 God, what a manifest of unsubstantiated data and conspiracy theories. I concede, the situation in India is probably far from being any good, and inequality is definitely a huge problem, but to dump everything on capitalism? I'm sorry but this sounds very similar to the revolutionary propaganda that brought Russia 70+ years of utter misery. non-fiction 6 likes Like Comment Sarah Beaudette 132 reviews 7 followers June 2, 2016 After FINALLY reading the work of art that was The God of Small Things, I was willing to follow Roy to the ends of the earth, including a nonfiction rant about capitalism. In GoST I loved Roy's precision and economy; you leave the book with the impression that every single image might have taken her an hour to get just right. And so unique. It wasn't a swing hanging from the tree, it was two thin arms reaching down to hold hands. She makes you want to see the world the way she does. I mention these things about GoST only because I was surprised that Capitalism evinced none of them. The book might have been a good essay, but it felt like Roy spent maybe three months cobbling together what another reviewer described as something like newspaper articles and snippets surrounded by inscrutable commentary in Dickensian sentences. I *think* I agree with Roy politically, (maybe?) but the book felt like it was missing its first three chapters of foundation. I really tried to follow her, and it's true that a lot of the atrocities she's describing in India are travesties that need to be written about, but I wish she'd had a stronger central thesis that helped me tie all the pieces together. Yes yes yes it's all bad, but which parts are you suggesting are endemic of capitalism, and how, and whats the history of that, and vs. which traits of which alternatives? Corruption: tell me why all of these terrible things are a result of capitalism rather than a nasty vein of human nature that for a million different reasons was allowed to run rampant in India. Roy is undoubtedly smarter than 99.5% of the world's population, and that's why I wanted to read about her ideas about capitalism. For me, the evidence was there but the explanation was missing. If you're going to charge me $9.99 for a book (as opposed to a long form blog post), I think you owe me a little hand-holding, a little history, a lot of context. Or an explanation of why you don't owe me any of these things because I'm not thinking about the exchange of goods and ideas in the right way. india 5 likes Like Comment Peter 1,059 reviews 26 followers April 16, 2024 The ghosts in this series of essays are the people (and elements of nature) in India who did not get the memo on the new paradigm. Looking back, capitalism was still in its relative infancy when the settlements were established in the New World, and back then change took time—two hundred and fifty years to clear out the native Americans who stood it its way. They didn’t have e-mail back then, or the internet, so it took longer to get the word out. And of course, when you have to justify what you are doing, or conceal your intentions to your target, to your supporters and to yourself, things just take longer. Self-justification is a very subtle process. Present day India does not suffer from those disadvantages. Word travels fast, and the justifications have been thoroughly rehearsed from the 1930s throughout the Cold War era and beyond the shining triumph of capitalism over the soviet system. What could possibly be wrong about IMF market reforms that lead to economic growth? So subsistence farmers have to get out of the way; let them move to the city and get a job in the new economy. So rivers are dammed and fields flooded, so forests are clear cut for mining interests. If some peoples rebel against our vision, arm themselves and take to the hills, we will grudgingly send the cavalry after them. Because, as we have seen, this is how it’s done. You can’t achieve the numbers in your business plan without breaking some eggs, or lives. I don’t claim to know the answer, but if we can’t come up with a better approach, at the very least, we should be honest with ourselves, and see clearly what exactly it is we have wrought. biz-economics-law fascism-neoliberalism female-author-count ...more 5 likes Like Comment Andy 134 reviews 11 followers March 27, 2018 Not really like anything I've read before. this essay is like if a pop political history book and a longform poem had a baby. It was sort of all over the place, but everything evoked the same feeling and operated in the same general topic (recent Indian politics and history). Not a bad read though. 5 likes Like Comment A Wallflower 155 reviews 15 followers December 5, 2020 A very solid firsthand case study of capitalism in play. 4 likes Like Comment Subashini Author 5 books 165 followers June 17, 2017 Brief and eye-opening. My main issue was that it was too short. I flipped the page for more and was like, What. It's a collection of linked essays and she writes about complex political issues with clarity. Sometimes this can come off a little basic but it's a solid primer for people who want to know more about the politics that inform her second novel. This is essentially the nonfiction version of it. I found the sections on the increasingly far-right Indian security state & Kashmir especially useful. capitalism-and-its-horrors indigenous-rights politics-of-class ...more 4 likes Like Comment Alison 380 reviews 6 followers June 13, 2014 This was pretty damn amazing. Eye opening, enraging, informative, and well-written, Roy destroys modern India as well as subtle worldwide issues such as the creeping corporate takeovers of government and services (her takedown of the rise of NGOs is terrific and utterly depressing, and I truly did not understand the concept of corporate foundations and she elucidated that perfectly - but also left me depressed). She speaks with power and presence and writes with clearheaded anger. My only quibbles would be one that's on me and one that's on her: I spent much of my reading time of this book on Google researching the many, many things I did not know about India. I do think more basic knowledge would make the book go more smoothly for other readers. The second quibble is that the book is really just a collection of essays, and the tone shifts pretty wildly between them, as well as the scope. The first chapter is just knock your socks off, balls-to-the-wall takedown. The second chapter is about a very specific political situation that just couldn't compare. It's uneven and a bit disappointing, but the really amazingly good parts of the book outweigh the lesser chapters. The second section of the book focuses on Kashmir and again is terrific, so, it's hard to knock on the book when really it is a book about India specifically, but Roy just gave us even more earlier on. books-read-2014 female-writers non-fiction ...more 4 likes Like Comment A.H. Haar 65 reviews 29 followers August 9, 2015 It is difficult for me talk about writers I like, even more so when their words are as powerful as these. Arundhati Roy comes in with this book like a wrecking crew, but with finesse and craft. Everything I loved about her work in The God of Small Things is here, even in a non fiction politico-economic commentary. I guess what I mean is that this book, though it is about things like politics and GDP, is yet compelling and glorious to read. Even the comments in the footnotes were worthwhile. In Capitalism: a Ghost Story, Roy frames the evils of free market capitalism against India's current economy, within its relationship to Kashmir, Pakistan, and the United States. But first she gives a brief and chilling history lesson of where free market capitalism comes from and the role that Corporate Philanthropy and Endowed Foundations play in politics and economies across the globe. I wont go into it here, because its too big. All I know is you should read this. Especially if you're from the U.S. and you chafed at the title or subject of this book. I'm not kidding. READ IT. by-women essay favorites 4 likes Like Comment Nancy 853 reviews 22 followers October 9, 2016 Arundhati Roy is a courageous and cutting writer. Although most of us know her from her Booker Prize Winning novel, I've read that her political writing is even better. I thought I would start out with this small book of essays, and the accolades are worth it. Like many political books nowadays, the facts that Roy lays out about her native India are chilling, whether she is discussing poverty, inequality, climate change, corruption or religious wars. The only failing in this book was myself, the reader. I just don't know enough about Indian politics and therefore I was lost with a few of these essays. But I'll definitely pursue her writing further. india non-fiction politics 4 likes Like Comment Mehrsa 2,235 reviews 3,630 followers April 6, 2019 This is a bleak polemic against capitalism, but mostly against non-profits and foreign aid in India. It is a good read, but it is more a lament than a history or analysis. 4 likes Like Comment Rianna 109 reviews 29 followers November 14, 2021 The first (and longest) essay in this book was brilliant and eye opening - I scribbled in every margin and have told nearly every person I’ve talked to this week about things I learned. Highly highly recommend it. The rest of the essays are fast paced and more about India’s specific political and capitalist climate, which were informative but not as gripping. Still, really appreciate Roy’s voice and seeing what true activist writing is like. 3 likes Like Comment Kate Savage 693 reviews 149 followers December 20, 2021 If I'm going to be reading non-fiction, then please let it be Arundhati Roy essays. She is brutal, brilliant, and also funny amid all the horror. And so good at sentences. It was also good for me to be reminded to think more about India, consider global policy from that perspective. 3 likes Like Comment Joy 167 reviews April 9, 2021 4.5/5 "Not everybody likes the idea of their cities filling up with the poor. A judge in Bombay called slum dwellers pickpockets of urban land. Another said, while ordering the bulldozing of unauthorized colonies, that people who couldn’t afford to live in cities shouldn’t live in them. When those who had been evicted went back to where they came from, they found their villages had disappeared under great dams and dusty quarries. Their homes were occupied by hunger and policemen. The forests were filling up with armed guerrillas. They found that the wars from the edge of India, in Kashmir, Nagaland, Manipur, had migrated to its heart. People returned to live on city streets and pavements, in hovels on dusty construction sites, wondering which corner of this huge country was meant for them." "There's a lot of money in poverty, and a few Nobel Prizes too." "Poverty, too, like feminism, is often framed as an identity problem. As though the poor had not been created by injustice but are a lost tribe who just happen to exist, and can be rescued in the short term by a system of grievance redressal (administered by NGOs on an individual, person-to-person basis), and whose long-term resurrection will come from Good Governance. Under the regime of Global Corporate Capitalism, it goes without saying." "Capitalism is destroying the planet. The two old tricks that dug it out of past crises-War and Shopping-simply will not work." "The NGO-ization of the women’s movement has also made Western liberal feminism (by virtue of its being the most funded brand) the standard-bearer of what constitutes feminism. The battles as usual, have been played out on women’s bodies, extruding Botox at one end and burkas at the other. (And then there are those who suffer the double whammy, the Botox and the burka.) When, as happened recently in France, an attempt is made to coerce women out of the burka rather than creating a situation in which a woman can choose what she wishes to do, it’s not about liberating her but about unclothing her. It becomes an act of humiliation and cultural imperialism. Coercing a woman out of her burka is as bad as coercing her into one. It’s not about the burka. It’s about the coercion. Viewing gender in this way, shorn of the social, political, and economic context, makes it an issue of identity, a battle of props and costumes. It’s what allowed the US government to use Western feminist liberal groups as moral cover when it invaded Afghanistan in 2001. Afghan women were (and are) in terrible trouble under the Taliban. But dropping daisy cutters on them was not going to solve the problem." "I stood outside Antilla for a long time watching the sun go down. I imagined that the tower was as deep as it was high. That it had a twenty-seven-story-long tap root, snaking around below the ground, hungrily sucking sustenance out of the earth, turning it into smoke and gold. Why did the Ambanis choose to call their building Antilla? Antilla is the name of a set of mythical islands whose story dates back to an eight-century Iberian legend. When the Muslims conquered Hispania, six Christian Visigothic bishops and their parishioners boarded ships and fled. After days, or maybe weeks, at sea, they arrived at the isles of Antilla, where they decided to settle and raise a new civilization. They burned their boats to permanently sever their links to their barbarian-dominated homeland. By calling their tower Antilla, do the Ambanis hope to sever their links to the poverty and squalor of their homeland and raise a new civilization? Is this the final act of the most successful secessionist movement in India: the secession of the middle and upper classes into outer space? As night fell over Mumbai, guards in crisp linen shirts with crackling walkie-talkies appeared outside the forbidding gates of Antilla. The lights blazed on, to scare away the ghosts perhaps. The neighbors complain that Antilla’s bright lights have stolen the night. Perhaps it’s time for us to take back the night." 3 likes Like Comment Phia 53 reviews 25 followers March 17, 2024 "The transformation of the idea of justice into the industry of human rights has been a conceptual coup in which NGOs and foundations have played and crucial part. The narrow focus on human rights enables an atrocity-based analysis in which the larger picture can be blocked out and both parties in a conflict -- say for example the Maoists and the Indian government, or the Israeli army and Hamas -- can both be admonished as Human Rights Violators... This is not to suggest that human rights don't matter. They do, but they are not a good enough prism through which to view or remotely understand the great injustices in the world we live in." pg. 32 "Martin Luther Kind Jr. made the forbidden connections between Capitalism, Imperialism, Racism, and the Vietnam War. As a result, after he was assassinated even his memory became toxic, a threat to public order. Foundations and corporations worked hard to remodel his legacy to fit a market-friendly format. The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, with an operational grant of $2 million, was set up by, among others, the Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Mobil, Western Electric, Proctor and Gamble, US Steel, and Monsanto." pg. 36 "...Whether it works or not depends on how we view corruption. Is corruption just a matter of legality, or financial irregularity and bribery, or is it the currency of a social transaction in an egregiously unequal society, in which power continues to be concentrated in the hands of a smaller and smaller minority?" pg. 46 "Somewhere along the way, Capitalism reduced the idea of justice to mean just "human rights," and the idea of dreaming of equality became blasphemous." pg. 86 3 likes Like Comment Ryan Bell 57 reviews 27 followers May 3, 2017 Powerful, hard hitting description of the consequences of unfettered capitalism, combined with American-inspired imperialism running roughshod over the Indian subcontinent. Arundhati Roy is a courageous woman with an incisive insight into global inequality, its causes and solutions. Amazing collection of essays. 3 likes Like Comment naviya 293 reviews 7 followers October 7, 2020 - given that my indian cbse history/pol sci education was completely useless,, this was a great introduction to some of the social/political/economic intricacies of india - we never talk abt the lower castes, the poor, the adivasis in a way that isnt self serving to the upper middle class that dont have to deal - side note: india's education system is fucked - she touches on how capitalism/industrialization/militarization/nationalism all relate to each other in a way thats super accessible and still retains it's nuance - at the end of the book, she poses her demands which is something ive never seen done so explicitly and concisely in a non-fic before,,, i wish there was additional reading to tie in each of those demands with the previous essay but not necessary for my comprehension of the book - time to read all her other books!! 2 likes Like Comment Kathy Author 1 book 229 followers February 20, 2022 If you are looking for an introduction to the topics discussed in this book, this is not the place to find them (nor does it pretend to be). This is informative, with an extension bibliography, but if you don't know much about the politics or history of India going in (read: like me), a lot of this will go over your head while the rest terrifies you. I wrap up my thoughts about this book in this video . 2 likes Like Comment Naeman Mahmood 17 reviews March 28, 2024 Very beautiful and easy to read writing about the corruption of billionaires in South Asia. 2 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 17 quotes Start a discussion 3 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Legacy of Kings (Blood of Gods and Royals, #1) by Eleanor Herman | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Blood of Gods and Royals #1 Legacy of Kings Eleanor Herman 3.64 5,117 ratings 1,091 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Imagine a time when the gods turn a blind eye to the agony of men, when the last of the hellions roam the plains and evil stirs beyond the edges of the map. A time when cities burn, and in their ashes, empires rise. Alexander , Macedonia’s sixteen-year-old heir, is on the brink of discovering his fated role in conquering the known world but finds himself drawn to a newcomer… Katerina must navigate the dark secrets of court life while hiding her own mission: kill the Queen. But she doesn’t account for her first love… Jacob will go to unthinkable lengths to win Katerina, even if it means having to compete for her heart with Hephaestion , a murderer sheltered by the prince. And far across the sea, Zofia , a Persian princess and Alexander’s unmet betrothed, wants to alter her destiny by seeking the famed and deadly Spirit Eaters. Weaving fantasy with the shocking details of real history, New York Times bestselling author of Sex with Kings Eleanor Herman reimagines the greatest emperor the world has ever known, Alexander the Great, in the first book of the Blood of Gods and Royals series. Genres Fantasy Historical Fiction Young Adult Historical Romance Young Adult Fantasy Mythology ...more 428 pages, Hardcover First published August 18, 2015 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Eleanor Herman 20 books 980 followers New York Times best-seller Eleanor Herman's new non-fiction book, The Royal Art of Poison: Filthy Palaces, Fatal Cosmetics, Deadly Medicine, and Murder Most Foul, is set to come out in June 2018. Think royal palaces were beautiful places to live? Think again! Herman offers a rare combination of skills for a historian – her research is intensely scholarly, yet she writes the story in a colorful, witty manner. “History is so fascinating that it never has to be presented in a boring way,” she explains. “These were flesh and blood people, just like you and me, facing war and plague, falling in love, living among splendid art and gut-wrenching poverty. Sometimes people ask me if I plan to write novels. And I say, with all the things that really happened, who needs to make stuff up?” Reviewers agree. The New York Times Book Review wrote that Eleanor writes “enlightening social history that is great fun to read.” The Boston Globe wrote, “Herman’s writing sparkles off the pages.” The Washington Post called Eleanor Herman “A lot more fun than Danielle Steel or Dan Brown.” Eleanor, a New York Times bestseller, has also written Sex with Kings (a history of royal mistresses), Sex with the Queen (a look at queens' love affairs), Mistress of the Vatican (a biography of an influential papal mistress), and a four-part YA fantasy series on Alexander the Great, called The Blood of Gods and Royals. Eleanor is a frequent commentator in the media about royal scandals, and has hosted episodes for The History Channel, the National Geographic Channel, and America: Fact vs. Fiction. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Eleanor graduated with a degree in journalism from Towson University, studied languages in Europe, and for thirteen years worked for NATO’S Nations & Partners for Peace magazine. She is married and lives in McLean, VA with four very demanding cats . Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.64 5,117 ratings 1,091 reviews 5 stars 1,120 (21%) 4 stars 1,970 (38%) 3 stars 1,333 (26%) 2 stars 471 (9%) 1 star 223 (4%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,091 reviews Jesse (JesseTheReader) 550 reviews 174k followers September 30, 2015 (3.5) This was a solid start to an epic fantasy series & I can't wait to see what the rest of the series has to hold. The world building was probably my favorite part of this book. It was done SO WELL. 303 likes Like Comment Christine Riccio Author 4 books 100k followers October 16, 2015 This was slow moving but I think the world was super interesting and built a lot of potential for the next books! Here's my booktalk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ss_w... 292 likes Like Comment Emily May 2,059 reviews 312k followers Shelved as 'dnf' August 19, 2015 DNF I realize that this may be a bit premature but I've read so many unoriginal fantasy novels that I don't want to waste anymore time on them. I could easily be persuaded to come back to this if the reviews are positive, but here's my review of the first chapter: A girl called Kat niss is hunting in the woods when she is suddenly distracted by her longtime best friend turned sexgod, Gale Jacob. “A pair of strong, tanned legs stands before her, leading up to the broad, commanding form of her oldest friend. The boy Kat has known longer and better, it sometimes seems, than she has known herself. A boy who, until recently, was equal parts playmate and pest. Now, he has grown taller and handsomer and somehow resists falling into either category the way he used to.” Jacob announces that he is competing in the Blood Tournament - a series of games set in an arena - against other competitors who have been training for this their whole lives. “You can’t go,” she says quickly. “They’ll kill you. You’re only seventeen. Some of the contestants are Olympic athletes, professional wrestlers, and soldiers.” When it becomes obvious she can't stop him, she gives him a brooch for luck. “...she removes the long iron pin from her shoulder... She holds it between them. “Take it. To protect you in the games.” Please note: I only read the first chapter. Who knows? Maybe it is nothing like it initially appears to be. Let me know if I was wrong to DNF so soon. 2015 fantasy young-adult 204 likes Like Comment Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁ 1,279 reviews 8,847 followers October 24, 2015 Reviewed by: Rabid Reads There's a certain rivalry between English and History majors . . . The university I attended required its students to attend a weekly convocation. Several times a year, rather than all of the students meeting formally, we would have interdepartmental gatherings, and once a semester the English and History majors would stuff themselves into the largest classroom in our main building for a *coughs* friendly game of College Bowl. The outcome of this game determined who got to look down their long noses at the others for the rest of the semester. Yes, I know. I'm a huge nerd. #cantstopwontstop The point is there's quite a bit of crossover between the two majors that gives both sides a deeper understanding of their counterparts, and in the same way Herodotus in his HISTORIES ridicules Homer's accounts of "historical" events, I'm inclined to think LEGACY OF KINGS is what happens when a historian writes fantastical fiction. BUT. I think Herman did a far better job at bridging the gap from history to fiction, than Herodotus thought of Homer's attempt at the opposite. Although . . . I'm not sure how concerned Homer was about preserving historical accuracy, and Herodotus definitely got a few things wrong himself. Whatever. Admittedly, there are problems with this analogy, first and foremost that my opinion ranks with Herodotus' and Herman ranks with Homer, but, hopefully , you get what I'm saying. (ALL of) That being said, Herman's background is clearly evident in LEGACY OF KINGS . . . mostly in good ways . . . but not always. Time for a list. I'm going with the cons first, b/c I liked this book and I don't want to end my review focusing on the handful of things that kept it from being perfect. Capisce? CONS: 1. Sometimes the facts are crammed into the fiction, like Herman just couldn't help herself, rather than being smoothly interwoven: The most obvious example is the references to Aristotle, who tutored Alexander-the-boy. Each of the five sections begin with an Aristotle quote, but there are numerous other mentions, some of them feeling almost like Alexander is name-dropping: “Aristotle taught us to always look for the common denominator in any problem,” he says. “Mathematical. Scientific. Political. Social. And it would seem that here the common denominator is…” In the same vein, some of the cultural elements feel a little bit over the top. Like Phillip II of Macedon carrying around the skull of the man who shot out his eye as a drinking goblet. YEP. The skull of his enemy . . . covered in silver with amethysts for eyes . . . Then again, maybe there's some primary document that supports the claim and my internet search couldn't find it . . . 2. Third person, present tense. I don't like it. It's distracting. The only POV I like less is first person, present tense. However . . . after a while, I acclimated. That may not sound like a big deal, but it is. I rarely make it through a book told from this POV, but not only did I finish LEGACY OF KINGS, I enjoyed it. 3. ALL the boys love Katerina. In fairness, one of the boys simply feels an instant connection to her that is explained by the end of the book, and Kat's desirability isn't a major plot point. But the fact remains . . . all the boys love Katerina. 4. A six-year-old girl is killed in a completely manufactured situation. This is a personal peeve, but it's one I'm sure many of you share--if you're going to kill a child, there had better be a darn good reason, and it had better be believably unavoidable. No matter how I spin it, I do not believe a six-year-old child, I don't care that she's a princess, is either going to have the authority to command her nurse to go traipsing out of the palace sans guards and/or entourage or would a nurse mentally deficient enough to follow such a command be allowed the charge of said princess. It was stupid--believable, but stupid--for Zo to naively think she could travel twenty miles by herself, unmolested. But Zo is a teenager. Sixteen or seventeen, I think, and tempestuous and impulsive like many a girl her age. She also disguised herself as a boy in order to escape unnoticed. Nurse is an adult. An adult trusted with the care of a royal child. Neither were disguised. Yet both of them managed to not only walk out of the palace, but to follow Zo for several miles, at such a distance that illegal slavers saw and attacked Zo, never noticing Nurse and Kiddo trailing in their wake. Nope. Not buying it. The death is meant to act as a catalyst, making it impossible for Zo to go home, giving her no alternative but to seek out the spirit eaters and try to change her fate. BUT. Zo is a determined young woman. It would have been an easy thing to use that determination as a goad rather than the shame of indirectly causing her sister's death. It must be said that based on the history, there is a slight possibility that the girl isn't dead. But to all appearances, this is one of the few side plots that isn't based on the facts. SO. As it stands, a child was killed in manufactured situation. PROS: 1. If you love both ancient civilizations and fantasy, you are almost guaranteed to love this book. Herman's integration of history and fiction is downright remarkable. She embellishes what is known so that it (almost always) meshes seamlessly with her story. When Katerina landed in Halicarnassus and first saw the mausoleum, I googled it, not remembering what it looked like: I then got side-tracked by the history (for like an hour), b/c it had indeed been built by Queen Artemisia for her husband King Mausolus, who had indeed been her brother (ICK), which made me curious about exactly how much of this thing was based on fact. The short answer is: a LOT. 2. Herman not only captured the history, she captured the culture. YES. There is a difference. If you disagree, I dare you to say so to an anthropologist. *stands back and watches* *is gleeful* It's the difference between the aforementioned mausoleum and having a religious man explain a torch inexplicably exploding and incinerating its bearer by saying: “I believe Father Zeus sent a bolt of lightning. It happens from time to time when he is displeased.” 3. Herman also has a flare for subtly capturing strong emotions. As much as I loathe the version of PRIDE & PREJUDICE that features Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet, there's this one scene where Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen) helps Lizzie into a carriage. When he turns and walks away, the camera zooms in on his gloved hand that is trying to shake off the effects of touching Elizabeth for the first time. It's brilliant. I'm swooning a little bit just remembering it. Herman uses equally small gestures, thoughts, feelings, etc. to communicate the burgeoning love between Kat and Jacob, the transition from childhood friends to something infinitely more dear: “If you don’t tell me right now what it is, I’ll—” she raises a playful, faux-threatening hand. He grabs her wrist. “You’ll what?” he whispers. *smiles dreamily* SO. Despite a few issues, LEGACY OF KINGS is a fantastic first installment of Eleanor Herman's BLOOD OF GODS AND ROYALS series, and I can't wait to see what happens next. Will wretched Olympias be stoned by the surviving families of those she made suffer like her historical counterpart? What did Helen's vision really mean? Will Zo succeed in escaping her fate? I'll be (im)patiently waiting for the next installment. Highly recommended. Pre-review: More like 3.75 stars, but I rounded up. This was probably the best fantastical fiction I've read that was written by a historian . . . Of course, I think it's also the only fantastical fiction I've ever read that was written by a historian . . . BUT. That doesn't negate that this was a solid read. Especially if you love ancient Greek history (which I do). I mean, really . . . what isn't fascinating about Alexander the Great? Full RTC. fantasy historical-fiction mythology ...more 108 likes Like Comment KL (Cat) 177 reviews 135 followers October 17, 2015 Honestly, fuck this book and fuck its historical inaccuracies. Warning: This is basically me being all annoyed and comparing how the book made shit up to actual historical truths. 1. Historical Alexander was hella gay so often; it was ridiculous to the point that sometimes I need to set down whatever material I was reading on him and just gape. I mean, a) he kissed a boy and he liked it, to misquote Katy Perry. So there was a dance that Bagoas performed that was apparently so damn fine he agreed to kiss him in front of everyone (his soldiers weren't that much of a help, they were all like 'pls go get a piece of dat ass') b) Him and Hephaestion ¬_¬ - Aside from how he compared themselves as Achilles and Patroclus respectively (which fyi people at that time were already debating if the latter two were bangin' in the Iliad or not), they decided it was cool to go visit their graves and run naked (after rubbing oil all over each other) on a beach. - Then there is the infamous "He too is Alexander" quote after a queen accidentally mistook Hephaestion for Alexander. - Oh yeah, also the philosopher Diogenes (this man is the ultimate sass master btw) sent a letter that was basically "dude man up stop yielding to Hephaestion's thighs" could you even believe - "Without me, you would be nothing" - OR PERSEPOLIS THIS FUCKER GAVE HEPHAESTION A 1.5 BILLION POUND FUNERAL I SHIT YOU NOT Yeah this is way too long just to make a point but you get? So when the novel erases this side of him and makes A straighter than a ruler it just makes me so pissed. Because?? He is no longer Alexander?? And I don't care that it's fiction or fantasy because what is the point of saying that he is Alexander the Great when you change him to fit into a typical heterosexual YA male protagonist? 2. Also let me be clear that this sympathetic Alexander bullshit in the novel is -10000/10 true. He is, for a lack of better word, a dickhead to everybody aside from Hephaestion (and others currently in favour but v. rare). Like he was really shit on how he treated his men (he sent his army on a death march though Gedrosia where supposedly three quarters died in the desert, on purpose , for Christ's sake). He gave exactly zero fucks on planning or governing or economics or even common sense. Guess what he did to get rid of Macedonia's debt and to finance his army?? Oh just casually starting a war with the possibly most powerful empire that existed on earth bc why not?? And the thing was that it actually worked????? Like. Yeah. Who the hell is so obsessed with his own success that he can actually pull of this sort of thing? So this Alexander (who does not deserve 'the Great' in this novel) is absolutely foreign to me. He named a city after himself when he was 16 for fuck's sake. 3. The first chapter, which the lovely Emily May clearly compares it to The Hunger Games so I'll just skip that. However, just some stuff to add: The Blood Tournament happening in an arena. The Blood Tournament is a single free-for-all held in a large arena with a simulated landscape made to increase difficulty, featuring added natural challenges like quicksand or cliffs. It is hot, bloody, and chaotic, with fighting taking place all over the stadium until the crowd—and the king—approve a single victor. Correct me if I am wrong, but I am 95% sure arenas didn't exist in Greece. Hell, the idea of the gladiator games, where people fought with weapons with one another didn't exist until several hundred years later where the Romans popularised it and brought it over (and even then it didn't really catch on— the Greeks decided that they were too cultured to consider bloodshed as entertainment). I don't even want to talk about how the everloving fuck was the quicksand transported into the arena. Anyway, the very existence of the Tournament is to me rather unbelievable. If you were King, how would you choose your elite unit of warriors? Soldiers that had already served in your army for years for you to observe their quality, skill and obedience or people like seventeen year old boys, "Olympic athletes, professional wrestlers, and soldiers” that are just going to battle it out and be chosen if they win? Historically, Phillip agrees with me that the Hypaspists should be a position awarded based on merit , but for plot's sake why not suspend common sense. 4. I don't know much about names, but Lucy makes an interesting point that a character (Jacob?) has a Hebrew name. It's the small things that nags me so much, because even though I may have not recognised the flaw I had placed my trust in the author, expecting that they took time to do their research. SHIT I FORGOT Okay So in Chapter 1 Jacob was all "Kat bby I love you wait for me to come home so I can marry you" AND THEY ARE ONE YEAR APART WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE MEN MARRIED WHEN THEY WERE 30 AND THE WOMEN USUALLY HALF OF THAT SO LIKE 14 I AM SO PISSED AT MYSELF FOR NOT REMEMBERING THIS SOONER BUT SERIOUSLY DID THE AUTHOR DO NO RESEARCH UGH I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO TALK ABOUT PEDERASTY AND SHIT BECAUSE OKAY YOU MAY ARGUE THAT ONLY POSH CITY PEOPLE DID IT BUT I'M PRETTY SURE EVEN IN VILLAGES MARRIAGE CUSTOMS ARE THE SAME ZERO FUCKING STARS - (written before I read the damn book) - The author is also a historian, so I'm not (too) afraid she'll spectacularly ruin the portrayal of one of the most famous (and one of my favourite!!) person in history. Note: I've never heard of Zofia btw? Damn, the history nerd in me is so happy. 1-star aint-nobody-got-time-for-that assassins-spies-and-serial-killers ...more 92 likes Like Comment Geek Furioso 99 reviews 3,387 followers August 31, 2016 "Sherlock Holmes de la historia" mis santos cojones. Este es uno de los peores libros que he leído en mi vida. Es aburrido, costoso de leer, sus personajes son idiotas perdidos y está plagado de inexactitudes históricas cuando está escrito por una supuesta "historiadora". Pienso hacer una video reseña más extensa de este libro, pero ya de momento permitidme decir dos cosas: 1) Herman no sabe cerrar la puta boca. Está tan obsesionada con que su público es idiota y tiene la cabeza tan metida dentro de su culo con lo de ser "la Sherlock Holmes de la historia", que no puede resistirse a explicar cada puta mierda del mundo grecorromano. Todas. Ahí hay un hachón. ¿Apuesto a que no sabes que es un hachón, verdad? ¡Pues tranquilo, que te lo explico! Mira, Olimpia es descendiente de Aquiles. ¡Espera, estoy segura de que no sabes quién es Aquiles, pues te lo comento! 2) Herman se ha cargado la personalidad de personajes históricos para poder acomodar clichés adolescentes. Aquí Alejandro no es el príncipe arrogante y sediento de gloria que fue, sino "un pobre príncipe rodeado de problemas familiares, humilde, caritativo, humanitario y que se preocupa tanto de sus soldados que se ha molestado en aprenderse el nombre de todos ellos". Apuesto a que también se los sabía cuando les hizo marchar por el desierto por una rabieta. O Cinane, su hermanastra, que en vez de ser la aguerrida amazona que ganó victorias para Alejandro, aquí es una SJW de cuidado que va restregándose con zorrerío por todas partes, una diosa de la muerte con toda arma inventada por el hombre y la peor manipuladora que he visto en mi puta vida. Pero lo peor es el padre de Alejandro, Filipo. Ése me le guardo. Esta reseña va a ser calentita. Pues me he convertido en Furia, destructor de historiadoras de mierda. adult-children-fantasy baddy-government boring ...more 66 likes Like Comment Maria V. Snyder Author 69 books 17.2k followers May 26, 2015 I was given an advance reading copy of this book with the hope that I'd like it enough to give it a cover blurb. This one is an epic fantasy with lots of characters, political intrigue, action, and history. The story is mostly about a young Alexander the Great and since Herman is a historian and has written non fiction history books, she really knows the historical setting. It was pretty neat that the setting details were accurate, yet the magic and mystery was all fiction. I enjoyed it - I did have some trouble keeping track of everyone. Each chapter has a different character and sometimes it's five or six chapters before you return to a character and it took awhile for me to remember what was going on before with the character. My cover blurb for this book is: "Real history mixed with magic, mystery and intrigue, a fascinating combination!" 57 likes Like Comment Jillian 449 reviews 1,960 followers July 5, 2015 Daaaaaaaaaaaamn this was really good. Full review to come 40 likes Like Comment Lisa Mandina 2,048 reviews 484 followers July 18, 2015 First, thanks to Harlequin Teen for sending an advanced readers copy of this title out to the bookstores, where I was able to grab it at the Barnes and Noble where I work to read. I'd been seeing it around on other blogs on Waiting on Wednesday posts, and it sounded really good. A historical fiction about Alexander the Great as a teenager? Yeah, right? Sounds awesome! And it was! At first it took a bit to get the flow, as there are many characters we are following. But a little ways in I could remember who was who, and was starting to see how some characters were going to tie in with the others, while still others I'm still waiting to see a bit more about. Read my full review at Lisa Loves Literature . 41 likes Like Comment Cinda Author 34 books 11.3k followers May 26, 2015 Legacy of Kings is fantasy just the way I like it: a mingling of history, intrigue, romance, murder, and magic. It prompted me to spend time researching an era I know little about--the age of Alexander the Great. blurbs fantasy historical-fiction ...more 40 likes Like Comment Luce 516 reviews 36 followers August 30, 2015 I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Get ready for the honesty. This was one of my most anticipated releases of this year. As soon as I heard about it, I wanted it. Unfortunately, I'm not even going to finish this. I love Alexander the Great. I find him endlessly fascinating. So when I get bored with a book about him after only 17%, there's a problem. The thing is, this book ISN'T about Alexander the Great. He is just one of five main protagonists, and two were invented just for this novel. And I'm sorry, but I just don't care. When a book is marketed to me as YA Alexander the Great, I expect to get Alexander the Great, not a little Alexander and a whole lot of not-Alexander. Also, when a book is marketed to me as written by a HISTORIAN, I don't expect to find glaring inaccuracies within the first 20%. A Macedonian with a Hebrew name in the 4th Century BC? Really?? I'm a total amateur when it comes to Alexander the Great and the period in which he lived so I should not be noticing mistakes made by someone who supposedly knows their shit. And I know it's not a confirmed historical fact, but there are pretty significant theories that Alexander and Hephaestion were lovers - significant enough for it to be heavily implied in a major Hollywood production (Oliver Stone's 2004 film Alexander ). At any rate, we know that Alexander himself was not straight - his eunuch lover, Bagoas, is almost as famous as Alexander himself. I hoped that this novel would at least acknowledge that. Nope. Nothing. Thank you Chiara for being a better woman than I am and actually finishing this book. I was considering eventually reading the rest until she told me about the disgusting hetero-washing. Finishing this book is about as appealing as doing my calculus homework was back in high school. As in, I'd rather walk from Sydney to Perth in a raging duststorm than even entertain the prospect. I wasn't expecting this book to be a celebration of Alexander and Hephaestion's relationship, but if A HOLLYWOOD FILM can suggest that they were lovers, surely a YA book can at least pay it lip service. But no, their queerness is swept under the rug the way queerness has ALWAYS been, and I'm so done with it. I wanted so much to like this book but it turned out to everything I feared it would be. Thank you for approving me for this, HarlequinTeen. I really appreciate it, and I wish I could give it a better review. Netgalley tells me I'm supposed to include a link to the product page, so here: http://www.harlequinbooks.com.au/prod... but please know that I do not recommend this book. At all. Not if you like Alexander the Great. Not if you like the queerness of historical figures to be acknowledged. Not if you like historical accuracy. Look, just watch Oliver Stone's film. It's not totally accurate either and Alex and Heph may not even kiss on screen, but at least neither of them are forcibly made heterosexual. DNF'd at 17%. netgalley-read 37 likes Like Comment Giselle 1,064 reviews 903 followers October 17, 2016 An Electronic Advance Reader Copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review. Quotes have been pulled from an ARC and may be subject to change. This is a retelling of Alexander the Great. Now I don't know much about him or his historic achievements, so I literally went in this with a clear head. No comparing to actual historic texts or even movies. So imagine my surprise that I pretty much fell for it. There were so many sub-plots woven in that I couldn't really distinguish which one was my favourite. There are also a ton of characters, but they appear so frequently that you don't get lost because you remember their lives and their personalities. Eleanor Herman is a master at character development and I couldn't help but love how each one had a backstory. The writing is vividly detailed and rich. Felt like I was right there in the same time period feeling all of their despair and heartache. The only thing that bothered me about this read was the instantaneous love at first sight. I kid you not, most of these characters would just fall in love with every person they met. It was a bit too much. But I chose to ignore that and kept on trading anyway because I was swept up in the world and the characters. Legacy of Kings was one thrilling read! Enjoyed it immensely. Especially how detailed the scenes were and how complex each character was. Can't wait for the rest of the series that I already requested to borrow the ebook from OverDrive and it's waiting for me to read right this instant. I also kind of wished I bought this when it came out, but then again the covers changed so now I can wait until the last book is out so they can all match. For anyone looking for a great fantasy read, please pick this one up. I hope you won't be disappointed! RATING 4/5 QUOTES “A son with a weak mind is a misfortune. But even the strongest, most intelligent daughter is simply worthless.” “Because sometimes it doesn’t help to chase after the thing you want. No. Sometimes you have to wait, however long it takes, until what you want most comes to you.” “Kat hates men like that, men who are too attractive for their own good—and know it.” “All women are witches. Sometimes a man can’t even be sure if his own children are his.” “The world is frightening and cruel, especially to women.” “A wise king must suspect everyone, particularly those who claim to be his friends.” “We are all caged and wounded in our own way.” “He wonders if she would taste of starlight if he kissed her.” 2015 4-star age-young-adult ...more 32 likes Like Comment Mikee (ReadWithMikee) 203 reviews 1,336 followers February 9, 2017 HOLY CRAP. IT WAS A CHORE FORCING MYSELF TO FINISH THIS BOOK. I was looking forward to reading Legacy of Kings, but my hopes and dreams literally feel like they've been crushed from how disappointed I am with this book. It could've been so much better. I feel like the way everything was carried out didn't reach its full potential. The concept itself was different compared to anything else I've read before, but I just think that Eleanor Herman didn't handle this one too well. The opportunity was there, but she just didn't grasp it. Too much was going on but at the same time, it felt like not enough happened. Before I started reading the book, I knew that there were multiple perspectives. Everyone kept complaining about them and I didn't think that it could've been THAT bad. But honestly, IT WAS BAD. There was a total of 7 different POVs (Katerina, Jacob, Alexander, Hephastion, Cynane, Olympias, Zofia). Each chapter focuses on one character's storyline. At first, it didn't seem so bad. Seven perspectives would be the most POVs I've read in a book, but I was so sure that I'd be able to keep up. WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. I've never been this overwhelmed over a book before! The first act, okay. Five chapters, five different POVs. No biggie. However, it went by super duper slow and to be completely honest, it didn't really capture my interest. Of the seven characters that were introduced, I only liked four of them: Hephastion, Cynane, Zofia, and Jacob. That should've been a warning sign for me to DNF because I instantly didn't click with the center figure of the story, Alexander the Great, or even Katerina, who I can say is the main female protagonist. In fact, I already had a growing irritation beneath the surface for Katerina. The idea of different POVs didn't bug me because I love a variety of characters. But because there were TOO many POVs, it took awhile for the story to progress because we would always have to pause in between storylines. If you wanted to hear more about Alexander, you would have to wait about five or so chapters to continue where you left off. Even though Alexander is supposedly the most important person in this story, he's BARELY in it. The book focuses more on Katerina, if anything. She's the only one who seems to have a motive to do anything. Everyone else is simply irrelevant. They didn't need a whole storyline dedicated to them and would've been better as supporting characters within the main POVs (Alexander and Kat). However, it did start to pick up in the last 100 pages or so and made the last couple chapters bearable. And the story finally decided to shift over to show more of Alexander. I appreciate Eleanor Herman's attempt to give the readers a variety of different characters to love but she just tried to do too much at once and it became overwhelming. Even though I almost DNF this book, I might give the sequel a chance and try to finish this series. Hopefully, the author tries a different approach in the next book. 25 likes Like Comment Sophie 1,286 reviews 559 followers December 31, 2015 I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view. As soon as I heard about this book, I knew I needed it. If you don't know, I'm currently studying History and Ancient History at university, and recently completed a module on Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic World. To be able to read about a young Alexander, during his regency of Macedon in his father, Philip's, absence, was like a dream come true. Thank you so much, Harlequin Teen, for the opportunity. That being said, I was, to some extent, disappointed with this book. I knew going into it, from reading other reviews, that the writing style would take some getting used too. I think I counted seven different points of view, each of which that weren't all that distinctive. Perhaps if these PoVs had been in first person, it may have been more enjoyable. However, even though this seemed excessive, each and every PoV was needed in order to give the reader a full understanding of the story. The seven PoVs were as follows: - Alexander, Prince Regent and Heir Apparent of Macedon - Hephaestion, Alex's best friend - Queen Olympias of Macedon, mother to Alexander and wife of Philip II - Cynane, Princess of Macedon, half-sister of Alex - Katerina, an orphaned, peasant girl with a mission in Pella to kill the Queen - Jacob, Kat's adopted-brother, and contestant in the Blood Tournament - Zofia, Princess of Persia, who is to be engaged to Alex Of these PoVs, I liked Kat's, Alex's, and Cyn's, and didn't enjoy Zo's. I felt, at least in book 1, that Zo was pretty much obsolete, and could only really see her connection to Alexander in a historical sense by her little sister, Roxana, who I'm guessing is the same Roxana who married Alexander in 327 BC. and bore him his only child, Alexander IV. Kat and Alex were my favourite characters overall, and I had sort of guessed their connection before it was revealed, but not to it's full extent. Their relationship was very sweet, and I'm glad it wasn't romantic, but rather a platonic love between them. Prince Arri (Philip Arrhidaeus, the disabled son of Philip II) was also a wonderful secondary character, who just needs caring for, and protecting. Being an ancient history student, perhaps I'm looking too much into the historical accuracy of this book, rather than reading it from a layman's view. Nevertheless, the fantasy aspects of Legacy of Kings was as enjoyable as the historical accuracy. The book was slow to start, but once it picked up, the action was there. I especially enjoyed the battle scene towards the end of the book, which I'm guessing is based on the battle against the Thracian Maedi during Alexander's regency. Though I was a tad disappointed in this book as a whole, I'm extremely excited to read book 2, Empire of Dust. I'm mainly can't wait to see how the revelations at the end of the book are dealt with, and I kind of want to see Philip return, and see that his son isn't weak, and will, one day, be the 'Great' king we know him to be. I think I just had too high an expectation about this book, and that is what let it down. For people who just want to read more about Greek, particularly Macedonian, history, this book would be perfect. It has the right balance of fact and fiction, and was a truly enjoyable read, once I got over my expectations. 2015-releases 4-stars arcs-read ...more 21 likes Like Comment Alyssa 1,069 reviews 852 followers August 18, 2015 *** Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog *** Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman Book One of the Blood of Gods an Royals series Publisher: Harlequin TEEN Publication Date: August 18, 2015 Rating: 3 stars Source: eARC from NetGalley Summary (from Goodreads): Imagine a time when the gods turn a blind eye to the agony of men, when the last of the hellions roam the plains and evil stirs beyond the edges of the map. A time when cities burn, and in their ashes, empires rise. Alexander, Macedonia’s sixteen-year-old heir, is on the brink of discovering his fated role in conquering the known world but finds himself drawn to newcomer Katerina, who must navigate the dark secrets of court life while hiding her own mission: kill the Queen. But Kat’s first love, Jacob, will go to unthinkable lengths to win her, even if it means competing for her heart with Hephaestion, a murderer sheltered by the prince. And far across the sea, Zofia, a Persian princess and Alexander’s unmet fiancée, wants to alter her destiny by seeking the famed and deadly Spirit Eaters. Weaving fantasy with the salacious and fascinating details of real history, New York Times bestselling author Eleanor Herman reimagines the greatest emperor the world has ever known: Alexander the Great, in the first book of the Blood of Gods and Royals series. What I Liked: Don't pay too much attention to my rating. I hate three-star ratings, because there are positive three-star ratings, and there are negative three-star ratings. This one is more on the positive side. There was one seriously large thing I didn't like about this book, and then a few small ones, but for the most part, I enjoyed it. It took a while for me to regain my interest, but I finished the book quickly after my interest was rekindled. Prince Alexander is named regent in his father's absence. The tournament has just begun, yet danger is all around Macedonia. Hephaestion is Pella's champion in the tournament, and Alexander's best friend. Cynane is Alexander's half-sister, who tries to turn Hephaestion against Alexander. Katerina is an orphan in Erissa, a friend of Jacob. Jacob is a contestant in the tournament, who is in love with Kat and wants to make a better future for her, should she agree to marry him. Zofia is a princess who is in love with a soldier, but will be given to Alexander to marry, if she does not find the Spirit Eaters and change her future. This is a complex story with so many intertwining lives and so much at stake. I LOVE ancient history. Anything medieval, ancient, etc. History is one of my favorite subjects, and so it's no surprise that historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome has always fascinated (one of the first stories I ever wrote as a child was set in Ancient Greece!), and ancient times in Macedonia is a time of particular. I LOVE the story of Alexander the Great! So I was excited to see what Herman came up with, in Legacy of Kings. While I am giving this book three stars, it is not in disappointment! I liked this book and will certainly be reading the sequel come next year. The setting is very high fantasy esque - with kings, queens, betrayals, scheming (SO MUCH SCHEMING), swords, fantastical creatures... it's easy to mistake this for more of a high fantasy novel than anything else. This seems to historical fantasy! Herman mixes magic with history, and it is quite alluring! There are a lot of characters in this book (see my note on this in the next section). Kat is introduced first, so I think of her as the primary protagonist of the story (though she probably isn't - the bajillion protagonists in this book are likely of equal importance). I liked Kat the most anyway - she is calm and calculating, kind and selfless. She isn't in love with Jacob, her childhood best friend. But she accompanies him to the tournament, and she is noticed by the prince. Alexander takes her into the palace, all on a whim. A lot of things in this book are based on whims. Kat came with Jacob because it felt like something she needed to do. Alexander saved Kat and brought her to the palace because something about her mystified him. The queen didn't investigate a disturbance outside of her window because she didn't feel like she had to. The characters of this world rely on prophecies and intuition and the gods, so they often do things based on feelings and intuition. I liked Alexander a lot. He is scarred in the leg, and this is apparently not good luck. Everyone does not want him on the throne because of this deformity, which is so unfair. He is more than capable, more than competent. He is an able-bodied fighter, and a smart prince. Alexander has a clever mind and a good, kind heart. The other characters in this book are important as well. Hephaestion, Alexander's best friend. Cynane, Alexander scheming, wild half-sister. Zofia, Alexander's future fiancee, in love with another man. Jacob, champion at the tournament, in love with Kat. The queen, Alexander's mother, creepy and power-hungry. The story starts off rather slow (see below), but it picks up around the one-fifth mark, and I finished pretty quickly after my interest was piqued. I didn't want this book to disappoint me, and I knew I would finish it regardless. Nevertheless, I had no problems finishing the book. Romance - there is little romance in this novel. Jacob is in love with Kat from the start, but Kat is not in love with him. Nor does she really fall for anyone. Zofia has her own love story, but that looks like it's not going anywhere. Also, she is supposed to be getting engaged to Alexander at some point, so we'll see if that happens or not. I do have a main ship, but I will not mention the names in the review. I LOVE how this book finishes. All the deceit comes to light, especially in terms of Hephaestion and Cynane. Alexander finds out something very important, as does Kat. Cynane might actually get what she deserves. Zofia might not. So much happens at the end, it was hard to keep up! Not in a bad way though. I cannot wait to read Empire of Dust - if only to find out more about the title! But seriously, I anxiously await the sequel! What I Did Not Like: Several things made the rating of this book drop. The most significant - the sheer amount of perspectives this book had. What hurt the book most was the amount of points-of-view the author employed. All third-person, which was probably good, given the amount of perspectives. Kat, Alexander, Hephaestion, Cynane, Zofia, Jacob... I think those were all? Six. Six different POVs. That was waaaay too many. The story felt disjointed and disconnected at first. The pieces didn't fit together, the perspectives didn't make sense against one another. As the story went on, things started to make more sense. But at first, the book was very slow, and it did not help. I was not getting into the story, especially with so many switches in perspectives. There were way too many perspectives, and the beginning was way too slow. We need more answers! I'm sure the author will answer a hundred of my question in Empire of Dust, but one of the most frustrating things about reading this book (WHILE reading it) was the feeling of not knowing everything. And yet, some things were very obvious (like the green eyes). My biggest problem was definitely the number of perspectives though. That was crippling. Would I Recommend It: Still, despite the dislikes, I recommend this book. It is excellent historical fiction, with a generous side of fantasy. Did I mention magic? Kat, Alexander, and the queen have interesting abilities, as does Kat's mother, and some minor characters in the book. Oracles, Pegasus, hellions, and other supernatural beings abound in this book. Very cool stuff! An intriguing novel, worth the read, though you definitely have to muscle through the beginning. Rating: 3.5 stars -> rounded down to 3 stars. Again, kind of ignore the rating? 3.5 stars is more accurate than 3 stars. I liked this book, and will definitely be looking forward to reading Empire of Dust! 2015-releases 19 likes Like Comment Briar 834 reviews August 20, 2022 “Questions are answered not when you want an answer but when the time for answers is right.” That quote is right … because no question was ever answered in this book. Legacy of Kings was not a bad book per se, but I found it a confusing, frequently boring one. Perhaps I had high expectations for this novel – hello, it’s about Alexander the Great – and those expectations were just not met. Or maybe this book just wasn’t worth the hype. Legacy of Kings is a magical fantasy novel full of myth and history. I picked this book up because it’s about Alexander the Great in his formative years, which should seem like a fun adventure story, right? Wrong. My first issue with the novel was the ridiculous amount of POV characters: seven. My friend, that is too many POV characters, this isn’t Game of Thrones where that many characters makes sense. This is only a 400-page novel. I constantly confused the characters and couldn’t remember whose chapter I was reading, because some of them did just not need to have a POV. Let’s briefly go through them: The characters who may/may not have needed to be in the book: Of course you can’t have a book about Alexander the Great without the man himself, and thankfully, I really liked his portrayal. Despite the fact that ALEX doesn’t actually play a large part in this book (he is continually overshadowed by other characters), he was my favourite character. KAT was … a very annoying character. I wasn’t very interested in her storyline at all, nor her as a person. Her character/personality fluctuated as the storyline demanded, and she always seemed to pop up at the most random times and/or as a deus ex machina. CYN was a very confusing character. I get the feeling that she was intended to be this badass warrior, but she didn’t really do anything? She was akin to an irritating fly that buzzes everywhere and basically annoys everyone. I honestly have no clue as to what her role in the novel was, so please don’t ask. She was just there to cause trouble, but didn’t actually succeed in doing anything. At the beginning of the book, HEPHAESTION was one of my favourite characters. I’ll be honest: there was a part of me that hoped (read: expected) Heph and Alex would be together in a romantic relationship – after all, it’s historical canon. But they weren’t, not even a little bit, and I was really, really annoyed and that feeling kind-of-almost-definiely translated to the novel itself. Now, I fully understand that there is such a thing as creative license, and that an author can do whatever they want with their novel, but listen: Alexander and Hephaestion’s relationship was romantic in nature, which many scholars and historians agree on. Of course, we shouldn’t place our modern understanding of the word ‘romance’ to describe them: they were brothers-in-arms, best friends, lovers – everything that almost every Ancient Greek male solider was with his comrade. Paul Cartledge, a Professor of Greek History in the University of Cambridge, explained his understanding of Alexander’s relationship with Hephaestion: ‘‘The question of Alexander’s sexuality–his predominant sexual orientation–has enlivened, or bedeviled, much Alexander scholarship. That he loved at least two men there can be little doubt. The first was the Macedonian noble Hephaestion, a friend from boyhood, whom he looked on–and may actually have referred to–as his alter ego. The Persian queen mother, it was said, once mistook the taller Hephaestion for Alexander, who graciously excused her blushes by murmuring that ‘he too is Alexander’. Whether Alexander’s relationship with the slightly older Hephaestion was ever of the sort that once dared not speak its name is not certain, but it is likely enough that it was. At any rate, Macedonian and Greek mores would have favored an actively sexual component rather than inhibiting or censoring it. Like hunting, homosexuality was thought to foster masculine, especially martial, bravery.” If it’s not obvious by now, I take the firm stance that Alexander and Hephaestion were lovers. They were not monogamous lovers – as Ancient Greeks didn’t understand the concept of monogamy – but they were lovers all the same. My issue with Legacy of Kings is that the book doesn’t even mention or touch on this facet of their relationship. Look, Eleanor Herman is well within her rights not to include the romance, but we live in such a heteronormative society, is it so wrong of me to want to see queer representation from a character who is based on a real life person who was almost certainly queer himself? Is it wrong of me to get annoyed by the erasure of real-life queer romance? Do you think I’m over-exaggerating? (Of course this issue isn’t an actual fault with the book itself, this is all me and I understand that.) Anyway, I digress. OLYMPIA was one of the few interesting characters. I was honestly frightened by her POV chapters, and wanted to read more from her to discover just what the hell was happening. She was definitely one of the few female villains who is genuinely scary, and I sort of want to read the other books just for her, but ultimately she was not a strong enough character for me to invest my time in the remaining two books. ZO … had nothing at all to do with the storyline. I struggle to understand her importance to the storyline and the only thing I can come up with is that she was there to add extra pages to the novel. JACOB was a little sweetheart, and I really liked his character. Like … every single other character, he doesn’t really has anything to do with the main storyline and kind of goes off on his own adventure, but Herman gets props because he was cute. The plot: I read a review of this book a while ago (I can’t find it now!) but the reviewer had summed up my issue with this novel in one sentence: too much happens in this book, and at the same time not enough happens. That is the most accurate description of this book. Herman shoves all this information and all these characters in our faces but the plot doesn’t develop. Instead, the characters have small adventures on their own, occasionally meet up/save other characters, come together to defeat the random bad guys who show up 3/4 of the way into the novel, and then the book ends with all of these loose ends and I’m left wondering what happened: a lot … but actually nothing. The writing: The writing was actually quite lovely. Herman is a great writer and her prose perfectly encapsulating the mystical tone of the book. I was honestly swept away by some of her sentences. Sometimes with a slow book, the author’s writing can make me forget about the slow-moving plot and I can fully immerse myself in the story, but that wasn’t the case here. Herman’s writing really wasn’t enough to make me forget about the lack of plot progress or the annoying characters. Final thoughts: Legacy of Kings has quite a few high ratings from reviewers I trust and I am a little gobsmacked by that fact. Did we read the same book? It looks likes that many reviewers had the same issues with me, but they were able to disassociate themselves from the problems. I couldn’t. 2-star fantasy historical ...more 19 likes Like Comment Jeann (Happy Indulgence) 1,020 reviews 5,347 followers September 25, 2015 This review appears on Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews! Blending historical fiction with an engaging YA fantasy, Legacy of Kings takes a look at Alexander the Great during his teenage years before his rise to power. And what a rich and fascinating world it was, bringing to life a period in history where Greek royalty practiced the occult, where a 16 year old skilled in war strategy and tactics ran an army, where the world worshipped Greek gods and goddesses. Although there were many point of views here, covering the brief perspectives of at least six characters, I never struggled to keep track of them. Each and every character was there to give us a different perspective of life back then, from the royalty and corruption of the Greek courts to the Persian slave traders and their thirst for gold. Although Alexander was the drawcard here, with his charisma, humility for all people whether friend or foe, and strategic mind, I was drawn to the strong female characters. From the peasant girl Katerina and the mystery behind her mother’s death and thirst for revenge, to the insufferable but alluring Cynane, a princess who would rather fight in battles than be constrained to a life of domestic duties, they each had strong personalities. They were all flawed characters with strong objectives, yet with admirable traits to balance them out, so they felt realistic. The only character I had trouble connecting with was Jacob, who seems to blindly “love” his best friend Katerina, yet he never seemed to understand her all that well. Jacob spends much of his time playing mind games with Katerina. Just because she doesn’t want to hook up with you, doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you! It was annoying how he thought the world revolved around himself. It’s the mythology and world building in this book that made it feel really authentic. The author’s a historian who presented historically accurate details of the time period, the people, the cultural and their beliefs in a really engaging way. I loved the time period represented here, where heroes will rise and fall, where they believe in mythical creatures and blood magic, where the legendary figures in Sparta, Greece and Persia are brought to life. Although the historical setting is what I loved about the book, at times the writing felt a little too simplistic with what was trying to be conveyed. This made it readable and easily digested when it came to the descriptions however – it didn’t feel like ‘boring’ historical fiction. Legacy of Kings covers a time where legends are embodied in mortals and where worshipping, magic and legendary historical figures in Ancient Greece are brought to life. I personally LOVE this time period and enjoyed the historical setting. Those who enjoy multiple point of views and ancient history will enjoy this book, although those who don’t enjoy many point of views may find themselves struggling to connect to some of the characters. I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. fantasy review-copy 19 likes Like Comment Hannah ◇ReaderintheRough◇ 213 reviews 88 followers January 21, 2016 2.5 Stars. This book would have been four stars were it not for: 1) The unnecessary POVs of Jacob and Zophia (though I do like Zophia, her POV detracted from Alexander's story and was too disjointed from what was happening in the rest of the book). Authors: stahpppp with the Jacobs. Jacobs as love interests are overrated (DAMMIT Stephanie Meyer). 2:The games/tournament was stupid (and very copycat, *cough, cough* Hunger Games). And (minor spoiler) is actually pointless and null because of later events (read: betrayals) that take place. 3: If Alexander was accurately portrayed as bisexual. 4: If this were targeted for a more mature audience. Because Alexander was BISEXUAL and there was so much alluding to sex but hardly any sexy-sexy going on. I definitely want to read the next book and hope the plot sharpens, because this is a great part of history and the author had some really great bits in this book that got dragged down by the loose ends and never ending change in perspective. fantasy 18 likes Like Comment Marta Álvarez Author 22 books 5,739 followers January 23, 2016 Es un poco denso, con un ritmo constante, aunque no especialmente ágil. Desde luego, que tenga varios frentes abiertos y cambie constantemente de perspectiva ayuda a mantener el interés. Aún así, me gustaría haber podido leerlo más del tirón. Me gusta cómo está escrito, y la ambientación histórica/fantástica. Lo que no me he terminado de creer son las relaciones entre personajes. 18 likes Like Comment Christine Wallflower & Dark Romance Junkie 495 reviews 3,645 followers Read February 11, 2016 DNF @ 43 % Great premise by I got bored after this book became a story about horny teens and a text book on Ancient Greek history and mythology. Nope not for me. blah-blah-snore fantasy-and-magic historical 16 likes Like Comment k 293 reviews May 14, 2018 can't wait to read the sequel. I love everything about the book except Cyn. I mean, she's a bitch, okay? favorites-21st-c 16 likes Like Comment Caitlin 339 reviews 682 followers July 12, 2017 This book has been sitting on my shelf since January. I randomly found it in Dymocks and it sounded right up my alley so I bought it! However, the reviews I've seen have been pretty bad and a lot of people didn't enjoy this book so I was pretty nervous going into it. I really shouldn't have waited so long to read this book since it was actually pretty great. My mum and I are huge history buffs - especially ancient history. My mum studied Alexander the Great a lot when she was my age and she always insisted that I learn about him. I actually have hardly any knowledge on him though since I never studied him when I was in high school (I stuck to all the fucked up evil guys for my assignments because they were more interesting). I saw that this book was meant to be loosely based on his story and that made me so pumped to read it. I can't tell you if any of the information in here is anyways accurate, but I can tell you that's a quality book. I saw a lot of people say that there are a lot of POV's and it gets a bit much sometimes and I suppose I agree. I feel like a lot of people had a lot of different stories going and it was a) hard to keep up and b) i felt like some stories just weren't going anywhere fast. For example I was intrigued by Zo's POV but she only got a few chapters and her story stopped suddenly while most of the other characters kinda finished their story for this book. I actually liked all the characters though so I can't complain on that. Overall this was just a pretty great book. I really liked it and hopefully I'll pick up the next one shortly 😂 2017-read 4-stars 17 likes Like Comment Vilma 630 reviews 2,837 followers September 10, 2015 An utterly spellbinding and fascinating mix of magic and history. Epic in every sense of the word. From the first time I read the synopsis, I knew this was the kind of book I would devour. Appealing to both my love of history and my love of fantasy, bestselling author Eleanor Herman delivers a fascinating and gripping story with her YA fantasy debut. Known for her historical novels, Herman imbues that same richness and depth in Legacy of Kings, as is evidenced by not only her world building, but also her nuanced and complex characters. Imparted primarily by six distinctive point of views, she weaves a tale where empires begin to rise to power, where magic and myth stir amidst evil and deception. We meet sixteen-year-old Alexander (Alex), heir to the throne of Macedonia, who dreams of taking his rightful place as an unstoppable leader, irrespective of his father, King Philip II. “He has other plans, plans his father doesn’t know about. And if he succeeds, he’ll be the greatest leader this world has ever known.” Along with his best friend and confidante, Hephaestion (Heph), Alex devises a plan to fulfill his fate, but when their plan goes awry in the Blood Tournament, everything changes. Then Alex meets Katerina (Kat), an orphan from Erissa, and an unexpected and unexplainable connection forges between them, complicating the mission Kat is determined to accomplish. Kat is in Pella, the kingdom of Macedon, to infiltrate the palace and right the wrongs of her past, beginning with Alex’s maliciously shrewd mother, Queen Olympias. She’s also there to watch over the boy she loves, Jacob, who bests Heph in the tournament, but gets entangled with the mysterious, deceptive and powerful Aeserian Lords. Meanwhile, we also come across the Persian Princess Zofia (Zo), who runs from her destiny in search of the man she truly loves to escape her betrothal to Alex, whom she’s never met. Meanwhile, Alex’s half-sister, Cynane (Cyn), plays a dangerous game as she too wishes to be free from her own fate. But as some rise to power, some search for it in long-lost magic, some wield it through unspeakable ways, and yet, some work to brutally rid it from the kingdom… come what may. And when the story naturally builds into an epic, heart-pounding crescendo, nearing a window where fates can be re-imagined, their lives and destines twine and unfurl in surprising, exciting and catastrophic ways. “She has waited ten years for this moment. Ten years. It is more than just an eclipse—iit signals the end of an era, the completion of another thousand-year cycle. According to the old priests and priestesses of the north, the Age of the Gods is coming to an end… Many philosophers predict that during these great shifts, fates can be altered, curses lifted, and unthinkable feats achieved.” The main points of view (Alex, Kat, Heph, Cyn, Jacob, Zo) weave together brilliantly and distinctively, each character’s voice and personality coming to life vividly. In addition, I loved how we saw so many strong and fearless heroines, who were as complex as they were fierce. In Kat, Cyn, Zo and even Olympias, we see their dark sides through their manipulation and scheming… sometimes with good intentions, sometimes not. We see friendships emerge and be tested, love challenged and seemingly lost, but through it all, a compulsively readable and gripping tale emerges that I was simply unable to put down. Some might say that the beginning was somewhat slow, however, with so many POVs, a rich and complex world to enliven and a layered plot to build, I thought it was perfect and appropriate. The detail in both setting and character development is essential to bringing this story to life. History and magic, blood and bone, power and deception—they all mix masterfully in this epic saga of gods and royals. ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ Follow Vilma's Book Blog: Website | Facebook | Twitter 14 likes Like Comment Elena 576 reviews 180 followers September 8, 2015 I loved so many things about this book but at the same time I feel like it took me ages to get through it. When I was reading it I loved it but as soon as put it down I forgot about it. Overall I think the characters were interesting and somehow complex and I can not wait to find out how their stories continue ! 13 likes Like Comment Amber (Books of Amber) 583 reviews 784 followers December 22, 2015 This review was originally posted on Books of Amber If you have known me for a while then you'll have no trouble recalling that I am a total nerd when it comes to Ancient History. It started when I was five years old with Xena , which I used to watch with my grandparents at all hours of the night, and then the fascination progressed when we studied Egypt, Rome, and Greece in school. And then it became a full blown obsession when I watched Spartacus back in 2011, which then eventually led me to study Classical Civilisations as a hobby in my free time and gain a qualification in it. The point of this story? Well, Alexander the Great was one of my modules, and ever since I started reading more about him I decided that he's one of the most interesting people of Ancient Greece and I needed to know everything. So when Legacy of Kings popped up on my radar, I had to get it. I'm sure you can all see where this is going. I didn't like the book. This is partly because I'm an Alexander stan (it's a thing) and partly because I just didn't like the book itself, historical inaccuracies and injustices aside. I'll talk about the book stuff first without all of the other stuff because I feel like it'll be best to get the bits that I'm least passionate about out of the way first. My biggest two issues with this book were the multitude of points of view and the writing style. Firstly, there were... seven? I think? points of view in this book and it was too much for a 380 page book. If you're going to have that many points of view, then your book needs to be longer. You need to do a George R. R. Martin. And your writing had better flow and it had better not be boring as hell. Herman really didn't accomplish any of those things with Legacy of Kings . I was bored through most of it, and the constant changes of viewpoints were jarring at best. Not only that, but I signed up for a book about Alexander, not about a million other side characters who will probably be more relevant later on in the series but as of right now I don't give a shit about any of them. At all. And now I've got that off my chest, let me tell you about how Legacy of Kings completely ignores all historians and facts and proof that Alexander the Great was anything other than straight. And yes, this is a young adult book, and so perhaps Alexander just hasn't realised how not-straight he is just yet, but there should have been at least some HINTS. That's all I ask. You see, it's pretty much universally accepted by everyone that Alexander was either bisexual/pansexual/gay. Unless you talk to people who are in complete and utter DENIAL, who try to say that Alexander's kiss with a eunuch dancer was nothing and his relationship with Hephaestion was PLATONIC, even though Alexander compared them to friggin' ACHILLES AND PATROCLUS, THE TWO GAYEST MEN IN CLASSIC FICTION. Ehem. I could go into an essay about how, as the classical world started to crumble, our modern world started to veer towards homophobia and thus suppressed all mentions of homosexuality and tried to erase it from history, but I don't think this is the time or the place for that right now. Onwards. So there was no Alexander/Hephaestion and I was distraught. There were also "games" (think a mild version of the Hunger Games) in an "arena", which weren't really a thing in Ancient Greece because those guys thought they were too good for bloody fights and such caveman ways (the Romans should probably have taken note...), and there was also a Macedonian character called Jacob. Yes, I get that it's just a name and I suppose people were called all sorts of things, but that form of the name "Jacob" is Hebrew. Why not go with the Greek form? It was odd. Also, how were all of these female characters not married already? Herman makes it seem like women in Ancient Greece had a choice and were able to stay single until they were twenty. Ha. I skimmed the ending because I really wasn't enjoying this book in the slightest. As you can see, I had a lot of issues with it that I just couldn't look past, and I didn't even go into the romantic tropes and pairings that were so dull and lacking in chemistry that I was hoping someone would get stabbed with a sword to make those scenes more interesting. The only way I would carry on with this series would be if Herman decided to do a 180 and actually do Alexander the Great and the LGBTQ+ community some justice and have the character come to realise that he's not 1000000% straight. Because I would read a boring book for a better depiction of Alexander. But I don't see that happening. 13 likes Like Comment Nemo ☠️ (pagesandprozac) 926 reviews 456 followers Shelved as 'nein-nein-nein' February 23, 2018 from the best-selling writer of "if achilles and patroclus aren't queer i ain't interested" comes the startling sequel "if alex and hephaistion ain't queer i ain't interested" 13 likes Like Comment kippen (uponthepages) 163 reviews 137 followers May 24, 2017 Thank the Gods I discovered this book. It's been on my shelf for a good while now but I finally was in the mood for a Fantasy novel. In preparation for the sequel coming out this month, I finally picked it up. This cover just screams an epic Fantasy. Eleanor Herman is New York Times bestselling author of nonfiction works including Sex with Kings, Sex with the Queen, Mistress of the Vatican, etc. Not only that, but she also hosted several episodes of Lost Worlds, a History channel TV show. I haven't read anything else by her but i'm assuming she excels in writing smut. She decided to write a Young Adult novel inspired by Alexander the Great because as she says, they're "faster, edgier, and more compelling." Throughout reading Legacy Of Kings, it was noticeable that she's usually an Adult writer due to it's heavy description, scandalous scenes, and gore filled fight scenes. Yet, so beautifully written based on History with magic excessively weaved in. The magic in this story was based off of actual myths during 340 B.C. and it was so engaging. I got so excited when it was brought up while Kat was reading the scrolls. I wish we could of learned more about it then that one part. Also, Does Alex have some sort of power? I wasn't sure I completely got that part at the beginning. I'll have to read the next one just to experience their magic more. I was fond of all the characters, especially Cyn and Heph. Except that one cliche scene when she asked what it would be like if they kissed. *thumbs down* Other than that, Cyn was such a badass. I think she was my favorite part of the book. Kat and Jacob's romance kind of disgusted me. It reminded me too much of Gale and Katniss (whom I actually hated while reading.) I felt like Jacob was useless to the story and near the end, I definitely could of done without him. I also didn't enjoy reading from Zofia's POV. I felt so apathetic trying to push myself through them. I know she was betrothed to Alex but I don't see her importance to the plot yet. I don't know how I feel about Kat, though. I think her magic is interesting and especially her family. The story about Helen was so gripping because we never got enough information until the end. This was obviously a build up to the sequel. The world building was insanely well done but the story went slow. I finished this in the span of 4 days, though. I kept coming back to it because the end of each chapter made me want more. But, the last fews days I was wondering, when will this blow my mind? I can't say I exactly felt like it did near the end, but I know i'm going to read the sequel and I actually can't wait for it. For my first Historical Fiction book, I don't regret reading it. Despite it's cons, I think it has so much potential. 12 likes Like Comment nick (the infinite limits of love) 2,120 reviews 1,520 followers July 24, 2015 2.5/5 I saw pictures of Eleanor Herman at BEA rocking her Ancient Greek attire and thought that she seemed like a really cool author. I promptly looked into the summary of her debut Legacy of Kings and basically wept with joy because it sounded so epic. While the setting and the history themselves were rock solid, I struggled with quite a few elements in Legacy of Kings. My first issue: the multiple POVs. I'm generally not a fan of multiple POVs, but I've enjoyed a few in the past. In Legacy of Kings, there were way too many POVs, approximately 5 or 6, which took away from my enjoyment. The problem with having so many character point of views is that I had a hard time keeping up with the characters. We meet one character in one chapter and then have to wait 5 more to meet them all over again. This ultimately led me to not really connecting with any of the characters. I did like Katerina quite a bit, but because we spent so little time with her over the course of the book, I just didn't find her to be very memorable. I firmly believe this book would have been so much tighter and so much more awesome if the book were only told through Kat and Alexander's voices and it would not have taken anything away from the plot at all. I will admit that I was quite fascinated by the villains in the book, like I usually with many fantasy books. They had that creepy and twisted minds thing going on for them and I was just waiting for them to bring a storm into the lives of the other characters. What I did enjoy in Legacy of Kings, however, was the world building. Eleanor Herman used history and incorporated it together with her own ideas to craft this phenomenal setting that was engaging from start to finish. That being said, the book was incredibly slow in the story department. I was waiting for something to happen, but the book wasn't eventful at all. It also didn't help that I was able to guess most of the twists that the author had in store for readers. Overall, Legacy of Kings was a rather disappointing novel. I think I had too high hopes for this book and together with the multiple characters and the shaky plot, it lead to me feeling rather bored while reading. For now, I'm not sure if I'll be picking up the sequel, but if I hear good things about it, I might because this is a series that has the potential to be really good. 12 likes Like Comment Booknut 101 849 reviews 1,002 followers September 12, 2015 Legacy of Kings is a YA fantasy novel that is easy to read and enjoy. Fantasy is a brilliant genre. But often it's overshadowed by its reputation for having convoluted plot and descriptions. There is a misconception that for a fantasy novel to be enjoyable, it needs to be complicated. But that isn't the case at all. Legacy of Kings proves this. It provides readers with a cast of intriguing characters and allows them to develop naturally alongside the development of the book's plot. Eleanor Herman's writing entertains and transports the reader, making for an enjoyable fantasy read. Woven throughout the plot are rich and riveting concepts. Legacy of Kings sets up a world full of interesting concepts that add a layer of complexity and intrigue. I couldn't find the words to describe the impact of these concepts - it's something you truly have to experience for yourself. But I picked some of my favourite examples of Eleanor Herman's story writing to share with you all: ' According to Audata, her mother, most magic of the blood was inherited. It came down through generations, like eye or hair color. But not Smoke Blood. Smoke Blood was earned. It allowed a person to triumph over pain—over death, even. That power could be found. Could be made—with an act of great betrayal, the blood of someone turned against his child or beloved friend. ' ' He really was ready to die for Alex. Soldiers talk of heroism all the time; poets sing about the glory of self-sacrifice. But Cynane has never actually seen a man willing to put someone else’s life before his own. True loyalty—it’s almost unheard of. And it’s exactly what Cyn has been looking for all these years. Correction: it’s what she has been looking to destroy. ' Eleanor Herman has created a realistic ancient world full of lore, love, and sacrifice that is sure to become a fast favourite with lovers of fantasy. fantasy-tales 12 likes Like Comment Kim 272 reviews 249 followers August 7, 2015 2.5 Well, it looks like I missed the hype bus for this one. Legacy of Kings failed to engage me at the start and, unfortunately, the slow pace and predictable plot kept me from engaging throughout. This is a sort of “retelling” of the story of a young Alexander the Great, but with some minor fantastical element, namely magic. It’s like “history, but magic is real!” Awesome, right? Except when the characters are dryly drawn, the plot is ridiculously convenient, and there is nary a fresh twist or turn to be seen. Clocking in at past 450 pages, this book could easily have done with a good bit of editing. There are seven POV characters, so if multi-POV makes you dizzy this is not going to be your thing. I normally love multi POV, but not here. The voices stretched so thin, and are so very repetitive. I feel like this book could have easily been 100 less pages if the characters hadn’t constantly and repetitively been internally monologuing. Each POV character would repeat their plot goal in every single chapter. It was to the point where I wanted to say each time, “Yes I understood your goal the first time you said it. You don’t have to repeatedly intone it in every single chapter.” I don’t know if it was thinking that switching between the POVs that readers would forget which character’s goals were which but you just need to have greater faith in YA readers’ ability than this. It made for a super tiring experience. Find the rest of my review at The Midnight Garden bored-me fantasy fantasy-historical ...more 12 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,091 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 8 quotes 10 discussions 25 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Desperate Paths by E.C. Diskin | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle Unlimited $0.00 Rate this book Desperate Paths E.C. Diskin 4.06 796 ratings 96 reviews Want to read Kindle Unlimited $0.00 Rate this book In Eden, the truth can have deadly consequences. Brooklyn Anderson knows it looks bad. She was found wiping down a gun. Her father now dead. His blood on her hands. The incomprehensible nightmare has started. Seven days earlier, Brooklyn had returned to Eden to care for her beloved father, who lay helpless in a hospital bed. Her estranged sister, Ginny, said he fell. But as Brooklyn soon realizes, Ginny is prone to lying. Former Eden resident Darius Woods was in the hospital too. The famous actor had written a screenplay that would lay bare all the secrets of the town, but within hours of his return, someone shot him. As the Woods investigation proceeds, and Brooklyn starts to question everything she believes about her family, her neighbors, and her home, secrets and lies begin to unravel. But nothing can prepare her for where those lies will finally lead. And sharing the truth of what happened the night her father died might just make things worse. Genres Mystery Mystery Thriller Fiction Thriller 336 pages, Paperback First published March 19, 2019 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author E.C. Diskin 5 books 317 followers E.C. Diskin studied Radio/TV/Film and English in Texas (TCU), moved to New York to dance with a tap dance company in Soho, and finally became "an adult" when she moved to Chicago for law school. But after several years behind a desk, a drawer full of story ideas, and two little ones at home, she took a break from the law and began writing fiction. Fortunately, the fantasy of living a creative life became reality with the success of her debut legal thriller, The Green Line. Her second, Broken Grace, ventured into psych thrillers. Her third, Depth of Lies, dove into the veneers and secrets behind the closed doors of suburbia, and her latest, Desperate Paths, centers on one small town’s unraveling as secrets, lies, sex, guns, and extremists collide. When she's not writing, designing spaces, or building furniture, she practices a little law on the side. For more information, check out www.ecdiskin.com Connect with Diskin at www.facebook.com/ECDiskin Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.06 796 ratings 96 reviews 5 stars 287 (36%) 4 stars 311 (39%) 3 stars 163 (20%) 2 stars 30 (3%) 1 star 5 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews Kaceey 1,251 reviews 3,959 followers February 16, 2019 2.5* Brooklyn left her quaint, small town in the Midwest for the bright lights of New York City! She’s hoping for that one big break that will launch her into the movie/TV industry. But while she’s busy chasing her star, she receives a call from her sister Ginny that their father broke his hip. Putting her dreams on hold, Brooklyn quickly returns home to help. She isn’t the only one to return home. Darius Woods was a local kid who also had the dream of being a star, and his dream came true! A top listed movie star. His return home is stopped short when someone makes an attempt on his life. Who would try to kill the one shining star this small town has ever produced? Maybe more importantly...why? This is the third book I’ve read by E.C. Diskin and while I absolutely loved her previous book Depth of Lies , this one just didn’t work for me. I struggled through most of it and considered a DNF more than once. The fact that I’ve enjoyed this author’s writing in the past was the only reason I chose to finish. If this book is on your shelf...or even on your radar, I hope it works out better for you! Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and E.C. Diskin for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review. netgalley 78 likes Like Comment Lindsay L 735 reviews 1,420 followers March 21, 2019 2 stars. Too much drama for me! Brooklyn Anderson returns to her hometown of Eden to help care for her aging father who is in the hospital. While there, she reconnects with her estranged sister Ginny who needs helps caring for their father. Darius Woods is a famous actor who grew up in Eden and recently returned with a screenplay and many hidden secrets from his past. Darius is shot and taken to the same hospital as Brooklyn’s father within hours of his return to town. This novel takes place over a seven day period, starting at Day Seven, moving to Day One and then the days in between. I was intrigued with how it started at the conclusion of the story which kept me wondering what lead to such a drastic situation. After the first half of the book, the drama kicked into high gear and I completely lost any sort of connection I had. I ended up skimming quite a bit toward the very end because there was so much dramatic effect. Unfortunately, this novel simply wasn’t for me. With that being said, I loved this author’s previous novel, The Depth of Lies, so I would be interested to see what she comes out with in the future. This was a Traveling Sister read. Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and E.C. Diskin for providing me with an ARC to read and review. netgalley traveling-sister-read 77 likes Like Comment Norma 557 reviews 13.5k followers December 22, 2019 Entertaining, unputdownable and an intriguing read! DESPERATE PATHS by E.C. DISKIN is jam-packed full of family secrets and lies and as the story progresses they just keep on coming with lots of twists and turns to be had here. For some the overzealous plot and drama might be a little too much to handle but for me I totally embraced and loved it all. In fact, I finished reading this one in less than 24 hours as I just could not put it down. E.C. DISKIN’S delivers an interesting, tense and well-written read here that gradually increases in tension and offers a suspenseful twisty plot with complex characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the structure of this story and it had me hooked right from the very first chapter. So this is where things went a little sideways for both Lindsay and Brenda where I thought that E.C. DISKIN did a fabulous job with creating little intricate pieces of puzzles for us to ponder from the story while sleuthing how they fit together when in reality I don’t think being an armchair detective works out well for this one. Although, I had lots of guesses and some of those guesses came to fruition I was never confident in saying that I knew the why or how of pretty much everything that came to pass. This was a Traveling Sisters read that I read along with Brenda and Lindsay and out of the three of us I was the only one that really enjoyed this one. Norma’s Stats: Cover: Eerie, suspenseful, eye-catching and a great representation to storyline. Title: Intriguing, interesting and totally could feel the desperation emanating from the different paths that these characters took. Writing/Prose: Well-written, entertaining, engaging and readable. Plot: Complex, interesting, dramatic, thought-provoking, fast-paced, twisty, and entertaining. Ending: Twisty, surprising, neat and totally satisfying. With the complex nature of this story and all the twists and turns I really appreciated the neat and concise ending. Overall: This was a fun, entertaining,and enjoyable read that I thoroughly enjoyed the escape! Would recommend! Thank you so much to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer & E. C. Diskin for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. Review can also be found on our blog: https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/ netgalley-edelweiss-approved traveling-sister-reads 70 likes Like Comment Brenda ~The Book Witch at Witch Words 860 reviews 903 followers March 27, 2019 OH MY! Small town, dark secrets and lies, murder charge, a shooting and some sister drama. Desperate Paths send me down a desperate path of my own. A head-spinning path I didn’t know what direction to go path but in the end, it didn’t really matter because every path took you to the end. There was just that much drama going on here. Now this one did have some drama that I must admit I enjoy and that’s sister drama. I have been known to create a little sister drama myself that has left Norma’s head spinning. lol Did I just say that? lol I enjoyed the dynamics here between these sisters and the tension created between them added to the story for me. However, there was a little too much overall drama that came on very quickly and my head started to spin and I became desperate to finish. Thank you so much to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer & E. C. Diskin for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book. Our review can be found on our blog https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2... 47 likes Like Comment Berit Talks Books 2,048 reviews 15.7k followers March 19, 2019 A compelling domestic thriller brimming with secrets and lies! E. C. Diskin has crafted a tale packed with complicated relationships and complex characters. This was a slow burning story about a dysfunctional family with many secrets and even more to lose. How would you feel if the life you knew turned out to be a complete lie? Brooklyn Anderson, returns home to small town Eden Illinois, after receiving a phone call from her sister that their father was in the hospital. Brooklyn has been in New York pursuing her career as an actress. The trip home seems all too familiar, she was just home a few months ago after the death of her mother, and now her father has been hospitalized. Her father took a fall and broke his hip, and thank goodness her sister Ginny showed up at the house in time to take him to the hospital. The thing is, Ginny‘s stories aren’t adding up and Brooklyn has a lot of questions to ask the sister she has never really gotten along with. The more Brooklyn digs into the past the more questions she has, how could her loving family have so much to hide? Another Eden Citizen has returned home who has written a movie script and is ready to lay all the town’s secrets bare. Just like a row of dominoes after one secret is revealed the rest of them slowly and sometimes painfully are revealed as well. Brooklyn was such a likable character there was something about her that really drew me in. I was right there by her side throughout this book squeezing her hand every time she learns something she didn’t already know. The storytelling in this book was exceptional and the characters were tremendously well drawn. This was not A crazy twisted edge of your seat type book. It was a well told story about a family and a town’s secrets and how they impacted the lives of so many. It was about a secret leads to a lie leads to another secret leads to another lie, it is a snowball effect with no end. And ultimately it will consume and destroy you. This is one of those books that captivated me from first page to last! Recommend! *** many thanks to E. C. Diskin for my copy of this book *** 39 likes Like Comment Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️1#AUDIOBOOKADDICT 2,258 reviews 706 followers December 19, 2020 Audio 4.5 Stars Story - 2.25 Stars crime-drama domestic-issues flashbacks ...more 23 likes Like Comment DeAnn 1,469 reviews March 29, 2019 3 stars to this chock-full-of-deception tale Brooklyn is living her dream life in New York, auditioning and waiting to make it big in acting. Then she gets a message from her estranged sister Ginny that their Dad is in the hospital. Brooklyn races home to the small Midwest town where she grew up. This one is told in two timelines, as the book opens Brooklyn is in jail and then the other chapters fill us in on her life and what has led up to this point. This one is full of twists, secrets, and drama and it was a bit hard to keep track of it all. There are equally complex subplots: racism, blind faith and trust in the church, teen pregnancy, and police looking the other way for friends in town. Overall, I have mixed feelings about this one, it just didn’t quite work for me. Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and E.C. Diskin for a copy to read and review. 2019 10 likes Like Comment Kimberly Belle Author 21 books 4,540 followers February 8, 2019 EC Diskin shines in her latest Desperate Paths, a suspenseful, tightly plotted story of sisters, betrayals, and secrets buried close to home. Diskin doesn’t shy away from hard subjects, and she deftly weaves her tale with an unflinching examination of social issues. A page-turner with an important message. 9 likes Like Comment Adrian Dooley 416 reviews 128 followers March 4, 2019 3.5 stars marked up to 4. The story of Brooklyn Anderson, a young budding actress from the small town of Eden who now lives in New York, and her rather dysfunctional family who still reside in Eden. When Brooklyn gets a message from her estranged older sister Ginny that their father is in hospital after having an accident. Returning to Eden to see how her father is, she soon realizes that all may not be as it seems. She realizes that Ginny is lying to her and her father is also harboring secrets. When an ex student of the school that Brooklyn went to in Eden, now a famous actor, returns to film a new film about his life growing up in Eden, he soon ends up in hospital as well after being shot. His script reveals so many secrets about the town and its residence, secrets that have been kept for years, and there are many people who dont want those secrets to come out. I enjoyed this one. It did feel like it bit off a bit more than it could chew, trying to cram in a lot of topics into the one story - clerical abuse, racism, religious fanaticism to name a few. Despite that the story is strong enough to forgive its over ambition. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 due to the strength of the storytelling. Thanks to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer and E.C. Diskin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 8 likes Like Comment Laura Wonderchick 1,395 reviews 157 followers February 23, 2019 Intricate family drama with a bit of mystery that comes to a head with a few twists that had me backtrack to make sure I read it right. Reminiscent of Heather Gudenkauf and Kimberly Belle. Unique and intriguing! Thanks to the author for this early copy:) 8 likes Like Comment Tracy 492 reviews July 2, 2020 I did not expect the twists that came near the end of this book. I was listening to it on audible and I am pretty sure I was sitting there with my mouth open when the twists were revealed. This book may be an uncomfortable read for some, you have abortion, racism, sexual misconduct by a church figure and drug abuse. But I really thought it was so good and quite relevant to the current affairs. I live in a small town, I grew up in a small town. So for the first part of this book I felt like it could have taken place here. And if you are from a small town you know how things can be, especially with everyone knowing everyone else. It was well written and the narrators did a great job with the audio. I am really glad I have been taking advantage of all these free audible narration books on Prime. I have been pleasantly surprised by books that I may not have given a second glance. amazon-prime audiobook crime ...more 3 likes Like Comment Kim Young 371 reviews 6 followers March 5, 2019 Desperate Paths by E.C. Diskin is full of secrets and lies! Brooklyn is a young woman in her early 20's and trying to make it as an actress in New York City. She is from a small town and was adopted by her religious parents while they were on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. She has an older sister Ginny who is married with 2 kids. Ginny and Brooklyn have never been close. Brooklyn receives a text from Ginny that their dad has fallen and is in the hospital and showing signs of dementia. She rushes back home to be with her dad, very upset because their mom just recently died of cancer. This is when Brooklyn's world gets split wide open. She starts finding out her life and past aren't what she thought. Ginny's world and marriage is falling apart also. By the time this story is finished no one is who/what you thought they were! Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. 3 likes Like Comment Bonnye Reed 4,421 reviews 78 followers March 24, 2019 Desperate Paths is a very complex mystery, shadowed with family dysfunctions, virulent addictions, and dishonorable clergy. That said, it's a very interesting read, hard to put aside to fit your daily life around the story. I should be rototilling the garden.... Brooklyn is about 20 with Hollywood stars in her eyes, living for about a year in an NYC walkup with several other aspiring actors despite her father's disappointment that college was not for her. Adopted as a baby born in the Dominican Republic after John and Bonnie's sole chick was grown, Brooklyn never had much of a relationship with her sibling Ginny. Their mother Bonnie passed with cancer about six months ago, and Ginny texts Brooklyn to come home to Eden, Illinois as their father is now in the hospital with a broken hip and lacerated head after taking a fall at home. Home is not what Brooklyn expected, and the secrets creeping out of the woodwork are overwhelming. Why is Ginny telling lies? Is John really deeply into dementia? Did Ginny really have a relapse into alcoholism after 13 years sober? Who shot the abortion clinic Doctor all those years ago? Who shot actor Darius Woods last week as he was visiting his father? Who has read Darius' play about his high school days in Eden? Will Ginny be able to get her life back under her control? Whoever said living in a small town was simple? Desperate Paths was a gift from author E.C.Diskin and publisher Thomas & Mercer through the Netgalley program, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. pub date March 19, 2019 GNAB . author-gift kindle-or-pdf mystery-us ...more 2 likes Like Comment Hannah McKinnon Author 8 books 1,596 followers March 8, 2020 Intrigue, originality, suspense and with characters that felt so real they could have strolled up to me and introduced themselves without it feeling odd...this book had all that and so much more. E.C. Diskin wove a masterful small-town tale of lies and deceit, hatred and forgiveness, all the while addressing important social issues head-on. This is a story I won't be forgetting any time soon. 3 likes Like Comment Jacqui 252 reviews 4 followers March 31, 2019 Desperate Paths is a standalone thriller which journeys into betrayal, racism, abuse, abortion and misguided parental teachings. Brooklyn’s dad was a shining light in her life. She came to see him a week ago after her sister, Ginny, let her know that he had fallen and broken a hip. So why now, a week later, is she sitting in a police cell after being found wiping a gun and standing over his body? Eden is a good, clean town guided by the morals and teachings of religion and Pastors like Gary who want nothing more than to let loose decent, upstanding teenagers into the world. So, it’s proper that the community turn on the local abortion clinic and kill a doctor, right? Well, no one knows exactly who did it, but you don’t hear any complaints. Darius Woods is a boy who left Eden and made it big in the world of showbiz. He has now returned to see his father and brought with him a manuscript for a movie he has written about some of the residents and happenings in Eden. The names have been changed to protect people, but if this gets out, no one will be safe from the repercussions. Darius is shot shortly after arriving back in Eden—was this a case of racism, which is still rife in this town, or someone willing to do whatever it takes to save their name from being exposed in the manuscript? The web of lies is being held together by a thread which is threatening to snap. If it starts to unravel, who knows what will be exposed. Eden is not the paradise it claims to be, after all... This book is really busy, with a lot of storylines and intermingled timelines and I enjoyed it tremendously. I was literally just going one more chapter, one more chapter and I’ll go to sleep! You are introduced to Brooklyn who was adopted as a baby from the Dominican Republic and never quite accepted at school or by her older sister. As she starts questioning Ginny’s story about her dad’s accident and sees how Ginny is relying more and more on alcohol, she begins to realise that something is not adding up. The author takes you on the journey of her anguish through what she believes to be true now might not be and jumps back and forth in time in the story from the day she is arrested to the week prior when she comes home. This makes filling in the blanks like a treasure hunt where the reader is only fed tiny nibbles of the clues until Pandora’s Box opens and secrets start spilling out in a tsunami. There are so many questions that just as quickly as they are answered lead to more questions and very often you find yourself liking a character and are then shown who they really are and land up hating them. It goes to show how often we make assumptions based on one trusted person’s opinion when there are a number of people warning us off but we won’t listen. The secondary characters all played pivotal roles, from a cop who wants to help out a friend by manipulating the rules of justice to a husband who is so self-involved that the world constantly lets him down as nothing can meet his standards. I really appreciated the level of editing in the book as there were no mistakes in grammar and punctuation that interrupted the flow of reading and you were left to just devour each page as it went by. To be picky, there are one or two scenes that seem a little far-fetched even in the context of the story, but without them, the bigger picture wouldn’t be what it is, I guess. You will most certainly find yourself wanting to fly through the book in order to see where the story ends. The themes in the story are deep, and if you are a person who is easily offended by stories involving abuse in the church, racism and abortion then take this as a warning before you decide to start to read. If you can read it for the sake of reading a great story, then jump right in; the highs and lows will have you questioning decisions and actions and sometimes just outright shaking your head. I highly recommend this book. Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to review Desperate Paths. 1 like Like Comment Anya 511 reviews 22 followers June 28, 2020 4.5 stars. A very good psychological thriller, but I think I've read too many books in the same genre, so it's difficult to suprise me anymore. Recommended because it's well written, a very quick and entertaining read, and maybe it will even suprise someone who's read less books of that genre. The characterization was ok, but the shining side of the book was the compelling story. I don't agree with people who said there is too much packed up in there.. it all lead to the same point...it makes sense.. no strange coincidence there, absurd but believable at the same time. 2 likes Like Comment Jill Orr Author 7 books 134 followers March 20, 2019 Loved this book! I picked it up not knowing what to expect and was immediately drawn in by the structure of the story (the author plays with time, 7 days in the past/future). As I read, I thought I knew where the story was going, but then wasn't so sure... then I was... then I wasn't again. The suspense kept building and I'll admit I did not see the final twist coming at all - I love it when that happens! Would definitely recommend this book if you like twisty plots and complex characters. 1 like Like Comment Lisa West 7 reviews 2 followers March 27, 2019 Full of suspense This book was a page turner from the get go. So many twists and turns that just when you think you figured it out there’s another curve. I enjoyed it and will try other books from this author. 1 like Like Comment Eszter Felei 320 reviews 2 followers May 23, 2021 Me ha gustado mucho sobre todo porque no he visto venir todos los giros nuevos y porque el ritmo ha sido constante. 1 like Like Comment Lisa 33 reviews 3 followers August 10, 2021 So much repetition.... editors did a lousy job w/ this one. Story had a lot of potential. But the execution of it was painful. The inner dialogue of the main character was torturous, exacerbated by the the whiny tone of the female narrator. Bad voice acting... just whining. Ugh. I barely got through this audio version. 1 like Like Comment Bridget 2,789 reviews 116 followers June 16, 2019 "Desperate Paths" was packed full of family secrets and lies. I loved and totally embraced the plot and drama within the novel. E.C. Diskin delivered an intriguing, well-written and entertaining read that gradually increased in tension and suspense. The complex characters were masterfully drawn and I thought the structure of this story was immensely enjoyable. I was hooked right from the very first chapter. For me, E.C. Diskin did very well creating intricate pieces of puzzles to ponder over. but being an armchair sleuth didn't work out well for me. I had a go at guessing, but I never knew the why or how of pretty much anything until the fulfilling and neat ending. Overall, this novel was a fun, entertaining and enjoyable read that I would certainly recommend. I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion. mystery netgalley-arc thrillers 2 likes Like Comment Heather 355 reviews 12 followers February 11, 2019 Many thanks to the author for an ARC of this book! WOW, so many secrets and definitely desperate paths!! Diskin tackled some tough, uncomfortable topics in this books. I felt she developed the storyline well and was happy how she wrapped up the subject matter. I had some guesses on what was going to happen but there were definitely twists towards the end that had me realizing there were still so many secrets to be found. There were many emotions while reading this. I wouldn't consider this book a "thriller" as some have labeled it but that being said it's definitely suspenseful and keeps you turning the page! I will continue to read Diskin's books. advance-reader-copy fiction mystery-suspense 1 like Like Comment Tracy Cavanah 173 reviews 1 follower February 4, 2019 Brooklyn Anderson knows it looks bad. She was found wiping down a gun. His blood on her hands. Her father now dead. The incomprehensible nightmare has started Thank you to net galley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book it was a great experience. A real page turner first time reading anything from this author 1 like Like Comment Alesha Cary 410 reviews 5 followers June 3, 2020 I listened to the audio version of this book while painting, so I finished it pretty quickly. While I liked Broken Grace by E C Diskin a lot, this novel was just very “okay.” The character development was problematic and uneven in a lot of places, and the characterization of small town religious people was a bit one dimensional. (I am a small town religious person. I’m aware of the faults and failings of said community. But when every pastor is touchy with the young ladies and no one in the small town stands up for the good, Eh.) Quick plot summation: Aspiring actress Brooklyn returns home to Eden when her estranged sister Ginny calls to tell her their Dad has fallen and is in the hospital. She finds her Dad forgetful and her sister typically distant, giving conflicting stories about what happened the night Dad fell. While visiting her Dad, she runs into another Dad at the hospital visiting his son Darius Woods, the hometown-boy-turned-superstar. He is writing a movie about growing up in Eden, and someone shot him! What happened to Dad? Will Darius survive? What’s going on with Ginny? Will she have to give up her dreams of big city acting? The Good: The premise was sort of interesting? It could have gone places. The Eh: The author is writing this as a retrospective of 1999, but some of the plotting would put it squarely 30 years earlier, deeply entrenched in the Civil Rights movement. It also appears that the community has not changed ethnically at all in the 27 years between 1999 and 2016. That is unrealistic no matter what part of the country you’re in. The Ugly: The inconsistencies in the characters are simply incredible, meaning I can’t believe they are people. Yes, people are complicated... but some of this just strains credulity. Why does every male character appear (except Darius maybe) to be a Jekyll/Hyde combo? Why is Eddie even in this story? And in this small town, not a soul noticed the similarities of Brooklyn to her parents, both the famous and the not? In the end, that was the problem I couldn’t get past. These didn’t read like real, complicated people. They read like real complicated plot devices, and that is hard to love. I finished it. It gets a 2.5 for interest, but I didn’t really enjoy the ride. Since these reviews are mostly to help me remember these books in 3 or 30 years when I’m trying to recall the details... don’t scroll or read the bullet points unless you e finished the book. 😁 ... Pastor Gary raped Ginny. He also “rescued” her from some trouble. Darius rescued her “way back” in 1999. They fell in love. She got pregnant. Dad and Mom were appalled. Dad threatened Darius. Ginny has the baby (Brooklyn). Her parents rear the baby claiming to have adopted her on a mission trip. Ginny is a mess, gets institutionalized, marries Simon. Simon is infertile. She goes to Gary. He fathers her kids. (What the...) Ginny starts drinking again when Darius returns. Simon wants a divorce and custody of the kids. Ginny knows the truth has to come out. She confronts everybody. Brooklyn figures out the totally obvious mystery. Dad reveals Mom shot the clinic doctor back in the day. Her motive is vaguely about abortion. Maybe. True love triumphs. Happy ending. Sure... I’m still not sure who shot who. By the end, I did not care. After reading that list, I’m thinking LMN may come calling for this script... This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review Like Comment M 1,523 reviews April 13, 2019 Not an easy book to read. Why? Racism, abortion, pedophilia, sexism, religious doctrinaire This book is well-written and the storyline complex with clever twists. The murder mystery and a minimalist police procedural are the story’s backbone—from which hang several twisted side plots, already discussed by other reviewers. The book’s structure is a riff on the overly-popular flashing backward/forward in time method—which I tolerate but am not fond of. The setting is a small town in southern Illinois where Baptist churches are the center of life, the grocery store sells guns and ammo, and families seem perfect. Religion and churches figure heavily, so expect lectures, homilies, and biblical quotes. The characters are well-developed and many are likable, but some are difficult to identify with. Racism confronts, threatens and even kills people of color. Chauvinistic attitudes toward women are rife; churchgoers lie to the FBI to protect a young congregant; a teen considers abortion; and ministers are involved in pedophilia and blackmail. This book has drama and feels to spare, because social/societal observations about the insular community are woven into the story. Dysfunctional families pervert values/morals with self-serving hypocrisy. Harmful lies are perpetuated to maintain facades of family perfection. Self-righteousness justifies/excuses horrific acts. A man of God says: “when someone’s ideology was under attack, when that person believes in the righteousness of his actions, and his entire belief system supports it, it doesn’t matter what the law says. To that person, it’s a moral war, and every war has casualties.” Yes, really. “Good, kind, churchgoing folks” support a white deputy who was acquitted after he shot a black man, reminiscent of the Philando Castile case. Some are unbothered that doctors who work at abortion clinics are murdered. They shrug at the mass murders of homosexuals in Orlando. The ending is overly long, but all the threads are tied off. Warning to animal lovers: a man stands behind two 6-7 year-old girls playing in his backyard and shoots a deer on his property. Yes, it’s to make a point, but I felt horrible for the traumatized girls. Like Comment Lisa 176 reviews August 7, 2021 At first, I didn't think I was going to like it. I really didn't want to read story about racial, religious and social conflicts, there's just too much of that going on these days and when I read, I do it to escape not to read my life out loud. I do know those conflicts exist and I know they need to be addressed but sometimes you want to just take a break from it all. I wanted a simple, suspenseful story. I was surprised to find myself wanting to read more after each chapter. I originally thought I was going to really dislike the older sister Ginny but as her story unfolds, I have to say she became my favorite. I felt a lot of pain for her and oddly enough the sister I thought I was going to like the most - Brooklyn, I ended up liking the least of the two, not the least of the characters though, by far, Pastor Greg was the worst and I'm not a big fan of Simon either! There were some twists that I certainly didn't see coming until right before they were told and what I had predicted wasn't always the case. Yes, the story touches racial, religious and social conflicts and it wasn't the read I was looking for at the moment but I am really glad I kept with this one and finished it. It was well worth it and I would recommend it. Like Comment Mindo'ermatter 444 reviews 9 followers November 7, 2019 Strong Plot---Great Storytelling! Bought this book by accident, but choose to read it as an adventure. I was not disappointed. From the publisher's summary, I didn't know what to expect, but I got hooked quickly and enjoyed the fast ride to the surprising finish. The main characters were easy to like despite their obvious flaws and many secrets, and I found myself immersed in the story while pulling for everyone to be on the right side of things. The author's skill with misdirection had me suspecting almost everyone on the wrong side as the plotline was revealed. Lots of suspenseful twists and jolts along the ways as facts emerge and everything starts fitting together. It was a fast, fun read when you need an escape from everything else. I had never read Diskin before, but I plan to read more stories by this skillful author and her imaginative tales of mystery. The Audible narration uses multiple readers able to add drama and interest to the reading experience. So glad for happy accidents that led me to enjoy this unusual novel. Like Comment Stephanee Merino 25 reviews May 1, 2020 The plot of this story is what attracted me to it. It’s a great read! Brooklyn things she knows everything about her family except for why her sister and father doesn’t get along. Her sister calls her home because her father is ill. Once she gets there she starts to notice everything is not as it should be. She starts to poke around. All her questions Sean to only create more questions. Her sister is avoiding her, her Dad tried to apologize but for what for she doesn’t know and her sister isn’t telling. About the same time she shows up back in town so does a famous actor who is from their small town. She has brought a script for a movie he wants to make about their town. The movie will shed light on some very well hidden secrets. The actor is shot, Brooklyn’s father is dead. Are they connected? If you wanna know I guess you’ll have to read the book. I highly recommend it. The ending is now what you would expect. Like Comment Diane D White 223 reviews 1 follower April 16, 2019 Interesting Plot, Uninspired Prose This reader gives Diskin high marks on plot and a mediocre grade on her writing style. Perhaps she's writing for a young demographic? Her sentences skew strongly toward short and simple and she seldom uses words with more than three syllables. Although I read the book entirely through because Diskin kept me interested in where the emerging twists and turns in her story would wind up, her prose was disappointingly sparse, even flat. I've read one other book by this author I liked much better, so I know she can produce more nuanced writing. Even so, I enjoyed following this tale to its intriguing end and can recommend it to those who appreciate stories about confused but essentially good people who get caught up in traps of their own clumsy making. Like Comment Kelly Cantwell 69 reviews 3 followers April 23, 2019 This was my first time reading E.C. Diskin's work, and I'm definitely going to go back and read her other books. I love finding a new author! Desperate Paths is the story of Brooklyn Anderson and her return to hometown Eden, a place she'd left to pursue an acting career in New York City. Her sister Ginny calls her home when their father falls and is hospitalized with a broken hip. Unanswered questions about her father's fall and her sister's evasiveness tell Brooklyn that she's going to have to figure out what happened on her own. Family secrets and lies from the past make this a compelling read. Just when you think you have solved one mystery, another twist will make you read on. I highly recommend this book! Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion 1 question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. 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The Ruined Map by Kōbō Abe | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $11.99 Rate this book The Ruined Map Kōbō Abe 3.48 2,480 ratings 254 reviews Want to read Kindle $11.99 Rate this book Of all the great Japanese novelists, Kobe Abe was indubitably the most versatile. With The Ruined Map , he crafted a mesmerizing literary crime novel that combines the narrative suspense of Chandler with the psychological depth of Dostoevsky. Mr. Nemuro, a respected salesman, disappeared over half a year ago, but only now does his alluring yet alcoholic wife hire a private eye. The nameless detective has but two clues: a photo and a matchbook. With these he embarks upon an ever more puzzling pursuit that leads him into the depths of Tokyo’s dangerous underworld, where he begins to lose the boundaries of his own identity. Surreal, fast-paced, and hauntingly dreamlike, Abe’s masterly novel delves into the unknowable mysteries of the human mind. Translated from the Japanese by E. Dale Saunders. Genres Fiction Japan Japanese Literature Mystery Literary Fiction Crime Classics ...more 304 pages, Paperback First published January 1, 1967 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Kōbō Abe 197 books 1,820 followers Kōbō Abe (安部 公房 Abe Kōbō), pseudonym of Kimifusa Abe , was a Japanese writer, playwright, photographer, and inventor. He was the son of a doctor and studied medicine at Tokyo University. He never practised however, giving it up to join a literary group that aimed to apply surrealist techniques to Marxist ideology. Abe has been often compared to Franz Kafka and Alberto Moravia for his surreal, often nightmarish explorations of individuals in contemporary society and his modernist sensibilities. He was first published as a poet in 1947 with Mumei shishu ("Poems of an unknown poet") and as a novelist the following year with Owarishi michi no shirube ni ("The Road Sign at the End of the Street"), which established his reputation. Though he did much work as an avant-garde novelist and playwright, it was not until the publication of The Woman in the Dunes in 1962 that he won widespread international acclaim. In the 1960s, he collaborated with Japanese director Hiroshi Teshigahara in the film adaptations of The Pitfall, Woman in the Dunes, The Face of Another and The Ruined Map . In 1973, he founded an acting studio in Tokyo, where he trained performers and directed plays. He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1977. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.48 2,480 ratings 254 reviews 5 stars 432 (17%) 4 stars 803 (32%) 3 stars 855 (34%) 2 stars 309 (12%) 1 star 81 (3%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews Fernando 700 reviews 1,095 followers November 24, 2023 "La urbe: el infinito cerrado; el laberinto donde nadie se pierde; el mapa exclusivamente tuyo en el cual todas las cuadras están numeradas de la misma manera. Por lo tanto no te puedes perder aún cuando te extravíes por el camino." Nuevamente leo un libro de mi escritor japonés preferido: Kobo Abe. Si bien reconozco que no leo asiduamente literatura japonesa (además de Abe, sólo he leído “El marino que perdió la gracia del mar” de Yukio Mishima y “Crónica del pájaro que da cuerda al mundo” de Haruki Murakami), cada vez que me encuentro con un libro de este excelente escritor, apodado “el Kafka japonés”, me entusiasmo porque sé que va a ser una lectura agradable. Luego de leer libros suyos como “Los cuentos siniestros”, tal vez el más kafkiano de todos, así también como “El rostro ajeno” y “Encuentros secretos” le tocó el turno a “El mapa calcinado” y nuevamente me he sumergido en esos mundos ficcionarios que sólo él puede construir. El argumento del libro es netamente del género policial negro en el cual un detective sin nombre tiene que investigar el caso de un empresario desaparecido, el señor Nemuro, pero para el cual tiene muy pocos datos con qué iniciar dicha investigación. Tan pocos como los testigos y la evidencia con la que cuenta, lo cual dificulta en gran medida su accionar detectivesco. Sólo tiene la información que le brinda la bucólica y misteriosa esposa del desaparecido, así también como el cuñado de Nemuro, un personaje de características demasiado extrañas y un empleado subalterno del empresario, llamado Tashiro. También posee una deteriorada caja de fósforos de distintos colores, con un número de teléfono anotado en ella y nada más. Tiene que moverse a ciegas, buscar a tientas y poner mucho esfuerzo, tiempo, dinero y nervios para poder llegar a alguna pista que le aclare el panorama. Tan sólo conoce un bar, el Tsubaki, en donde vieron por última vez a Nemuro y su intuición. El resto es misterio. Este detective es altamente analítico y metódico. Trata de poner en juego todas las herramientas posibles, pero con escaso éxito. Una característica de la narrativa de Abe es la detalladísima (exagerada) descripción que hace del ambiente, las cosas, las actitudes y las personas con la que se cruza. Todo es explicado en primera persona como si fuera una de esas novelas propias del Realismo del siglo XIX que satura un poco, porque “adorna” la escena, pero no avanza con la historia. De todos modos es un detalle que se soporta, puesto que la atención por parte del lector está en el caso investigado. Creo que “El mapa calcinado” es la menos kafkiana de todas las novelas de Abe, más allá de la complejidad y la inaccesibilidad a la que está sujeta el detective. No está este rasgo tan marcado como en “Encuentros secretos” en donde sí nos encontramos con un personaje realmente perdido y sujeto a extrañísimas condiciones, inmerso dentro de un mundo de leyes que por momento son de naturaleza casi onírica. Aquí la imposibilidad surge de las pocas pistas y de las personas esquivas pero hay algo que sí debo reconocer: en un momento, casi sobre el tramo final de la historia, Kobo Abe emplea una técnica muy conocida en los relatos de Julio Cortázar, aplicando una cinta de Moebius y de buenas a primeras, todo se da vuelta. El narrador sigue contando en primera persona lo que le sucede, pero parece ya no ser el mismo que ocupó gran parte del libro, pero algo ha cambiado: comienza a contar algo que al principio parece inconexo pero que tiene que ver con el caso investigado. Pero, ¿qué es?, ¿por qué este brusco cambio? Y el final: ¿por quién está narrado de esa manera? Lo dejo a criterio de aquel que quiera leer esta gran novela del genial Kobo Abe para que intente descubrir al igual que el narrador cuál es el paradero del desaparecido señor Nemuro. Buena suerte. 54 likes Like Comment Jack Tripper 445 reviews 299 followers May 29, 2021 I've never read a novel so overly descriptive yet vague at the same time. The nameless private eye would spend paragraphs describing the angle of an object in relation to the rest of the room, and yet I didn't have much of a grasp on what was going on half the time. I know that's partially the intent here, to leave the reader disoriented, but I was never able to fully become absorbed into the story, as often there was nothing substantial for me to latch onto, and sometimes no transition from one scene to the next. That so many of the characters speak in non sequiturs did nothing to help me regain my footing. Don't get me wrong, I love me some weirdness, even if it's just for weirdness' sake, but the fact that I never felt invested in anything that was happening resulted in pure boredom at various times. Maybe the fault lies in the fact that I treated this too much like a mystery to be solved, instead of just enjoying it for what it is: a strange, psychological exploration of identity, and the loss of identity. I will say, however, that the ending was very well done and made the previous 280-some arduous pages worth it in the end, if only just. 3.0 Stars mystery-crime-thriller noir-hardboiled translation ...more 30 likes Like Comment Hulyacln 924 reviews 447 followers December 6, 2019 ‘Sabahları konserve gibi dolu trenlerde sıkış tıkış giderken bazen öyle korkuyorum ki. Normalde sırf, belki birkaç, belki onlarca, belki yüzlerce kişiyle ilişkimiz var diye bu dünyada belli bir yerimiz var sanıyoruz. Oysa çok daha yakınımda etrafımı konserve kutusu gibi saran tüm bu insanlar yabancı. Hem de bu yabancıların sayısı çok daha fazla.’ . Kobo Abe beni her defasında sisli bir ormanın ortasında bırakıyor. Başlangıçta ellerimi tutuyor, yol gösteriyor. Ve sonra diyor ki ‘artık yalnızsın’ ve ben kayboluyorum. Bu sefer elime bir harita veriyor: Hiroshi Nemuro kayıp. Ben o ormandan çıkıp; ucu bucağı yok gibi görünen bir yerde onu arıyorum. Şaşırmamalıyım aslında, çünkü “şehir-kapalı bir sonsuzluk”.. Toprağı kazmak gibi. Kazdıkça içinden ne çıkacağını bilemeyip; o çukura düşme pahasına merakına yenilmek gibi.. . İçimizdeki kuytuları anlatıyor Kobo Abe. Gizliden gizliye kaçış isteğimizi, söylemekten korktuğumuz düşleri.. Ve göz kamaştıran nokta ise hepimizin birbirimizle bir bağ kurduğunu göstermesi.. Yola çıkan da, yolda olan da, hatta yolu düşleyen de bu bağın içinde.. Yine çok sevdim.. . Çeviride Kumların Kadını ve Başkasının Yüzü’nde de yer alan Barış Bayıksel yer almakta..Umarım nice kitapla kesişir yollarımız.. . Sancar Salman’a ait kapak tasarımı ise büyüleyici. O katlanma izleri, içinizdeki yollar.. Parsel parsel ayrılış.. Nihayetinde et kemiğe bürünüş.. 21 likes Like Comment Nate D 1,603 reviews 1,107 followers March 31, 2017 Urban malaise. Noir. Fragmented experience. Anonymity of crowds to the point of obliteration. Dislocation within a manufactured landscape. Dislocation within one's own life and experiences in a postmodern world. Surfaces / underworlds. This is Abe's novel of the City. Even when his adherence to and rejection of seeming plot mechanics appear at odds, the gestalt holds this together beautifully. 60s-re-de-construction favorites japan ...more 21 likes Like Comment S̶e̶a̶n̶ 906 reviews 467 followers July 15, 2023 While it’s not top-tier Abe in my opinion, The Ruined Map is not without its merits. Any subversion of the detective genre is going to win me over at least to some degree. And subvert Abe does, though here almost to a fault. The plot—such as it is—ostensibly follows the efforts of the narrator, a private investigator, to locate the missing husband of his client, a rather eccentric, reticent young woman now living alone and cloistered in her apartment within a vast housing estate. To say the 'plot' gets bogged down in the narrator’s own existential meanderings would be an understatement. At the heart of his circuitous and often banal movements, he is really just investigating himself, as he eventually admits: This blackness I am seeking is after all merely my own self…my own map, revealed by my brain. This admission should come as no surprise to the reader. The themes at play here are pretty standard fare for Abe: identity, isolation, alienation, otherness, and escape. (Not that I'm complaining.) Usually there’s some awkward eroticism thrown in for good measure, and that is certainly the case here. Some of the prose is just over-the-top ridiculous: The color of her skin was that of a mellowed piece of unpainted furniture in which age and freshness smoothly fused. Really, Abe? Sometimes I’m tempted to pin this sort of absurdity on the translation, but E. Dale Saunders has translated a lot of Abe’s work and I’ve never had any complaints about his translations before. So, I suspect this might just be Abe being Abe. Toward the end, the narrative (d)evolves(?) into a sort of denouement to what Abe has been dancing around with from the beginning of the book.* I won’t say anymore because readers who make it all the way through to the end deserve discovering for themselves the final specimen laid out for dissection. *Note: there is a connection between this novel and Abe's short story 'Beyond the Curve' that reveals itself toward the end of the book, but although I've read the story, unfortunately I didn't have it on hand for a reread and close comparison. 2023 mist 18 likes Like Comment Aslı Can 733 reviews 251 followers Read January 25, 2020 20. yüzyılın sonlarına doğru yazılmış bu roman. Savaşlar, atom bombaları, soykırımlar- hanım koş televizyonda Vietnam Savaşı gösteriliyor. Beyaz yakalı işçiler her yerde, metrolar tıklım tıkış, her yer reklam, her yer pırıl pırıl; şehirler yeniden düzenlenmiş, sokaklar labirent gibi, gerçekten insanın kaybolması işten bile değil. Telefonlar: zır zır; fotoğraf makineleri: şak şak- her yer araba- pavyonlar aynı pavyonlar ama artık ışıl ışıl göz alıyor; insanlık ilerliyor! Hastalıklar şipşak çözülüyor mesela; her deliye bir psikolog, suçluya gardiyan, hırsıza polis, gençlerimize aydın öğretmenler ve sürpriiz: güvenlik kameraları her yerde. Artık güvendesiniz! ''Bu kütüphane sizlerin güvenliği için anlık olarak güvenlik kameralarıyla izlenmektedir.'' Ama kameraların erişemediği yerler de yok denemez ve bu karanlık köşelerde kötü şeyler olmuyor değil; mesela çözümü imkansız görünen, katili belirsiz ve akıllıca! işlenmiş bir cinayet. Hımm, bu gariban öğrenciyi hangi kitap öldürdü??? Dur bir dakika, birini tanıyorum: müthiş zekası, akıl yürütme becerisi ve üstün yetenekleriyle sır perdesini aralayan, her gizemi çözen- karanlık köşeleri spot ışıklarıyla aydınlatarak gerçeği - o müthiş GERÇEĞİ! - açığa çıkaran biri: bir dedektif! -Burada neler döndüğünü beş dakikada anlar ama bize anlatması yüzlerce sayfa sürebilir. Virane Harita bir dedektif anlatısı. Ama öyle bildiğimiz türden akıl yürütmeler ve sonuca ulaşmalar yok bu kez. Kobo Abe, aradığını bir türlü bulamayan bir dedektifle tanıştırıyor bizi. Akıl yürütmeleriyle bir sonuca varamayan, gücü yetmeyen, yet-e-meyen, yorgun, mütereddit ve aradığı gerçeğin peşinde dolanırken kaybolan bir dedektif. İyi de öyle şey mi olur canım, dedektif dediğin... Sahi, dedektif romanları neden bu kadar popüler? (sokakta amaçszca yürüyen biri - aralık perdeden sızan sarı ışık dikkatini çeker- şöyle etrafı kolaçan ettikten sonra içeriye bir göz atmanın kimseye zararı olmayacağını düşünür- belki birinin başına bir şey gelmiştir ve yardımı dokunabilir- yaklaşır: içeride bir kadın... ) -- Virane Harita, Kutu Adam'dan altı yıl önce yazılmış ve içerik olarak bambaşka görünseler de aslında işlenen kavramlar ortak. Biçim olarak Virane Harita çok daha homojen ve okunması kolay, açık bir anlatımı var. Bu yönüyle sırrına eremediğimiz Kutu Adam'ı ve dolayısıyla teşhir-gözetleme-dikiz kültürünü anlamak için müthiş bir rehber. Müthiş bir dedektif romanı. Kobo Abe, açıları özenle ayarlanmış aynalarla şehrin labirentlerinden görüntüler yansıtıyor bize. Aynaya bakarak çıkışı bulup labirentten kurtulduğunda ise, artık sadece aynada bir görüntü haline geldiğini fark ediyorsun. Kurtulman için söylemen büyülü sözleri ise, yalnızca sen biliyorsun! 13 likes Like Comment Drew 238 reviews 123 followers December 17, 2012 All I can really say about this one is that it's like City of Glass , but more substantial and textured. Which is to say, the plots of the two are nearly the same--possibly incompetent private eye investigates what may be a crime, but the case is set aside in favor of an identity crisis for the narrator. The difference is that Abe at least has some good old-fashioned prose style, whereas Auster lacks in that area (as far as I can tell), among others . A few examples, and again, these aren't supposed to be examples of Great Prose...only competent, just interesting enough to keep you reading: "If I believed her literally--or the words she spoke to herself--within these thirty some paces an unreasonable and unforeseen event had lain in wait for him. And as a result of it he had not only disregarded the appointment at S---- station, but had boldly and irreversibly stepped across a chasm, turning his back on the world." (Interesting that the private eye seems to consider the subject's reappearance impossible, right from the beginning) "Although it was dead winter a huge green bottlefly, slipping and sliding, was buzzing as it tried to crawl up the shade over the electric light; it kept circling around but there was no need to worry: flies know the seasons better than humans, and their wisdom is great." And from toward the end of the book, where the prose gets a little more muddled and abstract (in a good way, if one has the patience): "If I could get them to take her at my wife's place, the membrane between the frog's toes would be even more beautiful--like purple rubber. What was broken? What was left? Again the usual face appeared in the veneer ceiling printed with the straight-grain cypress wood . . . a laughing moon . . . why was the dream I had a couple of times a year, where I was pursued by a laughing full moon, so frightening? It was still a puzzle I could not understand no matter how I racked my brains." (This is the only place in the book that the laughing moon dream is mentioned) And from only a few pages later, opening up a chapter: "I could only assume someone was watching me." So Abe does a good job of making this plot believable--you can see the narrator's gradual descent into paranoia and, ultimately, incoherence, whereas Auster gives us nothing of the sort--while providing us with some interesting scenery along the way. But seeing as it elicited from me nothing more than a shrug, I can't in good conscience recommend it to anyone. japanese-lit 12 likes Like Comment Matthew 125 reviews 8 followers November 8, 2008 The biggest mystery contained in this novel is why E Dale Saunders felt it was necessary to translate it into English. The book follows an unnamed detective on a missing persons case that leads him to such savory encounters as with the leader of a male prostitution ring, a swarmy voyeur who commits suicide and the client without any personality who drinks in her house all day. The entire book is nausea-inducing. The writing is desciptive, but it is wasted on the mundane, the seedy urban filth of the industial outskirts and housing blocks of Tokyo. On top of that, the mystery is never solved. It is not even apparent if the clues he found were even real clues. The first person narrator seems to pass from depression and moral ambiguity into delerium and attempts to drag the reader down with him. Take heed: stay well away from this loser. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review japan 13 likes Like Comment Demet 99 reviews 49 followers September 2, 2020 Virane Harita için İsa Darakcı'nın aşağıdaki linkte yer alan K24'teki yazısını okumasaydım içine biraz gizem katılmış sıradan bir dedektif hikayesi diyebilirdim. Film noir türünün güzel bir örneği olan hikaye benim için bu yazı ile anlamlı hale geldi. *ilgilenenler için link https://t24.com.tr/k24/kitap/virane-h... 1961-1970 asya-japon 11 likes Like Comment David Keffer Author 34 books 8 followers January 28, 2013 One of most inviting aspects to reading The Ruined Map (1966) is that it is, essentially, a mystery novel. There is a desire harbored in the heart of every devotee of contemporary literature who began life as a fan of genre fiction, be it mystery, western, or science fiction; and that is to see an established literary master direct his skills to one's beloved genre, to enrich and redeem it with a creation that is elegant, thoughtful, and most of all, literary. The Ruined Map satisfies this craving for the mystery aficionado -- the protagonist is a detective and first-person narrator of the novel, and it begins with a missing persons form, filed by a wife in search of her husband. But this is no simple mystery. The ruined map of the title is a symbol with multiple meanings. In one sense, it's the map leading the detective to his quarry; ruined because it is incomplete and must be interpolated with clues. In a broader sense, the map is a guide for living. Here, we again see the existentialist emerge -- of course, there is no absolute guide for living, and thus the map is ruined. Because the map is flawed, the detective cannot limit himself to safe places, and must adopt a trial and error approach to his explorations, wandering into unsavory and dangerous -- both physically and mentally locales. "He says a single map for life is all you need. It's a saying of his. The world is a forest, a woods, full of wild beasts and poisonous insects. You should go only through places where everyone goes, places that are considered absolutely safe, he says." The existence of the map is crucial because the detective does not have an internal compass and relies exclusively upon the external guidance provided by the map. Ultimately, we see that the ruination of the map causes a loss of orientation and eventually identity itself. Due to its incompleteness, the map is incapable of providing direction to the detective, and he becomes lost. This first loss is gradually followed by a second, more profound loss -- that of self. We see finally that reliance on a map to give us direction is doomed, because a complete, absolute map does not exist, and any attempts to assemble one are inherently flawed and impossible. kobo-abe 10 likes Like Comment withdrawn 263 reviews 258 followers July 12, 2013 This is my fifth Abe book. Generally I'm intrigued with his books which have a very surreal feel to them. The Ruined Map starts off in a standard pulp crime novel format. Anything but surreal. Not being a real fan of the genre, I was sceptical. Not my Abe. On the other hand it was quite readable so I continued. The unnamed detective searching for a missing husband slowly wanders ever deeper into a labyrinthine, darkened world where he loses more and more confidence in himself and the world around him. The ending is a twist of identity wherein both the narrator and the reader must question what has been described. What has actually happened and who is missing? Who is searching? How can anyone just disappear? Abe show's exactly how. Cool. Good story. fiction 8 likes Like Comment Elena Druță Author 9 books 439 followers Shelved as 'dnf' April 6, 2024 DNF. După Chip străin și Femeia nisipurilor, Harta arsă a fost a treia mea întâlnire cu Kobo Abe - și un mare fiasco. Premisa e super interesantă: un funcționar dispare dar soția lui îl dă dispărut abia după o jumătate de an, iar când un detectiv particular vine la femeie acasă pentru a afla mai multe detalii, lucrurile se complică și detectivul urmează să fie tras într-o adevărată mlaștină a lumii interlope. Totuși, romanul începe cu o cascadă de descrieri inutile - de exemplu, cum arată niște femei ce traversează strada sau ce culoare au pereții din casa soției. M-a plictisit atât de rău încât am decis să nu mă forțez. abandoned 7 likes Like Comment Amy 937 reviews 67 followers May 25, 2009 For me, the highlights of The Box Man had to do with the level of weirdness combined with a comment on identity and dropping-out of society. These themes come up often in the films I have seen based on Abe novels as well ( Woman in the Dunes , Face of Another ) Unfortunately, The Ruined Map is quite lacking in every way. This time Abe presents us with a fairly straightforward mystery. There are a couple of diversions into bizarre Japanese underworld territories, but overall these didn't really capture my attention. In fact, I am sad to say, that I was often quite bored while reading this, and found my mind often wandering onto unrelated subjects. The characters were flat, the sexiness felt forced, and the "shocker" moments could hardly rouse any emotion. It was by no means a terrible book, just not Abe at the top of his game, and sure to be very forgettable. cult-fiction 7 likes Like Comment Kathleen Author 30 books 1,284 followers August 3, 2017 "When you're driving, you never want to think of stopping. You want the moment to go on forever just as it is. But when it's over, you shudder at a state like that, with no end. There's a big difference between driving and thinking about driving." 7 likes Like Comment Larnacouer de SH 780 reviews 170 followers April 8, 2023 “Bir süre önce otobana çıktım.” “Niye, ne oldu?” “Arabayı sürerken, keşke böyle sonsuza kadar devam edebilsem; ne güzel olurdu diye düşündüm. İnanır mısınız bir an için devam edebilecekmiş gibi de oldum. Fakat şimdi o anki ruh halimi hatırladıkça tüylerim ürperiyor. Öyle değil mi? Bu dileğin gerçekleştiğini ve ne kadar sürerseniz sürün, nereye kadar giderseniz gidin, sonsuza kadar varış noktasındaki gişeye ulaşamadığınız bir düşünsenize.” “Merak etmeyin. Nasıl olsa yarım günde benzininiz biter.” // Kitaptan nerdeyse nefret etme kıvamına gelmiş bir okur bitse de gitsek telaşıyla oturduğu kitabın başından iç çekerek kalkıyor “bu neydi şimdi?!” diye gözü uzaklara dalıyorsa muhtemelen Kobo Abe kitabı okumuştur, tecrübeyle sabit. Allah affetsin ama bir noktadan sonra anlamadım kitabı muhtemelen. Metaforların tamamı bana geçti mi hiç emin değilim bu nedenle böyle bir puan veriyor ve okuduğum onca Kobo Abe kitabının bana verdiği yetkiye dayanarak şunu söylemek istiyorum; kendisini özlediğiniz zaman değil, öylesine bir günde hiç değil, yalnızca zihninizin metaforları kaldıracağı gün okuyunuz. Kobo Abe külliyatında sonlara itelenebilir gibi. Ama ben sona bıraktım da n’oldu tartışma konusu. Ay ne bileyim yaaa. Kobo Abe böyle biri işte. Sudan çıkmış balığa çevirdi yine bizi, Allah razı olsun. bu-neydi-şimdi 6 likes Like Comment Marine Hovhannisyan 21 reviews 23 followers July 1, 2019 Հավատս չի գալիս,որ արդեն 4-րդ վեպն եմ կարդում Աբեից (իսկապես` ինչքան լավը պետք է լինի,որ ուզենաս բոլոր վեպերը,նովելները կարդաս): Մի հիմնական բան կա,որ իր բոլոր գործերում հանդիպում է.Մարդու օտարացումը հասարակությունից` ժամանակակից տեխնոլոգիական առաջընթացի ժամանակաշրջանում:Ինքը էնպես է խորանում ամեն դետալի մեջ,որ կարծես դու զգաս էդ ամեն ինչը ու դու մտածես:Որպես մարդ,իր մասին կարելի է ասել,որ շատ խորաթափանց է եղել,շատ հետաքրքիր անձնավորություն (իդեպ հետաքրքիր լինելը շատ դժվար է,պետք է բավականաչափ խելք ու նրբանկատություն ունենաս դրա համար) : Իսկ Աբեն նույնիսկ բժշկագետի կոչում է ստացել Ճապոնիայում,արժանացել է Ակուտագավայի հատուկ մրցանակի` <<Ավազուտների կինը>> նովելի համար:Ինքը մի իսկական հոգեբան,հետախույզ է,մարդու ներաշխարհը ուսումնասիրող: Մի խոսքով` շատ սիրեցի fiction japanese-literature 6 likes Like Comment Sümeyye Yıldız 149 reviews 10 followers Read February 14, 2020 "Sahiden de adımı bile unutmuş gibiydim. Elimde kalan tek şey benim ben olduğuma dair bilinçti". s.225 Kaybolma hakkı yok mudur insanın, bulunmama hakkı. Dedektiflik bürosuna gelen başvuru üzerine baş karakter bir kayıbın peşine düşer. Ana meselelerden biri olan şehir, karmaşası ile karşımızda. Konuları bağlamak ve anlam kurmak şehrin katmanları gibi istiflenmiş. İnsanı ve kaybolmayı metnin arasından çıkarmak okuma emeği istiyor. Kitabı okumaya değer kılansa kitabın sonlarında. Verdiğiniz emeği, alaşağı edilmek ve hikayeyi sondan başa sarmanızla karşılaşacağınız sürprizlerle alıyorsunuz. 6 likes Like Comment Brian Bonilla 180 reviews 11 followers February 26, 2019 Creo que la calificación de novela policiaca no alcanza ni de lejos a describir lo que Kobo Abe logra en esta novela. La búsqueda de sentido y la pérdida del propio ser son los elementos claves en esta lectura que de seguro dejará a más de uno boquiabierto. Supremamente recomendada y espero con ansias leer más del genio de este señor. 5 likes Like Comment Ben Rogers 2,620 reviews 197 followers February 4, 2023 Maps Of Mystery This book is a captivating mystery novel that explores the depths of human experience and understanding. It offers a unique departure from Kōbō's previous works and offers an insightful perspective on the genre of mystery novels. I found it interesting how it was a blend of crime fiction and philosophical musings, which created a thought-provoking reading experience. The backdrop of the mystery adds an extra layer of intrigue to the already rich themes of self-discovery and introspection. The writing style is rich and evocative, and the characters are well-crafted and memorable. The narrative flows smoothly and kept me engaged throughout. The background and setting of the book are skillfully crafted, providing a rich and immersive environment for the reader. The introspective themes that Kōbō is known for are also evident in this novel, making it an enjoyable read for those who appreciate thought-provoking narratives. While this may not be the author's best work, it is still a worthwhile read for fans of mystery novels and those interested in exploring the human condition. Overall, I liked it, and in no way was it a ruined book . 3.7/5 crime japan japanese-literature ...more 5 likes Like Comment Yuri Sharon 248 reviews 24 followers April 2, 2023 Not a novel for everyone, perhaps not even for all of those who have enjoyed Abe’s other works. Although much is described, little is explained or revealed; indeed, the twist in the narrative ribbon towards the end is, frankly, somewhat confusing (perhaps it was meant to be). A clever work that has, I think, over-reached itself. fiction 5 likes Like Comment Ana 78 reviews 115 followers March 31, 2021 I have read only one single book of Kobo Abe before this one which is The Box Man. I have liked that one, I have felt the sorrows and wounds of that character, he was easily understandable because I was a teenager and probably I was feeling an outsider just like him. However, I don't think that crime novels just like this one and the ones of Auster really suit me. First of all, it seems to me that the hired detectives don't have the traits of somebody who would have issues with finding their inner person, but plain relationship problems. It is surprising for me to discover and analyse their character because they seem like mere detectives to me and suddenly their character's depth is so suffocating that I wonder where was that person before that I haven't seen him? Therefore, I don't think that the characters in these kind of novels are described enough so as to give enough hints towards their real being which is most of the times overshadowed by loooong long phrases full of suppositions. I enjoy their obsession and I think this is the only trait that makes me think of them as wanderers, still, their obsession begins to fade and then at once irrupts at the end of the novel which is the climax. Second of all, I am not pleased with the climax. After a few blows and the recognition of a truly troubled detective, he is unexpectedly in a kind of difficult situation that makes you question the gravity of the case itself which, until then, doesn't prove to be so important after all. Moreover, the case seems to be solely a way to drive the detective mad, not to solve it in any way. That burden that brings the detective on the verge of madness was always there and after some new clues, which you actually must have the courage and imagination to link, the detective finally loses his identity. In that hurricane of emotions, I can not honestly understand a thing. I know that he is a lost soul by now and that I, as a reader, I have to think, very fucking hard, what anything has to do with anything. You have no idea, until reading this book, how hard it is to actually solve the problem, that is probably the reason for which I think this is only a crime novel, not a detective novel. The crime exists, but only to highlight the detective's inner self which blooms when every trace of his is lost and when he is completely devoided of any ways to solve the mystery, until then the mystery is there but the characters are too enthralled by their own self to care. All in all, I am not trying to convince anyone to read or not to read this. Maybe some people will find the real mystery in this and be pleased with it, maybe some people will understand better the character of this type of odd detective, but I couldn't so... enjoy the book whichever side you are on! :) 4 likes Like Comment Tenma 106 reviews 11 followers November 2, 2016 The Ruined Map was somewhat fun and a joy to read. It was my fourth Kobo Abe book. After reading the Woman in the Dunes, the Box Man, and Secret Rendezvous, I lost hope and any interest in Abe’s work. I hated the absurdity of his writings and his erotic obsessions. I had no expectations whatsoever in the Ruined Man. But I was wrong. This turned out to be a fairly interesting and an addictive detective novel that is, for most part, rooted in reality. Almost as if written by someone else altogether. To my surprise, I liked it! This novel tells the story of a nameless private detective who was hired by a woman to search for her husband who went missing six months earlier. Within a span of one week, the detective embarks on a mission to collect clues on the missing husband and all those acquainted with him. As he does so, he exposes few secrets of the Japanese underworld. However, unlike the more traditional detective works of the likes of Matsumoto, Higashino, and Miyabe, the Ruined Map is less about the search and more about the detective’s psychological state of mind. A major portion of the novel deals with the detective’s self-reflections as he contemplates his life in view of the circumstances surrounding the missing man's life. Although realistic, there is something surreal about this novel. I could readily see how this work could have influenced the writings of Haruki Murakami. Despite my earlier praise, I gave this novel 3 stars. I guess it would be impossible to escape from the fact that it remains a Kobo Abe book. This was clearly evident in the final chapter and the few erotic references. The ending was too vague and too philosophical, which left me wanting for more; at least a clear conclusion to what mounted to be an elegant start. I am not really sure why the novel was titled the Ruined Map. There were no physical maps, but I am assuming it refers to how the detective viewed his life as a ruined map. I would recommend this novel as a start to anyone who wants to read a Kobo Abe novel. P.S. after writing the above review I think I found a possible solution to the question that Abe posited about the missing man. Simple put, and without revealing a spoiler, what the detective experienced in the last chapter is most probably the same what the man went through when he went missing. japan 4 likes Like Comment Max Coombes 11 reviews 24 followers September 10, 2021 The beauty of Abe's prose is that it's so horrifically pedantic. It's a claustrophobic subjectivity devoid of the human element, or the world stripped bare then categorised and described according to its function. What Abe knows (and his narrators do not) is that there is always some evasive excess to worldly matter, and so when something in it changes the narrator becomes convinced it's conspiring to crack their brain in half. The Ruined Map works within the detective format because it is structurally conspiratorial. People and objects conceal their essence from the protagonist, and so the world recedes from comprehension the more it is uncovered. A detective investigates a missing man. He likens new settlements to faded photo albums, the people in them as ghosts. He often stops to describe, at length, concrete and cockroaches. Abe rejects the orthodoxy of the suiri shōsetsu (deductive reasoning fiction) by disturbing deduction as a process, and corrupts the shakai ha (social school) by rendering social realism through the grotesque. His world shape-shifts and distorts, empties itself out and then rises to sudden clamorous violence. There is no grand conspiracy. For Abe all is entropy, and the only useful guide in a world unfixed is the ruined one. Words fail, thoughts fail, conversations sail over heads. He punishes the narrator for thinking he can make sense of the world, and the reader for thinking along with him. While Abe is not the only author to use detective fiction to challenge its method, he does extend this epistemological pessimism to the human being in general. That is, the world as it is thought fails to touch the world as it is, and so as thinking beings we are fundamentally estranged from the world, and one another. For the author this is both a curse and an opening. He often spoke of a 'hometown phobia', or life-long suspicion of (social, political, epistemological) structures that promise stability, and which runs through all of his fiction. The Ruined Map is maddening by design and uncompromisingly bleak. But then it's manically comic, and in its depressive mania finds hope in derangement. favourites style 4 likes Like Comment Makbule 17 reviews October 9, 2023 The detectives insanity was more the storyline than the actual case he was trying to solve. 4 likes Like Comment Nino Meladze 451 reviews 13 followers March 28, 2020 Прочитав эту книгу у меня осталось резкое чувство что я не поняла не-че-го! Не знаю было-ли это из-за перевода или жанр не мой... я честно дочитала пытаясь полностью погрузиться в смысл и вникнуть что-же всё-таки произошло...вообщем, извини Кобо, наши пути на время расходятся. Вот, поумнею, а потом может и пойму что вы имели в виду 3 likes Like Comment Tafelvoetbaltalentjelle 82 reviews July 31, 2022 Niet zo goed als the woman in the dunes maar toch gewoon 5 keiharde sterren voor meneer Abe die zijn karakters weer op het scherpst van de snede laat dansen waardoor de lezer zich wederom verplaatst naar het welbekende puntje van de stoel. 3 likes Like Comment Michelle L 97 reviews 4 followers August 17, 2012 Less than a third into the book, I realized from the outset that: a)we were not in the quotidien world we know, and b)the author was making no accommodation to the hard time any reader was going to have negotiating the 'map' of the storyline and characters. This pleased me at first - it reminded me of James Dickey's "Deliverance", and how the map in that opening foreshadowed the dreadful resistance the characters were going to get from the land into which they were planning (as they thought) their venture. I also thought I sensed the ghost-story vibe of Japanese cinema and literature, the lack of boundaries between this world and the Other one. This is far from the first metaphysical or philosophical exploration-as-novel I've read. However, whether it's the original writing or the translation, the narration strikes me as so choppy, so lacking in reasonable transitions or connections, that I feel literally jerked around, as if pieces of text were missing -- Is it now or later? Am I outside her apartment or down the road, or in the apartment thinking about what's down the road? The manhole is a perfect metaphor - it seems not just the husband (possibly) but the whole story has somehow gone down the Rabbit Hole, but without Carroll's twisty logic to hold things together that aren't together. I'll read as much more as I can, frankly savoring the challenge and the vitally intense atmosphere, but not in any way savoring it as a story or mystery. Perhaps, ultimately, it is not in its nature a novel, but a film treatment. fiction 3 likes Like Comment Juha Author 17 books 21 followers September 15, 2020 The blurb on the back cover of my Tuttle edition says it all: "Told in the form, and with the suspense of a mystery novel, The Ruined Map is a melodrama of the mind." Except for the suspense part. I found it to be a tedious read. I had started it a couple of years ago when I bought the book, but then I couldn't get very far. I started it again recently and forced myself through the entire book. It's not that it's a bad book; in fact it does have some interesting aspects and parts of it were a good read. One of the aspects that I did enjoy was the descriptions of Tokyo in the 1960s, still developing, with new areas being built and being connected to the city's gas network. The descriptions of the city's underbelly were vivid in a nightmarish way. But on the whole it didn't hold my interest throughout. First I suspected the translation, but then realized it wasn't that. Partly it was the long paragraphs (the longest I noted was four full pages) and the descriptions of things and thoughts that would get too detailed, but it wasn't fully that either. A rather strange book. The atmosphere, I suspect, will stay with me for a long while. fiction japan thriller-mystery 3 likes Like Comment Japiera 23 reviews 2 followers October 15, 2018 La primera advertencia que haré es que esta novela no es lo que parece. Se presenta como una novela negra, en la cual un detective es contratado para investigar la desaparición de un hombre. Pero ese es solo el contexto en el cual se enmarca la verdadera historia, y estoy casi convencida que este relato es una bufonada Abe-sensei, quien tiene un sentido del humor que no conoce límites, y un afán por poner en entredicho los límites de la realidad y la no realidad. Estoy casi convencida que la pregunta clave para entender esta novela es justamente "¿qué es esta novela?". La desaparición que es algo concreto, se transforma en una pregunta filosófica, y las pistas o caminos a seguir, no hacen más que multiplicarse en lugar de acotarse. Estoy casi convencida que esta novela es en realidad una lectura filosófica, y que recomiendo mucho. Pero también recomiendo paciencia. autores-no-humanistas japón 3 likes Like Comment Jennifer 906 reviews 9 followers June 15, 2009 I have yet to read a Japanese novel that is not at least somewhat bizarre and oblique. This one starts with a conventional idea -a private detective is hired by a woman to find her missing husband - but reads almost more like a surreal fantasy than a noir. The prose is spare and hallucinatory, and I admit I found it very hard to understand what was going on. 3 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 4 quotes 2 discussions Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Eagle (Linear Tactical, #2) by Janie Crouch | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Linear Tactical #2 Eagle Janie Crouch 4.41 5,321 ratings 422 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book He’s fighting for what’s right… She’s fighting just to survive… When former Special Forces soldier Finn Bollinger is asked to help with an undercover mission, he’s up for the task. His job teaching survival skills to civilians at Linear Tactical keeps him sharp, and he can still handle himself in the field. But the Army damn well didn’t teach Finn how to handle Charlotte Devereux. She’s back and she’s all sorts of bad news. Charlotte can’t change the past. Can’t change the choices she made or the fact that they cost her everything. All she can do is endure the fallout. Even if that means putting her future in the hands of Finn, the man who has every right to want to destroy her. And can in so many more ways than he thinks. When the undercover mission goes impossibly wrong, they’ll all have to depend on Charlotte’s strength in order to survive. But everyone has a breaking point… *** EAGLE is a stand-alone steamy romantic suspense, set in the LINEAR TACTICAL series. Meet the former military men of Linear Tactical, and the women who bring them to their knees: The strongest fall the hardest.*** A "mimi-approved" version of this book (same great story but with toned down language and sensual scenes) is available on Janie's website: janiecrouch .com ~ If you like the heat level of Janie's Harlequin Intrigue books, you'll love the "mimi-approved" version! Genres Romantic Suspense Romance Military Fiction Suspense Contemporary Contemporary Romance Military Romance ...more 284 pages, Kindle Edition First published October 10, 2018 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Janie Crouch 205 books 1,887 followers USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author Janie Crouch writes what she loves to read: passionate romantic suspense . After a lifetime on the East Coast—and a six-year stint in Germany due to her husband's job as support for the U.S. Military—Janie has settled into her dream home in Front Range of the Colorado Rockies. She loves engaging in all sorts of adventures (triathlons! 200-mile relay races! mountain treks!), traveling, and surviving life with four kids. Heroes exist. Let a Janie Crouch book prove it to you. Check out Janie's updates and more on her website at http://www.janiecrouch.com Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.41 5,321 ratings 422 reviews 5 stars 2,896 (54%) 4 stars 1,779 (33%) 3 stars 566 (10%) 2 stars 69 (1%) 1 star 11 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 421 reviews Dri ✰ 693 reviews 231 followers November 14, 2018 ★ 3 STARS ★ ▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬⋆▬ 2018 27 likes Like Comment Anita 2,315 reviews 185 followers January 8, 2019 I really, really, really like this book. The plot, the characters, the romance, the suspense - all work and work, well, really well. Having followed Janie Crouch from the beginning of her writing career, this book shows that some authors only get better with time and experience. While working within the single dad, second chance romance formulas, "Eagle" brings more than that to the reader. The story just works. Charlotte Devereux is the town "Princess", a golden girl with wealth and beauty, and, presumably, a "Prince" to go along with the fantasy. And fantasy is just what her life was. Reality has proven to be much harsher for Charlie. Her family wealth is gone and the "Prince" turned out to be a frog. Charlie now is just struggling to survive while hoping for tutoring jobs in the career she was born to have - teaching special education children with severe learning disabilities. Her ex's wealthy, influential family has gotten her fired from all the teaching jobs she was able to get. Former Special Forces soldier, Finn Bollinger, was the town "Golden Boy" and his love for Charlie was well known. When she married someone else, he was devastated. Now he is a partner in Linear Tactical and father to 8 year old Ethan, a son he had no idea he had until the child ended up in the foster care system. He has plenty of reasons not to trust Charlie, but Ethan needs her and so does Finn. When a secret government mission he's working on brings him in contact with Charlie and not as the tutor for Ethan, Finn has to trust Charlie in ways he never expected to trust her ever again. kindle-libby-city romantic-supense 14 likes Like Comment Sabrina 3,666 reviews 2,303 followers March 23, 2020 Get it here: Amazon US * Amazon UK cop-military-bodyguard-merc romantic-suspense 11 likes Like Comment Dísir 1,677 reviews 179 followers October 15, 2018 What I’ve found so unusual about Linear Tactical is how Janie Crouch has found a way of getting her characters peripherally involved in huge governmental-level-type espionage incidents even if they aren’t actually neck-deep in the deep-end of things and jet-setting all over the world to prevent a nuclear meltdown. It’s romantic suspense done somewhat differently (there’s still plenty of action, deception and loose ends in the small place that they’re all based) and it’s something I’m new to. Crouch tackles Finn Bollinger’s and Charlie Devereux’s second-chance story in ‘Eagle’, where their history is hinted at in the first book of her Linear Tactical series as an unhappy one. But as it becomes evident that Charlie had left Finn to marry someone else and left him in bad shape 8 years ago, the twist of fate that brings them back together (the former as the special needs tutor of Finn’s son) is more than just one that rekindles their burnt-out relationship. Throw in a boy (who’s got more than meets the eye), a sleazy strip club, a quasi-military operation and a private security firm and a perfect storm starts to brew. Much of Finn/Charlie’s story came from the anticipation of reading what really happened all those years ago and Crouch certainly took some time to build up to this. Yet the slow trickle of information that filtered through in the form of Charlie’s lack of willingness to be upfront with Finn about her secrets and problems, did make it hard for me to get behind their second-chance romance, let alone a female protagonist whom I wasn’t entirely sure I could support. I probably would have liked Charlie a lot more had she been more remorseful and upfront about her own hard-headed decisions that she’d taken without seemingly fully considering the damage she’d wrought. In fact, for someone who’d tackled everything else head-on in the swath of destruction she’d left in her wake, I’d expected Charlie to be less cowardly in the way she still chose to assume the worst of Finn and of them when she’d never quite picked him over her own family to begin with. But a caveat here: I’ll admit readily that the second-chance romance trope isn’t one that I typically like, so my review of ‘Eagle’ (and my rather stinging critique of Charlie) are definitely skewed because of this certain bent. Despite my own reservations, I did find ‘Eagle’ quite compelling, the last quarter ramping up to be the most intense and heart-pounding part of the story. Crouch does pull all of it together in a way that’s quite neatly tied up—the suspension of disbelief comes into play, of course—while leaving a hook for Aiden’s story to come and that’s already what I’m looking forward to. *ARC by the author annoying-brainless-wimpy-female arc contemporary-romance ...more 9 likes Like Comment Vintage 2,547 reviews 552 followers January 25, 2024 I'm on a Linear Tactical jag. I like this one much better. The small town romance rich girl heroine "betrays" the working class hero by marrying a rich guy and dumping him. All is not as it seems. They meet up again when she's divorced and no apparent alimony in sight and he has a child with a learning disorder. She's the brilliant kid whisperer assigned to his boy. Yep, he's mad and are his friends, but we are spared the usual small town annihilation and loss of sanity so little torturing or shunning of the heroine. Cough... Guilty Pleasure . Sorry angst lovers that love to see the h suffer. If it makes you feel better, she suffers in other ways. He gets mad at her but doesn't go off the rails. I loved the interaction between the heroine and the H's little boy and how she helps him learn how to read. As a mom with a son that struggled and as a teacher, I found it interesting. Some people will probably dislike it. Solid romance with action. 2024 abuse alpha ...more 10 likes Like Comment Kristina 908 reviews 540 followers September 22, 2021 I dunno why I keep reading these. Damn you Kindle Unlimited! Free (on KU) fast read, but only mediocre for writing, story, characters, suspense and sex scenes. One thing though, if this little town is so great, why are there so many rapists and terrorists hanging out there? Also my judgey Canadian hat was on the entire read, this scenario would never happen if you all just had socialized healthcare. Meh. I’ll probably read the next one because it’s a pandemic and I don’t feel like paying for a book from a real publisher with good, vetted authors who can spell and be succinct. The male characters are all just interchangeable in this series. I could complain more but I will do what this author can’t and edit myself. 2-star soldier-addiction suspense 8 likes Like Comment Clau 874 reviews 117 followers December 7, 2019 After finishing Cyclone, I wanted more of the characters, so I decided to go on with Eagle. Finn hates Charlotte, the love of his life, because she married another man and broke his heart. The first time he sees her in years, he basically tells her to fuck off. In a really mean way. But then, out of nowhere, he has a change of heart and accepts her as his son's tutor. The shift in his attitude was way to abrupt and unrealistic. It should have happened gradually. Also, this book is way more predictable than the first one. The big "plot twist" was so obvious! Honestly, it wasn't bad. But the first book was better, much better. Oh, and this author needs to start writing epilogues. in-english kindle-mobi 9 likes Like Comment 1-Click Addict Support Group 3,749 reviews 483 followers November 10, 2018 *4.5 stars* I’m addicted to this series! I love a story I can get lost in and this, the second book in the Linear Tactical series, was exactly that! Something about this author’s writing style and characters clicked with me right away so to say I’d been stalking my kindle waiting for Finn and Charlotte would be an understatement… “The world of Finn Bollinger and Charlotte Devereux did not mix.” The author described Charlotte and Finn’s as wounded souls and it was easy to see the hurt and sorrow they carried with them even years after their parting. Charlotte had left Finn devastated so she wasn’t expecting the red carpet as she tried to find her footing. When they met it was a surprise for both but the emotional gut punch wasn’t. But Charlotte didn’t have the luxury in wallowing. Her family needed her and she was doing everything she could. She still had secrets and Finn, despite his anger, couldn’t help but try to uncover them… This was a second chance with all the feels you could hope for and then some. Mistakes were made but how these two found their way back to each other has me thinking love can really be about selflessness and forgiveness. Throw in a beautiful little boy and interfering family friends, this story ticked all the boxes. Now it’s back to stalker mode… ~Diane, 5 stars 8 likes Like Comment Rellim 1,664 reviews 34 followers September 29, 2023 This is book 2 in Janie Crouch’s Linear Tactical series. It stands alone but characters appear throughout the books and there are small references to past stories and foreshadowing events so they’re best enjoyed in order. Starting with Cyclone. I like second chance romance and for the most part enjoyed Finn & Charlie’s story. The dribbling of info from Charlie (some things not revealed until the very last chapter) kept this from wow-ing me. She really hurt Finn and it’s hard to buy into the rekindled relationship while she continues to keeps secrets when there really isn’t a reason to. Charlie tutoring Finn’s son Ethan gave this some of the nanny trope vibes I adore. Ethan was a cute kid and it was nice to see what an awesome father Finn is. The mystery/suspense aspect was slightly predictable, but still enjoyable. Charlie wasn’t TSTL and while she did need rescuing, it wasn’t because she didn’t give the antagonists a run for their money. Sweet but abrupt ending as these flow right into the next story. I’m looking forward to Shamrock. Narration: I like Tom Campbell’s performance in that there are variations for voices and emotions, but there’s still something I don’t click with at times. I’ll keep listening to these and him, but I just don’t think he’s going to be one of my “oh I love him” narrators. Content Warning (spoilers): Charlie survives an attempted sexual assault and later a kidnapping/brutal beating/interrogation. 6 likes Like Comment Big Joe Rossi 1,762 reviews 50 followers September 18, 2019 Book 1 was really, really good, book 2, this book was outstanding! Charlie is back in her hometown but she is homeless and desperate. Her ex husband and his family are ruining any chance for her to have a career, she has a lead on a tutoring job and if it works this could be a fresh start to more work. When she arrives to meet her new potential client, a young boy named Ethan, what she doesnt expect is his dad to be Finn. Finn is stunned when he learns that Charlie is the tutor recommended to him to get Ethan caught up in school. Finn takes being Ethan's dad serious, since he didnt know he had a son till it was brought to his attention when the boy was left with child services. When he learns that she is the best to help his son, he gives in and slowly the animosity he harbors from their past fades. Slowly he learns bits and pieces of her past and her life now and when the truths ring out he will feel worse for not giving her the chance to explain. Her job will also lead to her unknowingly being put in serious danger and having to rely on her strength to courage to not only stay alive but also others. 6 likes Like Comment The Romance Book Disciple (Samantha) 1,960 reviews 338 followers October 30, 2018 Eagle is an amalgamation of single dad and second chance romance with a dash of danger in the form of government traitor! Charlie and Finn were in love once. Then, suddenly, Charlie marries someone else and gives Finn no reason. Fast forward many years and Charlie is back in town, divorced, and looking for work. Finn is a single dad and still bitter about Charlie's behavior. I really understood why Charlie wouldn't open up about her life. She had no reason to trust Finn and he certainly wasn't very nice. He made it clear he still held a grudge. Why would you trust someone who made it clear how they felt about you? Charlie is homeless, jobless, and desperate. Her ex husband has ruined her career options and caring for her very ill father is costing more money than she has. Finn is trying to do the best he can to raise his son. He didn't know he HAD a son until the child was in foster care so Finn has been trying to make it up to Ethan for years. Ethan is struggling in school and his teacher recommends Charlie as a tutor. She is amazing at her job as a special education teacher (yay for special education teachers!). Throughout this second chance story is the undercover op that Linear Tactical is helping with. They are trying to figure out what is being sold on the black market by a US government employee. Of course, Charlie ends up unknowingly right in the middle of it all! There is a lot of angst in the relationship between Finn and Charlie due to all the hurt feelings. Add in the drama and danger from the under cover op and you have a real page turner! Eagle was a great edition to the series and I'm excited for more! POV: 3rd Tears: no Trope: single dad, second chance Triggers: Charlie is assaulted and tortured Series/Standalone: stand alone within an interconnected series Cliffhanger: no HEA: yes Fractured Honor by Kaylea Cross, Rescuing Emily by Susan Stoker, Touch of Red by Laura Griffin...then you will probably like Eagle! Eagle See full review on The Book Disciple arc-s 5 likes Like Comment Lauren 2,394 reviews 160 followers October 1, 2021 Eagle 4 Stars Once the daughter of Oak Creek's wealthiest family, Charlotte Deveraux has fallen on hard times. Desperate for work as a tutor, Charlie is devastated to learn her prospective pupil is the son of her former high school sweetheart, Finn Bollinger. Finn has more than enough reason to despise Charlie, but he never could resist her. Will they be able to get past their differences? Janie Crouch is skilled at writing down on their luck heroines. The slow reveal of Charlie's plight and her admirable attempts to cope make it impossible not to empathize and sympathize with her situation. Finn's initial reactions to Charlie's return are harsh, yet understandable given the circumstances. Nevertheless, he grows and matures as the story progresses and his relationship with his young son is wonderful. Charlie and Finn have great chemistry and it is fun watching them overcome the hurts of the past. While the suspense plot is action-packed, it is also somewhat convoluted with a range of disparate villains and agendas. Moreover, there is an obvious crossover storyline with the next book, and some of the events told from Aiden's POV are, therefore, disjointed and confusing. Hopefully, it will all become more clear in his book. In sum, an engaging sequel and I look forward to continuing with the series. gentle-giant men-in-uniform private-investigator-security ...more 5 likes Like Comment Melissa 529 reviews February 25, 2023 Charlotte “Charlie” Devereux and Finn “Eagle” Bollinger were high school sweethearts who were separated by circumstances beyond their control. Circumstances that Charlie would not tell Finn. She has returned to Oak Creek and Finn is determined to find out the truth. Charlie and Finn are 2 very head-strong individuals who clash at every turn and it made for a very intense story. You can tell right from the start that Finn never got over Charlie and that she still loved him. It took so long for the two of them to confront each other and address the issue, even if it was just a small bit at a time. Finn is involved in an undercover mission that Charlie inadvertently gets pulled into. I like how the author combined Charlie’s job as a tutor with the mission. It was quite ingenious. Charlie takes quite a beating during the mission and it makes Finn realize how much she really means to him. It was kind of a repeat from the first book, but still very enjoyable. There are some pretty passionate scenes throughout the book as well. The author used a situation from this story to set up the storyline for the next book, Shamrock. I’m definitely going to try to get to it next month. kindle-unlimited 4 likes Like Comment Elizabeth Neal 1,666 reviews 138 followers October 21, 2018 There are times, ones that can shatter your heart, when you must let someone you love go to save another. Charlotte knows all too well that pain. Years before, she and Finn were in love, planning their future, and nothing could stand in their way. Unfortunately, fate had a different plan and Charlotte had to let Finn go. She regretted the loss of what could be, but not the outcome of her actions as it gave her father the time and treatment he needed and otherwise wouldn't have gotten. Finn, however, didn't know any of this and hated Charlotte for breaking his heart. His way of dealing with the loss may not have been the best, and people suffered from it, but he can't regret it because it gave him his son, Ethan. Ethan though suffered the most due to the woman who should've taken care of him and Finn, only recently learning he had a son, is trying to help him heal. That is what brings Charlotte back into his life. Finn's initial reaction to her wasn't the best, he can admit that, but she broke something inside him and he can't just let that go. But he also knows he still loves her, never stopped, and gives her a second chance, in regards to helping his son that is. Charlotte and Ethan bonded instantly, her ability to reach him in a way no one else could what connected them. As Finn and Charlotte are drawn together once more, their inability to be near each other without the love between them making it's presence known, it becomes apparent all is not as Finn believed and he's awed by the lengths Charlotte went through to save her father. While it doesn't negate the pain he and she both suffered, it puts her actions into a completely different perspective. While these two fated lovers embrace the second chance they've been given, someone else is intent on stealing their happiness from them yet again. Can Finn and Charlotte overcome this new obstacle? Will Ethan, with Charlotte's help, be able to understand what has eluded him for too long? Can Finn and his Linear partners ensure Charlotte's safety? Will Finn lose Charlotte, this time permanently? Or will they finally get their HEA? One-click now and follow along as two people, destined to be together, are reunited and get the chance that was stolen from them years before. **I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.** hero-with-ow-after-meeting-heroine heroine-divorced heroine-married-om ...more 4 likes Like Comment Kat 898 reviews 91 followers February 19, 2023 Reading Montana Sanctuary by this author recently reminded me how much I enjoyed her plot and writing in the first book of this series. This book is still romantic suspense but doesn't have quite as much danger. I still really enjoyed it and definitely want to get back into this (very long) series. When reading a second chance romance, I'm always looking to see if the author can still create tension and romantic development and I thought that was well done here. Crouch doesn't fall into the trap of having all the romantic development and emotional connection having taken place in the past and I appreciate that. 2023-reads 3 likes Like Comment Jewlsbookblog 2,155 reviews 72 followers October 19, 2018 Charlie and Finn’s second chance romance came loaded with secrets, sexual tension, and a threat no one saw coming until it was almost too late... Charlie was a tough nut to crack. She was feisty, smart, but holy smokes extremely stubborn! She was a hot mess over Finn and vice versa, but their past history was a big roadblock that could have been prevented by simply communicating in the first place. In her defense, I felt her decision to not marry Finn years before was born out of desperation, immaturity, and youth. I concede, however, I grew frustrated at how many times Finn kept having to drag information from Charlie because she wouldn’t give an inch! Finn and his son Ethan were two peas in a pod. Charming, protective, and sharp on details, these two didn’t miss much. For an 8 year old, Ethan showed more maturity then the two adults in his life. I found Ethan’s perspectives adorably sweet considering his own sad past, but his growth also reflected Finn’s own maturity. Finn grew on me when he let the past go and tried to see Charlie with new eyes. I think his character had more growth then Charlie, but that didn’t stop me from hoping she’d eventually smell the coffee:) Book 2 in the Linear Tactical series, I thought Eagle was strong romantically speaking, but fell shy on the suspense side. The suspense thread wasn’t terrible or anything, I think I was just expecting more to happen than what did. Finn and Charlie working to overcome their past wasn’t always easy, yet I finally chose to see Charlie’s youthful decision as coming full circle, in the best way possible, for all involved. Shamrock, Aiden’s story will be up next and I can’t wait to read it, especially after the comments he dropped! I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 2018 arc romance ...more 3 likes Like Comment Susan 4,564 reviews 108 followers October 22, 2018 Fantastic second chance story with the added bonus of some gripping suspense. Charlie and Finn had been high school sweethearts, inseparable until Charlie suddenly decided to marry someone else. Devastated, Finn left town to join the military, later returning home to raise his son. He is one of the founding members of Linear Tactical and has made a good life for himself and his son. He hasn't seen Charlie since the day he begged her not to marry the other man. Charlie's life is much different now than the one she had growing up. Far from being the town "princess," she works three jobs just to make ends meet. One of those jobs is helping children with learning disabilities, which is what brings her and Finn back together. I liked both Charlie and Finn. Charlie is stubborn and independent. She accepts the consequences of the choices she made in the past but also has too much pride to let Finn see how desperate she is. She goes to great lengths to hide her circumstances from him. While her first two jobs are done to make the money she needs, the third job is her passion and what she lives for. Nothing makes her happier than working with kids who have learning disabilities and seeing them succeed. I liked the inner strength she displayed as she handled all the curveballs her life had delivered to her. She didn't whine or complain, she buckled down and did what she had to do. Finn is tough, protective of those he cares about, and occasionally bitter about what had happened with Charlie. I loved the way he dropped everything when he found out about Ethan and threw himself into raising his son. The close relationship between the two was sweet, and I loved Finn's determination to do anything to help Ethan succeed. I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Finn and Charlie. It started out pretty rough, with Finn's immediate and harsh rejection of Charlie as Ethan's tutor. I understood Finn's suspicion and wariness, as well as Charlie's unhappiness and acceptance. I loved Finn's eventual change of heart as he discovered that Charlie was, in fact, qualified to help Ethan. Underneath the antagonism is also the realization that the chemistry between them is just as strong as ever. Charlie also feels the attraction, and that attraction soon bursts into flame between them. Finn senses that there is something else going on with Charlie and his suspicions are aroused. Charlie is desperate to keep the truth of her circumstances from Finn until she is given no choice. I loved Finn's protectiveness and the way he cared for her. I was a little frustrated with how Charlie allowed her pride to hold her back from telling him everything that was happening in her life. When it became clear that there was more going on than just Charlie's financial problems, Finn's protectiveness went into overdrive. I ached for Finn and his fear for her, and his desperate hope that she would finally trust him. Finn's big moment at the end was fantastic as he found a way around all of her objections. The "epilogue" was great as it became Charlie's turn to go after what she wanted. The suspense in the story was terrific. In Charlie's job as a bartender, she has found herself dealing with some very unsavory people. One night she stumbles into the middle of a dangerous situation and only quick thinking gets her out of it. However, it isn't long before danger stalks her, and people she knows start dying. Do the papers she found, with symbols like the ones she uses with Ethan, have anything to do with it? At the same time, Finn and the men of Linear Tactical have been approached by their former commanding officer to assist in stopping the sale of sensitive information. As they get closer to unmasking the villain behind it all, they discover an unexpected link between their case and what is happening to Charlie. It all comes to a head with a sting gone wrong and the bad guy getting away. I was on the edge of my seat as an unexpected twist put Charlie at the center of the action and the bad guy went after Charlie for the information he knew she had. Charlie's strength of will was amazing through everything she endured. The tension and fear leapt off the pages as Finn and the others raced to the rescue. The resolution was perfect, capping off this book while leaving one thread dangling as a lead-in to the next book. The secondary characters, as always, were also wonderful. We see a little more of Finn's partners, especially Aiden. I loved his commitment to the case they were working on and ached for the toll it took on him. I'm looking forward to getting to know him even better when his book comes along. It was great to see more of Zac and Annie, and Annie's assistance to Finn when Charlie collapsed. My favorite, by far, was Ethan. For a kid who had as rough a start in life as he did, he is an amazingly sweet and kind little boy. My heart ached for him and his troubles. The changes in him after Charlie started working with him were fantastic, and I loved the connection that they shared. His relationship with his little friend Jess was sweet and showed how much he was like his daddy. I was astounded what he was able to do at the end and the critical part it played. I'd love to see a book about him when he's all grown up. I liked Jordan Reiss, who was mentioned in Zac's book in relation to the deaths of his wife and child. I liked Charlie's kindness to her, and the way the two women were able to help each other. I hope to see more of her in future books. 2018-books-read romance romantic-suspense 3 likes Like Comment Nerdy Dirty & Flirty 3,985 reviews 350 followers November 1, 2018 I was excited to read this book. I really enjoyed Cyclone and I was eager to see what would happen next! I was not disappointed. She sets things up with Finn and Charlotte in book one, giving us just enough to intrigue us. I was dying to know what the story with these two was and really enjoyed watching it play out. I’m beginning to understand that Crouch likes to throw some twists and turns at us. We get a sexy romance, but she also delivers a fast paced mystery with some heart pounding action. I’m really loving this series. Now that I’ve devoured this one, I’m already impatient for Shamrock! 3 likes Like Comment Jo-Anne 1,685 reviews 35 followers June 14, 2020 As soon as I saw the hero was an ex-Special Forces single dad, I knew this was my kind of book. Add a second chance romance and I couldn't start it fast enough. When a tutor was recommended for Finn's son, being a good parent, he immediately agreed. But the tutor turned out to be a girlfriend from his past and he wanted nothing to do with her. Understandable because he had expected them to spend their lives together but she married someone else. I liked Finn. Not only was he a good dad but he was great at his job at Linear Tactical, too. He and the team were trying to find out who was selling NORAD secrets. The action and tension kept me flipping the pages. Charlie was just as surprised to find out that Finn was the father of the boy she was to tutor, as he was to see her. Even though she hadn't seen him in 8 years, she was still drawn to him. She really needed that job and hoped their past wouldn't mess up her chances. Turned out it WAS a problem for Finn. He didn't want Charlie near him. Or let her tutor his son. Charlie had not had it easy since she left years before. Back then her family was very wealthy but not now. I felt sorry for her - being so broke and couldn't tell anybody. She used every penny she made to pay for her father's care. With no money left over, she was living in her car. Eagle had lots of action as the team went undercover, with Charlie included. Finn and Charlie still had strong feelings for each other and eventually tried to work things out. This book was the perfect mix of action, suspense, romance and heat. You won't want to put it down. **I was given a complimentary copy which I am voluntarily reviewing.** arc own 3 likes Like Comment Chalice 3,081 reviews 97 followers March 28, 2022 The couple: Finn and Charlie Romance genre: romantic suspense Series: Linear Tactical Length: 284 pages Plot: Charlie is back in town after being gone for almost a decade - after marrying someone else besides her first love and fiancee, Finn. Finn is, understandably, less than welcoming, but that's a problem for Charlie both emotionally and financially. See, Charlie is in desperate need of money and she was assigned to tutor Finn's son (unknowingly). He declines her services, and that puts a black mark on her record, limiting the tutoring jobs she can get. So she's back to her nightly job as a bartender at a strip club and she's taken on cleaning the club during the day. Finn doesn't understand why Charlie seems to be the opposite of the designer princess he knew from high school, but he never ignores a bad feeling. He'll have to use all his intuition to find out Charlie's secrets and keep her safe. Commentary: I am loving this series! The initial conflict in this story was due to Charlie not telling Finn why she was marrying someone else: the guy she married promised to get her dad (who was newly sick) into an experimental drug trial . But honestly, while that might have made Finn feel better (as in not wondering what he had done wrong), it probably wouldn't have changed anything. Finn was a big ball of assumptions for most of the story, but I like that he came to an understanding that whatever had gone before was over and done - he loved Charlie and wasn't going to hold their past against her. And I loved that moment she had - while being tortured - that she could and would trust Finn, even when it went against her instincts. I also found the idea of growth in this story so interesting. Finn had that conversation with Charlie's mom while Charlie was in the hospital and had all his ideas about what others thought of him blown away. He had this idea of himself as some sort of guy from the wrong side of the tracks with Charlie's parents hating him, and that wasn't the case at all. Charlie, while not exactly a snob and certainly not mean, had grown in her compassion since high school, becoming a champion for students with disabilities and a friend for someone like Jordan, hated by the rest of the town. Both Charlie and Finn had a stunted image of the other - and at times, themselves - and they needed that time to fully explore who they are in the present. Previous book in the series: Cyclone Next book in the series: Shamrock romantic-suspense second-chance-romance 3 likes Like Comment Sarah 557 reviews 21 followers February 25, 2022 I really loved this book! It's a great romantic suspense, with a dramatic, second chance, single-dad, love story. Triggers: -homelessness -torture/violence -references to war and military Despite Charlotte's circumstances, it's amazing how stubborn and independent she is. But that certainly worked out in her favor in the end! She had left the hero, Finn, eight years previously, without giving him the real explanation as to why. Surprisingly, she moves back to the small town where they grew up and he still lives. His intense defense of his son when he realizes that she's the tutor who's come to meet them is pretty shocking at first, but once details about their past come to light, it makes perfect sense. I was glad to see forgiveness woven so prominently into the story. It was very important to their relationship that he let his anger go and not hold the past over her head. The suspense element of the story was much less predictable than the first book. I didn't guess the bad guy until the very end, and I was still unsure until Charlotte witnessed him killing somebody. All of the coded messages and long con that was set up were very intriguing, and I enjoyed all elements of it. There are at least three sex scenes, possibly four, if I'm counting correctly. They aren't super long, but they are detailed and very descriptive. You should move along if you're not into super spicy love scenes. There aren't many uses of curse words. I'm definitely going to keep reading this series, and I definitely recommend it! contemporary-romance romantic-suspense 2 likes Like Comment Suzi (Obsessive Reading Disorder) 2,127 reviews October 30, 2018 I love a good second chance romance. Add in a single dad and that is just about a perfect read for me. This is the second book in the Linear Tactical series but can be read as a stand alone. Finn and Charlotte have a history. True lovers but parted ways with broken hearts when Charlotte did what she had to do to help her family. Now she is back in her beloved home town and comes face to face with Finn when she is hired to help his son. Lots of trust building before these two finally are at peace with each other. The Tactical team gets involved with an undercover op and Charlotte gets roped into the mess. Good amount of action in this one. Great read that will keep you turning pages until the end. *Complimentary copy provided for an honest review. 2 likes Like Comment Erin 105 reviews 5 followers December 29, 2020 This is the second book in the Linear Tactical series. I had the pleasure of reading Cyclone as an ARC as well as Eagle. While this is the second in the series, it can also be read as a stand alone. Once again, this is a great read about second chance romance. We were introduced to Charlotte and Finn in book one. These two characters have a lot of past to get over to get to their futures. I enjoyed the way this book tied in so nicely to the first book. I enjoyed seeing how the secrets that were kept and the past that kept popping up interacted with the present of these two characters. These two shared such a passion in high school and college, and it pops up again, but with the beauty of age and wisdom. Everyone deserves a second chance! It's even better when you throw in a bit of military mystery and intrigue. Finn is just such an awesome guy. Best dad ever working so hard for his son to overcome his young past and special education needs. Plus, he's just a hot ex-military guy with an alpha streak a mile wide. Of course, he's got his issues getting over his past. Charlotte is a great special education specialist. She's a woman on a mission to be self sufficient and help her family. But she's having trouble being truthful and make it all work. Charlie and Finn were once in a white hot passionate relationship and they have to work out how to reconcile that past with the secrets and needs of their current lives. I loved how the first book set up their relationship. But even without reading that, you get that the two have a serious past in the first chapter! They start out with a prejudiced type of civility towards each other that borders on love/hate. You can tell they have a past, and while it was fantastic, it flash-banged out... But they still have an underlying care for each other that comes out and creates a slow burn start to the new phase to their relationship. I love reading Janie Crouch! The dialogue is witty and well done. The characters work well together and mesh to create a cohesive family and intricate story line. Finn and Charlie's story sucked me in and I read it in one fell swoop one night. There was such a creative mix of hardworking characters, just enough alpha ex- military manly men, with soft spoken hard working women and adorable little Ethan! Conclusion - Recap how you felt about the book. Will you read other books by this author? Would you recommend this book to others? Final thoughts on book. I loved this book. Maybe even more than Cyclone. I'm not a huge mystery, espionage fan; but this was just the right amount to keep you guessing and involved in not only the romance, but the whole Linear Tactical team. Can't wait for Shamrock! Favorite Quotes: “You and I being within a fifty-foot radius of one another may very well be a mistake” “Forgiveness was a tricky thing. It wasn't like a switch you flipped, and bam, one day someone just decided to forgive someone else. It was a constant process.” “You made the best decisions you could with the information you had. You acted when it was needed. That's what counts.” “You and me, no matter what.” Star Ratings: Plot = 5/5 Characters = 5/5 Heat = 5/5 Writing Style = 5/5 Overall Rating = 5/5 **Reviewed for Seraphim Book Reviews** 2018 2020 2 likes Like Comment Robyn 422 reviews 103 followers October 28, 2018 Eagle by Janie Crouch is the second book in the Linear Tactical series. I had the pleasure of reading Cyclone previously and loved every single minute of Anne and Zac’s story along with falling in love with all of the guys on the Linear Tactical team. So, it comes as no surprise that I was anxiously awaiting to get my greedy little hands on Eagle. This is the story of Finn and Charlotte who we met briefly in the first book of the series. If you would like to catch up and read my review of Cyclone, you can find it Here. Charlotte “Charlie” Devereux and Finn Bollinger have a history together. But, she walked out on Finn eight years ago and married someone else. Now, Charlotte is back in Oak Creek after her divorce and working as a tutor for children with special needs. This is how Finn and Charlotte first reconnect when she shows up to tutor his son, Ethan. Finn is none to happy and sends her on her way not wanting her anywhere close to his son. But, Charlie is desperate for this job and she is not the royal princess Finn thought she once was. Charlie is hiding secrets, the kind of secrets that has Finn curious enough to find out. Add in an undercover operation that ties in with Charlie seeing something she shouldn't have and you have one hell of an explosive and action packed story. Charlie is such an easy heroine to like. I may not agree with everything she has done, but I can understand why she left all those years ago. Charlie will do anything to protect the people she loves even if it means she has to suffer in the process. I really wish she could have been a little more forthcoming to Finn while they reconnected with each other, but Charlie is a strong person and keeps a lot of her feelings bottled up inside. So, I can see the love/hate between both of them as they never really talk about what happened right from the beginning. I have to say though their second chance romance would wonderfully paced and I never felt as if I was rushed through their story. I felt like they really took the time to get to know one another even through all of the secrets between them. I really enjoyed the pacing of this story and felt the romance and action were both done in equal measure and I never felt like a part of the story was missing. There are some really bad guys willing to do anything to get what they want and when Charlie finds herself in their crosshairs, Finn will do anything to protect the woman he never stopped loving. I really was drawn in right from the beginning as I was really looking forward to their story after the brief introduction to Charlie in Cyclone. I stayed up half the night reading as I did not want to put this book down. I found myself heavily invested in finding out what happens as well as keeping up with the rest of the tactical team of hunky military men. Ugh! I really hope Dorian gets a story too. I just love the strong silent type. Eagle is a highly charged romance blended with intense action that will keep you flipping the pages needing to find out what comes next. It is a second chance romance between two people you know are just right for one another. This is another great read by Janie Crouch and I am thoroughly looking forward to Aiden’s story next. 2 likes Like Comment Books and Spoons 1,613 reviews 32 followers October 30, 2018 He is a true alpha, a protective and fierce warrior who has a heart of gold, filled with kindness, understanding, and patience, especially towards his son Ethan, to whom he would do anything to help him succeed in life and to be happy. Except for letting Charlotte Devereux to tutor him with his reading disability. Because 'Charlie' is the last person he wants in their lives, she's just not be trusted, and he learned that the hard and humiliating way a long time ago. Charlotte Devereux is at the end of her rope. She is broke, homeless, trying to work three jobs and take care of her parents who struggle with her father's illness. She is brave, bold, stubborn, and strong. She knows she wronged Finn all those years ago, but to her, the reasons were good enough, the consequences something she had to face willingly. I genuinely liked Finn and Charlie, their chemistry is strong, the passion between them burning hot and believable. The trust is slow to build again, I kind of understand why Charlie didn't want to open up about her troubles and past decisions, and I absolutely loved Finn's mature attitude, understanding and appreciating how it all had affected his life in a long run. The vindictiveness was left to Charlies' ex-in-laws, yet never was it revealed from their side why they lured Charlie into their family and why the polluted relationship afterward. The suspense stays off the pages until the last quarter of the book, building up to the explosive momentum. When the action finally starts it is vehement, brutal, vicious, and strong, so potent and intense, it left me breathless. The story gives more insight into the team at the Linear Tactical and shows the beginning of the next possible romance coming up in the series [yes, one of my pet peeves, I know]. The way that start of the other relationship is embedded into this tale, so smoothly into the current plot, it is well done and it has its place there, and [thankfully] it doesn't take the limelight away from the main characters, Finn and Charlie, so kudos for that. But Finn and Charlie are such a strong power couple, they are easy to love with their sizzling chemistry, swoon-worthy sweetness, cuteness, and brassiness, so they and their turbulent feelings will stand out even in a crowd. And I loved Ethan, he is such a mini-me of Finn, it was impossible not to love those two protective warriors and their warrior princesses. Deeply emotional, poignant second chance romance in a dangerous, treacherous world of covert ops, illegal arms sales, and strip clubs. Crouch takes the story into the raw side of emotions, baring it all for the infected wounds to have a chance to heal, and anew life to be able to be built. The edgy, dark suspense leads to gory and savage action, where no one is safe, nothing is held back, as the fight for justice leads to the struggle of just surviving. Linear Tactical series is proven to be some of the best work from the author to the date and seems to be more [of everything] in each installment. Definitely a series not to be missed. ~ Five Spoons 2018-five-stars contemporary romantic-suspense 2 likes Like Comment April Symes 5,013 reviews 440 followers October 31, 2018 Eagle by Janie Crouch is the second book in the Linear Tactical series.Charlotte Devereux and Finn Bollinger have a complex and painful history together. They were deeply in love high school sweethearts. He came from a working-class family while she from a rich, privileged one. Finn is still hurt that she went and got married to someone else despite his begging her to not do it. These two shared such a passion and chemistry back in high school and college yet it all went wrong between them. Fast forward 8 years later and Charlie's life is much different now than the one she had while growing up. She went from being the town "princess," to now working three jobs and divorced. Now that she is back in town and Finn has seen her, he cant stand her. Finn assumed their love was forever since their love was written in the stars. But when they were 20, Charlie married another man while Finn was away in the Army, an action that separated them for 8 years and caused heartbreaking pain to Finn. This forced him to turn to an unknown woman for comfort on the night Charlie got married. Finn’s one-night stand resulted in a child, who has dyslexia and a few other learning disabilities. Thing is, the learning specialist recommended Charlie to help Finn's son and he isn't about to let her into his son's life or his. Crouch writes a beautiful, moving , complex glimpse into the lives of two people who loved each other so much with a passion, but were destined by persons and circumstances to part ways. It's learning how to move past the anger, the betrayal, the heartache and the pain seems like an insurmountable battle for these two complex, strong people. Good for them, the combustible attraction that’s still there and as strong as when they were teenagers shows there is a good chance of reconciliation in this 2nd chance at love. There is also a secondary story running with the characters with Linear Tactical, Finn and Charlie. I love the suspense, romance, drama, angst, tension, heat, and romance. I can't wait for book 3. My Rating: 4.8 stars ***** 2018 2018-favorite 2nd-chance-romance ...more 2 likes Like Comment Kari 295 reviews October 12, 2018 Wow. I really thought Cyclone, the first book in the Linear Tactical series, brought us a new facet to Janie Crouch's storytelling voice. I thought it would be hard to top. Her second offering, Eagle, surpassed all of my expectations. This one is an absolute home run! Charlie is a truly likeable character. I want to be her. Finn. Well Finn is a bit of a tough nut but he grows on you and you will soon find yourself half in love with him. The biggest selling point about this book was the character Ethan. As a parent of a child with a severe learning disability I can not say enough how much I appreciated the character portrayl. Typically, authors introduce a character with a disability to presumably move the plot forward or to try to develop other characters. And in my estimation...they almost always fail to represent the disability with the respect it deserves. That is not the case here. Ethan and his learning challenges are well represented and I felt as character he was completely developed. Charlie is a strong representation of what a difference one person can make for a student who needs support. So thank you to Janie for talking about Dyslexia. It is an underserved learning disorder which to often utilizes a one size fits all approach. I loved this story. I'm expecting a lot from the next book and I'm confident it's going to knock my socks off. I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. 2 likes Like Comment Tracy Quoka 300 reviews 1 follower October 20, 2018 I received this book as an ARC for a voluntary and honest review. I was hooked on this series with the first book Cyclone. Eagle didn't disappoint. Although part of a series the books can be read as a standalone. You get enough information about the previous characters to know whats going on, and possibly intrigue you to read their story if you haven't. These are spicy romances with a bit of suspense as well. In this book we meet Charlotte "Charlie" Deveroux who once was an item with Linear Tactical co-founder Finn Bollinger. Eight years after she married another man, she's back in town. Her passion is working with children who have learning disabilities. Which Finn's son Ethan falls into that category. Although Finn initially isn't sure he wants her around his son. Which he quickly gets over, realizing he needs to do what's best for his son. Although he quickly realizes things aren't exactly as they seem with Charlie. She isn't willing to share with him the burden she is carrying. Which means that she's working like 3 jobs, one of which is a bartender at a Gentleman's Club, where some seedy criminal deals are going on (think illegal arms deals and such) Unfortunately Charlie finds herself at the wrong place and the wrong time. Can Finn save her in time? Will she finally come clean about everything she shoulders? Not wanting to give out spoilers, ya'll are just going to have to read and find out. I'm looking forward to book 3, Aiden's story. 2 likes Like Comment Renee Entress 5,285 reviews 75 followers October 30, 2018 4.5 star I was pulled right into this story. The story has pain, secrets, suspense, and heartbreak. If you have not read the below I would recommend reading those books(s) first Cyclone (Linear Tactical #1) This is Charlotte and Finn’s story. Charlotte and Finn were in love and planning a future right up until Charlotte married another man and moved on. She is back in town and when she is assigned to help with Finn’s son he wants nothing to do with her or her help. Charlotte knows Finn hates her, but she had her reasons for doing what she did. Not that she didn’t struggle with how her life turned out. She does everything she can to help her family and try and take care of herself. When Finn finds out just how bad her situation is he is not happy. He knows what he wants now he just has to convince Charlotte that it is what she wants also. Can he do that and protect her at the same time? Seems like she got herself into a little bit of trouble and only him and his friends can save her. Will she want him after all the dust settles or will she just want to run? I loved these characters and the side characters. I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read. I highly recommend this book. arc military read-2018 ...more 2 likes Like Comment djc- 184 reviews 1 follower October 22, 2018 Finn and Charlie have a very complicated past and when they meet again years later they find that chemistry they once had is still there. Finn knows that Charlie is hiding something but she will not let him know what it is. He decides to find out for himself and is shocked at what he finds. This is a great second chance romance that is heart warming but times also heart wrenching. Finn and Charlie have several problems and family issues to overcome. This turns into a page turner when you add in the assignment that Linear Tactical has taken on and it goes wrong. I really liked Finn for how protective he was and how he never gave up on Charlie. You find yourself rooting for both of them and hoping they get their HEA. I have read several books from this author and have never been disappointed. Once you start a story you do not want to stop till the end. The stories will always keep you on the edge of your seat with their mystery, suspense and of course romance. I received a copy and I am voluntarily leaving my own honest opinion. 2 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 421 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 3 quotes Start a discussion 1 question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. 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Kiss the Sky (Calloway Sisters, #1) by Krista Ritchie | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Calloway Sisters #1 Kiss the Sky Krista Ritchie , Becca Ritchie 4.24 74,379 ratings 9,721 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Virgin. Sex addict. Daredevil. Alcoholic. Smartass … Jackass. Her five friends are about to be filmed. Reality TV, be prepared. Rose Calloway thought she had everything under control. At twenty-three, she’s a Princeton graduate, an Academic Bowl champion, a fashion designer and the daughter of a Fortune 500 mogul. But with a sex addict as a sister and roommate, nothing comes easy. After accepting help from a producer, Rose agrees to have her life filmed for a reality television show. The Hollywood exec is her last chance to revive her struggling fashion line, and boundaries begin to blur as she’s forced to make nice with a man who always has his way. Twenty-four-year-old Connor Cobalt is a guy who bulldozes weak men. He’s confident, smart-as-hell and lives with his equally ambitious girlfriend, Rose Calloway. Connor has to find a way to protect Rose without ruining the show. Or else the producer will get what Connor has always wanted—Rose’s virginity. This New Adult Romance can be described as Friends meets The Real World. Expect fist fights, drugs, sex of varying degrees, crude humor and competitive alpha males. Definitely for mature readers audiences only. ***Authors' Note*** Kiss the Sky is a spin-off of the Addicted series. If you'd like to read the Addicted series beforehand, you should read them in order before starting Kiss the Sky or else the time jumps will be jarring. Genres Romance New Adult Contemporary Contemporary Romance Adult Fiction BDSM ...more 443 pages, ebook First published January 22, 2014 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Krista Ritchie 38 books 15.5k followers NYT & USA Today Bestselling Authors Krista & Becca Ritchie are identical twins—one a science nerd, the other a comic book geek—but with their shared passion for writing, they combined their mental powers as kids and have never stopped telling stories. They love superheroes, flawed characters, and soul mate love. To stay up to date on new releases, bonus content, and more, sign up for Krista & Becca's Newsletter: www.kbritchie.com/newsletter Quick note: We don't check Goodreads, so we don't respond to messages here. But if you want to connect with Becca or me, you can reach out to us on our social medias or at our website: www.kbritchie.com Instagram | Facebook | TikTok Fans of Krista & Becca's Books: ♥ Join Krista & Becca's Fizzle Force Facebook group . ♥ Inspiration for the Addicted series can be found on their Pinterest boards . ♥ Find playlists for all of their books on Spotify ♥ Check out all of their extras! Including: bonus scenes, character interviews, fun posts and more on their Extras page . Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.24 74,379 ratings 9,721 reviews 5 stars 35,817 (48%) 4 stars 25,529 (34%) 3 stars 9,415 (12%) 2 stars 2,469 (3%) 1 star 1,149 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 9,720 reviews mel ☽ 369 reviews 10.7k followers August 9, 2022 4 stars you're telling me that Mr. Richard Connor Cobalt, an alleged asexual dude who was like a "sponge" and wouldn't "notice if you hit on him", is actually what Christian Grey thinks he is but could never be??? biggest plot twist of 2020. imma show you guys a little preview as to why i am shook: "You may compliment my cock, you may beg, and you may politely ask for more. I don't want to hear anything else and if I do, I'll stuff your mouth with your panties so you can't speak." BRO- chill. i already have 1984398+ book boyfriends i can't handle more 😔✋🏼and let's not forget the fact that he also... likes to... cHoKe... ... *sigh* alexa play E-GIRLS ARE RUINING MY LIFE! by CORPSE guys you don't know how shook i was i mean this dude had me blushing and giggling- BLUSHING AND GIGGLING PEOPLE. i never do that. ever. what have i become? ok ok enough simping for today. even though i've read more than half of the addicted series, i still felt like Rose and Connor weren't a couple there?? if that makes sense? i don't know i guess they weren't affectionate and all that and Rose kinda seemed ehh towards Connor. all they did was argue, Rose would glare at him and Connor would have that you're so cute face. ✧ plot ↳ so this book is about the Calloway sisters + Lo, Ryke and Connor being in a reality show to revive their image after Lily's sex addiction was leaked. just like other books from the Addicted series, this is mostly character-based rather than plot-driven. there's some drama with Daisy and her boyfriend Julian, this Scott dude (producer of the show), etc. ❀ CHARACTERS ❀ — Connor Cobalt (H) didn't i say i was done simping? yeah that's a lie. sorry. ok so there's two sides when it comes to this dude: here's the 🥺✨🎓💕🤓 side: ↳ "You're not a pit stop. You're my finish line. There's no one after you. I want you for eternity not for a brief moment in time." and then there's this 🥵 💦🍑👋🏼😈side: ↳ "It's time for you to shut the fuck up and put my cock back in your mouth." that scene? rent free guys- RENT FREE. so he's kinda a mix of Kaz Brekker and Dorian Havillard . is it the black hair, pale skin, blue/brown eyes thing? maybe. but it's also the whole being genius, cultured, out of my league, bougee vibes that these characters have. they are all so out of my league it's not even funny . — Rose Calloway (h) "She was a genius on paper. But not a team player. She was quick to loathe others. But not against loving. She was a complicated equation that didn't need to be solved" she's the kind of character where i'm like i don't know if i should fear her or WANT to be her . she's also a genius, she's stylish and trendy af AND she created her own business when she was 12-15 (ahh sorry i can't remember the age)?? goals. ugh i love her she's definitely the mom of the group and not gonna lie, her being the kinkiest out of all the sister didn't surprise me. why? because it's always the innocent ones i swear!! ❀ ROMANCE ❀ honestly if you're boyfriend doesn't play fuck, marry, kill with you, banter in french, quoting jane eyre, seduce you through Shakespeare, will get high with you, and give up his dream because he'd rather have you in his life than be a CEO of his family's company... is he really your boyfriend? im pretty sure these two are twin flames because they're so similar it's uncanny. ok so it's known that Connor doesn't "love" anyone because he thinks love is relative whatever that means so even after they've been dating for a year, he hasn't said "i love you" to Rose but you know what? i'm okay with that (kinda?) because it was satisfying and sweet when he finally said it. i guess it was also satisfying when they FINALLY fucking did it because yes, they've been dating for a year but they were never intimate. i like how Rose explored what she likes in bed and is open with anything. ahhh i don't know i guess i just like the trust these two have for one another in any sense . ❀ DISLIKES?? ❀ OKAY ok hold your horses. this is more of a me thing than anything else. not gonna lie, i wasnt 100% into the book until like 41% aka the scene where they all find out Connor doesn't love Rose - or is incapable of feeling love. now THAT is when i started getting hooked and i know this because i was procrastinating. y’all know how i determine when i'm hooked with a book? when i procrastinate. first 40 ish%? i was studying. after that, i was straight up procrastinating because it FINALLY started to get interesting. also, i just wish they weren't a couple and this book starts off with them being enemies and THEN they become a couple because enemies to friends to mutual pining to lovers duh and i love reading good developments. like, i wanted to see the first time Rose said "i love you" and Connor was like uhhh i don't, their first date, their first kiss, their first everything . so yeah that's why i was kind of bored in the beginning. AND its weird reading this in order even though the books are probably published differently but there's some inconsistencies that bug me like they're doing a drinking game in front of Lo and they NEVER do that before because duh recovering alcoholic and then apparently now Lo and Lily are having sex all the time when the book before this ( Addicted for Now ), they barely had sex in 1 week. but now they cant seem to stop touching each other?? wut?? and Rose hated her mother and even screamed at her and the mom even slapped Rose but suddenly she loves and respects her mother now?? wut? ❀ OTHER THOUGHTS ❀ — Connor and Ryke hating each other? yesss love it when my boyfriends fight. — love the drama between Daisy, Ryke and Julian. now its Ryke's turn to be jealous karmas a bitch 😌 — they did it more than 3x her first time? girl, is her... you know ... okay? — when Connor thinks of everyone as his family AWWWWW. — Rose reminds me of my mother oh god. * * * now, the question you've all been waiting for... can you read this without reading Addicted ?? ehhh to be honest if you're like me and wanna know everything then i suggest reading the order it's suggested on the website, but if you're lazy (also like me) i guess you can just read this series?? man, i don't know. i guess if you're half lazy half fomo, just skim the Addicted series to the RoseConnor and DaisyRyke scenes. anyways, i went into this series wanting to read about Connor but NOW my most anticipated read is DaisyRyke's book. im reading it right now and... well.. im currently procrastinating so i guess im more hooked with their book than this one. Calloway Sisters series #1: kiss the sky ↠ 4 stars #2: hothouse flower ↠ 3.5 stars #3: fuel the fire ↠ tbr #4: long way down ↠ tbr #5: some kind of perfect ↠ tbr 2020-favorites book-boyfriends characters-that-make-me-feel-broke ...more 482 likes 1 comment Like Comment kendyl ʚ♡⃛ɞ (semi-hiatus) 168 reviews 2,268 followers August 2, 2023 “no, rose. you’re so fucking wrong. you’re not a pit stop. you’re my finish line. there’s no one after you. i want you for eternity, not for a brief moment in time.” connor cobalt🫶🏼don’t be fooled by this quote…this man has one of the filthiest mouths attached to him and ohhhhhhh my😮‍💨i’ve fallen in love. as of right now, i have two sets of parents🤭lilo and coballoway. i can’t wait to have a third set👀i’m beyond excited for hothouse flower. “people hope to touch the sky. i dream of kissing it.” “kiss the sky with me,” connor whispers, a beautiful smile pulling his lips, “and don’t ever come down.” this book was amazing. my rating? yep you guessed it, 5 stars because this entire series, i’m convinced, deserves nothing less. this book had me laughing so hard, giggling, blushing, fuming, kicking my feet, crying, swooning, jumping up and down, screaming into my pillow, etc etc. i think this series so far has brought out every single emotion i could think of and that is one of the things i love most about reading. if a book doesn’t make you FEEL, then the author isn’t doing it right and let me tell you guys…krista and becca ritchie do it flawlessly. coballoway seriously snuck up on me and let me explain. i was already obsessed with rose and connor, but as individuals not as a couple. they didn’t seem like a couple to me at all in the first three books because they were always arguing and breaking up. BUT i knew they were gonna be special because of the way connor would talk about rose to lo. rose struggled with intimacy and connor struggled with his ability to love anyone. i stare into his deep blue eyes. lost in the power inside them. and i take his hand for a second, and i fit it in between my legs, his gaze never breaking from mine. “this is yours. that’s what i feel.” “ca vous a pris pas mal de temps.” (it took you long enough). “how long do we have left?” “pour toujours.” (forever). “i don’t want to look back and regret that i wasn’t a better friend or a better man to the woman i adore. and i can’t tell you how long i’ve been fighting the truth, but it’s been awhile. i am so deeply in love with you, rose.” “ca vous a pris pas mal de temps.” (it took you long enough). “how long do we have left?” “forever.” these moments had me absolutely melting. to see rose and connor fully let each other in🥹🥹they’re so precious. they’re alike in so many ways. they challenge each other everyday. i love that their banter is one of their favorite things about their relationship😭they’re both so smart. they were made for each other and no one can convince me otherwise. the trust that these two have for each other is like no other. ugh i love them endlessly. “you’re safe with me, you know that rose? i won’t ever hurt you.” “i’m going to spread you so wide, rose. your whole body will ache for my hard cock. you’ll come before i fill every inch of you.” both sides of this man live in my head rent free. actually everything about this man lives in my head rent free because there’s so much more about connor that literally has me on my knees for him. this man flirts in french, plays fuck marry kill, got high with rose, quotes jane eyre, used shakespeare quotes to seduce rose, and gave up being ceo of his family’s company because he’d rather have rose in his life. ladies…DO NOT SETTLE. this man is a gentleman in the streets and a freak in the sheets guys PLS. how is he so hot and respectful😮‍💨he loves to tie his woman up, choke/spank her, and leave bite marks…love it when they’re rough😋🥵🤭if your boyfriend doesn’t treat you like a queen in public and then come home and treat you like a slut in bed……is he REALLY your boyfriend? the lap dance scene lives in my head rent fucking free, i’m literally blushing thinking about it rn🤭 “i love the way he’s staring at me. it makes me feel more than just beautiful. i feel like i’m his. like no one else could possibly compare to me. he doesn’t have to say the words. i see it in his eyes. i can practically read it in his mind.” “if i seriously evaluate my relationship with connor, it will rank somewhere closer to strange than normal.” “he may not believe in fate, but i do. and i know i’m fated to be with him.” rose calloway. i adore this woman so much. i honestly see her as the mother of the core six. people see her as the “ice queen”, but she would do anything for people she truly loves/cares about. i admire how hard working she is at everything she does. nothing is half assed if it’s done by rose calloway hehe. i love how independent she is, but she allowed connor to relieve her stress and anxiety. she tends to bottle up her emotions, but connor will always be a shoulder for her to cry on🥺i loved how easy it was for him to calm her down. ALSO she’s a lady in the streets and a freak in the sheets as well…matching her boyfriend of course😏it’s always the innocent ones👀 “6 people + 6 months + 3 cameramen + 1 reality show = infinite drama. i’ve done the math.” i absolutely loved the plot of this book. the core six lived together while doing this reality show😭soooo many lilo and raisy moments guys i can’t, i love them all so much. i loved how touchy lilo was with each other, it tells me how well lily was doing with her recovery🥹lo is also doing so well with his recovery…my power couple always🫶🏼and RAISY!?! omg i’m dying to read their book. i adore their friendship and the way ryke looks out for daisy🥺you also just see how much daisy trusts this man too it’s so precious. ryke can literally be the biggest asshole, but he’s a total gentleman when it comes to daisy. the amount of times he protected daisy throughout all these books🥹i just know ryke will be the perfect man for her. lo and connor’s bromance had me dying omg they’re so funny. ryke and connor are always at each others throats, but i love it, they’re also funny. this is the best found family🥹🫶🏼 “i calmed every single fucking person. i flicked over his rook, his bishop, and protected my queen. i mouth, don’t fuck with me. these five people mean more to me then words can express. i’ve never once felt like i had a real family. but with them—i know i do.” connor thinking of everyone as his family😭😭😭i was absolutely melting because, at the same time, he was still struggling with his ability to love. he always showed that he was able to love, he was just too stubborn to accept it. ugh i just love them all so much. my forever favorite fictional characters. this series has altered my brain chemistry forever. i recommend reading these books in the recommended reading order besties, it’ll give you the best experience…i promise🤭🫶🏼 before i go start the next book…let me add some of my favorite tweets/comments that rose/connor read about the reality show. @TVDFan70008: have you seen the way lo looks at lily? *swoon* LITERALLY MEEEEE omg. also👀the username…tvd can only mean one thing…the vampire diaries hehe obsessed with that show, love my villains damon n klaus😋😋 @thefieryheart: brb building a shrine for ryke and daisy. “lo and lily are so my OTP forever.” “i ship ryke and daisy so hard it hurts.” love these so much, these are comments/tweets i’d definitely write. ps: lo, connor, and ryke…why choose?😋 310 likes Like Comment Christy 4,133 reviews 34.7k followers April 21, 2022 5 stars! Kiss the Sky was such a fun book to read. It had a great story line and was one of the most entertaining stories I’ve read lately. Krista & Becca Ritchie have the perfect amount of humor, emotion, steam and wit in their books. This series is original, the romances are messy and perfect- I’m pretty sure this is turning into my new favorite NA series, because I seriously love everything about these books! Virgin. Sex addict. Daredevil. Alcoholic. Smartass … Jackass. Her five friends are about to be filmed. Reality TV, be prepared. Rose Calloway is the perfect older sister of Lily and Daisy, but lately, things for her have not been so perfect. After the negative attention from her sister’s sex addiction, her clothing line has taken a hit. So has her father’s business, as well as the family’s reputation. Rose has found a way to fix all that, or at least she thinks it will. So she’s signed the gang up for a reality show. All six of them under one roof… what could go wrong? Rose is the opposite of her sister Lily in many ways. One way in particular- she’s a virgin. She has been dating her intellectual counterpart for a year now. Connor Colbolt is a patient man. He’s smart, ambitious and confident to the extreme. These qualities make him different than the other guys, and they’re endearing to readers. Connor is nothing like I thought he would be and I mean that in the best way possible. I never thought Connor would be so funny and sinful under his exterior and I never imagined Rose would actually be likable. It’s safe to say I was pleasantly surprised with these characters. Connor was fantastic and Rose was someone relatable. I loved this couple. They cared for each other deeply, put each other first and had incredible chemistry. And even though things in the show threaten their relationship, they stand strong and they stand together. I had no one before Rose. No true friends. No family, not really. Now I have her. I have people I care about. People that I want to protect. Now I have everything. The only thing about having everything is that you can lose it all. I am crazy addicted to these books. Once I start one, I cannot stop listening. The writing is amazing and makes it so easy to fly through them. I feel like these characters are my friends, my family. It’s so easy to become attached to them all. I’ve listened to the first 4 on audio and the narration is wonderful. The voices that portray all these characters fit so well and show the perfect amount of emotion for the story.Connor and Rose’s story exceeded my expectations, and they were already high. I’m jumping into Hothouse Flower next and I can’t wait to get more of Daisy and Ryke’s story and more of my favorite couple- Lily and Lo <3 2019-audio 2022-audio 285 likes Like Comment Alexa Raye 35 reviews 12.9k followers February 20, 2024 well, i did not see THAT coming 279 likes 2 comments Like Comment Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️ 1,929 reviews 32.9k followers November 28, 2015 4-4.5 Stars First of all, let me just tell you how COMPLETELY excited and relieved I am to have loved a book that most of my friends loved and 5-starred. Such has not been the typical case of late. Second of all, I am way late to the Calloway party and boy was I missing out. This is my first read of the series and it will definitely not be my last. ...I'm not sure I will dip my toe into the Addicted series though... It sounds tres depressing. And I have enough of my own addictions to deal with as it is. Just kidding, I don't suffer from all those addictions. And I totally shouldn't make a joke of that because - HELLO! - Totally not funny. Ahem, moving along... I'm going to keep my thoughts on this brief. Because: 1) Like I said, I am WAY late in reading this series, 2) There are WAY better - and more eloquent - reviews out there than anything I could spew, 3) No one cares anyway. At first I wasn't sure I was gonna like this. Rose was quite the ice queen, who reminded me of...well... ...a certain someone... * * * But then? I realized that, holy shite, I am absolutely this girl's NUMBER ONE FAN WHORE. I mean, what's not to love? HA! Oh man, how could I NOT bow down to the brilliant, bitchy, sarcasm that was Rose? Ahhhhh, warm and fuzzy, warmth and fuzz. How you fill my soulless heart with your filter-less hostility and endless need to sanitize every surface. And then you put her together with Connor? He of sexy the lap dance and the Prince of Calm Practicality? Be still my unemotional, socially offensive heart. In fact, fuck it - 5 STARS - you unreasonably businesslike duo - because I HEART you. In fact, that's one of the things I think I dug the most about this book - aside from their constant bantering and push/pull - the fact that they were together - AS A COUPLE - for the entirety of the book. The vast majority of our romance novels are about the main protagonists and their journey to GET together or get BACK together. But here, we get to experience them being together for the whole book - which I just LOVED. Because isn't that the whole point of romance? Reading about them together? In a relationship? Well, it is for me. But anylong-winded, I just loved that aspect of the book. I also liked , loved ADORED how all the characters in the book so fiercly protected each other. ESPECIALLY Ryke and Daisy. And if those two don't end up togther? I will CUT a bitch. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX I've been meaning to try this series for a while now...everyone OMG 5-stars the ever livin' shit out of it. Plus it's FREE right now. So let's take a peak, shall we? 0-romance-all-time-favorites 5-stars alpha-male ...more 260 likes Like Comment lila ✽ 143 reviews 2,328 followers December 25, 2023 this was my most highly anticipated book in this series. and... i’m sad to say it let me down ☹️ rose and connor had so much potential for more than whatever happened in this book. that’s not to say i didn’t enjoy this; i did. it just could’ve been much better than it was for me. i felt myself picking at many faults this had and i couldn’t let it go. i almost felt coballoway were one of those couples that are better to observe from the outside than actually go in-depth into the dynamics, cause... they really disappointed there ngl. “Kiss the sky with me,” Connor whispered, a beautiful smile pulling his lips, “and don’t ever come back down.” rose and connor (or, alternatively, the idea i had of them in my head) 💌 coballoway are just so. the glances between them, the way they were such geniuses and challenged each other, the way they played fuck, marry, kill? i loved that so so much. 🥺 they just have this special charm to them that’s impossible to resist. they were the dreamers tracing the stars and touching the sky and never wanting to come down. they were always each others’ first and last conquest. or so i thought. the version of them in this was a pale cutout of that. i needed more from them with respect to the emotional aspect and i didn’t get that at all. “You’re not a pit stop. You’re my finish line. There’s no one after you.” I kiss her powerfully, my tongue parting her lips, and she responds. But not as much as I hoped. So I break apart and add, “I want you for eternity, not for a brief moment in time.” ˗ˏˋ honorary mentions ´ˎ˗ 🧸 ✧ the lap dance scene?? 😭 i love the dynamic switch there. ✧ there was literally zero miscommunication or misunderstandings between them!! and i love that, because of how secure they were in their relationship. ✧ connor realizing he has a real family 🥹🥹🥹 my beloved <3 ✧ connor “it’s time to shut the fuck up and put my cock back in your mouth” cobalt — that line is gonna live in my mind rent-free. ✧ the way connor only ever cared about rose and she meant the most to him ugh my parents!! they have me in such a chokehold. “I’ve wanted so many things in life,” he says softly, “but you’re the one that has meant the most to me.” ✧ the “we fuck like winners” moment — absolutely ✨iconic✨ ✧ the bromances between loren and connor? the love/hate relationship between ryke and connor? so much fun to see develop indeed. it wasn’t sudden or quick or anything, it was so natural. i will always and forever be appreciating the found family in this world. it’s immaculate. ✧ RAISY !!!!!!! have i put enough exclamation marks. i can’t begin to even say or comprehend how much i love them as side characters. i love their banter, their smart comments, ryke the loml <3 he's literally so brutally honest and cares about all of them so much and i feel like they’re the underdogs but they might just end up being my fav couple. i have this feeling . “Oh yeah? I have a boyfriend. What do you have?” “A six-pack and big fucking cock.” ~ gasping so hard at the audacity he has lmao they’re gonna kill me in their book, i know it 🤭 Daisy runs through the snow. Barefoot. Without a jacket. Ryke catches up to her easily, and he wraps his large coat around her body. He picks her up before she can protest, holding her beneath her legs and her back. Her feet are reddened and frostbitten, and she buries her head into Ryke’s bare chest while he talks to her, to calm her down. ~ i went into this series for coballoway and now i can’t wait to read raisy’s book how strange is that 🤣 ⫷ my qualms ⫸ (and yes there were quite a lot) ✧ i lowkey felt like connor was pressurizing rose into sex, and her issues weren’t fully addressed? so i got that he was trying to melt the ice-cold walls around her heart or whatever but i genuinely couldn’t feel how much he cared for her other than for the sex for the first part of the book!! the only thing he was thinking about was how he could fuck her. please no. i wanted some actual sweet moments and it just made me super uncomfy because it kinda made it seem like he was just in it for the chase and what he was gonna get at the end of it. ✧ i generally also hate it when there’s no progression in a relationship and when it stays stagnant and there’s no development, and that’s exactly what happened here. i appreciated that that was what kbr wanted to show here, and how stable rose and connor’s relationship was, but i wish we’d have gotten more scenes of roseconnor and how their relationship was in the beginning to know how they got where they were in the starting of the book itself. ✧ also connor’s sexuality? this isn’t exactly a negative but it’s never addressed and i think he’s bi and i’m not completely sure so can someone confirm it for me? but i wish it’d been addressed more because all he said about it was “humans are humans, they can fuck whoever they want” . and i’m here like okay bruh 🥴 i just wanted to know more though. ✧ i wished there was this moment when rose would realize that connor was in it with her for the long run!! there was never a big revelation or whatever about that and considering that was the main reason for the conflict between them (not that there was much) i was expecting something sweeter and came out disappointed on that count icl. ✧ the french in this. i did find it super romantic that they spoke to each other in a language of their own but the french just switched between second person and first person and i’m like the fuck? if you wanna write something in another language at least try researching a little more on that language before adding so many lines like that. ✧ what the fuck happened to lilo? loren just regressed and went back to being an asshole all the time and lily was a wimp (after me thinking she’d actually had some growth in addicted #3). i’m sorry but that’s the honest truth. what happened to them here 😭 ✧ there are so many inconsistencies with the plot and all it bugged the hell out of me 🤨 LIKE WHY THE FUCK WASN’T SCOTT DEALT WITH. i hate it when villains are let go scot-free 😭 (pun quite intended) “How long do we have left?” She finally smiles through the tears. “Forever.” I draw her to my chest and kiss her strongly, not letting go. all in all , i enjoyed this enough to like it, but i unfortunately couldn’t love it because of my many niggles. those 3-stars are mainly only because of my love for the core six and the little family moments in between, otherwise it would probably be 2-stars for how much it disappointed me. i am hoping their second book will be better, however, because i still have so much love for coballoway as a couple, just not for this book. onto raisy! 💖💗🩷💘💞💝💓 ୨୧-they-survived-the-great-war 247 likes 9 comments Like Comment Bibi 1,288 reviews 32 followers August 9, 2020 This book was 300 pages too long. Ivy league educated characters who all need some native intelligence. Rose and Connor supposedly are tough when, in reality, they're simply TSTL. With the sum total of the characters' net worth, they could have bought their own production company which begs the question of why they allowed- creepy- Scott to have any sort of leverage over them. Je suis desole, ce livre est ridicule. Like Comment Larissa Cambusano 494 reviews October 10, 2021 I mean— wtf kind of chemicals were put in this book. Krista & Becca Ritchie.. explain yourselves. This entire book was PHENOMENAL. Rose & Connor are the most interesting, sophisticated and intelligent people I have ever read about.. and the SPICY SCENES?? kill me, I wasn’t FULLY READY for the man that is Connor MFFFF Cobalt. A true match, a full on power couple. And the dynamic of having a reality show for the core six? genius. The ending destroyed me in the BEST MOST AMAZING way possible, and the epilogue???? wow. I also adored the bonus scenes at the end. Overall, Connor Cobalt & Rose Calloway can both get into a truck and run me over repeatedly and I would lay there and beg them to do it again. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 189 likes Like Comment Sabrina 110 reviews 399 followers August 6, 2023 So.. Coballoway definitely grew on me after this. I absolutely adore them “6 people + 6 months + 3 cameramen + 1 reality show = infinite drama" This picks up right where addicted for now left off and the spin-off highlights Connor and Rose’s lives from what we know and don’t. You get a glimpse into their relationship in how that unfolds and their struggles as well. In this spin-off, their lives are made public through a reality show involving the core 6 where they’re all living together in efforts to redeem the damage inflicted from Lily’s addiction that was exposed and became viral in the last book. Rose and Connor were exceptionally engrossing to read about given their brilliance and charm. I’ve always thought they matched each other so well and here was no different. They’re both equals on sooo many accounts which easily allows them to collide but that’s more fun for them and us “She's a firestorm that I won't ever smother. I'm the one who inflames her, who riles her to a new, confounding degree. She's my perfect match.” They’re also undoubtedly the smartest people in the room and when they’d quote books and speak French to each other — as if it weren’t a universal language but their own?? I was swooning madly over all of that. I kinda get the appeal with him besides lo now 🌝 Their banter was top notch and so delicious. I was REVELING in each and every one of their interactions and the way Connor would rile up Rose intimately. More so with Roses comebacks in general to him and others as I loved them. “I know you're glaring and I can't even see your eyes," Connor tells me. "Would you call that intuition or magic?" Well, Connor doesn't believe in magic. If Hogwarts actually existed I'm sure they'd send an owl to shit on his head Their dynamic initially did feel off emotionally but I think it’s understandable? given that they’re presented to us as kind of uncaring and distant at first but that changes. I found it interesting and surprising how certain things between them had roughly transpired. The tension was so real lol I also enjoyed their ability to be vulnerable with each other as it’s not in their nature to do so. Roses love and care for her sisters was very apparent here, you can see she’d do just about anything to protect them. She’s notably strong willed and assertive and yess such a b*tch but with a really huge heart. Loved her sm “No matter how much I want to save my sisters and just keep them close, I feel as if I’m destined to watch them fall.” The aspect of the reality tv show was portrayed perfectly at least for me. The inclusion of that to base their story around was a great addition to it and the drama was surprisingly so intense and entertaining Scotts character was beyond unlikeable. He was vile and everything he did just sickened me he really did deserve a heel to his f*cking face like Connor said also that Julian guy was straight up so disgusting and such a pedo Now can we talk about the bromance between Connor and lo?? When they weren’t at each others throats (even so) I was completely living for it all. It was so very entertaining and wholesome to say the least. “My body is a temple.” “One that only Rose can enter,” Loren banters. “I’ll let you in sometime, darling. Don’t worry.” Loren laughs.” “In rose’s defense, no one but lily really wants to see your erection.” That’s not what you said last night,” he banters. Connor’s lips rise. “Shh, that’s between us, love.” It was pure entertainment to see the core 6 all interact together, plenty of laughable yet wow moments, and the lilo crumbs we did get were much appreciated. Although things felt so different more so with lily. It was as if her character lacked depth which threw me off but I think it’s just her shyness was more visible? Nonetheless, I was extremely proud of lily and lo and the fact that they’re going strong in their recovery. Ugh my loves are thriving. I miss and can’t wait to get back to them ♥️ I truly did enjoy and had fun with Connor and Roses book and I’m definitely looking forward to more of them. And the way this ended and the bonus content?? Connor is too sweet and thoughtful and of course he would go and do something like that. My second favorite couple of this whole series for sure as lilo will always be first Now onto raisy’s book , who you can expect to be just as the same here as they were in the first 3 books. Can’t wait to see how their relationship and them as individuals is explored There were many moments that stood out to me that I swear I highlighted a lot but don’t want to spoil those here’s a few: “Ca vous a pris pas mal de temps." It took you long enough. "How long do we have left?" "Pour toujours." “Forever” “I feel safe with you," I tell him, "even if you let me bowl into four car doors." 🤭 “We've become something of a family. A dysfunctional, fucked-up family. It's hard to let that go.” “You threaten to castrate men ten times a day but yet you hold my c*** like you want to tuck it into bed.” Sorry to all I just had to include this “She was a genius on paper. But not a team player. She was quick to loathe others. But not against loving. She was a complicated equation that didn't need to be solved." “You’re not a pit stop. You’re my finish line. There’s no one after you.” “You’ve bewitched me, body and soul.” She glares. “And you ruined it with a quote from Pride and Prejudice.” I grin. “What? I thought we were purposefully being cliché.” “Maybe next time, quote the book and not the film.” My eyebrow arches and I recite theatrically, “You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope.” I shake my head. “Doesn’t have the same ring to it, darling.” addicted-calloway-sisters-series 150 likes Like Comment Aestas Book Blog 1,059 reviews 75.2k followers February 12, 2014 *** FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED - SPOILER FREE *** "You're not a pit stop. You're my finish line. There's no one after you… I want you for eternity, not for a brief moment in time." WOW. WOW. W-O-W. This is one of the most addictive series I have EVER read!! And it just keeps on getting better and better. Krista & Becca Ritchie have outdone themselves. Every single word was brilliant. The Addicted series is without a doubt one of THE best New Adult romance series out there. It has everything in spades -- fantastic writing, an original plot line, and characters you can't help but fall in love with. READ THESE BOOKS, GUYS!!!!!! I'll be honest. It took me a long time to be able to process my thoughts on this book into actual words. For the first several hours after reading, the only thing running through my mind was along the lines of... ZOMGTHESEBOOKSAREFUCKINGAMAZING YOUALLHAVETOREADTHEMNOWWWWWW!!! ... but clearly, I needed to come up with something better than that so here goes: Virgin. Sex addict. Daredevil. Alcoholic. Smartass. Jackass. In the first three books of this series, we were introduced to Lily & Lo as the main couple, but also got to know Ryke & Daisy, and Connor & Rose as side characters, and in Kiss The Sky, the spotlight was turned onto Connor and Rose. I'd been looking forward to their story ever since I first met them. Kiss The Sky was easily one of my most highly anticipated book releases and it blew me away!!! In the aftermath of the scandal that went public at the end of last book, Rose needed to find a way to paint her family in a better light or risk losing her business, Calloway Couture, and everything that she'd worked for. So she decided to sign her and her five friends up to star in a reality TV show. This meant that Lily, Lo, Daisy, Ryke, and her and Connor would be living together and filmed for 6 months by three cameramen who followed them around day and night. "6 people + 6 months + 3 cameramen + 1 reality show = infinite drama. I've done the math." While all six friends featured heavily in this story, the main focus of this book was on Rose and Connor. We saw everything through their eyes. We saw what happened in their past that shaped them into the people they were now, we saw what drove them, and what scared them, and what they wanted most. Honestly, it was absolutely fascinating to see the world through their perspective, especially the way they saw each other . Connor understood Rose in a way that no one else did. He saw through her walls and right into her heart. "Rose Calloway was different. She was fashionable. But not a sorority girl. She was a genius on paper. But not a team player. She was quick to loathe others. But not against loving them. She was a complicated equation that didn't need to be solved." Rose saw the real him too but...could only see as much of him as he chose to show to the world. Despite caring deeply for her, he found it hard to express his true feelings in so many words. But he and Rose somehow just worked perfectly together. It was so fun to see them verbally spar back and forth. They were competitive, but in the best way. "He wears confidence like his most expensive suit, with style and dignity and so much charm. I immediately want to combat him, to match him smile for smile, grin for grin, word for word." They were such a unique pair. Connor was the only guy who'd ever been able to truly handle Rose without either getting overruled or turned away. He was neither stronger nor weaker than her. He was her perfect match. "I'm not the hero. I'm the king to Rose's queen." But here was the twist to their relationship -- they were equals on every level, except sex. Rose was a genius, a strong, confident woman in charge of her world, but she was also a virgin in completely over her head because in this one respect, Connor had a definite upper hand. Luckily though, being the amazing person that he was, he never once pushed her beyond her comfort zone.  I loved the way he waited for her and was endlessly patient. It made me melt. He knew all along what she wanted but was willing to wait for her to realize it herself. "You're safe with me, you know that, Rose?… I won't ever hurt you." And ho-ly HOTNESS, guys!! I have to say that while I didn't see it coming in the previous books, there was a kinky twist to Connor that just fit his personality so perfectly and had me fanning myself for pages on end. "I think we both know there's only one dominant here." Oh yeahhh!!! :D But if anything can best describe Connor, I think it's this one quote: "My power is in my confidence. It's that simple. Their belief that it's something more - that it's something greater - is what makes the effect so strong. They need me to be their sturdy unbending fortress. So I am here." In this book, they had so much to deal with -- their relationship, Lily & Lo's relationship (and the aftermath of the events of the first books), how her business was doing, etc -- all of this on it's own would have been a lot of it's own but add in a reality show to the mix -- where every single moment of their lives was caught on film and broadcasted to the world by a producer whose apparent life's mission was just to fuck with them -- and you have a situation brimming with tension, angst and heightened emotion. Overall, this series truly has one of THE best ensemble casts I've ever read. The character dymanics are just GOLD and the dialogue is fantastic. Every little interaction between the cast just shone. The WRITING was fantastic. I adore these authors' style. It's smart, snappy and just draws you IN. There is not a single wasted word and I absolutely loved it. I swear, half my book is highlighted. "As she rests on my lap, something strong grips my heart. I've never been so possessed by another person before. She consumes my body and mind in ways that I can't articulate." The whole story was built on this complex network of all the entwined relationships -- some were new, some were built over years, some were bonded by blood, and others were bonded by love. Everything was so multi-layered, and there were so many stories happening at once that were all connected, all linked. It was fascinating. Exciting. Addicting. Compelling. It was romantic. Steamy. Emotional. Beautiful. But, just as with the first books in the series, I have to applaud the authors because never once did I feel like anything went overboard. Every single event, every piece of drama made perfect sense for the story. It fit. No eye-rolling or Kindle-throwing. The entire story was well paced and meticulously planned out. I love getting lost in these characters' world and I absolutely love each one of these main characters. I love their insecurities, flaws, and strengths. I love how despite having their misunderstanding and disagreements within each other, they are always united against an outside threat. They support each other, have each others' back. They protect each other. "These five people mean more to me than words can express. I've never once felt like I had a real family. But with them - I know I do." Some lines were so hit me so strongly that out of nowhere, I'd just find tears running down my face... "We'd be the walls that shield these terrible events from them. We can endure the pain for however long they need to heal." Without a doubt, this is one of the most addictive series I have ever read. I loved every single word and read this book as slowly as I could trying to make the story last as long as possible. I didn't want it to end. Some books are worth losing sleep over. This is one of those. The Addicted series truly stands out in the New Adult romance world. Krista and Becca Ritchie keep raising the bar. This is one of those series that started out strong, and just keeps getting stronger. It's truly one-of a kind. There is nothing else even remotely close to this out out there. THIS is a series to watch for. Rating: 5 stars!!! *** TIMELINE EXPLANATION & READING ORDER *** Now, regarding the reason why I think these book should be read in order .... A huge part of why I am so in love with and so addicted to this series is because I know these characters. I've been through their ups and downs, I've seen their struggles and triumphs, and so each new development in their story has a lot of meaning to me. Everything carries more weight because I know what these guys have been through to get where they are. In my opinion, these characters deserve to have their story appreciated to the max, and that will come with reading the books in order. That being said, you can start with this book. It's written in such a way that allows that and, at the end of the day, it's really up to you. If it helps to know... The Addicted series has a core ensemble cast of 3 guys and 3 girls: Lily & Lo, Rose & Connor, and Ryke & Daisy (though their relationship is not yet official). ✦ The first three books (Addicted To You, Ricochet, Addicted For Now) complete one story arc (Lily & Lo's) so they have their own, happy & resolved ending after Addicted For Now. ✦ Then this book (Kiss The Sky) continues that storyline but from a different perspective (Rose & Connors) and while it focuses on their story, it also continues the journey of all the main characters that we've been introduced to. It has it's own HEA. ✦ The next book (Hothouse Flower) will be the same deal but it'll focus on a different couple (Ryke & Daisy). ✦ Then the last two books (Thrive & Addicted After All) will go back to focusing on Lily & Lo and will have the big series finale ending. It is perfectly safe to jump in and start reading this series now. You will not be left hanging! I promise . Cross my heart. No cliffhangers where the story is at now! And - please please please start reading these books, guys . They are just wonderful!!! :D My review of Book #1 ➜ http://bit.ly/1aVSaNM My review of Book #1.5 ➜ http://bit.ly/1baSZSK My review of Book #2 ➜ http://bit.ly/1fiPBas All promo images were designed by the authors Krista & Becca Ritchie. **************************** For more of my reviews, book news and updates: ✦ Main blog: Aestas Book Blog ✦ Facebook Blog Page ✦ Twitter favorites 139 likes Like Comment annie 228 reviews 260 followers September 14, 2023 5 STARS ✨ Whoever keeps on saying that this book is amazing and recommended it, I hope your next reads are amazing. God bless you; may your pillow always be cold, and may you get extra toppings on your ice cream! 💞 — This book was fire! No kidding, Rose and Connor were legit swoon-worthy. After so long, I finally get a good read, and I'm super invested, ya'll. No one lied when they said COBALLOWAY supremacy! 🤩 So, right after the Addicted series, this series starts with Rose, LiLo, Ryke, Daisy, and Connor getting into a reality TV show to help them rebuild their tarnished images because of Lily's sex addiction scandal. It's all for their father's company and for Rose's couture company! I must say it was a great plot though! ok i actually added some pictures but GR hates me so you can't see them on mobile🔪👺 ╰┈➤ ROSE + CONNOR If I didn't say 'fuck it' after my previous read and dive into this series, I wouldn't have found these two precious gems! Seriously, they were so cute 🥺💕. ✨ Academic Rivals ✔️ ✨ It's always been you ✔️ ✨ First love ✔️ ✨ Smartass and his match ✔️ Their dynamic was so good! They've known each other for 10 years, not by being in the same university or prep, but they've always been rival colleges competing through quizzes and everything! They're a perfect match for each other, and despite their absolute disagreements and differences, they FUCK LIKE WINNERS! 💪🏻 — Rose is an ice queen or bitch as portrayed by the media, and she's not even sorry about it. But damn, she was actually adorable! She's super caring and knows her worth, limits, and I loved how she processed everything in her POVs! She knows her personality, fears, issues, flaws, and everything, yet she's perfect! It was sad yet super realistic how she was forced and shaped like that because of her mother, societal pressures, and her own issues! Although she's not a people pleaser, she did everything to be perfect and impress everyone! She's super strong and a role model for opening her own brand at such a young age! 👏🏻 Yo, there's actually a lot of GLARING and ICY TONE attached to Rose's character, but I'm gonna let that slide ... or maybe not! It's actually pretty funny, like, can you imagine her glaring ALL. THE. DAMN. TIME! 😂 She's cold AF, I give her that! — OMSGSGS 🤭😭 RICHARD CONNOR COBALT, WTF, NEW BOOK BOYFRIEND?? Hell yeah, sign me up! 🤩 It's always the intelligent, sexy, hot, impeccable manners, and SUIT AND TIES that get me every time! 😭 Why do male characters gotta be so freaking hot? His amazing responses just hit me like an arrow straight to my heart! 😗 His character was seriously dope! He was, like, the most amazing friend ever! And I totally dug how much importance he carried and how he could just calm everyone out! He treated Rose so well, always having her back and making sure she was calm and back to normal! It was hella sweet to see him being all possessive of her, willing to go to extremes for her, even though he kept saying he couldn't love or believe in it, like, so many times! And I'm all about those "I DON'T BELIEVE IN LOVE" type of heroes, man! 🫠 It's, like, the best thing to witness them putting in all the efforts and keep saying love is bullshit, but in the end, they're still falling hard for their girls! It seriously tugs at the heartstrings, and I'm here for it, like, major feels! 😭💞 ╰┈➤ THE SPICE: 🥵 ❝Rose will always be my number one priority.❞ The inside the bedroom scenes were fire AF, and I didn't even imagine him pulling a full Christian Grey in there 😂. It was a lil shocking to see Rose submitting, but it was explained well though! I actually thought he might be gentle 'cause she's a virgin, but man, 3 freaking times after taking her virginity, gahaahahha 🫣🤭 ❝It’s time for you to shut the fuck up and put my cock back in your mouth.❞ — AND I WILL NEVER EVER FORGET CONNOR GIVING ROSE A LAP DANCE 😩🥵🥺 That scene lives in my mind rent-free pls. ❝Cobalt, were you or have you ever been a stripper?❞ — istg? ╰┈➤ SIDE CHARACTERS: 🥵 ➤ NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PRODUCTION HOUSE AND ITS OWNER—SHITTY AF! 🔪 If I could kill Scott, I'd put him in a pot and boil that motherf*cker alive! I LOTHE THAT PIECE OF CRAP! 🤢🤮 He's such a creep! I wanted to slap him so many times! At first, I was legit like 'ooooh, he likes Rose,' but damn, I REGRETTED EVEN THINKING THAT! 🤧 He's such a loser, a misogynist, and I wanted to smash his skull! He can go screw around with his crew, that stupid little bitch! The media.... it was usual crap - no comments. The production house was shit all thanks to that dipshit owner, Scott! 🖕🏻 At first, I thought the reality TV show was a nice idea, but oh God, I was so freaking disappointed and creeped the hell out! Having cameras shoved in your face 24/7 was bad and unbearable! And you know what the worst part was? All the editing was done by that motherf*cker Scott! 🤡 I'm super pissed! They're all heirs to a multi-billion company, super intelligent, and all that shit, but they let Scott get leverage over them and control them! It was grating on my nerves bcause the audacity of him ordering them around like a super PIG! I HATE SCOTT SO MUCH! And I don't even like how they all just tolerated his bullshit! He was always staring at the sisters' boobs and making crude comments like fffsss, stop! 💩🤢 ➤ Can Lily stop cowering all the time? 🙂 Alright, so I haven't read the Addicted series, but I do know a few things about it, and let me tell you, I've got a major problem with Lily and Loren! Like, seriously, why was Lily crying ALL THE TIME? I expected Loren to be a bit more possessive, ready to knock out anyone who dares hurt her, but instead, we got Scott freely calling Lily a sex addict and making crude comments, & the whole time she was crying, her face going all red, or she was acting all shy??!!! I mean, she HAD HER OWN PROTAGONIST MOMENT, right? So why didn't the authors make her accept herself and become a better version of herself instead of showing her all weak in this book? she was always hiding in Loren's jacket, under his arms, behind him, in the crook of his neck , and whatnot, and I'm just like, BUT WHY? Alright, I get it, her scandal was super bad (heard about that), and nobody should go through that crap, but damn, why didn't they resolve her freaking issues in her freaking book? 🙄 Like, where's the character development, huh? IF these books are connected, then they better give the characters some more interesting traits in the other books or show some freaking development! 😮‍💨 And don't even get me started on Loren being an asshole 24/7! I get playful banter, but man, him and Rose were straight-up insulting each other! He lost all my respect when he kept pushing her buttons and getting on her nerves. He made mean comments about her fears and even threw away all her sketches because she's obsessive-compulsive! I get it that he has a sharp tongue, his addiction blah blah.... but it didn't earn him any points in my book. He just seemed childish and immature, and there was no playful banter in sight! No hate to Lily and Loren, though. They're actually super cute together, and I love how he takes care of her. But their personalities in this book just pissed me off big time, and that didn't make me interested in reading their other books at all! I just wish the authors had resolved these issues in their three or four books. Like, what the hell were those books for then? ➤ RAISY 🌸🥺 OMG, Ryke and Daisy are legit the cutest couple ever! Like, seriously, they've got all the sunshine and rainbows vibes, plus unicorns and teddy bears! 🌈🦄🧸 I can't even handle their adorableness, and their moments are just too much for my heart! 💕 They're like the ultimate cutie pies, and I'm all heart eyes for them, no kidding! 😍 Ryke, the grumpiest guy in the core six, he's like a giant alpha male but I swear he'd do anything to protect Daisy! He's always on guard, making sure she's safe and sound, like it's just so precious! He's so concerned about Daisy always and seeing smallest and tiniest details about her and took care of her. I CAN'T SAY LIKE A FATHER LMAO PLS 🤣 THAT'D BE WEIRD AS HELL but god it was so good! I WANT MY OWN RYKE! Can't wait to devour their book and BECOME AN ULTIMATE RAISY FAN FOR MY LIFE! 🥺 ❝And I realize, in this moment, how much she (Daisy) trusts Ryke to protect her —even from her own boyfriend.❞ And Daisy, oh my gosh, she's impulsive and carefree, but there's more to her than meets the eye! I'm dying to uncover all about her in her book! Although she's just 17 in this book and the her age did throw me off a little at the start and her and ryke have a bit age gap but i guess I'll manage that! Their perfect! Their scenes are pure chaos, abd daisy is always stiring and doing sometimh reckless but Ryke is always there, holding her leash and protecting her like a boss! 🤝💥 ❝Hey, stay away from the fucking knives.❞ - cute? Also Ryke's obsession with the F-word had me laughing so hard! 😂 Seriously, he couldn't utter a single sentence without dropping it! but hey IT'S HIS TRAIT RIGHT 💀 but tbh he had me cackling! and I loved reading about Connor praising ryke because he's literally the best! ➤THE BROMANCE AND FOUND FAMILY HAD ME MELTING. 😭 ❝Ryke nods to me. “Go ahead, princess.” “Stop, you’re making me blush,” I say flatly.❞ - it's the bromance for me >>>> ❝I have a family. A real family. It’s not something you can win. I didn’t manipulate a soul to get here. I have it because they like me for me.❞ - awwwwhhwhw 🥰 ╰┈➤ THINGS I DISLIKED: 🥵 — I don't get why no one took action against Scott. He's got all those sex tapes of Rose and Connor, and he's still selling them to porn sites. Like, what the heck? He's making money off of it, and Rose and Connor are just cool with it now because they're happy and content with their lives, and no one's hating on them anymore. IGNORING EVERYTHING AND NOT CARING ABOUT THE TAPES IS A SAVAGE BEHAVIOUR BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS ALREADY DONE but seriously, THAT MF DESERVES TO ROT IN JAIL!!! Rose calls herself a genius, but Scott really outsmarted her. But still, I wanna see him rot in jail, that pissy ass bitch! 💩 — The book starts with Connor being Rose's boyfriend, and they've been dating for more than a year! Like, how, when, where did that happen? 🤡 We're just thrown a little tidbit that they met, and Connor asked Rose out on a date, but come on, I wanted the whole story! I wanted to see past scenes, like Rose actually said something about.... "How her 16-year-old self would've fantasized about Connor getting into the shower or whatever." I mean, she thought of him RIGHT??? and might've had a crush, BUT WHO FREAKING KNOWS? We're not shown any of that at all! If you're gonna bring up something like this, at least give us some flashbacks or cute scenes, but nope 😒 — And what's up with authors always killing off the parents 😂? Either they're still being bitches but accepted everything, or they're six feet under! There's no in-between 💀 HOTHOUSE FLOWER (my cuties raisyyyy) HERE I COME! 💞 WE'RE ROBBED OF THIS SCENE ^ 🥲 best-reads fiesty-female-character it-was-hot ...more 138 likes 1 comment Like Comment Gelisvb 348 reviews 104 followers April 4, 2022 No, no, no and no. I've started this serie because everyone told me that the book about Rose was fantastic. Instead it was one of the worst NA that I ever read(and for those who know what I've read this is a big statement). So, Rose and Connor, my most liked characters of this serie, what could possible go wrong? Everything. This book seemed to take all my most hated tropes, mixed them together and adding a little something to make me hate it even more. Let's start with the easy, shall we? -It seems that smart people talk between themselves in french because it's sexier. But you know what is not sexy at all? Grammar errors. Their french is terrible! Who wants sexy talk with grammar errors? The general feeling about this book is that the authors have no idea how "smart people" reacts and so they invented. Like in a fantasy book. -The: "I can't love anyone because I was raised like that" trope. Now, I admit that I usually sort of like that trope, but what makes no sense is introducing it after them being together for a year and it was clear as the day that he loved her since he first appeared. What was the need to introduce that trope? You can't introduce that in the third book! -The reality show.Don't even let me start on that.I'm so mad about it, but that is my personal taste, I'm against reality shows in general and the whole idea of all of them willingly putting all of their problems at disposal of the public is simply ridiculous. -Lily. I already said that what the authors are doing with her can be called bullying (yes, I know that she is a fictional character). She is written as a little dumb animal and everyone treats her as such. She says dumb things all the times, she cries, she makes a fool of herself, she can't do anything at all, everyone tells her what to do, she can't remember to eat or to shower and people don't trust her to remember her pills. It's painful to read! I'm not even annoyed at her, I'm annoyed at the authors! Just giver her something she is good at. Please? It's your character, no she is your protagonist! Can you make a human being out of her? -The sex. Oh, oh.Here it comes the reason of the one star. Connor goes all Christian Gray and have Rose wear a diamond collar and she goes all submissive. Just no, ok? This book delivers the idea that if you are powerful and confident woman, deep down all you want is bow to your man at least in the bedroom and let him tell you what to do. No, just, no.It feels completely OOC! I makes the whole relationship completely unbalanced and there was no hint of Rose's tendencies in the previous books. I also hated the fact that of course he has to be more successful than her, leading an empire while she opens a shop. A shop! Really? That's just perfect and empowering! Having Rose open a shop to be able to stay near her children in the future (this is not said, but is strongly implied). You have no idea how angry I get every time that authors make me read about strong female characters with dreams and education, be happy to renounce all of what they have worked so hard for just to stay home with the children sot hat the male could follow HIS dreams. He is the one who wanted children, make HIM stay home. There is nothing wrong with staying home or opening a shop (of course), but it's very wrong the message it sends to young girls about getting a higher education and having aspirations is only useful to snare a rich husband. Have you noticed how while Connor is being groomed to become he heir to his mother's company, none of the sisters is involved in their father business in any way? You are about to inherit one day one of the greatest companies in the world and not one of you has been involved in the business? Really? IT's not ok and it's not just a book. These books are written for women, can we please stop being misogynist? Would have really lessen the enjoyment of this book having her get what she wanted? I'm sick and tired of reading of wasted potential. Can we pleas root for each other? A woman CAN be successful and happy and loved without having 8 kids, you know. Let's just stop with the subliminal messages. 136 likes Like Comment Iqra 462 reviews 4,089 followers April 13, 2024 RoseConnor diaries are eternally unmatched 👑 Definite Rtc *** I couldn’t help it 🤧 idk when I’ll be able to read the series in order but it’s not gna be anytime soon 🤡 RoseConnor my loves 💗👑💞💅💘🦋✨🧸 be prepared to be sick of me <3 ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── #𝟭 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 - 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭 - ೃ⁀➷ 𝟱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀 This book had me in a constant uproar. The drama was EXPLOSIVE. The craziness was on the highest gear. Made me burst out laughing with all their witty banter. I high-key love Ryke and his cusses. Connor had such affection and admired Rose with his everything. He was so *suggestively smirks* giving. Connor gives a certain flare of dominance that’s almost never done well in other books. So I commend the authors for his character. The beautiful writing is hard to find and harder to emulate so well. The pure distinction between the personalities in this friendship circle has me by the throat. It’s come to a point where I can imagine what these characters would say in a certain situation. Connor made me laugh, shout, anxious and brought me to the verge of tears. I knew I was gonna love reading their story when their characters were introduced in addicted to you. I’m telling you this book was laced with crack or something. 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴: 🎧 Consider me yours - MKTO (You cannot convince me this isn’t Connor singing about Rose) 5-star-gems blankets-and-cuddles book-supremacy ...more 140 likes 14 comments Like Comment pauline 139 reviews 27.9k followers August 25, 2021 THIS BOOK IS PHENOMENAL!!! It resurrected the series for me especially cause I wasn’t a huge fan of the first 3 books. Rose and Connor are AMAZING. The confidence, the arrogance, the banter, the chemistry HOLY CRAP every page was A1 from the start. The ending KILLED MEEEEE I was so happy 😭😭😭 127 likes Like Comment sophie 131 reviews 62 followers January 18, 2024 I don’t know what I expected, but it definitely wasn’t this🤭 I loved it so much!!! This book follows Rose and Connor’s journey, which picks up right after the third instalment of the Addicted series. They’re trying to get back on track following the recent scandal involving Lily. With hopes to rebuild reputations, they agree to air their lives to the world in a reality tv show, Princesses of Philly. Daredevil. Jackass. Sex addict. Alcoholic. Smartass. Heartthrob. Virgin. 6 people + 6 months + 3 cameramen + 1 reality show = infinite drama. The way the premise revolves around a reality tv show is pretty damn fitting, as up until this point it’s quite literally been as if we’re watching one already. I’ve loved watching everything unfold, and that doesn’t change here. From the romance and spice 🥵!!!! , the family dynamics of bromances and sisterhood, to the meddling and betrayals. So much DRAMA!! It was dished up well, there was so much of it that it was hard to keep up with it all. There wasn’t a single boring moment, but in all honesty, I don’t think anything in this series could be boring. “I like competing against you.” She sits up on her elbows, her lips so close to mine as she says, “But I like being your teammate more.” “Me too, darling.” Me too. We’ve only seen glimpses of Connor and Rose’s relationship together, which so far has pretty much only consisted of them constantly bickering. I was so intrigued and excited to get to know them better. And well… that we did… very well. A surprise for sure, but a welcome one 🤭 Rose has intimacy issues, and Connor struggles to fully connect to his emotions with admitting his true feelings. They’re alike in so many ways, but so different at the same time. They truly brought the best out of each other and are very much each other’s equals. Getting to see how their love story transpired was so beautiful, though they’re not quite as innocent as they let on. “Why am I with you? You’re so conceited, arrogant—” “Narcissistic,” I add, “attractive, lovable, brilliant.” “That wasn’t an invitation for you to compliment yourself.” “No? My bad, I thought we were listing my best qualities.” Her eyes fall again. “Yes, my cock is most definitely one of them.” CONNOR MF COBALT. The power he has over me. Wow. I can’t. The mouth this guy has - he was filthy. He had me swooning, blushing, giggling, the lot. Rose Calloway. I love her. She’s truly a gem. She’s ambitious, strong minded, and independent. She cares so deeply for everyone close to her, she does her absolute best to look after everybody and is THE best sister anyone could ask for. I really felt for her the more the book went on. She has a vulnerability to her that that we’ve not known about before as she’s so closed off. “Human,” I finish for her. I tuck her hair behind her ear. “You’re human, Rose. We all are.” I love the way both of them started to open up more. The way Rose especially started to overcome her worries and let Connor take care of her. They had so many sweet moments together. I loved when they quoted Shakespeare. I loved their little game of fuck, marry, kill. I loved how they’d speak French to each other. I truly didn’t expect to love them so much 😫 My eyes blanket in gratitude, the thank you on the tip of my tongue. But his thumb brushes against my cheek and he says, very softly, “You’re welcome, darling.” I pretty much melted after this 🫠🤭 and the scene before it will forever live in my head rent free 🥵 I have a family. A real family. It’s not something you can win. I didn’t manipulate a soul to get here. I have it because they like me for me. Each day, I’m more thankful for them. And I’m more aware of how much I can lose. My favourite thing about this series, no matter what drama unfolds, is that they all stick together and nothing gets between any of them. They’re quite literally one of the best found families going. Lily and Lo continued to be so adorable and I’m glad to see they’re still on their path to a healthy relationship. I can’t wait to start the next book which focuses on Daisy and Ryke. But why the 4 stars and not 5? Well, I feel like certain aspects lacked a bit of depth and things wrapped up a little too conveniently? Yes we got to see Rose and Connor open up more, and as I say I loved seeing it, but it was pretty surface level. They both dealt with a lot, so maybe the future books will delve into those issues more. Plus, I really disliked the whole situation that happened with Scott and the production crew. Towards the end of the book, and well let’s face it in the majority of it, I could tell that he was up to no good and wanting to cause some trouble. I wasn’t really a fan of how nonchalant everyone was about the situation that happened? Compared to the scandal that happened to Lily, this really wasn’t given the same attention and how people reacted to it didn’t really make a lot of sense. Also just a random thought, Poppy (another Calloway sister) gets so many mentions but we never actually see her. Well she finally appeared at the end and she still didn’t speak. Has she ever??? 🤣 Maybe she has but she's so forgettable that maybe I don't remember. Despite these little niggles, I really did enjoy the book wholeheartedly. I highlighted so many moments so I’ve included some of my favs below 🥹 ❥ “So you do want to talk,” Connor says with the raise of his eyebrows. “No.” I blink and shake my head. “Sorry. It’s too early…” I go to turn and Connor catches my arm. “I have time for you,” he says. I watch him sit up, fluff his pillow and lean against the headboard. He waves me on. “Let’s hear it.” ❥ I squeeze her chin and glare as though she’s been a bad fucking girl, a look she rarely sees from me. 🤭 ❥ “You’ve bewitched me, body and soul.” She glares. “And you ruined it with a quote from Pride and Prejudice.” I grin. “What? I thought we were purposefully being cliché.” “Maybe next time, quote the book and not the film.” My eyebrow arches and I recite theatrically, “You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope.” I shake my head. “Doesn’t have the same ring to it, darling.” ❥ I had no one before Rose. No true friends. No family, not really. Now I have her. I have people I care about it. People that I want to protect. Now I have everything. The only thing about having everything is that you can lose it all. ❥ “Love is merely a madness.” It takes me a moment to process his words. “As You Like It.” He lowers his head. He’s going to touch his lips to mine, but he tricks me, his mouth diverting to my ear. “Though she be but little, she is fierce.” He says each word with such conviction that my heart backflips. ❥ “Rose,” he breathes. “I’d rather you cry in my arms for ten minutes than pace manically for two hours. I’m always here when you need me.” 120 likes 60 comments Like Comment Antje ❦ 163 reviews 425 followers June 16, 2023 ROSE IS IN HER KIM KARDASHIAN ERA Was that a spoiler? Honestly yes, on multiple levels. I didn't read this, I DEVOURED IT (consider it's a pretty hefty book). My obsession with this series is escalating. I would read their grocery list (not that they would ever have one, they're way too impulsive for that). Another book I loved so much. I'm so glad I got more insight into Rose and Connor and their relationship, even tho Lilo still owns my soul in every way that matters. I feel like this sequel was a bit milder in the terms of action, but towards the end, THE ACTION STARTED ROLLING. AND THE ENDING, I wouldn't expect that in my wildest dreams. But I'm still so happy for them. CHARACTERS I like Rose and Connor together more than as individual characters. And that happens almost never in this household. ROSE I love her so much more after this book. I stated that I didn't even know her before, but now, I feel like I can predict the way she breathes. I love how the authors showed how much her reaction to stressful events was different compared to Lily's, even though the situations were quite similar. Rose is a mature young woman with a wall built around her very soft and caring nature. It's amazing how her duality (her with Connor & her with other people) was portrayed. That moved her MILES from a stereotypical "smart" "bossy" woman shown in contemporary romance books. CONNOR walked so Christian Grey could run. Didn't expect that but was it hot...... boy. Anyways, I'm still not fully sold on this whole narrative and I'm not his biggest fan (sorry guys). But, I'm leaving room for him to grow on me. FRENCH 🥖 YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH I LAUGHED. Maybe some of you know that, but I kind of speak French, so I understood their conversations AND there were some grammatical errors I'm pretty surprised weren't corrected by the editors. And why was their talk so formal in French? But, still not enough for me to lower the rating of this book. I'm kind of sad we didn't get more on the other characters. I feel like Lilo's story included much more of the others than this one. Anyways, I must point out how this book changed my perspective on them so much (yes I love them and I can't stop talking about them let me be lol). From Connor's and Rose's perspective, they seem much more childish and immature. You can really see how deep in their addictions they are and how much they depend on each other. I can't wait for them to overcome their problems. I'm so glad this series is long cuz I'm IN NO WAY ready to say goodbye to these characters. 😭😭😭😭😭 120 likes Like Comment aleerless 382 reviews 341 followers June 4, 2023 what is life if not whoreing for connor cobalt 108 likes 2 comments Like Comment Amy | Foxy Blogs 1,621 reviews 1,032 followers April 22, 2022 Re-read on 4/20/2022 Listening Length: 14 hours 07 minutes. Still as good as the first time I read it. ♥ _______________ **5 I'M ADDICTED stars** KISS THE SKY is the whole reason I started reading this series. I was playing 'guess that book' game with some friends and Bella wrote: ♦She's a 23 year old virgin. She is super smart, comes from a wealthy family and has her own fashion line. ♦He's 24, smart, cocky, alpha, wealthy arrogant. Dominant. He doesn't believe in love. His first name and last name begin with the same letter. When I looked the book up and saw it was about a reality TV show: "6 people + 6 months + 3 cameramen + 1 reality show = infinite drama." I knew this book was for me. The only thing standing in my way was that I needed to read the other three books in the series before I could read this one. I'm so glad I took that journey because this book was so worth it. I've been a Connor & Rose fan from the beginning. I love their intellectual banter that fuels their relationship. My favorite quote comes from Rose when she is thinking about her time spent on the reality tv show. "I am a Greek tragedy. Or a Shakespearian comedy - it's going to end with a wedding after all." Rose's life is so dramatic that her use of that metaphor seemed very fitting. ********************************************************* Addicted series is interconnected with two spin-offs. The authors have written the books in 4 “phases”. Each phase is a complete story line with a satisfying enough conclusion. Recommended reading order: PHASE 1 (Lily & Lo): {#1} Addicted to You | {#1.5} Ricochet | {#2} Addicted for Now PHASE 2 (Rose and Connor) | (Daisy & Ryke): {spin-off} Kiss the Sky | {spin-off} Hothouse Flower PHASE 3 (Lily & Lo): {#2.5} Thrive | {#3} Addicted After All PHASE 4 (Rose and Connor) | (Daisy & Ryke): {spin-off} Fuel the Fire | {spin-off} Long Way Down 2014-5-stars 2014-books 2022-5-stars ...more 105 likes Like Comment EmBibliophile 596 reviews 1,839 followers January 28, 2023 “Kiss the sky with me,” Connor whispers, a beautiful smile pulling his lips, “and don’t ever come down.” COULD YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A 450 PAGES BOOK WITH NO SINGLE MISCOMMUNICATION OR A MISUNDERSTANDING SCENE???? This is just how great and secure their romance and relationship was. They were together for the whole book and there was not a single boring moment. They don’t need the drama or the forced third act conflict. They just need each other! It took me a while to set and write this review because my feelings and thoughts were all over the place!! To say I was obsessed would be an understatement! Im afraid my thoughts are too chaotic to be put into a review, but I’ll try. He’s the river that idly passes between mountains. I’m the volcano that destroys a village. Connor is an enigma! You can’t really fit him into one word. Nothing shakes him. He’s confident. He’s always right. He’s unpredictable. He’s arrogant. He’s many different things mixed together and I don’t think I’ve ever met his character before. I love how he views the world. How he carries himself around. And he freakin loves Rose. The man worships her!! Even if he can’t say the freakin words, you can still see that he’s obsessed! Rose is probably my favorite Calloway sister! She’s ambitious, independent, man hater, and a freakin ice queen. But her stone cold heart melts for only one man and for her sisters as well. She’s amazing and I freakin admire her! “You’re not a pit stop. You’re my finish line. There’s no one after you.” I truly loved these two together. How they stay still with their backs straight ready to face anything together. I loved how they battle each other and WITH each other at the same time. I loved how they both think that they’re way too smart for any other human being (which I’m pretty sure is true) That nothing could faze them. How they compromise for each other. How they freakin believe in each other. “But Rose is the epicenter of my world, whether I allow myself to love her or not.” It was all their bitting comments. How they banter in French. How he gave up on sth he wanted but never needed for her. How they play random fuck, marry, kill for entertainment. How they could be weird and hard to understand for other but never with each other. And how he wanted he to experience everything with him. The pinning?? You could never imagine the power of these two!!!! These two took ✨power couple✨ to a whole new level! Their romance were everything. I loved how they radiate power. How they’re so freakin EQUAL!! Nobody is more important or has more power in the relationship. They’re freakin soulmates! They’re so equal and it was so fascinating to watch. 5-stars 99 likes Like Comment ♡ 105 reviews 52 followers April 24, 2022 connor let me know if you want a dog, I can bark and I don't mind being on a leash. edit: reread this cuz I miss the core six too much 33 90 likes Like Comment stephhh16 79 reviews 582 followers February 28, 2023 done with my monthly reread and it literally just gets better every time enemies-to-lovers faves my-fave-soulmates ...more 92 likes Like Comment Caitlin 342 reviews 2,808 followers August 17, 2021 Connor Cobalt can RUIN MY LIFE favorites 88 likes Like Comment benedicta 368 reviews 501 followers July 25, 2023 the best experience of my fucking life 🦋 "And I wish I could protect her, but you can't shield a girl from the world without taking her out of it." 😩💖💖 88 likes Like Comment Baba 859 reviews 3,958 followers August 3, 2014 2 stars. DNF at 55 %. Review posted August 3, 2014 She glances at me once, and her eyes immediately flit away. "We have towels, Richard." She points a manicured nail to the rack. "Terrycloth. Soft. Inviting. You might want to try one out." The corners of my lips rise. "It's just a cock, Rose," I say. "You'd enjoy it inside of you." "Eight kids?!" I fixate on this. "I can't even stomach having one kid and you want me to birth a lineage? I'm not the Queen of England procreating to secure our empire with an heir." "It's probably just Lily and Loren screwing," I tell him. His eyes narrow at me. "I must have fingered the brains out of you." I frown. "That's Daisy's room." (…) "You should stay here," he tells me, zipping his black slacks. I glare. "It was worth a try." He places a hand on the small of my back. "After you." Great quotes, great writing, great potential. I highlighted like crazy, BUT... …while I did enjoy the first 30 % very much, I hit a very extensive patch of massive boredom and cut my losses at 55 %. Kiss the Sky did surprise me greatly because I really felt entertained for the first third of the story. So it saddens me all the more to say that the story took such a disastrous nose dive afterwards, mainly due to its long-windedness and I honestly couldn't have cared less about that Big Brother drama after a while. Blah blah blah. I just started to skim and gave up eventually. In the beginning, the snappy and snarky dialogue really wowed me, I was highlighting like crazy, but the story lost its sparkle somewhere after the 30 % mark. The plot failed to engage me and I was bored out of my ever lovin' mind. At one time I actually felt excited to read Ryke and Daisy's story because I think they could be wonderful together but…hmm…after feeling so letdown I'm just not sure anymore. On a positive note, I think the writing was pretty splendid and, since I'm definitely not into NA, that means something. This being said, I believe I would have enjoyed and finished the book if it had been 'tighter'. It could have been cut down a hundred pages, IMO. And last but not least I would like to point out how irritating it is when authors use a foreign language and fail at their attempt to get it right because they don't consult a native speaker. I'd love to add several exclamation marks here but I won't. Believe me, my finger is twitching. But. I. Will. Contain. Myself. See? I can do it. Here are a few examples to your perusal: "N'ai pas peur." Wrong. Don't be afraid. Correct: "N'ai e pas peur." C'est l'impératif. "Vous devez toujours avoir le control." Wrong. You always have to be in control. Correct: "Tu dois toujours avoir le contr ôle." It's out of the question that these two would address each other formally. That means an author must use "tu" and not "vous". "Vous avez tort." Wrong. You're wrong. Correct: "Tu as tort." "Tout va bien se passer." It's not wrong but more formal. Everything will be fine. Better use "Tout ira bien." bored-out-of-my-mind dnf new-adult-or-young-adult 86 likes Like Comment Pearl Angeli 642 reviews 998 followers June 5, 2016 "Kiss the sky with me, and don't ever come down." (I've read this together with sis Beatrice . Click her name to see her lovely review. :)) This beautiful continuation of the Addicted series couldn't get any better! I just love it! In this book, we see more of the genius lovers Rose Calloway and Connor Cobalt . And like the first books in the series, their team-up and chemistry were just totally good! What I loved about Kiss the Sky is that it's totally refreshing. I haven't read a book that basically shows the characters' strengths and flaws through a reality TV show . Reading this book made me feel like I'm basically watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians . Only this book features Princesses of Philly which is the name of the Calloway sisters' reality TV show. Like, seriously how amazing is that? :) The romance in this book was so much better! There were times when I can't help but grin from ear to ear because of the characters' swoony and entertaining dialogues and interactions-- especially the sexy banters ! And there were times when I try not to burst out laughing because of the funny scenes. There were also a lot of dramas that happened in this book. But unlike the previous books, they were just light. And oh, the smexy scenes... who can't resist them when they focus on the virgin perfectionist and the smartass hero? The writing, as always, was brilliant and real. Krista and Becca Ritchie totally nailed a New Adult novel that has it all. Literally. Hands down to these amazing authors! I will definitely read the next books in this series. :) Note: Don't read this if you haven't read these books yet: Addicted to You , Ricochet , and Addicted for Now . Rating: 2015-reads audiobook cute-book-couple ...more 85 likes Like Comment lils !!&#x1f490; 67 reviews 342 followers April 1, 2024 ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 4.25 ☆ (rounded down) 💌 ꒰🪷꒱ ”you’re not a pit stop. you’re my finish line. there’s no one after you.” THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD!! i honestly thought i won’t love it as much as the previous books, but i was so wrong. rose and connor might be my new favorite couple. i liked their banter, their conversations in french, them trying to come to terms with accepting each other’s love. at first, i thought this whole reality show thing was a bit weird, but it ended up being incredibly funny (and dramatic, but we love that 🤭). i’m glad that i could see some lilo snippets and how much progress they made since i got introduced to them, i’m so so proud of my babies 🥹💗 also, i cried. like in a screaming-crying-throwing-up-on-the-floor way. they were just so sweet to each other at the end and i couldn’t handle it 😭 and the three boys together?? they had me rolling in laughter. connor described them as his family and ugh, that really got me. i’m a sucker for the found family trope 🫣 am i excited to read daisy’s and ryke’s story? ABSOLUTELY!! ⋆ ˚｡⋆౨ৎ˚ 79 likes 19 comments Like Comment Debra 474 reviews 2,448 followers August 25, 2016 **FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED** ★★★★★ 4.5 stars! "You're not a pit stop. You're my finish line." Ever since meeting Rose Colloway and Connor Cobalt in the Addicted-series, I've been fascinated by this perfectly matched yet constantly arguing couple. To say that I was looking forward to reading this book would be an understatement. Kiss the Sky was one of my most highly anticipated releases of 2014 and I can honestly say it fully lived up to my expectations! Virgin. Smartass. Sex addict. Alcoholic. Daredevil. Jackass. "6 people + 6 months + 3 cameramen + 1 reality show = infinite drama. I've done the math." - Rose Ever since Lily's sex addiction became public knowledge, things have been going downhill for Colloway Couture. So, Rose has come up with a plan to polish up the image of the Colloway sisters and raise their popularity to new heights: their own reality show . Now Rose, Connor, Lily, Lo, Daisy and Ryke are all living together for the next six months while being filmed by three cameramen under the direction of the obnoxious producer named Scott. And of course all of them living so closely together provides for a LOT of drama…. but I enjoyed every second of it! Rose Colloway is an independent, strong, confident woman who doesn't need a man to complete her life. But, ever since she started dating Connor she's started to realize having him with her brings all the more stability and peace in her life. He's one of the few people who can handle her and who even seems to know her better than she knows herself. But Rose also has a problem with intimacy. She's still a virgin, something she's never made a secret or been ashamed of. And she fears once Connor "wins" her virginity, he'll break up and move on to the next challenge. So, even though she's starting to love him more and more every day, she's still afraid to let him get too close to winning her over. "People hope to touch the sky. I dream of kissing it." - Connor Connor Cobalt is ambitious, wickedly smart, arrogant, but also a little "undetached". He doesn't believe in love and he's convinced that true love only makes you do stupid things. And if there's one thing this smartass refuses to be labeled as, it's being stupid. So, even though he cares tremendously about Rose, he doesn't easily admit his true feelings. It was fun to see them constantly going back and forth and I loved their competitive banter and bickering and even their weird texting habits ;) "Why am I with you? You're so conceited, arrogant-" "Narcissistic," I add, "attractive, lovable, brilliant." "That wasn't an invitation for you to compliment yourself." "No? My bad, I thought we were listing my best qualities." Connor did manage to surprise me a few times though. Who knew "cool" and composed Connor was a Dom… But in a way, it also made perfect sense for the story to take that turn and it made reading how the dynamic between him and Rose evolved all the more fun to read! Within the group, Connor was always the one who stayed calm and had the ability to take charge when the arguments inside the house were threatening to escalate. Towards the ending, everything might have been handled a little too smoothly and fairytale sweet, but honestly, that did not ruin the story as a whole for me. Overall, I really enjoyed Rose and Connor's drama filled, romantic, sexy and funny story. Although Lily and Lo are still my favorite couple, these two come in a close second. Krista & Becca Ritchie are easily becoming my new favorite authors of the New Adult genre and I'm already looking forward to find out what they have next in store for us! Although Kiss the Sky is a spin-off story that can be read as a standalone , I would advise reading the Addicted series first in order to fully enjoy your reading experience: **ARC kindly provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review** 2014-release arc-or-netgalley favorite-series ...more 77 likes Like Comment Lady Vigilante (Feifei) 632 reviews 2,935 followers August 31, 2016 It's live!! >> http://amzn.to/MB1NZt << 4 STARS! I highly recommend reading the Addicted series books first before starting this one. “People hope to touch the sky. I dream of kissing it.” - Connor "Our eyes connect on a different level. The world becomes small. No Scott. No shower. No rush of water or nakedness. Just me. Just him. Just us." - Rose This book was on my top 10 highly anticipated reads of 2014, and it’s not entirely because of how much I adored Lil and Lo. I was genuinely invested in Connor and Rose, even though they were side characters. Overall, I think the authors did a fantastic job of portraying them, their individuality and their relationship in a unique and refreshing way (depiction through being on live camera for TV show). I have never read a book quite like KISS THE SKY, where there is no room for fluff and everything, from the staggering addictions Lil and Lo have to Rose and Connor’s witty banter to the stuck up asshole producer Scott, is remarkably distinctive and addicting to read. These stories have come to mean something real to me, and they’re not books where you just finish and can let go of easily. Though this book is dedicated to Rose and Connor, it really encompasses the entire gang: Lily, Lo, Daisy, and Ryke. Normally that is a huge turnoff because I like books that focus more on just that one couple, but because of the unique circumstances these characters were put in, and the fact that the 6 of them together are a true family unit, I became totally supportive of the way this book plot was structured. So why not 5 stars? This is the part where I ask myself what's wrong with me: See, halfway through I got a little annoyed. Then I got frustrated. I had no clue why! I just attributed it to the characters grating on my nerves from all the problems that occurred but then I realized that wasn’t the reason. The reason boils down to this: these characters are nothing like what I knew about them when I read the Addicted series. Here are the questions I constantly asked myself when I was reading the second half: 1. Has Lily always been this shy and easily embarrassed? 2. Has Daisy always been this naïve and stupid silly? 3. Has Rose always been this horny? 4. Has Connor always been a knight in shining armor? Ryke and Lo were pretty much the same. But yeah, when certain scenes came around the corner, I caught myself rolling my eyes at the number of times something would happen to trigger one of those questions. It may be that I need to revisit the Addicted series books, but I truly felt baffled by the discrepancy in the character portrayal in KISS THE SKY and the previous books. Another contention is the sex scenes. Boy, those were HOT! Flaming hot so no complaint there, but I was taken aback when the authors introduced Connor as a Dom. Don’t get me wrong, I loved this twist and quite frankly, I do like a little erotica/BDSM sprinkled in my reads, but wow that was out of nowhere. Who woulda guessed ol’ Connor eh? Now the one other thing I had a problem was with the ending. It’s really one of the sweetest endings and I loved that everyone got what they deserved (well almost everyone), but I think things were wrapped up a little too nicely, especially with Rose and Connor’s wedding. As much as I wanted that to happen, that was…out of the blue. And of course I’m a vigilante so reading how Scott got away with no lawsuit pissed the shit out of me. Realistically there’s probably not much they could’ve done but I hate that justice wasn’t served. Other than that, this was another hit for me! Witty banter, a good number of humorous scenes and a ton of great one-liners! I love smart people and both Rose and Connor are just that. It’s nice to have characters that actually have brains!!! "6 people + 6 months + 3 cameramen + 1 reality show = infinite drama. I've done the math." - Rose Oh and one more thing. Connor, ARC kindly provided by authors in exchange for an honest review. Please note that all quotes are from an advanced copy and may be subject to change in the final edition. Thanks ladies!! See my reviews for the Addicted series: #1 Addicted to You #1.5 Ricochet #2 Addicted for Now alpha-heroes arc contemporary-duckie ...more 75 likes Like Comment bookswithjb 94 reviews 1,504 followers April 13, 2023 Perfection??? Outstanding. Spectacular 75 likes Like Comment Phuong ✯ 666 reviews 7,677 followers July 26, 2022 reread april 2020: 5 stars+++ This book will never not be a 5 star read for me. Sometimes you come across a book that will stay with you forever and the Calloway Sisters series is that for me. Rose and Connor are THE power couple and I will always compare every other power couple to them. Rose is the an ice queen to everyone outside her family but she has like the biggest heart. She's one of the most empowering female characters I've read about and I love and admire her so much. Connor on the other hand, can't be put into one label. That man is one of the most complex character. He's personality is flawed, he's arrogant, conceited and annoyes people more often than not around him, but he's perfect to me. I love his view of the world, his intelligence, the way he carries himself, the way he loves Rose. It was great being back with the Core 6. I love Daisy, Ryke, Lily and Lo. The different relationships they have with each others are the best. 5-stars-crème-de-la-crème all-time-favorites baddest-bitch-of-all ...more 73 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 9,720 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 162 quotes 9 discussions 11 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Choice Theory: A New Psychology of Personal Freedom by William Glasser | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $14.49 Rate this book Choice Theory: A New Psychology of Personal Freedom William Glasser 4.03 3,331 ratings 361 reviews Want to read Kindle $14.49 Rate this book Dr. William Glasser offers a new psychology that, if practiced, could reverse our widespread inability to get along with one another, an inability that is the source of almost all unhappiness. For progress in human relationships, he explains that we must give up the punishing, relationship–destroying external control psychology. For example, if you are in an unhappy relationship right now, he proposes that one or both of you could be using external control psychology on the other. He goes further. And suggests that misery is always related to a current unsatisfying relationship. Contrary to what you may believe, your troubles are always now, never in the past. No one can change what happened yesterday. Genres Psychology Nonfiction Self Help Counselling Relationships Education Philosophy ...more 368 pages, Paperback First published January 1, 1998 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author William Glasser 93 books 233 followers Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.03 3,331 ratings 361 reviews 5 stars 1,264 (37%) 4 stars 1,187 (35%) 3 stars 662 (19%) 2 stars 152 (4%) 1 star 66 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 361 reviews Mobina J 160 reviews 58 followers February 12, 2017 تا وقتی معتقدیم می‌توانیم دیگران را کنترل کنیم یا دیگران ما را کنترل کنند، احساس بدبختی خاموش نخواهد شد بشریت 99 likes Like Comment Maziyar Yf 611 reviews 373 followers December 6, 2019 متاسفانه نه از خواندن کتاب تئوری انتخاب لذت بردم ، نه ذهنیتی را در من عوض کرد و نه نکته ی جدیدی به من آموخت . دکتر گلسر اعتقاد دارد هر آنچه از انسان سر می زند رفتار است و ریشه درونی دارد ، مثلا غمگین و افسرده شدن یک رفتار است ، همین طور خشمگین شدن هم یک رفتار است . رفتارها ریشه درونی دارند و هدفی را دنبال می کنند . دکتر گلسر هدف هر رفتار را ارضای یکی از نیازهای پنج گانه ما می داند ، این نیازها عشق ، قدرت ، تفریح ، آزادی و زنده ماندن هستند . بنا به نظر دکتر گلسر هنگامی که ما در رسیدن به نیازهای پنج گانه مان ناکام میشویم دست به انتخاب رفتاری می کنیم که ما را در رسیدن به اهداف مان کمک کند ، پس این رفتار عملی هدفمند است ولی الزاما به معنای مثبت بودن یا منفی بودن نیست . تئوری انتخاب یکی از بزرگترین مشکلات بشر را کنترل بیرونی می داند و معتقد است کنترل دیگران سر منشا بسیاری از مشکلات جدی و بیماری های روحی و روانی ایست . دکتر گلسر کاربرد تئوری انتخاب را در چهار بخش عشق و ازدواج ، خانواده و رابطه با فرزندان ، آموزش و پرورش و رابطه معلم با شاگردان و رابطه در محیط کار را به تفصیل شرح می دهد و از کاربرد تئوری انتخاب در تک تک آنها برای خواننده می گوید . سپس در فصل آخر دکتر گلسر ده اصل بنیادین تئوری انتخاب را بیان کرده واعتقاد دارد از طریق این ده اصل می توان به شناخت یا باز شناخت از شخصیت خود رسید . این ده اصل به صورت بسیار خلاصه این گونه بیان شده اند : 1. تنها رفتارهایی که کنترل می شود رفتارهای درونی خودمان است . 2. دانش ، دانش و اطلاعات مهمترین اصلی هستند که از دیگران دریافت می کنیم یا به آنها بازخورد می دهیم . 3. مشکلات مزمن روان شناسی ، ناشی از مشکلات ما در روابط با دیگران هستند . 4. مشکل ارتباطات همیشه و همواره با ما هستند ، یعنی همیشه از وجود این مشکل رنج می بریم . 5. گذشته و آنچه در گذشته بر سر ما آمده ، منجر به شکل گیری این شخصیت کنونی ما شده است . 6. آفریدن دنیای مطلوب به ما در رسیدن به نیازهای ما کمک می کند . 7. رفتار ، هر چه که انجام می دهیم رفتار ماست . 8. رفتارهای ما از عمل ، فکر و احساس تشکیل شده اند . 9. رفتارها انتخاب ما هستند . 10. رفتارها باید با فعل بیان شوند ، مثلا به جای گفتن این که من افسرده هستم باید گفت من افسردگی را انتخاب کردم . به هر حال فضای کلی کتاب شامل مباحثی ایست که به صورت بسیار خلاصه به آن اشاره کردم ، دکتر گلسر با مثال های متعدد سعی در آشکار کردن مفاهیم کتاب برای خواننده دارد ، اما یک خواننده ایرانی با توجه به آنچه بر او و کشورش گذشته شاید به کتاب های بسیار بیشتری نیاز داشته باشد تا به نقطه ای که دکتر گلسر می گوید افسرده بودن یا غمگین بودن یک انتخاب درونی ایست برسد ، و شاید هم اصلا نتواند ازاین حصار و زندان خارج شده وکلا با مفاهیم کتاب بیگانه بماند . 77 likes Like Comment Reyhaneh 22 reviews 83 followers November 18, 2016 نمیدونم از خوش شانسیه یا علاقه که کتابهای روانشناسی ای که دستم میرسه هرکدوم دیدگاه های تازه ای بهم میدن و خوندنشونو مفید میدونم. در اول کتاب درباره ی کنترل بیرونی و تئوری انتخاب توضیحاتی میده و معتقده دنیا و روابط ما همه بر اساس کنترل بیرونیه که به طور خلاصه میشه گفت همون دیگران خواسته هامونو انجام بدن و یا میخوان که خواسته هاشونو انجام بدیم ه، به جز تنها استثنائی که آدم ها با قوانین تئوری انتخاب کار می کنن و اون روابط دوستان صمیمیه. چرا که به دلیل عدم روابط خونی و تعلقات دیگه که در رابطه هایی مثل والدین و فرزندان یا زن و شوهر وجود داره، رابطه ی صمیمانه به محض اعمال کنترل بیرونی، فروپاشی میکنه. راجع به روابط انسان ها،براساس 5نیازی که برای همه در نظر میگیره صحبت میکنه. نیاز به بقا، عشق و احساس تعلق، قدرت، آزادی و تفریح که بر اساس کدهای ژنتیکیمون(تا حد بسیار زیادی غیر قابل تغییر)، قدر هر نیاز یا تمایل به ارضا آون در هرکس متفاوته. 5نیازی که در همه وجود داره و شکل گیری یکی منوط به رفع قبلی نیست. من تئوریش تو این زمینه رو نسبت به دسته بندی های تیپ های شخصیت و نیاز های مازل��، بیشتر میپسندم. مفهوم "رفتار کلی" که شامل "عمل"، "تفکر"، "احساس" و "فیزیولوژی" ه تعریف میکنه که دوتای اول تحت کنترل فرده و دوتای بعدی در راستای اونا و به طور غیر مستقیم ایجاد میشه و مجموعه اینها میشه رفتاری که ما "انتخاب" میکنیم. به عنوان مثال روی"افسردگی کردن" مانور میده که یک رفتاره انتخابیه نه اتفاق. راجع به "دنیای مطلوب" توضیحات جالبی میده، دنیای خیالی و ایده آل هر فرد،شامل همه آدم ها، اشیا و وقایع دوست داشتنیش. اولین و جاودانه ترین موجود این دنیا،خود فرده که با بیرون کردن خودش از این دنیای مطلوب، خودکشی امر محتملیه. راجب تئوری انتخاب در روابط زناشویی،والدین و فرزندان، مدرسه و محیط کار توضیح میده که بنظرم مثال ها و توضیحات میتونست مفصل تر و روشن تر نقش کاربردی تئوری انتخاب در هر موضوع رو بیان کنه. در کل دید جدید و جالبی داره، گاهی در بین یه مفهوم کلی و مفصل، نکته های ظریف و جدیدی میگه که به سوال های ذهنی آدم از بعد خودش جواب میده. گرچه تکرار و اصرار به خوب و ماثر بودن تئوری انتخاب و جایگزینی اون با کنترل بیرونی بیش از اندازه و به طور پیوسته در تمام کتاب دیده میشه و کسالت آوره،اما به طور خاص 40 صفحه از کتاب شامل 1 فصل،چیزی بجز این نیست و واقعا بی مورده. اگه به مسائل روانشناسی علاقه مند هستین، پیشنهاد میکنم حداقل بخش اول کتاب رو بخونید و بقیه کتاب رو به صورت موضوعی ادامه بدین. psychology 67 likes Like Comment Haniye 123 reviews 54 followers September 24, 2020 من معتقدم هیچ کتابی صد در صد درست نیست و این کتاب یکی از اون کتاب هایی هست که منو در این مورد مطمئن کرد. اولین باگش بنظر من این بود که آقای گلسر زیادی به خودش و تئوریش مطمئنه. حاجی یه درصد احتمال بده که اشتباه کنی خب! این مدل دیدگاه نویسنده ها درمورد نوشته هاشون، هرچی که باشه و هرچقدرم که درست باشه تو ذوق من میزنه و باعث میشه یه گارد غیر ارادی بگیرم درمقابل کتاب و نویسنده. دوم این که نمیدونم اشتباه ترجمه هست یا منظور واقعی نویسنده ولی عملاً نقش هورمون ها و بیماری جسمی رو هیچ فرض میکنه و میگه همه چی انتخاب خودمونه. 😐😐😐😐 بخش روابطش مفید بود واسم و کاش همون جا تموم میشد. نصف کتاب فقط داشت درمورد تئوری عزیزش تعریف میکرد و پز دستاوردشو میداد و شعار میداد. بنظرم میشد صفحاتش کمتر باشه و مفید تر واقع بشه. خیلی ها میگفتن باید حتما قبل مرگ بخونی این کتابو و فلان ضمن احترام به همه ریویو های مثبت درمورد این کتاب، ولی من میگم شما بخش روابطشو قبل مرگ بخون فقط. بقیش وقت تلف کردن بود واسه من. روانشناسی 48 likes Like Comment sAmAnE 751 reviews 102 followers March 10, 2021 ما مالکی هیچ‌کس نیستیم و نمی‌توانیم رفتارهای دیگران را کنترل کنیم. ما فقط می‌توانیم رفتارهای خودمان را کنترل کنیم. 🍀 اگر افراد می‌توانستند یاد بگیرند، آنچه برای من خوب است، لزومی ندارد که برای دیگران هم خوب باشد، آنگاه دنیای شاد و خوشایندتری می‌داشتیم. تئوری انتخاب به ما می‌آموزد که دنیای مطلوب من، اساس و شالوده‌ی زندگی من است و نه اساس و شالوده‌ی زندگی دیگران. 🍀 همیشه به تو بستگی دارد تئوری انتخاب یعنی همین؛ یعنی به تو بستگی دارد. به نظرم خوندن این کتاب بهترین هدیه‌ای بود که در آستانه‌ی سال نو میتونستم به خودم بدم. با اینکه دو سال پیش این کتاب خریدم و تو کتابخونه‌م بود ولی احساس میکنم که الان بهترین زمانی بود که خوندمش😌این کتاب مبتنی بر ده اصل مهم و کاربردیه. یاد گرفتن تئوری انتخاب تو زندگی خیلی مهمه و همینطور شیوه‌ای برای برخورد با مسائل و راحت کنار اومدن با اتفاقاتی که در زندگی برامون رخ میده. شناخت دنیای مطلوب ما و اینکه چه کسانی داخل دنیای مطلوب ما هستند و با کسانی که نیستند چگونه باید برخورد کرد، از مهم ترین مسائل مطرح شده در کتاب بودند که با زبان ساده و قابل فهم توضیح داده شده. 🍀 چیزی که خیلی برام جالب بود تاکید بر خلاقیت و خلاقیت را محور و مرکز هرگونه رابطه‌ی مطلوب دانستن، بود. فصل مربوط به آموزش و مدرسه‌ی کیفی هم برام فوق‌العاده جذاب بود. به قول نویسنده مطالعه‌ی این کتاب، برای بسیاری از افراد راه خوبی است تا به روابط ناخشنود خانوادگی، دوستانه و... خود رسیدگی کنند. اگر دو طرف ؛ در هر رابطه‌ای یاد بگیرند، از سرزنش دیگران دست بردارند و نهایتا روابطشان را به خواسته‌های شخصی خود ترجیح دهند. 43 likes Like Comment Kater Cheek Author 34 books 274 followers November 11, 2013 My best summary of Choice Theory is that unhappiness almost always results from an unsatisfactory relationship, and unsatisfactory relationships almost always involve one person trying to control the other. You can't control another person, you can only give them information.* This book expands this to discuss how to use this knowledge to become a better spouse, parent, employer, teacher and friend, though he assumes you don't try to control your friends. I've read a lot of self-help type books, especially those dealing with psychology or philosophy, so when a friend recommended this as a life-changing book, I was skeptical. But, if you get one good recipe out of a cookbook, the cookbook is usually worth the price, so I got it anyway. I had just read another book on interpersonal realtions (Crucial Conversations) and surprisingly, these two books neither conflicted nor overlapped. For example, if the problem is that your child won't do her chores, Crucial Conversations has you sitting down and explaining why doing the chores are important, until the child realizes she won't get dinner until the dishes are done. Choice Theory says to stop nagging and work on spending quality time with your daughter so that she likes you enough to do the chores of her own accord. (Full disclosure: in my experience, neither one works. My kids are pretty lazy.) William Glasser, judging by the cultural references, has been a counselor a long time. He has an impressive list of books, and apparently his career accomplishments also include speaking engagements, school visits, and extensive programs based around Choice Theory. The book got a bit self-aggrandizing at times, but considering how much experience he has, I'll forgive a little of that. His writing skills, however, could use a little help. He does not include charts when charts are called for, and at his most egregious, he invented a term "quality world", meaning...well, it took me like seven chapters to figure out what the heck he meant by that. "Timmy doesn't do well at school because school is not in his quality world", "You should have several people in your quality world" "Frankly, my dear, you're not in my quality world." Finally, I figured out "In x's quality world" meant "Important to x" Why not just say "important?" Like, Tom mourns his ex wife because she's important to him. Done. But then, if he didn't invent a buzzword, he couldn't use it for marketing his school and community development plans, some of which sounded promising. Best part about the book for me was when he had a hypothetical counselling session between himself and Francesca, the heroine from THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY. Francesca is disconsolate after her lover leaves, abandoning her to the dull life made even duller by his vanished spark of excitement. In this hypothetical situation, Glasser advises her to not dwell on the past, and about Robert (who isn't coming back) but instead to think about concrete things she can do to improve her happiness right now . I liked this idea. I was a little leery of the idea that people choose to be depressed, but he sweetened it by saying that it was sometimes an effective defense mechanism to reduce anger or other things that might ruin your life. Depression as ineffective immune response is more tolerable than "you choose to make yourself unhappy." Worst part about the book was Glasser's tendency to expand his theory too far. Talking about his idealistic utopia in which everyone has this theory makes me think of some unfortunate idealistic utopian concepts from last century. Also, when he says that arthritis and many other common afflictions are caused by unhappy relationships, I get skeptical. It's a great proof, because probably everyone with an illness has an unhappy relationship (in as much as nearly everyone alive has an unhappy relationship with someone ) but since there's no proof, it makes me think of other self-help books, where people claim that subluxations cause obesity, or that eating meat causes diabetes. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. If you like self-help/psychology books, this is a good one to add to your repertoire. *I think you can control people. Pick up artists, cult leaders, and behavioralists will probably agree with me. 38 likes Like Comment Mahfam95 4 reviews 17 followers Currently reading February 8, 2017 برای رسیدن به روابط مطلوب و ابقای آن باید از اجبار،فشار،الزام،تنبیه،پاداش،دخل و تصرف در امور دیگران،امر و نهی،تحریک احساسات دیگران،انتقاد،سرزنش،شکوه و شکایت،اذیت و آزار، رتبه بندی افراد و درجه بندی آنها و کناره گیری دوری نماییم.باید به جای این رفتار های مخرب مهربان باشیم،به سخنان دیگران گوش فرادهیم،حمایت کنیم،مذاکره نماییم،تشویق کنیم،دوست بداریم،محبت بورزیم،اعتماد نشان دهیم،بپذیریم،خوشامد بگوییم و احترام بگذاریم. *** اگر فردی را برای مدتی طولانی تحت فشار قرار دهیم، به جایی میرسیم که بازگشتی وجود ندارد. 28 likes Like Comment JJ Khodadadi 441 reviews 110 followers October 10, 2021 نام کتاب جذاب بود و تاکیدهایی که درخود کتاب درمورد تئوری انتخاب بارها و بارها تکرار شده بود و اینکه چندین سال است دراین باره کار انجام شده نشون میداد که با یک راز خیلی مهم مواجه خواهیم شد!!! اما اینطور نبود! :)) با وجود تلاش برای دادن بار علمی به کتاب به نظرم کتاب نه بار علمی داشت، نه چیز جدیدی مطرح کرده بود و نه اینکه تمام گفته هایش قابل اتکا و ارجاع بود. توصیه ای به خواندنش ندارم، البته نظر شخصی است 26 likes Like Comment M.rmt 125 reviews 263 followers January 9, 2020 کتاب از نظرم جنبه ی موثق و علمی نداشت.چون تجربیات یک روانشناس کارکشته بود. اما برای زندگی روزمره کارامد بود. پس از خواندنش سعی کردم از روش های آن برای کلاسهایم استفاده کنم:دادن آزادی و حق انتخاب بیشتر به شاگردانم و عدم تحمیل قوانین و دروس. نکته ی اصلی این بود که ما فقط قادر به تغییر خود هستیم و هر گونه انتظاری بیش ازین برابر است تا از دست دادن آزادی خود! 26 likes Like Comment Zahra 84 reviews 46 followers February 6, 2017 اين كتابيه كه هركسي بايد تو زندگيش بخونه تا آگاهي بهتري نسبت به خودش و نقش خودش تو زندگيش پيدا كنه و به هيچ وجه شبيه كتاب هاي روانشناسي غالب كه توهم خوشبختي و توانايي رو به آدم ميدن نيست.در واقع كل كتاب به بررسي يك تئوري جديد در روانشناسي ميپردازه به نام تئوري انتخاب. اين تئوري بيان ميكنه هرآنچه از ما سر ميزنه يك رفتاره. ازغذا خوردن و عصباني شدن و راه رفتن تا افسرده شدن! و همه ي اين رفتارها به انتخاب خود ما از ما سر ميزنن.چرا رفتار ميكنيم؟ تا به يكي از اين پنج هدف برسيم: ١-عشق و احساس تعلق ٢-قدرت ٣-تفريح ٤-آزادي ٥-بقا و زنده ماندن به عبارتي تمام اونچه كه داريم تو زندگيمون انجام ميديم براي رسيدن به يكي از ٥ مورد بالاس! و در اين كتاب به تفصيل شرح ميده كه چجوري همين پنج مورد دارن زندگي مارو ميچرخونن و اصلا تمام تيپ هاي شخصيتي با كم و زياد شدن نياز به هركدوم از اين پنج مورد به وجود ميان و ما با توجه به اينكه كدام يكي از نيازهامون زياد تره و به اصطلاح ظرف اون نيازمون خالي تره،ممكنه حال بدي پيدا كنيم.با شناختن ظرف خالي نيازمون ميتونيم اونو پر كنيم و دوباره به حال خوب برسيم.حال ما وقتي خوبه كه تمام اين پنج ظرفمون حداقل از نيمه پر تر باشن.... 27 likes Like Comment Yasmine Alishzadeh 38 reviews 15 followers August 5, 2021 همه‌ی رفتارهای مهم ما از جنس انتخاب هستند. حتی افسردگی یا اندوه هم یک رفتار انتخابی هستند؛ رفتاری که هر چند ناآگاهانه، اما بر اساس تحلیل منافع و دستاوردها و هزینه‌ها، اتخاذ و انتخاب می‌شود. به همین علت، افسردگی کردن در مقایسه با اصطلاح افسرده بودن، دقیق‌تر است. انسان بیش از هر چیز، موجودی اجتماعی می‌ باشد که به عشق و وابستگی نیاز دارد و پس از نیاز به زنده‌ماندن و بقا به عنوان پایه‌ای‌ترین نیاز انسان، تعلقات و روابط شخصی، مهم‌ترین عامل شادی و ناشادی ما محسوب می‌شوند. گلاسر معتقد است که در بلندمدت، تنها مشکل جدی که می‌تواند در زندگی انسان وجود داشته باشد و باقی‌ بماند، مشکل «رابطه» است: رابطه با دوستان، نزدیکان، شغل و محیط اطراف به همین علت، اگر انسانها میخواهند زندگی سالم‌تری داشته باشند، باید برای مدیریت و بهبود روابط خود وقت بگذارند. 20 likes Like Comment Sonya 461 reviews 350 followers March 22, 2017 کتاب تئوری انتخاب نوشته ی ویلیام گلاسر در حقیقت بیانگر یک تئوری روانشناسی جدید در مقابل روانشناسی سنتی می باشد. دو موضوع مهم که در این کتاب بر آن تاکید فراوان شده اس: کنترل دیگران و روابط مطلوب انسانی می باشد. روانشناسی جهانی "کنترل بیرونی" موجب تخریب روابط در اثر از بین بردن آزادی شخصی می شود که این کنترل می تواند از نگاه حاکی از مخالفت تا حد تهدید به قتل باشد. این موضوع که موجب ناشادی و عدم رضایت فرد میشود، ناشی از کنترل فرد توسط دیگران، کنترل اطرافیان توسط فرد و عدم پاسخ مثبت آنها و حتی وادار ساختن خود فرد به انجام کاری است که برایش زجر آور است. در این کتاب نویسنده بارها تاکید می کند که "تنها کسی که ما قادر به کنترل آن هستیم خودمان می باشیم،" فیزیولوژیک ما از نظر ژنتیکی طوری برنامه ریزی شده است که ارضا چهار نیاز روانی زیر برای داشتن حس رضایتمندی ضروری است: محبت و تعلق خاطر، قدرت، آزادی و نشاط تمام انتخاب های ما برای ارضا یکی یا چند مورد از این نیاز های روانی است که البته میزان اهمیت هر کدام در افراد مختلف متفاوت می باشد. احساس خوب و کیفیت زندگی با افزایش سن مشکل تر می شود که دلیل آن پیچیده تر شدن روابط فرد با دیگران است. از جمله عوامل مخرب این روابط کنترل بیرونی و عدم ارضا چهار نیاز روانی اساسی است. هر انسانی تصاویری در عالم مطلوب خود دارد که هیچ عامل بیرونی قادر به تغییر آن نیست و عدم تحقق این تصاویر در دنیای بیرونی یکی دیگر از عوامل نارضایتی انسان ها است ما همیشه در حال انجام عملی هستیم و در سعی در انتخاب عملی داریم که بیشترین کنترل را برا حیات خود به ما بدهد از نظر تئوری انتخاب ، کنترل موثر یعتی توانایی عمل به طریقی که تصاویر عالم مطلوب ما را به صورتی منطقی ارضا نماید از نظر این تئوری "رفتار"کلمه ی مهمی است که از چهار جز تشکیل شده است: فعالیت، تفکر، احساس و فیزیولوژی که تمام این اجزا در کنار هم رفتار کلی را تشکیل می دهد. نویسنده معتقد است که حتی مسائلی مانند افسردگی و اضطراب یک انتخاب است که ناشی از عدم تطبیق خواسته دنیای مطلوب با دنیای بیرونی می باشد. فکر و فعالیت منجر به ایجاد احساس و واکنش فیزیولوژیکی بدن می شود که در پی انتخاب ها تغییر می کند. مثلا افسردگی سرتونین مغز را کاهش می دهد که در پی احساس نامطلوبی که ناشی از یک تفکر و عمل نادرست می باشد اتفاق می افتد. در ادامه نویسنده به بیان استفاده عملی از تئوری انتخاب در روابط همسری و رابطه با فرزندان برای داشتن روابط مطلوب بدون کنترل بیرونی می پردازد که همراه با شرح مواردی از مشاوره های روانشناسی دکتر گلاسر نکات بسیار مفیدی ذکر شده است. در نهایت تئوری مطرح شده در این کتاب و توجه به روابط مطلوب انسانی با کاهش کنترل بیرونی در افزایش کیفیت زندگی انسانی و حس نشاط وی بسیار موثر می باشد. خواندن این کتاب و آشنایی با این تئوری را به همه ی دوستان توصیه می کنم . 16 likes Like Comment Haniye_Mirkamali 185 reviews 63 followers March 16, 2022 اتمام.. ۲۵ اسفند ۱۴۰۰ ساعت ۲۳:۳۰ 16 likes Like Comment Maziar MHK 179 reviews 180 followers December 27, 2019 تا زمانی که باور ��اریم که می توانیم دیگران را کنترل کنیم یا دیگران می توانند ما را کنترل کنند احساس ناخشنودی و فلاکت همیشه ادامه خواهد داشت از متن کتاب تئوری انتخاب ولیام گلسر، مهندس شیمی یِ اَسبق، روانپزشکِ سابق و مرحوم (بسالِ 1392)، بنیانگذار بساطِ "واقعیت درمانی" در شلوغ بازارِ علمِ روانشناسی در اواخرِ دهه شصتِ میلادی است وی معتقد است که استفاده از "تئوری انتخاب" بجایِ روشِ "کنترلِ بیرونی" که متاسفانه سکه یِ رایجِ تعاملاتِ انسانی ما بوده و هست، حتما کار میکند و خوب هم کار میکند. یک مثال ساده از این فعل،فاعل و مفعولِ تئوریِ کنترلِ بیرونی بودن را میتوان بصورتِ حرف، فعل و یا فکری در زندگیِ همین امروزمان ببینیم، آنگاه که حاکمیت ها شهروندان ، معلمین دانش آموزان و والدین فرزندان را بر بنیانِ "تئوری کنترلِ بیرونی" وادار به انجامِ کاری کرده یا از انجامِ آن نهی میکنند که به زبانِ خودمان میشود زورانیدنِ فرد بجایِ مجال دادن برای اینکه بخواهد و انتخاب کند هر آنچه را که ما میخواهیم و این یعنی اینکه، نه تنها فرد را کنترل نمیکنیم بلکه حتی، این نوعی مدیریتِ طرفِ مقابل هم محسوب نمی شود و بالذات بر مبنایِ انتخاب او استوار است وَصَدالبته که در غیر این صورت و به شهادتِ تجربه، این "غلط رفتاری" ابتدائاََ فعل، فکر یا خواسته یِ ما و بتدریج خودِ ما را نیز از "دنیایِ مطلوب" او طرد و نهایتا خارج میسازد و این یعنی پسرفتِ در آن رابطه هر چه و با هر که باشد، حال یا مدیرش باشیم در موسسه ای خصوصی یا معلمش بگاهِ تحصیلِ دبستانی و یا خطیرتَر و حیاتی تَر از همه، مادر، پدر یا همسرش در ثانیه ثانیه یِ 365روزِ زندگی اَش با توجه به تخصصی بودن مسئله یِ ارزش دِهی یِ مقایسه ای یِ "تئوری انتخاب" و و مَشیِ واقعیت درمانی، از افاضاتِ زیاده خودداری کرده و فقط عرض میکنم کتابِ خوش خوان، حال خوب کُن، مِثال بنیاد و البته با ترجمه یِ بسیار گُزیده سَبک و روانی بود، عارضم به حضورتان، نخوانید حیف میشود، یاد گرفتنی ها بسیار دارد برای خوب تَر زیستن دکتر علی صاحبی، نماینده موسسه واقعیت درمانی گلاسر در ایران، دوره هایِ زیادی در بابِ واقعیت درمانی برگزار کرده و به عنوان نمونه، یک : فیلم از او را با هم به تماشا مینشینیم https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmDir... 15 likes Like Comment Shamim Valian 117 reviews 38 followers March 1, 2019 برای برنامه ریزی یه پروژه مجبور شدم این کتاب رو بخونم و تموم کنم، وگرنه اصلا کتابی نبود که «انتخاب» من باشه! خداییش سر در نمیارم نویسندگان کتابهای این چنینی، چرا اینقدردر بیان و طرح مسئله شون ذهن مغشوش و نامتمرکزی دارن روانشناسی-موفقیت-توسعه-فردی 16 likes Like Comment Victoria Drob 85 reviews 5 followers April 15, 2018 I'm a big proponent and advocate of this theory, employing it daily in my psychotherapy practice and personal life. However, the book is tedious, repetitive, and unnecessarily lengthy for a relatively simple concept. The author is self-aggrandizing and insists that this is a catch-all/cure-all, which it is most certainly not. He discusses multiple examples of how he used the theory with his therapy clients, including a hypothetical one based on a fictional character from The Bridges of Madison County. Wouldn't you know it, the fictional therapy was splendid and highly successful! Finally, I had increasingly poor tolerance for his turning feelings and states of being into verbs to fit the criteria. You're not "depressed," you are "depressing" or choosing to depress. Similarly, you are "anxietying," "paranoiding," and, I sh*t you not, "heart-diseasing." Summary: great theory, bad book. 14 likes Like Comment Moh. Nasiri 307 reviews 99 followers December 7, 2019 کتاب تئوری انتخاب کتاب ویلیام گلاسر روانشناسی شخصیت با دید واقع گرایانه می باشد که اسا�� تئوری بر این اصل استوار است که تمامی انسان‏ها به سبب وجود پنج نیاز ژنتیک: بقا، عشق و احساس تعلق خاطر، قدرت، آزادی و تفریح، برانگیخته می‏شوند. سالها بود روانشناسان، ریشه رفتار انسانها را در محیط آنها جستجو میکردند: آن کارمند من را عصبانی کرد و من فریاد زدم! همسرم، از من حمایت کرد و من انگیزه بیشتر پیدا کردم. شرایط اقتصادی نامساعد است و من امید برای فعالیت اقتصادی ندارم و … همه جملات بالا در یک ویژگی مشترک هستند: اتفاقی در دنیای بیرون رخ داده و روح و ذهن و جسم ما را تحت تأثیر خود قرار داده است. همین دیدگاه بود که روانشناسان را به سمت مکانیزمهای «تشویق و تنبیه» هدایت کرد. شرطی کردن رفتارها (تشویق رفتار درست و تنبیه رفتار نادرست) در همین نگرش ریشه دارد. به این بخش از دانش روانشناسی که اثر عوامل بیرونی بر روی رفتار انسانها را بررسی میکند روانشناسی برون نگر (External Psychology) گفته میشود. حوزه دیگری از روانشناسی وجود دارد که شاید بتوان گفت ویلیام گلاسر با کتاب خود درباره «نظریه انتخاب» یا Choice Theory پایه گذار آن است. در این نگرش جدید، منشاء رفتارها و احساسات و انگیزه های انسانها رویدادهای درونی در نظر گرفته میشود. بر خلاف مازلو که معتقد بود نیازها «سلسله مراتب» دارند و تا یکی از آنها اشباع نشود، نیاز دیگر در وجود ما سر بر نمی دارد، گلاسر معتقد است که اولویت نیازها برای هر کسی متفاوت است. هستند کسانی که برای عشق خود، از جان میگذرند (اولویت نیاز ارتباطی به نیاز زنده ماندن) و هستند کسانی که برای به دست آوردن قدرت نزدیکان خویش را به قتل میرسانند (اولویت داشتن نیاز به قدرت در مقایسه با نیازهای ارتباطی). این نیازها و اولویتهای آنان، ریشه انتخابهای مهم زندگی ما را تشکیل میدهند. هم چنین ،گلاسر ده اصل مهم را به عنوان Ten Axioms of Choice Theory مطرح میکند و به بحث در مورد هر یک از آنها می پردازد. در این قسمت به عناوین این ده اصل اشاره میکنیم اصل اول – ما مالک هیچکس نیستیم و نمی‌توانیم رفتارهای دیگران را «کنترل» کنیم. ما فقط می‌توانیم رفتارهای خودمان را کنترل کنیم. اصل دوم – تنها چیزی که میتوانیم به دیگران بدهیم «اطلاعات» است. اصل سوم – تنها مشکلات روانی که در بلندمدت با انسانها همراه میمانند، «مشکلات عاطفی» است. اصل چهارم – مشکلات عاطفی، بخشی از «زندگی حال حاضر» ما هستند. اصل پنجم – امروز ما را آنچه در گذشته روی داده میسازد، اما نمیتوان در گذشته ماند. تنها کاری که از دست ما بر می آید، ارضاء نیازهای پایه ای در حال حاضر و تلاش برای ارضاء بهتر آنها در آینده است. اصل ششم – ما در ذهن خود تصویری ذهنی از دنیای بیرون داریم که میتوان آن را «دنیای کیفی» نامید و ارضای نیازها یعنی واقعیت بخشیدن به این «دنیای کیفی». اصل هفتم-تنها چیزی که وجود دارد «رفتار ما» است. اصل هشتم – هر رفتار چهار مولفه دارد: حرکت، فکر، احساس و فیزیولوژی اصل نهم – رفتارها انتخاب میشوند اما از میان چهار المان حرکت، فکر، احساس و فیزیولوژی، ما فقط بر روی «حرکت» و «فکر» کنترل داریم. اصل دهم – رفتارها را با «افعال» نامگذاری میکنیم و در نامگذاری عموماً به بخشی از رفتار که برای ما به شکل ساده تری قابل تشخیص و تمایز است، توجه میکنیم. م.نصیری 100-books favorites psychology-self-help 11 likes Like Comment Awrixa 40 reviews 18 followers December 15, 2022 این کتاب بیشتر به این نکته اشاره می‌کنه که، آره یک سری مشکلات همیشه هست که بیرون اتفاق میفته و خارج از کنترل ما هست و ما نمیتونیم خیلی اوقات کاری براش بکنیم، مثلا نمیتونیم گذشته رو عوض کنیم یا نمیتونیم رفتار بقیه کنترل کنیم. گلسر نمیگه که هربلایی سر ما میاد باید خودمون رو به خاطر انتخاب‌هایی که کردیم مقصر بدونیم، بلکه میگه قبول کنیم که نمیتونیم خیلی مسائل که به دیگران مربوط میشه رو کنترل کنیم پس چه بهتر که بعد از یک مدت کوتاه انتخاب سوگواری، به کنترل درونی برگردیم و انتخابی بهتر برای بهبود وضعیت خودمون داشته باشیم. پ.ن: میتونست تعداد صفحات کمتری داشته باشه. به دویست صفحه آخر که می‌رسید بیشتر تکرار مکررات بود. 12 likes Like Comment Jo 12 reviews April 30, 2012 After years of hearing about "powerlessness" how refreshing to recover my own innate voice that said, "you always have a choice" 12 likes Like Comment Zah Ra 20 reviews 11 followers Read December 25, 2017 به نظرم خواندن این کتاب باید جز واحدهای درسی برای تمام رشته ها الزامی باشد 12 likes Like Comment Mohammad 116 reviews 17 followers May 17, 2019 کتابی بسیار مفید و کاربردی در زندگی روزمره 12 likes Like Comment امیرمحمد حیدری Author 1 book 62 followers July 19, 2022 خلاصه‌ی کتاب را که بخوانید دست‌تان می‌آید که داستان چیست: خروج از کنترل بیرونی. همین. بعد آمده همین دیدگاهِ عقب‌افتاده یا پیش پاافتاده را به‌همه‌چیز تعمیم داده. افتضاح. 12 likes Like Comment Mahnoosh 137 reviews 34 followers January 21, 2023 برای دستیابی به یک رابطه خوب، اکثر ما حاضریم رنج زیادی تحمل کنیم، چرا که اهمیت رابطه برای ما بیش از رنج بردن است. برای ایجاد، نگهداری و بهبود رابطه ها، حاضریم خود را درگیر کارهای ناخوشایند طولانی مدت کنیم، چرا که معتقدیم در نهایت به آدم هایی که به آن ها احتیاج داریم نزدیک تر می شویم و احساس بهتری خواهیم داشت. گاهی نیز بدون ضمانت برخورداری از یک رابطه بهتر، اکثر ما حاضریم لذت و خوش گذرانی خود را به تاخیر بیندازیم یا درد و رنجی را تحمل کنیم فقط به این امید که با ایجاد این رابطه، در آینده احساس بهتر و رنج کم تری را تجربه کنیم. 11 likes Like Comment Arefe 37 reviews 19 followers September 27, 2022 فارغ از خیلی جاها که باهاش موافق نیستم یا حداقل محیط و اجتماع رو خیلی دخیل می‌دونم درباره به کاربردن تئوری انتخاب و کنار گذاشتن کنترل بیرونی؛ تا حالا به مسئولیتی که انتخاب کردن به دنبال دار�� فکر کردید؟ تا حالا به اینکه چقدر انتخاب میکنیم فکر کردید؟ یا چقدر مسئولیت پذیریم؟ یا چقدر ناخودآگاه در بَند بودنو، کنترل شدنو ترجیح میدیم که از مسئولیت انتخاب رها بشیم؟ 🙁 10 likes Like Comment Ali 20 reviews January 31, 2020 همه رفتارها از درون ما برانگیخته می شوند و همگی معطوف به هدفی هستند که آن هم ارضاء یکی از ۵ نیاز اساسی ماست، یعنی نیاز به عشق و احساس تعلق، نیاز به قدر��، نیاز به تفریح، نیاز به آزادی و نهایتاً نیاز به بقاء و زنده ماندن. اگر فردی ناکام در برآورده سازی نیازها، دست به رفتاری نادرست در جهت آن بزند، بیماری و اختلال تلقی می شود، چرا که این عمل مشکل را حل نمی کند. تئوری انتخاب مبتی بر روان شناسی کنترل درونی است و اعتقاد دارد که گذشته بر زندگی اکنون ما اثر می گذارد، اما تعیین کننده رفتار کنونی ما نیست؛ بلکه میزان مسئولیت پذیری، به رسمیت شناختن و احترام به واقعیت موجود و همینطور شیوه ارضاء نیاز هاست که رفتار کنونی ما را می تواند تعیین کند. کنترل بیرونی تلاشی است برای مجبور ساختن ما در انجام عملی که تمایلی به آن نداریم، در نتیجه این باور را در ما می آفریند که دیگران می توانند وادارمان کنند به گونه ای خاص رفتار و یا احساس کنیم و این امر خود موجب می شود آزادی و اختیارمان صلب شود. اما در تئوری انتخاب که از روان شناسی کنترل درونی پیروی می کند، به این امر توجه دارد که چرا و چگونه دست به انتخاب هایی می زنیم که مسیر زندگی ما را تعیین می کنند. کنترل شدن و کنترل کردن صدمات فراوانی بر احساس شادی و سعادت ما وارد می کنند. احساس فلاکت در رابطه ی زناشویی، روابط خانوادگی، رابطه با فرزندان و نیز روابط شغلی ، حاصل تلاش برای کنترل دیگری است. اجبار دیگری به انجام کاری که خودش نمی خواهد یا آنکه فردی تلاش کند ما را مجبور به انجام کاری کند که ما نمی خواهیم یا ما و دیگری هر دو تلاش کنیم به مجبور ساختن هم در انجام عملی که میلی به انجام آن نداریم، یا حتی آنکه ما خود را مجبور به کاری بکنیم که برایمان دردناک یا غیر ممکن است. تا زمانی که باور به مالکیت دیگران در هر رابطه ای داشته باشیم، آنها را مجبور به انجام کاری می کنیم که خود دوست ندارند انجام دهند و این یعنی تخریب آن رابطه. سه باور رایج که شالوده ی روانشناسی کنترل بیرونی هستند: باور اول: من کارهای بی شماری انجام می دهم مثل پاسخ به تلفن، باز کردن درب منزل در پاسخ به زنگ خوردن یا ایستادن پشت چراغ قرمز. به عبارتی من به هر نشانه ی ساده ی بیرونی پاسخ می دهم. باور دوم: من می توانم دیگران را مجبور سازم به انجام کاری که خود مایل نیستند. دیگران نیز فکر ، عمل و یا احساس مرا تعیین کنند. باور سوم: این حق و حتی وظیفه اخلاقی من هست که کسانی که از فرامین و دستوراتم پیروی نمی کنند، تحقیر ، تهدید و یا تنبیه کنم و نیز در مقابل اگر پیروی صورت گرفت، تشویق کنم و یا پاداش دهم. اما در برابر این باور ها باید توجه داشت که پاسخ ما به تلفن به خاطر زنگ زدن نیست، بلکه چون می خواهیم به آن پاسخ می دهیم. اطلاعات نمی توانند ما را به انجام کاری وادارند. ما می توانیم انتخاب بکنیم که اطلاعات را نادیده گرفته و آنگونه که صلاح می دانیم به آنها پاسخ گوییم. ما مثل ماشین طراحی نشده ایم که به رخداد بیرونی به شکلی خاص واکنش نشان دهیم. ما یک درک منحصر به فرد و خاص از واقعیت داریم تحت عنوان دنیای مطلوب. یک گروه از تصاویر که به بهترین شکل یک یا چند مورد از نیاز های پایه ما را برآورده می کنند. افرادی که بسیار دوست داریم با آنها باشیم، چیزهایی که بسیار دوست داریم داشته باشیم یا تجربه کنیم، ایده ها یا نظام باورهایی که بر بخش بزرگی از رفتار ما حاکمند. ما زمانی احساس بسیار خوبی خواهیم داشت که به گونه ای دست به انتخاب بزنیم تا شخص، چیز یا باوری که در دنیای واقعی ما قرار دارد با دنیای مطلوبمان مطابقت داشت باشد همینطور با هم جور باشند. درمان افسردگی بر پایه ی تئوری انتخاب که تحت عنوان واقعیت درمانی خوانده می شود، مبتی بر اصلاح و بهبود روابط کنونی بوده و تقریباً همیشه به روابط گذشته بی توجه است. هیچ دلیلی وجود ندارد که به این خاطر که فروید گذشته نگر با مسائل روانی برخورد می کرده ، ما هم بخواهیم اینگونه عمل کنیم. واکاوی گذشته به ما کمکی نمی کند. باید به حال و آینده پرداخت و با توجه به تئوری انتخاب مسائل را واکاوی کرد و ضمن آن مسئولیت انتخاب ها را پذیرفت. توجه به این نکته مهم است که در واکاوی گذشته، خاطراتی که در زمان هیپنوتیزم یا مصرف دارو به ذهن متبادر می شوند، معتبر نیستند. این امکان وجود دارد که این خاطرات ساخته و پرداخته ی سیستم خلاقیت ذهن ما باشند. کما این که این مسئله در علم نوروساینس هم تأیید شده. در تئوری انتخاب به جای استفاده از صفات و اسامی برای شکوه و شکایت، از افعال استفاده می کنیم. این امر به ما می آموزد که آنچه شکایت می کنیم، خودمان انتخاب کرده ایم که توجه به آن به ما کمک می کند دست به انتخاب های بهتری بزنیم و بر مشکلات و شکایات بهتر فائق شویم. به جای آنکه طبق معمول به افسردگی کردن ادامه دهیم، با خود چنین نجوا کنیم که چون افزایش حقوق مورد انتظارم را دریافت نکرده ام ، افسرده بودن را انتخاب کرده ام. چگونه قرار است این انتخاب افسردگی کردن به من کمک کند تا با موقعیت بهتر کنار بیایم؟ اگر کمک مؤثری نمی کند، آیا می توانم کار بهتری برای انجام، انتخاب کنم؟ از دلایل انتخاب افسردگی کردن می توان از مهار خشم ، درخواست کمک و اجتناب از انجام کاری که دوست نداریم انجام دهیم، یاد کرد. تا زمانی که در یک رابطه، محور بحث -دادن- است و نه -گرفتن- شانس زیادی برای حل مشکلات عشق و احساس تعلق وجود خواهد داشت. اما متأسفانه از آنجایی که در روابط عاشقانه اغلب رفتار افراد اینگونه است که محور عملشان بر مبنای این است که خواهان گرفتن باشند، اغلب این روابط با گذشت زمان از کیفیتشان کاسته می شود و رفته رفته تنزل می کند. اگر بر سر دوراهی قرار گرفته اید و نمی دانی چه کار بکنید، تا جای ممکن هیچ اقدامی نکنید. در این صورت حداقل اوضاع را بدتر نمی کنید. در نهایت زمان این تعارض را در یکی از دو جهت پیش می برد و تصمیم گیری را آسان تر می سازد. از دیگر باور های تئوری انتخاب در رابطه با عشق و ازدواج می توان تیتروار گفت: ما فقط می توانیم روی تغییر خودمان کار کنیم و هیچ گونه تغییری نمی توانیم دیگران را تغییر دهیم. هیچ چیز نمی تواند آینده یک رابطه را تضمین کند، حتی ازدواج. اگر ازدواج می توانست آینده را قطعی کند، این همه افراد مطلقه در جهان وجود نمی داشت. توجه بیش از حد به آینده، داشته های کنونی ما را از ما خواهد گرفت. 7 likes Like Comment Farideh fereydoonian 66 reviews 11 followers October 22, 2014 آنچه باید در ارتباط هایمان مبنا قرار دهیم آن است که تنها چیزی که میتوانیم کنترل کنیم خودمان هستیم. تئوری انتخاب معتقد است گذشته ها بر زندگی کنونی ما اثر شگرفی داشته است ولی تعیین کننده رفتار کنونی ما نیست. موجود_در_کتابدونی 9 likes Like Comment Carly 848 reviews 11 followers March 8, 2015 Choice Theory as created by Glasser is really extraordinary. Basically humans choose everything that we do, we are in control directly or indirectly of everything. Hold up there, then why are so many people depressed and miserable, you ask? Well, a person would not intentionally choose to be miserable, but they may choose behaviors and thoughts that make them so. See, the way Glasser puts it (as I understand it) is to say that humans have 5 needs: 1) Love and belonging, 2) Power 3) Survival 4) Freedom 5) Fun (I did not place them in any order). And we behave in ways to meet those needs. So, perhaps my need for love is lower than my need for freedom, I may jeopardize relationships with people in order to maintain freedom (which could at times also make me loney and unhappy). I may have such a strong need for love and belonging that I allow myself to be in an abusive relationship--as long as the abuser meets that need (the honeymoon period after violence where the abused is told he/she is loved and that the abuse will never happen again). Here's the deal--humans all have different levels of these needs, and we need to be sure that the people in our lives (ie: romantic relationships) have similar needs as we do...or else it might lead to problems. (Can you imagine the relationship where Person A has a low need for Freedom, but a very high need for Love....being with Person B who has a very high need for Freedom and an average need for Love? Recipe for fighting? I think so...) There is no 'right' amount needed (although he speculates that sociopaths may have a far too low need for love) by anyone, but matching up with others may prove useful. Here's the other big part of choice theory (formerly known as control theory): you can ONLY control your OWN behavior...not the behavior of others. Let that sink in a bit. You can't make other people do what you want them to do. The girl striving to get married can't force her boyfriend to propose any more than the parent (or teacher) can force the child to do school work. We can hope they will do it, but in the end you have to decide if you want to nag and guilt people into doing what you want them to, or if you want to maintain the strong relationship with the person. Excellent book and a great way to think about human relationships. I'd say you should read it too. 2011 2015 counseling ...more 8 likes Like Comment Farnaz 15 reviews 8 followers January 20, 2019 اگه به قفسه روانشناسی کتابها سر بزنید میبینید بخش زیادی از این کتابها تنها راه حلی که میتونن برای زندگی بهتر بدن مثبت اندیشی الکی و جواب گرفتن از کائناته و متاسفانه این کتابها که در دسته شبه علم قرار میگیرن و کاملا رد شدن طرفدار بیشتری دارن تا کتابهای روانشناسی واقعی. این کتاب جزو کتابهای روانشناسیه که کاملا علمی و پایه ای دلیل تمایل ما به کنترل عزیزترین افرادمون و بالعکس رو توضیح میده. در بخش اول نویسنده یک سری تعاریف پایه ای رو توضیح میده و به نشون میده چرا فقط تمایل به کنترل افرادی که خیلی به ما نزدیک هستن رو داریم اما در مورد دوست و آشنا همچین رفتاری نداریم. در بخش دوم هم کنترل بیرونی رو در چهار بخش ازدواج، خانواده، مدرسه و کار توضیح میده و مثالهایی از تئوری انتخاب رو برای حل مشکلات در این چهار مورد ارائه میده. مثالهایی که از مراجعین و تحلیلی که از رفتارهاشون داره خیلی ملموس و قابل درکه و همگی بخشی از این رفتارهارو در زندگیمون داریم که همین باعث میشه بیشتر با مثالها ارتباط برقرار کنیم. در کل به نظرم باید یاد بگیریم فقط کتاب خوندن اهمیت نداره و باید سعی کنیم کتاب خوب بخونیم و به این نکته هم توجه کنیم که روانشناسی هم مثل فیزیک و ریاضی علمه و هر کسی که تو زندگی شخصیش یه سری تجربیاتش رو کتاب کرده و به کل دنیا نسبتش میده کسی نیست که بشه اون رو یک روانشناس و فرد علمی دونست و به نوشته هاش عمل کرد. 10 likes Like Comment Mostafa 185 reviews 21 followers March 3, 2018 به جرئت می‌گم مفیدترین کتاب غیرادبی بود که تاحالا خوندم. این کتاب به ما می‌گه ما فقط می‌تونیم روی رفتار و افکار خودمون کنترل داشته باشیم و باید بپذیریم که نمی‌تونیم دیگران رو کنترل کنیم. اگر این اصل رو بپذیریم آزادی بیشتری رو از آن خودمون می‌کنیم؛ چطور؟ 🤔 باید کتاب رو بخونید تا به طور کامل متوجه بشید. این کتاب در همه زمینه‌های مختلف زندگی برای ما راهگشاست؛ چه در زمینه ارتباطات زناشویی و عاطفی؛ چه در زمینه تربیت فرزندان؛ چه در زمینه شغل و ارتباطات کاری و...👌 لطفا از حجم کتاب نترسید؛ چراکه آنقدر کتاب، خوب و روان و پرکشش و پر از داستانه که به راحتی و با لذت دنبالش می‌کنید. پیشاپیش نوش جون هر کسی بشه که این کتاب رو می‌خونه. از آقای دکتر علی صاحبی برای معرفی تئوری انتخاب به ایرانیان و ترجمه این کتاب تشکر می‌کنم. 7 likes Like Comment Mahmoud 223 reviews 6 followers January 19, 2017 تئوری انتخاب در یك تعریف ساده، تئوری انتخاب در مورد انتخاب‌ها و چگونگی و چرائی انجام آن‌هاست. تئوری انتخاب تبیین می كند كه ما به عنوان یك انسان برای دست یافتن به آنچه می‌خواهیم، چگونه رفتارمان را انتخاب می‌كنیم. بر اساس این تئوری تمامی آنچه ما انجام می‌دهیم یك رفتار است و نیز اینكه همه رفتارها عمدی بوده و از درون ما برانگیخته می‌شوند. این درست برخلاف نظر نظریه‌هایی است كه می‌گویند ما در دنیایی از كنترل بیرونی به سر می‌بریم و توسط عوامل بیرونی برانگیحته می شویم. چهار مفهوم بنیادین در تئوری انتخاب عبارتند از: ● نیازها ● خواسته ها یا دنیای مطلوب ● دنیای ادراكی ●رفتار در یك نگاه كلی تئوری انتخاب بر این دیدگاه استوار است كه رفتارهای هر انسان انتخاب‌های او برای ارضای نیازهایش است. آموزش روانشناسی 7 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 361 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 15 quotes 2 discussions 2 questions Can't find what you're looking for? 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The Talk: Conversations about Race, Love & Truth by Wade Hudson | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $6.99 Rate this book The Talk: Conversations about Race, Love & Truth Wade Hudson ( editor ) , Cheryl Willis Hudson ( Editor ) 4.49 1,001 ratings 198 reviews Want to read Kindle $6.99 Rate this book This short story collection is a call-to-action that invites all families to be anti-racist and advocates for change. Thirty diverse, authors and illustrators engage young people in frank discussions about racism, identity, and self-esteem. THE TALK has the following featured contributors: Selina Alko, Tracey Baptiste, Derrick Barnes, Natacha Bustos, Cozbi A. Cabrera, Raúl Colón, Adam Gidwitz, Nikki Grimes, Rudy Gutierrez, April Harrison, Wade Hudson, Gordon C. James, Minh Lê, E.B. Lewis, Grace Lin, Torrey Maldonado, Meg Medina, Christopher Myers, Daniel Nayeri, Zeke Peña, Peter H. Reynolds, Erin K. Robinson, Traci Sorell, Shadra Strickland, Don Tate, MaryBeth Timothy, Duncan Tonatiuh, Renée Watson, Valerie Wilson Wesley, Sharon Dennis Wyeth. Genres Nonfiction Middle Grade Short Stories Social Justice Race Poetry Anti Racist ...more 148 pages, Hardcover First published August 11, 2020 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Wade Hudson 56 books 45 followers Wade Hudson is the author of nearly 30 books for children and Young adults. He and his wife Cheryl are the founders of Just Us Books, Inc., a leading publisher of multicultural books for children. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.49 1,001 ratings 198 reviews 5 stars 589 (58%) 4 stars 322 (32%) 3 stars 84 (8%) 2 stars 3 (<1%) 1 star 3 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews Betsy Author 10 books 3,051 followers October 21, 2020 What are we teaching our children? Or, put another way, what are we allowing other people to teach our children? If you live in the year 2020 then you are living through history. And history, like it or not, isn’t boring. But the business of publishing books for children is a slow process. The titles that we are seeing on our bookstore shelves right now have usually been in the works for years and years. Pre-COVID, at the very least. When you want to use the current cultural moment as a springboard, it can be difficult to do so when looking at the current crop of books for kids out there. But racism, in all its myriad forms, isn’t trendy. It isn’t something dreamed up in 2020. It’s longstanding, systematic, and baked into the foundation of our society. When George Floyd and Breonna Taylor were murdered and the country erupted into nationwide protests, lots of people started buying books that would help them understand the current cultural moment. Books like How to Be an Antiracist and So You Want to Talk About Race and Caste continue to fly off the shelves. But what about the children of those people? If you want to talk to your children seriously about race in this country, where do you begin? If they’re on the younger side of things you might hand them Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness by Anastasia Higginbotham, but older kids need more sophisticated content. And to be perfectly frank, I’ve seen few books that tap into that desire to know more than The Talk: Conversations About Race, Love & Truth . Pitch perfect in tone and content, this is supposedly the book that will help all parents talk to their kids. In truth? This also is the book that will help KIDS talk to their parents. It’s a two-way street and everybody’s driving. Thirty authors and illustrators. “There are many reasons why parents and caregivers share 'The Talk’ with children,” write editors Wade and Cheryl Willis Hudson in the Foreword. And so, with the help of those thirty people, the Hudsons have compiled together a book that looks at different kinds of talks people have with their kids. Some are discussions of why the children must never despair, living in America today. Others prepare their offspring for danger, physically and emotionally. There are talks about why the offhand comment from that stranger you met the other day is NOT okay. Talks about what our ancestors left us. And if these have a common thread or through line, it comes from knowing that the words in this book, the advice it gives, aren’t just for the children of the creators. We aren’t all authors. We don’t all have the words to say what needs to be said to our children. Take comfort then in relying upon the experts. What they have to say, we all need to hear. I flip through this book and think about how a kid would read through it. No book has just one use, after all. A book of essays, like this one, certainly CAN be read cover to cover, but let’s be realistic about how this book is going to get into the hands of kids and what it’s going to do once it’s there. If I’m a kid and someone put this book into my hands with very little context (which you know will happen when it ends up being assigned without much discussion or explanation) the first thing I’m going to do is flip through it. And since I’m the kind of person that likes everything to go in my order, rather than the intended one, I start at the back. So I start to flip and practically the first thing at the back that catches my eye is a great big image of a minotaur. That would be part of the essay “Mazes” by Christopher Myers (and one of my favorite pieces in the book). There isn’t much in the way of comics in the book, aside from a one pager by Natacha Bustos and one by Zeke Pena. And the images that are in the book are all black and white, but the design is strong. It changes style and none of the essays are ever too long. It’s the kind of book you can dip in and out of without much difficulty, and for all that its cover looks deadly serious (and starkly beautiful) there’s a lot of light and life and joy inside. But yeah, the likelihood is that a kid will be handed it, rather than think to seek it out themselves, is high. The essays themselves? Well, as with any collection they’re going to vary in quality. I know not what magic the Hudson’s yielded to get people to submit. The roster of contributors is a veritable who’s who of big names in the field. Still, I was wary going into it. Sometimes when I read a collection I’ll get the feeling that some of the creators just tossed off their submissions. That is not the case here. Here, even when I feel that a piece doesn’t hit as hard as its fellows, it’s still thoughtful, considered, and you can see the intentional hand of the author. Generally speaking, I found the pieces that were just letters to children to be less interesting than the ones that engaged actively with the material. When authors would pluck real world moments from their lives, or the lives of their children, and work them into their pieces, that was key. I’m not allowed to have favorites, and I know that, but Tracey Baptiste’s “Ten” in which she calmly and carefully enumerates to her son the ten rules on being pulled over by the police when you are Black, is thick with tension. I love how it’s accompanied by a piece of art by April Harrison. In a more just world, this book would have been full color. As it is, you come to admire where the art arrives and who is paired together. The balance between different types of pieces and illustrations also lets me admire the editors’ work as well. The Hudsons have crafted this book in the only order it could really have gone. We all have our prejudices. Here’s one of mine. When I was flipping through the list of authors and illustrators featured in this book, I found myself nodding along at the long litany of names. Derrick Barnes, yep. Selina Alko, of course. Torrey Maldonado, absolutely. Adam . . . Gidwitz? A little bit of a pause on that one. Granted, I’ve heard Gidwitz begin talks with land acknowledgment statements. Plus his Unicorn Rescue Society books make a point of bringing in BIPOC authors when appropriate. Still, he felt like the odd apple out. Why was he in this book? Only when I read it did that I realize that as a white parent, it was Gidwitz’s story that kicked me hard and fast in the gut. While other essays in this collection are memoirs or stories or poems, Gidwitz’s is about white privilege. It doesn’t go all out and say that, of course. Instead, the title of his piece is the chilling title “Our Inheritance”. Chilling, I say, once you read the piece. In it, Gidwitz and his daughter talk about racism. She’s white, in fourth grade, and certain that she doesn’t know any racists. Gidwitz counters this with a story about her great-great-grandfather who was Jewish and arrived in Mississippi. As I read this story, I initially felt disappointed. The story of Papa Jake and how he pulled himself up by his bootstraps felt so reductive and overly familiar. The happy family story we white people tell one another and our children, with the significant gaps glided over. But Gidwitz isn’t playing around. In time, it became very clear that this wasn't the usual Manifest Destiny tale. He points out the fact that even Papa Jake had privileges in late-19th century America. He notes that their current comfortable financial situation comes from the company he founded. And then Gidwitz points out that the man made much of his money from sharecropping and kicked his customers off their land when they owed him too much money. And so the money that Gidwitz and his daughter benefit from, is money built on the backs of people enslaved, essentially, to their ancestor. And THAT is the inheritance we white people reckon with. And that is why after I read that story I sought out my own fourth grade daughter and told her the story of our family, and the immigrant from Norway, her Great-great-great grandfather who started a bakery in Oklahoma on land stolen from Indigenous populations. Because when we hear about The Talk that is given to kids of races that aren’t white, we white people forget that we have our own “Talks” that we should be giving. And thanks to this book, we can get a little push in the right direction by its example. Is it for kids or for adults? I fielded that question the other day. I believe my answer was, “Yep.” So much of its success is going to rely on how it’s used. I can think of teachers assigning one story per day to a class. A parent reading a piece a night and then talking with their child. There will be the occasional older reader, maybe in middle school or high school, who operate on a lower reading level but wants something “real” that doesn’t talk down to them. Or the younger kid that’s so desperate to join the world of older kids and adults that they’re trying to read everything they can on racism so that they can understand everything better than the adults that surround them. To be an author is to put words out into the universe and never know how they’re going to perceived, appreciated, considered, or contextualized. The authors or illustrators in this book will not meet the bulk of their readers. And the Hudsons themselves don’t know, once this book is available for purchase in the real world, what its impact might be. I used to think I had a hard time with purposeful books, but now I know that’s not quite right. I have a hard time with poorly made purposeful books. Books like The Talk , however, are right up my alley. Release it into the world yourself and see what it does. Odds are, it’ll do good that reverberates for a long time. You’ll just never know. For ages 9 and up. activism american-history autobiographies ...more 28 likes Like Comment Laura Gardner 1,730 reviews 117 followers September 11, 2020 Heartprint book alert! Recommended for all libraries and all families. ❤️🌟💯 . . . The Talk is a beautiful anthology of personal stories about discussing race and racism. It's written from many different perspectives (not just along the Black-white binary) and in many different ways (prose, poetry, epistolary, etc) with incredible black and white illustrations throughout. There is something here for absolutely everyone and every reader will have a personal reaction to this book. My nine year old son and I read this together this weekend and had our own Talk along the way. I am grateful to the authors of this book for making that conversation so rich! . . . Some specific thoughts. For me, Adam Gidwitz's (@adam_gidwitz - white author) conversation ("Our Inheritance") with his daughter about his family's historical participation in racism (and the impact on the present) was what hit me hardest. So much to unpack there as a white woman. "Handle Your Business" by Derrick Barnes (@authorderrickdbarnes) is an incredible example of what happens when Black children are taught to be proud of their royal past and are given the tools to speak up. . . . Given what's going on in my district right now with our racist mascot of an “Indian”, it was important for me to read in The Way of the Anigiduwagi by Traci Sorell (@tracisorell ): "folks will say and do some pretty demeaning things while telling you that they are 'honoring' Native people. Don't buy it for a minute. We're not mascots, products to be sold, or a spiritual belief system to be appropriated. All of this causes real damage through lower self-worth, abuse, violence, and trafficking of our people. It also results in adults who enact policies that harm our continued existence..." Lets take this opportunity, Dartmouth. #retirethemascot . . #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #schoollibrariansrock #bookreview #igreads #malibrary #msla 10 likes Like Comment Amy 1,101 reviews 34 followers September 16, 2020 My coworker handed me this book this morning and told me I should read it. I've heard her talking about it with some others in our building, and I'll admit that I was curious, but I didn't really know what it was about. I had heard the first part of the title "The Talk" and knew it dealt with relationships. I assumed it was about marriage or communication. I was wrong. (this isn't the first, nor the last time this will be the case) This book was a haunting thing for me to read. I came in to this with a load of white privilege, and reading these stories through that lens was HARD. Because, no matter how much I try, I cannot imagine thinking I have to tell my kids how they need to act during a traffic stop (besides to not happily shout how fast I was going), or explain why they will be judged for speaking in public the same way they speak at home. These vignettes were snippets into lives that felt foreign to me, but also achingly familiar. It's a book that I think people would go back to, again and again, to reread a passage, or to ponder a point. Recommended for readers of almost all ages-if it is going to be given to younger readers (grades 3-6), I would say it would be best to read with an adult so that important conversations can happen. binged curricular-connections multicultural ...more 8 likes Like Comment Julie 1,028 reviews 22 followers July 26, 2020 Thank you to Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this E-ARC. A powerful compilation of poems, stories, reflections, and letters to their children from various authors written with love and addressing the truth about race. Each author shares a unique “talk” that gives the reader a glimpse into their personal experience and truth. I am grateful to each author and illustrator who contributed to this beautiful collection of pieces from their hearts. middle-grade 7 likes Like Comment Jessica Haider 1,859 reviews 256 followers October 2, 2020 The Talk is a collection containing essays and poems by 30 diverse authors. These works are addressed to their children or about children. The central theme of all of the entries in this collection is race and talking to children about loving themselves BUT understanding that racism exists in the world. The authors offer guidance to the children on how to navigate in the world. This collection is important, moving, sad but at the same time inspiring. It is sad that we still live in a world where a Black mom needs to tell her son how to handle himself during interactions with the police. It is sad that we live in a world where people still feel the need to tell young Chinese girls that they look like "China Dolls" or that schools chose to make a caricature of a race or tribe their mascot. This book touches on all of these points. There is also a lot of love and hope for a better future woven throughout. Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! bipoc-author netgalley non-fiction 6 likes Like Comment emma 784 reviews 37 followers August 28, 2020 Y’all gotta read this. The Talk is exactly that: A book of short race-focused “Talks,” written by award winning children book authors and illustrators, of many races, in many forms (poetry, essay, narrative, etc). Usually these pieces are written from the point of view of a parent to a child, discussing racism, how to navigate the world as a person of color, and self empowerment. This book creates an experience that feels deeply intimate, tender, and devastating too, yet hopeful. Kids and the adults in their lives will have much to discuss, from family history, to systematic racism and capitalism, to self empowerment. This book is a lovely more personal piece to read alongside a book about antiracism, such as This Book is Antiracist by Tiffany Jewell. 2020 anthology essay ...more 6 likes Like Comment D'Arcy 262 reviews 5 followers December 28, 2020 A great thing to read with your kids. It has the best description of racism and why it started than I have ever been able to give my daughter. These are brief but powerful stories that should be shared. 6 likes Like Comment Sarah Krajewski 1,095 reviews August 15, 2020 A collection of gorgeous poems, stories, memories, and images that are filled with truth, love, and acceptance. ❤️ I look forward to reading this with my own children and my students. NOTE: there were a few lines in one poem that I didn’t agree with—lines about a white mother encouraging her biracial son to never wearing a hoodie and never put his hands in his pockets—so I will be interested to hear what others think. 5 likes Like Comment Kathy Iwanicki 475 reviews 5 followers August 5, 2020 loved everything about this book. It is a collection of essays, letters, poems, short stories from various authors. These vignettes are incredibly moving and personal. I was moved to tears many times. I highly recommend this book. As a teacher, would be great to do as read aloud accompanied by the author’s own text. This book will stick with me for a long time. middle-grade-books 5 likes Like Comment Jonathan 324 reviews 5 followers November 18, 2020 This book is a collection of letters, stories, and poems from adults to their children. I thought it would all consist of “the talk” that I’ve been told black children receive, but “the talks” in this book varied - chapter examples include advice for black children in a white world, what girls should expect in our society, and why calling a girl of Chinese heritage a “China doll” is incredibly offense. It was a helpful compassion and understanding builder for someone like me, a white man who was blind to the experiences of non-white men for so long. One letter was a “here’s what you need to know” about being white and living in country built on racism. Part of that chapter is worth retyping here: “Only this: I want you to be honest with yourself about our inheritance—our inheritance of racism. Learn about it. Think about it. Maybe one day you want to join the people who are working to fight racism in our society. I hope you do. But the first step, the most important step, he’s being honest. Learning, and being uncomfortable with what you learn, and most of all, being honest. And then, when you have a child, and you have this talk with them, maybe will be living in a more fair and just world. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll be able to say that you helped make it that way.” 4 likes Like Comment jo 262 reviews 5 followers August 30, 2020 Can we have a nationwide book club with this book, please? non-fiction 4 likes Like Comment Kirsten 1,052 reviews January 25, 2021 An important book for all readers--parents, kids and young adults. From the back cover: "Thirty diverse and award winning authors and illustrators capture frank discussions about racism, identity and self-esteem. Here is an invitation to all families to be advocates and allies for change." Very insightful. memoir-biography middle-readers my-recommendations ...more 3 likes Like Comment Stacy Whelan 64 reviews 7 followers December 31, 2020 This is a small book with huge impact. Such a great resource for parents & teachers to start essential conversations with our kids. The contributors to this is an amazing collection of authors & illustrators. I will incorporate this little gem into many lesson plans! Educators: Buy this book! 2 likes Like Comment Jennifer 4,109 reviews 46 followers January 19, 2023 Written as a series of stories or conversations (or poetry) from parents to their children, this powerful little book explores the causes, the effects, and the systemic nature of racism in a way that middle grade kids can understand. Reading this book together would be a wonderful way to introduce these kinds of conversations and issues to children. Highly recommended! from-old-tbr-2023 gr-2023-challenge middle-grade ...more 2 likes Like Comment superawesomekt 1,569 reviews 48 followers November 30, 2020 3.5 stars Quick and insightful collection of essays, letters, and imagined conversations encompassing "The Talk" i.e. discussion about social situations and race. 2 likes Like Comment Mackenzie Callahan 154 reviews 4 followers Read January 19, 2024 And so begins my MLIS semester of reading social justice in youth literature books! Off to a great start. 😊 2 likes Like Comment Adele 10 reviews August 24, 2020 Will be bringing this book into my classroom of high school English learners. Stories are engaging, short, perfect for starting conversations and writing. 2 likes Like Comment Maddie Rojas Lynch 106 reviews 5 followers August 17, 2020 I loved this book with my whole heart! So moving, insightful, and inspirational. A great resource for discussing racism and anti-racism with young people 2 likes Like Comment TheNextGenLibrarian 2,293 reviews 34 followers August 13, 2020 The Talk is an automatic purchase for my MS library and let me tell you why... 🗣 This incredibly powerful short story collection brought so many amazing authors together to write about what The Talk means to our diverse youth and their communities. 🗣 It invites all children and adults alike to be antiracist and do the work for our future. It’s a call-to-action that I’m here for and I will be highlighting this book in the fall. 2 likes Like Comment Miss Kelly 457 reviews August 15, 2020 Every story is a mentor text. 2 likes Like Comment A Lil' Bit Bookish 168 reviews 1 follower August 28, 2020 Many thanks to NetGalley and Random Children’s House for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was one of my favorites reads of all time, at only one hundred and thirty pages. The many authors that contributed to this compilation of stories gave insight into conversations that take place in homes of immigrants and minorities around the country. “The Talk” opens the door to an understanding that can allow people to begin to look at the world from a more anti-racist view. The stories are not heavy handed or forceful. You can tell in the writing alone that they are written out of love and truth, their truth. As a woman of color who has had “The Talk” with my own parents and later with my own children, reading this book made me feel validated. I finally felt as if I wasn’t the only one that needed to inform and be informed about what the world may throw our way simply due to our race. It is a balancing act of loving your race and the skin you’re in, while trying to understand why so many hate you because of it. The thing I loved the most about this book (other than everything), is it is a read that can be digested and understood for the youngest of children to the oldest of adults. As our country tries to come to grips with the inequalities that people of color face, books such as this need to be out there in the forefront teaching all of us a better way. Making us realize that until we begin to see the heart of a person before their race and economic status we can’t fully become a truly great nation. As a librarian, I would love to see this book become required reading in schools across the country. My hope would be that it could help even our youngest understand the work that needs to be done to better race relations in America. HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for any and all ages. arc books-in-2020 diversity ...more 2 likes Like Comment sparkypink 169 reviews August 2, 2020 The Talk is a collection of stories, letters, and poems, written by parents for their children, talking about their experiences of racism, segregation, discrimination, and love. They encourage their children to be proud of who they are and where they came from. It is eye opening for white people, and empowering for people of color. It’s a must read for everyone, and can help open the doors for difficult and necessary conversations. I received a digital ARC of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. childrens inspirational middle-grade ...more 2 likes Like Comment Lulu's Book Journey 59 reviews 1 follower June 24, 2020 Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson have blessed us with another stellar anthology! "The Talk" is a beautiful collection of powerful, truthful, and heart-wrenching short stories, letters, poems, and essays! These amazing writers reflect upon their own personal experiences with racism, segregation, discrimination and prejudice as well as sharing the life lessons they have passed down to their own children. • Reading these writings made me realize that as a parent you are always having, "The Talk", with your child. "The Talk" is not an event that just happens around the kitchen table one day. "The Talk" is a presence in our everyday lives. • When we encourage our children to acknowledge, express, and release their feelings. When we teach our children to be proud of our history, culture, and language. When we instill pride, respect and honor of our ancestors within our children. When we explain to our children how systematic racism and prejudice has been used to divide us, how alike we are, and how much we stronger we are together. When we plant the seeds of education and literacy within our children. When we model to our children how to be mindful and AntiRacist...we are having, "The Talk." • 2 likes Like Comment Amie 324 reviews May 13, 2020 The Talk is a powerful collection of poems, stories, essays, and letters to contributing author's children that tackle what it means to identify as a minority population / person of color in current political times. There are gorgeous illustrations that accompany each story. The most powerful contribution, in my opinion, is "Ten" by Tracey Baptiste; it is about a woman of color teaching her young child ten rules to follow when being pulled over by the police. This needs to be an addition to every classroom library (ages 10 and up) and home libraries. "We wish we had the space to capture all of these conversations within these pages, because we know they are hapening and we know people are hurting... we can all begin to build a more accepting world for each other." Advanced reader's copy provided courtesty of #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 2 likes Like Comment Kim 1,450 reviews 28 followers July 8, 2020 This anthology of “Talks” around race that well-known children’s and YA authors might share with their own children covers a multitude of perspectives. Derrick Barnes, Grace Lin, Traci Sorrell, Duncan Tonatiuh, Minh Le... such a diverse and engaging collection of shared wisdom. There is so much power in the contributions from Tracy Baptiste, Meg Medina, and Adam Gidwitz. The fact that many of the authors’ entries are complemented by illustrations from some of today’s most talented illustrators rounds the collection out beautifully. Editors Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson have outdone themselves. Thanks to Crown Books for Young Readers and to NetGalley for the digital arc. children-s-literature middle-grade netgalley-edelweiss ...more 2 likes Like Comment Julie Ann Price 1 review June 3, 2020 It’s not often that you sit down for a conversation about race & everyone at the table gets to share their story and experiences. This compilation allowed me to listen to many stories that I might grow in empathy & understanding. It’s written so well for this age group - the authors & editors handle the topic with such care and vulnerability. This is an important book to share with preteens, as well as adults. 2 likes Like Comment Danielle Masterson 126 reviews 8 followers June 28, 2020 Thank you to the publisher & Netgalley for this eARC of The Talk. The Hudsons are a favorite of mine, so I was pleased to see them tackle “The Talk” with the help of several amazing authors and illustrators. This book will open the eyes of white readers, while giving other readers a chance to see themselves in these essays. Favorite essays were: I’m A Dancer by Sharon Dennis Wyeth and Tough Tuesday by Nikki Grimes. arcs-read ya-teen 2 likes Like Comment Lisa 354 reviews 5 followers July 7, 2020 This is a powerful anthology that includes stories, poems, letters, and other writing pieces by authors sharing their personal experiences related to systemic racism and the lessons they have learned. It's personal, honest, and empowering. The list of authors and illustrators who have contributed to this book is amazing. This is a book that should be shared and discussed widely. Thanks to the publisher for a digital review copy. 2 likes Like Comment Xavier (cursesandkings) 38 reviews 2 followers May 23, 2020 I finished the book in a day and a half! I don’t think I’ve ever read anything to fast! The Talk is a powerful anthology with different authors of color and cultures! A book I wish was required reading in schools! Mostly high school where teens know what’s right and wrong but might still need a little wake up call that some people experience racism everyday! 2 likes Like Comment Karen Bullock 1,028 reviews 15 followers June 7, 2020 Powerful & moving stories and poems/prose alongside beautiful drawings/ artwork that helps to convey the raw emotions contained within these pages. This was a wonderful surprise of collected short stories that will hopefully inspire those who read it to help educate others as we strive forward in life. Multi cultural. A MUST read! 2 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 4 quotes Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Feed by M.T. Anderson | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $7.97 Rate this book Feed M.T. Anderson 3.55 64,406 ratings 7,518 reviews Want to read Kindle $7.97 Rate this book Identity crises, consumerism, and star-crossed teenage love in a futuristic society where people connect to the Internet via feeds implanted in their brains. For Titus and his friends, it started out like any ordinary trip to the moon—a chance to party during spring break and play with some stupid low-grav at the Ricochet Lounge. But that was before the crazy hacker caused all their feeds to malfunction, sending them to the hospital to lie around with nothing inside their heads for days. And it was before Titus met Violet, a beautiful, brainy teenage girl who has decided to fight the feed and its omnipresent ability to categorize human thoughts and desires. Following in the footsteps of George Orwell, Anthony Burgess, and Kurt Vonnegut Jr., M. T. Anderson has created a not-so-brave new world—and a smart, savage satire that has captivated readers with its view of an imagined future that veers unnervingly close to the here and now. Genres Young Adult Science Fiction Dystopia Fiction Teen Fantasy Audiobook ...more 308 pages, Paperback First published September 23, 2002 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author M.T. Anderson 59 books 1,116 followers Matthew Tobin Anderson (M. T. Anderson), (1968- ) is an author, primarily of picture books for children and novels for young adults. Anderson lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His picture books include Handel Who Knew What He Liked ; Strange Mr. Satie ; The Serpent Came to Gloucester ; and Me, All Alone, at the End of the World . He has written such young adult books as Thirsty , Burger Wuss , Feed , The Game of Sunken Places , and Octavian Nothing . For middle grader readers, his novels include Whales on Stilts: M. T. Anderson's Thrilling Tales and its sequel, The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen . -Wikipedia Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.55 64,406 ratings 7,518 reviews 5 stars 15,162 (23%) 4 stars 20,703 (32%) 3 stars 17,119 (26%) 2 stars 7,413 (11%) 1 star 4,009 (6%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,514 reviews Greg 1,121 reviews 1,996 followers June 4, 2011 In lieu of a review here is a rant inspired by Feed , using actual examples from real-life teens to illustrate the possible retardation of our culture and language. Enjoy. This is a discussion from the Emo Girls/Boys r HOT!! group on Goodreads. I wanted to see what our youth really talk like. I figured I'd get them at their best, discussing politics. Here's a sampling: I"M BLACK BITCH!! i'd b racest against ME!! no....Obama is just a fag...plain & simple!! ill bakk out right now... BYEZZZ sorry....gotz a BIT too into my whole rage thing there....hehe *SO embarassed damn, well i really don't see why ya'll are getting so mad i mean he does have the privlege to say what he wants i mean we do have a feedom of spech you know? but i don't really care who is president, i mean i'm moving out of the country so i see no point in careing okay...so...? what is going on here? who has violent anger right now? lol i just saw a picture of Obama smoking some kill yo, haha These are some of the more outrageous things said, but most of the in between comments were things like: wat tha...!? , lol , and okai . Yeah, this is just a very small group of people, but similar comments, and spellings can be found in any of the 'teen' groups I've ever looked through for shits and giggles. These kids don't seem to write much differently then the people talk in Feed , a dystopian teen novel about the a society all jacked into the internet through their heads. Their world seems awesome, they party and buy shit all the time, and party more, and goto School™, where they don't have to learn stuff like reading and writing, but how to get a killer job, and find good bargains online. They hang out and don't talk to each other, but message each other in their heads privately. Oh they also have lesions on their bodies, their skin is falling off, and most of the planet is dying from the effects of the consumer lifestyle these kids enjoy, but that's a downer and anyway they don't have to worry about it because the feeds in their heads are customized to optimize the users preferences and enjoyment of life. To sound like a curmudgeon would be to say that this isn't to far fetched from how things are now, like we don't have lesions on our skin, and we also don't have flying cars (I forgot to mention that). We do have linguistic books though that stress that teens should be allowed to express themselves in their inane LOL speak because, well I don't know why, I only looked at the book jacket. We no longer have libraries in schools, but school media centers where kids are taught how to use the internet, because they probably aren't getting enough of it at home and they are instructed by School Media Specialists. I guess these really are librarians, but we've got to make it hip and happening to get kids into MEDIA and not just stodgy old books that have review processes and editorial control over content and that can't be interacted with and consumed like right now. Lets see we also have all those stupid fucking people on their handheld devices who are constantly texting messages, looking up things, reading their custom feeds and can't seem to go a couple of minutes without having to check up on what's going on in their cyber world. What else. Lets see during the last broadcasted UFC fight (ok, I'm not immune to stupidity either, watching fighting has become my most recent foray into mindless enterainment), they kept telling the viewer to log onto Twitter to follow the fights from the comments UFC President Dana White was Twittering ringside. I mean, isn't watching the fight and listening to Joe Rogan's commentary enough, but now we also need to have the experience mediated another step through micro-blogging? Ok, or maybe we can look at a group of kids sitting on the floor of a bookstore all on top of each other like cockroaches and they all have their sidekicks out texting away, maybe even to each other, but it's like hanging out to be online or something. How much easier would it be for all of this to happen if it could just be broadcast to our heads? I'm sure most people would sign up for it immediately. Then you wouldn't have to miss anything on any of the RSS feeds you're subscribed to, any of the news or gossip that keeps getting churned out to keep people checking back constantly, you'd never have to be bored because you could just call up a YouTube video and see it right there in your head. Who wouldn't want that kind of immediate access to the whole wide streaming world? I might sound a tad self-righteous here, but I'm as guilty as anyone. We are an increasingly retarded society being swayed by a profit driven media culture. Some of the conditions in the world created in Feed may still be a bit far off, we still have forests in our world; but the conditions for the ultimate consumerist culture are not too many steps away from what we are at now. books-for-kids life-is-shit sf-fantasy-and-other-dorky-shit 213 likes 1 comment Like Comment Annalisa 552 reviews 1,515 followers June 9, 2010 I started this book over a week ago and only got through the first page before all the "likes" turned me off. I took a break, read a few other books, and tried again. This time I got through two chapters before I closed the book and took a breath. "I can't do this," I told myself. "I hate books that overuse our obnoxious vernacular. And the made-up words are annoying and stupid. I much preferred the made-up slang in A Clockwork Orange." "So you're going to punish Anderson for using slang that is more realistic? You're going to punish him for making you uncomfortable with the world the way it is, for yourself because you know you use that word, like it or not." "Okay," I told the stupid analytic part of my brain. "If you'll just like shut up. I'll keep reading." And that is how I ended up reading this book. And it did make me uncomfortable. It's everything obnoxious about our media-frenzied, frantic-paced, impulse-driven, uneducated-praising society exemplified megawatt. In Anderson's world people are hardwired into corporate feeds that advertise to them according to what they're thinking, feeling, saying, looking at, etc. They chat with each other, watch shows, check the internet, invade each other's privacy, all within their bodies. Schools have quit teaching them facts because all that's accessible at the push of a button-no simpler than that, with nothing more than a thought. All their interactions are interrupted by this internal conversation/shopping/distraction. Through a combination of advertising and ignorance these shallow people don't care that the feeds are destroying them after they've destroyed the world where they continue to live in vertically stacked suburbs with fake air and fake sun and fake food. And they all (adults included) speak in that valley-girl like/dude hollowness, only their words are mega and unit and still plenty of like and f words. I picked up this book weeks after my disenchantment with facebook over the debacle on targeting advertising for us. I can see spelling and vocabulary plummeting in this text-typing generation and the interruption of technology into every moment of our lives. I fear for the laziness in education when information is at our fingertips. I can fathom technology being introduced where electronic devices are implanted so kids (okay me too) stop breaking them and losing them. I don't think we're that far off from biological computers. I can see the pitfalls of our society heading in something akin to this direction and it's disturbing. No more jokes from me about my surgically implanted cellphone. But those "likes" are too ingrained. I just have to keep kicking myself mentally whenever one slips out. ETA: I've been thinking about this book ever since I read it. I can't stop thinking about it. For all the dystopias I've been reading, I'm amazed that Anderson's world could discomfort me this much. And I've been thinking about his main character. While reading it, I was often disappointed with his choices, but now I think he was the perfect embodiment of this shallow world. I loved that Anderson offers no judgment or solution, just shows us this world with all its many flaws and lets it creep under your skin and make you uncomfortable with where the world is headed. M.T. Anderson is amazing. I look forward to reading his other books. cover dystopia sci-fi ...more 200 likes Like Comment Zoë 328 reviews 65.2k followers October 16, 2017 3.5/5 stars - Read for my young adult literature class. 195 likes Like Comment Michael 274 reviews 802 followers May 12, 2011 You could be eating Taco Bell tacos right now! In fact, there's a Taco Bell nearby calling your name! [image error] Just think of that taste as the steaming beef-like substance hits your tongue, with Taco Bell's savory blend of spices all ready to give you MOUTHGASM! With a side of those cinnamon twists, and a big, plastic quart of a dark, sugary substance, you're ready to have a tasty tasty meal! And you've earned it! Perhaps you should consider buying some when you finish reading this review! Because this review is about what life would be like it we had internet access in our head. Awesome? NO. It would totally suck. Nearly as much as the Dirt Devil In-Ground Ultra-Sucker, which temporarily has a $50 mail-in rebate, as long as you ACT NOW. It sucks for a variety of reasons. . . for one, how would you feel if, while you were trying to talk to someone and he was looking you straight in the eyes, you started getting the sneaking suspicion he was watching Archer ? Or you thought he might be on Goodreads , tinkering around with some new review? And this made you start wondering how well your last review was doing RE: votes, and before you could think twice about it you were on Goodreads , checking your updates? And then your conversation trails off because he really IS watching Archer , and now you're posting a status update b/c you've read another 20 pages in a book--BUT WAIT! There aren't books! Nobody reads anymore! So it's an internet without Goodreads! More about that after these messages. And we're back! I guess the most annoying part of the whole internet-in-the-head thing would be the constant barrage of advertisements. I mean, when you can't control when you have to endure an advertisement, can't turn it off, can't change the channels, because the advertisement is literally in your head....I mean, WTF? But RE: this book, it's a well-done mix of young adult literature and dystopia that manages a techno-teen speak that works and is more funny than annoying. This is quite impressive, although not as impressive as the taste of Bacardi, which helps you become skinny and slutty, i.e. hot. Anderson does amazingly well at making you actually feel for the main character, considering he--along with almost every other character--is even more wrapped up in consumerism than we are. I know, right? Happiness is an idea communicated by advertisements, and identity is created by which of these happinesses you choose to pursue. Are you the Bacardi ho? Are you the dude in the field of flowers tossing his kid up in the air? Are you walking down the beach and sliding a diamond ring on a finger? Who are you? The main character falls for a girl who doesn't seem as...well, distractible and materialistic as the other people he knows. This is a big turn-on, although not as much as a pair of Air Max 90 Infrareds. You don't have a pair yet? They're the dopest of the dope. These shoes are so hot, girls literally make out with them. So, he's attracted to the way she seems so strangely thoughtful and reflective. But, it's a dystopia, so blah blah blah, it goes to shit. There's a lot of absolutely hilarious parts of this book, most of them in the first half. Things then get real. RE: funny things, though, 1. Everyone has lesions on their skin because of pollution. They're so common that they are usually ignored, until it comes into fashion to get artificially created, ornamental ones. 2. They go to the moon one day because they're bored. 3. They go to a farm. A filet mignon farm, with big pulsating walls of beef all around them. And they go through a beef maze. I laughed until I cried. That said, I shall conclude. This conclusion is brought to you by Chevron, the environmental fossil fuel company. We're working toward a progressive energy future, and sustainable resource practices. And those terms really do mean something. My conclusion is that IT'S NOT TOO LATE FOR US. We still have the chance to be creative, innovative, and make choices for ourselves. And if we don't use these abilities, we may end up losing them. So, lets all go out and express our individuality by finding products that help us define who we are as individuals. Maybe then, then, we will be free. goodest-reads-2011-a-sad-year most-popular-reviews sf-fantasy 123 likes Like Comment Maggie Stiefvater Author 64 books 170k followers June 18, 2008 This, in my opinion, is the best written YA book I've ever read. The characterization is brilliant and unflinching, the details of the world absolutely spot-on, and the YA coming-of-age plot seamlessly worked into a brutal sci-fi story. When I grow up, I want to be M. T. Anderson. ***wondering why all my reviews are five stars? Because I'm only reviewing my favorite books -- not every book I read. Consider a novel's presence on my Goodreads bookshelf as a hearty endorsement. I can't believe I just said "hearty." It sounds like a stew.**** recommended young-adult 84 likes Like Comment Leah 223 reviews November 20, 2008 Yuck. Like, unit, this was meg annoying to read with all the like, whoa, thing, dialog. I'm too much of a consumer to appreciate this book, I guess. I, like, totally get what the author is trying to say with this book, but whoa, dude. I think I'll just drink a Coke and forget I read this one. 78 likes 1 comment Like Comment April (Aprilius Maximus) 1,130 reviews 6,477 followers November 17, 2017 I am so shocked and surprised to be saying that I loved this book. I was honestly expecting to hate it, but I think this is the most realistic portrayal of our future I've ever read. There's so much to take away from this book and I honestly think I'll be thinking about it for the rest of my life. 72 likes Like Comment Jeffrey Keeten Author 6 books 250k followers November 3, 2019 I know this is considered a young adult book, but I didn't feel like I was reading a young adult book. I first thought, wow this is an off shoot of William Gibson's Neuromancer, but as I read more it reminded me more and more of Bret Easton Ellis's Less than Zero. I'm a fan of both those books and buoyed by that feeling of familiarity I let myself be pulled into M. T. Anderson's vision of the future. 73% of the world have chips implanted in their heads; the world wide web is as readily available to them as breathing. The teenagers in this book feel like they are the hippest most connected people on the planet, but of course the more connected they become the more disconnected they are from what is really going on. They develop lesions and the FEED convinces them it is fashionable to have lesions to the point that some kids are having lesions cut into their body and held open with plastic just so they can feel more a part of the group. Shopping is the ultimate cure for melancholy (sound familiar). For kicks the kids will find malware on the web that will disrupt their FEED and body functions. There is a love story between Titus and Violet. It is sweet and hopeful, a tie between the future and the past that might have led to an awakening in Titus if not for unfortunate events. Anderson interjects FEED blasts between chapters giving us a real feel of what it would be like to be assaulted by advertising, blasted by advertising, manipulated by advertising. It would be similar, I feel, to walking through Time Square only with all of that visual extravaganza compressed and put in to your head. One memorable scene was when Titus is shopping for spotlights for his UPCAR and the salesman is talking about how he went above the domes of the city and noticed movement below him and he flashed his spotlight down on the dome and cockroaches scrambled to get away from the light, billions of them latched on to the dome of the city. As the environment falls apart around them, as their hair falls out and as flesh starts falling off their bodies no one is worried because there is always the FEED to reassure them that things are really okay. This is a fast, high impact book that I'm almost certain I will read again. My wife just sent me a message on google chat that she saw an advertisement selling a Samsung refrigerator that comes with WIFI. Soon I will be able to have meaningful conversations with my refrigerator and I might even develop a crush on my toaster. 72 likes Like Comment karen 3,997 reviews 171k followers June 5, 2020 oops, i accidentally liked this book. i swear it was unintentional. i was all set to hate it, especially after greg's review (which to be fair, was less about hating the book and more about hating the people this book might be hoping to educate) the wariness i had about it being in kidcode teenspeak was unnecessary - it was like reading clockwork orange or irvine welsh or anything else in dialect. i thought it was going to be written in contemporary teentalk, which is retarded, but if it's made-up speculative teen-ese, its less annoying. weird, right? if you want to read a good review of the book, read greg's, because all i am going to say is - the moon sucks, i totally agree. and they have a filet mignon park with a steak labyrinth. you can't have a dystopia with a steak labyrinth, because it sounds too much like heaven. and as the only person without an i-pod, cell phone, blackberry, or watch, i can now say i am "resisting the feed"!! but i never would. come to my blog! and-so-this-is-grad-school dysto-teque mark-harmon 71 likes 1 comment Like Comment Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell Author 56 books 19.9k followers June 21, 2021 Instagram || Twitter || Facebook || Amazon || Pinterest I'm doing this project where I'm rereading books I enjoyed from my adolescence and seeing how they hold up. FEED was a book that really stuck out to me as a candidate because I still remembered it so strongly despite not picking it up for several years. It's kind of like a YA-ed up version of BRAVE NEW WORLD. In a future where the earth is suffering from multiple environmental crises, humans take solace in an electronic soma: the internet feeds wired into their brains. Titus, the hero, is the main character. He's just an ordinary teen who likes to do dumb stuff with his friends. When we meet them, they're partying on the moon, wanting to hook up and get wasted. Then he sees a girl who isn't like other girls. Her name is Violet and she uses big words and actually cares about the world beyond what it can offer up to her for sale. But when a rioter hijacks their computers to make a political statement, something goes wrong with Violet's... and as she struggles with her health, she tries to make Titus see without the influence of his feed. This is a very depressing book but I think the author did a really good job with it. All the slang is a bit tricky at first, but the words the author chose all make sense and I picked it up pretty quickly. Some readers complained about the swearing and graphic content, but again, I think it sets the stage for the vapid, superficial world the author created and it never crosses into explicit. Some sci-fi books don't age well but this one actually got better with age. The author actually predicted so much-- doom scrolling, toxic positivity, physically harmful trends for the sake of virality, and so much more. What makes this even more impressive is that social media was still kind of a gleam in the internet's eye when this was published, and so were the shopping algorithms that are now economical powerhouses online. I can't say that this book filled me with joy but it was incredibly intelligent and insightful for a YA dystopian and I think I liked it more as an adult than I did as a teen. 4 to 4.5 stars help-help-i-m-being-repressed literary-sad-girl-canon science-fiction ...more 60 likes Like Comment Lisa 1,066 reviews 3,311 followers May 3, 2019 "Poetry for the ear!" Welcome to post-literary society, where everything you need (or do not need, for that matter) is spoon-fed to you, straight into your brain. No need for books! Every once in a while, my universe is thoroughly shaken, and I feel like I lose ground. 2016 has proven to be more of a strain on my nerves than I consider healthy, with political developments in the whole world going from merely bad to pure demagoguery, with news that are disturbing almost every day. My one consolation in the chaos is, and has always been, reading. More than most other years, I have cherished my hours spent in the reading chair, reading history, poetry, drama, contemporary and classic literary fiction. All the time thinking I know what literature is. Having read Knowledge: A Very Short Introduction , I should of course have KNOWN better, but humanity is good at taking impressions at face value. As long as we are not challenged to think differently. Well, I am now! In the era when musicians win the Nobel Prize In Literature, cheered on by a whole community of non-readers, and some readers as well, who like his music (but probably haven't read his "books" either), we are not far away from the randomness of the society depicted in "Feed", where human beings have a chip implanted in their brain that feeds them anything from music and news to advertisement, customised to match the person's shopping pattern. I did not expect anything from this book, and just picked it up because it fit a teaching unit on dystopian fiction for Grade 9. And then I spent the whole weekend laughing and crying. I don't think many paragraphs have touched me as much as the one where proper education is dismissed on the grounds that the feed enables you to get instant information on everything immediately, for example "which battles in the Civil War George Washington fought in". My first reflection was that many of my students would not be able to detect the deep sarcasm contained in that sentence, and they would not question the content. Scary thought! Now I am almost certain that many grown-ups as well, even if they are educated, would miss the message in that paragraph, as they don't care about the context and read quickly without reflection. Skimming through text does that to you, whether you are an adolescent or an adult. Then I felt almost nauseated when I read a press release from the fictitious government explaining to the outside world that "big shithead" was an idiom meant as a compliment, and should not be considered as an insult threatening the diplomatic relationship between two states. If the other state did not understand the nuanced language spoken in America, it was truly not the American leader's fault. Again, I thought it was exaggerated first, only to see much worse in the real world over and over again this summer. The way we treat language, first carelessly, without any thought, and then ruthlessly, without any truth, is very close to the futuristic American establishment in "Feed". I felt deeply disturbed by the numb reaction of the main character when he is confronted with real tragedy, but in a way, that intensified the message of the story. A life lived with a news and entertainment feed in your head makes you detached from the messy feelings you would have to confront in human interaction. It also makes you move forwards all the time, not stopping to think, or read, or reflect. If you don't act, the noise in your head gets tangible, annoying, and stressful. To tune it out, you must be occupied with several easy tasks at the same time, shallowly half-focusing. I am not sure my students would appreciate the novel, and without reading guidance, the adventure, full of teenage risk taking and bad language, as well as interesting technology, will probably make them overlook the message about humanity lost to quick entertainment and instant gratification, unable to find pleasure in deeper thoughts and feelings, and unable to express themselves in sophisticated language, as their vocabulary is based on the songs they listen to and the advertisements they are fed. The sad thing about books about the loss of literature and culture is that they are mostly read by people who still nurture that love. For the rest, I am sure the "Feed" gives them 24 hours nonstop of "poetry for the ear". postliterate-fiction young-adult 54 likes Like Comment Gail Carriger Author 58 books 15.1k followers April 30, 2018 If you were to choose only one YA book to read in your lifetime, it should be this book. Feed portrays the near future world North Americans are currently barreling towards, and, as a result, this book is horrifying, terrifying, and brilliant all at the same time. You don't need to read my review, you need to go out and read this book, now. It's a fast pace and shouldn't take very long to whip through. I keep it on my shelf because it's genius, but it's so chilling I can't stand to reread it. It's not often I agree with the big gun awards out there but Feed richly deserves its status as: National Book Award Finalist, star PW, and star Kirkus, it should have won the Newberry. Probably would have if it wasn't SF. favorites reviewed sci-fi ...more 47 likes Like Comment Tatiana 1,453 reviews 11.4k followers June 18, 2012 As seen on The Readventurer I might feel uncertain if I actually liked Feed or not, but one thing I know for sure - the audio version of it is excellent. The book itself is unique because of its narrator - a teen in a future with a device in his head that directly connects him to the internet. Titus, who is constantly fed a cocktail of advertising, entertainment and targeted info, has an almost atrophied brain, he lacks in basic knowledge of speech or reading, because why bother if all communication can be done through the Feed? His "voice" is highly stylized and peppered with "likes," "dudes," "fucks" and "dadadas." This voice can be annoying at times, but the audio truly brings it, as well as the Feed - a constant stream of information - ads, news, chats, whathaveyou, to live. But other than the high quality of the audio production, Feed didn't really impress me. For one, I guess Feed failed to properly scare me. You see, even though I am not a particularly tech savvy person, I am sooo far from lamenting the advancement of technology and the "loss of humanity" that comes with it. Yes, yes, Feed draws from present day culture of teens and tweens tweeting and texting in never ending OMGs and LOLs, but I am still not concerned. Somehow, these ignorant pubescents manage to grow up and become functioning members of society and in fact are often at an advantage in our Twitter and Facebook-driven world. People have been predicting the end of the world due to technological or cultural changes since the dawn of days. Burn those astronomers and scientists! Don't let them women go to school and vote! Nobody writes letters a la Jane Eyre any more! Those telephones are EVIL! EBOOKS will ruin literature the way we know it! Every time there is a change in technology or culture, someone is crying apocalypse. You know what? I am not scared of the changes. People evolve, communications evolve, and life goes on. Will there be time when internet is directly plugged into our brains? When we communicate mostly electronically? Maybe. So what? I am already plugged into my iPod/laptop/cable a significant amount of time. Would I be better off spending more time outside planting potatoes, picking cotton, turning over hay, grinding flour? You tell me. In addition to the Feed concerns, there is another layer of the novel where human population seems to be decaying, physically, with people developing lesions on their skin and the planet being destroyed, but that's a completely different story. All of that doesn't seem to be attributed to the evils of the Feed. Just carelessness of people. I am not even sure why Anderson put it into the story, without significantly connecting it to the rest. Was it all supposed to be a treatise against American over-consumerized culture, the cause of everything bad in the world? This side dish of social commentary wasn't flavored enough for my taste. To me, Feed read a bit dated and a bit young. In spite of massive cursing and sexual content, the book's message is delivered in a simple and obvious way. But that's a normal thing. After all, this YA novel is over 10 years old and lost some of its bite. I enjoyed the novel's "voice" (thanks to the fabulous audio), but did it provoke any thoughts or emotions in me? Not really. The highly satirized and stylized narrative might be at fault here. Satire doesn't work for me usually. Making a joke out of serious issues doesn't compel me to cheer for the cause, no matter how legit it is. 2012 dystopias-post-apocalyptic national-book-award ...more 45 likes Like Comment Tom Quinn 587 reviews 193 followers December 22, 2020 Though it reads like the runaway product of a creative writing assignment on developing Voice, what with its belabored future slang and rapid-fire "look-how-teen-I-am" narration, this story is pretty darn cool. And the small details seeded throughout to hint at a wider future culture are very good worldbuilding. "Do more with less," and all that. By the end the focus had narrowed to such an arresting intimacy that it caught me off guard. I consider it well above average in the YA field, and right on par for grown-up satire. 3.5 stars. I should've read this long ago, when I was a cynical teen and would have totally been able to relate. 44 likes Like Comment Meredith 93 reviews 2 followers March 18, 2013 (this review can also be seen at the-book-nuts.blogspot.com) There are very few books I put down for just being horrible. Many times I am able to see the good things, even if there are few: I detested Beautiful Creatures, but I loved the character of Macon Ravenwood. I couldn't stand Far North, but I felt the setting was accurately portrayed, and somewhat made up for the excruciating lack of plot. Not Feed. Feed takes place at some unknown time in the future, a time where the majority of people have "Feeds-" a chip implanted in your head that allows your brain direct access to the internet. It also allows agencies and advertisements direct access to your brain. Just let that sink in. That annoying Super Bowl ad that just won't get off your TV? In your brain. Twenty. Four. Seven. The McDonalds "Filet Fish" jingle? Constantly. Replayed. No way to turn it off. Okay, so it's a fairly interesting premise. At the beginning, I did not know what our main character's name was. "He" is taking a vacation on the moon. The author throws you directly into the world, complete with a large amount of slang term that will never actually be defined in the chapter, or the book, to be honest. For about fifty pages, I honestly thought the guy's name was "Unit." ("Unit" turns out to be some slang similar to "dude," despite the fact that "dude" is also used, which leads me to believe they are interchangeable?) So, our main character, our "Unit," is attempting to figure out with his friends what to do on this weird thing called the Moon. They're incredibly bored, and so end up heading to the bar. There he meets the first intelligent being in this book, and her name is Violet. (insert "Unit" swoon here.) All's going well until they go out dancing, and some strange old man hacks their Feeds. The police come, and plot begins. Around page one-hundred and fifty, I still didn't know "Unit's" name. So, naturally, I looked it up on the Internet. "Titus," that's interesting. So what I'm trying to say here: I didn't like Feed. Not at all. The slang, which could have been interesting had it been done properly, was confusing and unhelpful. The voice of "Titus" sounded like some strange mix between a modern-day valley girl and a whiny futuristic boy. The word "like" was incorporated infinitely more than it should have been. There was very little amount of character development. Titus starts the story as a bratty teenager, and he ends it as a bratty teenager. His friends are incredibly flat. Violet and her father, the only mildly interesting characters, seem to have little impact on Titus' life. I was honestly hoping for a revolution book. I was hoping this strange world of Brain Internets was a terrifying dystopian setting, set perfectly for our main character to rise up against the power that be. Instead, I get a plot which could have easily taken place modern-day, the main character being a snobby billionaire's kid and the antagonist being cancer. I feel like this world has such possibilities, but the plot was awkwardly developed and the characters were Ew. My rating: one out of five stars abandoned why-did-i-read-this 38 likes Like Comment Bloodanna 8 reviews July 12, 2007 While I did end up liking this book I was very close to banishing it to the back of my bookshelf. This book is one that I found hard to get into, the beginning is slow and slightly tedious with the slang and the "Like, totally, man" quality of the narrators speech, it wasn't 'til about page 48 that I really started getting into it and even then it (in my opinion) wasn't very well-done. It seemed at times like the author was trying too hard to get his point across/to make you see the satire that it rather feel like he was nudging me the whole time going "Know what I mean? Huh? Do ya get it, do ya?" which got tiring very fast. Even the ideas weren't terribly original, the whole 'controlled and made stupid by technology' plot has been done; I believe there's even a few movies where everyone is connected by the Internet in their head. The only things that made me like the book were Violet who is one of the more 3D characters in the story and not really the dark things that are going on behind scenes, the things that are happening to the world, but the way Titus (the main character and narrator) basically ignores it. All-in-all I'd only recommend this book to you if you like reading between the lines because it's really the things that are only hinted at and not said that are the best and most interesting thing/ideas in this book. 38 likes Like Comment Kevin 2 reviews November 15, 2011 I hated this book. I felt patronized and belittled by his futile attempt to relate with me. This book has no content and the English was horrendous. My head started to hurt about half a page through. I am accustomed to reading books that have meaning and structured grammar. I don’t spend my time on Young Adult novels because I can’t relate to them. Feed did exactly that. It ostracized me. It is by far the worst book I have ever read. I really wish that I could have quit after the first chapter. He has single handeadly took a good topic and turned it into a pile of extremely rough toilet paper. 31 likes Like Comment Calista 4,508 reviews 31.3k followers January 12, 2020 This has been on my library TBR for some time now. It was about to be weeded and so I decided to pick it up. I only knew the title of the book and I had assumed it had something to do with food. Maybe it was cannibalism or something. It is totally not what I was expecting. This is a YA future Sci-Fy tale. I almost didn't go on to finish the book. The first part there is so much cussing and the characters feel so hollow, but I'm glad I stuck with this story as there is some amazing ideas in this story. Our story starts out on the moon and the moon is now like a Spring Break destination. You can fly to several moons and planets in the solar system. Everything is boring and stupid to the characters. They take it all for granted. Feed has to do with a chip implanted into people's brains that connects you to social media and your emotions, memories, and movement are all linked into this Feed. People send instant messages in their head. They also had all these horrible commercials happen all the time during the life and the story shows what this might feel like. People can look up anything on the internet and have the information so no one studies and no one really works much for things. These kids don't know anything that's going on in the world. They are all interested in fads, trends and what's cool. One of the trends that happens is that people are getting lesions and no one knows why. A reality show has one character being proud of her lesions and so two of the female characters go and have surgical lesions all over their body on purpose. One of the characters names was Calista and I think this is the first story with a character with my name. It was pleasant to read about a story with my name. I thought the theme of technology and how it interacts in our lives was powerful. Are we going to be slaves to technology or are we simply going to use technology. This is far into the future and nothing will grow on the Earth any longer that people don't cultivate. The Earth is mostly dead. I look at people and their phones and sometimes it doesn't feel like we are far off from this story and where its going. It seems to me that technology ultimately makes us feel more isolated and less connected in some ways, while I do know in others it connects us in different ways. The book had a lot to say and the ending was well done. It is not a feel good ending. I can't say I enjoyed the book, it just felt so shallow and hollow. I couldn't relate to any of the characters, but the world building is amazing. M. T. had great characters in his world and you were immersed, for better or worse. It's not a pleasant world, and it works for what he is setting up. I started out with 3 stars and I had to bump it up to 4 stars. I am glad I finished it. 2002 award-national-book award-various ...more 30 likes Like Comment Sandi 510 reviews 294 followers August 18, 2008 Feed is a much more complex novel than it appears to be. So much of the story is told by things left unsaid or details told in single sentences sandwiched in between unrelated paragraphs. The blurb on the back of the book is totally misleading. The girl, Violet, is not a rebel and she’s not out to change the world. She’s a lower middle-class teen. Her mother left and her father, a college professor, home schools her. The narrator, Titus, meets her on a spring break trip to the moon. Violet wants to fit in with the “normal” kids, but her way of speaking and thinking creates a chasm between them. What makes this story different that the typical coming-of-age novel is the futuristic setting in which most people have computer interfaces installed in their brains when they are infants. These “feeds” provide people with instant access to any information they could possibly want. But, they mainly use it to message each other and to shop. The feed subjects them to a constant barrage of advertising that’s directed to them based on their shopping and browsing habits. Sound familiar? While on the moon, Titus, some of his friends and Violet are touched by a creepy old man who infects their feeds with a virus. The teens are hospitalized for a few weeks and their feeds are disconnected until it’s certain they are virus free. Unfortunately, the virus causes permanent damage to Violet’s feed with disturbing results. In the background, you slowly come to understand that the Earth that these teens inhabit has gone seriously wrong. Most people have access to untold consumer goods. They can communicate with others quickly and silently. They live in a Jetsons-style world with “upcars” and houses in bubbles connected by tubes. (Maybe it’s a giant human Habitrail?) It sounds kind of utopian until you realize that a forest has been torn down to make an air factory, you can only go to the seashore wearing something like a space suit, and there are mentions of radiation levels increasing. What’s disturbing is that the characters see all this as normal. They are so caught up in pop-culture and consumerism that they don’t see all the really terrible things happening around them and to them. They’re getting oozing lesions and they think it’s really cool and fashionable. They don’t even stop to wonder what’s causing the lesions or realize that lesions are signs of disease. One thing I give Anderson credit for is never telling the reader outright what the cause of the lesions is. I figured it out, but I suspect a lot of readers, especially younger readers, will miss it. I saw some complaints about the way the story is told; that it’s too slangy and hard to understand. I didn’t find this to be the case. I thought the slang created for this book was perfectly suited for the characters and the setting. Anderson doesn’t try to mimic the way teenagers today talk and how they think. Instead, he creates a teen language that is based on having 24/7 access to information and entertainment inside your head. Yet, he also managed to keep quite a bit of timeless adolescent attitude in the story. These kids weren’t any smarter or less attitudinal than kids have been for the last fifty years. In fact, they aren’t quite as savvy as modern kids. I highly recommend this book for any reader over 13. It’s intelligent and thought provoking. It doesn’t give the reader all the answers; it makes him or her work for them. I was very impressed. 2008 sci-fi 28 likes Like Comment Mykle Author 13 books 290 followers April 13, 2009 When I was sixteen, I caught an early matinee of The Man Who Fell To Earth. I was hungover after a night of serious teenage drinking, and that film made me decide to go straight-edge for the rest of my youth. It was such a cutting story, a hero's journey derailed by substance abuse, and it hit me at exactly the right moment. Having just finished Feed by M. T. Anderson, I'm now wondering if I ought to pitch this whole Internet thing overboard as well. Put it down and run away screaming. Feed reads like a SF-flavored Douglas Copland novel, if Douglas Copland didn't suck. It's the future story of jaded bourgeois teenagers who've inherited a dying planet, but who don't know what they're missing because they've all got Internet in chips in their heads: viral youtube links, targeted pop-up ads (tons), one-click purchasing, e-mail and IM, virtual shopping buddies and general psychic filesharing. They can fly to the moon and think it sucks. Their skin is falling off and they think it's the latest fashion. You could call them morons, but they're just victims of their information diets. It's so well realized that I can't help but draw parallels with my own life, where I spend far too much time in front of this cold white laptop inventing non-existent thought products and worrying about links. This book is gorgeous and clever and sad and creepy, and hopefully we'll all read it and decide never, ever to actually do this to our children. Because we totally could. 24 likes Like Comment Sunil 969 reviews 146 followers April 2, 2012 Feed has a good, interesting concept to work with: in the future, everyone's brain is linked to the Feed, so what we've always dreamed of is a reality—we are literally on the Internet ALL THE TIME. What this means is that the Feed is always learning about you and your preferences and recommending things for you to buy, you have the whole Internet's worth of information at your fingertips, you can cyberchat with people without having to type anything, and, oh, your brain is full of ads. The audiobook impressively creates what are essentially fully produced radio ads that appear in between chapters or, sometimes annoyingly/distressingly, break into the narration unexpectedly. When characters chat, they sound different than when they speak aloud, presumably recreating different fonts/formatting in the text. I would definitely like to experience more creative audiobooks like this one! If only Feed had compelling characters and a story to go along with the worldbuilding. I was reminded of Little Brother in that it seemed like M.T. Anderson had a good idea and wanted to make some social commentary, but he didn't really bother to tell a story. Some of the satire is pretty funny, and the social commentary is pointed and clever, but the main character is not likable at all, nor is anyone else in the book besides Violet, the girl he meets on the moon who opens his mind to maybe not being a sheep who relies on the Feed. Everyone talks in idiotic futuristic Valley Girl slang, and perhaps Anderson is making a point about how language will devolve into nonsense, but it sure makes for an annoying, frustrating read. At least Little Brother was entertaining. I wanted to give up on this book after the first few chapters, and it was a struggle to make it through most of it, since nothing really happened. The book focuses on the relationship between Titus and Violet, but Titus is so dull that I didn't really care. The book improves in the last third, but by that point, it had already lost me, and I wanted it to be over so I could move on. 2012 23 likes Like Comment TK421 571 reviews 279 followers June 3, 2019 UPDATE: Nine years later... Upon revisiting this book, I am changing my opinion of it. I've added a star. Perhaps I was too dense to appreciate the story in 2010. Regardless, read this book. It is more prescient today than ever. **************************************************************************** When I read the jacket blurb about this book I knew I was going to have a fun time with this story. Add to the fact that Anderson admits being influenced by none other than Mr. Thomas Pynchon, and this book had serious potential. (I have a serious man crush on Pynchon, which is really gross if I stop to think about it. But I digress.) And then I read the first page. Okay, I understand the need to get the voice of a character and to tell a story in that voice, if applicable. But this voice was atrocious. Was it me or was every character a stereotype of the whiny teenager or burn-out? How many times can a character say like in a sentence? Read the first page and see. But since I have an abnormal gene that requires me to finish everything I start, I sloughed through till the end. The writing, IMO, doesn't get any better, but the story more than made up for this. If dystopic futures and far fetched plots intrigue you, this may be worth exploring. I hope Anderson will take a stab at writing an adult novel. I would like to see how he adapts older characters to his imagination. RECOMMENDED sci-fi 19 likes Like Comment Sv 323 reviews 105 followers September 28, 2019 İşte, kitabın dilini anlamanız için falan aşağıdaki sinir bozucu tekniği kullandım. Bitti mi? Tabii ki hayır! Sabrım falan elvermedi. Bana okuduğum en iyi kitabı sorsanız size bir tane söyleyemem ama okuduğum en kötü kitabın ne olduğunu falan an itibariyle biliyorum. Aslında konu olarak falan güzel. Oksijen üreten fabrikalar, sonra işte beyine falan yerleştirilen bilgisayarlar, sonra yönlendirilen insanlar, sonra işte gezegenler arası seyahatler falan... [bu arada işte bu yazdıklarımdan bazılarını da kitabın arkasından falan çıkardım] Beyine yerleştirilen bilgisayarlar sayesinde herkes çok zeki falan böyle. Zaten bunun ismine de Bağlantı falan diyorlar. Ya da ben öyle çıkardım işte. Sonra işte bu karakterlere zeka fazla gelmiş falan, ama işte çok salaklardı. 'Ne diyo bu salaklar be' falan oldum. Sonra işte konuya falan girmedi yazar. Sonra karakterler yakalandı falan. Kim yakaladı anlamadım gibi. İşte aslında kitap akıcı. Gerçekten çok akıcı. Ama okurken oha falan olmasaydım severdim gibi bişey. Kitabın dilinden falan oldum. 18 likes Like Comment D.G. 1,366 reviews 341 followers June 4, 2017 I'm shaken. After reading this book, I've been revisiting everything about my life: how much time I spend in my iPhone, my values, my self-image. What is me and what is product of advertising? As a marketer, I've always been clear that marketing is a reflection of who we are more than the other way around but as I read this book, I realized the cumulative effect of having all the messages bombard us since we're pretty much in the womb. And even though our brains tells us that today's standards of beauty - perfect abs, thin thighs, no cellulite, glossy hair - are impossible to reach, there's a still a part of us that wish we could look like that. Totally fucked up!!! Titus is a teenager in a future where people have the Internet connected to their heads. And it doesn't only provides information, entertainment and of course advertising, it's also intricately connected to their brain, in such a way that if the feed doesn't work, it kills them. The feed is such a necessary part of their lives that they wouldn't consider themselves disconnecting even if they could. But the braggest thing about the feed, the thing that made it really big, is that it knows everything you want and hope for, sometimes before you even know what those things are. The description made it seem as if being disconnected from the feed makes Titus reconsider what having the feed means but it's actually the opposite. Violet, who had the feed installed as a child instead of at birth like the others, is the one that wants to be "normal", only worrying about fashion, parties and teenage shenanigans. Yet, she's more aware of the world at large, the consequences of our consumerism society, that the planet is dying, that people are dying in wars or attacks. Titus doesn't want to hear any of this, he wants to continue with his oblivious life and he does. At the end, poor Violet is the one that pays the consequences. The audiobook production was amazing. The narrative is constantly interrupted by ads, songs, "educational shows", all trying to sell you something, and these are produced like real ads, with that fake enthusiasm that's so ubiquitous in radio. It really brought home what this feed was about and how it must have felt to be continuous bombarded with advertising, literally in your head. David Aaron Baker, the narrator, was also excellent. All the teenagers had this bored valley voice, totally how you know they must have sounded. Feed wasn't a comfortable book to read but so worth it. It's made me realize that I have to make some changes in my life if I don't want the "feed" to take over my life. audiobook reviewed science-fiction ...more 17 likes Like Comment Muffin 1 review June 6, 2015 This book is trying to be some sort of social commentary or message for what the world will become, much like 1984, and how our current system will ultimately lead us to a world where we will all be saying like in every sentence and....cutting holes in our skin for fashion....that part was never well explained. The book takes place long in the future, where everybody has a "feed" installed in their brain, which is a chip that acts more or less as a smartphone, but it bombards you with ads and the whole thing is controlled by the user's brain. It's supposed to be a way for companies to advertise their shit directly to people. I'm not sure if the author believes this kind of stuff will happen or if it's just a story, but either way it isn't done well. The story starts off with a bunch of young delinquents on the moon (interplanetary travel is the norm in this book) trying to find something fun to do. Instantly they are using slang which is never explained and I to this day cannot decipher. "Meg" and "Youch" are just a few of the words that you will come across in this book. Some of the slang, like "unit" you can eventually figure out after a hundred pages but some of it is seemingly thrown in at random just to make a world in the future seem different than the one now. All of the characters are boring a flat, and have no more personality than a toaster strudel, with the exception of the main character who might have as much personality as a toaster strudel with extra icing. Him and his friends have become stupid because they grew up with the feed and they never think for themselves, and instead of conveying this by character development, they all sit around and say "Unit" while cursing and talking about stuff that is "meg brag". You know what that means just as well as I do after reading the whole book. For the entire book the narrator uses "like" and "meg" and "brag" and all kinds of other slang constantly, which just makes it more confusing and even more annoying to read. I know the characters are supposed to be annoying and not exactly the most eloquent speakers, but I could not stand reading this book for more than a few pages at a time because it gave me a headache. Imagine talking to a stereotypical college girl who always says "like" and "omg", but they use words that you don't even understand, and they have this horrible whiny voice that makes you want to punch them in the face. The whole book is like that, and it doesn't end until you have finally traveled to hell and back in an iron maiden full of snobby teenagers and stupid slang. The story is just as boring and uninteresting as the characters. Nothing interesting ever happens, and I was always left thinking, "Ok, NOW the conflict is going to set in..." but it turns out the conflict was some stupid plot element a hundred pages before that was so goddamn stupid I had to put the book down because of my headache and take a whole bottle of aspirin. People may tell you that young people don't like the book because it's about how their use of technology is harmful, and that may very well be true, but I don't like this book because it sucks. There are no interesting characters, no interesting plot elements, the dialogue makes me want to shoot whoever wrote this book, and when the book was finished I had a headache from reading all of the stupid bullshit for hundreds of pages. This book is trying to be some sort of modern 1984, but I was writing more complex and interesting (and much less annoying) stories in 6th grade. No, that is not an exaggeration. The author of this book may have a degree from Harvard, but they can't write for shit. If 1984 is a Ferrari then this book is a 40 year old car that doesn't have doors, a roof, a hood, or an engine, and was owned by a smoker with cancer until it was left to rot in a yard for decades until the rust overtook it. Unless you're into self inflicted headaches and poorly written boring stories, do yourself a favor and avoid this worthless excuse for a novel. 16 likes Like Comment Kristy 598 reviews 92 followers December 30, 2010 It must be the week for me to be reading weird books... first "Unwind" and now this.... I'm straddling the proverbial fence on this bad boy: On the positive hand, 1.It was a unique story But Sometimes different doesn't equal good. 2. The story itself was interesting but the writing sucked and it was "MEG" hard to get into 3. It was a cool take on how technology can be beneficial, but in extreme quantities we are actually worse off, to the point it makes our mind numb But it could have been executed so much better... there could have been so much more to the feed. 4. The actual Feed itself is such an awesome idea. We are basically walking computers that cater to our every need and want But as I said above it could have been so much more... 5. Violet was such a refreshing character but I hate her ending. 6. I (guiltily) like the idea of the feed, the part about getting products sent to you pretty much in an instant and the feed catering to my whims But it's shallow... the consumerism in this book is almost scary. Why? Becuase when you look at our society now, are we really that far off from this??? On the whole, this Rodeo is closing shop becuase it didn't sell enough tickets... it didn't hold my interest. I could go on, in my 50/50 state of mind. It was not horrible, nor was it great. 5/2= 2.5 stars! Sidenote: this is book #147 for me.... come on 150!!!! 16 likes Like Comment Alice-Elizabeth (Prolific Reader Alice) 1,162 reviews 163 followers January 21, 2018 So readers, I really wanted to like this book... But I didn't, in fact, my overall reading experience left me feeling more conflicted than before picking Feed up to read. I am HAPPY though that I have read this in one sitting since a few Goodreads users recommended me this novel right at the start of my Goodreads experience as a book reviewer. Titus is the main character and he has this feed inserted into his brain, this controls and receives adverts, messages and basically anything from the world wide web. He and his friends however end up being hacked and in hospital with no contact other than each other face to face and not from the outside world, he meets Violet. From the outside, she looks like them but actually, there's a secret. She hates the feed and wants to change its creation. I liked the story idea of the feed but the constant, short, snappy chapters made the story pacing drag. I struggled to connect to both Titus and Violet as characters. The ending also left me with more questions than answers. By this point, I knew the writing wasn't clicking for me. read-in-2018 13 likes Like Comment Jean 117 reviews January 28, 2009 The irony of seeing all the ads on goodreads to get me to this page is not escaping me. Feed is a novel that needs to be experienced. Anderson projects a world where fast-paced internet consumerism has taken over society, where people have the internet basically wired into their bodies, directly feeding them a stream of advertisement based on their every random thought. It's cleverly done. Anderson beats the reader over the head with a devolved and annoying language (the people are so dumbed-down that the hit show is called Oh! Wow! Thing! ) It's annoying to read but that's the point. Simultaneously, he buries observations about what's happening to the larger world. And his burial of these details mimics the mindset of the characters, who are so entrenched in their immediate but monotonous consumer-based lives that they have no clue what has happened to humanity and Earth. They don't even realize that they could have a clue. It can be hard to read the book. The plot isn't the most compelling mainly because few of the characters are (but again, that's the point); the cleverness of the book lies in how the story is told. It's a prolonged example of form-following-function. Even the chapters are just tiny little chunks: one doesn't have to concentrate on any single plot development for long, just like on the internet. It wasn't a page-turner for me, and I usually give 5 stars to books that suck me in as well as make me think, at least just a little. But I keep thinking of things I didn't like about the book and then realizing that the author really couldn't have written it any other way and still maintain the effect. I hope the fact that I didn't enjoy it terribly was part of the point. Well gotta go shuffling through this website's recommendations of other books similar to it that I might like. That's like, brag. fiction 13 likes Like Comment Beth The Vampire 322 reviews 23 followers March 11, 2017 This was another book I had to read for my Writing for Young Adult course this semester. I don't know where to start with this book. The ideas were fantastic, but the writing was really strange and I couldn't really get into it. The concept of the feed is that it is installed in your brain as a child and it essentially feeds you adverts, online shopping, tv shows, and games 24 hours a day seven days a week, and all in front of your eyes. It is not only a great comment on youth culture and materialism, but it shows the gradual progression to humans becoming dependent on corporations and value is placed on our lives depending on whether we are considered a profitable investment. I don't know when they first had feeds. Like Maybe, fifty or a hundred years ago. Before that, they had to use their hands and their eyes. Computers were all outside the body. they carried them around outside of them, in their hands, like if you carried your lungs in a briefcase and opened it to breathe. Little emphasis is placed on the wider wold, but it appears to be a world that is quickly dying. Everyone seems to have a lesion on their body (which become quite fashionable after the celebrities appear with one), begin losing their skin and hair towards the end, live above the clouds in bubbles that regulate the weather, and to even get close to the ocean you need to wear a radioactive suit. But I guess this wasn't the point of the book though. On a trip to the moon Titus meets Violet, who has come alone wanting to having a normal adolescent experience, and Titus, thinking that she is pretty, decides to take her along with his friends. While at a club they are confronted by a man who takes over their feeds, and they are all detained in a hospital so it can be determined whether their feeds have been corrupted. They are soon released and return home, with titus continuing to see Violet, but things become complicated when Violet finds out that her feed is malfunctioning, and slowly killing her. Titus is caught between wanting to continue with his innocent, yet ignorant, life, and spending time with Violet, the little that she has left. As a character, Titus was a jerk. Flat out wanker. The way he treated Violet towards the end was no short of despicable, and he can apologise all he wants, but she is the one lying in a bed not being able to move while her brain is slowly dying bit by bit. I don't feel like he grew at all during the book, and will likely go back to being the same mainstream guy. Maybe it's because I'm an adult that I find his behaviour despicable, and as an adolescent you don't want to think about being with someone forever and one day dying. Still, it was happening to her, and the least he could have done is not been so fucking selfish. The writing was filled with a lot of 'dudes,' 'mega,' and calling each other 'unit.' It was very simple and easy to read, but I just didn't like the way it flowed. At about half way I was starting to get really irritated by it. I don't mind it in speech, but in the narrative as well, not so much. Just because people talk with a lot of 'likes' doesn't mean the exposition has to be full of them as well. So while this very character based story did have its interesting moments, there was a lot left to be desired from my perspective in terms of world building, and the way the story was told. books-i-have-to-read-for-uni post-apocalyptic-dystopian science-fiction ...more 12 likes Like Comment Jackie "the Librarian" 893 reviews 288 followers August 28, 2008 It's the future, the internet is beamed directly into your head, people live in domes because the air and water outside is so polluted, people are getting lesions on their skin and their hair is falling out, and all anyone thinks about is amusing their jaded selves and buying stuff. But don't bother visiting the moon, 'cause it's totally lame. The one exception is Violet, but she was homeschooled, so she's pretty weird. But Titus kind of likes her anyway. Too bad her feed got so fried. Anderson captures the banality of teenage life, and the contrast between that and the horrors of their world, and the implacable disintegration of the one character who seemed to really be a thoughtful aware person, was just devastating. I can see this world just over the horizon, and it scares me. This book is especially good in the audio version, where you can experience that internet feed for yourself. National Book Award finalist. awardwinners sciencefiction teen-books-adults-can-enjoy ...more 10 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,514 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 85 quotes 134 discussions 12 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Cog by Greg Van Eekhout | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $2.99 Rate this book Cog Greg Van Eekhout , Beatrice Blue ( Illustrator ) 4.15 867 ratings 186 reviews Want to read Kindle $2.99 Rate this book Five robots. One unforgettable journey. Their programming will never be the same. Cog looks like a normal twelve-year-old boy. But his name is short for “cognitive development,” and he was built to learn. But after an accident leaves him damaged, Cog wakes up in an unknown lab—and Gina, the scientist who created and cared for him, is nowhere to be found. Surrounded by scientists who want to study him and remove his brain, Cog recruits four robot accomplices for a mission to find her. Cog, ADA, Proto, Trashbot, and Car’s journey will likely involve much cognitive development in the form of mistakes, but Cog is willing to risk everything to find his way back to Gina. Genres Middle Grade Science Fiction Robots Adventure Fiction Childrens Audiobook ...more 208 pages, Hardcover First published October 1, 2019 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Greg Van Eekhout 59 books 368 followers Greg van Eekhout writes books. Some are for kids, some are for adults. He lives in San Diego. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.15 867 ratings 186 reviews 5 stars 330 (38%) 4 stars 370 (42%) 3 stars 142 (16%) 2 stars 19 (2%) 1 star 6 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews The Artisan Geek 445 reviews 7,367 followers Read March 24, 2020 4/3/20 I read this one, because it's a Nebula award finalist for the MG and YA category, and it was so good! Wow! The characters are so cute and funny, it's hard not to root for them :) We get to experience first-hand how the main character Cog, learns (the at times tough) lessons of life . Van Eekhout managed to so deftly weave those into the narrative, whilst still providing a thoroughly entertaining story centred around artificial intelligence and our future with it. Honestly this would be perfect for any kid :) You can find me on Youtube | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Website 9 likes Like Comment David Author 102 books 90 followers March 16, 2020 Story of a boy named Cog who also happens to be an advanced robot. When he's damaged after trying to save a dog, he's separated from Gina, the woman who built him and who is helping him learn about the world. He finds himself in the corporate headquarters of the company who funded his development and finds they may not have the best motives for building intelligent automata. Aided by other robots, he goes on a cross country quest for Gina. It's great fun to watch Cog learn about the world and about his own feelings. 4 likes Like Comment Saralyn 24 reviews April 7, 2022 Sweet middle grade book about a kid robot. It’s one of those stories that makes you think about what it means to be alive. The writing style got a bit annoying to me because it is from the perspective of someone brand new to the world and so they explain everything in a silly way. Overall it was creative and had a good message. 4 likes Like Comment Adelina 260 reviews 10 followers May 30, 2020 I don’t know even know where to start. I’m cheesing over this book so much! I bought it for my nephew on a whim one day - hoping that it would be an at least ok book. Well after he finished it, he gave it back and said I HAD to read it. So I gathered my little ones around, and we read. My kids who don’t enjoy family book night we’re rolling on the floor laughing. They picked up new words and are using them in normal every day sentences. They are letting the characters inspire their artwork. I love reading. I can’t get enough it. But it has been a long time since I’ve read something so incredibly good. To top it all off though - this book isn’t just a humorous piece of fiction. It has a life lesson we could all learn. The overarching theme of belonging, free will, and learning from our mistakes has set this book easily as my number 1 read of 2020. Now excuse me while I go enjoy a cup of hot cocoa and a plate of cheese. 4 likes Like Comment Skye Walker 40 reviews 2 followers May 25, 2020 Cog, a nominee for the Andre Norton Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction (awarded with the Nebula awards), is the story of a robot who was built to learn. Mentally and, by all appearances, the titular character (Cog) is a 12-year-old boy whose function is to be a learning artificial intelligence. When he discovers that the best way to learn is to make mistakes, he resolves to make lots of mistakes — a decision which kicks off the narrative arc of the story. Cog has an underdog main character, key themes of friendship and found family, and a quick pace. These middle grade/young adult mainstay themes make the more experimental parts of the narrative stand out, but not in a good way. The first plot point that gave me pause occurred early in the story, when Cog was taken to a grocery store for the first time and he has what is essentially an anxiety or panic attack. As he assesses the situation and his reaction, he calms himself down and expresses his discomfort with the situation to his adult parental figure and creator, Gina. Even though Cog communicates his feelings to Gina, she not only ignores his discomfort, but also sets him on a difficult task and then treats him coldly when he returns and until they leave the grocery store. This interaction told me as a reader that we have a main character who is coded as neurodivergent with a parental figure who dismisses him. This introduction to the world and its characters made me wonder how the author was going to engage with these complex themes with sensitivity in the book, and I was disappointed to find that the author does not do so. Cog’s parental figure is not even the only adult who dismisses his feelings. Later in the story, another engineer with power over him directly and repeatedly dismisses his feelings and fears, especially concerning his physical body. Highlight the following text to view spoilers: This character is later revealed to be the villain of the story, but I found that enough effort was not made to distinguish between how this adult and Gina treat Cog’s autonomy, feelings, and fears. These choices muddied the narrative for me and made Cog’s late-story reunion with Gina ring rather hollow because she is shown as being only very marginally better than the villain of the story . This brings me to my next issue with the story, specifically around the bodily autonomy of the child protagonist and how it is treated in the book. A recurring device I was surprised to see in a book that lands on both middle grade and YA shelves was body horror. As the main character (and many of the characters in the book) are robots, there is an argument to be made that what happens to them cannot be called body horror because they are not flesh-and-blood beings. However, given that this is a book for children and young people, the robot characters are extremely empathetic and, by and large, act like regular human beings. So, when a character’s fingernails are described in detail as being ‘lifted so that the character can be plugged in for diagnostics’, it’s uncomfortable to read. Unfortunately, it only gets worse as things happen to characters against their wills (like, for instance, having their skulls opened to remove their brains) and their bodily autonomy is violated. Like real children, the robot children in Cog have very little recourse for asserting their body autonomy against their caregivers, and this makes Cog seem like a bizarre horror story aimed at children. It’s a stark, uncomfortable reality being reflected, and it made me wonder how the author would meaningfully communicate to young readers that their bodily autonomy matters, and if someone were to cross a line, they would be in the wrong. The answer was that Van Eekhout didn’t. Neither the body horror nor the control over Cog’s body were confronted: consent is a critical subject for the intended audience, and though this book approaches it from multiple angles, it never adequately treats it with the clarity and gravity it deserves. There was another crucial aspect that never saw any real development: specifically, Cog is depicted as having panic attacks and generally being an anxious kid. There are multiple scenes in the story where he feels he must act quickly and decisively but is unable to do so because he is afraid. This fear not only affects him in life-or-death situations, like when attack drones are chasing Cog and his friends, but also in the earlier scene at the grocery store. Through the narrative, Cog is depicted as being overwhelmed by certain stimuli and feeling intense trepidation when he thinks someone else is counting on him: in short, he is depicted as having an anxiety disorder. In moments where he has a panic attack and someone else jumps in to take control of the situation, Cog comes away with a kind of ‘friendship-is-magic’ lesson and no one ever checks in on him or acknowledges that he was in distress. While having friends that can help ease stressful situations is a good thing, the takeaway side-steps the core issue here: the main character is coded as having untreated anxiety and no one is talking about it or supporting him through something that can be terrifying to live with on your own. Very early in the story, I thought that it was going to be revealed that Cog is not actually a robot but a young boy with autism expressing himself through a make-believe that protects him from the world by supposing that he is a near-invincible robot. Because the book is told from a first-person perspective, my experience of Cog was as character who is coded as a normal kid who is autistic. It’s the body horror that made it clear that he is, in fact, a robot. To be blunt, I don’t think the world needs another depiction of autism as if it’s the way robots work and not the lived reality of actual human beings. This cliché narrative around autistic people being robotic is only worsened by depictions like this one, showing a machine, rather than a child, with thought processes and confusions and feelings that align with how many autistic people think and feel. As expected from a book that lands on the middle grade shelf, Cog has a happy ending: unfortunately, I don’t think it stuck the landing. As I’ve alluded to, the end of the story does little to assuage any of my problems with the story, and it honestly left me more incredulous than satisfied. Though Cog ends up being able to live with Gina once more, and she did treat him better than the villain, she still put him through emotional stress that is never addressed constructively or apologized for by the end of the story. Also, though the sinister company that wanted to destroy Cog has faced a setback, the text explicitly states that not only does the company still exists but the villain of the story has started a new, worse company founded on his warped ideals. Essentially, he’s been unleashed from an evil corporation that held him back from being even more evil. The little solace we do get is that the main characters are living a quiet life in the middle of nowhere — however, this allows their knowledge of the evil corporations and their work in freeing the world from their machinations to go to waste. I had been holding out hope that some important conversation would happen between Gina and Cog, but no such conversation happens, leaving those troubling threads and themes to stand on their own. In the end, I can’t recommend this book. It has elements that are really lovely — the found family aspect had a good arc, and the technological aspect goes to some interesting places, especially towards the end. For me, all of that was overshadowed by the important and sometimes fraught conversations that were left hanging, or worse, never commented upon at all. Cog’s narrative arc and tidy ending leave much to be desired. This review first appeared at Fantasy Literature . 3 likes Like Comment Kate Willis Author 24 books 539 followers May 15, 2024 Highly enjoyed this creative, heartfelt story. Cog and Proto were my favorites, but everyone was fabulous. I especially loved the themes. Oh, and it takes place partly in Arizona which is fun. 🙌 adoption-foster-care children friendship ...more 3 likes Like Comment Kylie 944 reviews 24 followers March 29, 2020 4.5 stars This book was so cute! I wasn't sure if I would like it at the beginning. I absolutely loved the characters. They were all so dynamic and fun. I loved the little lessons snuck in there that a robot would want to or feel like it had to explain. There was a lot of humor in it and I found myself laughing out loud several times. As an adult, I still really enjoyed this middle grade book, so if you are an adult looking for something quick and fun, this is the book for you! audiobooks-waitsfield books-i-own 3 likes Like Comment BookishStitcher 1,256 reviews 47 followers July 30, 2020 3.5 stars This book was a surprise to me because it packed a lot of philosophical ideas into such a small kids book. 3 likes Like Comment Jenna (Falling Letters) 710 reviews 65 followers April 12, 2020 Review originally published 12 April 2020 at Falling Letters. . I realize now that I didn’t take enough notes while reading to give Cog the review it deserves. I do recall my initial impression: a surprisingly strong and nuanced read, for such an unassuming little book. I was very glad it wasn’t 400+ pages. Cog is a lovely story with great pacing. The personalities of each robot is clearly differentiated. They contribute to moving the story forward in a meaningful way. Cog’s unique narrative voice is one of the book’s best assets. I laughed out loud at many of his comments, especially about what he’s learning. I kept reading because I wanted to find out what happened to Gina and how Cog would get away from uniMIND. The straightforward entertainment of the robots’ interactions and the getaway plot would be enough to make this a fun read. There’s a good mix of levity and gravity. van Eekhout further strengthens the story by exploring artificial intelligence, free will, and personal agency. Cog offers plenty to reflect on without being too preachy or allegorical. This book was a Cybils 2019 finalist. It’s also nominated for the 2019 Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction. The Bottom Line: Coming in under 200 pages, Cog still packs in all the elements for a great middle grade read. (Not just for scifi fans!) 2020 cybils-2019 middle-grade 2 likes Like Comment P.M. 1,314 reviews December 28, 2019 Simply put - I loved it just as much as I loved "Voyage of the Dogs." Cog is a 7 month old, 12 year old android whose sole purpose is to learn. When he is abducted by uniMind which wants to harvest his X-module, Cog plots an escape to find Gina, his caretaker. Aided by his sister. ADA, Proto, Trashbot, and Car, he sets off across country to find Gina. This reminded me a lot of "The Wild Robot" with a hero who was both more human and humane than the real humans. It was a good way to spend a snow day. 3 likes Like Comment Lydia Liuba 16 reviews 7 followers August 16, 2020 I was looking for a cute middle grade audiobook to listen to in bed before falling asleep. I did not expect this to turn as dark as it did, but I did end up being so invested in the plot that I finished listening to it this morning. The story follows Cog, a 12 year old boy for all intents and purposes - except for the fact that he is really a 7 month old robot build for learning. He lives with Gina, his creator and caregiver, until one day after an accident, he finds himself in the corporation where he has been built with Gina having been transferred to a different facility far away. So begins Cog's journey to find Gina and return home with her. Along the way, he finds new friends and an incredible power within himself. I really enjoyed the road trip portion of the story, it was a fun and action-filled adventure with very likeable characters. The writing style took some getting used to but it really helped to get inside Cog's head and understand his thought processes. Towards the end, it turned a bit more into a sci-fi thriller than a fun adventure and I have to say, I was not prepared for a book like this to deal with themes such as bodily autonomy, the dangers and opportunities of AI, and what it means to be human. Overall a very interesting read and probably a good way for kids to be introduced to these subjects. Although it might not be suitable for younger children because it does contain some violence and scary scenes. Now, Cog (and possibly Ada) is pretty clearly coded as being autistic and experiences what seems to be sensory overload and/or anxiety attacks throughout the story and I'm aware that some people weren't happy with how this was handeled. In my opinion, however, this was done rather well because even if Cog is a robot, he is far from the "cold and unfeeling machine" autistic people are unfortunately often portrayed as. That being said, this is just from my limited point of view, so if I were to find out about people with autism who felt uncomfortable with this representation, I'd absolutely lower my rating. 2020-reads audiobooks library 2 likes Like Comment Sam (she_who_reads_) 718 reviews 17 followers November 19, 2019 A super fast paced story, full of fun, action, and adventure. I’m sure middle grade readers will have a blast with this one! 2 likes Like Comment HelloLasse 528 reviews 66 followers March 17, 2020 Nysgerrig, Sjov og spændende! Hurtig at kommer igennem! En bog man gerne vil gi et kram :D børn-billedebøger-børn english fiction ...more 2 likes Like Comment Allison Tebo Author 20 books 396 followers August 1, 2021 Sometimes, five stars ratings are not sufficient. I need to give this book ten. alex childrens own 2 likes Like Comment Nicole M. Hewitt Author 1 book 347 followers September 23, 2020 This book is wonderful because of its incredibly unique middle-grade voice. The MC is a robot boy, and his perspective on the world is humorous and sometimes incredibly insightful. The story focused on friendship and the concept of free will (in a way that middle graders will relate to). It would be perfect for the slightly younger MG crowd since it’s a little lighter fare than the current MG trend (and also shorter), but that didn’t prevent it from having some impactful messages. I found this to be a delightful read! 2 likes Like Comment Renee Priddis 197 reviews April 29, 2020 Read aloud to the kids. Hilarious and enjoyed reading it nightly to the kids. 2 likes Like Comment Christina Pilkington 1,679 reviews 217 followers May 13, 2020 Until I saw it listed on this year’s Nebula shortlist, I had never heard of this book. But I’m so glad it was on the list because it was so cute! Cute yet surprisingly deep at the same time. It was an AI, found family, road trip mission, high-stakes escape novel exploring the ideas of free will and choice, individual purpose and corporate greed. At the beginning of the novel we meet Cog, short for cognitive development- a robot who was designed to learn. He’s happily living with his creator when he winds up getting hit by a truck while in the process of learning, and finds himself inside a company called uniMIND. Cog learns the company is working on something dangerous and secretive. He also meets Trashbot, who just wants to rid the world of trash; Proto, a rambunctious robot dog; Car, a smart car with a voice of its own; and ADA, Cog’s sister who considers herself a weapon. They work together to find Cog’s original creator, Gina. Cog also has a secret ability of his own and learns more about its importance as the story unfolds. There are moments of action scatted between quieter moments where Cog gradually learns that it's through making mistakes and having a variety of different experiences that we grow. The writing style is very simplistic with short, declarative sentences, but it’s a smart choice in creating the perfect robot-sounding voice for Cog. It also has some great laugh out loud moments, too! I wound up reading this aloud to my 14 year olds and they really enjoyed it. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy middle grade, sci-fi, and questions of free will and choice. 1 like Like Comment Tamara Evans 908 reviews 41 followers February 2, 2020 This is engaging, fast paced story about a robot and his mission to return to his human guardian. Cog Isa seven month old robot designed to look like a twelve year old boy. He lives with uniMind engineer Gina and spends his days learning new things. Cog’s sole mission is learning new things and sharing the things he learns with others. As Cog is increasing his list of life experiences one day, when he attempts to save a dog from being killed by a truck, he is kidnapped by a greedy uniMind executive named Nathan and is taken to the uniMind lab. During Cog’s time at the unlMind headquarters, he discovers that he contains a special component and that Nathan plans to remove his brain in order to retrieve it and use it to impact all uniMind robots. Cog desperately want to find Gina and as such, he finds three robot allies at uniMind to help him accomplish his mission. As he and the other robots work together, Cog discovers new things about himself as well as the other robots. I liked this book in that the author’s writing style has an easy flow. Each of the character are well written and the storyline is interesting and draws the reader in so that by the end of the book, they genuinely care about the fate of Cog and the other robots. kid-fiction 1 like Like Comment Diana 442 reviews 22 followers October 17, 2021 Okay first, Greg Van Eekhout is an amazing human and I adore him. Mainly because you may recall that Kid Younger and I read his Voyage of the Dogs together, and that it made such an impact on my child that she insisted on cosplaying as Champion (the lead dog in the story) for Halloween that year. We sent some fanmail to him about it, and he was so excited in his response, that my kid was over the MOON for weeks about it. In his recent virtual signing at my local friendly indie bookstore, Mysterious Galaxy, I requested that my books be signed to my kid, and he DREW A CHAMPION UNDER HIS SIGNATURE FOR HER COPY OF COG. Needless to say, she quite literally screamed and fell over when she saw it. What a guy, my dudes. This child is SO STOKED. Anyway. Thank you, Greg, and we'll be loyal fans for pretty much ever at this point. Then I stole it and read it first, HA. *cough* I mean, I read it while she was busy with her grandparents, and it wasn't nefarious at all. But! Now I kinda wish we'd read it together. It's less gut-wrenching than Voyage of the Dogs, so I'm not worried :D but it's just so sweetly put together, and such a fantastic little story about robots and roboticists (and a primer on robot autonomy and the rights of sentient beings), and I'm glad to have it. Recommended for your own little robots, but make sure to read over their shoulders, as you too will find it extremely charming. books-with-the-kid 1 like Like Comment Bruce 494 reviews 12 followers November 3, 2019 This is a "YA" book. Despite that, as an adult, I really enjoyed reading it. Gina builds and programs robots. She's good at what she does. She works for uniMIND, one of the premier robotic companies. ADA was her first robot but uniMIND took her away to weaponize her. Then she built Cog (short for "cognitive development") a robot (or biomaton) who is designed to learn from good and bad experiences (with Gina at his side). When uniMIND discovers Cog. They move Gina to another distant lab and they take Cog back to their laboratory to remove his brain for study. If you're like me, you'd resist such an idea. He, along with Trashbot, Proto, ADA, and Car, escape and try to find Gina. Meanwhile, Gina has become an unwilling uniMIND experiment at the remote lab where she's been taken. It's a good story that doesn't lose momentum and the technology is reasonable. I do wonder where Car's brain was stored. 1 like Like Comment Beth Cato Author 118 books 617 followers March 19, 2020 I read this as part of my Norton finalist packet. Cog is a middle grade science fiction novel packed full of heart. Cog is a robot boy with a love of learning. He can tell you everything you'd ever want to know about cheese and platypuses. He's happy living in a house and learning from his caregiver, Gina. But after he dives into traffic to save a dog, he awakens patched-up in the main facility of his corporate maker. Not only is Gina gone, but the other scientists aren't so nice. The solution: bust out (with some friends) and find Gina! The core of the book gave me solid 1980s movie road trip vibes a la Flight of the Navigator and Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. It's laugh-out-loud funny at several points as the robot boy and his motley crew learn a lot about themselves, the company that made them, and their own power to make choices. Plus, it features the best talking car since Knight Rider. This is a book that parents and grandparents will enjoy as much as the kids. 2020 middle nebula ...more 1 like Like Comment Geoffreyjen Author 1 book 19 followers February 19, 2022 There are occasionally books that you run across that are so special you go to sleep at night feeling the world has grown larger because of them. This is one of those books. It is simply written with evocative language and many touches of humour, of the kind that also makes one feel bigger. It is written for what is called Middle Grade, that is, preteens, but like all good writing it may appeal to readers of all ages. Understand, this is not the deepest, most compelling story you'll ever read. In fact, it's rather light in some ways, although there is plenty of action to carry the story forward in ways that make sense, and there are also some important things that are said within its pages. But what this books does, is that it remains with you after you have read it. I also think it is a story that will appeal to the middle graders for whom it is clearly designed, with a lot of playful storytelling that I'm sure will appeal. But this 65-year-old also loved it. Recommended. fiction-childrens science-fiction 1 like Like Comment Carli 1,208 reviews 14 followers December 14, 2023 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. When Cog, a robot who looks remarkably like a boy, is separated from the scientist who created him, he panics. He recruits another robot, who was created to kill, a trash bot, and a dog robot to embark on a cross-country trip to find Gina. This one reminded me a lot of Smekday by Adam Rex, which I also loved. It’s equal parts funny and heartfelt. Super cute, quick read. Recommended for grades 4-6. 1 like Like Comment Abbie 1,508 reviews 10 followers September 18, 2020 This novel by Greg Van Eekhout surprised me with its humor and heart. Cog and his robotic friends are endearing characters, and the questions about free will and cruelty to those with less power will stay with readers after the last page. Recommended. Read more at Bookish Adventures . robots science-fiction 1 like Like Comment Jason Lundberg Author 70 books 157 followers July 7, 2021 I picked up this book at the library for my 11-year-old daughter because Greg is a friend and my daughter likes robotics. She inhaled the novel in a day and a half, telling me how much she loved it, and especially the little robodog Proto (rarf!). It took me a few days longer than her, but I also loved this to pieces. Absolutely wonderful. novels-novellas 1 like Like Comment Dianna 1,892 reviews 43 followers July 20, 2021 Really cute book about a robot boy. Fans of Data or Wall-E must read this book. Lots of funny bits. Minus a star for the unnecessary flatulence talk (even if it is in robot words). I'm sure some will consider this a bonus, but it's not my favorite. 1 like Like Comment Manon 1,733 reviews 25 followers October 27, 2019 This wasn't really for me. The message was a good one, though. 1 like Like Comment Leah (Jane Speare) 1,436 reviews 431 followers May 20, 2020 Beautiful middle grade novel about empathy and learning that I will be putting into every possible kid’s hands. 1 like Like Comment Alicia 68 reviews 2 followers October 12, 2021 This book made my kids laugh so hard. I read it aloud and we got through it in record time because everyone wanted to know what was going to happen next. read-aloud 1 like Like Comment Alexandria Grace 28 reviews 13 followers Read January 8, 2023 This was super sweet!!! And I got a good chuckle out of it, haha. :-) 1 like Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. 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The 13th Prophecy (Demon Kissed, #5) by H.M. Ward | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Demon Kissed #5 The 13th Prophecy H.M. Ward 4.22 1,028 ratings 64 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book The time has come for Ivy to face her dark fate. There are no other options--she must destroy Kreterus. Failure to destroy him will result in the annihilation of the world we know and Ivy being doomed to reside in the Underworld for eternity.DEMON KISSED SERIES #1. Demon Kissed #2. Cursed #3. Torn #4. Satan's Stone #5. The 13th Prophecy#6. Fall of the Golden Valefar #7. TBAADDITIONAL DEMON KISSED VALEFAR VOLUMES (Demon Kissed Novellas) #1. Valefar Vol. 1 #2. Valefar Vol. 2 Genres Paranormal Romance Demons Young Adult Paranormal Romance Angels Fantasy ...more 336 pages, ebook First published March 6, 2012 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author H.M. Ward 136 books 6,563 followers H.M. Ward continues to reign as a NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author who surpassed more than 23 million books sold, placing her among the literary titans. Ward has been featured in articles in the NEW YORK TIMES, FORBES, and USA TODAY to name a few. You can interact with this bestselling author at: www.facebook.com/AuthorHMWard . Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.22 1,028 ratings 64 reviews 5 stars 481 (46%) 4 stars 350 (34%) 3 stars 154 (14%) 2 stars 25 (2%) 1 star 18 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews Brie 70 reviews 4 followers April 10, 2017 Before I begin my review here are a few random thoughts... -Holy shit. -Oh Eric. Stop being so demented and come find me. I'll love you forever...just don't love me back you sick bastard. -I want the new guardian of the pool of lost souls as a pet. -Yay for happy(?) endings. -Lol. Nakey. Ok. Review time. Morals, self respect, and dignity are telling me to hate this book. To not only shun but condemn it to the lowest of the low ranking....but....I....can't. Some twisted suppressed masochistic part of me likes it. I want to be perfectly clear. The writing. The plot. The characters. Everything that's important in a good book is all here. You can not tell me a single character is dull or flat. They all have "dark" and "light" aspects. In other words. They frickin rock. The plot flows seamlessly. I wasn't bored once. Even when there's no action (or action;) enough of the story is being revealed that I'm still on edge about what's going to happen. I had tingly feelings during every sentence. It felt like my emotions were ripped away shredded and then returned with a shrug and "Opsies. Have fun putting yourself back together:)" You don't even know what you did to me book! Back to the dark side. The violence between Ivy and Eric and how they felt about it is just..ugh. No matter what was said it couldn't be explained away. Allowing it was horrible and degrading...... But I understood... I felt like it added to the story like it couldn't be as powerful with out it.. I am so fucked up. Yeah.. I'm off to therapy. Bye. 5 likes Like Comment WillReedur 3 reviews March 7, 2012 OH MY GOSH!!!! What an amazing end!!! I'd LOVE to read a novella on what happened next! Can't wait for the spin offs either! 5 likes Like Comment Mike J 40 reviews 1 follower March 18, 2012 READ MORE BOOK REVIEWS IN YA, CHILDREN'S, AND ADULT FICTION. This series started out as solid Young Adult reading. I devoured them alongside my daughter... But, with this concluding volume the series has really graduated into a full-fledged adult paranormal romance - and it's stronger for it. All along we've seen Ivy Taylor struggle with the reality of who she believes herself to be versus who she is fated to become. With this book, the underlying theme that has been alluded to all along becomes much clearer - life comes in shades of gray. Good and evil, right and wrong, aren't always clear cut. That's what made me appreciate this series so much for younger readers. Can a likable, lovable, relatable character really by damned? Can true love be deeper than mere swooning, and complicated by less admirable feelings? Does someone always have to win? This was a really great, satisfying, conclusion that avoided the typical Disneyification that we expect in modern stories. And, that's also why my twelve year old won't be reading this last book for a while... The sexual tension in the past books is ratcheted way up and allowed to play out more than it has before. The relationships are more complex - and at times twisted - than a young kid could be expected to follow. And, the ending leaves readers feeling as though the author was true to the story and characters, even if it meant taking us all on a wild ride and a very dark roller coaster. If you're an adult reader who hasn't picked up this series yet, the Ivy-Eric relationship alone will be enough to keep you turning pages. This is an excellent series for a book club due to the nature of the novels. 3 likes Like Comment Grecekia 121 reviews March 8, 2012 Damn...I just had to read the whole book! It was just to good to put down. I happy sad and feeling a strong need for more Ivy and Collin. They are too cute. I hate to say it but so much more could happen with this ending. Ivy is so powerful in this book it was hard to believe that she was so young. Without saying to much I did like the hurting going on between the two. I know it played into bigger things but it was painful at times to read and not be turned off. Overall...this is a great series and one of my faves. favorites 3 likes Like Comment Rita Torkelson 37 reviews 9 followers October 3, 2012 I love this series. I mean, really love it, so it was especially sad to feel so let down by the final book. Don't get me wrong - it was a good book. It just didn't have the satisfying bang I was hoping for. I could list all the things that bothered me, but I won't - I'll just stick to the 3 that really got me tweaked. *** POSSIBLE SPOILERS**** 1) Is it just me, or did Ivy get pretty slutty in this? It seems like every guy in the story got to feel her up at least once. And then she's walking around naked and half-naked all the time (yes, I know the last one couldn't be helped). 2) The ending with Lococia was very anti-climactic. I kind of figured out what kind of angel she would get as payment, but I would have actually liked to have witnessed the ass-kicking. It was disappointing that they just walked in the mirror and that was the last we heard of it. 3) The final showdown with Kreterus was also VERY anti-climactic, especially since that's what the first 4 books were leading up to. It was clever how she pulled it off (I didn't see that coming at all and was actually getting mad at her for being such a quitter), but it was literally over in one paragraph. One! I was hoping for a little more description, maybe watch him writhe and suffer for a bit, hear about blood pouring out of his eyes, or his head exploding, or something - not just a lou cracking sound, and a silent scream. Very disappointing. As I said at the beginning, I really did like the book, it just seemed to have a different flavor than the others. It's a good book, but to me, not a good ending to such an amazing series. 2 likes Like Comment Alexa 85 reviews September 5, 2013 IT CAME OUT ON MY NOOK LAST NIGHT (march 4)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!OK TO MUCH EXCLAMATION POINTS SORRY BUT THERE ARE MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111 it was good the ending was all OMG!!!!!! poor eric loves ivy but can't touch her cuz shes a soul with no body and poor poor ivy always gonna be and poor colin no body only a soul on the brightside they can only be touched by each other 3-stars favorite-authors favorites ...more 2 likes Like Comment Swati 57 reviews March 7, 2012 I got in on my Kindle last night!!! It's great so far (not that i expected any different)! :D ........................................................................... I've just finished the book and I think it is every bit as brilliant as the others. I couldn't stop reading until I found out exactly how Ivy would extract herself from this elaborate plot without damning herself or anyone innocent in the process. The story had plenty of twists and turns -I honestly couldn't tell what would happen next, a rare quality in a book. The end to this gripping series is perfect. I like that everything doesn't just magically resolve itself all of a sudden, but it ends sadly but realistically (well as realistic as you can call paranormal fiction!) and at the same time with a sense of future happiness for our incredible, brave, butt-kicking protangonist. I admit there were parts I had to reread to understand properly, but it was worth it. If you have been following Ivy thus far, I strongly recommend that you discover what happens next in this unmissable finale -or you'll regret it! I'm serious! 2 likes Like Comment Yovana 141 reviews 2 followers March 19, 2012 Before I say anything detailing 1. Oh Em Gee!!!!!!! 2. all hell no!!! Ok so from the first book I was hooked! I couldn't wait for it to come out and when i got it I couldn't believe it. From start to finish I didn't want to put it down. I finished it in two days and all I kept thinking was I should have read it slower. But I just couldn't wait. Now that I'm done I wanted more! She never seems to let us down when it comes to her writing. Loved the suspense, so many twists and turns that I loved it. Loved the fact that when i read i could feel like i could feel what they were experienceing. Love, hate, confusion, pain, everything so detailed that i could picture it happening. Couldn't believe what happened from beginning to end. Especially towads the end with Ivy and Collin. Can't wait for more. :D 2 likes Like Comment Bree 20 reviews March 8, 2012 This book is AMAZING! All I have to say is AWESOME JOB H.M. Ward!!!It is the perfect book to end this thrill riding paranormal romance! I was never sure which guy Ivy was going to end up with. Not only did we get to keep up with Ivy, Collin, and Eric, we also learned a little more about a few of the secondary characters. I must say that if The Evil Demon King really did look as good as what i pictured in my head I'm not sure I would be able to resist! This book picks up right where Satan's Stone left off so you must read all of the books to get an understanding. I will be waiting to read the spin off series!!! 2 likes Like Comment Susan Alonso 38 reviews 4 followers March 20, 2012 I loved this series well written awesome characters and I could not put it down ... awesome job!!! books-i-loved 2 likes Like Comment Sara 970 reviews 18 followers June 26, 2017 This was a great final book to Demon Kissed. Right from the beginning the action started and it drew me in until the end. A few parts were a little hard to figure out so I had to read them again, which is why it got 4stars instead of 5. The end really was heartbreaking and not very happy. But the very end left us with a good happy note. Love Collin, Eric and Ivy! Can't wait for the spinoff series. angels-and-demons nook young-adult 1 like Like Comment Ana 1,247 reviews 36 followers March 30, 2012 Wow!! Finished reading it last night and it's absolutely amazing! So many things happening at the end I just couldn't stop reading and go to bed. I kinda looked like a zombie this morning at work but it was so worth it!! Brilliant ending!! You can tell if a series is good when you just can't stop reading it over and over...very few grabbed me this way. Congrats Holly! You're a wonderful writer! Now...I guess I'll just have to get the other books about Eric and Collin! 1 like Like Comment Raven_Blake (dreamy addictions) 767 reviews 223 followers March 30, 2012 OMG i really didn't expected that kind of happy or twisted ending but anyway Really Loved this series it was epic m totally gonna miss this series so so bad but m looking forward for ur new series Bane (Vampire Apocalypse #1) another new kick ass girl hope it's gonna be as awesome as Demon kissed series really can't wait. 2012 angels-demons ebooks ...more 1 like Like Comment Angela Rebanks 91 reviews March 13, 2012 fantastic series loved everyone of these books 1 like Like Comment Michele 530 reviews 12 followers April 25, 2012 WOW....what a great ending to the series. Ward took us into a world of good versus evil, with many twists and turns, some you wouldn't even think of. I absolutely loved it!! 1 like Like Comment Jagged 820 reviews 30 followers June 12, 2013 "Well, what the fuck does that mean?" "Yeah, fate sucks like that. You spend a couple hundred lifetimes learning stuff only to be martyred--twice." "It's a fucking dragon, not the Omen! It has scales, breathes fire, and flies like a deranged cow with wings." As you can see, I am a fan of Eric. The worst part about this book is that it has the potential to be fucking amazing. It has all the right elements--excitement, action, darkness, heart ache, and the most important one to me: consequences. All of the side characters are, for the most part, integral to the story. It has an amazing plot. It has some interesting obstacles. Even with the complete transparency of what were meant to be twists and turns of the plot, it was an engrossing read. The problem? Ivy! Yes, the fucking protagonist utterly destroys this series. Had she been anyone else, these books would have easily received higher ratings from me...but she is just a massive hideous stain that erodes all the other amazing properties in this story. Ivy The girl is shameless. She is selfish, irresponsible, hypocritical, secretive to the point of harm to others, naive, and just plain stupid. Ivy's character never actually matured or progressed at all during the 5 books to this story. She has remained stubbornly the same. If anything, she lost more brain cells. She does, for the most part, stick to her characterization. It baffles me that Ward would have wanted to write from such a moronic perspective. I don't know any girl who would behave the way she has throughout the series. When Ward slips up with her character, it's not subtle. It's waving a fucking torch so bright you can't read the rest of the paragraph without taking a break. Her whole outburst to Eric was so unlike anything you would expect from this fool, and so wise, it really should have come from someone else. Ivy kept being told how beautiful and strong she was, how intelligent and selfless she was. It was a very lame attempt to get you to see Ivy in a different light, because that light didn't exist. I didn't see anything to prove these words. Ivy was the epitome of everything opposing those words. The fact that she did end up the way I wanted her...oh, yeah. I liked that. Eric Eric, on the other hand, was something else altogether. He has been my favourite character out of the whole damn series. And he doesn't disappoint in this book. He is "cruel" to Ivy, but I don't really consider brutal honesty cruel. Sure, he did some things that made you question your judgment for liking him, but I honestly felt that Ivy deserved everything he gave her, and then some. The only one I felt sorry for during any of his maliciousness would have been Collin. Eric was dealt a shitty hand of cards to play. I was really hoping for some redemption for him, but I was satisfied with his outcome, regardless. I did like that Ward wasn't afraid to leave some things broken. Collin What a waste of his character. He was kind of left on the back burner in this book, which was a shame. I think, with the whole slight triangle going on, he should have been a little more feistier than he was. I've never really been a huge fan of Collin, anyway, I just felt that he could do way better than Ivy and I don't think settling is romantic. He also had a habit of trying to bolster Ivy with bold faced lies. He never really backed up his supposed feelings. He was definitely a character that was just there to keep the romance going, not because he was actually needed in the story. That annoyed me. His ending pissed me off. I was totally happy with the consequences the way they were. Satan Stone I loved this sneaky little bastard. I thought the idea behind how the magic worked was very cool. I liked how the consequences worked, but I felt that Ivy got off too lightly considering Lorren and Eric's prices. And hers was supposed to be worse. Plot Like I mentioned earlier, the over all plot for the series was good. Very good. This book was just very short and spent most of the time dealing with stupid drama. The problem was that not all of the questions that were brought to the surface were answered. The battle with Kreterus was so fucking lame, I almost pulled my hair out. There wasn't any real action in this book. There needed to be some. Things between Ivy and the Demon Princess felt unfinished. I didn't like that being left open. Just sending angels into the glass wasn't good enough for me. Only one thing kept me from giving this book one star. And that was Eric. And, of course, the transparency was a problem as well. Ward doesn't do a good job of keeping you in the dark. Except when it comes to explanations about people and what's happening. She just allows Ivy to know certain things without letting the reader in on it. Like what Eric actually is. The most I got was that he was a human/angel/demon. That's it. It didn't go into his powers, either, other than to say that he could siphon hers. When Ivy needs her soul back, it had been mentioned earlier that Eric had also been stealing pieces of her soul. But for some reason she didn't need those pieces back to have a complete soul? Just the part that Collin had? Was this an oversight? Or was I missing something? Editing Okay. There were some serious eye sores throughout this read. But the major one that is bothering me right now is this: I pressed my eyes closed. GAH! What is it with the damned repetitive phrases? Are you too lazy to describe it another way? Do you think it is cute to have like a trademark action? It is absolutely obnoxious. I cringed every time I read it. It derailed my reading experience and this is part of the reason these books could never be 5 star worthy for me. It annoys the holy fuck out of me. It was being drilled into your head that Ivy couldn't feel her emotions. And in the same damn breath, she would go and contradict herself. This pissed me off. She was supposedly only able to feel around Eric, but she was easily angered. She was feeling affection for Collin, even as she is telling you that she isn't. I think that was something that should have been scrapped. And had Ward had a decent editor, or an editor at all, it would have been brought up. Kreterus' voice rang out, caught in a silent scream. Oh, dear. I mean, what? How can your voice ring out silently? Overall I am glad this part of the series is done. I may look into the spin off series, though. Since I love Eric. Ward has potential, she really does. She just needs some fine tuning and a damn good editor, and I think she'll be very successful. This was a series I loved to hate. It is difficult for me to recommend this, because it caters to a lot of younger girls, but at the same token, there are a lot of aspects to these books that those same audience targets shouldn't be reading. But if you want a frustrating read that will still entertain you, give this series a shot. books-i-have Like Comment Susie Mitchell 92 reviews 2 followers June 1, 2019 My daughter brought this series home and I was between books so as she finished the first I asked to read it. Well I binge read the entire series online before she was done with books from the school library. These books are so good I couldn't put them down. 13th Prophecy is fantastic. It didn't disappoint and the strong storyline sucks you in. I carried my kindle everywhere to read it when I could even in the Walmart cashier line. Get this series its great. Like Comment Gaileen Crowell 159 reviews February 17, 2021 The Demon Kissed series is a must read for everyone who.enjoys famtasy. This series has all the aspects of an excellent book; the plot is strong and the characters are believable, but the best part is that I never got tired of reading this. It moves along so well that it is easy to forget about doing other things in your life. I have been that captivated in a long while. This series is highly recommended. Like Comment Stephanie 1,528 reviews 93 followers October 7, 2016 I found the premise of this series to be interesting but I think the execution was lacking. To be perfectly honest, it was just okay. Nothing special but it wasn’t terrible. I didn’t fall in love with the characters but I didn’t particularly dislike them either. Everything about this series was just meh to me which was quite disappointing because this genre is exactly the kind of books I enjoy. I just think that there are a lot better books/series out there with similar plots and better characters. In regards to the plot, I felt that there were a lot of going back and forth. It was a bit messy and a very confusing because the characters would do something then realize that hey, nevermind, why did we do this? They were never on the same page so some of the characters would unintentionally hijack someone else’s work. There were also a lot of creatures out there that made it seem even more complicated especially with the Omen. Plus the author never fully explained what exactly that meant and why the Omen was there in the first place. It was little things like that that confused me. I just like having things explained or understood. As for the characters specifically Ivy, I never really understood her. I found her a little spoiled, a tad immature, quite dumb, and very stubborn. Granted, I know she was trying to do the right thing the entire time but the way how she went about it, I found it absolutely ridiculous. I mean, going around and making blood bargains with demons for the sake of defeating another demon? That just spelled stupidity to me. She didn’t even bother asking for help or advice from any of her much more clear-headed or knowledgeable friends. Instead, she pretty much went for it without a second thought. And even though she kept trying to save her friends, the choices that she would make always ended up jeopardizing them. Especially with the whole Eric drama. I couldn’t even begin to fathom why Ivy made the choice that she did to save him even though she knew what he thought of it. Yet she did it anyways and called it “saving” him. And then with the whole Collin thing. She kept endangering herself when she knew the prophecy was at stake simply because she couldn’t risk him. She didn’t even know if it would ultimately kill him or not. She wasn’t willing to even try which put the whole world at stake. For someone who was trying so damn hard to save the world and go against that prophecy, that one single decision that she kept making over and over again was unfathomable. As for the whole Collin/Ivy relationship, can I just please say, where the fuck did that come from? I got the chemistry from him in book one but not once did Ivy return any of those feelings to him yet suddenly they were soulmates and he was the only one for her? Pray tell, what happened? In fact, she treated him as a friend only and their interactions from her side basically screamed friendzoned to me. Yet, how did things change so dramatically? Overall, the series was just okay. There is a sixth book out there but I read somewhere that it’s no longer available and I don’t see the point in investing more time on this series. Plus, the series technically ended on book 5 and the sixth book is merely a spinoff from Eric’s POV. I’m not sure if I would recommend the series but if you have time and you want to read an angel vs demon series, then I guess you can give this one a try. Click here to view entire review: http://holedupinabook.blogspot.com/20... 2 likes Like Comment Linny 45 reviews March 15, 2012 Review on Linny's Literature With their non-stop action, unique storyline, and powerful characters that I loved, I have come to be a big fan of the Demon Kissed series. So, of course, I was ecstatic about reading the final book, The 13th Prophecy , when it came out. While The 13th Prophecy had much of the splendor of the previous books, it wasn't quite the perfect gem that I had learned to expect from this series. The main thing that tarnished this "gem" from perfection for me was Ivy's boobs. No that wasn't a typo. Ivy's boobs are quite the hot commodity in this book. The previous four books didn't have much sexual stuff going on. They made out and lusted for eachother, but it never crossed any lines. In The 13th Prophecy , Ivy is groped by 3 different guys- 2 of them doing it mostly to cause her pain. Umm.. what? It was meaningless and could have been easily omitted from the story. You have heard me rant and rave about the main character of the Demon Kissed series, Ivy, for the past four books and are probably growing weary of it. Well here it is again: Ivy does everything that she can to save her friends and the world from evil, even if it means sacrificing herself. She deals with unstoppable dark magic and even the Demon King himself; all in a day's work. Ivy, how bad-ass and ferocious you are. Or mostly are. While her selflessness is a commendable trait for the most part, I don't appreciate it when it comes to Eric. Eric was a crazy, vengeful Valefar and it was fun. However, now he has only gotten crazier for reasons I will not share, and he irritates me. His favorite pass-time is hurting Ivy (including her boob..) and Ivy lets him hurt her in some twisted sense of helping him be happier. Other than that, Ivy remains the same unstoppable force that she has been through the series. I loved the constant twists and turns of the story and that every page was filled with action- trademarks of the Demon Kissed series. My favorite part of The 13th Prophecy , though, was Kreturus. Yes, I've developed a crush for the anicent, utterly evil Demon King. Collin is Ivy's soul mate and I love him, but I honestly felt that their romance lost some of its spice.. And I actually was kind of hoping that Ivy became Kreturus' Queen, and she did come close. He was extremelly powerful, had the looks of a greek god, and wanted Ivy passionately. And who can resist a bad boy? Or maybe I'm just messed up. In each of the previous books, there were some spelling/grammar errors here and there, though they were very minimal and didn't bother me in the slightest. I thought that I should mention that, in The 13th Prophecy , I didn't see a single one. Being the final installment in the Demon Kissed series, The 13th Prophecy had a lot to live up to. For the most part, with its original and exciting story that never gives your heart a break, it lived up to them well. I will say the ending was not as epic as I had anticipated though. The little things that I wrote above combined to make this final novel not quite perfect to me, but still close. I definitely recommend this and the entire Demon Kissed series. Like Comment Sanzana Jess 12 reviews February 27, 2021 It's one of the good paranormal romance books out there. It has nicely flowing writing and I loved the characters. demons paranormal romance ...more Like Comment Navdha 598 reviews 82 followers March 20, 2012 I think this book wasn't as terrible as the previous books but it wasn't any better. I think the only part that made me happy was Ivy's constant suffering. Collin died. Boo-hoo. But I never really cared about him other than in the first book. Eric, well, he was bearable and I think he was the only character I wouldn't have slaughtered on sight. Kreterus died. Oh well, he had to, didn't he? I wish he decided to finish off Ivy first. Also, what about the dragon, the Omen, the whatever it was? It came and went and there was such a fuss about the Omen crossing paths but what happened in the end couldn't be blamed on him and his arrival didn't even make sense. Well, this series hardly made sense. It started off with such a promise and everything was sabotaged by Ward from the very next book. The characters weren't strong, the story line failed to make sense and keep you engrossed, Ivy took decisions of life and death as if she were choosing a dress for the prom. I mean, seriously, why was someone like her the Prophecy one? and why did everyone love her and admire her? Also, the writing style was so very poor and I'm not even gonna go there. Oh hell, I should. Every fucking line was about how corded someone's muscle was or how tight and tensed it was like a rope. What the fucking hell? Why do have to mention that in every single line? WHY?! Keeping everything aside I simply can't believe that I finished this series. It was a challenge, it really was, but I sometimes like to torture myself with such books. It was self-inflicted and although I took several(okay two) naps while reading it and distracted other people from doing their work which I never do while I'm reading a book; I don't regret reading it. But..but, I'm not even going to touch the spin-off series. I'm guessing it will be about Eric and though he was bearable I am not that suicidal. This book got a 2 star mainly cause of what Ivy went through and all her pain which I enjoyed. And also the fact that this disaster is finally over. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review cough-masochism-cough yay-it-s-over Like Comment Morgan 521 reviews 263 followers March 16, 2012 CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS AT READING, EATING AND DREAMING I WAS BLAIR WALDORF To be completely honest, I may not be the best person to review this series. The only reason I finished this book was because it was the last book in the series and I had to see how it ended. I really wanted to walk away from this series, but I couldn't walk away when I was that close to the end, especially after I invested so much time into this series. The 13th Prophecy was hectic and overwhelming. I couldn't enjoy this novel because I was so turned off by the Ivy-Collin-Eric love triangle and the Ivy-Eric weirdness. So much happened in this novel, and the characters changed so much that they were no longer the characters that I came to care about. They were different, and not in a good way. I kept reading this novel because I was waiting for the conclusion, but the ending was weird and confusing. I really enjoyed the first three books in this series: Demon Kissed, Cursed, and Torn. Each novel was nicely paced and well-written. I felt like I knew the characters, and I genuinely cared for them. However, the last two books: Satan's Stone and The 13th Prophecy, just didn't do it for me. They were complete chaos. I enjoy action packed novels, but Satan's Stone and The 13th Prophecy were just too much. Honestly, they ruined the series for me. I gave The 13th Prophecy by H.M. Ward 2 STARS (2.5 STARS). I know that there are a lot of Demon Kissed fans out there. A lot of people loved this novel from start to finish. I just wasn't one of them. -XOXO READING, EATING AND DREAMING 2-stars 3-stars Like Comment Ally 1,346 reviews 82 followers September 2, 2014 Finally! The last book. Now, I can finally get the truth. Right? Nope, there are a lot of loose ends. And his name is Eric. Collin and Ivy? Well, I think you know what happened. Actually, I hope you don't know what happened. Because the ending of The 13th Prophecy was just weird. So weird that I had no idea what the hell is going on in it. Okay, maybe I do know what was going on, but for the most part, it was weird. And strange. I'm not even going to talk about Ivy Taylor. All that happened is just pure, stupid luck. And the ending. There are just so many loose ends. And too many "Happily Ever After"s. I hate them. This girl does not deserve them. Especially because of her stupidity. And her so-called "curse" isn't really a curse. Especially after that guy... And because modesty is really easy to get over. You lose it sooner or later. Overall, The 13th Prophecy is really irritating. Some parts of the book is too convenient and utterly such a letdown. I wish there would be an epic plot... Oh, too much? Maybe that is too much spoiler and not enough opinion? And now the two boys: Eric reminds me of a twisted serial killer who loves causing pain than making other people happy. Honestly, I think Ivy deserves him. Then they can rot in hell together. Yeah, I totally think so. Sorry, but I don't have pity for the strangest characters. And Collin. Just be dead. Overall, I'm so glad to be over this series. The only redeemable part is probably the plot, but even that is a bit of stretch. The plot was disappointing. I pretty much wanted Ivy Taylor to die. (And that is not the most violent parts of my thoughts). Rating: One out of Five Like Comment Levian 446 reviews 2 followers November 20, 2013 having almost destroy Kreturus, the Demon Lord, Ivy was left feeling helpless but still refused to give up. the plan was to summon Kreturus in its human form, who was Collin, Ivy's Valefar boyfriend. however, when Ivy brought Collin back from the dead last time, she infused part of her soul with Collin's, thus saving him from the eternal death that was supposed to destroy him together with Kreturus. Ivy then escaped into the Lorren with Eric, and found out that Eric was a fallen Angel that was given a human life. to win against Kreterus, they needed the location of the Satan's Stone, held in the memories of Eric before he was turned human. the fifth book of the series took my breath away since its very first page. while it was easy to label the Martis good and the Valefar evil, Ivy was surrounded by Valefars she called friends while the Martis shut her out. being half Martis and half Valefar made things complicated, being the Prophecy One only made it worst. in this installment, she finally came face to face with Kreturus, which brought everything to a whole new level. despite circling the plot for 5 books, i was both pleased and surprised to find myself drawn completely into the series while falling in love with Ivy more and more as their romance drew more tears into my eyes. my review: here Like Comment Heather andrews 9,520 reviews 159 followers January 5, 2013 You know this jealousy and "whose ego is bigger" contest between Collin and Eric is kind of getting annoying, I mean don't they have more important issues like I don't know finding Satan's stone? I mean Jesume they need to get a grip! "Eric pushed off the wall standing eye to eye with Collin. "I wouldn't bring up that day if I were you. Possessed by a demon or not you're the one who killed the Guardian and opened the floodgates of Hill. It was your hand that destroyed her life-her world." Eric tilted his head to the side gesturing toward me. He made it clear that Collin f***ed up my life. A smile slowly slid across Eric's lips. "That day things changed and I ended up fighting for the other side. Her side. I protected her, you did not." See what I mean about egos and jealousy and I'm sure this scene really didn't help any: He knew. He knew we were together. How? As if he could read my face he added, "f***ing him is one thing, but you took his blood? Didn't you? I can smell it. You're different. You put yourself...that was just stupid, Ivy!" Yea I'd say Eric is pissed about Collin and Ivy having sex more then her taking Collin's blood, but while he was pissed I was screaming FINALLY!! I love the ending and for once there was NO CLIFFHANGER! Like Comment Blake 68 reviews June 24, 2012 this book ended in a what i woulds call a tragic happy ending. and i kinda of didn't like it. i read a bunch of the reviews before mine, saying stuff like "oh i loved that ending!" "i'm so happy it's a happy ending" "YES! she's with Collin". bullshit. it wasn't a truly happy ending because if you think about it, i mean come on, she's stuck in the underworld for the rest of eternity. like stop and think that other for a second, can you possibly imagine that?. never seeing earth, the sun, regular friends? that's ridiculous. She can't even leave the fucking place and she'll always be surrounded by demons trying to do her work for her. then that whole thing with not ever being able to be touched except for Collin. that's crazy. her life fucking sucks and she's not even alive. all she has is Collin and literally nothing else and that really pisses me off. oh and she has to walk around naked. what is up with that? bottom line is, that wasn't a happy ending, not in the least and she just ended up being exactly what the prophecy said. everything was anti climactic, especially all the deaths like Kreturus, Collin's and even fucking Locoicina's. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review action-adventure demons-devils-evil paranormal-everything ...more Like Comment Yianna Yiannacou Author 6 books 77 followers July 23, 2012 Yay I am finally done this series. I don’t want it to seem like I don’t like these books which I do. I enjoyed reading them but they did make me a little bit frustrated. I needed more villains and less of the same problems. It was basically the same drama over and over again. This book’s main purpose was for Ivy to find Satan’s Stone and use it. She also has to choose between feeding her energy to Eric for him to survive and being with Collin. A lot of the times I found that when the part got exciting, the author rushed through it. I didn’t mind since it meant quicker ending, but I am going to complain here and say that I wanted more. I couldn’t put this book down. I have never wanted to know the ending of a book so badly. I finished with being content over the ending. The author did well. I would recommend these books if they were all free instead of just the first one. I read them all for free since I borrowed them from a friend. Oh well. You can be the judge. Get the first book and if you feel like buying the rest, go right ahead! Enjoy! Like Comment Alaina Arielle 5 reviews 5 followers April 7, 2013 ***Possible Spoilers Ahead*** I read this series pretty much back to back because so much was going on that if I stopped I would never understand where I'm up to lol. Having said that, I found the series to be thoroughly enjoyable. I really liked the Martis complex and first foray into in hell (in I think book 2) and especially when we FINALLY get to meet Kreturus. Those bits I loved and had unexpected twists, although I do think Kreturus wasn't as fully developed a character as he could be. The rest of the books seemed a little too much like filler material and there were times I wondered where they were going. The ending was unexpected and explored a side of things that I didn't think would happen but that too was anticlimactic and sort of just lost steam. Despite all this though, I enjoyed the series enough to read the whole thing. It keeps you turning the page to find out what happened next. And here I am at the end of the series :D I'm actually tempted to check out the spin off about Eric but I'm in two minds. Like Comment Nereid 1,348 reviews 19 followers March 17, 2012 I really loved this series and I was hooked from Chapter 1 as Ivy's life was like a runaway train with many unexpected twists and turns along the way. Her battle with demons and angels not to mention Kreterus is almost over and whether Collin or Eric will become casualties of war is yet to be seen. Who will be the last one standing and will Ivy become the Queen of the Underworld after all? This book had everything from star-crossed lovers to dragons and warrior angels plus a battle with the ultimate villain. Ivy shows courage and determination to fight the prophesy to ensure an outcome she could live with. I won't give away the ending, lets just say that it both pleased and surprised me. I will miss this series as I have been a fan for a long time now and look forward to more books from H.M. Ward that are just as compelling. demon-kissed Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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The White Shirt: Find Your Peaceful & Life-Giving Career at Any Stage of Life by Michael Alan Tate | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle Unlimited $0.00 Rate this book The White Shirt: Find Your Peaceful & Life-Giving Career at Any Stage of Life Michael Alan Tate 3.71 7 ratings 1 review Want to read Kindle Unlimited $0.00 Rate this book This inspiring parable about a young man in search of his calling is full of the insight, tools, and strategies you need to transition into a life you love. In The White Shirt , a young man named Cyrus leaves a secure career and ventures out into the world to find his true calling. Along the way he learns how to create a simple strategy for success, why it's important to share a career plan with the right people, and most importantly, how it all comes together faster with a friend by your side. The White Shirt coincides with a website packed with tools and a step-by-step guide to creating a one-page personal career strategy, developed with a friend over the course of a week. Whether readers are graduating from college, struggling to find a job, re-entering the workforce, changing careers, or preparing for retirement, they will learn how to successfully navigate their transition in The White Shirt . 154 pages, ebook Published June 5, 2018 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Michael Alan Tate 5 books 2 followers For more than two decades, Michael Alan Tate has been an executive consultant and career coach. His experiences have made it clear that successful people want uncomplicated ways to make better decisions faster. Recognizing that the straightforward strategies he designed for top leaders apply to anyone entering or transitioning in their careers, he created The White Shirt Strategy, a highly effective process for pursuing your ideal career. Tate is founder and president of On the Same Page Consulting. He is the author of Design a Life that Works, On the Same Page and Faith Matters, and he writes the Leadership and Life Journal blog. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.71 7 ratings 1 review 5 stars 4 (57%) 4 stars 0 (0%) 3 stars 1 (14%) 2 stars 1 (14%) 1 star 1 (14%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 of 1 review Romina Bojaxhi 46 reviews May 8, 2020 A great, easy, fast read, and a great helper in finding what job you would enjoy due to your likings. I just graduated college and this book just landed on my lap. The White Shirt talks about lessons in life and how your family's careers and your passions line up on what you'll love to do. You just need a plan and yes, this book lines up the plan for you; step by step. Like Comment Displaying 1 of 1 review Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

Return schema.org Entities and their Properties in JSON-LD format as an array strictly based on the text below. Don't add any information that is not stated in this text.

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Maon: Marshal of Tallav (Sons of Tallav, #2) by Cailin Briste | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Sons of Tallav #2 Maon: Marshal of Tallav Cailin Briste 4.13 23 ratings 16 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Maon Keefe has always been told he’s doomed to fail as a husband. Despite his dream of having his own family, he decides never to marry. Instead he lives life as a player and focuses on becoming a capable marshal of Tallav. Then he is shot, and the most-wanted criminal he’s escorting escapes his custody. Now he fears his career, his one success in life, is doomed. Assigned to ferret out the cause of missing shipments for a VIP aristocrat, he meets Selina Shirley. He finds himself inexplicably attracted to her despite her frumpy appearance. When he meets a hooded, masked, scorching-hot woman at his friend’s club, he’s torn between the two women. Both ignite his imagination. Either might be the woman to change him into successful husband material. Selina Shirley organizes her life like she organizes her business, taking control of all aspects of each. She’s concluded that she must marry to get an heir and that her future husband must be totally under her control. Hidden behind a hood and mask, as Lasair, she meets Maon and her instant attraction to him leads her to break her own rules and become involved with him. But he’s also the marshal assigned to investigate thefts at her company. When his broad streak of protective alpha male comes into play, it obvious he’ll never accept a wife ruling over him. To stick to her plan to marry the perfect husband, she must ignore her heart and dump Maon. Genres BDSM Romance Science Fiction Fantasy Erotica 278 pages, Kindle Edition First published December 6, 2016 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Cailin Briste 17 books 123 followers Cailin Briste, a USA TODAY bestselling author, writes science fiction suspense romance. Her first series is set in the Tallavan sector of the Federation where the men of Tallav are the marshals that provide protection and justice to the planets in this far off the beaten path are of space. While fighting crime, they also must come to terms with matriarchal system of their home planet, Tallav. Tricky because each is heavily involved in the BDSM lifestyle. Book one is her Dom, book two is her male submissive, and book three is her sexual sadist. Her second series, A Thief in Love Suspense Romance series, began with a cat burglar who puts together a team to steal priceless art and antiquities from other thieves. Sebastian is a Robin Hood character whose Maid Marion is his equal on the rooftops of their futuristic city. The second in the series is the love story of two others on his team, Cade and Bassinae. Once again the team are breaking into someone's home to take back something that rightfully belongs to someone else, but this time they are also trying to stop a murder. She has just published A Prince of Her Own in the Once Upon a Rebel Fairytale boxed set. This book will be the first in the Guardians of the Vale, fantasy romance series. More books in each series are coming as is a new series about a pair of dragon shifters hatched from the same egg and the man they love, bounty hunter Brody Simmons. Visit http://cailinbriste.com to learn more about Cailin and her work. Subscribe to her newsletter at http://wp.me/p46KU8-7A for information about her latest releases, exclusive giveaways and special prices. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.13 23 ratings 16 reviews 5 stars 11 (47%) 4 stars 8 (34%) 3 stars 2 (8%) 2 stars 0 (0%) 1 star 2 (8%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews PointedlyBlunt 389 reviews 32 followers August 16, 2018 Maon is a marshal of Tallav, a planet with a matriarchal society. The gender expectations of Tallav are the opposite of what most societies today are used to. The women make the decisions and bring home the bacon while the men are the nurturers and stay home to take care of the children. Maon is convinced he wouldn’t fit well into such a role and has convinced himself the possibility of marrying or having a family isn’t in the cards for a playboy like him. That’s where Selina comes in. Selina Shirley is a Tallavan woman with a dominant streak. She’s also heir to one of the most famous fashion houses in the universe, and ever since her father’s death she has been looking for the ideal husband. A man that would take care of their children and obey her demands while maintaining his emotional distance. The world-building was ok, but it was too human and familiar for a sci-fi universe with fictional planets. The characters even talk about Guiness and eat things like tortellini and spaghetti carbonara which was strange to me. I couldn’t stop my mind from wandering and wondering if Guiness would actually be significant enough to traverse galaxies and millennia. The plot was unique, but hard to get into, especially because the romance was so slow moving and I had a hard time connecting to the characters. At first, when Maon sees Selina he finds her to be frumpy. She does purposely dress in shapeless garments to avoid unwanted attention from men, but if the heroine’s going to find the man attractive, I’d appreciate the same feelings from the hero. Maon didn’t find himself attracted to Selina until he saw her as Lasair – her domme persona – but he didn’t know it was her and eventually finds himself torn between his feelings for Lasair and Selina. The heroine is strong and is the one pushing away. Refreshingly, it’s the hero stumbling all over himself whenever the heroine turns him on. He manages to balance that out with his level of jealousy and protectiveness, though. Safety: This isn’t a safe read. Because of the endless push and pull, the MCs are separated a few times and the first sex scene between them isn’t until 84% (with the exception of one HJ scene early on), but of course there are scenes with Maon and another woman he spends three days with after seeing Selina the first time. One scene has him watching Lasair while he makes the OW give him a BJ and imagining it’s her. He even goes the extra gross mile and refuses to finish until Lasair sees him. There are no descriptive scenes of Selina with OM, but it is implied that for the several months after initially meeting, she is sexually active but Maon isn’t (because he’s recovering from being shot). And again, after they sort of admit their feelings for one another but separate, she dates a few other men and even moves one into her home, but the author pulls the ol' switcheroo and Maon stays celibate. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 2 likes Like Comment Misty 109 reviews 28 followers February 6, 2017 After taking a brief (well, in the Book Universe, it was more like forever) hiatus from reading BDSM, I realized that I missed it terribly and wanted to jump right in. I’m glad I found the BDSM group here on GR. It has already done its job introducing me to new authors. But I digress… I love a good Domme story, I really do. So when I saw that this was a Domme/sub Sci-Fi story, I was elated to get started. I should also note that although this is #2 in the Sons of Tallav series, it could totally be read as a stand-alone, and you don’t have to read it in order. That being said, I really found myself liking the characters and wanted to know more about Selina, especially. I would love to have a separate story for her, a prequel of sorts. The connection between Maon and Selina was instant, but the will she/won’t she was a little frustrating. I would have liked to see a few more Domme/sub scenes between them, but here’s hoping for a third book. The main smuggling plot was a little lost, only because it wasn’t as suspenseful as I would’ve liked. However, that’s not saying that it was crappy. I would also like to see an illustrated version, so that I would be able to see the landscapes and the fashion. Could you imagine?! Overall, the pace of the book was good, the characters were fairly developed, and the Scenes were right on point. It’s a great read, and I look forward to seeing the series continue, and also seeing more from the author, Cailin Briste Book & Author Page: Maon: Marshal of Tallav #2 Provided by the Author through the BDSM Group on Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/... adult bdsm blog ...more 1 like Like Comment Miranda 405 reviews 40 followers August 17, 2018 DNF. It's not that the book was bad. Just not one for me. I could not get into any of the characters. mobi-files 1 like Like Comment Kathryn 851 reviews 14 followers February 2, 2017 ***I received a copy from the author through the BDSM group TPE bar, in exchange for an honest review*** This is the first time in a long time that a book has kept me up until five in the morning. This book was amazing. The editing was almost perfect. That is so rare these days. The story flowed and kept me intrigued. The action was nonstop and exciting. The details of the scenes and the characters was like the author was seeing the story unfold right in front of her and was able to share those details perfectly. The blurb tells the gist of the story very well. Maon Keefe is a marshal who cannot accept his own failure. He is driven to be the best in his field despite his personal demons. His goal is to become a data cruncher for the marshal service. Selina Shirley is a fashion designer looking for the perfect husband but she has some baggage of her own. Even though this story is sci-fi it could take place right here and now. There isn't a lot of science involved though the setting is in another star system and there is space travel between planets. The plot centers around missing shipments of clothing and fibers made of the pyantha plant sent out by Ms. Shirley's couture company. The material is much like our hemp. It could be a controlled substance or a useful fiber. Maon is called in to investigate possible theft of the cargo. The theft turns into an investigation of possible drug smuggling. The BDSM in this story is light. Selina is a domme in a matriarchal society. The husband she is looking for must be a total submissive and willing to do her bidding 24/7. Maon is a switch and big flirt with no intention of marriage. This is the first time that I have read a book by this author. I plan on reading her first book in which the story chronologically follows this book. bdsm erotica mobi-on-mac ...more 1 like Like Comment Melissa Weeks 194 reviews 17 followers February 8, 2017 Maon is a marshal he is also a switch always taking dares from his friends never wanting to turn one down he always takes the dare but will his next dare be the one he fails being told he would be a failure like his father he has a drive to prove he won't be Selina is a designer and new CEO to her family's fashion house she is a dommie her society states she must run things and have a man serve her in all things moan is asked to look into the theft of products that seline has purchased continues to disappear will moan find out who is stealing from seline and will she get moan to be her sub to find out I strongly recommend that you buy and read this book it's worth every penny I was given this arc copy provided by the Author through the BDSM group on goodreads 1 like Like Comment SBee Reviews 2,390 reviews 73 followers August 16, 2018 ~ Following the strings reveals a tangled web ~ Maon should be feeling at the top of the world, with his job as one of the elite Marshals of Tallav, but it was not the assignment he actually aspires to achieve. Years of trying to prove himself to make possible his dream job of being a data crunch as well as prove his worth to his mother have not met with fruition. Shot while on duty and still recovering from its effects, his Chief assigns him to a job which he is to handle with the utmost discretion. A job which he was not thrilled to be on, until he meets the oddly intriguing Selina and learns many of her family’s business details. Maon knows he will have to fight the attraction to this woman, but he does intend to use all his skills to investigate what is happening with the unexplained missing shipments from the Shirley fashion powerhouse. Both Maon and Selina have very firmly ensconced beliefs in place which need a lot of airing before they can determine if they can be together… if at all. This is a very slow burn of a romance, with a lot of character development explaining how they became the people they are and how they were so strongly influenced by the important people in their lives. Maon is an interesting dichotomy of secretive submissive and protective marshal - the exact characteristics which make Selina pause and weigh her choices in her search for the perfect husband. Like Comment Melanie S 1,773 reviews 29 followers August 16, 2018 Best kinky SF romance evah! I'm over the moon for Cailin Briste's newest Marshall of Tallav - Maon Keefe. He's a hero like i've never read before - a Marshall of Tallav whose skills and courage are eclipsed by his own toxic self-denigration. He thinks he's a failure. He thinks no one can love him. He's into exhibitionism and has a deeply hidden submissive streak in the bedroom. He's also strong, principled, and incredibly resourceful. In short, he's the perfect match for the one woman on matriarchal Tallav who might be able to love him - Selina- but she's a client, and professional ethics rule. Until they don't. The stunningly erotic and complex love between Maon and Selina plays out against an engrossing plot of intergalactic drug-smuggling, organized crime wars, family feuds, and attempts on Selina's life. The action is thrilling, the suspense is gripping, the BDSM scenes are hot and the sexy romance between Maon and Selina is positively incendiary. I thank Hidden Gems for the ARC, and this is my voluntary, independent and uncompensated opinion: Maon, Marshall of Tallav gets five flaming stars. 2018 action-adventure arc ...more Like Comment Space Cowgirl 3,993 reviews 130 followers August 19, 2018 She Wants A Man🐺🍆🌋 With A Slow Hand👋👋 Selina💃💋 has landed on Beta Tau, to go meet with Rand🐺🍆🌋👋🔪, the owner of Whip Hand BDSM club and it's resident sadist. She is the CEO and owner of the sectors biggest fashion house. Selina💃💋 is going to trade her fashion expertise for a life changing experience into BDSM with Rand! She wants training as a Domme👋👋. She is trying to be secretive about the whole trip, but Maon🐺🍆🌋🔪🔫, a gorgeously handsome Tallav Space Marshall sees her and starts flirting. He is a switch, either a dom👋👋 or a sub, and at different times. He has a happy go lucky personality. The gist of this book, and the other two, is that the human society of Tallav is run and dominated by women. They own all the property and hold down all the best jobs. The married men take care of The children, and if they leave, they spend their time gambling and being very baaaad naaasssty boys. I guess that makes them irresponsible! Single Tallav aristocratic males like Maon🐺🍆🌋🔪🔫 and Shane🐺🍆🌋🔪🔫, are Space Marshals. Maon🐺🍆🌋🔪🔫 works on several interesting cases in this book, and he also gets to work on Selina! ARC Received from HG. Like Comment Vivian Chrisman 2,811 reviews 4 followers August 12, 2018 Kinky... Ever read a book and think "there's another story there"? When Maon and Selina was introduced in "Shane", book one in the series, that's what I thought. What a story it is! While this is book two, it actually takes place before book one so don't worry if you read them out of order. Maon and Selina both have a lot of pressure/baggage on them. Selina is under pressure to find the perfect husband...he must be submissive all the time according to their society. Maon has always been told that he wasn't husband material so he became a player. When Maon meets Selina he's attracted and his protective instincts come out. Yet, when he meets Lasair he feels the need to submit. Two women...how to choose? Will Maon find a way to be what "both" women need? Oh, let's not forget that he also needs to find the answer to missing cargo. *I received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book which I am voluntarily reviewing* Like Comment Cyrene Olson 1,269 reviews 18 followers July 1, 2017 Uncaged Book Reviews: Considering I don’t normally read erotica due to the flimsy plots and sex scenes which have no real purpose other than to titillate the reader, these books are totally different. They have a great plot and the scenes are woven into the plot showing who the men and women are. They may be titillating but are part of the characters. Cailin Briste, the author, transports you to a different world with different values while you get wrapped up in the cases the marshals are working and their love lives. I give these books five stars for great writing, good editing and stories you want to read again to make sure you didn’t miss some subtle clue along the way to solving the case each marshal is involved in during their pursuit of their women. Reviewed by Barbara Full review at UncagedBooks.com Like Comment Nicole Normand 1,659 reviews 28 followers August 14, 2018 I received a copy from Hidden Gems; this is my honest review. -Mystery and suspense, love and pain, fear and happiness all in one book. -Great descriptions of Maon and Selina's relationship, how they respond to each other and the quiet ascend from lust to friendship to love. -Maon is a viril man but also a sub and doesn't mind showing it. I loved the description: "with a combination of besotted smile and sexy saunter". Selina is a domme with acquired skills and loves to show them in public "she twitched a finger at Maon to follow her". -Interesting concept of BDSM,which I became more familiar with by reading the first and second book and hopefully the other ones that will follow. Don't miss out and buy the book. -Open door sex but not too graphic (not erotica). 2018-review 2018-total Like Comment BEATRICE VEGAS 131 reviews 5 followers February 21, 2017 Enthralled with Shane's story I was itching to read Maon's story. Briste does not disappoint. As with Shane, I eagerly gobbled this book. She combines brilliant new worlds already introduced in Shane with erotic romance and a touch of the western, writing an erotic romantic western sci fi. Though this is the second book in the sons of Tallav series, Maon's story occurred 8 years ago. Maon is a contradiction in terms. Born on a matriarchal planet whose dad had deserted him as a child and a harpy for a mother he developed his own unique way of coping with his baggage. He enjoys being a player and exhibitionist, skilfully hiding his true persona. Who could possibly have guessed the true Maon beneath his public façade? He even has Selina CEO of the well-known Fashion House of Shirley fooled. Ah ha not letting on as it would be a spoiler. Briste adroitly spins her yarn as she unfolds the tapestry of his life in another mesmerising read. Maon is drawn to Selina despite her frumpy appearance. She ignites his need to protect and cherish. But, when he meets a mysterious domme Lasair, the attraction is instantaneous. She fires up the submissive in him. Yup Maon is definitely a switch. What prompts a strong character like Maon to submit? There's no doubt that he is attracted to both characters CEO Selina and Lasair the domme. Faced with a dilemma he intends to resolve. Um... yes, one can see what's coming a familiar trope but Briste yet again does what she does best, throws a cat among the doves. Selina has her own baggage heightened by her responsibilities as the only daughter in a matriarchal society. She has to marry to give an heir. Briste cleverly uses their baggage within a BDSM scenario in the unconventional Tallavan societal setting, to spin a rattling juicy yarn. Adroitly exploring their personas, she throws in curveballs keeping one guessing until the very end. A unique story without repetitions it will stay with one long after the last page is read. One is submerged into the Tallavan world as Briste shakes the BDSM scenes until they ooze raw passion. Erotica fans will be thrilled and screaming for fulfilment. Almost perfect, one would have liked Briste to let the rope out a lot more, pun intended. If only she had taken one deeper into the place she so skilfully leads us. She misses the opportunity to explore the flip side of Maon's kinky switch, apart from a casual reference to it at the start and at the end. Though part of a series, this book can be read as a standalone and does have an HEA. More info on the author and Tallav society can be found on Briste's site http://cailinbriste.com . favs sci-fi-bdsm-western-romance Like Comment Toria ~ 141 reviews 10 followers February 6, 2017 Three and a half stars “Maon: Marshal of Tallav” by Cailin Briste is the second in the Sons of Tallav series, but can thankfully be read as a standalone novel. The series is about a group of friends who are also law enforcement in a matriarchal society. Maon Keefe is a male who has developed a hedonistic lifestyle and actively avoids relationships and attachments in reaction to being told he is a failure who won’t amount to much. Selina Shirley has taken over as designer at her family’s clothing firm. She looking for the perfect submissive husband because of her own baggage. Each comes to the other’s attention during a visit to a local dungeon, but continue to interact as Maon is assigned to investigate thefts at Selina’s shipping operation. The book was well edited, but some judicious clips could have streamlined the story. To me, it felt as if there were just a lot of storylines for a single book. I was impatient for the payoff after the two main characters dealt with their issues. There was legitimate heat between the characters from the beginning and a twisty, turny love story with a HEA. ***I received a copy from the author through the BDSM group TPE bar, in exchange for an honest review*** bdsm-r2r lifestyle-kink owned Like Comment Dana 220 reviews February 1, 2017 Maon: Marshal of Tallav may be read as a standalone; however, I suggest reading it as part of the series to get a better understanding of the characters. I felt there was more character development when comparing this to Shane: Marshal of Tallav. I really enjoyed witnessing Maon evolve as a character through not only his career but also his personal life. I always appreciate a strong female lead and Selina definitely came through. I loved the chemistry between Maon and Selina and appreciated how natural it seemed considering the story is science fiction. The one character I really hope to see more from in the future is Randolph. I realized after reading Shane’s story that there are some sadist tendencies lurking beneath my surface and I feel I would greatly enjoy Randolph’s story! I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. Like Comment krissi 70 reviews 1 follower January 28, 2017 testing - this review will be removed after testing is completed. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review Like Comment DebbieReadsBooks 2,538 reviews 43 followers April 7, 2017 Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book. You know sometimes, when you read a blurb, and your brain maps how you think the book is gonna go, and then you read the book, and its not...quite...what you expected?? This book, right here. I'm not knocking the book, but my brain had a whole different path for these two, and it went another way, and it left me feeling a little disappointed. And for that, I'm sorry I didn't love it. Because it is a really GOOD book. Maon's job brings him into contact with Selina, and Selina's secret brings her into contact with Maon, and their BDSM club. And I **think** this might be where I went wrong. Because Selina is a Domme, and Maon and switch, but heavier on the submissive side with the right Domme. Selina pushes all his submissive buttons. But I wanted MORE of them BEFORE Selina reveals her secret, because I read so few books with a strong female Domme and a male sub and I wanted more more MORE! I did like that the secret isn't dragged out for the whole book. I did like that both Maon and Selina learned that the guilt they carried into their adult lives was misplaced, and unwarranted. I did like that both of them were made to see what, and indeed who, they really wanted. This is book two in the Marshal of Tallav series. The first book features Shane, Maon's best friend, and I have not read that book. But I wonder if Shane's books comes AFTER this one in the time line, because not once is the female from Shane's book mentioned here, actually the impression I get from THIS book, is that Shane is single. Maybe I misread something, maybe it really is out of line. I dunno. I'd like to read it though. I did like the way Ms Briste tells her story. The missing shipment story arc turns into something totally unexpected. Very well written. I'd like to read more of this series, other than Shane. One or two characters piqued my interest. because my brain went the wrong way, and because it did take me a while to get into the story proper.... 4 solid stars **same worded review will appear elsewhere** bdsm crime-thriller fantasy-sci-fi ...more Like Comment Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews Join the discussion Add a quote 1 discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Twig by Aura Parker | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $10.99 Rate this book Twig Aura Parker 3.82 544 ratings 82 reviews Want to read Kindle $10.99 Rate this book Heidi the stick insect prepares for her first day of school in this “whimsical and warm” ( Children’s Book Daily ) picture book in the tradition of Where’s Waldo . Heidi is a stick insect, tall and long like the twig of a tree. It’s her first day at a busy bug school, where she hopes to learn and make new friends. But finding friends isn’t easy when no one can find you! Genres Picture Books School Childrens Nature Storytime Fiction France ...more 32 pages, Hardcover First published January 1, 2016 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Aura Parker 9 books 12 followers Aura Parker is a Sydney based illustrator, writer & designer who makes prints, textiles and picture books. Her work is joyful, imaginative and brimming with details to explore. Her storytelling inspires imagination, courage and confidence in young readers. Aura's latest picture book, Bowerbird Blues has been chosen for National Simultaneous Storytime 2024. Reviews of Twig: 'Whimsical and warm.' Children's Books Daily 'With its uplifting themes of kindness, collaboration, and inclusion, this title is a welcome addition to picture book collections.' School Library Journal 'Sweet and captivatingly illustrated, this pairs perfectly with Carson Ellis' Du Iz Tak.' Booklist 'Readers will take pleasure in Parker's imaginative forest world, with its parades and tea parties, brimming with insect-school fun!' Publishers Weekly 'Parker's watercolor, colored pencil, artline pens, and digital compositions are quite delicate and detailed, her bug school delightfully analogous to children's own.' Kirkus Reviews 'Aura Parker's quirky, delicate pictures of the school and its pupils are full of seek-and-find interest.' The Wall Street Journal 'This adorable debut by Parker teems with delicate details, many of them visual puzzles.' New York Times Book Review Aura also designs and exhibits screen prints and handcrafted textiles at Studio Bonnie. She has a background in graphic design and a passion for children's literature. Aura's new books COCOON and MEERKAT SPLASH will be out in 2019. Take a look at her website and follow her on Instagram @auraparker to see more of her art. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.82 544 ratings 82 reviews 5 stars 124 (22%) 4 stars 224 (41%) 3 stars 175 (32%) 2 stars 18 (3%) 1 star 3 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews Kayla Edgar 152 reviews August 1, 2018 Great lesson and beautiful illustrations of cute bugs! picture-books 2 likes Like Comment Madison 1,084 reviews 67 followers May 15, 2017 I fell in love with this picture book when I first saw the end pages. I didn't even need to read the story or flick through further to know it was going to be a gorgeous book. Are you a bit diferent from those around you? Do you stand out? Or maybe you are so different no one even sees you? That's the problem Heidi has. No one sees her. Heidi is tall and thin, just like the twig of a tree. It is her first day of school, but it is hard to make friends when no one notices you in the playground and you can't join in the classroom activities if no one knows you're there. I think so many readers can relate to not fitting in, standing out or being different. Twig captures all those feelings of isolation and translates them into a beautiful story. Heidi is a stick insect and her first day at bug school gives her many challenges to face - like her teacher Miss Orb placing her weaving kit on the hatstand, or what she mistakes as the hatstand which is actually Heidi! There is also a touch of humour and lessons in friendship, kindness, and patience. Heidi often takes deep breathes and repeats "One, two, three. One, two, three. Why won't someone play with me?" The watercolour illustrations are gorgeous, bright, colourful, and whimsical. Soft backgrounds in golden browns and pale greens create the perfect backdrop for the bright greens of the leaves, and royal blues, patterned reds, and gold and black of the insect characters. Readers will also enjoy trying to find Heidi in the full, double-span illustrations, where she camouflages against the trees. And the end pages, which are just as richly illustrated as the images within, also include a search and find. Twig is a delightful story of friendship, fitting in, differences, and the first day at school, which encourages celebrating difference and finding each person's - or in this case insect's - special talents. Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library. childrens 5 likes Like Comment Catherine Woodman 5,380 reviews 112 followers October 20, 2018 This is the last book that I read in my recent spate of finding the perfect children's picture book, and it is very good, especially if you have a child who is a bit afraid of bugs or thinks that they are really cool. There are a lot of elements of counting in the book, which could be another good aspect of a book that you might reread. Here is the basic plot. Heidi is a stick insect, long and thin like the twig of a tree. It's her first day at Bug School, where she hopes to learn lots and make new friends. But no one will talk to her and no one will play with her at lunch. No one notices her at all - not even her teacher Miss Orb, because she's blending in with the branches a little too well. Finally, Heidi speaks up for herself and Miss Orb comes up with a plan to help Heidi stand out. There are many things to hunt for and find in the book, which is exactly what you would have to do outside to find some of these bugs in real life. 2 likes Like Comment Tori 600 reviews 2 followers August 7, 2019 Heidi the stick insect goes to a new school. Unfortunately, she's very good at blending in. A cute story. Heidi is shy and quiet, so nobody notices her until she speaks up for herself. In the end, she gets noticed and makes friends. The pictures are very busy. I'm not sure how well it would work with my toddler group, but I'd be willing to try it on my preK group. bugs fitting-in school ...more 1 like Like Comment Nancy 1,446 reviews 15 followers Read January 5, 2019 Interesting teamwork and friendship themes book-talking-2019 1 like Like Comment Andrea Haas 51 reviews 3 followers December 22, 2019 Beautifully illustrated with lots to look for while reading the story! Can you find Heidi in every picture? Or all the types on insects hidden within the lovely pages? Very cute! picture-books read-2019 storytime 1 like Like Comment Kim Williams 157 reviews 9 followers May 1, 2021 I loved this adorable book simply because of the darling, detailed illustrations. The storyline was good too, but making it a counting book detracted rather than added to its appeal in my opinion. There was a cute thread about weaving (pun intended) that continued through the book and helped it come to a nice conclusion. I think I would have loved this as a kid, since I was a bug noticer, and loved drawing and crafts like knitting. picture-books 1 like Like Comment Regan Mayer 10 reviews September 21, 2023 In “Twig” by Aura Parker, the book takes place in a forest. The main character is a twig named Heidi, and the secondary characters are all various insects. As the story takes place in a forest, Heidi, a twig, blends into the trees. Heidi has a difficult time being noticed by her teacher and other classmates at school because she blends into the background and looks different than the other insect children. Once her classmates and teacher notices her, they come up with a plan to make Heidi more noticeable. Her classmate’s and teacher’s act of kindness make Heidi feel seen and heard, something she had not felt before. One act of kindness in this book was able to completely change Heidi’s mood and her experience at school. This book teaches the reader that even a small act of kindness can make someone’s day or change the experience they have somewhere. Heidi is often depicted on the far right hand side of the page spread. According to William Moebius, he writes in his article “Introduction to Picturebook Codes” that being positioned on the right hand side of the page means the character “is likely to be moving into a situation of risk or adventure” (Moebius, 1986). Heidi continually takes a risk with her existence in the classroom, as she does not know if she will be unintentionally ignored or mistaken as a hat rack or piece of wood. Like Comment Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* 6,002 reviews 205 followers September 3, 2018 Twig by Aura Parker. PICTURE BOOK Simon and Schuster, 2018. $18 9781534424685 BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) -ADVISABLE AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE Heidi is the new girl at bug school. She is a stick bug and is often mistaken as something else or not noticed at all. When Heidi’s teacher notices what is going on, she coordinates the knitting of a colorful scarf that makes Heidi more noticeable. Heidi quickly becomes a favorite among the bugs because there are lots of things that she is able to do including the game of Hide and Seek. I loved this book about a wallflower that is finally appreciated. I loved the illustrations of cute Heidi the stick insect. This is good for those who feel like nobody notices them and also for those who might overlook others—great moral of appreciation ourselves and others. C. Peterson. https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018... advisable elementary-lower picture-book Like Comment Tiffany May Ross 120 reviews 1 follower August 18, 2021 The illustrations in this book alone make it worth the read! We have had just as much fun looking for the stories that the pages tell as we have had reading the story. It is a great story to read before starting school!! This book is about a school for bugs and Heidi, a new student, is a stick (twig) bug who nobody notices because her camouflage is “too good”. She feels quite sad about going completely unnoticed, a sentiment many kids can relate too. When her class finally realizes that she’s there they all come together to knit her a scarf so that she’ll never be overlooked again. The story is sweet but what really makes this book extra special is all of the hunting you can do in the illustrations. What numbers can we find? What letters are hidden? Which bugs do you see? It’s really a fun book! My five year old and I greatly enjoyed it! 2022-andi-s-100-book-challenge Like Comment Linda 3,934 reviews 46 followers August 14, 2018 My younger granddaughter’s class studied insects all the school year and she learned so much. Most important, however, is that she fell in love with them. I’ve given her insect books that she pores over, but this book Twig that we read last week is going to be a favorite for sure. Aura Parker has written a darling whimsical story about Heidi, not noticed at all by any of the other interesting creatures at school. She is too camouflaged! When the teacher and others hear Heidi call “I’m not a hat stand,/can’t you see?” they ‘mend’ their ways and scurry around to weave a scarf for Heidi, so she can be seen! There are numerous details to make one smile. It’s a must for reading and looking closely! early-readers-2018 middle-grade-2018 picture-books-2018 ...more Like Comment Jana 2,597 reviews 43 followers July 30, 2018 Starting a new school can be scary, especially for shy children. Often shy children so quiet, they can hard to notice by the others around them. Heidi knows all about that. It is her first day at Bug School and she is a stick insect. She blends into surroundings so well that the other children don't see her and the teacher mistakes her for a coat tree. Young readers will be able to relate to Heidi's problem and may even be able to consider ways to make others feel welcome at a new school. This book would pair well with The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig and would be a great book to share at the beginning of a new school year. 1st-days-of-school animals-insects children-fiction ...more Like Comment Becky B 8,230 reviews 130 followers November 29, 2018 Heidi, the stick bug, goes to school and no one notices her for quite a while. She begins to think she'll never be noticed, but when the class finally meets Heidi they come up with a way to not forget her again. The problems with being too well camouflaged. You might say no one notices you, but at least no one actually mistakes you for a stick. Heidi eventually feels welcomed by the class in a way that real classes could make a new student feel welcome too. A good read before you get a new student in a class to talk about ways to make them feel welcome. Also a good read when studying camouflage in nature. animal-picture-book picture-books Like Comment Diane 7,123 reviews January 1, 2019 “Oh, there you are, Heidi! It seems your camouflage has been working too well!” Poor Heidi! No one notices her when she shows up at school on her first day. Her teacher even mistakes her for a hat stand. Finally, while working on her weaving, Scarlett mistakes Heidi for a twig. They all welcome Heidi and all contribute to a scarf for Heidi to wear so that she won’t go unnoticed again. Delightfully detailed illustrations that students will enjoy perusing and finding where Heidi is on every page as well as all the other fun bugs that are in school. Also, a great story to remind up about the invisible kids in our classrooms. How can we make sure we notice them? friendship picture-books read-in-2019 Like Comment Meredith 3,680 reviews 67 followers April 5, 2019 Heidi is a stick insect whose natural camouflage is so effective that her teacher and classmates don't see her. Not feeling seen and blending into the background is a common experience for many young people, and they will relate to Heidi. When Heidi finally speaks up, everyone makes an effort to ensure that she is included. This may encourage those on the other side of the coin who are aware of those being constantly overlooked to reach out. I enjoyed that the main character is a stick insect. They are fascinating bugs that don't get a lot of press unlike ladybugs and butterflies, which often appear in picture books. The illustrations are filled with nature imagery, and the author/illustrator included look-and-find items as bonus content. childrens-picture-books Like Comment Sarah 3,476 reviews December 17, 2018 Heidi (or Hide-y) the stick bug has some serious camouflage issues. No one can see her at school! Not even her teacher! When finally they discover her, they make her a special scarf so that they will always be able to find her. I could see this being used to talk about new kids coming to school, and reaching out to them (instead of acting like you can't see them!), or used to introduce camouflage in science class for lower elementary. The little bug illustrations are cute, and bonus, there's a search and find throughout the pictures of the book. 500-math-science humor-comedy problem-solution ...more Like Comment Laura 16 reviews September 25, 2022 Heidi the stick insect is excited for bug school start. Unfortunately, she blends in a little too well, preventing her classmates and her teacher from seeing her. When she finally speaks up and they do notice she is there, Mrs. Orb, her teacher, comes up with a thoughtful solution to make sure she is always able to be seen. **Cute story about being nervous on the first days of school and how to use teamwork to help everyone feel seen and heard. Also, a reminder to kids to speak up and advocate for themselves. first-days-of-school social-emotional-learning Like Comment Elaine Fultz, Teacher Librarian, MLS 1,843 reviews 30 followers November 30, 2018 Adorable and informative story about a walking stick named Heidi who is overlooked in her forest classroom (all students are other insects) until a ladybug tried to use Heidi in her weaving project as a twig. The teacher suggests they work together to weave Heidi a scarf to make her more visible. Great read-aloud just for fun or for a lesson about camouflage. Bonus is the appropriately included "Can you find these bugs?" activity on the endpapers. k-2-read-alouds Like Comment Jillian Anderson 379 reviews 2 followers February 7, 2021 A great book for any age group. Heidi, a “twig,” is trying to fit in at school but no one can see her. The illustrations are e fantastic and kids will love trying to locate her. My only wish is that the “see if you can find” were not on the end pages. This makes it hard for a library book reader to find all the hidden bugs! Otherwise, a very cute book about making others feel welcome and included. picture-books Like Comment Jordan Moore 64 reviews 2 followers March 19, 2018 Heidi is a stick insect who blends too well with her surroundings - so much that nobody notices her at their big school. That is until they accidentally weave her into their school work. Then the class comes together to make her a scarf so she stands out and Heidi flourishes. A nice, heartwarming story but I felt it was missing something to really make it impactful. Like Comment Jason 3,875 reviews 26 followers July 24, 2018 See, HERE's a book that is clever by virtue of its premise, as opposed to its premise being "to be clever" (I just reviewed This Book Is Red). The art is beautiful and detailed while still being simple. The protagonist is immediately likeable and the reader sympathizes with her plight immediately. It's solidly "slice of life" but also terrifically unique. friendship friendship-conflict insects ...more Like Comment Jennifer 2,341 reviews July 27, 2018 It’s Heidi’s first day of bug school, but as a stick bug, she blends right in with the surroundings and no one seems to notice her – not even Miss Orb, the teacher! When one of the other bugs picks her up to use in her weaving, Heidi finally speaks up and yells, “I’m NOT a twig! I’m me! I’m Heidi!” back-to-school bugs friendship ...more Like Comment Raven Black 2,297 reviews 5 followers August 1, 2018 LOVE the illustrations. The story I am still mulling over. I think it needs a re-read. There is something about them I like but then I am thinking....well. Maybe not.....but yes I do. However, it is a very simple story about trying to fit in and sometimes fitting in too well. Or at least in the wrong place. Like Comment Patricia N. McLaughlin Author 2 books 26 followers October 18, 2018 Busy illustrations and small print make the story as hard to find at times as the hapless little stick bug, but the bug school concept is refreshingly creative. Though an arachnid, the multitasking, web-spinning champion golden silk weaver spider, Miss Orb, is a clever choice for the role of teacher. childrenlit-picture-books Like Comment Jenny Hartfelder 421 reviews 9 followers March 8, 2019 A nice story about a bug who has trouble making friends at school because no one sees her. Once the other students realize they've not been including her, they make a special scarf so that she can't disappear anymore. A great story about friendship and kindness. The pictures are nicely drawn... Even cute, despite the prolific number of bugs. early-childhood elementary picture-books ...more Like Comment Nichole Stratton 154 reviews 48 followers May 19, 2023 I liked the themes here; lots of kids struggle to understand why others don't immediately see their needs and either struggle to speak up or don't even know they need to. I thought the counting element was unnecessary and the story arc could have had a little more tension, but I liked the weaving elements and the resolution. I think many kids would enjoy the imaginative little insect world. Like Comment Marcie 3,630 reviews July 21, 2018 Don't know whether kids will spend the search time with these illustrations, but I loved this lovely story. Might be fun for beginning of a school year or kids who love I Spy, Also might be fun for buggy times of the year. illustration-technique-unique preschool school-stories ...more Like Comment Brydie Wright Author 1 book 36 followers August 21, 2018 Just beautiful... More than lives up to the reputation that proceeds it. My son and I were drawn into Parker's detailed world of insects and enjoyed exploring the intracacies of each illustration, with a good story to boot. What a talent to be able to both write and illustrate this well! Like Comment Jillian 2,525 reviews 33 followers September 12, 2018 Cute story - when camouflage works a little *too* well, poor Heidi gets left out of most of the activities at school. (Except....she can talk? She just never bothers to until close to the end.) I liked the class's way of making sure she doesn't get lost again. Like Comment Molly 170 reviews February 12, 2019 No one notices Heidi because she's a stick bug. One day a classmate does, and then they make her a scarf. Then everyone knows where Heidi is and she's invited to all of the other bugs' fun adventures. picture-books Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

Return schema.org Entities and their Properties in JSON-LD format as an array strictly based on the text below. Don't add any information that is not stated in this text.

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HBR's 10 Must Reads on Design Thinking by Harvard Business Review | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $14.53 Rate this book HBR's 10 Must Reads on Design Thinking Harvard Business Review , Tim Brown , Clayton M. Christensen ...more 3.80 225 ratings 17 reviews Want to read Kindle $14.53 Rate this book Use design thinking for competitive advantage. If you read nothing else on design thinking, read these 10 articles. We've combed through hundreds of Harvard Business Review articles and selected the most important ones to help you use design thinking to produce breakthrough innovations and transform your organization. This book will inspire you Genres Business Design Nonfiction Management 192 pages, Paperback First published April 28, 2020 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Harvard Business Review 977 books 1,488 followers Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.80 225 ratings 17 reviews 5 stars 43 (19%) 4 stars 110 (48%) 3 stars 58 (25%) 2 stars 13 (5%) 1 star 1 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews Keshav Sethi 1 review May 7, 2024 good for some, not for me rn, 1 like Like Comment Sophia Exintaris 127 reviews 22 followers February 1, 2021 An excellent collection of articles on how Design, as an approach to problem-solving by exploring the problem collaboratively alongside the people who face it (and not their bosses’ bosses boss), can yield more and better solutions. Examples abound from healthcare to automotive, airlines to city planning. If you want to understand what kinds of problems design may help solve for businesses, or as an executive, why you might need a Chief Design Officer and a team of strategic designers, this is a good book to start with. 2021 career-boosters design-bookshelf 1 like Like Comment Nikki BHt 10 reviews January 31, 2024 First of all, this is the second book I've read from HBR's 10 Must-Reads series, and I must say, I wish the publisher were more of a design thinker, lol. The "Idea in Brief" sections and the scattered notes throughout the book make me anxious about going back to the notes so I do not miss anything, and it's not a smooth reading experience at all so I'll give it a 4 out of 5. Second I must say, that this is the first book I read about design thinking and I find the whole concept to be extremely interesting. I found mentioning people's names and companies' names that are working in the design thinking area to be particularly interesting in this book as it let me do some research in the area and learn more about them. In particular, I learned about openIDEO which what they do is truly impressive for me. Third, I would like to mention that I did not find a solid definition of design and design thinking in the book however I believe I know it as the iterative process to come up with an innovative way of how a particular product or service can create value for users. Lastly, here are some of my insights/learnings about the book or just some things I was thinking about while reading the book: 1-Try early and often, you do not necessarily need a real product in prototyping you can do it with a simple video or anything showcasing your product. 2-Measure progress in metrics such as average time to the first prototype or number of people exposed to the prototype. 3-Encourage the team to create a prototype in the first week of a project; delaying this process can lead to excess anxiety about the idea not working later on. 4-Conduct in-person surveys, record videos, gather ideas and identify pain points, and keep direct contact with customers during the lifetime of the company. Also, search for info in online forums! 4.1-Walk through the experience as if you were a customer, seek out unexpected experts' opinions, and act like a spy when you can! 5-Design thinking may involve defensiveness in employees, solution: empathy, and encouraging divergence meaning that the team has enough time and space for diverse new ideas to emerge and be tested. 6-Design thinking might overwhelm individuals who are goal-oriented, as they perceive it to introduce unnecessary ambiguity regarding the project's direction. Leaders should assist these individuals in overcoming their insecurities, reframing the process as stretching for a solution rather than a lack of direction 7-Having a design team goes a long way and only training in your org to be more of a design thinker might not work as they lack proper experience and skills. 8-Trystorming is like brainstorming but it goes beyond ideation to actually implementing to some extent. 9-Identifying the job to be done for your customer (or circumstances) is more important than the customer's profile characteristics, or tech trends. 10-Jobs are not simply about functions they have a social and emotional dimension and you can make a catalyst difference by reading stress. This means things might seem to be a minor stress but have a big impact on the customer's experience of using the product (Example: the condos and the table for the living room) 11-Not copiable products are the ones that are selling experience (Might not be the sole source of competitive advantages) 12-Focusing on the constraints will make you be less creative with the ideas, instead focus on possibilities! 13-When running an experiment you should watch for real-world representative data, and be careful not to interview ideal people, etc. (ask yourself if the people you are talking to or testing with a true representative of our customers?) Ideally, make the condition the worst when experimenting. 14-Experiencing failure is the by-product of experimenting! 15-Not all failures are the same, there is a spectrum of failure and you should treat each differently. 16-Sustainable competitive advantage is dead! you need to reinvent competitive advantages constantly. 17-Two valuable questions to ask: what is the lowest cost experiment and what's the quickest, cheapest way to make progress toward the larger goal? Like Comment Pranjali 104 reviews May 8, 2020 4.5/5 A few personal notes for me: I loved all the examples - Keep the Change by bank of America, Aravant eye care and the Nurse shift system The fact that design thinking is not limited to products. Because even as products, their effects create a ripple in the rest of the business ecosystem. Design thinking can be extrapolated to typical consulting/strategy designing- iterative interaction and solution presenting must be done treating your client as end user. Job to done theory was very interesting - the condo buyers and reese's minis examples were great. Absolutely adored the section on emerging markets. Failures and culture of detecting failures in an organisation as well as requirements to start a design team was a nice note for managers / leaders. Overall thought this was a nice collection :) Like Comment Leyla Jabbarli 1 review May 24, 2024 Harvard Business Review's Design Thinking resources are exceptional. They provide insightful, practical strategies for implementing design thinking in various industries. The content is well-researched, easy to understand, and highly applicable, making it an invaluable tool for anyone looking to foster innovation and creative problem-solving in their organization. Like Comment Pia Vilmi 175 reviews 2 followers February 18, 2021 Parhaat poiminnat, todellakin. Jos haluaa ymmärtää, mistä muotoiluajattelussa on kyse ja mitä hyötyä siitä on liiketoiminnalle, tässä tiivis ja tehokas paketti. Osa artikkeleista oli jo ennalta tuttuja, mutta pari uuttakin löytyi. Paras businesskirja tarjoaa heti hyödynnettäviä oivalluksia. Kuten tämä! design-thinking Like Comment Meg 7 reviews June 14, 2020 Quick read and great content. HBR never disappoints. Like Comment Alok 137 reviews 13 followers October 21, 2020 The actual articles are sound, very recent and relevant to corporate ecosystem of the present. The HBR's style is reflected clearly in every way, but the stories itself are not very impressive or sticky as you would hope 'must read reads on design thinking' to be (more remarkable). But, for what it is, it's more genuine and grounded and that alone makes it a four star worthy book along with very clearly articulated principles that were outlined in each case. As a reader, you need to put in a bit of effort to understand these principles and use them in your own way, I probably recommend reading again and spending time contemplating what you read in your own context to really take advantage of this book though. audible not-made-up read-in-2020 Like Comment Sree Nilakanta 1 review December 21, 2020 Good thought provoking pieces. Brings clarity to thinking. Create hypotheses to test. Encourages you to think and explore further. Enjoyable book in many ways. Like Comment Carter 597 reviews September 15, 2021 This is a book of articles- on the nature of innovation and design. The current perpectives, are simply explained, and thoughtful. The methods used, are perhaps more for organizations, than individuals, like myself. Recommended. Like Comment Prasanna Bhagavatula 27 reviews 38 followers November 8, 2021 It gives a lot of smart insights and highlights practical issues around the topic. Very nice read overall, but could have been more interesting, with more examples and cases. Like Comment Sree 39 reviews 2 followers September 5, 2022 Very important education. Like Comment Aditya Shekhar 47 reviews 1 follower April 12, 2023 Very generic content. No net new knowledge added. Even the definition of design principle is not clear Like Comment Wes 51 reviews November 13, 2023 Not really an interesting read. Like Comment Camilla Jahr 30 reviews Read January 26, 2024 What is design thinking? And how can you use design to elevate your product offering? agility non-fiction Like Comment Kian.ting 272 reviews 1 follower July 18, 2022 Nice write up on Design Thinking now I know more about it in general and all the business case studies on how it could be implemented successfully and how it could fail. Like Comment Prasanna Bhagavatula 27 reviews 38 followers November 20, 2021 Very useful insights !! Still for HBR they could have given more !! Like Comment Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews Join the discussion 11 quotes Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

Return schema.org Entities and their Properties in JSON-LD format as an array strictly based on the text below. Don't add any information that is not stated in this text.

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A'yen's Legacy, Volumes 1-3 (A'yen's Legacy) by Rachel Leigh Smith | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $6.99 Rate this book A'yen's Legacy #1 To #3 A'yen's Legacy, Volumes 1-3 Rachel Leigh Smith 4.33 9 ratings 1 review Want to read Kindle $6.99 Rate this book Three complete novels, over 300,000 words! Lokmane slave A'yen Mesu has lost everything. Except his name. Yet he refuses to be treated like the slave he is. When his new owner, Dr. Farran Hart, finds his people's lost homeworld, he'll do anything to make sure it's not taken away again. Even if it costs him his heart. After a year exploring the lost planet Lok'ma, A'yen and Fae return to her home planet and join the fight to emancipate the Lokmane. Unexpected allies join them, and their enemies kidnap A'yen in a last-ditch effort to prevent emancipation. Separated by lights years, A'yen and Fae must fight for the right to live in freedom. No matter the cost. Once emancipation comes, A'yen keeps fighting to overcome prejudice and create a home where all Lokmane are welcome--regardless of background and life. His enemies attack those closest to him, so he fights back with the only weapon he has: truth. It's the only chance of saving his bodyguard, Da'Ro. Happily ever after can't happen if Ro is dead. Join A'yen and Fae as they fall deeper in love, find secrets humanity buried, and discover the power of love in all its forms. This set includes the first three novels in the A'yen's Legacy futuristic romance series. If you want an epic romance focused on a wounded hero who refuses to give up, this is the series you're looking for. 929 pages, ebook Published November 15, 2015 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Rachel Leigh Smith 13 books 69 followers Rachel Leigh Smith was swept off her feet at the age of six by Magnum, P.I., then again at nine by Frank Hardy. She remembers her favorite romance novels by the hero’s name, so of course she writes romance for the hero lover. She lives in central Louisiana with her family, a half-crazed calico, a ginger tabby lion, and a menagerie of book boyfriends. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.33 9 ratings 1 review 5 stars 4 (44%) 4 stars 4 (44%) 3 stars 1 (11%) 2 stars 0 (0%) 1 star 0 (0%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 of 1 review SHIRL D LLOYD 98 reviews April 21, 2018 Exciting Kept me interested and surprised at times. I liked the new world they found. The description of all the colors was great and the lakes were wonderful. Like Comment Displaying 1 of 1 review Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

Return schema.org Entities and their Properties in JSON-LD format as an array strictly based on the text below. Don't add any information that is not stated in this text.

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تذکره اندوهگینان by حسام الدین مطهری | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Buy on Amazon Rate this book تذکره اندوهگینان حسام الدین مطهری , فهیمه شانه ( ویراستار ) 3.98 82 ratings 26 reviews Want to read Buy on Amazon Rate this book اندوه را مَرکبِ شادی کن! این داستانِ توست. داستانت را بخوان. ورق بزن. در سرآغاز هزارتوی پرافسانه‌ ای، در مسیر عبدالله را ملاقات می‌کنی. عبدالله تویی، عبدالله همذات توست. به قرنِ چهارم می‌روی. در این سفر، از غم به شادی، در پیمودنِ جادۀ اندوه، با عبدالله همسفر می‌شوی، با خودت. این داستانِ ما است. --- تذکره اندوهگینان رمانی رازآلود درباره سفر از غم به اندوه و از اندوه به شادی‌ست. تصور می‌کنم این رمان برای همۀ کسانی نوشته شده که در پی خود هستند. به‌ هیچ‌ وجه مدعیِ نشان‌ دادنِ یک راه نیستم. خودم را هم در در جایگاهِ یک مصلح یا هدایت‌گرِ اجتماعی تصور نکرده‌ ام. تذکره خالی از هرگونه دعوت به آیین، کیش، مذهب و نگرش است. اما کسانی که به هر دلیل، خود را بی‌اندازه در این جهان بیگانه می‌دانند مخاطبانِ اصلی رمان تذکره اندوهگینان محسوب می‌شوند. اگر حس می‌کنید همچنان با «دلیلِ بودن» درگیر هستید، رمان تذکره اندوهگینان داستانِ شماست؛ بدونِ قضاوت، بدونِ سرزنش. ---------------------------------------- فروش آنلاین: http://shahreketabonline.com/products... اطلاعات بیشتر دربارۀ این کتاب: http://hmotahari.com/blog/رمان-تذکره-... نسخۀ دیجیتال در فروشگاه طاقچه: https://taaghche.ir/book/25673/تذکره-... 232 pages, Paperback First published April 22, 2017 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author حسام الدین مطهری 8 books 126 followers حسام الدین مطهری داستان‌نویس ایرانی، متولد دهم آبان ۱۳۶۶ نوشتن برای من جستجویی افتان‌وخیزان در پی معنا است. در این مسیر، در این تلاشِ تنهایی برای کشفِ هستی، من خودم را شخم می‌زنم و شرحه‌شرحه می‌کنم. Husamedin Motahari Iranian author, content strategist, copywriter. born 1987 Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.98 82 ratings 26 reviews 5 stars 26 (31%) 4 stars 32 (39%) 3 stars 21 (25%) 2 stars 2 (2%) 1 star 1 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews Fateme Beygi 348 reviews 127 followers November 3, 2017 خوندن این کتاب سراسر لذت بود. برای منی که علاقه مندم به کتب و روایات کهن، نسخه های خطی و کتاب های نادر مرموز و کندوکاوشون و زیستن در لابه لای تاریخ، کنار شخصیت های برجسته. کتاب چند پاره داره. پاره ی اول روایت نویسنده ای است که به چنین کتابی برخورده و نتونسته ازش دست بکشه. پاره ی بعد متعلق به مصصح یا یابنده ی نسخه ی اصل کتابه، پاره ی دیگه سفرهای عبدالله و پاره ی انتهایی ماجرای سفر عبدالله در پی عشق. پاره های نویسنده و مصحح بیشتر اول و انتهای کتاب حضور دارن منهای حضور سایه وار در پانویس ها. پاره ی سفر و ماجرای عشق اما درهم تنیده ان. یکی بعد دیگری. پاره ی سفر بیان نمادین و رمزی طی طریق عبدالله است و پاره ی ماجرا بیان داستانی چگونگی این سفر با حضور فاطمه و ابوالحسن خرقانی و مریدان و ابن سینا. علاوه بر نثر باستان گرای کار، وجود خواب ها، حضور دو شخصیت برجسته ی حقیقی و تقابلشون و مقوله ی تردید در ایمان همه و همه باعث شدن تا من بیشتر غرق این کتاب بشم. مدت ها بود چنین چیزی نخونده بودم. ساده است اما نه به معنای سطحی بودن، بلکه درگیر کننده است و شما کاملا اسیر تنش و بی قراری شخصیت و موضوع می شین. البته اون موضوع مستند بودن وقایع یا ارجاع دادن به نسخه ی اصیل کتاب اول برام جذاب بود و حقیقی به نظر می اومد اما کم کم حس کردم که این از اون شگردای داستانیه و واقعیت نداره. همین که یقین نداشتم و ندارم فرض اول درسته یا فرض دوم هم خوشاینده و به نوعی درون مایه ی کار رو توی ذهن من تقویت کرد و می کنه. برای من جذاب ترین فصل ها یکی فصل سرآسیمه در شب بی انتها بود و دیگری فصل های مربوط به جدل شیخ و ابن سینا بود و آخرین رویا بود که خبر از آینده و سرنوشت فاطمه می داد... . اگرچه که رمان کمی ناتمام به پایان می رسه یا بهتره بگم پایان بندی مناسبی نداره و مخاطب رو به جمع بندی خاصی نمی رسونه در صورتی که روند داستان چنین پیشرفتی داره و پایانی از این نوع می طلبه و تعدادی از پاره ها هم وابستگی و غنا ندارن و اگه حذف بشن هم خللی در جریان روایت وارد .نمی شه تصاویر رو هم من خیلی درکش نکردم. یعنی ربطی بین اونا و متن نیافتم در حالی که انتظار داشتم چنین چیزی بینشون باشه یا تصویر حالتی از پیش اگاهی نسبت به بخش بعد از خودش بده. پ.ن: اگه تجربه ی تلخ و سختی در زندگی داشتین، اگه تغییر بزرگی توی باوراتون رخ داده و اگه مشکلی در گرفتن ارتباط با نثر ادبی و کهن ندارین، بخونینش اما اگه اینطور نیستین، شاید این جنس تردید، اندوه و بی قراری رو درک نکنین و خوندن نثر هم سختتون باشه و نه تنها لذت نبرین، بلکه پشیمون هم بشین. انتخاب با شما و سلیقه تونه. رمان 34 likes Like Comment حسام مطهری Author 8 books 126 followers August 20, 2018 دیشب بازنگری در رمان پیش از چاپ دوم به آخر رسید. برای بازنگری، یک دورِ دیگر رمان را خواندم، با فاصله‌ای یک ساله از نخستین چاپش. با وسواس خواندم و مثلِ یک مخاطب. در برخی صفحات هیجان‌زده می‌شدم و برخی جاها هم به‌نظرم می‌رسید جای بهتر شدن دارد. حالا می‌توانم مثلِ یک مخاطب به کتابِ خودم نمره بدهم. 26 likes Like Comment Gandom 72 reviews 47 followers September 15, 2019 "تذکره ی اندوهگینان"رمانی رمزآلود درباره ی معنای زندگیست;داستانی که به ظاهر در قرن پنجم روایت میشود اما به شدت امروزیست! تذکره ی اندوهگینان روایت زندگی مردیست به غایت خسته در قرن چهارم!که در سفرست و به دنبال معنای حیات میگردد.... اگر با عبدالله همراه شوید و وادی به وادی و منزل به منزل با او سفر کنید،در نهایت چیزی رو پیدا خواهید کرد که دغدغه ی انسان امروزیست!"خود" معتقدم 'ما گمشدگانیم در این بحر تفکر' و همواره در پی "خود"... مدتهاست درگیر"خود"ام،درگیر دلیل حیات،فلسفه ی زندگی،دلیل"اندوه"در عین شادی! تذکره ی اندوهگینان بهم آرامش داد،لحظاتی که کتاب رو در دست داشتم تنها نبودم،درگیر فلسفه ی حیات نبودم،بلکه جوینده ای بودم در سفر!از این وادی به آن وادی.. از غم به شادی..! گمان نمیکردم میان انبوه کتابهای دور و برم،کتابی بیابم که بخوام بارها بخوانمش... اما این کتاب باورهای چندین ساله ام را واژگون ساخت! جناب مطهری گرانقدر قلمتان چه کرد با باورهایمان جوانمرد؟! و بگویم از نثر کتاب!به غایت شیرین و دلنشین،به زبان پارسی قرن هفتم هجری! مقدمه و موخره ی کتاب،تصاویر کتاب،تیترها،حاشیه نویسی ها،افتادگی های متن،نثر کتاب و... همه و همه حکایت از زیرکی و هوش سرشار نویسنده دارد... پس از خواندن کتاب،مجدد به ابتدای کتاب بازگشتم و با خواندن مجدد بخش ابتدایی ناخودآگاه این جمله بر زبانم جاری شد"فتبارک الله احسن الخالقین" و اما این کتاب مناسب چه کسانیست؟!بگذاریم خود جناب مطهری پاسخ بگویند! (به هر اندوهگین و به "او" که اندوه را تاب آورْد.) پ.ن۱:دوستان نثر این کتاب اندکی ثقیل هست و با کتاب راحت خوانی مواجه نیستید! پ.ن۲:معمولا الکترونیک میخونم اما نسخه ی فیریکی این کتاب به شدت منو جذب کرد،تک تک اجزا،از جلد و صفحات کاهی گرفته(که عاشقشم!)تا قطع و جرم کتاب! پس نسخه ی چاپی این کتاب رو پیشنهاد میکنم تا هرچه بیشتر از ظرافت های این کتاب لذت ببرید. و در آخر:سپاس از حسام الدین مطهری عزیز بابت نگارش این کتاب...! اولین کتابی بود که از این نویسنده خواندم و نثر به غایت شیرین این کتاب رو هیچگاه فراموش نخواهم کرد... با آرزوی عمری طولانی و قلمی استوار... favorites persian-novel 24 likes Like Comment راحِ روح 7 reviews 6 followers January 24, 2019 -کم‌تر کتابی [از نویسندگان هم‌عصر] دیده‌ام و خوانده‌ام که خیلی زیاد بشود [من بتوانم] با آن هم‌راه شوم و از عمق دل بفهممش و با خواندنش گویی خود حال من باشد که شرحش داده کسی. این کتاب از همان معدودهاست که کم‌تر سطری از آن هست که نچشیده باشمش. نه فقط من، حسی‌ست مشترک ″غم″ و ″سرگشتگی″ و همه چشیده‌اندش، حسی‌ست مشترک در پیِ یقین بودن و سخت یافتنش. -و نکته‌ی دیگر که می‌کشاندم به پِی گرفتن کتاب، نثر بی‌نظیرش است. نثری کهن‌گونه که گویی سوار نسیمی می‌کُندت و آرام و رام می‌بردت و می‌دزددت از خود [و گِله‌ای هم نیست، شکنجه‌ایست و ترسی شیرین] ‌-این کتاب تذکرة الاولیایِ عطار و برادران کارامازوف [حتی] و بخصوص رسالات شیخ اشراق بود و هم نبود، خود قصه‌ای بود جامع اینها و البته همزمان یگانه از هریک. قسمت سفرها و سمبولیسمش بیشتر از همه مرا یاد سهروردی می‌انداخت و یاد نوری که جاری بود در نوشته‌هاش، اما گویی اینجا، نور، نه که نبود، اما حلول کرده بود در ″غم″ -فضاسازی‌ها خوب بودند طوری که می‌شد راحت رفت به چند قرن پیش و پی فاطمه گشت و با عبدالله مشوش شد و فسرده و رهایی و آرامش بُلحسن را چشید. و اینکه درکل [سوای چند قسمت اول که کمی گنگ می‌گذشت] کتاب، خواندنی‌ست، حتما بخوانیدش :) 19 likes Like Comment حسام آبنوس 427 reviews 294 followers August 16, 2020 تذکره انسان معاصر «نبشته را راز بسیار است. رازِ اکنون، راز آن دم که بر خوانیش و رازِ آن دم که بسیار بر آن گذشته باشد.» و باید نیک به این جمله نگریست که سخن بسیاری در آن نهفته است. نویسنده در نگارش این جمله که تنها یک جمله از رمان «تذکره اندوهگینان» است غیر مستقیم و با زبان بی¬زبانی به خواننده و مخاطب گفته که آنچه اکنون می-خواند با آنچه روز دگر از همین رمان می¬خواند تفاوت بسیار است و این سخن نه مداهنه است و نه تحویل گرفتن رمان، بلکه از واقعیتی نشأت گرفته که از متن رمان برخاسته است. حسام¬الدین مطهری نویسنده جوانِ رمان «تذکره اندوهگینان»که پیش از این رمان «کلت 45» او با اقبال بسیاری روبه‌رو شد، در تازه¬ترین اثری که خلق کرده خواننده را به عالم تأمل و درنگ دعوت می¬کند. مخاطبی که شاید در روزگار کنونی و در دنیای سرعت تبادل اطلاعات، کمتر فرصتی برای درنگ برای خود باقی گذاشته و نویسنده در این اثر او را دعوت به اندیشیدن کرده است. اندیشیدنی نه از جنس اندیشه‌های مدرن و غیرالهی بلکه در این رمان خواننده با تفکری خداباور دست و پنجه نرم می‌کند که این برخاسته از جان نویسنده است. نویسنده‌ای که در رمانش پیوسته در جستجوی حقیقت است و برای یافتن آن پا به سفر می‌گذارد و در درون و برون سفری را آغاز می‌کند و تجربیاتی می‌اندوزد که او را در رسیدن به حقیقت یاری می‌کند. حسام‌الدین مطهری در این رمان سعی کرده خواننده را در موقعیتی قرار دهد که از خود سؤال کند و پاسخ دادن به سؤالات و یافتن آنها مسیری است که خواننده را در رسیدن به حقیقت یاری می‌کند؛ خواننده‌ای که با «عبدالله» در طریقت همراه شده است. خواننده «تذکره اندوهگینان» باید حوصله خرج کند و با «عبدالله» شخصیت اصلی قصه همراه شود که بتواند با اندوه که مرکب راهواری است به حقیقت برسد تا جان شیفته خود را به زلال معرفت نزدیک کند و در چشمه‌سار آن روحش را به دست خنکای آن بسپارد. شخصیت اصلی داستان در واقع در یک تذکره قدیمی نقل او آمده و اطلاعات درستی هم از او در دست نیست، اما با واقع‌نمایی نویسنده طوری جلوه داده شده که به نظر خواننده می‌رسد، مشغول خواندن یک نسخه خطی است و این تمهیدی است که مطهری به کار بسته تا باورپذیری روایتش دو چندان شود و در فصل‌های ابتدایی از زبان مصححان نسخ خطی با خواننده سخن می‌گوید. «عبدالله» جوانی است که ناامیدی به او غلبه کرده و راه گریزی ندارد و پیوسته افکاری او را مورد هجوم قرار می‌دهند و کامش را تلخ می‌کنند. نویسنده تصویری از عبدالله ارائه می‌دهد که با انسان‌های امروزی قابل انطباق است و از این حیث می‌توان گفت خواننده با اثری تمثیلی روبه‌رو است که شخصیت عبدالله در روزگار کنونی دور از دسترس نیست و می‌توان مابه‌ازای آن را در بیرون جستجو کرد. از این منظر که خواننده همذات‌پنداری خوبی با شخصیت و فضای رمان می‌کند، ترغیب می‌شود ادامه اثر را بخواند. یوسفعلی میرشکاک در یکی از آثارش که پیرامون نیست‌انگاری تألیف کرده در رابطه با این پدیده می‌گوید: « یکی از راه‌های مطمئن مقاومت در برابر نیست‌انگاری، عشق است. اما در روزگار ما، بازشناختن عشق از هواوهوس، به همان اندازه دشوار است که بازشناختن راست از دروغ.�� او در ادامه از نمونه‌هایی که توانستند در برابر این مسئله مقاومت کنند نام می‌برد و قبل از آن فهرستی از نویسندگانی را نام می‌برد که راوی نیست‌انگاری بودند و به آن گرفتار هم بودند، ولی «داستایفسکی که از نخستین طلایه‌داران گزارش نیست‌انگاری در جهان است هیچگاه به نیست‌انگاری تسلیم نشد.» در این رمان هم که به خوبی نگارش یافته و نثر آن می‌تواند توجه بسیاری را به خود معطوف کند، ما شاهد روایت نوعی از نیست‌انگاری هستیم در حالی که نویسنده تسلیم آن نشده و راه گریز از آن را پیش پای خواننده ترسیم کرده است. خواننده بارها از زبان شخصیت اصلی گلایه و شکایت می‌شنود؛ ولی به محض اینکه اولین جرقه‌های عشق در وجودش روشن می‌شود و تبدیل به آتشی بزرگ می‌‌گردد او شوریده سر، پا در مسیری می‌گذارد که دیگر خبری از ناامیدی گذشته در آن به چشم خواننده نمی‌آید. « بنده دل خسته‌ات را ببین! دلزده از گفته‌های درهمی که هرکدام دیگری را نقض می‌کند و سر می‌بُرد. خسته‌ام از جوْری که تا به آن شک می‌کنی، تزویری و تهدیدی‌ست برای پس راندنت. خسته‌ام از دلشاد نبودن. خسته‌ام که نمی‌یابمت، نه در سخن‌سراییِ آنان که خود را نشانه تو در زمین می‌خوانند، نه در کردارِ کسانی که مدعیِ پاسبانی از تو در زمین‌اند. گرداگردم سوداگرانی‌اند که شکم‌های برآمده‌شان را لقمه لقمه از سفره جهلِ مردم می‌انبازند و آروغ خود را مقدس می‌پندارند. آن [...] گردنه‌گیران راهِ زمین به آسمانند. شاید غم نیز عبادت باشد. پس من عابد عزلت‌نشینم که از شرابِ طهور بی‌بهره است. لااقل لذتم ده.» نویسنده به محض عاشق شدن شخصیت اصلی مسیر قصه را عوض می‌کند و فضای اثرش شوریده می‌شود. در واقع او به خواننده نشان می‌دهد که عشق (حال می‌تواند معشوق زمینی باشد یا آسمانی که در این رمان هر دو را می‌بینیم) راه گریزی از نیست‌انگاری است. عبدالله از آنجایی که عاشق می‌شود مرام و سلوکش تغییر می‌کند و دیگر آن عبدالله سابق نیست و این مسئله بسیار با اهمیتی است زیرا در روزگار کنونی، همانطور که بالاتر نیز اشاره شد، شناخت عشق از هوا و هوس کار بسیار دشواری است همانطور که بازیافتن راست از دروغ، این موضوع می‌تواند راهگشای بسیاری از مشکلات بشر باشد در صورتی که عشق واقعی را تجربه کند و گرفتار هوا و هوس نشود. به تعبیری در روزگاری که حیله ونیرنگ جای یکرنگی و صداقت را گرفته، این عشق است که به عنوان مرهم این زخم عمیق می‌تواند بشر را از وضعیت کنونی نجات دهد. نثر روایت این رمان نثری کهن و البته شیرین است (نباید تصور شود کهن با کهنه مساوی است و باید برای خواننده امروزی از زبان امروز استفاده کرد) که خواننده در خواندن آن علاوه بر اینکه از لذت قصه‌پردازی نویسنده سود می‌برد، در خواندن متنی پاکیزه با زبانی فاخر نیز شریک می‌شود. این رمان با بهره بردن از این زبان پیشنهاد تازه‌ای به خوانندگان ادبیات می‌دهد و غیرمستقیم و در بافت قصه به آنان توصیه می‌کند، به جای نثرهایی که حتی روزنامه‌ای نیستند و بیشتر نثر حاکم در شبکه‌های اجتماعی هستند، از نثرهای ارزشمند فارسی لذت ببرند. یکی از ویژگی‌های این رمان جریان داشتن روح توحید در آن است؛ در حالی که در رمان‌های این روزگار حتی برخی از آنهایی که توسط ناشران مذهبی منتشر می‌شود این روحیه وجود ندارد. اگر نگوییم همه، اما باید گفت اغلب رمان‌های روزگار کنونی مایه‌هایی از الحاد و بی‌خدایی دارند و این مسئله مهمی است که در یک رمان خواننده پیوسته رنگ خدا را در اثر می‌بیند. جستجوی حق و خداخواهی در حالی که می‌توان مأیوس بود و این ژست غالب آثار ادبی در این روزها است. نویسندگان به بهانه سخن گفتن از وضعیت واقعی جامعه نه تنها یأس را القا و تقویت می‌کنند، بلکه هیچ پیشنهادی هم برای رهایی از این وضعیت ندارند و خواننده را در برهوت ناامیدی رها می‌کنند. حسام‌الدین مطهری در این رمان به خوبی تصویری از وضعیت نشان می‌دهد، اما تنها یک گزارشگر صرف نیست و برای خود رسالتی فراتر از یک دوربین متصور است از این رو پیشنهادهایی برای رهایی از این وضعیت نیز ارائه می‌کند که یکی از آنها عشق بود و بالاتر مورد اشاره قرار گرفت. او در رمانش در جستجوی حقیقت است و افراد مختلفی را تصویر می‌کند که همگی در مسیر یافتن حقیقت قرار دارند و هرکدام خود را حق می‌دانند. خدا را پیوسته خطاب قرار می‌دهد و او را راهنمای حقیقی معرفی می‌کند. در این رمان خواننده نه‌تنها یافتن حقیقت، بلکه سکون در برابر ظلم را نیز می‌بیند و تلنگرهایی نیز در باب ساکت نماندن دربرابر ظلم می‌خورد و از این منظر می‌توان گفت رمان «تذکره اندوهگینان» اثری است که خواننده را به دانایی، پرسشگری و حرکت به سوی نور سوق می‌دهد و یافتن راه وصال را مهم‌تر از هر امری می‌خواند. رمان «تذکره اندوهگینان» به قلم حسام‌الدین مطهری یکی از متفاوت‌ترین آثاری است که طی سال‌های اخیر منتشر شده و از این حیث باید گفت آنهایی که در جستجوی خواندن اثری متفاوت هستند می‌توانند با خیالی مطمئن این رمان ۲۳۲ صفحه‌ای را که نشر اسم آن را منتشر کرده، خریداری کنند و در لذت مطالعه آن غرق شوند. رمانی که بیش از یک بار باید خواند تا لذت واژه واژه آن بر جان آدمی بنشیند. 13 likes Like Comment نشر اسم 12 reviews 65 followers June 21, 2018 . "#تذکره_اندوهگینان" کتابی به قلم و روایت #حسام_الدین_مطهری است که شما را با ادبیات شیرینش به قرن چهارم هجری می‌برد. جملات بکر و اصالت واژگانش به دل می‌نشیند، گویی کلمات این کتاب بوی مطبوع خاک خیس خورده می‌دهد. در بخشی از کتاب میخوانیم: " به قدر همین که هستی باش. چوپانی با خانه‌ی گلین و مادری چونان که هست و درد بزرگسالی. اگر اهل ایمانی، ایمانی بی وسواس و راستین بجوی که ایمانی که از دودلی برخیزد، جانت را می‌کاهد و چون در آن اندیشناک شوی، درماندگی و رنجت پرده افکن شود و دیده ات تار کند یا زهری باشد در تقلا برای تباهی جان. آنچه می‌دانی جلا ده و آنچه نمی‌دانی بجوی." عبدالله شخصیت اصلی کتاب، به زعم نویسنده، خود ماست. مایی که در سفر زندگی به اندوه و از اندوه در حال گذریم. عبدالله به دنبال شیره‌ی زندگی و فرار از روزمرگی‌ست تا آنجا که در بلاتکلیفی جوانی عاشق می‌شود و راهی سفری ،که خود،آغاز داستان اوست. در سرمای اتفاقات رخداده، پناه بر گرمای خانه‌ی کسی می‌برد که هر صبح و شام میهمانانی دارد فاضل و شیخ و دانا و البته علاقه‌مند به بحث و به کرسی نشاندن عقاید خود است. و این عبدالله است که دست آخر از رویا برمی‌خیزد و حقیقت را در آغوش می گیرد. تذکره ی اندوهگینان را تجربه کنیم و از ادبیات اصیل ایرانی لذت ببریم و هم قدم با داستانش تامل کنیم. . پشت جلد کتاب آمده است: "اندوه را مرکب شادی کن! این داستان توست. داستانت را بخوان. ورق بزن .در سرآغاز هزارتوی پرافسانه‌، در مسیر عبدالله را ملاقات کن. عبدالله تویی، عبدالله همان همذات توست. به قرن چهارم می روی. در این سفر، از غم به شادی، در پیمودن جاده‌ی اندوه، با عبدالله همسفر می‌شوی، با خودت. این داستان ماست." ــــــــــــــــــ 📑 #تذکره_اندوهگینان ✍️ #حسام_الدین_مطهری 📖 #نشر_اسم 🖌️ طراح جلد: #سعید_ملک 9 likes Like Comment Negin Yashmi 19 reviews 5 followers May 27, 2019 بدون اغراق می‌تونم بگم یکی از بهترین رمان‌های ایرانی که خوندمه، نثر کتاب عالیه و تصویرسازی فوق‌العاده‌ای داره، انقدر زیبا و شیواست که تا مدت‌ها باهاش زندگی خواهید کرد. 10 likes Like Comment Mohammad Sadegh Rasooli 530 reviews 41 followers March 11, 2019 http://delsharm.blog.ir/1397/12/20/ta... «تذکرهٔ اندوهگینان» نوشتهٔ «حسام‌الدین مطهری» را نشر اسم در بهار ۱۳۹۶ برای اولین بار منتشر کرده است. صفحه‌آرایی، طراحی جلد و انتخاب جنس کاغذ برای این کتاب اولین چیزی است که مخاطب را جذب خودش می‌کند. طراحی جلد کتاب به مانند کتب خطی قدیمی، جنس کاغذ شبیه به کاغذ کاهی، و صفحه‌آرایی کتاب بسیار چشم‌نواز است. شروع کتاب با دو جملهٔ کوتاه از نویسنده همراه است: «تاریخ دروغی‌ست در لباس حقیقت. و داستان سراپا دروغِ پر از راستی‌ست.» این جمله بسیار شبیه به جمله‌ای است که «یان مک‌یوئن» نویسندهٔ هم‌روزگار انگلیسی در مصاحبه‌اش در مورد رمانِ «تاوان» گفته است: «داستان‌نویسی یعنی چگونه برای آن که حقیقت را بگوییم، دروغ بگوییم». بخش اول داستان مقدمه‌ای است از نویسنده در مورد دوره‌ای از زمستان شصت و چهار که او به عنوان شاگرد استاد «ایرج فولادوند» در حال تصحیح متنی است که سال‌ها پیش به واسطهٔ «علی‌اصغر خان حکمت» از هند به دست «استاد زرین‌کوب» رسیده و این‌گونه این کتیبه به دست استاد فولادوند رسیده است. این کتیبه که «تذکرةالمغمومین» نام دارد چندین نسخه و بدل دارد که یکی‌اش نسخهٔ کوتاه ولی ناتمام قاهره است و دیگری نسخهٔ اصلی. استاد هم تصمیم می‌گیرند این کتاب را به نام «تذکرهٔ اندوهگینان» منتشر کند. دیگر بخش کتاب مقدمهٔ استاد فولادوند است و پس از آن اصل داستان آغاز می‌شود با مقدمهٔ مصحح «محمد بن احمد کاتب نیشابوری». و سپس خود داستان که ترکیبی است از نسخهٔ اصلی و نسخهٔ قاهره. و در نهایت در پایان داستان برگهٔ به‌جامانده‌ای که «خجسته‌بانو» بانوی اهل فضیلت به دست «کاتب نیشابوری»‌ می‌رساند که در واقع سیاهه‌ای است از نام افرادی که در کتابت این تذکره نقش داشتند. اگر کسی اهل خواندن داستان‌های پست‌مدرن از سنخ اصطلاحاً فراداستان یا متافیکشن نباشد، ممکن است در آغاز داستان دچار سوءتفاهم شود. فراداستان را اگر بخواهم ساده تعریف کنم، می‌شود داستان در دل داستان؛ مانند داستان‌های شهرزاد در هزار و یک‌ شب یا داستان در داستان در رمان «اگر شبی از شب‌های زمستان مسافری» نوشتهٔ‌ «ایتالو کالوینو». فراداستان در ظاهر نوعی بازی با مخاطب است که نویسنده از سر رندی به مخاطب القا می‌کند که خود نقشی در شکل‌گیری داستان نداشته است و صرفاً بازگوکنندهٔ روایتی است که به دستش رسیده است. از این جهت اثر سترگی مانند «نام گل سرخ» نوشتهٔ «امبرتو اکو» شاید به نحوی یک فراداستان در خود داشته باشد که البته داستان اصلی اکثریت حجم کتاب را در خود دارد. دیگر خاصیت فراداستان به هجو گرفتن برخی از عرف‌��ای شعاری در ادبیات است. این کار را «ولادیمیر ناباکوف» در رمان «لولیتا» به شکل هنرمندانه‌ای انجام داده است و در آن مقدمه‌ای از روان‌شناسی ساختگی می‌آورد که در آن هدف از نوشتن «لولیتا» را آگاه ساختن خانواده‌ها از خطراتی که آن‌ها را تهدید می‌کند یاد می‌کند. شاید نقطهٔ اوج فراداستان رمان «اس» کار مشترک «آبرامز» و «دورست» باشد. در این رمان نویسندهٔ داستان، مترجم و خود داستان ساختگی است و دو نفر در حاشیهٔ داستان با دست‌خط با هم در تفسیر داستان پیام می‌نویسند و گاهی تکه‌روزنامه، سند تاریخی و از این جور چیزها را لای صفحات خاص کتاب می‌گذارند. همهٔ این مثال‌ها را خواستم بیاورم که بگویم این کاری که حسام‌الدین مطهری به آن دست زده است از این جهت کار جدیدی نیست اما در زبان فارسی کم‌تر دیده شده است. ساده‌ترین نشانهٔ رندی نویسنده صحبت از زمستان شصت‌وچهاری است که او حتی در آن موقع به دنیا نیامده است. از جهت این که نویسنده دست به نقطهٔ حساسی از تاریخ تصوف و استفاده از شخصیت‌های واقعی تاریخی مانند «ابوالحسن خرقانی» و «ابن‌سینا» زده است کاری ستودنی کرده است. مطهری برای آن که فضای داستان را قابل باور کند زبانِ اثر را به نحو زبانی بسیار شبیه به همان دوره نوشته است: «یکی از هزاران این است که سخن‌های نیکو به تمامی می‌دانم، به عمق و سرانجام تمام نیک‌خواهی‌ها آگاهم. این است که… آزردنت نمی‌خواهم … این است که سخنان در من اختر امیدی نمی‌افروزد، تشویش می‌افزاید.» (ص ۵۱) داستان در مورد جوانی به اسم عبدالله است که بسیار اندوهناک است و راز اندوهناکی‌اش را درنمی‌یابد. او در هزارتوی زندگی با شک دست و پنجه نرم می‌کند و گاه آرزو دارد مانند مادرش خالصانه خدای را از سر جهل بخواند: «خسته‌ام از دلشاد نبودن. خسته‌ام که نمی‌یابمت. نه در سخن‌سرایی آنان که خود را نشانهٔ تو در زمین می‌خوانند، نه در کردار کسانی که مدعی پاسبانی از تو در زمین‌اند.» (ص ۶۰) عبدالله عاشق می‌شود و بر مرکب اندوه سوار می‌شود تا به شادی و وصال برسد. او به سرمای زمستان دچار می‌شود و ناچار مهمان شیخ ابوالحسن خرقانی. در این میانه ابوالحسن میهمانی دارد به نام پورسینا که پزشکی است عقل‌گرا که سر مباحثه با شیخ دارد. اوایل داستان که بیشتر سخن از اندوه و حیرت عبدالله است با دخالت نویسنده در فراداستان بیشتر طرفیم. نویسنده که مدعی است تنها نقشش تصحیح کتاب است برای جاافتادگی‌ها و برخی چیزهای دیگر پانویس می‌زند و در همه جا اشاره می‌کند که در میانهٔ دست‌اندازی‌های مصلحت‌بینانهٔ مصححان در طول تاریخ، جملاتی نامنسجم ولی شعاری در کتاب بوده که او آن‌ها را حذف کرده است. بیشتر این جملات نامنسجم مضمون دینی دارند و در مذمت گمراهی و تردیدِ عبدالله هستند. این گونه از رندی نویسنده مرا یاد مقدمهٔ لولیتای ناباکوف می‌اندازد که او نیز نگاه مصلحت‌بینانه به ادبیات را به سخره گرفته است. از نظر زبان، متخصص زبان آن دوره از ادبیات فارسی نیستم ولی جاهایی حس می‌کردم زبان بیشتر زبان امروز است تا زبان آن روزها. مثلاً استفاده از واژهٔ «مردم» که حس می‌کنم در زمان ابوالحسن «خلق» بیشتر از «مردم» کاربرد داشته است. یا استفاده از سن و سال (بیست‌وچهار سالگی عبدالله) که گویا نزدیک به سنی است که نویسنده این کتاب را نوشته است: بعید می‌دانم در آن زمان مانند اکنون این‌قدر سن و سال اهمیت داشته است. به هر حال ناگفته پیداست که جرأت یک نویسندهٔ جوان برای دست زدن به ورطه‌ای خطرناک که مدعیِ نقد بسیار دارد ستودنی است. از فنون ادبیات پسامدرن مانند راوی نامطمئن (افتادگی‌های زیاد و کاستی جملات)، تغییر زاویهٔ دید (دو نسخه از یک روایت)، داستان در داستان، واقع‌نمایی تاریخی دروغین، و زبان کهن بگذریم، جای آن دارد ببینیم اگر این حجاب‌ها را کنار بزنیم، نویسنده چقدر توانسته است در داستان‌گویی و شخصیت‌پردازی خوب کار کرده باشد. اگر عطف به روزگار امروزِ قرن بیست‌و‌یکم اندوه عبدالله را و شکش را و بدگمانی‌اش را به اهل دین که خود را کمال حقیقت می‌دانند کنار بگذاریم، به نظر می‌رسد نویسنده نتوانسته است اندوه عبدالله را نشان بدهد. به زبان کوچه‌بازاری معلوم نیست عبدالله چه مرگش است که این‌قدر ننه‌من‌غریبم‌بازی درمی‌آورد. مثلاً در آثار بزرگان و استادان شخصیت‌پردازی داستان مانند داستایوسکی و تولستوی این اندوه و غم به جای تکرار در سطح واژه و قید، در دل روایت به رخ مخاطب کشیده شده است. ما می‌دانیم یا می‌توانیم بفهمیم که «راسکلنیکوف» در «جنایت و مکافات» یا «ایوان ایلیچ» در «مرگ ایوان ایلیچ» چرا این‌قدر اندوهناک و خسته‌اند ولی معلوم نیست این عبدالله چوپان دقیقاً‌ از چه می‌نالد و نقطهٔ آغاز شک او به دین از کجاست. حتی خرده‌شخصیت‌هایی مانند «ماهان» زرتشتی و «بوقوس» نصرانی بیشتر به گل‌درشتی این اندوه و تردید کمک می‌رسانند تا به نشان دادن آن. تکرار زیاده از حد اندوهگین بودن عبدالله از جنس صفت و قید در جملات مختلف کمک زیادی به این مسأله نمی‌کند. این ضعف در شخصیت‌پردازی اگرچه در زبانِ کهنی که آثار متعلق به آن دوره ماهیتاً خالی از پی‌رنگ پیچیده و شخصیت بوده است تا حدی پوشیده مانده است اما کافی است به این بیندیشیم که اگر این زبان شبه‌سترگ را به آوردگاه ترجمه بیاوریم آیا چیز قابل عرضه‌ای در داستان باقی می‌ماند یا خیر؟ نگارندهٔ این سطور بر این اعتقاد است که خیر. این کتاب پی‌رنگی بسیار ساده دارد که با رازآمیزی فراداستان کمی تا نیمهٔ داستان جذابیت پیدا می‌کند و با انتهای باز ناشی از افتادگی متون سرگرم‌کننده می‌شود اما به پختگی داستانی که وظیفه‌اش پرداخت درست به جزئیات و شخصیت‌پردازی است نمی‌رسد. بدتر از همه آن که در میانهٔ داستان پایانش تا حد زیادی قابل حدس است. کوتاه کنم سخن را: «تذکرهٔ اندوهگینان» یک حرکت رو به جلو در ادبیات داستانی امروز است اما حرکتی است که اگر ادامه یابد، باید با آثاری محکم‌تر تکمیل شود و الا این اثر به خودی خود در طول زمان رنگ تازگی‌اش از دست خواهد رفت و چیز زیادی از جذابیتش باقی نخواهد ماند. امیدوارم نویسندهٔ جوان این کتاب باز هم دست به جسارت بزند و فضاهای جدیدی را در ادبیات داستانی مورد آزمون قرار دهد. داستان-ایرانی رمان 8 likes Like Comment Shabnam 57 reviews 3 followers November 17, 2017 خوندنش خیلی طول کشید، نه به این معنی که کتاب سخت خوانی باشه، ولی طوری بود که دلم نمیومد صفحات رو تند تند پیش ببرم، شاید نیم ساعت کتاب دستم بود و فقط ۲-۳ صفحه می‌خوندم و بقیه زمان رو خیره بودم به کلمات، به جمله‌ها، و غرق می‌شدم تو خیال و فکر عبدالله. اگر رشته تحصیلیتون ادبیات نباشه، به احتمال زیاد موقع خو��دنش به لغت نامه کنار دستتون احتیاج پیدا می‌کنید. توصیف‌ها به قدری زیبا و زنده بود که خودم رو تو موقعیت حس می‌کردم، بارها صفحاتی رو بلند می‌خوندم، حس ترس و تنهایی و ناامیدی عبدالله رو می‌فهمیدم و شاید بیشتر از عبدالله داستان تو خیالم دنبال فاطمه گشتم. تذکره اندوهگینان رو نذارید شب قبل خواب بخونید، چون انقدر فکر به سرتون می‌ریزه که مجال خواب نداشته باشید :) بیشتر از اینکه دنبال آخر داستان باشم، دنبال مسیر و سفر عبدالله بودم . عبدالله هنوز تو ذهن من ادامه داره. تو پرانتز بگم طرح جلد و جنس کاغذ کتاب هم خیلی خوب بود :)) ۵ تا ستاره دادم چون از خوندنش لذت بردم، هم داستان رو دوست داشتم و هم نحوه روایت داستان رو. انقدر که شروع کردم به هدیه دادن و احتمالا تا یک سال آینده فقط تذکره اندوهگینان کادو بدم. 9 likes Like Comment Alireza Staedtlal 46 reviews 5 followers July 6, 2019 همیشه اقلیتی از انسان ها را در ذهن خودم جای داده بودم که دچار رنج هستند و دلیل آن برایشان مبهم است و زندگی افسانه ای شان به جست و جو می ماند، جست و جوی منشا رنج شان. حسام الدین مطهری در این رمان برای این اقلیت نام اندوهگینان را بر می گزیند - که خود بی شک جز آن هاست - . این اقلیت در جست و جو هستند و این اندوه - یا به زعم من رنجش - را مرکبی برای رسیدن به شادی می کنند. شادی از جنس آسودگی ای که یک شب بهاری همراه با خنک نسیمی را تداعی می کند. این "اندوه" برخلافِ "غم" شیرین است. بلی غم هم انسان را درگیر می کند و بهتر است بگوییم که بیشتر انسان در غم اند. بیشتر انسان های خوش گذران در غم گرفتارند بی آن که خود بدانند زیرا که سفر از غم به اندوه پله ی اول درک چگونگی انسان است. شروع انسان شدن. و آنان هیچ گاه آن را نخواسته اند. اما در مورد کتاب و نویسنده: مطهری بسیار با هوش و آگاه است. نوشته شدن چنین کتابی در عصر رمان های "من پیش از تو و قهوه های سرد و گرم" به اعجاب می ماند. در تذکره برای منی که در اواسط کتاب این حس را پیدا کرده بودم که حرف حساب نویسنده را گرفته ام، فرمِ هوشمندانه ی نوشته بر محتوا غالب شد . زبان نوشته به حال و هوای نوشته های قرن چهارم بر می گردد و از نظر من نمره قبولی می گیرد اما تماماَ نمی تواند حس این نوشته های آن زمان را به من بدهد شاید به دلیل آن که می دانم که محصول دوره خودمان است و به علاوه اینکه هیچ گاه نثر متعلق به آن زمان را نخوانده ام. اما در هر حال نوآوری و خلاقیت و هوش نویسنده قابل تحسین است. باید در آینده منتظر قضاوت بهتری از این رمان باشیم. 8 likes Like Comment Behnaz 28 reviews 4 followers July 14, 2017 باتوجه به اینکه در جایی به نقل از نویسنده اثر خونده بودم با کتاب راحت خوانی مواجه نیستم و برای خوندنش احتیاج به تمرکز هست،تصمیم داشتم کتاب رو در زمان مناسبی که مشغله فکری وکاری کمتری دارم بخونم.وقتی کتاب بدستم رسید بازش کردم وهمین جمله اول کافی بود برای خوندنش، به هراندوهگین و به او که اندوه را تاب آورد برای من خوندن تذکره اندوهگینان مثل خوندن غزل زیبایی از حافظ بود، هر پاراگراف و چندین مرتبه می‌خوندم اول از زیبایی کلماتی که با دقت و زیبایی هرچه تمام‌تر انتخاب شده بودن لذت می‌بردم و بعد انگار باهر بار خوندن مفهوم تازه‌ای رو درک می‌کردم که دلم می‌خواست ذره‌ ذره تو وجودم بشینه. بیشتر قسمت‌های کتاب و با صدای بلند می‌خوندم درست مثل وقتی که شعر می‌خونم. شکوه،شور و احساسی که در هر سطر از کتاب موج می‌زنه در واقع به نظر من مرز بین نثر و نظم رو از بین برده، لذتی که از خوندن بعضی از جملات این کتاب می‌برید کم از یک بیت زیبا نداره و شمارو وادار به حفظ کردنش می‌کنه. چند روزی میشه که خوندن تذکره اندوهگینان رو تموم کردم ولی کتاب همچنان روی میز اتاقم هست حتی نگاه کردنش حالمو خوش می‌کنه دوباره می‌خوام ورقش بزنم. 8 likes Like Comment محمد شفیعی Author 3 books 108 followers June 26, 2020 اوایل کتاب کمی گیج کننده بود، مقد��اتی که مقدمه نبود و خوب در نیامده بود و گیجی شروع داستان کمی اذیتم کرد اما هر چه رفت جلو، با اینکه ادبیات به سبک قدیم بود، حرف، حرف امروز بود و این تا حد زیادی بدی شروع را جبران کرد و کتاب رو جذاب کرد یقین گویدم غم نپاید. یقین گویدم غم اگر نبود، شادی را نه بها بود. یقین گویدم به گاهِ غم چاره کن شادی را، که زیستن جز این نیست 7 likes Like Comment Soheil 89 reviews 1 follower June 28, 2019 کتاب سختی بود به ن��ر من باید با دقت و سر حوصله خوند.من که از متون قدیمی خوشم میاد هر چند راز آلود بودن به سختی متن و کلمات اضافه می کنه. 6 likes Like Comment Hossein Sasani 7 reviews 3 followers August 5, 2017 روایت، روایتِ دل‌نشینی بود، اما داستان، حقیقتش، به دلم ننشست. همین‌طوری، شاید بی‌هیچ دلیل خاصی! این از آن دو ستاره‌ای که ندادم... اما برای آن سه ستاره‌ای که دادم... این نوع روایت کهن و قدیمی، برای منی که مدت‌ها بود خودم را از خواندن‌شان محروم کرده بودم، خیلی شیرین و دل‌نشین بود. بعضی قسمت‌هایش را چندبار خواندم. بعضی فصل‌ها را مثل تابلوی نقاشی‌ای که دلت نمی‌آید چشم از آن برداری، مدام می‌خواندم و سیر نمی‌شدم. نخواندن و از دست دادن این کلمات لطیف‌تر از گل، بی‌شک از بزرگ‌ترین خسران است. این روایت‌ها حافظه‌ی ما ایرانیان است. حافظه‌ی هزار ساله‌ی ما... قدرت کلمات، جان و روح کلمات، این‌که همین کلمه ریسمانی‌ست که قرار است ما آدمیان نحیف‌جان از آن‌ها بالا برویم، این‌ها را بیش از هرچیز متن‌های کهن به ما یاد می‌دهند. جدیدترها انگار وقتی با کلمات وَرمی‌روند، اصلا نمی‌فهمند دارند چه کار می‌کنند. تازه آدم می‌فهمد که عجب! چه داشته‌ایم و خبر نداشتیم. به‌قول رضای عابدینیِ گرافیست، چه زیبایی‌ای را فدای چه تکنیکی کرده‌ایم! خدای‌مان ببخشاید! 7 likes Like Comment Fatemeh Sadat Mirian 7 reviews 5 followers January 5, 2019 زیبا:)) پر از جزئیات و قشنگی! با کلمات ساده و درست! و خب برای یه آدم دردمند، تذکره واقعا داستانِ خودشه! دردمند شدن، جدایی از عرف، درگیر شدن، وابسته شدن، تلاش زیاد برای رسیدن، ناکام شدن، تلاش زیاد برای بی‌تعلقی و رسیدن در اوج رهایی! 6 likes Like Comment Mostafa 28 reviews February 12, 2018 كتاب واقعا قابل تحسين ي است نوشتن چنين كتابي كار آساني نيست و خواندنش لذت بخش است. اما ذهنيت معاصر نويسنده جا به جا از لاي متن قديمي بيرون ميزند. فقط همين اذيتم كرد. 6 likes Like Comment Amir Mehdizadeh 1 review April 25, 2019 دو بار شروع به خواندن کتاب کردم اما هربار در ابتدای داستان متوقف شدم و نتوانستم با داستان همراه شوم. بنظرم با حسام‌الدین مطهری نمی‌توانم همراه شوم. 6 likes Like Comment Amir 23 reviews January 6, 2019 نکته های قابل ذکر متعددی داره، در چند نظر اشاره می کنم... با خواندن این کتاب، کاملا این رو درک می کنید که تحریف اندیشه ها، نوشته ها و گفته های یک نفر، چه کار کثیف و به دور از عقلانیتی هست، با هر نیتی که انجام شده باشه... گردآورنده ی متن در موارد متعددی، تحریف شده ها و پاک شده های متن اصلی در طول تاریخ رو معرفی کرده... 5 likes Like Comment فــ کریمی 76 reviews 27 followers July 15, 2019 بسمـ الله... کتاب متفاوتی بود 4 likes Like Comment Hamid 13 reviews 1 follower April 2, 2020 داستان، مسائل مطرح شده و گفت و گوها جذاب هستند. با درگیری‌های ذهنی خیلیا ممکنه همخوانی داشته باشه و شاید بهتر باشه چندبار خونده شه. ولی خب من ذهنم درگیر مسائلی دیگه‌ای هم شد. واقعیت یا داستان مطلق. از همان قسمت «پیش از آغاز» صفحه اول که تاریخ ۱۳۶۴ رو دیدم و آخرش «ح.م» اگر اختصار حسام‌الدین مطهری باشد. 2 likes Like Comment Ehsan Hosseini Nasab 3 reviews 3 followers August 15, 2019 نثر فاخر فارسی، پر کرشمه و پرهیاهو. پسند خاطر شیفتگان زبان فارسی. تذکره اندوهگینان داستان ندارد، اما ادعای داستان‌گویی هم ندارد. بناست قرائتی نوین از نثر کهن فارسی داشته باشد. نویسنده قرار نیست ما را مرعوب «داستان» تذکره‌ی اندوهگینان کند، بلکه می‌خواهد شک��ه «نثر» فارسی را به ما بنمایاند. اگر دنبال رسیدن به مقصد و خواندن داستان هستید، تذکره‌ی اندوهگینان کتاب مناسبی برای شما نیست، اما اگر می‌خواهید از فرایند خواندن، از این مسیر پر نشیب و فراز لذت ببرید، تذکره‌ی اندهگینان را نباید بخوانید؛ باید در آغوش بگیرید. چون این کتاب دقیقا همان چیزی است که شما نیاز دارید. 1 like Like Comment Mahdi PK 3 reviews February 4, 2020 It’s so good👌👌👌 1 like Like Comment Mahsa bgbn 139 reviews 75 followers March 19, 2022 عجب کتاب زیبای گمنامی🥺 حیف که نمیشه بهش پنج بدم :') re-read 1 like Like Comment Shaahin Ghamgosar 61 reviews 7 followers April 10, 2023 من ابتدا شیدای نام رمان شدم، بعد شیفتۀ قلم‌ این نویسنده در این کتاب. به خیالم کار کمتر پرداخته‌ایه که با زبان دنیای قدیم رمان بنویسی و نیک از عهده‌اش هم بر بیای. البته بگم من روزگار دوزخی آقای ایاز از براهنی رو هنوز توفیق نداشتم بخونم و نمی‌دونم که چنین بازسازی‌ زبانی‌ای در اون کتاب اتفاق افتاده یا نه. اما هرچه از خواندن متن تذکره اندوهگینان لذت بردم، از فهم داستانش و اینکه نویسنده سرآخر چی در توشه برای من داره، عاجز ماندم. گاهی خیلی سطحی این «رنج و اندوه رو مرکب شادی کردن» توی ذوقم می‌زد، و گاهی گم می‌کردم که دقیقا می‌خواهد چی بگه و شیوۀ رسیدن نویسنده به این دگردیسی از اندوه و رنج به شادی، از چه معبری می‌گذره. برای من که روشن نبود. اما تلاش و ثمرۀ کار نویسنده رو در بازسازی دنیای قدیم و از طریق زبان قدیم (که بارزترین وجه این رمانه) تحسین می‌کنم. بعضا عبارت‌ها و توصیف‌ها و جمله‌های این رمان به قدری صیقلی و زمزمه‌کردنی‌ان که چیز جز حظ نصیب خواننده نمی‌کنه. رمان Like Comment Zahra 4 reviews 1 follower May 9, 2021 خیلی کتاب سخت خوانی بود جملات پر باری هم داشت ولی حقیقتا چیزی به من اضافه نکرد با سختی تمومش کردم که فقط خوانده باشمش کتابهایی-که-دارم Like Comment Manal Bn 21 reviews 15 followers October 8, 2021 عبدالله منم، عبدالله همذات من است. 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A Little Wicked (Wicked Fortunes, #1) by A.J. Merlin | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Wicked Fortunes #1 A Little Wicked A.J. Merlin 4.06 616 ratings 81 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book I’m paying bills, making powerful enemies, and collecting magical lovers. You know; everyday stuff. I’m not just a tarot reader… my birth right means I’m the best fortune teller you’ll ever meet, too bad I never listen my own advice. My name is Georgette, but only my witchy mother gets to call me that. As the child of a witch and a wolf there’s both consequences and amazing benefits to their union. I get to taste a hint of my true power when I rush to save my cousin, with the help of three mysterious men. Men that become more than friends – they’re only the first of several new male and female additions in my life that have me confused and heated. But trust me, it’s not all fun and steam. One of my intimate companions is the new vampire king of New Orleans. And the vampires hate him. A rebellion is rising and revenge is their battle cry. Settling down might not be an option after all… A Little Wicked is the first book in the Wicked Fortunes series and contains polyamory, MM, and FF content. Genres Reverse Harem Paranormal Vampires Shapeshifters Romance Fantasy M M Romance ...more 348 pages, Kindle Edition First published August 6, 2020 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author A.J. Merlin 27 books 1,070 followers AJ Merlin would rather write epic love stories than live them. I mean, who wants to limit themselves to only falling in love once? She is obsessed with dark fantasy, true crime, and also dogs. From serial killers to voyeurs all the way down to the devil himself, AJ's specialty is in writing irredeemable heroes who somehow still manage to captivate their heroines (and her readers). Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.06 616 ratings 81 reviews 5 stars 257 (41%) 4 stars 192 (31%) 3 stars 119 (19%) 2 stars 42 (6%) 1 star 6 (<1%) Search review text Filters English Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews Kelsi 131 reviews 2 followers February 16, 2021 Eh, very annoying and dense MC Ugh, this book was barely tolerable. Highlights: - The abilities the characters have are powerful but not in a chosen one sort of way. They are higher than their peers but its not a blow out. The conflict is believable because the foes are clever, and are on equal footing. - The relationship bases were fun and have potential. I have a feeling they may go off the rails, but in this book I liked who was involved and into who. Spoiler like character analysis below. Now onto the lowlights: - The MC is slow, brash, impulsive, whiny, and pretty much an idiot. The book screamed "I'm a powerful supernatural, hear me roar!" while actually delivering a kitten with baby claws that everyone knows is kinda helpless and not a formidable ally or foe. It tasted of fake empowerment and like someone used a hat to pick 8 flaws a woman could have to make them *relatable* but just really slammed home how the author really feels about woman participating in life and how they should just really step aside for everyone's sake. - that point above is pretty much the root of all my pet peeves of this book. I forced myself to finish it. But the male characters, though interesting in their own sense, would (rightly) point out the MC's shortcomings....constantly, in every situation, chapter, page, character dialogue....for 85% of the book. As I was reading I thought, dang, they do not pull punches and tell me how you really feel. The MC never really learned, and they never really trusted or respected her. Which leads me to the next point... - the relationships that formed were strange because of the above. How was I supposed to really think these characters would like each other and choose each other with the MC being such a dunce, the guys being condescending, and the steam being the predictable club introduction to Dom men? not really for me, but others seemed to like it. The plot has tons of potential, but I have a feeling I'm not really going to like what the author chooses to do with it. That is unless there is some major confidence and competency growth of the MC in the second book and the men start showing some respect and including the MC in daily life without treating her like a child.. 12 likes Like Comment Rambling Reader 425 reviews 68 followers January 11, 2021 First of all, I was 100% intrigued when I saw the FF note in the blurb because I honestly can't find enough RH authors that give it a try to provide quality FF relationships. I'm also a fan of MM, so this was immediately a winning combo. I will say this- I was a tiny bit hesitant when I saw the note about the FMC being a hybrid because sometimes I feel like those series where the FMC is a little bit of this supernatural thing and a little bit of this odd thing wind up giving me this situation where the girl can just do EVERYTHING, and it drives me nuts. That is SO not the case. George is great- a little sassy, a bit out of her depth, powerful but definitely still learning herself and her powers, and 100% flawed just like a regular human being. Merlin did a good job of giving me a character who would be unique but still be someone I could find likable. I like that we get some glimpses of her wolf (not to mention her ears/tail popping out with strong emotions) and that her summoner side works with the tarot. It's a fresh mix that grabbed my attention, and I definitely want to see how those different parts of her develop and grow stronger! The harem is also a motley crew, and I'm really digging the mix of supes: lich, hellhound, vamp, cecaelia, and kitsune (I think the last one will be involved). I'm very curious to see how Merlin will dig into background for each of them and build up her own quirks for the species. Right now, I can honestly say that I like all of the harem members/potential members. There are some tropes for everyone- the sweet one, the devious one, the *sshole, the alpha, and warrior woman, so I think readers of all flavors will be interested. Plus, there's some exploration into some kinky play, and the dom experience brings some heat to the s*xy times that we do get in book one. I'm a green light for that one. Overall, the story flows well, the action comes right when you need it, and the magic & world kept me wanting to know more. The only reason to take it down a star is that there were times where I just wanted to know a little more, and I was hoping that Yuna would get a little more time to shine although there's some great girl power teamwork toward the end which was very satisfying. I'm really looking forward to book two, and I'm glad I stumbled on book one so close to its release date! 8 likes Like Comment Natalie 2,872 reviews 30 followers October 6, 2021 I thought I knew where this one was going. Three guys, Akiva, Cian and Indra in their own relationship and bdsm. Yuna wasn't really a surprise but Merric was. I didn't like the damsel in distress thing, but I did like how she stepped out of their protection. I liked the variety of supernaturals and the way George uses her magic. The no jealousy was refreshing. Favourite character was the kitsune and his personality switches. Looking forward to the next one. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review 300-400-pages 4-star f-f ...more 4 likes Like Comment Sheila Johnston 179 reviews 4 followers June 1, 2021 Confusing & kind of annoying So far she's a little awkward for a witch of her age. 8+ years @ her particular gift/core strength as a witch. Practicing battle strategies, etc. Stating her ward charm would hold longer than others but not true. Her cousin needs saving by this awkward weakish witch yet soon after said rescue, it's said that the cousin is a strong dominant elemental that supposedly can obliterate the coven & cemetery in which she had been held captive against her will after being kidnapped from her bed. Also, this cousin intimidated ed strong other world beings. So why did she need rescued!? So far this is all bark & no bite. A couple of young girls stumbling around needing help from stronger older beings. 2 likes Like Comment Princess J. Antoinette 960 reviews 94 followers March 7, 2022 Well Dang! I found this book series on one of my favorite authors bookshelves and I should have known I would like this book just because she wanted to read it. And, boy did I ever enjoy this book down to the very last chapter. It had all the right ingredients and was well written to be rated five stars! I think AJ Merlin, just found herself a new fan. Overall Rating: 5* ~ A Fantastic Read! badass-heroine fantasy-magic m-m-romance ...more 2 likes Like Comment Bookiechick Reviews 716 reviews 20 followers May 2, 2021 A.j Merlin is a new to me author and I gotta say this was a surprise. I had no idea what it was about, went in completely blind and I liked it. . I think the biggest thing to stand out for me with this book is that, it doesn’t follow norms and is fresh and original. In RH you typically don’t see FF at all so this was intriguing. If your looking for an out of the box read this is definitely it. Forget about one lane this jumped so many and it weaves together seamlessly in this book. . The characters were all unique, thankfully none fell under pet peeves for me. I find it a bit annoying in PNF RH books that the main character is this badass chick but eventually ends up being a damsel most of the way, so I enjoyed that this one wasn’t the same. Each character was clearly defined and developed. Their growth, dynamic and a ilu to overcome their hurdles was great to read. It’s also hard to pick a favourite in this one. For me there is usually always one or two that standout but I enjoyed all these characters equally. I also loved how they seemed to almost be like the castaways or “unimportant” of their species so they formed this group, I loved it. . The world build, again it was different and I haven’t read too much of this kind of world so it was great. Loved the different interpretations and takes on species. As the story went on I was surprised at a few of the new species I had never read about o that made it all the more in and interesting. . The plot was clear and easy to read. This book was such a page turner I devoured this in one sitting. I cannot wait to see what Merlin has coming next. This definitely made me want to explore more of her work and immerse myself in the different world she creates. 1 like Like Comment MichelleG 406 reviews 103 followers March 28, 2022 A little wicked can be delicious What an excellent start to the series. I read this book 3 times and loved each reading. Do yourself a favour and grab yourself this book. It’s soo good 😊 2022-books-read kindle-unlimited-read mystery-thriller ...more 1 like Like Comment Anniken Haga Author 10 books 85 followers September 6, 2022 So. This book. I tried starting it one before, but DNFed sometime during the first chapter. It didn't catch my attention at all, but I wanted to keep trying, as I picked this up in the first place because of its polyamorous representation. So I pushed my way through the beginning and got to the club scene, which really caught my interested. While I don't get anything out of maleXfemale sex scenes, I am kinky, and this scene really touched on some of my kinks! So I stuck with the book in hopes of more like this, but I have to admit that I had to push may way through the last half. It didn't help that yes, there was another sex scene, but it wasn't really kinky, other than a bit of dominance. And on the note of kink; while I think the author has done their research on it - or may even be kinky themselves - there was no discussion of limits, which I really missed! And while one of my kinks is CnC - as I consider some of the things happening in this book - that's only with women I've given consent to do that through a discussion of interests and limits. But, to the rest of the book. The writing was repetitive and messy, and more than once I wondered if an editor had looked at it in regards to information given and cohesiveness. There were SO many characters and races, that I honestly just blanked out on who were who and could do what after a while. While parts of the story made sense to me, a lot of them didn't. Like the kidnappings not having any ramifications other than what the kidnapped could do themselves, and then them not being traumatized by the events! Just swept it all under the rug like it didn't happen. Lastly, the characters; they were one dimensional, and the fact that all the women needed saving by men pissed me off! Then there were the relationships. I know that this is supposed to be a reverse harem, but it was also leans heavily on the MC being bisexual, but there's only one woman love interest, and there's not much loving there at all. It feels like she was thrown in there at the last moment to tick a box. And I HATE using that term, or even thinking it, especially as I don't know anything about the author and can't really find any info on them, but that's what it felt like. On the note of ''loving'', I don't believe in insta love - which was the case in every romantic relationship here! And the reason why some of the characters decided to stick with the MC in the first place, which just doesn't make sense to me - and I especially don't believe in it with these relationships, as most of them were domineering and downright bullying. I actually planned on giving this book 2 stars, because I did finish it and it did have aspects I liked, but as I wrote this review, I come to realize that those parts weren't enough. So, 1 star it is. 2022 audiobook erotica ...more 1 like Like Comment Ken 225 reviews 20 followers October 3, 2021 *Edited review to include series thought at the end* Hot damn! Was NOT expecting that! Especially after how the story was developing. For me, and the amount of skimming I did in the latter quarter of the book, I was surprised that the ending would be such a huge pull to drag me from a 3-star-review into a 4! General gist with spoilers: The book is told from Georgette's POV, but everyone calls her George. It's a running 'joke' that only her mom actually calls her by her full birth name. Anyways, G is a very rare being (with and wolf shifter) and it is the nature of her kind to not live long past their youth due to health reasons. Having traveled to New Orleans to save her cousin from a local coven, G decides to stay a way and moves in with her. Immediately, G finds herself in one poor predicament after another and is left the target of the local coven after helping a Vampire overthrow the current leader of the local clade. Said Vampire and his two partners, quickly take a liking to G... but they aren't the only ones. Throughout the story, in pursuit of other magical creatures to assist with their fight, G also meets a 'cecaelia' and a 'fox' who also take a liking to her. The whole gang ends up in fights with witches, together and separately, and G discovers her last magical power towards the end of the book, which is pretty cool. I was surprised at how intrigued I was by the book and despite the two juicy spicy scenes (one very early on, and one in the middle), the book doesn't focus much on that...instead focusing more on the struggle to overthrow the coven. I was beginning to lose hope, towards the end of the book, that this read wasn't going to be very sexy and then the author hit us with one helluva saucy ending. It's panty-melting. 🔵Rating - 4 stars - the ending definitely saves the rating for me as I was getting a bit bored with the running dialogue. But the fight scenes and magic are all really unique and well played. 🔵Steam - 5 stars - I was beginning to think the poly-trio would never really accept G as more than a play thing, until Cian mentions "how things work" in their relationship and basically gives G the green light to explore who she is and what she thinks she might want out of a relationship. Beyond that, the actual smut itself is so well written and developed, and kinky. And the author spends a good amount of time in these scenes, allowing them to grow and meld and breathe. 🔵Storyline - 4 stars - very cool idea pulling numerous magical beings together, with one fault...G is supposed to have these huge health issues and is constantly being harped on by her mother for taking her meds, but we really on hear about this in the beginning of the book. Beyond the halfway point it's completely forgotten. I found that odd. 🔵Plot Twists - 4 stars - most the twists and turns are pretty small but there's so many of them that it keeps the story very interesting. Some you see coming and others are a surprise for sure. 🔵Emotional Pull - 1 star - nope, no tears here. Not even aggravation surprisingly. It's pretty smooth sailing as far as emotions go here as the author doesn't try to add a bunch of drama to the story which is a nice change. 🔵Writing - 4 stars - very comfortable to read but I did end up skimming AND skipping around in the third quarter of the book. For the most part it's a pretty medium-paced read, but it slows down at one point and I just couldn't take it at that pace. However, the author kicks it up to 10 in the last quarter and then proceeds to add a boost in the last chapter. 🔵Denouement - N/A - we're not left on a cliffhanger, but more so just mid-story. 🔵Cliffhanger? - no, but not a stand alone for sure. 🔵HEA? - yes *Trigger warning: while the author does disclose there is MF, MM, and FF "action"...the FF stuff is pretty PG-rated and only happens once ( it's just a kiss, but it foreshadows that there will probably be a relationship that develops there in the on-coming books ), the MM is well-written and intimate, and then there is the trio's relationship with G which develops throughout the book between three major scenes. The story also explores dom/sub and numerous kinks (blood being one of them seeing as there is a vampire in the mix). *Series final thoughts: In my opinion, the books get worse as the story progresses. I became less and less intrigued with the storyline, and the 'spicy' bits were, as well, less and less present to the point where they're almost non-existent in the final book, which is when you're hoping that all the characters finally come together as a harem. But that is not the case. While the series does explore polyamory, MM, MF, and FF briefly, the relationships between these characters are never solidified (with the exception of the trio, because they were together before George entered the scene). 4-stars Like Comment Barbara’s Booknalysis 159 reviews 6 followers April 7, 2021 I was a bit unsure about A Little Wicked at first, as I came to this story by accident. I’m not a fan of reverse harem (the main female having multiple partners at once) & I generally avoid them. And it didn’t take long to work out that A Little Wicked falls into this category. But this book really surprised me! I ended up really enjoying it (with only a little skimming necessary). It was a fun story that kept my attention from start to finish. What I will say though is that this isn't even vaguely a love story. I’m only giving this a one for romance, as it's all about the attraction. And there's plenty of attraction going on, amongst multiple characters in the story. George, the main female character, is bisexual. And as the story progresses, she becomes involved in various relationships. They include Yuna the cecaelia (a type of mermaid), and Cian, Indra and Akiva (a vampire, hellhound and a lich), who are already involved in a polyamorous relationship, that they want George to join. Something I appreciated about this book was its very matter of fact approach to sexuality. I rarely read LGBTQ books because I often feel that the queer characters are there for a purpose, rather than just to be part of the story. And that annoys me. But in A Little Wicked, the queer characters are all through the story and they just are. No questions, it’s just fact. And I liked that. The main female character, George, is great. She’s very confident, but at the same time unsure, and I found this really relatable. She’s also very likable. She is a hybrid witch/wolf shapeshifter (with cute sounding white ears), and I was really kept entertained by her adventures. The other characters are all likeable too - even the cranky ones (I'm talking about you, Yuna). I did wish that a couple of the characters were a little more well rounded, but perhaps that was deliberate and they will get their moment in another book in the series. I really enjoyed the pace of this book & the way the story builds up. AJ Merlin has a very entertaining style of description and it caught my attention and carried me along. There were moments that I was drawn right into the suspense, as well as others where I laughed out loud. And in between, the action and drama kept me wanting more. If you're not a fan of dominant/submissive type relationships, be aware that there is an element of this in the story. But as I mentioned earlier I did do a bit of skimming, and these were the bits I did it in, with no loss of enjoyment of the story at all. Thank you to A.J. Merlin and Affinity Author Services for sharing a copy of this e-book with me. Like Comment FS Meurinne Author 2 books 127 followers April 17, 2021 Interesting and refreshing elements to this paranormal book, the main character Georgette is not the typical heroine for this type of story, we get introduced to all the world she lives in and there is so much more you get to discover. This is an RH story where the main character is bisexual, giving it an original side to the story, we get a great plot to follow as well as supernatural characters. Blog | BookBub | Amazon | Audible | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube | Pinterest | Tumblr | Bookstore 2021 arc paranormal ...more Like Comment Sarah 92 reviews March 2, 2023 A couple of points: I think this book is great, it has spiciness, a PLOT and finally reverse harem. Now the issue as why I gave it a four star then 5 stars. I think there should have been more involvement with he other characters. The following might have spoilers - Indra( one of the guys from the harem) feels as if he is just there to occupy space for the harem the same can be said for Yuna. I wanted this book to be more inclusive specially with Yuna. The main reason why I wanted to read this book is because I wanted to read about two FF within a harem yet, she seems like its just an add on to say there is a female in the harem not with an importance. - Lastly gosh FMC is so annoying at times, its like why would you be so awkward about this scene or cringy. I think shy was nice and independent but why double guess everything, literally every second was spent double guessing for a 24 year old, I guess that make sense but for someone who had to essentially grow up in a harsh reality I don't know why but it bothers me. mind you this is not something that happens all of the time, however when it does its annoying as heck. - Finally this book it's a great read for something light hearted and for a young adult. for those who are older like me I think it's a pass. currently im in my late 20's and let me tell you I will stand my ground until I can't. I rather give my opinion and do the thing I think is correct and then apologize if its wrong then second guess my self because my crush told me I was a distraction. - This book is for those who are younger and want something light to read. Like Comment Marissa Schmidt 30 reviews 1 follower January 26, 2021 This was such an interesting read! You’re dropped right into the action with George, our FMC, as she’s looking for her cousin in New Orleans. Quickly learning that things are far more dangerous than she realizes, George teams up with some sexy preternaturals (a vampire, a lich, and a hellhound) to not only save her cousin, but in the end, them as well. Along the way we find out that George, in addition to being a special kind of witch, has another secret up her sleeve that adds an extra layer of intrigue to the story. The book has a central conflict between vampires and witches, but there are several types of preternaturals directly involved in the story. The tension that grows between George and the guys is extremely satisfying, especially once it finally gets worked out and George catches a clue that they aren’t just looking for a fling. I still have some questions about things that were mentioned in the story, such as George’s poor health as a child and teen not being an issue now as an adult, yet she still takes medications. We also never find out what brought the three MMCs together, but I definitely want to know, because their relationship is so solid and fascinating. In general, I’m looking forward to the relationships being built up more in future books. ’m really looking forward to book two, and I’m thinking and hopeful that we will find out more backstory there. I definitely recommend this book, especially if you are interested in paranormal RH, but even if you aren’t. I am so excited for book two! Like Comment Nia 76 reviews 3 followers February 2, 2021 This is a step away from what I was expecting when I started this book (in a good way!) – George, our sassy heroine, is the kind of vibrant and bold heroine I normally associate with a paranormal RH, but instead of being the usual all-powerful being who saves the day and kisses the pretty boys, she’s completely out of her depth and working mostly on good intentions. One of the best things is that she’s openly bisexual, so when she shows romantic interest in a female character it’s in line with her character. There’s a huge learning curve ahead of her both magically, socially and sexually speaking – which is something I expect to see happening over the course of the series. The room for character development is huge and exciting! I found the beginning of the story a bit choppy, George attaches herself to the Troublesome Trio with no prior motivation and they all stick together without any obvious motivation for doing so – this is an ongoing issue for me that doesn’t apply to her relationships with the other two potential members of her harem. The paranormal element of this book is awesome with a great mix of creatures, including some of the rarer beasties (lich, kitsune, cecaelia) which is a breath of fresh air – it’s a mixture that bounces off each other in unpredictable ways and keeps me interested. I’d classify this book as a medium burn with some steamy scenes (group) and some light BDSM, I can’t wait to see how this evolves across the series. Like Comment Toni M 157 reviews 6 followers April 2, 2021 Wow such an action packed start to the book, I loved it. It reminded me of the originals tv series , with the witches and vampires of New Orleans , the conflict between witches and an in charge vampire. It has everything supernatural in it that you could ever dream of. This books puts a whole new spin on witches, shifters and vampires and many many more. I love Merric, he’s so mysterious and I was not expecting him to change so much I’m shocked. I can’t wait to find out more. The troublesome trio are so different yet suit each other and George so much. I need to know more about Yuna and how her and George’s relationship develops too. It’s so different of a story, that George doesn’t fully believe in herself but wants to, she tries so hard to think she’s more than strong and good enough. I enjoyed how by the last fight she starts to see her true potential. At the start of the story I thought George was just an ordinary witch, but oh boy was I wrong. She’s special! I can’t wait to find out how much stronger she gets. It definitely ticks all of the boxes for PNR Reverse haram , with MM and soon to be FF too. It’s so excited to start a series like this, it’s full of action, steam and it’s so different from most books, with such a unique take on paranormals. The author has done a fantastic job with this story. I can’t wait to read more by this author! Like Comment Abookloverx2 179 reviews 1 follower April 6, 2021 Firstly, it’s got witches and tarot so I was already pumped for this book. Then you introduce shifters, vamps and weird other creatures? I’m double down for this book. This was nostalgia heaven. All I could think was new-gen Sookie Stackhouse, with the FMC George (Georgette to ONLY her mum) being a sassy, powerful but not very confident in it, witchy Sookie. Was there an Eric? Nope but even better, we get 3!!!! for the price of one! You’re going to LOVE Cian, Indra and Akiva. They’re a vamp, shifter and a lich (girl same, but it gets explained) who just so happen to be the cutest killers around. George is an all powerful witch who’s still getting the hang of her powers. The troublesome trio, well they’re going to help. Kinda. Sorta. In some ways that are better than others 😉 if you get my drift. There’s action! There’s romance! There’s New Orleans! There’s a kitsune, who is by FAR my favourite character! There’s betrayal! There’s a sea witch! Hello Ursula 👋🏻 There’s sass! There’s lore! Basically, it’s True Blood, meets Vampire Diaries, meets Teen Wolf, meets The Order, meets Supernatural. Throw in some ✨spice✨ and you’ve got A Little Wicked. I liked. I liked it a loooooot. I’m keen to see where it goes. Get into it, you won’t regret it. And if you do, ummm re-read it and try again. Like Comment Laurel 382 reviews 1 follower January 18, 2021 What did I just read? AWESOMENESS What a fresh new take on a prn rh series. It is a fast and fun read (less than a day). It had a little of everything to make you fall in love with the book. The main female character George (Gerogette) is not your typical badass fmc. However, her journey is one of growth which I liked to see. Her love interest and fun explorations was fun to read. At times when I was reading the story, I had to go back and reread it because my brian was like WHAT?!? Which was fun! So, you might ask why 4 stars? Without giving it anything away, I liked how AJ Merlin told the story. However, I felt confused why some concepts were introduced and never expanded upon. Maybe those concepts will develop later in the series, but if they don't, it will leave me questioning. I most definitely will read the next in this series and cannot wait to see what George and her lovers will do next. Like Comment pooja 98 reviews 4 followers October 25, 2021 Couldn't finish this, I don't even think I made it halfway through. The MC was a combination of so many rare things and yet, she's just so ... bland. I couldn't figure out what she was thinking and we were in her head the whole time. She's supposed to be so close to this cousin that she drops everything and drives over right away because of a creepy text but she also doesn't know the roots this same cousin has in her city? She's supposed to be powerful but her so-called long-lasting personal ward took two hits before breaking. She's supposed to be wary of all the creatures lurking in New Orleans but she decides at the drop of a hat to move there because ... ? I got to the club scenes and felt so much second hand embarrassment because of the MC, I just gave up. Her cousin was cool though and the guys seemed to have a pretty fun relationship. Might've held out a little longer if it were their stories. dnf ku-reads Like Comment lovelust andbloodygoodbooks 335 reviews 9 followers April 9, 2021 Thank you to AJ and affinity for allowing us to be a part of this book journey. This story follows multiple characters but the main character is George a female bisexual hybrid witch-wolf who as the story progresses has multiple partners which pulls her into their already formed polyamorous relationship, Yuna a celcaelia mermaid, Akiva a Lich, Indra a hellhound and Cian a vampire want the hybrid witch-wolf that is George to join them in their unique relationship not understanding the true consequences of that union. We enjoyed reading the twists and turns within this book, there was plenty of passion and action to be had. This book is something a little out of the box but keeps you gripped within its claws right until the very end. Overall Rating 💋💋💋💋 Passion Rating 💋💋💋💋 Like Comment thenerdybookworm_ 1,516 reviews 59 followers April 12, 2021 I wasn’t too sure what to expect from A Little Wicked, but I’m so glad I picked it up. It’s a quirky reverse harem story that had me reading for more. George is a hybrid and along with that comes extremely rare powers. When she gets a distress call from her cousin in New Orleans, she rushes there to help her out. While there she meets some pretty interesting and mysterious people, as well as getting sucked into a rebellion. I loved all the unique shifters in the story, ones you don’t normally see. I liked the polyamory aspect of the story. George is in a few different relationships instead of one big one. The steamy scenes and sexual tension between everyone is HOT!! I’m can’t wait to read book 2 and see where AJ Merlin takes this fun and exciting story. arc Like Comment Evelyn Jane Thorne 693 reviews 9 followers April 13, 2021 A Little Wicked is the first book in the Wicked Fortunes Series by A.J. Merlin. It follows a summoner named George who is trying to navigate her life after she moves to New Orleans after saving her cousin from danger. This was a really fun and interesting book. I liked George and as the series progresses I really hope that she starts believing in herself a lot more. I really enjoyed watching her powers evolve and I can’t wait to see if they will become more powerful. My favourite characters were definitely Cian, Indra and Akiva because they I found them to be really intriguing. I would love to learn more about them because I feel like I didn’t get enough of them. This was a great start to the series and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book. Like Comment Jessica Robbins 2,593 reviews 47 followers April 21, 2021 *I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for. This is a captivating start to a new series that had me completely hooked once the story got going. The FMC is Georgette a witch (with some really cook powers I must say) that has to go rescue her cousin when she disappears. Not sure how to find her she starts looking into things once she arrives only to run across three very sexy men that she has to team up with in order to save her. This leads to quite the adventure with lots of surprising thrown in along the way such as a FF relationship to go along with the three hot guys. Makes for a well written suspenseful story that will keep you attention once it gets going. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars. blog-tour own-kindle 2 likes Like Comment Jade Adams 328 reviews 14 followers April 7, 2021 I was a little unsure of this book but I am so glad I gave it a chance! I was immediately drawn in to the story and the characters, the relationships that build are really exciting and had me wishing I could be there to see it. It was a brilliant fast, fun read. George has to go through a huge learning curve and not just involving her magic. There is a great mix of creatures that are beautifully written. Action, romance, betrayal and some sexy scenes what more could you ask for? The guys are great and even though I wanted to hit some of them over the head they all captured me and we know why George likes them. Like Comment another halima 558 reviews Shelved as 'dnf' February 29, 2024 so the fmc is so.. i’m just going to follow anyone and anything bec they told me so. like a true daadaan. everyone is talking about how rare her skills are but what is the point if she knows NOTHING? she knows nothing about other species. she doesn’t know how to fight. her and cousin are supposedly are powerful but both need rescuing. fmc esp needs it like all the time. the thing that pisses me off is the guys keep telling her she’s wrong and foolish and knows nothing and she gets mad. it’s like girlie they are right! that pisses me off bec why you making me side with men????! i’m supposed to be on your side. please i can’t! dnfed at seventy percent Like Comment Kitty 1,478 reviews 16 followers October 4, 2021 Read : October 4, 2021 Rating :3,5 Stars I enjoyed this for the most part but at times our Mc was annoying with the tstl stuff she pulls and the way she let herself be treated as a sad little 5 year old. And man, why don't you research more about powers and possibilities, seems like a good way to get dead but oh well. I liked the fox, he seems like a proper c*nt and he owns it, and I liked Yuna, the troublesome threesome less so. I believe in talking about what's okay and what's not before a scene, which doesn't happen here so that took a star down for me as well. 3-5-stars bdsm first-in-series ...more Like Comment LolaLovesRH 275 reviews 21 followers November 25, 2020 If I could I would give 10 stars This was an amazing read and made me think of a manga or anime. Especially Merric and his powers and Yuna and her stoicness and penchant for just showing up out of nowhere. Sometimes that type of anime flavoring doesn’t mesh well in a story (I’m wording this terribly) but it works for this one and gosh it was an adventure. I liked all of George’s men and woman and I loved their dynamic. I can’t wait for the next book. Like Comment jenny andrew 186 reviews December 13, 2020 Incredible Incredible story by AJ Merlin. George is an amazing FMC, full of sass, awkwardness and intense magic. Her group of unlikely friends are a riot and so lovely (although there were stages i wanted to shake some sense into the men). A little wicked is a funny, magical, and action packed story with plenty of steam! Very well written, no cliff hanger but I am excited to see what is going to happen next. Like Comment Michelle The Outgoing Bookworm 1,047 reviews 15 followers April 13, 2021 What a quirky, paranormal book! Pleasantly surprised by this story that features a witches, hybrids, vampires, kitsunes, and many other creatures that are intriguing. George is a witch-werewolf hybrid who is strong but yet clumsy and endearing as the FMC. Her interactions with Cian, Indra, and Akiva are so hot and steamy as well as hilarious. This budding RH is definitely one to watch. And with the possibility of more entering - Yuna and Merric - it looks like things will get very interesting. What I loved: the host of secondary characters - good and bad and the MM and FF elements that were done rather well. Overall I enjoyed it but some parts did drag a little. Like Comment W.A. Ashes Author 24 books 43 followers October 12, 2021 Yummy There is no other book like A Little Wicked. I loved every second of this sort of slow burn story. There are monster galore. Everything from witches, to vampire, to werewolves, and Kitsunes. I have to admit, I had a soft spot for the Kitsune. This is the first book in a series and the first book I’ve read by Merlin. I’ll have to pick up the rest of this series for sure. It’s a reverse harem book with supernatural beings and mature scenes. Like Comment Brandon 1 review August 13, 2020 I enjoyed my time reading A Little Wicked. There were many moments where I couldn't stop reading to see how everything turned out. The world was filled with great characters that you care about and want to know more about as you go through. The relationships that were formed between the main group and seeing how they develop was fun to read. Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Be My Valentine: Volume One by Amaka Azie | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Be My Valentine: Volume One Amaka Azie , Fiona Khan , Nana Prah ...more 4.18 11 ratings 3 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Life is beautiful especially when you're in love. Dive into these five hand-picked contemporary romance novellas and fall in love this Valentine's Day. Featured stories: Unexpected Love by Amaka Azie Bitter Sweet Symphony by Fiona Khan Golden Valentine by Nana Prah Boot Camp Seduction by Sable Rose Mr Hot Mocha Perfection by Empi Baryeh ebook Published February 5, 2019 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Amaka Azie 20 books 110 followers Amaka Azie is an award-winning author of romance fiction set in tropical West Africa. She explores the beauty and intricacies of the continent in her sweet and sensual love stories. Born and raised in Nigeria, West Africa, she developed a passion for reading at the age of twelve. Her interest in writing began in secondary school when she joined the press club. Her books showcase bold and exciting female and male main characters with compelling storylines, and her active imagination has captured the interests of many. Apart from getting lost in creating fascinating fictional characters, Amaka enjoys reading, painting and travelling with her family. She lives in the United Kingdom with her husband and daughters and where she also practices as a part-time family doctor. Amaka was named one of the Most Influential Nigerian Authors Under Forty by the Nigerian Writers Awards (NWA) for the years 2017 and 2018. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.18 11 ratings 3 reviews 5 stars 5 (45%) 4 stars 3 (27%) 3 stars 3 (27%) 2 stars 0 (0%) 1 star 0 (0%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews Literary Everything 83 reviews 5 followers February 19, 2019 A collection of five contemporary romance novellas. The second story, Golden Valentine is a heart-warming and sweet love story. It was disturbing to read about the travails of Yiko but in his case, he got lucky as he was rescued by a kind family. Nana weaves a believable and engaging story about kindness, a sense of duty and sacrifice. Read our full review here https://literaryeverything.com/2019/0... 1 like Like Comment Kiru Taye Author 58 books 319 followers February 24, 2019 A wonderful collection of sweet to sensual romantic stories with African characters. african-romance anthology contemporary-romance 1 like Like Comment Carolyn 5,295 reviews 77 followers September 19, 2020 Nice collection... Like Comment Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

Return schema.org Entities and their Properties in JSON-LD format as an array strictly based on the text below. Don't add any information that is not stated in this text.

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Fractured Lines by Maggie Thom | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $4.99 Rate this book Fractured Lines Maggie Thom 4.45 38 ratings 16 reviews Want to read Kindle $4.99 Rate this book Family isn’t always what it seems. Andi’s family has always been small, just her, her mom, and a few of her mom’s friends. But now her mom, her best friend, is suddenly hiding secrets. Big secrets. And avoiding her. The woman next door, who has been like a second mother, is now carrying a gun and sneaking around. And the man, Andi called Uncle Scott, has willed her a house in the country. But someone is already using it … to traffic drugs. Was Scott involved? Why did no one tell her he’d died? And why does her key unlock the mansion next door? Marc, who has become her new neighbor, knows more than he’s telling her. But then he’s a lawyer and Scott’s friend. And living in a mansion that is well above his means. What is he hiding? Unsure where to turn, Andi finds herself caught in a catastrophic lie. She turns to Marc to help her find the truth, hide the drugs, discover who they belong to, avoid being killed, and protect her family at all costs. But what if it is family that is behind it all? 362 pages, ebook First published September 16, 2020 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Maggie Thom 20 books 483 followers Want to take an adventure beyond your fingertips? Mulit-award winning author, Maggie Thom loves the challenge of creating a web of secrets, lies and deceit. She doesn’t want you to figure it out until the end. Author of several suspense/thriller/mysteries. Take the roller coaster ride. It’s worth it. Get your free copy of Blurred Lines ( www.maggiethom.com ). Check out her new series - The Twisted Deception Series. Her motto: Read to escape… Escape to read… "Maggie Thom… proves her strength as a master of words, plots and finely chiseled characters… she weaves a brilliant cloth of the many colors of deceit.” Dii - TomeTender "Maggie Thom writes a fast paced thriller laced with romance that keeps the reader interested and on edge!" InDtale Magazine She can be found at: Website: www.maggiethom.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/authormaggiethom Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/... Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/maggiethom2/ BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maggi... Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.45 38 ratings 16 reviews 5 stars 23 (60%) 4 stars 10 (26%) 3 stars 4 (10%) 2 stars 1 (2%) 1 star 0 (0%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews Bev 3,093 reviews 90 followers September 3, 2020 Andi and her mother have always been a close-knit family. Andi never knew who her father was, but Uncle Scott was always there to help out. Then her mother, Delilah, gets a mysterious phone call and is shutting Andi out of her life and won't answer her phone calls or text. The Gorman family is rich and powerful but evil except for one son, Scott. Scott and Delilah fall in love and have a daughter, Andi, that they keep hidden from his family. Scott is on his deathbed, he sets things in motion to provide for those he loves. This causes many problems for all concerned, mostly Andi, her mother, and Scott's lawyer. There are many secrets and half-truths. As Andi is trying to find out what is wrong with her mother this causes more chaos for her. It also puts her and others in danger. Can things ever be righted again? An outstanding story that proves you can't always judge families by what they want to 'show the world'. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley. have-read 4 likes Like Comment Nigel Keeble 13 reviews September 16, 2020 I really enjoyed Fractured Lines, it took a while to get into it but I put that down to having just read a 21 book series. As a dyslexic reader it is great to be able to get into a book and enjoy it. The twist and turns were enthralling. It was a good read. I liked that it was perfectly believable and you could see that would be or even some of our current politicians (both USA and UK) would be like Mr Gorman senior. Nigel Keeble - Cornwall, United Kingdom 3 likes Like Comment Jackie 11.3k reviews 164 followers September 16, 2020 What an unbelievable story. Has you gripped from the beginning. As you turn each page, you don’t know what will happen. Fantastic. 2 likes Like Comment Jackie 11.3k reviews 164 followers August 6, 2020 This was definitely a breath holding, get to the end fast. I loved the action and the characters. It’s a don’t miss out when it’s released type of book. 2 likes Like Comment Kenneth Lingenfelter 1,484 reviews 9 followers September 17, 2020 Scott Gorman wants to marry Delilah, but his father wants him to marry a women from a higher social status. Scott refuses and stays with Delilah without his father knowing. They have a child Andi. Andi does not know who her father is. Andi and Delilah have always been close, but Delilah is keeping secrets from her. There is drug dealing and corruption in local government officials and local police. A son, Cal, trying to take his father's money. A very exciting finish to this novel. 2 likes Like Comment Silver Surfer 762 reviews 2 followers August 7, 2020 Well, this is another slow burner. You start reading and then you find your not only engrossed but unable to put it down. Cannot get enough of this authors books, they are so good. Highly recommended. 2 likes Like Comment Sandy Lipinski 206 reviews 2 followers September 17, 2020 Great read. Has everything,mystery,family drama,romance,danger and intrigue. 2 likes Like Comment Molly 5,146 reviews 33 followers September 16, 2020 Overbearing family doesn’t begin to describe the connections and relationships in this one Family secrets are much bigger than Andi ever dreamed possible - horrifyingly so Death seems to be the last great escape for Scott - what an awful way to be compelled to live Psychological thriller, extreme family drama and sudden romance despite obstacles and especially in the face of them 1 like Like Comment Illustrious Illusions 1,215 reviews 34 followers August 25, 2020 This one really didn't go in the directions i was expecting. It was full of just enough twists that what you expected didn't always happen when you expected it. While twisty and a little over the top, the story line flowed nicely so you didn't get overwhelmed. 1 like Like Comment Jane Blanchard Author 11 books 51 followers September 24, 2020 Fractured Lines by Maggie Thom starts off a little slow but quickly builds suspense as Andi tries to figure out what is going on with her mom, “Uncle Scott,” and her neighbor. Imagine inheriting a cabin from someone you didn’t even know died. Why would he will her that property with its strange goings-on? How was her mother involved and why was she not answering questions? And the story keeps getting more convoluted. Characters seem unreal and too convenient, relationships, at times, strain reality, and the timeline is rushed. Other than that, Fractured Lines is an enjoyable read. Like Comment Gill 117 reviews October 7, 2020 Fractured Lines by Maggie Thom What a super novel. This is the first Maggie Thom book I have read. Who is Delilah and what secrets is she hiding? As the story unfolds she becomes more and more mysterious and withdrawn which leaves her daughter Andi looking for hidden answers to explain this odd behaviour and mysterious disappearances. A great mystery/romance, well written and easy to read. I will certainly be looking to read more of Maggie’s books. Like Comment Laurie 3 reviews August 9, 2020 The concept of the book was interesting and kept me reading until the end. I was curious to see the outcome of the father/uncle/daughter relationship. However, I found myself not caring about many of the other characters in the book. A few times there were repeated explanations of things which happened earlier in the book that I didn't feel necessary. This book had everything and the kitchen sink thrown in. I would have preferred if it was more focused. That being said, I enjoyed the main character Andi and her interactions throughout the book. Like Comment Louise Gray 855 reviews 20 followers October 3, 2020 There was a lot crammed into this book! Family intrigue mixed with sordid mystery made for an engaging story. The writing style isn’t to my usual taste, being kind of dramatic while I prefer a straighter style, but it fit the plot-line well as that was also pretty dramatic! Like Comment michelle curtis 56 reviews 2 followers September 19, 2020 Wow a riveting story a real page Turner Couldn't put it down a must read Like Comment Carol 1,087 reviews 6 followers October 23, 2020 I really enjoyed this book. Family secrets are the main theme of this book. The author did a great job with the twists and turns going on. There's a lot crammed in to this, but it's a great read. Like Comment linda kellogg 465 reviews 1 follower October 8, 2023 Unusual This book is full of real life situations that are in Very unusual ways. The characters are likeable and the story mainly positive. Like Comment Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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The Vegetarian Bistro: 250 Authentic French Regional Recipes by Marlena Spieler | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Buy on Amazon Rate this book The Vegetarian Bistro: 250 Authentic French Regional Recipes Marlena Spieler 3.89 38 ratings 7 reviews Want to read Buy on Amazon Rate this book While traveling through France with a vegetarian companion, Marlena Spieler was delighted to discover an often-overlooked meatless French cuisine, rooted in regional traditions and preserved in the small, family owned neighborhood restaurants that are the soul of Gallic cooking. In The Vegetarian Bistro, she shares her delicious discoveries. Here at last are vegetarian recipes - some classic, others newly adapted - for the rich gratins, flavorful appetizers, warm salads, hearty soups, lusty braises, and homey desserts of beloved French bistros, from Paris to the northern regions of Brittany and Normandy and to the southern reaches of Provence and the Basque country. Illustrated with charming watercolors by Pierre Le-Tan, The Vegetarian Bistro brings the market-fresh bounty of regional French cooking into your own kitchen. Genres Cookbooks Cooking Food 256 pages, Paperback First published January 1, 1997 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Marlena Spieler 84 books 6 followers Marlena Spieler was an American food writer of more than 70 cookbooks. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.89 38 ratings 7 reviews 5 stars 16 (42%) 4 stars 12 (31%) 3 stars 5 (13%) 2 stars 0 (0%) 1 star 5 (13%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews Debra Giusto 31 reviews 1 follower July 17, 2020 Great recipes! Try the omelettes, vinaigrette’s, salad’s, potatoes, soups, and artichoke dishes. Easy French cooking! Like Comment Elizabeth Author 85 books 69 followers April 30, 2009 This is one of my preferred cookbooks. I haven't made anything from this cookbook that I wouldn't gladly make again. I particularly love the roasted beet, goat cheese, and sundried tomato dish. If you dislike cheese and butter, then you won't enjoy this cookbook nearly as much as I do. And you probably won't be that keen on Spieler's mac and cheese cookbook either . . . Like Comment LemontreeLime 3,393 reviews 17 followers January 8, 2015 What a great book. Great veggie recipes, and great stories, exactly what i was looking for. They always make French food sound uber sophisticated, but really, as seen in this book it is mostly simple and fresh. Worth searching for. Here's hoping Marlena writes another book on this subject in the future! cookbooks mappemondes Like Comment Nezka 318 reviews November 22, 2009 This is one of my favorite cookbooks--and there are no pictures--only some drawings! I consistently go back to this one time and time again, and some of my standard fare have become favorites with friends and family. cooking-food-wine-drinks Like Comment Kelly Laverty 3 reviews January 16, 2010 Excellent reading - great recipes, stories ! Like Comment Joey 120 reviews 1 follower October 1, 2019 one of my favorite cook books. Best tapenade recipe ever Like Comment Susannah 27 reviews Read December 16, 2010 Absolutely incredible recipes!! YUM!! Like Comment Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

Return schema.org Entities and their Properties in JSON-LD format as an array strictly based on the text below. Don't add any information that is not stated in this text.

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Into The Fire (The Ending, #2) by Lindsey Fairleigh | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book The Ending #2 Into The Fire Lindsey Fairleigh , Lindsey Pogue 4.20 2,314 ratings 156 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book The Virus changed them, but that was only the beginning… …death…mutation…insanity…corruption…terror… …all that remains is hope. In the wake of destruction left behind by the Virus, it took Dani and Zoe months to find each other. But their reunion was short-lived. Dani has been taken, and though little distance separates them, they might as well be worlds apart. From the moment she hears Dani’s scream, Zoe’s only goal is to save her best friend. She and her companions scramble to come up with a rescue plan, but when a ghost from Jake’s past reappears, lines are blurred, decisions become harder, and secrets are revealed…and some secrets are best left buried. To keep heartache and fear from consuming her, Zoe must cling to her determination. She WILL see Dani again. Dani awakens inside the final hold-out of civilization: the Colony. Remnants of the former world surround her—electricity, safety, social order—but all is not what it seems. As she faces her most manipulative adversary yet, she loses sight of who she is and who she can trust. Friends become enemies, enemies become allies, and allies will betray her. Dani will have to decide what she’s willing to do and whose lives she’s willing to risk if she is to have any chance of breaking free. Genres Dystopia Romance Apocalyptic Fantasy Paranormal Science Fiction Post Apocalyptic ...more 356 pages, Paperback First published November 22, 2013 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Lindsey Fairleigh 24 books 14 followers Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.20 2,314 ratings 156 reviews 5 stars 973 (42%) 4 stars 900 (38%) 3 stars 378 (16%) 2 stars 53 (2%) 1 star 10 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews Carol [Goodreads Addict] 2,621 reviews 25.1k followers November 16, 2015 Into the Fire is book #two in The Ending series by Lindsey Fairleigh and Lindsey Pogue. This book, holy cow, there simply aren’t enough adjectives to describe my feelings to you right now. My head is spinning and my heart is pounding. From start to finish this book had me on the very edge of my seat. The entire book takes place within the span of one week. Things start out directly where book one ended. Dani has been taken! We switch back and forth between what is happening with Dani and what is going on with Zoe and the rest of the group. Dani was taken to the Colony and during her time here we are subjected to one revelation after another. Life at the Colony is certainly different than how she has been living all these months. During their months of travel they have learned to live without all of today’s modern conveniences. But suddenly she finds herself in a place with electricity, air conditioning, plenty of food, housing. But underneath all of this is a world full of evil and madness. Dani meets Gabe, her friend from her mind, whom she had come to know as M.G. Gabe claims to be on her side, to want to help her, but isn’t he the one that brought her here? Can she trust him? She meets the mastermind behind all the madness, The General or Father as some refer to him. The General is truly evil. His plans for power are limitless. We are told about the re-gens he is creating and his plan to accumulate power and control. The experiments they are doing on humans and re-gens are horrifying. All Dani wants is to get back to her friends. She had Zoe back for one lousy night. And Jason, her beloved Jason. Dani is subjected to some horrible things but she also is able to strengthen her power. She makes new friends and meets up with an old enemy. All she can think about is getting out and getting back to Zoe and Jason. Zoe, Jason, Jake and the others are forced to abandon the camp from fear that Dani’s kidnappers will return. They find an old ghost town and take up residence there. They are befriended by a new man and a boy he is traveling with. I am hoping these two will play a larger part in the following books. I feel like in this book, we really get to dig deeper into the characters heads and hearts. Zoe has so much turmoil going on. She wants Dani back. At the same time, she is struggling with her relationship with her brother, Jason. There are some very important details regarding their past that are revealed. Zoe is also struggling with her relationship with Jake. She is convinced that if she lets him in, he will abandon her just as everyone else has in her life. Jake is shocked by a visitor from his own past. There is simply so much going on that I barely got time to take a breath. The entire week Dani is at the colony is spent planning her escape. And Zoe, Jason, Jake and the others are up against scouts from the Colony, crazies and their own inner demons, all the while trying to figure out a way to rescue Dani. I believe on their Facebook page, they call the fans of this series, “Endingers.” Well, I guess I am one because I am obsessed with this series. This group which I have grown so attached to just doesn’t seem to catch a break. I just want them all to settle down somewhere, start their own little community and be happy. But that’s definitely not the way things are going. So we will see what happens next, in book three, Out of the Ashes. I can’t wait to get started. paranormal-fantasy 70 likes Like Comment Carol (StarAngel's Reviews) Allen 1,688 reviews 612 followers May 13, 2015 **4.5 Re-Gen Stars** Now that's what I'm talking about...this one read so much faster since I couldn't put it down. Dani finally started to grow up in this story but Zoe a few times had me ready to pull my hair out. Again this is told in Dani's and Zoe's POV with a few chapters from Mase (Giant). Fast paced ---- very interesting and action packed! This one was much better than the first but yet again we end with a cliffhanger! UGH... I have to find out more so I'm off to start... Out Of The Ashes cliffhanger dystopian emotional-roller-coaster ...more 18 likes Like Comment Dianne 6,791 reviews 590 followers November 7, 2013 Have you ever been so lost in a book and its story that when you reach the end, and your Kindle says 100% you actually need to try to check further to see if there’s maybe just another line or two? Like flipping over my Kindle will magically give me more, right? Into the Fire by Lindsey Fairleigh and Lindsey Pogue Had me white-knuckling-it to its fabulously devious ending, and I can testify that if you flip your Kindle over, you will not find more, nor is there anything beyond 100% finished. Briefly, the world has been decimated by a mysterious virus that has left its survivors changed in amazing ways. Small groups band together in search of a safe haven. Meanwhile, one place remains as a civilized bastion in a world reduced to its most primitive elements, The Colony. But is it a haven for survivors or a breeding ground a new and more terrible living hell? Picking up immediately after Dani is abducted in book one, After the Ending , the maze of events are genius in a diabolical way. The gut-wrenching secrets revealed will hit you like a sucker punch, while the tender moments of tentative love will melt your heart. As for the action, I suggest you rest up, you are going to need all of your energy to keep up as good vs evil vs science gone awry vs tortured consciences take turns at center stage where humans are used as lab rats and the name of the game is control at any cost. What would you do to save your best friend? What would you risk? What secrets would you shield from those you love in order to protect them? From start to finish I was right there as the authors deftly structure a world in chaos, where trust is earned, danger could be lurking around the next corner and madness is rampant. I believed in this world, it was real, almost too real! The core characters are not just descriptions on a page, they are lifelike, and have emotions, secrets, tempers, and flaws. They are also loving, caring and loyal to a fault. Together they have adapted to their lives as a unit. When threatened they circle the wagons and come out with guns blazing. The villains ranged from the demented power mongers to the unsuspecting pawns that you cannot help be feel for. The best thing about having received an ARC edition from L2 Books in exchange for my honest review, I was able to read this sooner. The only downside is that I have to wait longer for the next book in this amazing series that still has a lot to share! Series: The Ending, Book 2 Expected Publication Date: November 22, 2013 Publisher: L2 Books ISBN: 9780988715431 Genre: Paranormal Romance/Fantasy/Sci-fi Page Count: 356 Buy Links Unavailable at this time Connect with the authors: The Ending on Twitter The Ending on Facebook The Ending series on Goodreads The Ending Blog The Ending Website For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook . arc-read author-review dark-fantasy ...more 13 likes Like Comment Jilly 1,838 reviews 6,395 followers February 13, 2015 I'm so torn about these books! I like the story, and all of the side characters, but I don't like the two main girls that much. They are all of the things that make girls look bad: selfish, immature, girl-haters (except each other), catty, bitchy, and weak. So, I was really hoping to see growth from them in this book. But, since this book takes place within only one week, I guess that wasn't possible. What was possible, however, was for them both to start throwing temper tantrums, like 2-year olds. That's right, they both decided to yell and hit when they got angry. WTH? First, we have Zoe, when Jake doesn't want his sister being used as a pawn for the twisted army to take and abuse again. Zoe thinks this is wrong of him - that he should be willing to give his sister to the people who she knew (because she had seen her memories) had literally abused this girl. So, Zoe freaks out when Jake decides that he will not allow this to happen to his sister and wants to get her the hell out of there (a normal reaction). I pushed, shoved, and slapped him again and again. "You son of a bitch!" Really? This is how a 26 year old woman handles her emotions? But, hey, in the last book she had fallen to her knees, crying, in front of a bunch of people. She is an emotional child. Next, we have Dani, who was feeling overwhelmed by her feelings so she decided that hitting Gabe was the best way to deal with them. I was fully aware that Gabe had done nothing but help me, but I had to lash out at something.... I yelled as I stepped closer and slapped him as hard as I could.. I slapped him again and felt wicked satisfaction when he brought his hand up to his reddening cheek. So, what, it's perfectly okay for women to hit men as much as they want, but woe to a man who hits a woman? Because, frankly, I don't think a woman should hit her friend or lover any more than I think anyone should hit anyone else. And, I don't like the idea that women are being portrayed as so emotionally immature and out-of-control that they must resort to hitting and throwing temper tantrums when they are upset. I truly, truly hope that these women can grow the hell up in the next book! apocalyptic-post-apocalyptic sci-fi 6 likes Like Comment Aimeekay 232 reviews 8 followers November 22, 2013 So I reviewed After the Ending, the first book in The Ending series, a few months ago and I enjoyed it immensely. Fortunately Into the Fire, the second book in the series, did not disappoint. I’ve really gotten attached to Dani and Zoe, but in Into the Fire even more characters were introduced that I liked just as much. I still also like the way that the authors switch back and forth between the characters viewpoints. Dani, however, is still my favorite. But I did start to like Zoe even more in this book and, without giving too much away, I can’t wait to see where the authors take her in the next book that comes out next year. As for the story, in Into the Fire the reader gets to find out even more about how the virus came about. There is still lots of action and this time there are a lot of plot twists. Some I saw coming, but a few, on in particular, I really didn’t expect but again, I can’t wait to see where it goes. The first book ended on a definite cliffie, and into the fire does end rather abruptly, but more as a lead in into the next book, not as a shear drop. I actually really liked this ending, especially when compared to the ending of the first book, and I really thought it was going to end completely differently so again without too much spoilerage I was definitely pleasantly surprised. Also I love the way that the authors have woven Dani and Zoe’s stories together. Both in how they came together at the end of the first book to how they came back together again at the end of the second. Overall I think this series is really good. It started strong and has continued into the second novel without losing steam. I can’t wait ‘til next year when book three, Out of the Ashes is released. I definitely recommend reading the books in order though, so if you haven’t read After the Ending yet, pick it up and get reading! 5 likes Like Comment Doris 838 reviews 31 followers October 1, 2020 This is turning out to be a rather good series; on to the next! 4 likes Like Comment madie (madieanne) 268 reviews 125 followers September 15, 2021 SECOND READ: the cadence of suffering has begun…THIS WAS INCREDIBLE AND MY HEART IS BROKEN 3 likes Like Comment Samantha (Book Lover's Cozy Cafe) 504 reviews 214 followers March 6, 2020 So yeah continuing on with the story. It brings us back to where “After the Ending” left us. And once again we’re left with Dani and Zoe being separated, but with this book you learn more about the people, their abilities. And other things that just makes this series even more intriguing the further you read into it. And also a “aha” moment where if you’re like me you pick up on clues and the moment it’s revealed you get all excited and you’re like “I knew it!” But alas, this book it just like it’s predecessor and leaves you wanting more. So I guess I’ll leave this review as .... to be continued. the-ending-series 3 likes Like Comment Rebecca 123 reviews 12 followers November 8, 2013 I received the book INTO THE FIRE as an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. If you loved the action-packed storyline of ���After the Ending’ then you will also love the second installment in the series. This book delves more into the ‘fantasy’ and finally gives us a little background into the mysterious virus that killed most of the population. So, there are three reasons why I LOVED the book and then another one or two that kind of made me feel a little –meh.- To Love…. 1.The introduction of a few new characters and the reintroduction of a few old ones really helps to flesh out the story. There’s the dead, which we know piled up during book one in the series, the living (in the form of crazies and those special individuals with ‘Abilities’) and now there is something in between. I won’t go into details on this, but it does greatly add to the novel over all. 2.The relationships between the characters, though there are fewer ‘hot and heavy’ scenes than the first novel. As the relationships between Zoe/Jake, Zoe/Jason, Dani/Jason and Dani/MG (Gabe) develop, it helps the reader to really feel for the characters. I love the romance between Zoe and Jake especially because it’s pretty raw. 3.The development of an evil. In the first book, there were enemies, but for the most part, the characters spent a lot of the book facing different challenges. In book two, a strong, powerful and evil entity emerges. Or not to Love…. 1.The ending seemed really drawn out. I know that the book was developed in the final scenes to establish a precedent for following books in the series, but after a while I felt that it should have been cut down at the end a little bit. 2.Call me sadistic, but the first book sparked my interest in some ways because it described gross, violent scenes. Meeting with the murderous/rapist cult, encountering crazies and beating on the dead bodies of loved ones all contributed to the horrors that the characters experienced during the apocalypse. Over all, I really look forward to reading the next two books in the series. I am definitely a fan of the series for sure and think that this book should emerge as a fan favorite. I will close out this review with a few questions for the future… 1.Tavis? Who’s gunna fall for that guy first? It better not ruin any of my favorite relationships? 2.Will Zoe’s little thinking problem ever be resolved and how will it affect her relationship with Jake? 3.What will happen with Gabe? Looking forward to the next installment!! See this review and others at: http://www.bookbacon.com/?p=111 3 likes Like Comment Christine 571 reviews 85 followers September 3, 2016 Just like its predecessor, Into the Fire was brilliant. I mean, with the way After the Ending finished off, I'm not surprised. But, can I just take a moment to say, "Whoa?!" I had about two minutes at the end of After the Ending to relish in the fact that best friends Zoe and Dani were reunited and all seemed to be wonderful. I should have known. Into the Fire takes place immediately following the first book and as with After the Ending we get both Zoe and Dani's perspectives. Only, this time we get a new perspective, as well. That of a character named, Mason. I won't delve too much into who he is, because I really like to leave people in the dark, as far as plot goes, but I will say that I loved him! He only takes up a few chapters of the book, but I felt sucked into his story just as much as Zoe and Dani's. We get introduced to just a few more characters in this second installment. Some of them absolutely great, some of them make me want to punch myself in the face. They're that bad. Really. I think more than anything, in this story we get to see our characters' abilities changing and growing. Right along with the characters, themselves. I love me some personal growth in a character. And I see both Zoe and Dani conquer some personal hurdles of theirs. Instead of a more Dani-Jason centric story, I enjoyed having some Zoe-Jake time. Those Lindseys sure know how to write some strong men. Goodness! My only worries are that there may be a potential love-triangle. I really hope this isn't the case because I feel like these couples have enough on their plates. they don't need the added stress or drama of unrequited love. As for how I feel finishing this book. Well, of course we got left with a cliff-hanger. And, of COURSE, it made me crazy! But, it's the kind of crazy that is going to keep checking to see when the next book comes out. Christy @ Captivated Reading 3 likes Like Comment Sandra "Jeanz" 1,208 reviews 170 followers November 10, 2013 Oh what an ending am definitely wanting to read the next book! INITIAL THOUGHTS Approaching this book I am desperate to know who/what has Dani, what they want from her as well as what the others' reactions to Dani being kidnapped will be. At 16% we are also introduced to a new character called Mase who lives in the colony, though how long he is going to last alive is debatable as he seems somewhat a rebel. Throughout this book I was really kept guessing what was going to happen. This book has some "on the edge of your seat" scenes within it. MY REVIEW I received this e-arc from Netgalley. I like the cover of this book too as it matches the cover of book one with the addition of the fiery orange on this cover. And there is certainly plenty of "fire" in this book. So would the cover of this book make me pick it up in a bookstore? Yes, I'd be attracted to its sparse simplicity which fits the theme of the book of everything being gone. So from the last book we know Dani has been kidnapped and my suspicions were right, it is people from the colony that have her. The man in charge of the colony General Herodson is a mind bender, so naturally he forces Dani to think she wants to stay at the colony. Dani is given a house, clothes food everything that she needs. In fact it's kind of like being in the "before" the virus as the colony has electricity and hot water. However Dani has this little voice/feeling that things are not quite right. The Gabe injects her with something called "neutraliser" that he has obtained from Dr Wesley and all her memories come back. . . . (I'll leave that there as you really need to read the book for yourselves.) So there is a kind of rebellion going on, those who seem to be in this rebellion and who want to help Dani escape are Dr Wesley-Dani feels there is something really familiar about her but she can't quite put her mind to what it is. There's Gabe, the one who lured her to the colony who now seems to be on her side and wanting to help her escape. Then there are Mase and Camille, two Re-Gens . . . what are Re-Gens? Well you need to read the book I can't/won't reveal everything! The very real problem Dani has she doesn't really know who she can trust. So amid all this action and trying to rescue Dani from the colony there is still time for some relationship angst between Zoe and Jake. Especially when there is a choice Jake has to make between Zoe and his sister Becca . . . . Who does Jake end up choosing. Becca is not the girl Jake knew as his sister, but he cannot prevent the feelings of protectiveness he still has for his sister that he thought had died. This book has lots of mysteries, some are answered some are not. I do have lots of things going around in my head after finishing this book as I did with Book One. I truly love this series. I'm even more attached to all of the characters. I love the friendship between Dani and Zoe, the fact they would both be willing to risk their own life for the other. We also see a little bonding between siblings Zoe and Jason. Jason admits the reason he seems to scowl at Zoe all the time is that she looks a lot like their mother, who died in a car crash, or did she? They bond over opening the secret box their dad used to keep from them and hide in the "before". They finally open it together and discover a letter from their mother to their father . . .which is really poignant and then they realise the date on the letter is two days after she died! How can that be? Why did their father keep this secret from them? The book ends on a mixture of emotions happiness yet sadness, and hope against the odds. I love the pace of the book, always something going on. This book has the extra point of view of Mase for a couple of chapters as well as the much appreciated chapters from Dani and Zoe's point of views as in Book One. So did I enjoy the book? Put simply I loved it! Would I recommend the book? Oh, Yes! Would I want to read another book in this series? Definitely as soon as its available please! Would I read other titles by these co-authors? Yes both books they have written together or written individually too. 2 likes Like Comment Monique 108 reviews 25 followers August 13, 2014 Originally posted here: http://moniquesmobooks.blogspot.ca/20... My Review I received a copy of this from from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. * Spoilers from After the Ending, book #1* Held captive by a mind controlling General, Dani needs to search for a way to escape the community without raising suspicion. Luckily she finds a few special people that are willing to help. Being separated from her best friend once again has Zoe distraught but she has more then just that on her mind. She's worried about where her relationship with Jake is headed and why ghosts from his past are turning up. Then there's the mysterious box containing information about the one woman she's never been able to remember - her mother. I will start off by saying that while I liked After the Ending, the first book in the series, I thought the the sequel was even better. With the plot already established and the character development already in place Into the Fire picks up right where the last book left off, with the exception of the opening chapter in Mase's POV. I was immediately pulled back into the story after the opening chapter. I was very interested in knowing what a Regen was and learning about what the hell happened to Dani. So I kept on reading. After Dani was somehow taken by her mystery guy at the ending of the first book I have been dying to know what her future held and it was definitely an incredible story. I found this part of the book to be the most stimulating for me. It was much more plot oriented and there wasn't a dull moment. Zoe's part in the story wasn't as exciting as Dani's but I enjoyed each of the charters in her group, especially Chris, the woman with the ability to calm anyone down in a bad situation. The thing that had me most interested with Zoe was that locked box left to her and Jason by their father. Finally it was opened and what it contained was something they never could have suspected. For me the results were pretty predictable but still fascinating. I loved the sci fi elements in the story with the virus outbreak that caused "abilities" in people who survived the illness, and the Regens which included two interesting characters. The only thing that I didn't like about this story was the fact that after two books about Dani and Zoe trying to find each other in the new world they have only spent a chapter or two together. I found it frustrating. In closing I would like to say that I really enjoyed reading this novel and I can't wait to find out what's in store for Dani and Zoe in the next installment of the series. I give this story a 4 ½ out of 5 stars. 4-stars netgalley series 2 likes Like Comment Ines 17 reviews 2 followers November 5, 2013 I should warn you before I start, if you haven't read After The Ending, there will be spoilers. I feel lucky that I didn't have to wait long before reading the next book in The Ending series. Although now I'm not sure if I still remembered enough of the previous book or the authors were so good to jog my memory with what happened in After The Ending (knowing myself, I'd say it's the latter). The story picks up where it left off and we are introduced to some new characters, some you know will be there (Gabe), some you have no idea existed (because they shouldn't - Camille and Mase) and some you wouldn't have expected in your wildest dreams. I'm not saying who. ;) Considering the fact that After The Ending took our characters on a several months long journey, you will be interested to know this book takes place during one week. Who knew so much could happen in a week? And even though the story mostly switches between Dani and Zoe again, it's from Dani's perspective that we learn the most intriguing bits. And those that would make you scream in frustration. Also, at some point I really wanted to scream in frustration at both Dani and Zoe - I was just starting to think Zoe was the rational and cool-thinking one, after I got upset with Dani thinking with her heart, and then Zoe goes and does the same. And Dani turns smarter. I'm blaming it on the fact that they are still young and facing a new world, not on the fact it suited the authors to move the story in that direction. It was one of those books that make you turn into a reader who calls out for blood for the bad guys. It seems in this case, the BAD guy might be even worse than you thought but we'll get to learn that in the next book. So, to sum it up (I always wonder if I manage to convey through my thoughts how much I liked the book) - I practically inhaled it. Through my eyes of course. ;) P.S. I just want to add, this book deals with some unethical and immoral choices bad people make. It also deals with how people can act differently when faced with such problems and how difficult choosing the right path sometimes can be. Also, how easy it is for the bad guys to take over. :( 2 likes Like Comment J. Bennett Author 44 books 75 followers August 18, 2014 Into the Fire throws us right back into the post-apocalyptic, super power-tastic world that we left in After the Ending, which is a good thing, because I really, really wanted to know what happened to Dani after she was kidnapped and taken into (play scary music)…THE COLONY. Authors Lindsey Fairleigh and Lindsey Pogue don’t let up on the action for one iota of a second. You think, “Oh, here’s a chance to catch my breath…”, but you’re WRONG, because something else is about to explode into horribleness for protagonists and best friends Dani and Zoe. This just goes to show that the world can end…and things can still get worse. Throughout Into the Fire, Dani and Zoe are once again separated, which rekindles the tension that readers will remember from After the Ending, as the two best friends try to find a way to reunite with each other. This time, the stakes are even higher as Dani finds herself trapped within The Colony, run by General Herodson who seeks to rebuild the broken world into a new human utopia. Sound like a nice little vision? It’s not so nice when the dreamer has the power to control minds and isn’t afraid of a little torture, murder, and mayhem to get his perfect world up and running. Will Dani be able to escape The Colony with the help of some new and special friends? Will Zoe and Jake actually stop arguing and misunderstanding each other long enough to finally, finally, finally get it on? You’ll have to read Into the Fire to find out. The plot is whiplash-inducing fast with lots of good twists and turns. Zoe and Dani continue to be fun, realistic narrators who stumble through their new reality but always find the strength to stand back up. I really like how the reader can see their evolution and growth through the series. Romance fans can also expect some sizzle in the book, but it’s only one of many different threads that make up this multi-layered story. And finally, cool powers and now…ZOMBIES…well, sort of. Anyone who loves new adult, dystopian, or reading about girls with grit are in for a treat. Now, bring on Book Three! 2 likes Like Comment Bookish Satty 861 reviews 28 followers January 30, 2014 I got this book from the author, free of cost, in exchange of an honest review from my side. Firstly I would like to thank the author and the publisher for giving me this opportunity of reading and reviewing this books. Well, well, well, I think I'm falling in love with the Dystopian Genre. I mean why wouldn't I, right now this genre is the best out there and I'm so happy to say that these books are a gem in this genre. After a long time I read a story that involves the love of two friends for each other and their struggle to meet. I loved the way the author portrayed the unbreakable friendship of Zoe and Dani. Both girls touched my heart and I loved the true and pure feeling they had for each other and in this tragic situation too they do all they can to meet up but their meeting doesn't last long and Dani is taken away from Zoe and in the second installment we witness the heartfelt and true hardship that Zoe undergoes to get Dani back and on the other hand Dani faces her own monsters and the change in surroundings also changes her view towards her very own known world that got destroyed in a virus attack. But is that the only truth or there are other facets of this truth? Are the people whom the girls think as their allies are really guarding them or are they manipulating their knowledge about the outcome of this virus attack. Are the enemies their well-wishers? Now it's time to find out!!! Great books and the mystery nearly knocked me over and my god the suspense just took my breath away. I loved the characters very much, they were well portrayed and kept developing till the very end. I loved Zoe the most but Dani also touched my heart. The mysterious boys are also one of the attractions of this story. Over all I loved the ending very much and I never saw that coming. I'm really very impressed and I know that you guys will love it too so go ahead and read it!!! Enjoy!!! 2 likes Like Comment Theresa 3,564 reviews 12 followers August 20, 2016 Loved it. The storyline is so involved it draws you in while still making sense. The way each character faces their own internal and physical struggles are perfectly portrayed. And there's maps! Starts when the first left off, with Dani being captured by the Colony. Then we switch back and forth between Dani discovering how rotten the core of the Colony is and the role each played in the spread of the Virus. While Zoe's group tries to come up with a plan to rescue her. They split into two groups sending pregnant Sarah with some others farther into the mountains to keep them safe. We don't hear about them anymore after that, so presumably that's in a later story. The main group learn unknown family history and discover long lost family. They have a hard time keeping Jason from taking off on a suicidal rescue of Dani, especially when she's able to connect with Zoe telepathically and tells them what's going on in the Colony. Zoe & Jake's relationship travels some very rocky ground, but they manage to work through til fate throws them a hardball. I was fascinated by how all the abilties were used both in the group and in the Colony, especially Dani. Though I got a bit confused as to who could do what. Best scene(s): Bathing in the cold river and breaking into the General's office. 2 likes Like Comment F. A. 500 reviews 5 followers April 30, 2022 Into The Fire started off with a new character and a new twist to the plot. Everything you thought you knew and the lost that was experienced in After The Ending changes in Into The Fire. I could not put this book down. Zoe and Dani are separated once again. Jason is devastated and on the war path to get Dani back. The only problem is war lives are lost. Who is the Mystery Guy tat has been in Dani's dreams? Well MG gets a name and a huge part in this second book. t can not tell you how many twists this book had. Not everything is as it seems. The most scary abilities seem to be the ones that can control the minds of those around them and seem to be the most abused. How do you defeat someone that can control your every whim. I can not even describe how much I love this series. Jason's love and protective nature over Dani is so swoon worthy. Also we finally get Jake and Zoe to admit to what is going on between them. I was dying after the cliffhanger ending in After The Ending and had to pick this up right after. This book will have you reading all through the night. The world building in this book and the fact that the Authors continually intrigue and surprise is so addicting. This is a must read series and I only wish I had read these sooner. This is a 5 out of 5 star book. owned-audio-book 2 likes Like Comment Boxy Frown 764 reviews 16 followers November 10, 2013 Read After the Ending first...then read Into the Fire! Into the Fire is the second entry in The Ending series. The first book found best friends Dani and Zoe trying to get to each other in the post apocalyptic world. Just when they do, they get separated again, and that is how we start book 2. Dani has been kidnapped and taken to the Colony, where she finally meets Mystery Guy (Gabe) in person. She also has the misfortune to meet the General (talk about your God complex) and discovers horror upon horror under his command. Meanwhile, Zoe and crew are frantically searching for her and dealing with their own demons. In After the Ending, Dani and Zoe were lucky-they encounter good groups of people to join (for the most part), discovered love, and discovered their Abilities. Into the Fire was an aptly named page turner, so much so that I cried out in indignation when I flicked to the next page on my Kindle and got the credits instead of a new chapter. As before, the book ends with a cliffhanger, but it's just enough to make you salivate for more. What a great read-I can't wait for the next entry! See the full review at Miss Boxy Frown ! badass dystopian-future http-missboxyfrown-blogspot-com ...more 2 likes Like Comment Tim 577 reviews 5 followers July 13, 2023 DNF. Just can’t do it. 2 likes Like Comment terri thomas 2 reviews January 17, 2014 Great read I was a little Leary of reading this, but once I started it I could not put it down. Great story line and the characters are amazing. I would recommend it. cannot wait until book three comes out 2 likes Like Comment Steve Koester 5 reviews February 19, 2014 Second book in a four part series. Very interesting concept - can't wait for book 3!!! 2 likes Like Comment Jaelyn Reeck 32 reviews 1 follower May 17, 2017 Personal Response: I liked this book because it really focuses on what happened at the end of the first book. I found it interesting that people began to have these, basically, mutations in their brains that gave them a special ability. It is a creative book series, and I look forward to reading the next two books. Plot Summary: This book is all about saving Dani, and working on how to make everybody's abilities stronger. Whether it be mind control, or being able to cut out the electricity for only a few moments at a time, every one was working on it. Dani was taken by the people in the Colony, which is thought to be a safe place before you actually get there. All the people that are in the Colony are either mind-controlled by the General, have accepted the General of the New United States, or they have became Re-Gens. Re-gens are people who have been killed or died, and were brought back to help the General with their abilities. Dani has the ability to talk to people through telepathy, and the General wants to have her talk to people and bring them into the Colony so that he can control them too. Dani is controlled by the General for a short period of time, only because Dr. Wesley and Gabe gave her the neutralizer so that she can not be controlled any longer. Shortly after she gets in touch with friends and tells them that she needs to get out and that two Re-Gens, Gabe, and Dr. Wesley are going to help her. The two Re-Gens are different than the rest because Dr. Wesley is trying to make them remember everything. After they finally have a plan ready Camille and Mase (the Re-Gens) have an argument, Camille goes to the General and tells him about the plan. The General being the rude man that he is decides that one is going to leave, especially not someone as useful as Dani. He plans to turn Dani into a T-R, a special Re-gen with no memories of anything. But because Dani is to strong in her telepathy she can basically leave her body, and another Re-Gen, Becca, helps to break them all out. She had created a rebellion of the Re-Gens. They all get out safely, but they can't find Zoe anywhere. Finally Becca has a vision on where Zoe is, but there's one thing wrong... Her memory is gone. Characterization: Dani is a strong independent woman, who knows what she needs needs to do to keep the others safe. She is taken away from her group, but soon realizes that the person who made her go there was forced to. She is also a forgiving person, she helps others out and only wants to back with her friends. They are the only people she has left, and she knows she can't lose them. Recommendations: I recommend this book to high school students and young adults because there is a bit of mature content and language in it. It is a great read, and I feel like people of these age groups would enjoy it also. 1 like Like Comment Katie 1,130 reviews 239 followers November 23, 2013 nto The Fire is the sequel to After The Ending (which is currently on sale on amazon for only $.99 by the way!) and picks up right where the previous book left off. The world has basically come to a halt due to a virus and two friends, Dani and Zoe, are trying to survive with everything changing. Strange new abilities, people gone mad, and crazy government conspiracies are just a few of the exciting elements of this great series. Even though some of the characters were similar to one another, I quickly remembered who was who as I started this sequel. I’ve often found that difficult in other series, but in this series, the characters stuck with me very vividly. No information dump needed. One complaint people had with the previous book was the central role romance played, despite the world nearly ending. I actually found it really realistic and think it’s part of why the characters seemed so believable to me. As long as people aren’t in immediate danger, interpersonal drama and the building of romantic relationships is always going to be a thing. That said, I think people who were bothered by the romance will find it less of a problem in Into The Fire. While some enjoyable romance is still present, it clearly plays a secondary role compared to the action and world building. Something exciting was constantly happening. The action kept me turning pages as fast as I could! The world building was very well done. Most of the new information about how this world works was revealed to us early on, but throughout the book we discover how individual characters got to where they are. I thought this was a great way to avoid artificially holding information back – something that has always been a pet peeve of mine in YA – while still keeping me curious. There were a few little pet peeves of mine that did show up in this one, including some slightly too serendipitous occurrences and characters who refuse to talk about their problems, but overall, this was an incredibly fun read. Even the science was quite well done. Although I’m not convinced that what happened in the book could happen in real life, the book is both internally consistent and consistent with basic science. Some of the facts of our reality our different from the book, but again – the basic science holds. I love when authors do their research! So yep, great characters, fascinating world building, constant action, and believable science. Obviously, I’m going to highly recommend this one. This review first published on Doing Dewey . 1 like Like Comment Sarah-Jayne Briggs Author 1 book 47 followers December 10, 2013 (I received this book for free as part of Goodreads First Reads giveaways). (This review may contain spoilers). When I read the blurb for this book, I almost immediately thought that it definitely sounded like my kind of book (a family member I showed it to said almost the exact same thing). By the end of this book, that opinion didn't change. Although this book was the second in a series, I found it relatively easy to understand what was going on. I did find that there were a few too many characters. I kept getting confused with some of the more minor characters. I really liked the Abilities that different characters had, though I would have liked more of an explanation as to why different people could do different things. Is it just related to DNA? Or is there the potential for a person to develop more than just one Ability? I really liked the concept of the Re-Gens, although it was a bit disappointing that they didn't retain any of the memories of being alive. It was interesting how they almost became different people after being revived, but I liked Mase and Camille and how their relationship formed and still weathered one of the very worst reveals. Although it was slightly confusing at first to have two different first person perspectives - as well as one third person perspective - it didn't take long for me to get used to it. I would have liked a bit more explanation about the General's motives - throughout this book, he comes across as really evil and explotive with nothing that reaches deeper. Not like Dr. Wesley or Gabe, who were much more well-rounded characters. I didn't really like Jason very much, after the way he treated Zoe. I was a bit disappointed that this book ends on something of a cliffhanger, but it did its job - I want to read the other books in this series eventually. The authors did a really good job of making me care about what happened to the main characters and giving them realistic strengths and weaknesses. I definitely want to see how things eventually turn out for them. goodreads-first-reads 1 like Like Comment Jaymi Author 22 books 36 followers November 21, 2013 Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book through netgalley.com. The two Lindseys are back with their second installment of their Ending series. into the Fire begins where book one left off. It's hard to talk about this book without spoilers so I will do my best. Dani and Zoe are back, along with the rest of the gang that they've travelled with across the states. In addition to the gang, we meet the darker side of this new world, those that live in Colorado Springs (which seems to be redubbed as The Colony). We're introduced to MG (and his real name), new characters with new abilities, and some new technology. What I liked: I love dystopian books and this series give the genre a superhero bent to the whole end of the world thing. I loved seeing the characters pushed to their limits on what they'd do for one another. I loved seeing Dani's humanity come out in spades and how she treats others is amazing. The ending, once again, ends on a great cliffhanger that keeps readers waiting out for book 3. So, if I liked all these things, then why did i give the book 3 stars? Well, it was the pacing and what I can only describe as the "second book" blahs. The first book was new and exciting and kept me reading from the first word to the end. In this book, the writing felt flatish, and it took me forever to get into it (and I was really looking forward to this). However, the last bit of the book made up for the trudging through parts. Bottom Line: If you liked the first Ending book, and want to know what happens next, then you'll be surprised and happy for this book. If you've read this book first then you will be a bit confused but I think it's still new enough where you can understand where it's going. 2013 ebooks 1 like Like Comment Ryan H 232 reviews 3 followers March 18, 2016 Wow, the second book in the series did not disappoint. Book 1 laid the groundwork and book 2 connected the dots. It starts right where book 1 left off and from there on out it was action, action, action. Not to mention drama filled with some spooky super natural parts too. The characters have grown in this new landscape and are adapting nicely, well as nicely as anyone can after the world has ended. This addition to the series works nicely and definitely builds off the first book. The introduction of new characters fit well, the secrets that were revealed had more than enough reveal to be interesting but also left enough mystery to see what happens next. If you read my review of book 1 I mentioned a colony, well let’s just say that Disneyland is still the happiest place on earth. If you liked book 1 then you will definitely really enjoy book 2 and feel like the characters are a part of your life. The author uses many different new aspects to keep you reading while keeping true to the new world created in this series. You will be furious with some of the main characters at times and be jumping for joy at others. The author does a great job at evoking emotions. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator does a great job again giving different voices to all the characters in the book, while keeping those that made it to the sequel consistent. The quality and pacing was also well done. Again with some difficult scenes she does a great job keeping her composure as I know if I was the narrator I would be getting furious or being overcome with joy depending on the scene. Well, we have had the cross country roadtrip, we had the growth of characters and reveal of secrets now we will have to see what awaits in the next installment. SO saddle up Wings we got work to do. 1 like Like Comment Heidi | Paper Safari Book Blog 1,054 reviews 18 followers December 12, 2013 I found this book to be very reminiscent of the Cronin's The Twelve. It seems that people with mind control powers always seem to want to take over the world and those people in the medical research field often do things that they later regret after they realize what a horrible weapon they can be. Maybe people should think about these things BEFORE they do them? Just an observation. Into the Fire finds us in the Colony and finally discovering how the world ended as we know it ended. Of course the supposed safe haven of the new world is anything but and now Dani has to find her way out and hopes to save her old friends and some new ones in the process. Once again the story flip flops between Dani and Zoe only this time it is easier to follow. I'm not sure I like this book as much as the first but it certainly had its moments and it definitely held my interest. I guess this one just felt a little more formula than the first but still a good read and had some aha moments that really tied some things together for me. Definitely enjoyable and the characters continue to make me want to read more. 1 like Like Comment Julie (Bookish.Intoxication) 853 reviews 34 followers October 7, 2014 I received this novel from NetGalley. This novel is a brilliant and engaging second installment to the series and I am honoured that I got the chance to read it! This novel see's Zoe and Dani's group face horriffic situations where only their courage, love and hope is able to get them out of the trouble they face, new friendships and relationships blossom along the way, both aiding and hindering this process. This novel reveals so much about the protagonist's pasts and it is part of what makes this novel so wonderful, it is so real, as if it could really happen, and that in itself is amazing. This novel, is well written, cleverly put together and the characters are easy to relate to. The emotional rollercoaster evoked by these two amazing authors is incredible and everyone should read this series! Into the Fire is an incredible read, one that all YA fans need to read, after the first novel in the series of course! Creative, Original and emotional, this novel is the perfect sequel and the perfect prequel to the next novel, which I so look forward to reading. loved netgalley 1 like Like Comment Dana 2,413 reviews November 22, 2013 Better than the first book. Dani is now in the Colony, which is run by a maniacal man who has the power to control other people's thoughts and is trying to rule the world basically. Her friends, Zoe, Jason, Jack and the others are trying to find and rescue her. MG, the man of her dreams is now Gabe and he is really not so dreamy. There is a lot of action, some romance and plot twists and the book is a really good read. There is no more e-mailing - which was odd anyway, instead, there is telepathic communication between the girls, but there are way too many coincidental relationships. It is the end of the world as we know it, yet somehow, all of the main characters wind up having known each other or having been related to one another before the virus that wiped out most of the population and left the rest of them with mental abilities like telepathy, the ability to wipe other people's memories and other super powers. I received this book free to review from Netgalley and I do recommend it. 1 like Like Comment Carolyn F. 3,493 reviews 51 followers September 25, 2021 Audiobook I think I'm too old for this book. It's about a group of young, horny teenagers/young adults that after a virus have special abilities which makes them think that every decision they make is the right one. They keep making the same mistakes over and over again - not checking if someone is knocked out, not seeing if what is happening is a trap. Everyone over 40 is either misguided, manipulated, or a psycho. I really liked the first book but this one not at all. I was going to give it 2 stars to be kind but I really, really didn't like it. The only reason I finished it was because I bought it on Audible. apocalyptic-dystopian audible audiobook ...more 1 like Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 1 quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle Unlimited $0.00 Rate this book Nothing to See Here Kevin Wilson 3.96 186,705 ratings 24,260 reviews Want to read Kindle Unlimited $0.00 Rate this book Kevin Wilson’s best book yet—a moving and uproarious novel about a woman who finds meaning in her life when she begins caring for two children with remarkable and disturbing abilities Lillian and Madison were unlikely roommates and yet inseparable friends at their elite boarding school. But then Lillian had to leave the school unexpectedly in the wake of a scandal and they’ve barely spoken since. Until now, when Lillian gets a letter from Madison pleading for her help. Madison’s twin stepkids are moving in with her family and she wants Lillian to be their caretaker. However, there’s a catch: the twins spontaneously combust when they get agitated, flames igniting from their skin in a startling but beautiful way. Lillian is convinced Madison is pulling her leg, but it’s the truth. Thinking of her dead-end life at home, the life that has consistently disappointed her, Lillian figures she has nothing to lose. Over the course of one humid, demanding summer, Lillian and the twins learn to trust each other—and stay cool—while also staying out of the way of Madison’s buttoned-up politician husband. Surprised by her own ingenuity yet unused to the intense feelings of protectiveness she feels for them, Lillian ultimately begins to accept that she needs these strange children as much as they need her—urgently and fiercely. Couldn’t this be the start of the amazing life she’d always hoped for? With white-hot wit and a big, tender heart, Kevin Wilson has written his best book yet—a most unusual story of parental love. Genres Fiction Audiobook Magical Realism Fantasy Contemporary Humor Adult ...more 288 pages, ebook First published October 29, 2019 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Kevin Wilson 18 books 3,639 followers Kevin Wilson is the author of two collections, Tunneling to the Center of the Earth (Ecco/Harper Perennial, 2009), which received an Alex Award from the American Library Association and the Shirley Jackson Award, and Baby You’re Gonna Be Mine (Ecco, 2018), and three novels, The Family Fang (Ecco, 2011), Perfect Little World (Ecco, 2017) and Nothing to See Here (Ecco, 2019), a New York Times bestseller and a Read with Jenna book club selection. His new novel, Now is Not the Time to Panic, will be published by Ecco in November of 2022. His fiction has appeared in Ploughshares, Southern Review, One Story, A Public Space, and elsewhere, and has appeared in Best American Short Stories 2020 and 2021, as well as The PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories 2012. He has received fellowships from the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, and the KHN Center for the Arts. He lives in Sewanee, Tennessee, with his wife, the poet Leigh Anne Couch, and his sons, Griff and Patch, where he is an Associate Professor in the English Department at the University of the South. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.96 186,705 ratings 24,260 reviews 5 stars 52,864 (28%) 4 stars 85,001 (45%) 3 stars 39,632 (21%) 2 stars 7,123 (3%) 1 star 2,085 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 24,259 reviews Kat 268 reviews 79.9k followers July 12, 2022 quirky and wholesome story about loneliness, family, and some kids who catch fire (literally) (the cover is not a metaphor) i have no substantial thoughts about this book but it rocked my shit. 849 likes 1 comment Like Comment Yun 552 reviews 27.5k followers March 25, 2022 Every once in a while, I come across a book that seems to be exactly what I would enjoy, but for some reason, I just don't connect with it. And unfortunately, Nothing to See Here falls squarely in that camp. When Lillian's best friend from her school days calls on her for help, she immediately jumps at the chance. When she arrives at Madison's house, she learns that her friend wants her to take care of her two stepchildren, who have the unfortunate ability of bursting into flames whenever they're upset. What at first seems like an impossible task soon brightens Lillian's life, and she realizes that she and the children are exactly what each other needs. On the surface, this is exactly one of those quirky, heartwarming, satirical books that should be loads of fun to read. The storyline with those fire children is unique, and Lillian is a main character you can cheer for. Both she and the children have been let down by life too many times, and to watch their journey of discovering each other is lovely. And yet, this book fell a bit flat to me. The characters came across as one-dimensional, where each person was reduced to just the one thing they wanted. The humor and the cursing came across as more flippant than funny. And the resolution felt rushed and sappy. So many other readers loved this, so I'm just going to chalk up my indifference to me being the wrong reader for this book. 500 likes 2 comments Like Comment Meredith (Trying to catch up!) 859 reviews 13.6k followers January 23, 2020 Quirky and Heartwarming Nothing to See Here is about two small children who have the power to spontaneously combust. Yup. Sounds crazy, but Kevin Wilson pulls it off! The premise is a little odd, but it lured me in and works to examine an undercurrent of themes, including class divisions, the dynamics of friendship, otherness, loneliness, and the power of love. I love the tone of Nothing to See Here --narrated by Lillian (the caregiver of the fire children), it's dark, emotional, and filled with humor. Her voice was riveting and made me want to keep reading. This could have easily been a hot mess, but Lillian’s voice keeps the narrative in check and adds a layer of depth and intelligence to the odd storyline. This is a quick and addictive read. If I didn’t have to go to work, I could have easily knocked this out in a day. Roland and Bessie, the fire children, are fascinating. They can cause harm but are really sweet and endearing children who have been deeply hurt by those who are supposed to love them. I wanted more of them!. I especially loved Bessie’s character and enjoyed seeing her relationship develop with Lillian. This book left me feeling warm and fuzzy. Its is a unique read with a strong voice. The premise might be a little too weird for some, but if you are willing to approach this book with an open mind, it’s well worth the read. overdrive 479 likes Like Comment karen 3,997 reviews 171k followers November 20, 2019 “This is weird, Madison. You want me to raise your husband’s fire children.” i won this through the gr giveaways but i didn’t read it right away—choosing instead to read ARCs of books that were coming out before this one, then delaying it further for my horror-only october bookplan. i thought i had plenty of time before it pubbed because i saw this on the side of the ARC: and misunderstood it to mean it was pubbing on the 19th of november instead of in november 2019 . which i now realize is a monday—wait, no it's not but ANYWAY THE POINT IS i put off reading it and the book came out before i began reading it and the joke’s on me because i liked this so much more than most of the books i read while i wasn’t reading this one. THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD before this, i’d only read one other book by him, Perfect Little World . i liked it fine, with some reservations, which was probably another reason i dragged my feet in favor of books i thought would be more slam-dunks in my heart. but this one—good lord, i couldn’t read it fast enough; it grabbed me right from the start, and i never put it down without feeling a little tug of regret that i had to go do other things. i am someone who folds over pages in my books when lines are pleasing or memorable, and i was already a-folding by page two. all of it—the characters, the story, the conflict, it is brisk and funny and warm and wise and heartpunchy; it’s a perfect book about imperfect people; of love and family and responsibility, and you better believe i cried. <— and that? that is a thing that just doesn’t happen. i’d been drawn to this one initially because spontaneous human combustion is rad, even if this is not quite SHC, because the h’s that are c-ing spontaneously are physically unharmed by the experience; they’re just two little kids who burst into flames when they have temper tantrums. "How are they still alive?" I asked. "It doesn't hurt them at all," she said, shrugging to highlight how dumbfounded she was. "They just get really red, like a bad sunburn, but they're not hurt." "What about their clothes?" I asked. "I'm still figuring this out, Lillian," she said. "I guess their clothes burn off." "So they're just these naked kids on fire?" "I think so. So you can understand why we're worried." which is all very striking an image, but it is so much more than the novelty of that situation. quick aside: i was at the bookstore the other day and this little girl was just LOSING HER MIND and through all the shrieking and wailing and snot and tears, all i could think was “welp, at least she isn’t on fire.” the “children on fire” angle is the hook, but at its heart, it is about lillian—a woman trapped in the smallness of her own life after her chance to rise up out of her working-poor upbringing was stolen from her by the betrayal of a friend. as a teenager, lillian worked her ass off to win a scholarship to an elite boarding school where she met her roommate madison billings—a wealthy girl with just as much weirdness to her as lillian. the two became close friends and teammates—basketball phenoms who were inseparable until madison got into trouble, her father paid off lillian’s mother for lillian to take the fall, and lillian was expelled and sent back to her hometown in disgrace. the bribe money—meant to be put aside for lillian's college tuition—was instead quickly spent by her mother on her own comforts. without the challenges and opportunities of the rich-kid school, without the possibility of a college education, lillian just sorta sunk into herself and stopped trying. Everything was so easy, and nobody cared, and I lost interest…I started to care less about the future. I cared more about making the present tolerable. And time passed. And that was my life. fifteen years later, lillian is twenty-eight years old and still right where she started: she's been living in her mother’s attic, plodding through long aimless years of smoking pot, living paycheck to paycheck, defeated and angry but still in madison’s thrall; maintaining a periodic correspondence-based friendship with her—madison’s letters filled with tales of one cushioned success after another; the ease of wealth enabling a charmed life only getting more charmed as she grows older. when madison writes to lillian, asking for her help, lillian doesn’t hesitate: I tried to think of a time when I hadn’t done what Madison had asked me to do. That time did not exist. what madison needs from lillian is her loyalty and discretion; to take care of—and keep out of sight—her husband’s children from a previous marriage; ten-year-old twins bessie and roland who have just lost their mother and are afflicted with this unseemly fiery rage. madison’s senator husband jasper is in the running for secretary of state and flaming children would disrupt their picture-perfect family image: a beautiful, wealthy couple with a young son of their own who doesn’t burst into flames. despite having zero training or experience with children, much less with “fire children,” lillian accepts the position and becomes their governess and sorta-jailor, which puts her once more in madison’s charismatic orbit—living on the grounds of their sprawling estate in tennessee, doing her best to keep the twins calm, extinguishing them when necessary, and sensing in them kindred spirits, an affinity unexpectedly kindling (heh) her unexplored maternal instincts. Maybe that’s what children were, a desperate need that opened you up even if you didn’t want it. the children have been uprooted and are full of raw emotional pain; grieving their mother, resentful of their sudden displacement, their long-absent father and his pretty young wife, their pampered half-brother, and this stranger being paid to care for them. the situation is not ideal, but the three soon find their footing and begin to form their own outsider version of a family, their trust built through honesty and candor, and lillian’s transition from reluctant foster parent into fierce mother bear is beautifully written. They were me, unloved...and I was going to make sure that they got what they needed. They would scratch and kick me, and I was going to scratch and kick anyone who tried to touch them. i feel like i could go on and on about this book, typing out lines from the oh-so-many folded-over pages, and all the ways in which lillian’s situation—of squandered promise and self-disgust; feeling defeated and giving up, the anger, frustration, and shame of poverty—was so horribly relatable to me as i was reading it that i just wanted to howl. Because I kept fucking up, because it seemed so hard not to fuck up, I lived a life where I had less than what I desired. So instead of wanting more, sometimes I just made myself want even less. Sometimes I made myself believe that I wanted nothing, not even food or air. And if I wanted nothing, I’d just turn into a ghost. And that would be the end of it. And there were these two kids, and they burst into flames. And I had known them for less than a week; I didn’t know them at all. And I wanted to burst into flames, too. I thought, How wonderful would it be to have everyone stand at a respectful distance? this. the book simply crackles. it is all flames and fire and emotional damage but it is also hope and purpose and human connection, and even though i am not typically an emotional reader, this one got me right in the feels. i'm sorry i didn't read it the moment it fell into my little hands, but i'm extremely glad i won a copy, because i probably wouldn't have read it anytime soon without the guilt-prod i feel every time i win or accept a free book. maybe this glowing review will be your prod. if not, maybe this overlong quote'll do it, the single best description of the oncreep of love i have ever read: Sometimes, when the kids were invested in something, when they didn’t look entirely blasted by how shitty their lives had been, I’d try to truly look at them. Of course, they both had those bright green eyes, like you’d see on the cover of a bad fantasy novel where the hero can turn into some kind of bird of prey. But they were not attractive children, the rest of their faces soft and undefined. They looked ratty. I hadn’t even tried to fix their cult haircuts. I feared that fixing them would only make the kids more plain. They had round little bellies, way past the point when you’d expect a kid to lose it. Their teeth were just crooked enough that you could tell they hadn’t been handled with care. And yet. And yet. When Bessie managed to get the layup to bank perfectly off the backboard, her eyes got crazy; she started vibrating. When Roland watched you do anything, even open a can of peaches, he looked like he was cheering you on at mile marker nineteen of your marathon. When Roland put his fingers in my mouth in the middle of the night, when Bessie kicked me in the liver and made me startle awake, I did not hate them. No matter what happened after this, when the kids moved into the mansion with Jasper and Madison and Timothy, no one would ever think that they were really a part of that immaculate family. They would always, kind of, belong to me. I had never wanted kids, because I had never wanted a man to give me a kid. The thought of it, gross; the expectation of it. But if a hole in the sky opened up and two weird children fell to earth, smashing into the ground like asteroids, then that was something I could care for. If it gleamed like it was radiating danger, I’d hold it. I would. ******************************************* i missed out on this at BEA, but i won it through goodreads - hooray! and it came with a squishy flame-shaped stress thingie. i feel seen. come to my blog! bea-2019-wishlist books-that-made-me-cry creepy-children ...more 395 likes Like Comment Nilufer Ozmekik 2,551 reviews 52k followers October 22, 2021 Surprising, entertaining, emotional, original! Dysfunctional family dynamics, political ambitions, fire-starter kids seem like little Drew Barrymore’s incarnations, not reciprocated, quirky best friend a.k.a nanny’s surprising connection with them, finding her new life purpose. This book is definitely different fiction you’ve lately read. Lillian doesn’t come from money. She needs to work so hard to deserve a place and prove her value in the society. She has no father and a problematic, selfish mother with lots of boyfriends. When she finally gets her scholarship to have a chance for better education at the boarding school, she thinks her luck has changed. She befriends rich, awkward roommate Madison but as soon as her friend gets into trouble with drugs, Madison’s parents offer to bribe her to take the blame. And of course Lillian’s mother accepts the offer, taking the money, causing her daughter get expelled from the school. After the incident Lillian stops fighting and living her life without any aim, dream or future plans, living at the small room at her mother’s house. But her life changes again when her old best friend (now she is married with US senator, having the benefits of luxurious, wealthy life) comes with a job offer. She wants her to be the governess of her step kids who recently lost their mothers and they will move to live their mansion. ( Of course they will live separated at the guest house with their future nanny) But yes, there is a little problem about the kids. They can be violent, biting and attacking people. But no! That’s not the only people. Yes, they’re suffering from trauma because they were with their mother when she committed suicide. They also PUT EBERYTHING INTO FIRE while they’re singing “Disco Inferno” And guess what Lillian accepts the offer because she doesn’t have any better thing to do. She needs a separate place, she needs money, she has to get away from her shitty room and her own mother’s shitty attitudes but mostly she accepts it because she wants to reunite with her friend and spend more time with her. But instead of reconnecting with her friend, she sees different face of her and realized the facts and dynamics about their long distance friendship (some kind of pen-friendship) and she connects with those quirky but neglected, innocent children. As soon as they also start to form a deep friendship with her, Lillian’s life will never be the same because their parents are so adamant to send them to the boarding school for getting them out of their way to follow the political carrier they planned meticulously. So Lillian needs to make a big decision which will affect both her life and the children’s. The final twist of the book made me smile and entertain a lot. Seeing the hypocrisy, ambition, selfishness of the characters and putting their lives at first made me love Lillian more. Maybe she seems like a loser without anything she fights for but it doesn’t mean she doesn’t care anything or she doesn’t have enough capacity to discover and develop her skills. I liked her and I liked those firefly kids so much. I read this story at one sit and I couldn’t put it down, skipping the meals ( Thankfully at Christmas day, I ate for entire week so it didn’t affect me as I expected.) It’s one of the unique, smart, interesting, moving, powerful readings of the year and I absolutely, highly recommend it. blog instagram facebook twitter 376 likes Like Comment Matthew 1,221 reviews 9,560 followers October 28, 2020 Do you need your heart-strings pulled but you REALLY want them pulled in the weirdest way? Then Nothing to See Here is the book for you. It is a story of friendship. It is a story of family. It is a story of politics. It is a story of abandonment. It is a story of growing up. It is a story of self-discovery. It is a story of karma. It is a story of kids who catch on fire. *sings* One of these things is not like the other . . . So, how does that last item on this list fit in with all the others. I can’t tell you, you will have to read it to find out! But, let’s just say that it does make sense when you throw them all together. This was another book that was a Couch Time listen for my wife and me. For those not familiar, we frequently listen to audiobooks together in the evening after the kids go to bed. When this one finished, we both looked at each other and my wife said “Well, that was weird!” Yes, yes it was . . . but we both liked it very much. The characters and the story were interesting and quirky. Everything develops nicely and there is even some come-uppance in the end that might make you cheer. Marin Ireland was the narrator and we both really liked her narration of Anxious People . We were excited to hear her voice again and I am pleased to report she did another great job. A great book with a great narration – worth checking out if you like (or don’t mind) really unconventional plot points. I see that some place this book in the Magical Realism category, and I think that is appropriate. Give it a shot – just be sure to have a fire extinguisher nearby (just in case!) 2020 humor library ...more 265 likes Like Comment MarilynW 1,404 reviews 3,550 followers March 13, 2021 Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson (Author), Marin Ireland (Narrator) It was a bit hard to get my head around this book because it's about ten year old twins that will burst into flames when they are stressed. Since they aren't harmed when this happens, it can be sort of funny to think about this situation and how adults can make it work, make combustible children fit into everyday life. And that's the sad part...that the wealthy father of these children dealt with them by paying to have them kept out of sight, out of mind, out of the press. But their mother, who is also shunted off to the sidelines, can't deal with life and now she's out of the picture. Several years earlier wealthy fourteen year old Madison and poor scholarship student Lillian are attending the same prestigious boarding school. Finally Lillian has earned a chance to dig herself out of her going nowhere life by working hard enough to earn her scholarship, allowing the opening to keep on moving up in life. Nothing can stop her now. But when Madison is caught with drugs in her desk, Madison's father pays Lillian's mom to say that the drugs belong to Lillian, causing Lillian to be expelled from the school through no fault of her own. Years later, Lillian is stocking at a grocery store and Madison is married to Senator Roberts, the father of Bessie and Roland. Now that their mother has died, Madison begs Lillian to once again, save her hide, by taking on the job of raising these combustible children long enough for Senator Roberts to take over the job of Secretary of State. There is so much more to the story than just the surface combustible children problem. Parents have a responsibility to be there for their children. Lillian's mom has never been there for her and Bessie and Roland's dad and stepmom aren't there for them. And here is Lillian, who has no idea how to parent because she's never had a functional parent, taking on the job of being everything to these two struggling, lonely, scared, dysfunctional children. I won't go into the details of the things that happen but Lillian steps up to the plate and makes choices that put the children first and I'm team Lillian now and forever. Bessie and Roland are so fragile and need love and stability, things that Lillian never had. I really feel in love with the twins and with Lillian, abrasive as she can be. I feel like there are so many messages that can be taken from this story but the main one is that you can choose to love and cherish and choosing to do so gives you something that no money can ever buy. Published October 29th 2019 audio hoopla-libby 235 likes Like Comment JanB 1,218 reviews 3,502 followers December 19, 2019 4.5 It takes a lot of skill for an author to write a book about children bursting into flames and do it in a way that makes it not only believable, but endearing. I absolutely loved this quirky, funny, and sweet story. Lillian hears from Madison, her old friend and roommate, asking for a favor. The two have a checkered history, with Madison being blessed with beauty and wealth, while Lillian, having neither, does Madison’s bidding, getting nothing in return. This time the favor is asking Lillian to be a governess to her husband Jasper’s 10-year-old twins, Roland and Bessie. The one tiny problem? The children have a tendency to erupt into flames. The children’s unusual tendency could derail Jasper’s political aspirations so Lillian’s job is to keep them out of sight and out of trouble. Wickedly funny and heartwarming, I fell in love with Bessie and Roland. Anyone who has children can agree that bursting into flames is an excellent metaphor to describe what happens when children become overwhelmed by strong emotions. I felt for these children and for Lillian. All three have been damaged by life and what they build together is utterly charming. Lillian is a refreshing character and I loved the way she interacted with the children. She sees something of herself in them. I loved her voice and self-deprecating demeanor. She needs the children as much as they need her. I found the first 25% a bit slow but once the children appear the story took off. There’s much to say here about family, money, power, friendship, and politics but the themes were delivered with a lot of humor and heart. This was a fun read with substance, one Marialyce and I enjoyed. Highly recommended! A caveat: If you are offended by the f-bomb be aware that according to a kindle search, it’s dropped 211 times in 272 pages. I felt it was so overused it became tiresome. But yet. These characters wormed their way into my heart in a way I won’t soon forget. • I received an e-galley from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. • For our duo reviews of this book and others please visit https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres... 2019-reads buddy-read-with-marialyce edelweiss 235 likes Like Comment Ace 439 reviews 22 followers December 8, 2019 An interesting premise, but I did not enjoy the writing or characterisation at all. I was curious enough to see where it would go, but at the end I am feeling like there was really nothing to see here. 221 likes Like Comment Robin 513 reviews 3,121 followers February 11, 2020 This book was a freaking balm on my soul. You have to understand, I have been completely SWAMPED in the waters of Moby Dick and the meandering ramblings of Midnight's Children - I know... WHAT WAS I THINKING?? But this book, folks, this book is short, (darkly) funny, and easily holds your interest. There are no dissertations on whaling to be found here, or a dizzyingly long character list. Never, at any point, did a hopelessness descend on me, or existential questions assault me ( will I ever finish this? will I DIE before I finish this? does it matter? ). There's no (poorly hidden) homoeroticism here, no fetishizing of noses, no Shakespearian language, no high-faluting themes either. Now, if you think that I liked this book simply on the basis that it is NOT Moby Dick or some highly-lauded torture exercise written by Salman Rushdie... well, you'd be wrong. But I have to admit, it probably gets an extra half-star simply because it acted as a life-raft in my reading world, that it buoyed me back to the surface. So, thank you, Kevin Wilson, whoever you are. While it has a weird premise (10 year old twins who spontaneously combust), the message of this story is universal: acceptance. Acceptance when life is shitty, when you don't get what you want, when people disappoint you, when you know, going in, that you're going to screw up, when you look in the mirror. Acceptance is not only sought by the twins, but also by Lillian, the woman hired to look after them, a woman who has been closed off and fearful her whole life, who lost faith that her life would ever amount to anything. It's got a touch too much sugar in the mix for my particular taste, and I could have done without the distracting repetition of "admitted" and "offered" as dialogue descriptors, but otherwise, this is a heartwarming (not burning) story. Did I mention, not a cetacean to be found here? Bonus! P.S.: for more eloquent thoughts on this novel, please hop over to Betsy's review . She nailed it. 2019 american group-read ...more 205 likes Like Comment zuza_zaksiazkowane 437 reviews 39.5k followers September 28, 2021 O jeny jakie to było dobre i w dziwny sposób ciepłe. A strona 266 niezwykle smutna i moja ulubiona fiction in-my-home-library 191 likes Like Comment David Putnam Author 19 books 1,778 followers April 11, 2020 A quirky story about two kids who once agitated light on fire; burst into flames. Nothing happens to the kids, they are unharmed when it happens. This book has a gentle pressure that pulls you through the text and keeps you turning the pages. I did not think I would like it but, ended up enjoying it a great deal. Its more about relationships, old and new. How Lilian melds with the two children almost like an Old Yeller kind of story (that’s a bad example but that’s what it felt like). I laughed out loud in several places, the wry sense of humor in situational comedy. I also found it easy to buy into the premise. I think it was because Lilian (the point of view character) didn’t make a big deal about it when it was explained to her, almost like, “Oh, the kids just light on fire.” Since she bought into it so easily (and I already knew her well before this occurred and trusted her judgement) I went along for the ride. It was weird how I dropped into the story and believed it. That wonderful, ever elusive, “Fictive Dream” I’m always on the hunt for is definitely present in this book. I love a story that can evoke this kind of emotion. One bit of criticism, I think the often-overused F-bomb didn’t have a place here. I’m not a prude by any stretch but the book would have had such a stronger impact without it. And it might have had a better chance of becoming a timeless kind of story. This is a four-and-half-star book and I would recommend it. David Putnam the author of the Bruno Johnson series. 182 likes Like Comment Michelle 972 reviews 1,651 followers June 3, 2020 Why have I waited so long to read this??? This may have been one of the cutest stories I have ever read. 🥰 Lillian is asked by her best friend Madison to become the "governess" to her two 10 year old twin step kids, Bessie and Roland. Their mother has just passed away so they will be coming to live with them and she could really use the help. However there is a catch. The kids spontaneously combust when ever they become upset and let me tell you that hilarity ensues from here. Oh, my heart, how I love these characters. Lillian is the best friend every one should wish for and Bessie and Roland are just the most adorable little fire demons you could ever ask for. My life seems almost richer from having met these unforgettable fictional characters and for that I thank you, Kevin Wilson. ALL THE STARS! favorites 167 likes Like Comment Brenda ~The Book Witch at Witch Words 860 reviews 903 followers April 3, 2020 Great flaming balls of fire!! Kids that catch on fire! No, nothing to see here! You can't get anymore original than this quirky, sweet, mesmerizing funny and touching story that uniquely explores what is normal and the power of compassion. It left me thinking we can normalize almost anything if we have compassion for each other. I loved our main character here, Lillian, whose's job is to keep fireballs Bessie and Roland calm while keeping her own cool. These adorable twins who I wanted to give a big hug to take temper tantrums to a whole new level and they don't just have meltdowns they start on fire. Kevin Wilson brilliantly weaves that into the story as a form of self-protection and defence. Lillian, with her own conflicts and an oddball herself, is not afraid of these little fireballs. Her plan is to "hypnotize them with my own weirdness." She accepts them, protects them and loves them just the way they are. My heart melted and felt like it would burst in flames itself. This is one odd, entertaining story with one of the weirdness storylines ever; however, by the end of the story, it all felt normal. Now that's some talent. I highly recommend it. 160 likes Like Comment Larry H 2,645 reviews 29.6k followers November 10, 2019 This is truly an odd, funny, poignant book about finding a place and people with whom you belong, and how family can spring from the strangest of situations. "How did people protect themselves? How did anyone keep this world from ruining them?" Lillian has always accepted that she won’t accomplish much in life. For a brief moment in her teenage years, however, she attended a private high school and befriended Madison, a beautiful but quirky rich girl, and Lillian started to believe she had potential. But Lillian had to leave school in the wake of a scandal and everything went back to the way it used to be. And that’s the way her life went for a number of years until Madison, now the wife of a U.S. senator with greater ambitions, summons her with a proposal. Madison’s young stepchildren have lost their mother and the right thing to do for appearances’ sake is for them to move home. But these children have been raised horribly, mistreated, all because of one thing—they spontaneously combust when they get agitated and flames ignite their skin without harming them. Is this something they can control? No one has ever really tried to figure it out. Lillian agrees to serve as the children’s governess of sorts and keep them out of harm’s (and the media’s) way for a while. It is expected that Madison's husband will be nominated as Secretary of State, so the children need to keep a low profile through the confirmation process. Lillian doesn’t count on how observant and desperate for love and approval the children are, and she doesn’t count on how much she has needed to be needed. She works on winning their trust, making them believe her feelings are true, which Lillian has to believe, too. Fighting for the children’s best interests—no mean feat given how the deck is stacked against them—awakens feelings of love and protectiveness she never imagined she’d feel. This is a quirky book but it’s one that definitely worked its way into my heart. The characters aren’t sympathetic in many ways but I devoured this. Kevin Wilson, who also wrote The Family Fang, really created a moving story. NetGalley and Ecco Books provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available! See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com . You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/. netgalley 155 likes Like Comment Nicole 622 reviews 15.5k followers November 27, 2021 4,5 Bardzo mi się podobała! Ciekawe spojrzenie na rolę opieki nad dzieckiem. 157 likes Like Comment Chelsea (chelseadolling reads) 1,503 reviews 20.2k followers March 30, 2020 This was bizarre and mundane at the same time but I kind of think I loved it????????????? 154 likes Like Comment Rebecca 341 reviews 410 followers March 19, 2024 ‘Slowly, the fire rolled down to her hands, and was this jittery flame and she was holding it. She was holding it in her hands, cupped together. It looked like what love must look like, just barely there, so easy to extinguish.’ Nothing to See Here is a quirky and imaginative novel that explores the complexities of family and friendship. The story centers around Lillian, a young woman who is hired by her friend Madison to be a caretaker for her twin stepchildren. However, there is a catch, the twins spontaneously combust when they get agitated, flames igniting from their skin in a startling but beautiful way. As she spends more time with the children, Lillian begins to unravel the secrets of their family and question her own reality. Wilson's writing is sharp and witty, and he has a knack for creating characters that are both flawed and relatable. Lillian is a complex and sympathetic protagonist, and her journey of self-discovery is both moving and entertaining. The children, with their strange powers and enigmatic personalities, are both fascinating and unsettling. The novel is full of unexpected twists and turns, and Wilson keeps the reader guessing until the very end. The plot is suspenseful and thought-provoking, and it raises important questions about the nature of family and the power of love. Nothing to See Here is a unique and unforgettable novel. Wilson's imagination is boundless, and his characters are unforgettable. I adore this novel. My Highest Recommendation. 2023 fantasy 155 likes 23 comments Like Comment Larry 76 reviews 8,687 followers February 6, 2022 Really enjoyed this book - great characters, great writing, made me laugh out loud several times. Kept thinking, I wish I had this ability to protect myself when I needed it. Highly recommend! 173 likes Like Comment Dorie - Cats&Books :) 1,076 reviews 3,410 followers April 30, 2021 I really didn’t have much idea what I was getting into with this book, I just went into it blind. I loved it!!!!!!!!!!! I listened to the audiobook from Audible and the narrator was fantastic. Is this book quirky? YES Is it hard to believe that children bursting into flames is possible? YES Did it matter to the enjoyment of the book NO!!! This book was clever, witty and incredibly original. This is a story about friendship, often taken for granted by some while held onto fiercely by others. It’s about learning your strengths and making the most of the opportunities that come our way. It’s about loving someone and getting nothing in return. Lillian was always smart, though she came from a home with little love and not much support, she managed to get a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school, her future looked bright. Her first ever roommate, Madison, was from a wealthy family. Though there were so many differences in their upbringing, they forged a friendship and things were great for a while. Then Madison is caught with some drugs and her wealthy father makes a deal with Lillian’s mother, she would receive a lot of money if Lillian said that the drugs were hers. She did, and was expelled from the school. Lillian is still trying to figure out her life, still living with her mother whom she doesn’t share much of a bond with. It has been years since the incident with Madison and Lillian, though Lillian still considers Madison her best friend. She gets a call from Madison and this time she is asking something incredible from her friend. She wants her to come to her stately home in Tennessee where she lives with her senator husband. She has one child with Jasper but now they have a problem to solve. Jasper had twins with his former wife and she has recently died. The children are unusual to say the least, they can burst into flames, spontaneously and seemingly without their control. They have been hidden away from Jasper’s political life because, who would approve of a man who will possibly be the next Secretary of State who has two children who SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUST!! Over the next few months and lots of crazy experiments to try to control the children’s fire problems, Lillian finds herself bonding deeply with these children, having fun with them and watching them start to feel safe.. She feels their abandonment issues and identifies with them. Just when things are going great, there is another upheaval and Jasper no longer wants the twins or Lillian in his life. How Madison and Lillian come to deal with their friendship and the children I will leave you to discover. This was so much fun to listen to and I really felt so much for Roland and Bessie who had been neglected for so long. These were kids who deserved kindness and love. I highly recommend this audiobook if you want to try something different, it will end up making you feel happy, optimistic and satisfied. audible-audiobook currently-listening-to 136 likes Like Comment Tina Loves To Read 2,757 reviews 1 follower July 24, 2022 This book was so good, but it was weird. I did not think I was going to like this book, but I loved it. This book is about a woman paying her best friend to watch her step children. The children are not normal children. The children catches on fire when they get mad or upset. The fire does not hurt the kids, but it burn the clothes they are wearing and hurts people near them. The book is written very good. I cannot say how much I loved this book. If you like different or little weird books you should give this book a try. 133 likes Like Comment Fran 704 reviews 827 followers June 26, 2019 Lillian had "a desire to be superlative...a sterling representative of this backward county"... when she won a scholarship to prestigious Iron Mountain Girls Preparatory School. Lillian and her roommate Madison became fast friends despite the fact that upper crust Madison "...had been raised since birth to recognize importance. [Lillian] was not that." However, Lillian and Madison needed each other. They strived to "tamp down their weirdness." Madison acknowledged that rich people "... had to be composed in public...were supposed to act a certain way." Lillian was treated like a poor,"strange" scholarship kid. Lillian's fallen from grace occurred when she took the rap for Madison and was expelled from the prep. school. More than a decade later, Madison was "a mover and a shaker", married to Senator Jaspar Roberts. Lillian worked two cashier jobs and smoked weed. She and Madison became pen pals communicating solely by mail. Fifteen years had passed since Lillian was forced to leave the school..but...change was coming! Change arrived in the form of a request from Madison to visit the Roberts Estate in Tennessee. A job opportunity. Jaspar Roberts was being vetted for the position of Secretary of State. Since Jaspar's ex-wife had died, he was responsible for ten year old twins, Bessie and Roland. Madison offered Lillian the job of governess for two unsocialized, home schooled children. As governess, she would spend the summer with the kids in the estate's guest house and, by the way, the children had a "unique" affliction. If they got really agitated, they would spontaneously combust. Senator Roberts wanted the children "safeguarded" until the vetting process was completed. Lillian was currently living with her mom and mom's "rotating cast of her boyfriends". Lillian felt needed by Madison and accepted this daunting job. Bessie and Roland were angry children. They previously had been expelled from Jaspar's Estate after their parent's divorce. Will their bitterness dissipate when they live in the estate's guest house with Lillian? Lillian was searching for direction in her life. How could she, unfamiliar with the needs of children, prevent the twins from overheating and fully bursting into flames? "Nothing to See Here" by Kevin Wilson brings many issues to the forefront. These challenges include finding one's inner strength, friendship and loyalty, money and power ...dark humor included! Author Wilson does a superb job. I highly recommend this book. Thank you HarperCollins Publishers/ Ecco and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Nothing to See Here". 127 likes Like Comment Betsy Robinson Author 11 books 1,146 followers November 8, 2019 When I was an actress in my 20s, I took voice lessons with an old German man named Mr. Jacobi. I was a terrible singer, but it was okay. I wasn't learning to sing. I was learning to use my voice to its full potential. I knew this because one of Mr. Jacobi's favorite things to say after he sat down at the piano and leaned on the first chord was, "We accept here." That meant that no matter what sound I made, it was fine with both of us. "We accept here." That could be the philosophy expressed by this wonderful page-turner of a book. A young woman takes a job as a governess for two extraordinary children. The people are weird—not trying to be weird—and it is acceptable. And therefore it is acceptable that I identified with every one of them and the writer. And that's so easy because author Kevin Wilson is not trying to write weirdness or (one of my least favorite words) quirkiness. He is merely writing these particular real people who deal with a lot of difficult specific stuff and have their own ways of thinking, all in a well-written fantasy of finding acceptance. I adored this book. It is authentic, charming, and brimming with palpable love. 127 likes Like Comment Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill 639 reviews 606 followers May 29, 2020 Sooo if my college roommate contacted me to be a nanny I would have to politely decline. If she added that it is no biggie that the kids have this little condition- that they spontaneously combust on occasion...yeah that answer would be hells to the no! I really was hesitate to pick up this little quirky book but the raving reviews got to me. I am not going to lie this book was entertaining but I don't know why. I simply can't put my finger on it. The plot was pretty much non existent. The characters weren't that well developed. Yet- flip, flip, flip went the pages. I wasn't even tempted to DNF or put it down. I actually flew through it in a day. It was the weirdest thing but it entertained me and kept my interest in the middle of a pandemic...so WINNING...oh god did I just use that phrase?! This is a great book to pick up if you want to have an easy quick read. It doesn't require you to concentrate a whole bunch and somehow the story makes sense. I just wasn't really blown away with it because I thought there would be a bigger story line. Maybe some astonishing revelations but not really just some blowing up kids. Still glad I gave it a try! botm 125 likes Like Comment Jennifer Welsh 271 reviews 296 followers July 24, 2022 This is the easiest read I’ve encountered in a long time, perfect to lift anyone from a reading slump. A story ultimately of motherhood, wrapped in a quirky tale between two loner friends and how they try to contain the strange fact that two children’s bodies catch and cause fire when emotionally wrought. The children’s safety is at risk, the destruction of all matter around them is at risk, and the reputation of a high-profile couple is at risk. Full of whimsy, narcissism, and rage, the struggles are fun, the story feel-good. 142 likes 1 comment Like Comment Lisa (NY) 1,722 reviews 747 followers October 15, 2019 [4.5] The idea of a plot involving two kids who spontaneously ignite when they get anxious didn't sound appealing to me. But I was wrong. I loved the main character, Lillian, an outsider who is stuck in her life until an old friend calls for her help. I loved the way Wilson portrayed the two very likable kids - who have been unfairly treated by their family because of their unusual ability (or disability). I was pulled into this novel from the first pages and got up for air only to help prepare dinner and eat, then went right back until I finished. Fortunately it was a Sunday! Is it a great novel? I have no idea - but it is well-written and weird and tender-hearted. I have to give it 5 stars. And I have to go read Kevin Wilson's backlist. 2019-favorites 123 likes Like Comment Maggie Stiefvater Author 64 books 170k followers Read November 7, 2020 A sarcastic girl from the wrong side of the tracks finds herself nannying two children who catch fire whenever they're agitated. A brief and slyly-observed novel on parenthood and privilege. adult 120 likes Like Comment fatma 956 reviews 926 followers December 20, 2019 me: narrator: madison was beautiful. when i looked at her she was so beautiful. when we met i was struck by how beautiful she was. shes still so beautiful now. madison left the room and i thought about how beautiful she was. alex can i get literally any other adjective for $100 please I'm sitting here trying to review this book and I honestly have no idea what I'm supposed to write. Nothing to See Here was pointless . The plot was paper-thin and infuriatingly mundane. Some scenes of heart-stopping, high octane action from this book: the narrator asks for a bacon sandwich for breakfast, she eats it, it tastes good; the narrator plays some basketball with her friend; the narrator goes to the library with her two charges, they borrow a book. How exciting. I read somewhere that the author wrote this book in 10 days and let me tell you, IT SHOWS. audiobooks 115 likes 1 comment Like Comment L A i N E Y (will be back) 393 reviews 809 followers September 2, 2022 “I started to care less about the future, I care more about making the present more tolerable. And time passed. And that was my life.” I am convinced that not one writer, even if they’ve tried, could have come up with a less interesting plot to me than Kevin Wilson did for Nothing to See Here! Reading the synopsis stirred not one ounce of curiosity in me. Not a one. But since many GR readers I look up to fell in love with the book, I pretty much just took a huge leap of faith with it and the payoff I got was so much sweeter because of that. I adore Lilian as a human being so much: she’s so grounded even when you can clearly see her struggles. I love how subtle her real emotions were handled throughout the story. She’s still got her humor on even though I think she knows that she needs to start value herself more. I don’t think caring for these children could have come at a better time for her, it totally reignited her passionate self and gave her something to fight for again. So in the end they certainly helped each other more than they realized and that was incredibly precious. “They didn’t want to set the world on fire. They just want to be less alone in it.” This is an extraordinary book on audio. What an excellent performance by one of my favorite narrators, Marin Ireland. Touching and funny and all together addictive. audiobook best-voice broke-me-outta-slump ...more 113 likes Like Comment Kaceey 1,251 reviews 3,959 followers March 13, 2020 This book gives a whole new meaning to the word hot-flash! 🔥 Once I learned what the story-line for this book was, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy. It involves twin kids that spontaneously burst into flames. It now had my un-divided attention. See, growing up, this was actually my greatest fear – that I would spontaneously combust! (Thanks to my big brother). It’s something we still laugh about to this day. And now after foolishly sharing that little fact with my husband, he constantly teases me about it. OK! Back to the book! Bessie and Roland are a pair of quirky 10 year old twins that don’t quite fit in. At times of anger, fear or just simply not understanding what’s going on around them, Bessie and Roland burst into flames. I suppose in a way those emotions can light a fire of sorts within all of us. Maybe we just express it differently. You know…without the flames! I noted than many readers describe this book as humorous, though I never quite saw it that way. For me, more of a heart-warming story about friendship, love and wanting to belong. I listened to the audio and the narrator did an amazing job! If this quirky book is on your list I recommend the audio version. audio 107 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 24,259 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 99 quotes 43 discussions 14 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Fairest (The Lunar Chronicles, #3.5) by Marissa Meyer | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle Unlimited $0.00 Rate this book The Lunar Chronicles #3.5 Fairest Marissa Meyer 3.95 140,909 ratings 16,763 reviews Want to read Kindle Unlimited $0.00 Rate this book In this stunning bridge book between Cress and Winter in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles, Queen Levana’s story is finally told. Mirror, mirror on the wall, Who is the fairest of them all? Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story – a story that has never been told . . . until now. Marissa Meyer spins yet another unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. This extraordinary book includes full-color art and an excerpt from Winter , the next book in the Lunar Chronicles series. Genres Fantasy Young Adult Science Fiction Retellings Dystopia Fiction Romance ...more 272 pages, Hardcover First published January 27, 2015 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Marissa Meyer 74 books 126k followers I live in Tacoma, Washington, with my husband and beautiful twin daughters. Represented by Jill Grinberg. Learn more about me and my upcoming books at http://www.marissameyer.com . Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.95 140,909 ratings 16,763 reviews 5 stars 43,603 (30%) 4 stars 56,891 (40%) 3 stars 32,414 (23%) 2 stars 6,320 (4%) 1 star 1,681 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 16,762 reviews Emily May 2,059 reviews 312k followers February 28, 2016 “She cried for the girl who had never belonged. A girl who tried so hard, harder than anyone else, and still never had anything to show for it.” 4 1/2 stars. This is easily my favourite book of the series . Well... so far, but I find it hard to imagine that Winter will top this. I enjoyed this book immensely and I had the feeling beforehand that it would be the villain's story that affected me most. There's just something really great about reading the stories behind the villains, finding out why they became the way they are. Levana is a seriously crazy bitch in the other books of the Lunar Chronicles. It personally made me want to know more about her. For me, a complex villain with a backstory that can create sympathy is one of the strongest kinds of characters. Better than any tough heroine or dreamy love interest. “Maybe the princess could save herself." "That sounds like a pretty good story too.” This book doesn't actually take away any of the crazy, evil villainy from Levana, but it does offer convincing (and seriously disturbing) reasons as to why she became the way she is. You still don't like her, you still know she is batshit crazy, and yet there is something so sad and tragic about this story. Young Levana is smart, ambitious, and desperately in need of love that she never got from her parents or sister. I'm glad that Fairest doesn't linger too long on the pity party; if it had, it would probably have felt contrived and manipulative. Instead, Levana quickly grows both cruel and controlling, fuelling the reader's dislike but also leaving behind a sad, bitter aftertaste. Things could have been so different . I'm really looking forward to reading Winter , but part of me also hopes that Meyer will return to spin-off novellas. If they are anything like this one, they'll pack a short, emotional punch. Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | Pinterest 2016 fairy-tales sci-fi ...more 798 likes 1 comment Like Comment Jesse (JesseTheReader) 550 reviews 174k followers November 27, 2015 this book honestly didn't do much for me, other than confirming how terrible levana is. 831 likes Like Comment Dear Faye 492 reviews 2,127 followers March 8, 2015 I'll be reviewing this book through Bubbles. See my post here on The Social Potato! disturbing fantasy haunting-narration ...more 601 likes 2 comments Like Comment Miranda Reads 1,589 reviews 162k followers December 10, 2020 Seven of my favorite Bookish Villains in one BookTube Video ! The Written Review An absolutely essential read. Rarely (and I do mean rarely ) does a companion novel enhance, improve and brings another dimension the original set. Fairest does all that and more. Lunars (the advanced civilization living on the moon) can manipulate what you see and think through bioelectric energy. Princess Levana (age 15) is neurotic about maintaining her glamour at all times due to a disfiguring "accident" caused by her older sister, Channery, a decade ago. Through tantalizing tidbits, we learn that Levana was manipulated, bullied and tortured by her sister for years. And by manipulated, that includes using the bioelectric kind. Through whispered conversations, the audience learns that it is forbidden to bioelectrically manipulate children because the bioelectrics directly affect their growing brains - producing disastrous side-effects. Almost without realizing it, Levana soon starts displaying those side-effects. This was the part that Levana could not figure out. How did you kill a child? There were so many possibilities... When their parents die, Channery is crowned queen and all Levana can think is how she could do it better . And when Channery mysteriously dies, Levana finally gets that chance. No matter what anyone thought, she was the fairest queen Luna had ever known. And she was right - she's so much better at being a queen than her sister ever could be. Only, Channery left behind a heir (Cinder) and that just simply would not do. Levana seemed like such a shallow, evil "big bad" in books one to three, but now I get her. This book really delved into her motives and brought her to life as a fully realized three-dimensional being. Levana is a deliciously evil character through and through - and while this book is not necessary to understand the original quartet, it certainly brings new light to the veiled villain. I appreciated that while this book brought sympathy to a rather unsympathetic character , it did not turn her into a misunderstood anti-hero. Audiobook Comments --Well read. Whenever Rebecca Soler said, "Come here baby sister" I got chills! If you are curious about Rebecca Soler, check Tucker the Reader's interview ! The Finer Books Club - 2018 Reading Challenge: A book with a one-word title YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads 2018-finer-books-club-reading-chall audiobook 414 likes Like Comment Hailey (Hailey in Bookland) 614 reviews 85.7k followers February 19, 2017 2.5 ish maybe? Kind of wish I had skipped this one. I wasn't a fan of the back story, it just seemed unoriginal and on top of that there was a scene that made me very uncomfortable because it is essentially in every way rape unless I misunderstood? I don't know. Just not worth the read for me. retellings science-fiction ya 222 likes Like Comment Zoë 328 reviews 65.2k followers March 5, 2015 Book 24/100 of 2015 WOW SO GOOD! I really shouldn't like nor sympathize with Levana, kind of made me! Well...not exactly like , but definitely understand who she is and why she ended up that way. The pacing was great and I was never bored, which should be expected as it is only 222 pages. I also liked that we got a whole backstory for Cinder and Winter as well! I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL WINTER IS RELEASED 214 likes Like Comment Liz* Fashionably Late 434 reviews 433 followers September 12, 2020 Buddy read with amazing Tanya (: YES. _________________ When I decided to read this book, I did it having in mind every other book in this series: funny, compelling and perfectly okay stories. That would explain why I was really not expecting the level of creepiness, weirdness and are-you-fucking-kidding-me-ness this book had to offer. She hated mirrors. Hated their reflections, their truths. Among Meyer's characters, Levana is definelty the most complex one. I could easily describe the evil queen as a psycho and still there would be plenty unsaid. When it comes to villains, I can deal with evil. I'm not sure I was ready for mental illness, genius move, everybody. We're given free pass to Levana's head and trust me, it's not a comfortable place to be. She's insecure, pitiful, broken and completely alone and even if I didn't sympathize with her, I think I felt sorry for her in an almost I hope you die kinda way. I must say I'm grateful it wasn't about understanding Levana and eventually sympathizing with her. I was not in the mood to like her, I wanted a real villain. It was actually a surprise to read about Levana losing her virginity and forcing a man to sleep with her, being this YA and all. It was very well executed and I approve this book for the little ones (it's not a secret I'm my sister's Book Police and I try to protect her from the evil world out there). I felt it was too short or maybe the ending was too abrupt and, as Tanya was saying, it's a shame we don't get to see the cold blooded bitch queen we've come to know and love but just the immature and infatuated little girl longing for love. I feel so sorry for Evret and Winter, but now can't wait for book #4! Another OTP is near. Note: Don't read this story unless you've read till book #3. It's barely spoilery but I think you won't enjoy it as much unless you get to know some of the characters first. covergasm creppier-and-creepiest dystopia ...more 205 likes Like Comment megs_bookrack 1,805 reviews 12.2k followers February 26, 2024 ((gulp)) Well that explains a lot. Fairest was brutal; even for me and I love brutal. After reading this, I can't say I am surprised Levana turned out the way she did. However, the girl still deserves some credit, some of that cruelty was all her own. Fairest: Levana's Story was published after Cress and just prior to Winter . Even though that was the publication order, I actually chose to read it directly following my completion of Winter . Frankly, I think it could be read at any time, or not at all. Personally, I knew this was not a story that I wanted to pass up. I absolutely adore villain origin stories. Quite often, villains are my favorite characters in a story and I love to discover their backgrounds, as well as learn about their motivations. Levana's story is definitely a heartbreaking one and although you can see why she may have turned out with the issues that she did, she could have chosen to be a vessel for good as well. Being treated the way she was, she could have vowed to never treat anyone else so badly. Unfortunately, I think her own spirit and natural characteristics allowed her to transform into what she did, which was a vengeful and brutal ruler. Overall, I think this makes a fantastic piece of supplemental literature for anyone who is a big fan of the Lunar Chronicles series. I had a lot of fun getting more information on this world and I am looking forward to reading Stars Above as well! 202 likes Like Comment Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁ 1,279 reviews 8,847 followers September 8, 2017 Reviewed by: Rabid Reads It didn't occur to me that some readers might skip this installment of THE LUNAR CHRONICLES, counting it as a novella. Technically, while being a prequel, I think it's still a full-length novel. I don't know the word count, but I did the math (with a calculator, and everything), and even excluding the preview of WINTER that begins at 79%, Levana's story is still over 200 pages. FYI. And regardless, any fan of the series will want to read this book, b/c: 1. What does Levana really look like under that veil? 2. What happened to Levana's husband, and how did Winter end up in her care? 3. What is the depth of Levana's evil? And those are just a few of the questions that FAIREST answers. Also . . . as it turns out, Levana might just be as crazy as she is nefarious. The end result is the same, of course, but I was surprised. If she was simply a narcissist, I might not have been, and that's definitely part of the crazy, but guys . . . this woman is diabolically insane . It's uncomfortable. I had the misfortune of agreeing with my husband to PILLARS OF THE EARTH as our holiday driving read this year . . . I loathed it. And for once I didn't have to analyze what it was that made me loathe it: there are just some people's heads you don't want to be inside of. Clearly, I didn't hate FAIREST, but sharing Levana's headspace is . . . well, it's stressful, I was full of stress. And awkward. I don't think I'd like to see a picture of myself while I was reading, b/c I'm pretty sure if my face wasn't stuck in perpetual grimace, my eyebrows were at my hairline with my eyes bugging out of my head, b/c WTF? Levana had not seen the bodies, but she had seen the bedrooms the next morning, and her first thought was that all that blood would make a very pretty rouge on her lips. Those bodies? Yeah, they were her PARENTS. Her parents who had been MURDERED. And that is the least of it. In addition to finding out what's going on under that veil, you also find out why she choose the specific glamour she uses . . . and it is . . . W-H-O-A (and I'm totally making that face again). Are there reasons for the CRAY? Oh yeah. And you learn those too. Did it make Levana a more sympathetic character? NOPE. Not to me, anyway. Just like Channary (Cinder's mother) wasn't made a more sympathetic character b/c she showed a few surprisingly maternal instincts. Am I a hardass? Maybe. Probably. But I've said it before, and I'll say it again: it's not what you've been through, it's how you handle it that matters, and I have a sneaking suspicion that even without the crazy (b/c Bad Things), Levana would still be diabolical. Overall, FAIREST paints an unambiguous portrait of the most vile villain to ever plague (HA!)both Lunars and Earthens. It cleverly weaves together multiple threads from the characters that readers have grown to know and love in previous installments of THE LUNAR CHRONICLES, and reveals, step-by-murderous-and-entitled-step, how Levana and her immediate family have sown the seeds of their own inevitable downfall. Highly recommended. My other reviews for this series: Glitches (Lunar Chronicles 0.5) Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1) The Queen's Army (Lunar Chronicles, #1.5) Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, #2) Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, #3) Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4) aliens-i-love-em creeptastic diabolical ...more 174 likes Like Comment emily 270 reviews 2,386 followers March 17, 2020 "Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who is the most INSANE FUCKING PSYCHO BITCH of them all?" (a direct quote) So, this is basically what happened to me while reading this book: me, before reading fairest: piss off levana god i hate this fucking noodle me, 25 pages in: PROTECT HER!!!!!!!! me, after reading fairest: yeah she can choke i feel like the actual Evil Queen here is Marissa Meyer for putting me through this form of emotional abuse, i hope from the depths of my black sinner heart that she can't sleep at night thinking about what she's done to all the poor souls that decide to read Fairest because 'oh that sounds interesting'. ALL authors are bullies, pass it on. before reading this book i used to compare levana to donald trump and honestly i take it all back bc even tho trump is a psycho bitch too he's got nothing on levana (my apologies, sir) even though they both have in common that they're a pretty big threat on planet Earth lmao anyways, i feel like Fairest is the embodiment of the phrase "don't ever judge a person before you really get to know them", because we all fight battles no one knows about and levana is really just a tortured soul like all of us................................jk i still hate her bye !!!: SPOILER WARNING Reasons why levana is the #1 psycho bitch and also all of this fucked me up: • she tried to SET A BABY ON FIRE • she also fantasized about torturing said baby for,, years probably • she tried not to smile during basically all funerals she ever attended like o....kayyyy........... psychopath • she literally mind-raped a guy at the mere age of 16!!! years (at that age i was still playing with Legos probably) • she forced someone to love her with mind-control (lmao me actually) for 10 YEARS i can't believe all of this is canon....... i have to lay down for a bit.................. think about the fact that we can all be very grateful that we were not born as Marissa Meyer characters........................ imagine having Channary as sister *shudders* • buddy read with jiu _______ have my original thoughts after finishing fairest bc i feel like it says a lot about this book: you know when you finish a really good book and you're sitting alone in your room at 1am and your whole body is shaking?? #me at this very moment i'm feeling very...... discombobulated @ my current emotional state i can't believe marissa meyer MANIPULATED me like that _______ update : no offense but why is the inside of this book more beautiful than most humans i've seen someone take me to luna 2017 buddy-read 172 likes Like Comment emma 2,121 reviews 67.3k followers October 31, 2018 Okay so I knew I didn't like this book, but I didn't know I hated it. Life is just full of surprises. I like Levana as a villain in the real Lunar Chronicles books (I am already actively removing this from my conception of the series) because a b*tch is RUTHLESS. She is kicking ass and taking names and committing acts of biological warfare that lead to long-term genocide. Your fave fantasy villain could never. She's also crafty and smart and mysterious and all of that is what makes her cool as hell. I also think it's unbearably lame when villains are given ~backstories~ and ~emotions~ and are made ~sympathetic~. Gross. Who wants realistic, emotive characters in 2018? Who wants to feel emotions in 2018? We stan constantly scheming, purely cruel female villains o n l y. So I was prepared from the get-go not to like this book, which promises to explain why Levana is the way she is and depict her as a person or whatever. My nightmare. But also this was worse than I possibly could have imagined. This does a very bad job of explaining why Levana is the way she is or making her seem like a person at all. From the very beginning of this book, she is manipulative and entitled and creepy and awful. This entire story made me so uncomfortable. Rather than being a villain before she was a villain, Levana is a literal sexual harasser who uses her powers to emotionally and sexually abuse the guy she """loves.""" There is just so much that is wrong with this. Every page was hard to get through. Bottom line: VERY BAD I HATE. 1-star fairytale fantasy ...more 135 likes 2 comments Like Comment Jessica 269 reviews 3,382 followers April 6, 2016 Full Review on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RAd1c5jKxA8 Yikes. This queen is cray... We all knew that Queen Levana was a bit psycho from reading Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress... I never realized how many issues this lady really has. I LOVED this book, just like the other books in the Lunar Chronicles. If you haven't read this series yet, I would suggest that you don't start with this book, however. I know that it's a prequel, but so much information is shared in this book that you don't learn until book three in this series. I guess you CAN start with this one, and you'll just be really informed while reading the series, but I wouldn't suggest it. I think it will take away a lot and you'll enjoy the series a lot more if you read books 1-3 before this one! I understand that Levana is scared (on the inside and outside) and that's greatly changed who she is. I understand that she's lonely and has never really felt loved before. But that still doesn't excuse her insane actions. When I first started this, I kind of forgot that Levena must have been married before since Winter is her stepdaughter. I knew that her crush on Evert was so hopeless that they would never marry. I DEFINITELY never thought that Levana would control him to marry her. Has she no pride at all? She had to control him for every single kiss. It was honestly so creepy that she would glamour herself as Solstice. I thought that it was really ironic that she kept saying things like, "she would never be like her sister... if SHE was Queen, she would do this, this, and this..." Although her sister wasn't perfect herself (I mean she burned her six year old little sister, and cut the feet off of her seamstress...) I still think in some ways she may have been a better Queen than Levana. Channary would have continued to just focus on boys and parties, while her council would have made most of the decisions. Levana on the other hand, continued to increase production although she was told that Luna couldn't sustain it. They would eventually completely run out of resources. We all know what kind of Queen Levana has turned out to be.. and I don't think her sister could have been any worse. In fact, towards the end of her life, at 25, I think she was starting to grow out of some of her cruelness. The way she acted towards her daughter really showed that maybe she wasn't all that bad... Many of you will agree with me that one of the worst parts was hearing Levana plot to kill Princess Selene/Cinder. I understand that she was threatened by her, but really? And the WAY that she did it. When she first started thinking about murdering her, she wanted to make sure it was as painless as possible. Then ultimately decided to just burn her to death. Ya, that's real painless. Good job Levana. I can't believe that she would make someone else suffer what she went through, but worse, and at that age. Poor, poor Evert. He was just one unlucky guy that happened to catch an evil Princess's eye. I honestly don't think that there was anything he could have done. I think anything he did was going to ultimately end up with him being murdered by Levana. Whether he refused her, ran, whatever he did. I can't believe he went from being married to one of the nicest women in the world to LEVANA. Poor chap... When Queen Channary was talking about her daughter and how many she could marry the Emperor's son I was freaking out! Kai and Cinder!! So ironic that Cinder's mom had already thought of their marriage... When Winter and her father were reading the children's story, and she goes, "Why does the Prince always save the Princess? Why not a doctor?" I thought that was also pretty cool because Dr. Erland was the one that saved Princess Selene/Cinder. Then later Winter mentions that the Princess should just save herself... and that's kind of what Cinder is now doing! Why do you guys think that Levana ruined Winter's face? I was surprised that part wasn't in this book... I think it goes beyond her just being jealous of how beautiful she was. I think that every time she saw Winter, she saw the man that she murdered that never loved her. She saw Solstice, the simple, but beautiful woman that Levana could never beat. I'm really, really excited to read Winter now! I hope that Winter and Princess Selene/Cinder team up to bring Levana down together since she took so much from both of them. What did you guys think of the book?! 132 likes Like Comment ☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣ 2,482 reviews 19.1k followers May 9, 2019 Yet another extremely outstanding story. I'm slowly turning into a fan, an adept and an evangelist of M.M., I think! Q: She tried to distract herself by planning who she would be that day. A thousand possibilities floated before her. (c) Q: Levana knew a great deal about beauty, just as she knew a great deal about ugliness. (с) Q: It calmed her, sinking into the glamour. (c) Q: She was a beautiful fool, though, which was the worst kind. (c) Q: A risqué effervescent spirit. (c) Q: The stronger Luna’s economy grew, the more Levana wanted. She cried now because she wanted so very, very much. She wanted everything for her people. She wanted Earth. She needed Earth. All of it. Every mountain. Every river. Every canyon and glacier and sandy shore. Every city and every farm. Every weak-minded Earthen. (c) 123 likes Like Comment Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin 3,588 reviews 10.8k followers July 31, 2017 Mirror, Mirror on the wall ~ Who's the fairest of them all Well, it sure as hell isn't evil Levana! Re-read through audio =) Wow! I can see where Levana turned evil from all she went through from childhood etc. But she didn't have to turn evil, it just takes over if you let it. I see all the reasons she became sad, tired of it all, jealous, whatever you want to call any of it, it's just that I feel she could have become so much more. She seemed to be the happiest when she was the most evil though. I did not read the first few chapters that were added from Winter. I'm waiting for my pre-order in November and the way time flies, that will not be long! Bring it! I'm glad Marissa Meyer put out this little book so we could see what all started Levana on her rampage of evilness! And I absolutely love the name Winter! It's my favorite time of year so of course. I loved Solstice and I felt sorry for Evret. I think Channary was was evil and ignorant! fantasy-all own 125 likes Like Comment Isa Cantos (Crónicas de una Merodeadora) 1,009 reviews 42k followers March 18, 2018 "Love is a conquest. Love is a war". "El amor es una conquista. El amor es una guerra". Vamos a ver... No, Levana, a pesar de tu historia trágica, tu hermana fría como el hielo y tu visión tan triste del amor no te vas a redimir por ser la reina psicópata que conocí durante toda la saga de Las Crónicas Lunares . Ni de broma. En Fairest nos encontramos, en un primer momento, con el lado más humano de Levana, si es que alguna vez tuvo uno. La Reina que conocemos en los principales libros de la saga empezó siendo una hermana menor, una princesa que nunca llegaría al trono, que vivía bajo los comentarios hirientes y banales de su hermana Channary. Levana también fue una chica que se obsesionó con una idea errada del amor y que sufrió toda su vida por ello. Por ser inalcanzable, por no ser verdaderamente bella y por la impotencia que sentía ante la frivolidad de su hermana, la legítima heredera. Leer toda la historia de Levana es alucinante, pues notamos realmente cómo la locura y las ansias de poder se van apoderando de ella poco a poco. Atrás quedó la chica que únicamente quería enamorarse para dejar paso a una peligrosa y manipuladora mujer. A veces me daba escalofríos estar dentro de la mente de Levana, pues sus razonamientos eran aquellos de una psicópata, de alguien que justifica todas sus acciones por más viles que sean. Las páginas previas a que decida que Selene es un estorbo para ella y que debe matarla para convertirse en la legítima reina son horrorosas. ¡Está hablando de asesinar a una niña de tres años! Joder. Quizá lo que más me gustó de este spin off de la saga fue conocer el origen de muchos personajes. Aquí conocemos a Evret y a Solstice, los padres de Winter; a Garrison Clay, el padre de Jacin Clay; a Sage Darnel y su esposa, los padres de Cress; y, por supuesto, vemos a Cinder, la Princesa Selene en sus primeros años. Sobre el final, y es el momento en el que todo en Levana se destroza y hay un cambio radical que la acerca a la Reina que conocemos, hay una escena que me fascinó y es el colapso que tiene frente al espejo de su hermana Channary. Es una escena llena de simbología y que alberga todo el odio que Levana siente hacia su apariencia, a las injusticias, al vivir en una roca y a lo que le duele el rechazo de su forzado y manipulado esposo. Creo que esta, más que ninguna, hace justicia a que esto sea un retelling basado en la Reina Malvada de Blancanieves. Magnífico. 120 likes Like Comment Giselle 990 reviews 6,654 followers January 20, 2015 Actual rating: 4.5 stars If you thought Queen Levana was evil before, you will see just how corrupted she really is ! I don't often read novellas, but this one is a bit longer than average and completely worth it to be able to see Levana's childhood and how she grew up to be who she is. It also gives us a glimpse at our beloved characters' childhood so we get a real 360 look at what happened in the past. Despite her evil ways and sometimes shocking delusions, Levana's story is just plain sad . This hard-edged personality of hers was built from a tough childhood that lacked real parental guidance and, most importantly, love and affection. The fire tragedy that brought about her scars was horrifying, and some might consider it the beginning of the end. Having such a low self-image cost her a lot. She even becomes so deeply lost inside her own delusions that she's missed out on so much - love and happiness for one. Her craving what she thinks is love only makes her more blind to what she's actually denying herself - she's lost in a vicious circle of her own doings. It's sad and not entirely her fault, even, having grown up with a twisted view of love. I found this novella to be an incredibly in-depth and revealing look at her character. While I won't ever sympathize with her, it make us at least understand the "why" behind her actions, her wants. Even though this novella is ultimately a character study, we also get to see the plot of the whole series take root. The virus sent to earth and her plan to blackmail, the beasts they're breading out of shells, the reason why some want to escape Luna - it just gives the whole series an extra layer of foundation. It's interesting to see that it doesn't all come from pure evil, there were some good intentions in Levana. If she attacked problems in a more… humane way, I'd even say she was a very good Queen for her people. She cares about her planet, about the future; her ways to reach her visions just happen to be quite… destructive. Like whoa! I do recommend you read this one after you have read books 1-3, just so that it makes it all the more interesting. When you know the characters in the present, it's all the more fascinating to read about their past. But if you really wanted to read this one first it would still all make sense. You just wouldn't be able to appreciate all the connections, and the potential "spoilers" would probably not be noticed by someone who has no idea what's pertinent to the series. All in all, whether you're a fan of novellas or not, fan of the series should definitely read this one. I mean, is there anything better than an in-depth look at the villain of a story? -- An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review. For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads arc ebook 113 likes Like Comment Anne 4,265 reviews 70k followers May 23, 2020 OMG! Talk about a book that makes you feel (a bit) sorry for the psychotic villain in all the other books! Are you reading the Lunar Chronicles? Yes? Then this is a Must-Read. No, you can't skip it because it's a novella ...and let me tell you why, ok? First, this sets up EVERYTHING that happens in the rest of the Lunar Chronicles. It's the prequel that doesn't suck. Second, you get to find out about the past that Cinder forgot. You know what I'm talking about, right? No? Then you need to go read the other books. Now. Third, it sets you up for the upcoming FINAL installment of this series, Winter . Not to mention, you get the first 3 chapters of the new book (they were awesome, by the way) in the back of this one. Fourth, Levana's creepy-yet-pitiful descent into madness is not to be missed! Oh! I wanted to hug her, then slap her, then pat her on the head, then stab her repeatedly, and then give her a band-aid...maybe. You need to read her story! Besides, it's over 200 pages, so you're definitely getting your money's worth out of this. fairytale mature-ya read-in-2015 ...more 109 likes Like Comment Bangadybangz 30 reviews 849 followers February 29, 2016 Omg... I'm feeling so many emotions right now and it's absurdly late, and I'm just trying to process it all. Wow. That was intense. So I debated whether I was going to give this three stars or four, mostly because... this is not a happy read. But then I reminded myself that any piece of writing with can evoke the depth of feeling that this little book did for me is just good writing. So, hence the four stars. I just feel so sorry for everyone in this story! Except for Channary. That hussy is straight up evil. Mostly I just feel really really sad for Evret! He was so honorable and always wanted to do the right thing and he loved his wife and his daughter so much and it was just so heart breaking to see Levana manipulating and tormenting him the way she did. I just kept screaming at her to leave him alone and let him go be with his daughter and find happiness somewhere. Jeez Levana is frustrating. Like I understand her a little more now and why she's the way that she is, and I can sympathize a little bit, but I still do t like her. She is a scary, delusional psychopath with way too much power. So, with all that being said, while this wasn't exactly an "enjoyable" read for me, I feel it was a valuable one. It stirred a lot of emotions within me and has given me a lot to think about, and it's still a beautifully crafted story. And I did feel some twinges of excitement at all the little Easter eggs with the characters that I've grown familiar with from the rest of the Lunar Chronicles. And the scene where little Cinder was burned alive in the nursery... Damn that was rough. I'm glad we got a full explanation of what happened to her, but damn. And yet, I think the scene where Channary forced Levana to burn herself with mind control was even worse. Again, EVIL. Anyway, I'm going to try to get some sleep now. Wish me luck. Tomorrow... Winter is coming. =D This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review 91 likes Like Comment Victoria Resco Author 6 books 28.3k followers August 5, 2021 Estoy todavía llorando y procesando todo mientras escribo esta reseña. Si pudiese darle 20 estrellas, lo haría. Les juro que lo haría. Si pudiese denunciar a Marissa Meyer por romperme el corazón, lo haría. Les juro que lo haría. Todos saben como termina este libro. Yo sabía pERFECTAMENTE como terminaba este libro. Y así me ven, haciendo la lloración a más no poder. Es increíble como la autora consigue crear un personaje tan despreciable, retorcido y enfermo como Levana y tiene lA AUDACIA DE HACERTE EMPATIZAR CON ELLA. Te parte en mil pedazos ver a la chica destruída que lo da todo obteniendo absolutamente nada a cambio, verla tomar todas las decisiones equivocadas por los motivos correctos. Es una locura. Cada página de este libro es una locura y no puedo evitar anunciar que es lejos mi favorito de la saga hasta el momento. Realmente, incluso si no piensan leer Las Crónicas Lunares como saga, deberían leer este libro como autoconclusivo. No tienen idea de lo que se pierden. P.D.: EVRET TE AMO POR AMOR A DIOS SOS EL AMOR DE MI VIDA. TE DEDICARÍA TODOS LOS TEMAS DE COLDPLAY. 95 likes Like Comment Tamara Obradović 141 reviews 24 followers March 1, 2015 *makes devastating sobbing noises and cries myself to sleep* • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1.11.2014. I don't know why, but she'll forever be my queen Levana • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • OH MY FREAKING GOD LEVANA IS COMING LEVANA IS COMING IT'S ALL I'VE EVER BEEN WAITING FOR THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING Young Cinder and Winter. Dr. Erland. Love. Death. This story will kill me. 88 likes Like Comment Kai Spellmeier Author 7 books 14.7k followers March 13, 2017 “Levana knew a great deal about beauty, just as she knew a great deal about ugliness.” I liked reading Fairest to pass the time waiting for Winter . But I just loved Winter . Marissa Meyer demonstrates again how she can build fantastic worlds and interesting characters from nothing. It was intriguing reading about the Lunar world, especially from the bad guys POV. Even though it did not make Levana more sympathetic. Just more pathetic, naive, self-centered and cruel. The thing is, I did not really need this novel in my life. I would have preferred reading the final installment at that time. Especially because it made the mysterious and evil Queen Levana less mysterious (but not less evil) and took some of my curiosity for Luna away. All in all, I still really liked it. Find more of my books on Instagram 84 likes Like Comment Andie 281 reviews 385 followers February 6, 2016 It's official, Levana is bat shit crazy! Off her damn rocker. Needs to be locked up. Insane. Think that about sums it up. I'm actually really torn about how I feel about this book. I went into it thinking I was going to get a backstory and then in turn understand why Levana is the way she is. And while I did get the reasoning behind it I still don't feel she is justified in any way and I absolutely do not feel sorry for her. Instead my heart actually hurts for those who have been so unfortunate to ever cross paths with the crazy woman. She feels no remorse for anything that she's done and suffers from constantly wanting more and more, fueling her cruelty. Is this story a necessary read to fully enjoy the rest of the series? No I don't think so. But I did fully enjoy being inside Levana's twisted mind nonetheless. It's a great addition for any Lunartic and Marissa Meyer's writing is superb as always! dystopian fantasy-and-sci-fi young-adult 84 likes Like Comment Em Lost In Books 955 reviews 2,080 followers May 27, 2019 Now I can see why Levana is the way she is but still she can't be forgiven for what she did to Selene. 2010-19 2019 3-star 77 likes Like Comment Layla 373 reviews 419 followers March 5, 2021 ~ 3.5 stars ~ TW/CW: sexual abuse, rape, adult-minor relationship I'm really conflicted in regards to this book. On one hand there is one particular thing that I hated with a burning passion and I didn't think it was absolutely phenomenal or extraordinary, but it was good. I thought Levana's villian origin story made sense. Everything she went through and how that affected her and shaped her into the person she now is, but from the start it was obvious that she is manipulative and doesn't know when she crosses the line. Just as long as she gets her way and things work out in her interest. She is cunning is terrible ways and would go to the extent of killing a child to get her way. And all throughout this, she is sure that she is doing the right thing. The one thing that made me bump it down was how somehow under it all, is that I got the feeling that we were supposed to feel with her. Under normal circumstances, what she went through, I wouldn't mind that. In the end of the day, she is still a villian, and her experiences do not excuse her behavior, but one thing I do not want to see is someone who is a sexual harasser and ultimately a rapist be presented in such a way. I don't know how to properly convey how I feel about this but I don't like it. Obviously her perception of love is still skewed, but this entire relationship and the way it was dealt with rubbed me the wrong way. But otheriwse, I liked the glimpse into Luna and it's history and Levana's history. It enhanced my experience of this series, and I enjoyed this book and am glad I decided to read it. credit fairytale-retellings fantasy marissa-mayer 80 likes Like Comment April (Aprilius Maximus) 1,130 reviews 6,477 followers November 14, 2015 I am so sad. This absolutely broke me. I definitely recommend reading this if you love the series because you get such an interesting insight into Levana's character. She is so so so so evil :( 79 likes Like Comment Jiana 297 reviews 932 followers August 10, 2017 Honestly, Fairest blew me away. After reading Cress two months ago and getting highly disappointed by it, my excitement for Winter decreased. I wasn't even planning on reading Fairest. However, Cait recommended it to me after I told her I was looking for something short and easy to read and told me it was fantastic. Naturally, after Cress, I was a tad hesitant but I still decided to give it a try. And would you look at that! Blown away!! Prior to starting this, I was aware I'd get to see the extent of just how insane Levana is, but I was also told I'd feel sorry for her at some point. Yes, I felt sorry for her early on, then I hated her again as the novella progressed. And yes, I got to see just how much of a psycho she is. But now I know why she's the psycho she is, you understand (but not necessarily accept) why she's the way she is. She's so multilayered, it actually shocked me since we don't always get villains who are that developed. So, kudos to Meyer for creating such a complex villain! “She cried for the girl who had never belonged. A girl who tried so hard, harder than anyone else, and still never had anything to show for it.” So far... Fairest is my most favorite of the series. It actually reminded me that I indeed love The Lunar Chronicles. And since Fairest offers background info on Selene and Winter, it got me super excited for Winter again. Levana, having grown up in the shadow of her mean sister Channary and without the love she needed from her parents, slowly turned into the horrible, crazy Levana we know now. We see all the inner thoughts of Levana and all the messed up, psychotic ideas that come to her mind. We also come to see how she lacks self confidence and she hides it well and that manifests in her need to control and manipulate everyone... My heart broke and I had tears in my tears over what she did to her first husband. It was absolutely heart breaking and I hated Levana for it, in addition to a bunch of other messed up things which solidified my hate for her. I know some people say it doesn't matter if you read this novella before or after Winter, but I highly recommend you do read it before Winter as it gives background history for Winter and it gets you really excited for the book (if you aren't excited already!). I absolutely can't wait for Winter!!! ••• Buddy read with my fellow parrot lover, Amy ♥ 77 likes Like Comment Robin (Bridge Four) 1,730 reviews 1,558 followers November 10, 2015 Re-reading because I have just enough time to fit in this craziness before Winter Okay....bumped up 1/2 star because it is brilliant even if it is difficult to be in Levana's head for that long. She is BAT-SHIT-CRAZY and I understand how every step and decision she made from the time she was 15 led her to that last cruel step she took and rationalized to herself. She is so broken there is no chance of redemption anywhere. *sobs for Evret* First Read Jan 2015 3.5 Self Loathing Stars The best villains are the ones that can rationalize and don’t believe they are the bad person, the ones that in a way you can sympathize with. After reading this I definitely understand the level of crazy Levana has going on in her head now. I can’t really say I sympathize with her BUT…I totally understand her better now and she is cray-cray. Love is a conquest. Love is a war. Here is what I think of love It is uncomfortable to be in Levana’s head as she mistakes common niceties for love and as she reads far too much into the actions of others. The first time she used her gift to get what she wanted from someone else was horrifying at the same time it might have been understandable given her age but I still felt so bad for the person involved. The way she forced Evret into marrying her and the way she hurt him every day without even realizing it made it abundantly clear she doesn’t understand emotions the way a normal person would. Waiting would be agony. She would have to let him know that it was all right for him to mourn and love at the same time. She would not judge him, not when they were so clearly destined for each other Even though I did have a chance to see how her sister Channary tormented Levana and made her childhood practically unbearable it was still so hard to feel any true sympathy for her when what she did to Evert was so horrendous and tantamount to rape under the illusion of love. Levana’s madness grew over years from it being okay to poison an enemy with a plague, to forcing a person into an action against their will, to convincing yourself it is okay to murder a child, to stealing the throne, later glamouring more people and then later much much worse. She truly descended into madness. I loved getting glimpses of Winter as she is younger with Princess Selene and Jacin in the palace playing together as children. I’m really excited for what this means for the next book because Winter remembers her childhood even if Cinder does not. “Why is it always a prince?” asked Winter. “Why isn’t she ever saved by a top-secret spy? Or a soldier? Or a … a poor farm boy, even?” “I don’t know. That’s just how the story was written.” Evret brushed back a curl of Winter’s hair. “If you don’t like it, we’ll make up a different story tomorrow night. You can have whoever you want rescue the princess.” “Like a doctor?” “A doctor? Well—sure. Why not?” “Jacin said he wants to grow up to be a doctor.” “Ah. Well, that’s a very good job, one that saves more than just princesses.” “Maybe the princess can save herself.” I’m really excited for Winter since one of my favorite books of all times involves a crazy princess. Maybe our Winter could save herself. Is this necessary to the rest of the series? - Probably not. I did like getting some of Winters origins in this and seeing Levana’s PoV on the events of the past. Plus this story does clear up some of the speculation on how far Levana has gone to secure the Throne and which deaths she is responsible for. But if you like origin stories and enjoy knowing the motivations for characters then this is a great accompaniment to The Lunar Chronicles. I do however suggest that you have read up through Cress so that nothing will be spoiled 71 likes Like Comment Sofia 235 reviews 7,983 followers October 1, 2020 This is good enough to be its own novel, and I would gladly buy it if that ever happens. I love a good villainous backstory, but I wasn't prepared to sympathize with Levana as much as I did. As a child, she's constantly covering herself up with a glamour - because she's hiding something. Levana, having been mistreated her whole life, hasn't the faintest idea what love is. So when she falls head over heels for a married man, Evret Hayle, she does what she thinks is right - she tricks him. His wife dies tragically during childbirth, but when he's still in mourning, she forces him into a loveless marriage. But she does love Evret, in her own twisted way. And when he never shows any love for her, she slowly descends into a deep depression. Not content with just being queen of Luna, she sets her sights on Earth, driven by her own desire for more - more love from Evret, more acceptance from her people. But what she really wants is for someone to see her. And no one does. Looking through Levana's perspective is such an experience. She believes what she's doing is right - even as she murders children and forces a new widower into a marriage with her. She's convinced that everyone would love her again if she just did a little more , and honestly? I empathize with that. The expectations of others warring against her own desire for true love puts such a strain on her that she's not even sure what to do anymore. But Levana doesn't know any better. She's been raised like this. She's almost innocent. All in all, this was such an eye-opening novella. I love how grey Levana's character is - she's better than Cinder and Kai combined, in my opinion. And this short story tugs at your heartstrings like nothing else. It's the story of a girl longing for acceptance and the twisted way she tries to earn it. 5 full stars actually-gray-characters depressing prequels ...more 71 likes Like Comment Drcong O ' 756 reviews 2,560 followers April 22, 2017 2 1/2 stars. I hate Levana and I don't care for her at all. However, that is not the cause of my low rating. This novella is about what turned Levana into such a monstrous evil queen. Now I really liked her whole point of view, her thoughts and feelings, but some of the stuff she did was just plain fucking monstrous and no matter what she went through, does not excuse what she fucking did. Forcing a man to love her, taking the glamour of his dead wife, manipulating and twisting his feelings and thoughts, and trying to burn a fucking 3 year old. My friends that read this felt a little sympathetic for her for what she went through, but to be honest, I was quite bored. I was expecting something more extremely traumatic and heartbreaking. Call me heartless, but I was just bored and couldn't give a flying fuck about what she went through. Meh Overall, it was a boring story, but I learned quite a lot about Bitch Levana. I hope she dies for what she did to my ships. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Should I read this before Winter or after? P.S I've heard this book will make me sympathize Levana? AHAHAAHAAHHA, try me Levanaaaaaa. dystopian endless-pain fantasy ...more 71 likes Like Comment Kassidy 340 reviews 11.7k followers February 7, 2017 I found this to be a fascinating look into Queen Levana. audiobooks 67 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 16,762 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 54 quotes 56 discussions 74 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. 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Out Of The Shadows by Theresa Sederholt | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $2.99 Rate this book Out Of The Shadows Theresa Sederholt 4.88 77 ratings 68 reviews Want to read Kindle $2.99 Rate this book This is a journey into one man’s hell, with the hope that it will help others find the strength to be able to say, “I need help.” Dane Johnson was like every other man in his thirties except for one very big secret. One that, for him, was so horrific, he was determined to keep it hidden. He thought it would never see the light of day—that is until today. His fragile world has crumbled around him. The past exposed for the world to see. Now the boy he tried so hard to keep safe might be gone forever. 107 pages, Kindle Edition Published February 1, 2020 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Theresa Sederholt 25 books 509 followers If you love Nutella… we’re already friends. I'm Theresa Sederholt, and I like writing. More than that, I love to tell stories. I write in multiple genres, but my heart, my passion, lies in writing stories that connect to those that have withstood dramatic, personal experiences. I want to bring awareness and understanding by dealing with subject matter that is intimidating to navigate. On the flip side, I also like to whip up a steamy romance filled with suspense and sprinkled with mystery. Keeping you guessing with a twist here and there makes me happy. When I’m not writing, I’m cooking with my amazing husband, spoiling my dogs, or enjoying the rolling hills of North Carolina that are my backyard. If you would like to contact me, you can find me on any of the following social media platforms or feel free to email me at: ttnewyork007@gmail.com Website: http://bit.ly/2JOBg9TAuthorWebsite Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/2LO66knAmazonAuthorPage Twitter: http://bit.ly/2sWKHO1Twitter Instagram: http://bit.ly/2JYrSn4Instagram Facebook: http://bit.ly/2JD0GGeFacebookAuthorPage Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.88 77 ratings 68 reviews 5 stars 69 (89%) 4 stars 7 (9%) 3 stars 1 (1%) 2 stars 0 (0%) 1 star 0 (0%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews **Elle**Bee**Double U** 2,199 reviews 25 followers April 22, 2020 I feel like there are very few books a person will read that will change their lives, or at least their way of thinking. Out of the Shadows is definitely one I consider that makes you sit back and really think. Think about we as a society still are sexist in some aspects, think about how we are so quick to judge someone but never really try to put ourselves in someone else's shoes. Out of the Shadows really brings to light how quick we are to believe that only women can be victims of domestic abuse, when (and I believe this statistic is correct) 1 in 7 men are reportedly in an abusive relationship...now keep in mind this is what's only reported because most men are shamed when they do report them being abused. This book shifts from Dane's perspective on the abuse he suffers at the hands of his wife and his son's Brady's perspective on having to listen and at times hear the abuse his father is going through as well as how he deals with the occasional beatings he takes from his mother as well. My heart broke for the pain Dane suffered but at the same time the amount of love he had for his son because he was willing to stay and suffer just to ensure his son was never the focal point. But poor Brady, for a teenage boy who's worries should've only been school, girls, and baseball. I've read plenty of other books from this author, but Out of the Shadows may just be my favorite one. The emotions the author is able to bring out in readers is just mind blowing! 4 likes Like Comment Jennifer 1,254 reviews 22 followers February 21, 2020 Out Of The Shadows by Theresa Sederholt 5+ of 5 Stars Firstly if I could give this more stars I would! Wow, just Wow. “This is a journey into one man’s hell, with the hope that it will help others find the strength to be able to say, I need help”. Out of the Shadows by Theresa Sederholt is a story about Dane Johnson and his teenage son Brady, they both share a secret and that is that they are both victims of domestic violence at the hands of Julie, Dane’s teenage sweetheart and Brady’s mother. Sederholt takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster as we are given a glimpse into Dane and Brady’s life. Told from their point of views it is so well written that I felt I was there with them, I felt what they were feeling. I was there as Brady cowers in his closet with his noise cancelling headphones on and when Dane has a glass or a mug thrown at him from across the room which only misses him because he has got so used to dodging flying objects that his wife has thrown. This novel is not only a great read but it also has such a powerful message about domestic violence in particular when the victim is the man in the relationship rather than the ‘normal’ scenario in books which focuses on the women as the victim. Everything that happens has such a ring of truth to it that I was overcome with emotions reading this gripping domestic drama. I won’t give away any spoilers but things do come to a dramatic head and Dane and Brady’s secrets have to come out. Along with a selection of other great characters all of whom have their own detailed backstory the plot moves along at a fast pace. With the help of Brady’s best friend Danni and guidance counsellor Abby who is battling her own demons as a victim of her husbands violence towards her in the past and lawyer Josh, father and son realise they are not alone and that for anything to change they need to ask for help. A clever twist near the end is how Sederholt suddenly gives us a chapter from Julie’s point of view and suddenly we see the situation not from victims Dane and Brady’s view point but from the women causing the violence. I literally could not put this book down, full of twists and turns it was an unpredictable read, the drama builds with each chapter and leads to a dramatic outcome. I feel the book is very sympathetically written by the author and that she has done her research into domestic violence. I hope this book does what the author obviously intended and that is not just to give us a brilliant novel to read but also to raise awareness of domestic violence in all forms. Information is given at the end of the book of organisations who can help those experiencing domestic violence and also alcohol addiction. I can not recommend this book highly enough. 2 likes Like Comment Melissa Kulis PA 52 reviews 6 followers February 5, 2020 I have read everyone of Theresa Sederholt's books and this by far is one of the best. It captures you from the very beginning and doesn't release you until the last page. I have never read a book quiet like this one, it takes you through all of your emotions. You will laugh, you will cry but most of all you will walk away with a new understanding of what some people have to put up with in their lives to survive. An absolute must read , would give it more than 5 stars if they allowed. Theresa you truly out did yourself... BRAVO !!!! 2 likes Like Comment Darlene 785 reviews 12 followers February 6, 2020 Let me start by saying I honestly can't remember the last time a book has touched me the way Out of the Shadows has. Tears were literally rolling down my face as I read Dane and Brady's struggles with domestic abuse. Dane's story of survival is compelling, disconcerting and one that will be in my heart for a long time. I highly recommend it. 2 likes Like Comment Linda 3,946 reviews May 17, 2020 This story is not for the feint of heart. Dane and Brady are dealing with a very difficult home life. What can they do to escape? Can they escape unscathed? Thank goodness for people who want and can help! 2 likes Like Comment Ronda Brimeyer 328 reviews 5 followers November 21, 2021 Facing the fear!!! What an amazing story about facing your fears. Fears of not being good enough for your self or your family. Living thru domestic abuse at the hands of your wife. Dane has been living this life because he wants to protect his son. He is lost and doesn't know where to go to get help!!!! Julie is Dane's wife and all she wants in their relationship is to hurt them both. Then finally help is given and the cycle us broken. Theresa has give her readers a wonderfully written story about taking abuse to save someone you love. This story is so different because it was about abuse on the man. He was just taking it on. Until he knew help was there. The ending you cheer them on giving men/or anyone a safe place to go for help. You are never alone!!!!! 1 like Like Comment Patricia 1,682 reviews 45 followers February 2, 2020 Dane Johnson is hiding a horrible secret , one that he is ashamed of . Until the day that his and his son's world changed forever . Now the world will know what is happening every night when he is at home . With one action Dane might never see his boy again all because of one too many hits . Will they ever get out of the hell that they find themselves in and will people believe that the hell is coming from his wife . Ok I am going to say this right now , I cried so hard all the way through this book . I felt such sadness for Dane and his son. Dane is a strong man in his 30's and he will do anything to keep his son safe. You will want to hug him and tell him that things will be ok and you will survive . Brady is his son who at thirteen has been through so much in his young life . I would love to have him as my son . He is brave and strong and he is an awkward teen ager wondering why his best friend is all of a sudden asking him to the sadie hawkins dance and trying out for cheerleading . Abby is the guidance counselor that is a big help to both Dane and Brady . Now Julie well lets say she is just unhinged when you meet her you will hate her as much as i did . So let me tell you I know that this author can write a book that will bring out all the feels for a person . This book hit my heart so hard from the very first page the author had my eyes welling up with tears . I so couldn't put this book down , The subject of abuse is taboo for most authors cause I feel that they can't or won't do the research on it . Well this author wrote this sad story with a love for the characters that came off the page . You just wanted to help out the two main characters and tell them that all will be all right . It shows that even men can be on the recieving end of the abuse and how they hide it even more then women . This is so much more then a story on abuse it is also a story of redemption and living your life with out being scared . This author will make you cry your eyes out and then give you a big hug at the end of the book . So if you want a book that will have you hugging your loved ones just a little harder tonight this is the book for you . Give it a chance I promise you will not be disappointed . book-challenge-2020 1 like Like Comment Gail Guerrero 731 reviews 1 follower February 17, 2020 Out Of The Shadows by Theresa Sederholt - Review by Gail Guerrero Five Stars My jaw is on the floor. Omg I can’t believe what I just read. Its unimaginable but so real. To think that someone finally got the courage to say me too for men. It’s so sad that men do get the same benefit of belief that women do when they cry out for help. This story was too real. I felt like the author did an amazing job writing this story. It wasn’t too much and had the right amount of background. It would be nice to know what Julie was truly thinking and feeling. I am truly at a loss for words though. The trauma Brady experienced at the hands of his own mother. The one person meant to love him unconditionally. I cried because its unimaginable to me as a mother to do these things to my child. To physically harm them to the point that they could possibly die. Its unfathomable. I know they author heart broke with every word of this story. I see this as an eye opener for me. That we can’t take everything at face value. If the father hadn’t reacted the way he did. The outcome of this story wouldn’t be the one needed. 1 like Like Comment Tausha Treadway 1,482 reviews 12 followers February 9, 2020 Out Of The Shadows by Theresa Sederholt. This book was OMG amazing. It was so emotional and heartbreaking I caught myself bawling thru a lot of it. Its the story of Dane Johnson a man in his 30s who is living in literal hell. His wife Julie is a horrible, self centered, witch and she does nothing but use their 13 year old son Brady to hurt Dane even more. Dane's main goal in life is to protect Brady from this horrific nightmare they are living. Brady is a strong, sweet, brave alas awkward teenage boy who has experienced way more than he should at 13 years old. Dane has tried to keep his world secret but it has come to light and now he has to live with that. Abby the guidance counselor at Brady's school is trying to help them both but until Dane leaves the situation it won't get better. I have never read a book about this subject and this one left me drained. I loved it but it is very emotional and once you start reading you won't want to put it down! Do yourself a favor and read this book! 1 like Like Comment Dawn Daughenbaugh 1,758 reviews 12 followers February 9, 2020 5 Star Out Of The Shadows by Theresa Sederholt Wow just Wow. I’m at a loss for words. I can’t say I loved this book because I feel like that’s wrong. Every book I’ve ever read by this Author I’ve loved. This one shattered my heart and played with my emotions. I can’t say I know or even understand how or what they went through because I don’t, but I was pretty much holding my breath and praying so hard it didn’t end badly . My heart hurt for Dane and Brady. Dane has a secret one that’s about to come to out. The way he handled it was all he could do. He was trying to keep Brady safe. This story may be a trigger for some so be aware that does have domestic violence. I never really gave it much thought that it could happen to men,but it definitely can and probably does more than we realize. I highly recommend reading this Book. Its definitely an eye opener and will take you on a emotional rollercoaster ride that will have you on the edge of your seat. I look forward to reading more from this Author. 1 like Like Comment Michelle King 89 reviews 1 follower February 20, 2020 This is a story that everyone should read. I am a victim of domestic violence and I honestly never thought about it from the perspective of the male being the victim. This book really made me think about how that would look. Where would they go? Do they have the resources that are available to women? Who would believe them? And having children in that situation is a million times worse! I made it through this story unscathed…or so I thought. As soon as I read the last sentence and closed the book it all hit me. I balled like a baby! Getting to know Dane’s story deeply touched my soul. This is a quick read that will not only make you think but will have you wanting to reach out and find ways to help. To see what your communities are lacking and what you can do about it. It will open your mind and touch your heart. Domestic violence and mental illness are more common than you know. This story touches on some very serious scenarios that are at times difficult to read about but it is well worth it to read every word. Grab this one up. You will be glad you did! 1 like Like Comment Book Addict 1,657 reviews 4 followers June 16, 2020 Heart Breaking! WOW! This book grabbed me and did not let go. Had to finish it before I went to bed. Dane is living such a horrible life/secret until the inevitable happens and his wife Julie totally looses it in the carpool lane while picking up Brady. Obviously, Abby the guidance counselor has to call CPS (child protective services) because Julie was putting Bradys life in danger. Things spiraled out of control at home then. Julie blamed Dane for everything. Never thinking that she was the problem. My heart broke for Dane and Brady knowing what they were going thru by themselves. Thankfully Abby got them in touch with a lawyer to help them since she knows what it is like to believe you are by yourself in these rough times. I cried while reading this...the physical abuse is bad enough as that will heal, but the emotional and mental abuse that lives with you forever and even years or decades later you can not out run it. Just have to remember that there is help out there for anyone willing to take the first step. 1 like Like Comment Angela 5,777 reviews 73 followers February 9, 2020 5 Stars First of all- you will definitely need a box of tissues and glass(es) of wine as you embark on this journey. It is full of heart-aching and heartbreaking details, which really flung my emotions all over the place. Out of the Shadows by Theresa Sederholt is definitely not what I was expecting- it caught me by surprise, then hit me with a few emotional punches. It is a powerful story full of secrets, heartache, emotion, and dramatic developments that had me flipping the pages and reading along through tear soaked eyes, becoming completely invested in the story. The story takes an unexpected look at a sensitive subject- giving an original and unusual perspective on the subject- in a very honest, yet sensitive way. But be prepared to have your emotions wrung out- because Ms. Sederholt doesn’t hold back. This may not be what I was expecting- and I mean that in a good way- it has definitely touched me and left its mark. Well done! Thank you, Ms. Sederholt! 1 like Like Comment Liz 1,327 reviews 19 followers February 16, 2020 I have known that the works of Theresa Sederholt are emotional reads up until now but this book sincerely threw me for the hills of tears. I was probably bawling through this majority of this book, like ugly cry tears. Dane and his son will swallow you up with their tragic story of bearing the brunt of an awful and abusive situation. The twist? His wife is the bad guy. Abuse is a topic that is difficult to read on any level but to see it from a male perspective was just absolutely eye opening. I have seen a friend of mine go through something similar and I just wanted to find him and hug him the moment I finished this novel since I couldn't reach out to Dane in real life. This book is a taboo topic but it is done perfectly. You can tell that Sederholt really put her blood sweat and tears into this novel. It shows with the way you feel the characters as they do and you find yourself so completely wrapped up in Dane’s world. I can't find enough good things to say about this novel and I so look forward to seeing what else will come next from the ever talented Theresa Sederholt! 1 like Like Comment Jana 862 reviews February 20, 2020 Out of the Shadows by Theresa Sederholt is a book that will stay with you for a while. It rips you apart and leaves you laying in pieces. It will also give you hope. From the first book I picked up by this writer, I have gone back each time another of her books pops up on my radar. She has her way with words, the images she paints in your mind are powerful and they stay with you. She is not afraid to tackle sensitive subjects and when she does, she takes such care that you feel cared for. Out of the Shadows is another one of those subjects that are not so much talked about. She grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go. You are there, with Brady and Dane, and you are confused first and once you realized what you have ‘walked into’, you are stuck … you cry, you laugh, you hope and you have a deeper understanding of what so many struggle with and what it takes to survive! I wish I could give more than 5 stars … 1 like Like Comment Michelle Austin 2,751 reviews 41 followers February 21, 2020 Out Of The Shadows was an emotional 5 star read. I was pulled in right from the beginning. My heart broke right from the beginning with what Dane was going through. Dane is in an abusive relationship and things take a tragic twist and Dane and his son Brady’s lives are turned upside down. Dane was trying to protect his son but now that their secret is out things have changed. Will Dane get out of his situation before it’s too late? Overall I really enjoyed this read. My emotions were all over the place. This is a story that had the abuse victim as the husband in the marriage and it really makes you think and realize that this is a reality for some. This author has done a great job of pulling you in with her writing. All of the secondary characters were great. I had a few ugly cry moments as well. I will warn that there may be triggers for some. If you're looking for a great emotional read, 1-click and get started today. I look forward to reading more from this author. itsy-bitsy-book-bits 1 like Like Comment Irene 792 reviews March 25, 2020 When you hear domestic violence you think a woman and child have been abused. You never think it could be a man being abused by his wife/girlfriend. Lets face it, we tend to think men are stronger than woman and that could possible never happen. Theresa shows in this book that it can happen and it has. Dane set out to try and better himself to take care of his family, things happen and however he worked his butt off. Julie, she wanted Dane to herself so when their son entered the picture she felt like Dane's world was just Brady. Julie really needed help and she didn't want it, so she took her aggression out on them. It was hard to read because it close to home, however it wasn't my mother it was my step dad. The stereotypes we place in today's society is sad. Dane never hurt his wife or son, he did everything to make their life comfortable. Get tissues ready because I did shed a tear or more. Theresa writes such touching stories!! 1 like Like Comment Cindy 741 reviews 11 followers February 8, 2020 Out Of The Shadows By Theresa Sederholt ☆☆☆☆☆ This story has many avenues. It is a thriller, family, and domestic violence. Dane Johnson is married and has one child. He has a secret that is about to come back and haunt his life. His most important plan is to get him and his son out alive. This story is very much about Domestic violence, and how to ask for help. This book is all about fighting for what is right. Theresa Sederholt had written a very clear story. She went in with one thing, to show Men just like Women fear Domestic Violence. It is not always the women that get hurt. I fell in love with the bravery Dan and Brady showed. How they took control of their lives and did what needed to be done. They ASK FOR HELP! Theresa Sederholt touches on many aspects of domestic violence and how things change in the blink of an eye. Well done! 1 like Like Comment Jenni Bishop 4,140 reviews 45 followers February 9, 2020 Out Of The Shadows by Theresa Sederholt was an emotional story that was so heartfelt that it broke my heart. It is a story of pain and violence and being broken by what happens to those suffering through it. I applaud Theresa who has done a wonderful job on the writing of this subject and she has done such a great job of painting the picture which stands out and is so vivid. It is a very touching and thought-provoking story that you can’t help but want to reach out and help. Even though the story is fiction, as Theresa writes there is very little for those in the world who go through this and being too scared to own up to being less than what they perceive as being. It is a real-world problem and hopefully stories like these will help. Even after reading it I am still thinking about the story. Well done Theresa. 1 like Like Comment Lyndsey Fairley 1,026 reviews 4 followers February 14, 2020 Ok, let me dry my face first so I can see what i am writing here. Don't be filled by the page count, this may be a little over 100 pages, but the story in this book is so much more than the page count. I have NEVER felt like this after a book and to be told in mostly the male pov. Bravo to this author, seriously, this has so many things going on and done so seamlessly. Male POV, child POV, domestic violence, just to name a couple. While this touches and walks you through the tough battles it is done so as to be an eye opener, bringing these situations to light and shows that anyone can be going through this at any time. Dane and Brady are living day to day until Julie makes the same threat twice and Dane must take action. I didn't expect the actions of Brady but what courage! I will read anything by this author shes got a gift! 1 like Like Comment Lianne Probert 142 reviews February 16, 2020 This was my first time reading anything by Theresa Sederholt, but I would definitely choose more books by this author in the future. The book delves into the sensitive and heartbreaking topic of domestic abuse, and does a fantastic job of highlighting the fact that men are often victims of this too. The book was mostly written from the perspective of husband Dane and son Brady, and to be honest I would have loved even more time to get to know these characters. Though the book is harrowing at times you can always feel the love that Dane has for his son. At the start of the book the author warns of the story containing triggers for victims of domestic violence, so this book isn’t suitable for everyone. Of course this book is difficult to read at times, but the author handles it with extreme care, and throughout the story the message for me is that you are not alone. 1 like Like Comment Elizabeth 610 reviews 6 followers February 20, 2020 Out of the Shadows is the first book I have read by Theresa Sederholt, but it won't be the last. This book needs a strong disclaimer/warning because it has some graphic descriptions of abuse. However, as long as you are not triggered by that, then you should read it! It is terrifying and heartbreaking to read, but at the same time I couldn't put it down. The book is wonderfully written, alternating views as well as present time and past story. The book follows Dane Johnson in his fight to escape an abusive wife. He has dealt with it for years, and strives to protect their son from it, but it has reached a point that enough is enough. He fears the stigma attached to male victims and worries he won't be believed or the story will be twisted against him. But sometimes all you need is one person to stand by you and help you through it. This is that story. 1 like Like Comment Rebecca LaMadrid 10 reviews 2 followers February 24, 2020 A MUST READ!!! Theresa Sederholt brings the conversation right to the table, where most avoid it. Domestic violence can happen to Men. However it is seriously under-reported and rarely taken seriously. The life that Dane Johnson and his Son Brady endure is orchestrated dangerously by his wife. Dane adores his son and just wants to make his wife happy. He has offered her many outs - as they both know she hates being connected to Husband and Son. She is selfish and reckless, highly abusive. It shows perfectly and devastatingly what can and often does happen in a domestic violence environment. I was in tears most of this book but kept reading because it is a hard but good read. We as a society, need more books that bring this conversation to the table. We need to take these situations more seriously. 1 like Like Comment Lisa 3,226 reviews 14 followers February 8, 2020 I want to start off by saying I LOVE the quote on the last page. It’s by Ralph Waldo Emerson. He summed up the reason for this book perfectly. Sadly, domestic violence is a problem. This story tells an unusual tale of the male being the victim. It shows his shame and embarrassment as well his loss of what to do. He seems to flounder a lot just trying to survive every day. Luckily there are people out there to help it’s just getting the courage before it’s too late. This is well written and it makes me think. It drew me in from the beginning and I was hooked until that last sentence. The characters seemed real and I was concerned for them. I have read others by this author and she seems to never disappoint me. i-bb-year-4 1 like Like Comment Rachel Moss 574 reviews 9 followers February 8, 2020 Out of The Shadows by Theresa Sederholt was absolutely incredible. There are several triggers in this book if you have experienced or been a victim of domestic violence or assault. This book captured me from the first page. I couldn't put it down. This was one of the most heartfelt and broken hearted stories I've read in a while. There are so many people that can relate to this novel, but also for the ones who can't Sederholt does an incredible job painting that picture. This story I think was meant to spread a message, and what a message it is. 5/5 stars from me, I highly recommend this novel for not only the ones who have been through abuse before, but especially for the ones who haven't. You never know what is going on until you're moving through it in your own life. 1 like Like Comment Debi 1,060 reviews 6 followers February 9, 2020 Out Of The Shadows by Theresa Sederholt 5 +++++ Stars I'll start with how excited I was to grab this book, I will read anything and everything this author writes, and holy moly did she write this one… I live in my safe little world not totally ignorant because I know stuff happens out there that I just can't wrap my head around, but this story totally blew my mind. This gave me a whole different perspective that I'd never truly even thought about. I read this literally in under an hour, and I have to appreciate that this couldn't have been an easy story to write but was done beautifully. This had my emotions all messed up and I sat and thought for a bit after I was finished and still really dont have the words needed to do this story justice. I love this author! 1 like Like Comment Katie Kearney 1,090 reviews 6 followers February 9, 2020 Out Of The Shadows by Theresa Sederholt. This review will do this book nothing of the justice it deserves but I’ll give it a try. I knew this story could be a bit of an emotional journey but I don’t think I was really prepared for all the emotions I went through. It’s been a while since I’ve felt so much reading a story and this author wrote it all so well. It’s full of not only heartache and emotions but secrets and raw story telling. I felt The author wanted readers to become emotionally invested, and I can honestly say I definitely felt it. I loved everything about this story and the characters that I’ll never forget. It’s a shorter read but it packs a punch so go get it and get ready to be wowed. Five stars all the way and highly recommended. 1 like Like Comment Kerry Baker 2,595 reviews 19 followers February 10, 2020 Out of the Shadows by Theresa Sederholt is an emotionally charged, incredible story that will complete devour you. I didn’t really know anything about this book before I started reading it. I have read a few books by this author before so know enough to assume it would be good. I was not prepared for the emotions that would be thrown at me and how much I would be captivated by them. This is a fantastic story, and one that I am glad we are being told. It has a uniqueness that isn’t often found in books of this genre. It has been so well written. You cannot help but connect with the MC and his son. My heart bled for them throughout this book and all o wanted was for them to find their way. This is an amazing book and easily my favourite by this author so far. 1 like Like Comment Sara Oxton 3,496 reviews 17 followers February 21, 2020 Out of the Shadows by Theresa Sederholt a fulfilling five-star read. Considering this is such a short read, my emotions feel like I have read a huge saga I can’t believe the author managed to fill so much emotional power in these few pages, it shows us what a talented author we have here. This is a powerful story about secrets, emotions and Dane. Get ready to read this story with tissues and something to comfort you, wine or chocolate and possibly an animal if you have one to hand to snuggle up to as they will help (and if you get desperate the are useful to wipe on). This will leave you with a great sense for other people and what they may face in life, it will open you up and leave you raw, but don’t despair as its so worth reading. 1 like Like Comment Krystal Gregory 253 reviews 4 followers February 22, 2020 Out of The Shadows by Theresa Sederholt 5 out of 5 Stars Dane Johnson, a man so broken by the secret he is holding that it is tearing him apart. Warning that this book may trigger some people who are sensitive to acts of violence, both mentally and on some base, physically, so If you are more tenderhearted than others, this book may be a bit much for you, so tread carefully. Having said all of that, this book is beautifully written from Dane’s point of view. While not wanting to give you too much of what happens, this story is so heartbreaking, so emotionally charged, and so devastating that you are both crying and cheering for Dane at the same time. I feel that I am a better person for reading this book. I highly recommend this book for lovers of all book genres. 1 like Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Als ich jung war by Norbert Gstrein | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $17.99 Rate this book Als ich jung war Norbert Gstrein 3.54 106 ratings 19 reviews Want to read Kindle $17.99 Rate this book Am Anfang ist da nur ein Kuss. Aber gibt es das überhaupt, nur ein Kuss? Franz wächst im hintersten Tirol auf. Er fotografiert Paare "am schönsten Tag ihres Lebens", bis bei einer Hochzeitsfeier die Braut ums Leben kommt. Was hat das mit ihm zu tun? Was damit, dass er nur Wochen zuvor am selben Ort ein Mädchen geküsst hat? Vor diesen Fragen flieht er bis nach Amerika. Doch dann stirbt auch dort jemand: ein Freund, in dessen Leben sich ebenfalls mögliche Gewalt und mögliche Unschuld die Waage halten. Was wissen wir von den anderen? Was von uns selbst? Hungrig nach Leben und sehnsüchtig nach Glück findet sich Franz in Norbert Gstreins Roman auf Wegen, bei denen alle Gewissheiten fraglich werden. Genres German Literature Novels 349 pages, Hardcover First published July 22, 2019 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Norbert Gstrein 22 books 6 followers Nach einem Studium der Mathematik an der Universität Innsbruck hielt Gstrein sich 1986/87 für sieben Monate zu weiteren Studien an der Stanford University und 1987/88 für fünf Monate an der Universität Erlangen auf. 1988 schloss er seine Dissertation Zur Logik der Fragen ab, die an der Universität Innsbruck von dem Mathematiker Roman Liedl und dem Philosophen Gerhard Frey betreut wurde. Er erhielt unter anderem den Alfred-Döblin-Preis, den Literaturpreis der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, den Uwe-Johnson-Preis, den Österreichischen Buchpreis 2019, den Düsseldorfer Literaturpreis und den Thomas-Mann-Preis. Der Roman Der zweite Jakob (2021) war für den Deutschen Buchpreis nominiert. Norbert Gstrein lebt zur Zeit in Hamburg. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.54 106 ratings 19 reviews 5 stars 11 (10%) 4 stars 46 (43%) 3 stars 40 (37%) 2 stars 7 (6%) 1 star 2 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews Meike 1,712 reviews 3,682 followers December 10, 2019 Austrian Book Prize 2019 Multi-award-winning novelist Norbert Gstrein wrote a mystery in which the true puzzle is the protagonist and narrator: As a student, Franz used to work as a wedding photographer at his parents' restaurant, but when a bride dies in her wedding night, he packs up his stuff and moves to Wyoming to work as a ski instructor. 13 years later, he returns home after a severe injury, stranded and broke, and finds refuge at his brother's who is now running the restaurant. In alternating chapters, Gstrein now unfolds Franz' narratives about what happened in Wyoming, where a girl he knew disappeared and a mysterious professor killed himself, and in his native Tyrol, where people keep asking him about his involvement in the bride's death and what he did or didn't do to a young girl he took to the same spot where the bride died some weeks before the tragedy. The whole story revolves around Franz' dark secrets: It's clear that he habors them, and he slowly reveals some terrible truths relating to toxic masculinity, child abuse and sinister obsessions. Narrative mirrors reflect slightly distorted images (look out for the three Josephs, e.g.!), one character is named after Carlos Fuentes' Aura , a novel that deals with the topic of "double identity", and another character named Sarah (the name pointing to the biblical prophetess) becomes Clara (lat. clarus = clear, famous) - and all comes down to the question: What is it that Franz doesn't tell us? Was he involved in the crimes/suicides? This is an unsettling book about dark secrets and their effects, offering a complex narrative structure, interesting characters, and great atmospheric descriptions. I still think Der Trost runder Dinge and Das flüssige Land were stronger contenders for the Austrian Book Prize, but this is also an excellent book (that should have been at least longlisted for the German Book Prize). 2019 was a just a very good year for German-language literature. 2019-read austria 18 likes Like Comment Aslihan Yayla 467 reviews 59 followers June 29, 2022 Franz, babasının isteği üzerine fotoğrafçılığa yönlenir. Düğün fotoğrafçığına soyunan Franz, çektiği gelinler arasından biri intihar edince tüm şüpheler üzerine geçikilir. Franz bunun üstüne yaşadığı yeri terk edip Amerika'ya gider. Babasının tanıdığı biri sayesinde kayak hocalığına başlar. Fakat bu uzun sürmez. Zira öğrencilerinden birinin cesedi bulunur. Sizce Franz gerçekten suçlu mudur yoksa üstünde farklı bir lanet mi vardır? Franz olanlardan sonra evine geri döner ve tüm o gizemli ölümler ortaya çıkmaya başlar. Soluk kesici, duru ve sürükleyici bir hikayeydi. Farklı bir metin okumak isteyenlere tavsiyemdir. #gençliğimde #alsichjungwar #norbertgstrein #siakitap 2 likes Like Comment miss.mesmerized mesmerized 1,405 reviews 36 followers September 25, 2019 Franz wächst in den Tiroler Bergen auf, wo seine Eltern ein Hotel haben, in dem regelmäßig Hochzeiten ausgerichtet werden. Dass die Kinder mithelfen müssen, steht außer Frage und so wird der Junge schon früh zum Hochzeitsfotograf, der den schönsten Tag im Leben der Verliebten für immer festhalten soll. Ein mysteriöser Suizid einer Braut lässt ihn jedoch aus der Enge der Berge nach Jackson, Wyoming, flüchten, wo er sich als Skilehrer durchschlägt. Ach in der Ferne kann er jedoch Sarah nicht vergessen, offenbar seine große Liebe. Dem tschechischen Professor, der ihn engagiert hat, erzählt er von ihr, kurz bevor dieser verunglückt. Überhaupt häufen sich seltsame Todesfälle in Franz‘ Umgebung, so dass auf beiden Seiten des Atlantik ermittelt wird. Doch Franz kann sich die Vorkommnisse nicht erklären, Zufälle wohl, und kehrt nach einer schweren Verletzung zurück in die Heimat und das Familienhotel, wo er erneut mit der Vergangenheit konfrontiert wird. Man muss Norbert Gstreins Roman erst sacken lassen, bevor man das, was man da gelesen hat, so richtig begreifen kann. Die Nominierung für den österreichischen Buchpreis verwundert zunächst, je weiter die Gedanken jedoch um die Geschichte kreisen, desto klarer sieht man jedoch, welch genialer Einfall hier literarisch umgesetzt wurde. In Romanen geht es immer darum, was erzählt wird, bei Gstrein geht es jedoch viel mehr um das, was nicht erzählt wird, die Leerstellen sind es, die besonders interessant sind, die Lücken in der Erinnerung bzw. auch die bewussten Verdrängungen in der eignen Biografie. Der Ich-Erzähler schildert seine zunächst eher unspektakuläre Kindheit und die unzähligen Hochzeiten, die er erlebt und für die Ewigkeit festhält. Was er hier einfängt, weist schon daraufhin, dass ihm auch als Erzähler nicht zu trauen ist, denn nicht alles, was man sieht, entspricht der Wirklichkeit hinter dem Bild: „sie wollten alle auf den Fotos besser dastehen als in Wirklichkeit, aber dazu brauchte es nicht viel, dazu brauchte ich nur die billigsten Tricks anzuwenden, oder ich fotografierte an ihren Unvollkommenheiten und Menschlichkeiten vorbei.“ So wie er die Frischvermählten im besten Licht einfängt, schildert er auch sein eigenes Leben, das voller Unschuld zu sein scheint, bis am Rand die Zweifel ins Bild drängen. Der Tod der Braut, das Verschwinden einer Frau in den USA, die vermeintlich unschuldige Schwärmerei für Sarah, die sich jedoch dramatisch in eine ganz andere Richtung entwickelt - Franz erzählt sein Leben, wie er es sich zurechtgerückt hat. Doch Wesentliches scheint er dabei auszulassen. So wird der Roman fast zu einem Krimi und das Unbehagen beim Leser wächst. Mit was für einem Erzähler hat man es da zu tun, was hat er getan? So wie Franz nach dem Tod des Professors erkennt, dass er diesen eigentlich gar nicht kannte und nichts über ihn wusste, geht es einem mit dem Protagonisten ebenfalls. Ob er sich und die Welt bewusst täuscht und sich seine Realität so erschafft, wie er sie gerne hätte, oder ob seine Wahrnehmung tatsächlich so ist, bleibt ebenso offen wie vieles andere auch. Das nicht Gesagte, die Fragezeichen, die bleiben, machen den Reiz der Geschichte aus, deren klare Sprache eine Eindeutigkeit suggeriert, die jedoch keineswegs vorhanden ist. Und so muss man als Leser selbst die Ereignisse konstruieren und steckt damit mitten in der Geschichte. 2 likes Like Comment Simqui 1 review February 12, 2022 Warum nur in 348 Seiten schreiben, was man gut in eine Kurzgeschichte packen könnte. Langatmig ohne Ende! 1 like Like Comment Wandaviolett 370 reviews 52 followers September 29, 2019 DAS UNSAGBARE ungewöhnlich präsentiert! Norbert Gstreins Roman „Als ich jung war“ befaßt sich mit dem Unsagbaren. Es ist unsagbar und darum sagt es der Autor auch nicht. Der Leser muss sich anhand von Franzens Lebenbericht zusammenreimen, was passiert ist. Diese Art, eine Geschichte zu erzählen, indem sie nicht erzählt wird, ist, gelinde gesagt, ungewöhnlich. Wovon aber schreibt denn der Autor, wenn er seine Geschichte nicht erzählt, die aber gleichwohl, fast wie aus dem Nichts, lediglich durch einige Keywords ausgelöst, im Kopf des Lesers entsteht? Vom Land und von den Leuten. Von Österreich und den USA. In sehr gemächlichem Erzählton. Da ist der junge Franz, der früh keine Illusionen mehr hat über die Menschen, über das Leben, und da ist auch sein jüngerer Bruder Viktor, der das elterliche Geschäft übernehmen wird. Die Brüder kommen aus einer „schaffigen“ Familie. Die Eltern haben zwei Hotels, ein Sommer- und ein Winterhotel und Franz muss, ob er will oder nicht, zuhause zugreifen. Im Winterhotel ist er Kellner wider Willen, plus Skilehrer und im Sommerhotel ist er Hochzeitsfotograf wider Willen. Beides prägt ihn. Eines Tages ergreift er die Flucht und verschanzt sich vor Zugriffen jeder Art in den Staaten. Im schneereichen Wyoming, im kleinen und unscheinbaren Dörfchen Jackson, arbeitet er im Winter als mehr und mehr gefragter Skilehrer und im Sommer hält er sich mit Gelegenheitsjobs und monatlichen Zuwendungen vom Vater über Wasser. Eines Tages, durch mehrere Sportunfälle arbeitsunfähig, kommt er zurück nach Österreich in das Vaterhotel, das nunmehr dem Bruder gehört, der ihn wie einen armen Verwandten behandelt. Das ist der erzählerische Vordergrund. Doch im Untergrund rumort eine ganz andere Geschichte, voller Andeutungen und Vermutungen. Stilsicher präsentiert der Autor dem Leser seine „unerzählte“ Story, die tiefgründiger nicht sein könnte. Erklärungen liefert er keine. Dennoch erschließt sich dem gewitzten Leser ein düsteres Bild. Denn warum sonst hätte der Autor diesen Roman schreiben sollen und worüber? Über Landschaftsbilder? Doch wohl nicht. Der Roman ist langsam. Machen wir uns darüber nichts vor. Gemächlich fließt er dahin. Für Leser, die mehr Spannung und Action brauchen, ist er nichts. Woher kommt der Titel? Zum Aufschluß findet sich ein Zitat. Der Autor läßt den Icherzähler Franz schon früh sagen: „Als ich jung war, glaubte ich an fast alles und später an fast gar nichts mehr, und irgendwann in dieser Zeit dürfte mir der Glaube, dürfte mir das Glauben abhanden gekommen sein“. Franz erzählt zwar von Anfang an, aber auch vom Ende her, denn es wird immer klarer, dass die Geschichte nur von ihrem Ende her verstanden werden kann. FAZIT: Eine sublime Art des Erzählens einer nicht erzählten Geschichte, die es in sich hat, so kunstgerecht, dass manch einer sagen könnte, „What? Es ist doch gar nichts erzählt worden.“ Doch. Ist es. Kategorie: Anspruchsvoller Roman Auf der Longlist des Österreichischen Buchpreises Verlag: Hanser, 2019 deutsch 1 like Like Comment Wal.li 2,230 reviews 56 followers October 6, 2019 Die Braut In seiner Jugend war Franz der Fotograf. Sein Vater richtete Hochzeiten in seinem Restaurant aus und Franz war für die Fotos zuständig. Spaß hat es ihm nicht gemacht. Oft dachte er, diese Ehe wird nicht halten, warum macht sie das. Dann stirbt eine Braut an ihrem Hochzeitstag und Franz hat die Fotos gemacht. Es heißt nachher, sie habe sich selbst umgebracht, aber richtig klar wird nie, was tatsächlich geschehen ist. Später lebt Franz lange Zeit in den USA, wo er als Skilehrer arbeitet. Nach einem Unfall kehrt er zurück nach Österreich und ist überrascht, dass sein Bruder das Restaurant leitet und Hochzeiten ausrichtet. Was passiert, was bildet man sich selbst ein und welche Gerüchte glauben die anderen. Das beschäftigt einen bei der Lektüre dieses Romans. Franz ist ein Typ, der eigentlich alles eher nicht macht bis auf einmal, wo er Grenzen überschreitet. Obwohl es so aussieht als habe er nichts gemacht, fragt man sich und wenn doch? Mit nur zwei Selbstmorden kommt er in Berührung und doch ist er beide Male recht nah am Geschehen. Zu nah, etwa? Er beschwört Fragen herauf, die er dann zu umgehen versucht. Und daheim wartet der Kommissar. Es bleibt schön spannend in diesem Buch. Während des Lesens fragt man sich, was Franz für sich behält. Ist er tatsächlich so unschuldig, wie er es darstellt? Wie der Kommissar fragt man sich, was ist das Verborgene. Der Autor lässt einen herrlich im Unklaren und regt gerade damit das Gedankenkarussell an. In einem Krimi hätte man eine Tat, eine Ermittlung, eine Lösung. Hier ist es schon ähnlich, aber doch ganz anders. Man hat die Erzählung eines noch jungen Mannes, der nach einem Unfall von seinem Leben erzählt, von Dingen, die er getan oder nicht getan hat, von denen, die er zugeben muss und denen, die nichts mit ihm zu tun haben. Man fliegt durch die Geschichte und je weiter man fliegt, desto mehr beginnt man zu grübeln. Dieser Roman schleicht sich an, um zu bleiben. rezensionsexemplar-netgalley 1 like Like Comment LiA 318 reviews February 12, 2021 Es führt nirgendwohin, es ist rätselhaft, wie das Leben selbst, es ist fesselnd, auch ohne Action. Ein faszinierendes Buch, das ich sehr gern gelesen habe. moderne-klassik-d reviews 1 like Like Comment Josy 102 reviews 1 follower August 3, 2021 Eigenartige Geschichte. Charaktere und Erzählung bleiben seltsam fremd. Geht es um Schuld? Verdrängung? Keine Ahnung. 1 like Like Comment Mr. P 239 reviews January 3, 2023 Eine mysteriöse Lebensgeschichte auf österreichisch Auch wenn das Buch, wie vielerorts kritisiert, auf keinen klaren Ausgang zusteuert, so bietet es dem Leser nichtsdestotrotz spannende Einblicke in das Leben eines jungen Mannes aus einem österreichischen Bergdorf, der viele seiner 'besten Jahre' just auf einem amerikanischen Berg verbringt, um dort Menschen die "einzig wahre österreichische" Sportart beizubringen - das Skifahren. Zumindest handelt es sich dabei um die einzige Sportart, bei dir wir Österreicher der gegen Ende genannten Redeart vollkommen gerecht werden - nämlich jene, bei dir wir 'voller Zuversicht in die Vergangenheit blicken'. Zugegebenermaßen irritiert an dem Plot jedoch, dass ein sich auf den letzten Metern aufbauender Spannungsbogen so abrupt nicht zum Abschluss gebracht wird. Vielmehr könnte dies als zielloser Spannungsaufbau ohne Entladung, quasi Coitus Interruptus, empfunden werden und dadurch die weniger erfreuten Rezensionen erklären. Jenen Lesern sei empfohlen, sich wohlwollend auf die beachtlichen Details und ausgesprochen realistisch empfundenen Gefühlswelten des Protagonisten sowie die bewussten Leerstellen seiner Innenwelt zu fokussieren. Und diese nach Möglichkeit zu genießen und dadurch wertzuschätzen. Like Comment Kirsten 1,326 reviews 6 followers September 26, 2023 Franz fotografgiert Hochzeitspaare. Dann kommt bei einer Hochzeit die Braut ums Leben, ausgerechnet dort, wo Franz erst vor Kurzem ein Mädchen geküsst hat. Von dem Ereignis überwältigt, flieht er nach Amerika. Aber auch dort holt ihn der Tod ein, ein Freund stirbt. Wohin soll er jetzt noch fliehen? Auch wenn Franz davon erzählt, was ihm in jungen Jahren zugestoßen ist, wirkt er auf mich nie wirklich jung. Das Erlebte hat ihn sicherlich verwirrt, aber er wirkt auch verbittert. So, als ob er die tote Braut viel besser gekannt hätte, als es wahrscheinlich der Fall war. Für Franz bestimmen Unglücke sein Leben. Sicherlich wird er auch etwas Schönes erlebt haben, aber wenn er davon erzählt, wirkt es auf mich wie ein Atemholen, bevor ihm wieder etwas Schlimmes zustößt. Dabei bin ich mir nicht sicher, ob die Dinge wirklich so schlimm waren, oder aufgrund seiner einseitigen Sichtweise so wirken. Wie schlimm muss es sein, ein Leben zu führen, in dem man sich so wenig Freude gönnt, wie Franz das tut? Ich kann nicht sagen, dass mir das Buch gefallen hat. Dafür fand ich Franz' Erzählung zu bedrückend. Beeindruckt hat es mich sicher. contemporary Like Comment Joanna 1,963 reviews 36 followers March 2, 2020 Endlich habe ich es geschafft, auch den Österreichischen Buchpreisträger zu lesen. Ein Autor, von dem ich bisher noch nichts gehört hatte - deshalb war ich umso neugieriger auf den Titel. Ich kenne die weiteren nominierten Titel nicht und kann deshalb keine Vergleiche ziehen; aber hätte ich das Buch einfach so gelesen, wäre ich zwar der Meinung, dass es ein gutes und literarisches Werk ist, aber dass es Buchpreisträgerqualitäten hat... das wohl weniger. Wie gesagt, es ist ein gutes Buch, das es schafft, den Leser in den Bann zu ziehen. Ausserdem entwickelt sich der Ich-Erzähler mehr und mehr zu einem unzuverlässigen Erzähler. Anfangs glaubte ich ihm noch, aber je länger er berichtet, desto mehr begann ich an ihm zu zweifeln. Diesen Aspekt hätte Gstrein noch mehr unterstreichen können. Dann hätte "Als ich jung war" für mich auch ohne Aufkleber Auszeichnungscharakter erhalten. Aber leider scheint der Autor zugunstern der Lesbarkeit darauf zu verzichten. Für mich persönlich etwas schade, aber so eignet sich das Buch sehr gut als Einstieg in die etwas höhere Literatur. Ist somit auch geeignet für jene, die sich vor den grossen Namen und Preisträgern fürchten, da man damit stets schwer lesbare Titel verbindet. "Als ich jung war" ist nicht so und kann so ein Türöffner für viele werden. Auszeichnung hin oder her. lilja-challenge-2020 Like Comment Katzi 140 reviews August 8, 2021 Ja, war ganz okay. Ich hab nicht ganz begriffen worum es gehen soll und was das Fazit am Ende ist, dennoch war ich immer neugierig wie es weitergeht, das Buch konnte mein Interesse also zumindest aufrecht erhalten. Es ist fesselnd obwohl es nirgendwohin führt. Fast eine Art Krimi, immer taucht ziemlich unaufgeregt doch noch eine Offenbarung auf. Man weiß eben doch nie ganz Bescheid über sein Gegenüber, weil man in ihn/sie nicht reinsehen kann, weil man nun mal auch mit sich selbst beschäftigt ist.. Ganz schlau werde ich aus alledem dennoch nicht. 2021 Like Comment HediBähren 1,159 reviews 5 followers September 18, 2021 Ein bißchen schwierig zu erkennen, was letztendlich die Wahrheit gewesen sein könnte - aber ansonsten interessant. Like Comment Stetina Stetina 101 reviews Read December 14, 2021 this was super weird, what's up with the endings and everything else? Typical winner of some kind of book prize Like Comment Helena 81 reviews October 23, 2019 Ungewöhnlich und spannend Dieser Roman steht auf der Shortlist des Österreichischen Buchpreises 2019. Franz, der ältere Sohn eines österreichischen Hotelbesitzers, hilft schon frühzeitig mit im Betrieb. So fotografiert er im Sommer die Paare, die im Hotel ihre Hochzeit feiern und hilft im Winter den Skilehrern. Franz verliebt sich eines Tages in ein Mädchen. Kurze Zeit später stirbt eine Braut. War es ein Unfall oder Mord oder Selbstmord? Bald darauf wird Franz vom Vater fort, in die USA geschickt. Dort landet er in Wyoming, wird zum Skilehrer, obwohl er das nie werden wollte und bleibt für 13 Jahre. Tiefere Bindungen geht er eher nicht ein. Ein älterer tschechischer Professor, "der traurigste Mann auf der Welt" kommt jährlich und möchte nur Franz als Skilehrer, so dass sie über Jahre regelmäßigen Kontakt haben. Doch irgendwann begeht der Professor, während er wieder in seinem jährlichen Skiurlaub weilt, Suizid. Franz muss nicht lange danach, aufgrund von Skiunfällen den Job aufgeben und kehrt verarmt in die Heimat zurück. Dort wird er vorerst von seinem Bruder Victor, der mittlerweile das Hotel führt, (eher ungern) aufgenommen. Die Milieus in Österreich und Wyoming samt kalter, winterlicher Schnee- und Skiatmosphäre sind stimmungsvoll gezeichnet. Der Leser erfährt alles aus der Perspektive von Franz, der, wie sich bald herausstellt, allerdings ein sehr unzuverlässiger Erzähler ist. Er wirkt erstmal wie ein recht zielloser, träger, auch leicht irritierbarer Mensch. Stück für Stück kommt man ihm etwas näher. Der Roman ist durchzogen von seltsamen Vorkommnissen und seltsamen, häufig sehr einsamen Menschen. Thematisch geht es um toxische oder auch einseitige Beziehungen, um Mann- Frau Beziehungen. Es geht um Missbrauch, um Grenzen und Gewalt, um Macht und Ohnmacht, um Lüge und Wahrheit, um Verdrängung und verzerrte Wahrnehmung. Gerüchte, Halbwahrheiten, Vermutungen, Unklarheiten stehen im Raum. Wie gut kennen wir das Gegenüber? Wo ist das innere "Zentrum des Schweigens, ein Zentrum der Scham", an dass man sich selbst kaum heranwagt? Tja, was ist das für ein Roman – ein Kriminalroman, ein Spannungsroman, ein psychologischer Roman, eine Milieustudie – von allem etwas. In jedem Fall äußerst spannend und fesselnd erzählt. Auch sehr unterhaltsam. Vieles wird angedeutet, die Athmosphäre ist oft merkwürdig, manchmal gar gruselig. Seite um Seite wird alles ungeheuerlicher und nimmt andere Formen an, neue Perspektiven tun sich dabei auf. Im Gewahrwerden des Gesamtblicks brachte mich das Ende dann zum Schaudern. Großartig! Letztendlich bleibt ein offener Deutungsspielraum, bleibt Raum für Spekulationen und Diskussionen. Fazit: Ein klug geschriebener Roman, über die Geschichten, die nicht erzählt werden. Like Comment Johann Guenther 741 reviews 25 followers September 14, 2019 GSTREIN, Norbert: „Als ich jung war“, München 2019 Vorne im Buch steht „A lot remained to be explaines. Louis L´Amour“ Dieses Motto zieht sich dann durch das Buch. Im ersten Kapitel „Diese Freuden“ geht es – ganz gegen den Titel – um zwei Selbstmorde. Als junger Mann fotografierte der Icherzähler im elterlichen Hotel bei Hochzeiten. Eine Braut stürzte sich noch in der Hochzeitsnacht über eine Felswand in den Tod. War der Fotograf beteiligt? Viele waren an einer Aufklärung interessiert und ebenso viele Meinungen und Verdächtigungen gab es. Auch aus dem benachbarten Nonnenkloster. Der junge Fotograf brach sein Studium ab und ging als Schilehrer nach Amerika. Viele Jahre war er dort. Manche meinten er sei geflüchtet nach dem Selbstmord, der vielleicht keiner war. Der zweite Selbstmord dann in Amerika. Ein Physiker nahm immer wieder Unterrichtsstunden bei ihm und wurde so mit dem Schilehrer freund. Auch er stürzte sich in den Tod. Auf Schiern fuhr er gegen einen Baum. Vorher nahm er den Helm ab und fuhr mit dem vorgestreckten Kopf gegen sein Lebensende. Der Schilehrer wird zum Teilerben und es kam wieder zu Verdächtigungen. Im Kapitel „Die nicht erzählte Geschichte“ greift er auf alte Erfahrungen zurück. Als Schilehrer besuchte er regelmäßig eine Bar in der auch ein Mädchen arbeitete, mit der er eine Beziehung aufbauen wollte. Sie verschwindet eines Tages. War er schuld? Das fragte auch der Bruder des Mädchens. Noch weiter geht der zweite Fall zurück: Wie er als Hochzeitsfotograf eine junge Musikerin in der Nacht geküsst hatte. Nach Jahren will ihm ein Kriminalbeamter daraus ein Delikt drehen, weil das Mädchen nicht 17, sondern erst 13 Jahre alt war. Sie wird später eine berühmte Geigerin und er fährt ihr nach um sie zu sehen. Dieses ist das letzte Kapitel: Sarah Flarer. Das Mädchen hatte ihren Namen geändert. Er sieht sie und fährt dann ziellos nach Süden, wo er in eine Schlägerei kommt und im Spital landet. Dort endet auch das Buch. Etwas wirr und doch geradlinig geschrieben. Ist es wirklich ein Thema für ein Buch? Ist es eine Aufarbeitung der eigenen Jugend. Frauenbeziehungen. Auf alle Fälle zeigt das Buch Ängste, die ein Mann ausstehen kann, wenn er eine vielleicht unerlaubte Beziehung mit einer Frau eingeht. Like Comment Inge H. 344 reviews 7 followers September 9, 2019 Erinnerung Der österreichische Schriftsteller Norbert Gstrein schreibt gute Romane. Sein Roman „Als ich jung war“ ist für den österreichischen Buchpreis nominiert. Der Protagonist Franz fotografiert bei Hochzeiten, die im Lokal seines Vaters und später seines Bruders feiern. Dann stirbt gleich darauf eine Braut, so wie er sie beim fotografieren kennen lernt, ist sie eigenartig. Es soll Selbstmord sein. Später ist da noch ein Professor, der sich auch umbringt. Dann kante Franz noch junge Frauen, die dann verschwunden sind. Die Geschichte wird von Franz erzählt. Es geht um Begehren, Schuld und Verdrängung. Der Autor versteht es, Franz Zerrissenheit, Selbstmitleid und den Wunsch nach Glück nach zu vollziehen. Sein Schreibstil ist ruhig und klar und etwas geheimnisvoll. Das Buch was sonst gut virtuos gemacht, lesenswert. Like Comment Otto 609 reviews 35 followers October 7, 2019 #lesejahr2019 #österreichischerbuchpreis #longlist Von der Kritik bestens rezensiert hat mich diese Geschichte nicht wirklich überzeugt. Hochzeitsfotograf verlässt nach mysteriösem Todesfall die Heimat, lernt als Schilehrer in Amerika einen Menschen kennen, der sich wiederum aus ungeklärten Gründen das Leben nimmt, kehrt nach Hause zurück, wird von einer Geschichte aus seiner Biografie eingeholt, das Ende will ich hier nicht verraten. #norbertgstrein ist aber nun mal ein gefeierter österreichischer Schriftsteller, dem sich auch die Buchpreisjury nicht verwehren kann. Like Comment Eine_Tüte_Buntes 6 reviews 1 follower January 6, 2020 Sprachlich im Rückblick wahrhaft grandios, während des Lesens aber mitunter zäh und behäbig. Nimmt erst zur Hälfte etwas Fahrt auf; ich konnte es dann zum Ende hin kaum weglegen. Hier gilt nicht „Der Weg ist das Ziel!“. Der literarische Mehrwert entsteht erst durch das Gelesene in seiner Gesamtheit. Like Comment Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews Join the discussion Add a quote 1 discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. 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The Ambassadors by Henry James | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $3.99 Rate this book The Ambassadors Henry James , Harry Levin 3.64 12,502 ratings 780 reviews Want to read Kindle $3.99 Rate this book The Ambassadors is a novel by Henry James, originally published as a serial in the North American Review (NAR). Story: Concerned that her son Chad may have become involved with a woman of dubious reputation, the formidable Mrs. Newsome sends her 'ambassador' Strether from Massachusetts to Paris to extricate him. Strether's mission, however, is gradually undermined as he falls under the spell of the city and finds Chad refined rather than corrupted by its influence and that of his charming companion, the comtesse de Vionnet. As the summer wears on, Mrs. Newsome comes to the conclusion that she must send another envoy to Paris to confront the errant Chad, and a Strether whose view of the world has changed profoundly. The third-person narrative is told exclusively from Strether's point of view. Extract: After the opera, Strether tells Chad why he has come to Paris. However, as he speaks, Strether finds himself less certain of his stance. Chad, once callow and juvenile, now seems confident and restrained. His new personality impresses Strether, who wonders what—or who—has caused Chad’s transformation. Chad asks Strether to stay and meet his close friends, a mother and a daughter, who are arriving in a few days time. Strether, wondering if one of these women has been the impetus for Chad’s improvement, and assuming the daughter to be Chad’s lover, agrees to stay. Meanwhile, Bilham convinces Strether that Chad has a “virtuous attachment”—and that Chad’s relationship with the mysterious woman is innocent. Strether eventually meets the women, Madame de Vionnet and her daughter, Jeanne, at a high society party, but he does not see them long enough to cement an impression. After the brief introduction to Madame de Vionnet, Strether finds himself alone with little Bilham. Strether takes the opportunity to offer Bilham some sage advice: live all you can before it is too late. This advice exposes Strether’s own change since coming to Europe. In Paris, he feels renewed, young again, doubly alive. Over... Genres Classics Fiction Literature Novels American France 20th Century ...more 528 pages, Paperback First published September 24, 1903 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Henry James 3,988 books 3,535 followers Henry James was an American-British author. He is regarded as a key transitional figure between literary realism and literary modernism, and is considered by many to be among the greatest novelists in the English language. He was the son of Henry James Sr. and the brother of philosopher and psychologist William James and diarist Alice James . He is best known for his novels dealing with the social and marital interplay between émigré Americans, the English, and continental Europeans, such as The Portrait of a Lady. His later works, such as The Ambassadors, The Wings of the Dove and The Golden Bowl were increasingly experimental. In describing the internal states of mind and social dynamics of his characters, James often wrote in a style in which ambiguous or contradictory motives and impressions were overlaid or juxtaposed in the discussion of a character's psyche. For their unique ambiguity, as well as for other aspects of their composition, his late works have been compared to Impressionist painting. His novella The Turn of the Screw has garnered a reputation as the most analysed and ambiguous ghost story in the English language and remains his most widely adapted work in other media. He wrote other highly regarded ghost stories, such as "The Jolly Corner". James published articles and books of criticism, travel, biography, autobiography, and plays. Born in the United States, James largely relocated to Europe as a young man, and eventually settled in England, becoming a British citizen in 1915, a year before his death. James was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911, 1912, and 1916. Jorge Luis Borges said "I have visited some literatures of East and West; I have compiled an encyclopedic compendium of fantastic literature; I have translated Kafka, Melville, and Bloy; I know of no stranger work than that of Henry James." Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.64 12,502 ratings 780 reviews 5 stars 3,368 (26%) 4 stars 3,871 (30%) 3 stars 3,302 (26%) 2 stars 1,268 (10%) 1 star 693 (5%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 779 reviews Violet wells 433 reviews 3,715 followers September 13, 2017 A gay friend of mine once put Henry James’ tendency to play hide and seek with the reader down to the same trait within himself with regards to his sexuality. Apparently he was deeply suspicious of everything that gave him pleasure. “Nothing came to him simply.” And in this novel nothing comes to us simply either. I think it took me longer to read this than War and Peace. And that’s because virtually every sentence is like trying to figure out a rubic cube. There’s a moment when a character feels he is moving “in a maze of mystic closed allusions”. I couldn’t help wondering if Henry, not a renowned comedian, was having a laugh at the reader’s expense because that’s exactly what I felt as a reader during this novel. There were times when I was reminded of Nabokov and especially Ada, another novel that only inches open its door by degrees when we knock. So there’s something very modern about The Ambassadors. There’s a character who says, “Oh I don’t think anything now. That is but what I do think!” And this kind of mystification, these modifying clauses and sub clauses are a constant trait of this novel. Every sentence is a maze it takes two readings to get out of. It’d be easy to certify this novel as insane, an over-elaborate joke whose wit is lost on virtually everyone except the author, but once I managed to enter into its spirit of wilful obfuscation I began admiring it more and more. Communication, after all, is one of the major stumbling blocks in our lives. Every sentence delivered up to us contains numerous points of departure. To understand what’s communicated to us we simplify it and, as a result, often misrepresent it. Rarely is communication straightforward. We realise this most keenly when we are in love and find ourselves studying the words of the beloved with a metaphysical microscope. In a sense every character in this novel has the keyed up sensibility of the lover, both wilfully deflecting and hungrily truth seeking. The role of ambassador, like lover, is to mask the truth as often as to disclose it. That said it baffled me when I read afterwards what Henry James thought was the defining passage of this book – “Live all you can: it's a mistake not to. It doesn't matter what you do in particular, so long as you have had your life. If you haven't had that, what have you had?” Is this novel an exhortation to live life to the full? I don’t understand how any character who circles around an answer to a simple question for four paragraphs could be seen as living life to full. In the time it takes the characters to arrive at any defining disclosure in this novel one could have caught the Eurostar to Paris and enjoyed lunch on the terrace of a brasserie. At times it was like a literary version of Big Brother – watching people who have nothing else to do but plot and unmask amorous or tactical alliances. Answers to questions in this novel always give rise to more questions. No one in fact seems capable of ever delivering up a clear answer to any question. There’s one instance where a character answers a question by saying, “Yes”, and then adding as an afterthought, “absolutely not”. Whatever anyone says is inevitably qualified, sometimes contradicted. At the end of every page you can feel you’re back at the beginning. Strether on whom all this elaborate subterfuge is enacted does gain our sympathy because in essence his plight is that of all of us – the struggle to make sense of the bigger picture with broken shards of incomplete information, like the archaeologist down in the trenches of a dig. Interestingly James creates a world in which men are depicted as pawns for the queenly powers of women until the final stages of the game. There’s also a fantastic female villain who never once appears in the novel. As usual the poor, the downtrodden have no existence whatsoever in Henry James novels. An alien reading HJ might think all earthlings have unlimited leisure. And there’s a fabulous scene where Strether walks into the living reality of a painting he couldn’t afford to buy when he admired it in a Boston art gallery. This was one of the cleverest ways I’ve ever come across of showing how a character has made strides during the course of a narrative. There’s no way on earth I’d recommend The Ambassadors and yet ultimately I found it an enriching experience, especially in what it has to say about the nature of communication. I also ultimately loved the war it wages on commercial fiction’s tendency to encourage skim reading onto the next twist in the plot. Just try skim reading this! And of course James, again like Nabokov, can write a dazzling sentence… 191 likes 2 comments Like Comment Fionnuala 814 reviews Read May 6, 2020 Reading The Ambassadors is like progressing through a circular maze. The reader roams around the edges at first, coming up frequently against dead ends. Why is Chad Newsome so difficult to figure out? What are the author’s intentions for Maria Gostrey? Will Mrs Newsome, or even her more formidable-sounding daughter, Mrs Pocock, ever make a physical appearance in the story? The enigmas in this early stage are such that if the reader found herself accidentally back at the start she might be tempted to abandon the maze altogether. But it would be a difficult choice to make because in all her frustrated revolvings she has nevertheless passed through some exquisite passages. She continues, and little by little she finds herself circling a smaller space, and she tells herself that perhaps she is finally getting closer to the heart of the story. Yet even when a new direction seems full of promise, she still comes up against the same blind alleys as before and she despairs of ever getting to the centre. At this stage she stops worrying about finishing. She's enjoying the convoluted paths, taking her time and appreciating every twist and turn. She is blissful in the face of the beauty of certain passages and asks for nothing more than to spend the rest of her life deciphering Jamesian sentences. Her bliss is soon disturbed by a new preoccupation. In her circling she has picked up a companion. Lambert Strether, the main character in this third person narrative, seems to be walking in her footsteps or she in his. She may not understand all his thoughts and desires but she empathizes with him fully as he too circles the central facts of the story, enjoying the beauty along the way but encountering the same dead ends as herself. And while she enjoys Strether's company very much, her discomfort arises from a fear that he may come to grief before the end, and she herself alongside him. There are many pitfalls in Strether's path: he is being used by almost every other character in the narrative while nevertheless trying to serve everyone to the best of his abilities. The reader wants to warn him of the dangers, to whisper, watch out, Strether. But she has learned something from Maria Gostrey. Silent support is what Strether requires at this point, especially as he is about to face the daunting Mrs Pocock, looming forth from what seems like another blind alley. But Mrs Pocock’s bulk fails to hide the opening leading to the centre of the maze: the jump was but short to supreme lucidity. Light became indeed after that so intense that Strether would doubtless have but half made out, in the prodigious glare, by which of the two the issue had been in fact precipitated. It was, in their contracted quarters, as much there between them as if it had been something suddenly spilled with a crash and a splash on the floor. The reader can only be in awe of the writer’s skill in delivering her, right alongside his main character, to the heart of the story—in one blinding flash. She looks back at the manner in which she read the earlier sections and realises she was an innocent then, incapable yet of understanding. Now it has all come to mean something different; she has grown and changed just as Strether has changed: He had heard, of old, only what he could then hear; what he could do now was to think of three months ago as a point in the far past If Lambert Strether and the reader finally reach the point of brutal lucidity, it is thanks to the unassuming character of Maria Gostrey. We wondered at the beginning about her role in the story. It is very simple: James needed her to keep the thread . Without her, there would be no way, happy or unhappy, for the reader to exit the maze that is The Ambassadors . henry-james treasured-reading-experience 179 likes 8 comments Like Comment Henry Avila 497 reviews 3,279 followers May 9, 2024 Lewis Lambert Strether 55, a prim widower considers himself a failure completely dependent on the kindness of wealthy widow and still attractive Mrs.Newsome, from fictional Woollett, Massachusetts his fiancee for a living (set circa 1900) he's the editor of a small magazine review that is financed by her, owner of a company that manufactures.... it is never said in the novel. Sent by Mrs. Newsome ( thus the title ,"The Ambassadors," there will be others) to get her son the immature Chad(wick) 28, living in Paris for three years, back home and do his duty run the family business but there are complications, he is involved his relatives believe in a sordid affair with a married woman, but quite a charming one beautiful Marie de Vionnet 38, separated from her brute of a husband. Mr.Strether first lands in England, to meet his best friend the laconic Waymarsh, an American lawyer who has made a great deal of money there but does not like Europe and wants to go home. He encounters too, bright, pretty Maria Gostrey 35 another American who skillfully guides tourist around the continent, she is very popular they become very close, (maybe romantically? ) and Lambert confides in her his many troubles. Arriving in the French capital our hero looks around meets all the important people he needs to, and strangely begins to change his views becoming more tolerant of different ways of living, the morality of Woollett seems not to fit here, he starts to enjoy the magic of Paris the great museums, impressive churches renowned restaurants fun cafes the food , wines, the river Seine slowing traveling through the metropolis, the many boats and people on them the unhurried style of life, freedom is intoxicating can this be wrong? The remote Mrs.Newsome is not happy, months have passed no progress reported by Strether, she has her daughter Mrs. Sarah Pocock, her husband and his sister also, go to help the unsuccessful "Ambassador", talk to the reluctant Chad, this lady's brother is made of sterner stuff than our friend the gentle Lambert. Slowly it dawns on the always too trusting gentleman that some inhabitants are lying to Mr. Lambert Strether, shocking him it makes him think has he been a simpleton...Besides our would -be hero has to go back home to America and face the music, his life will never be the same...This novel will be enjoyed by fans of Henry James, the European and American differences which the author writes about... I being both relish, but it can be difficult for others, his sentences run on some much too long and clarity is not his strength, yet the talent shows ...P.S. my guess and it's only mine, what Mrs. Newsome makes are ...clocks ? 132 likes Like Comment Adam Dalva Author 8 books 1,811 followers April 9, 2021 A curious reading experience, and, in the end, a remarkable one. After banging my head against the first two hundred pages of this novel over several weeks, something suddenly clicked in. Was it James's bizarre, flourishing syntax? Or the sudden realization that this is a simple plot, presented complexly? Was it to understand that, though we're in the 3rd person, we're deeply in the head of our protagonist, Strether, a character who is almost uniquely unreliable in his inability to think things TO HIMSELF - a passiveness I've not yet encountered in reading? It was all of it, of course, and I suddenly began to swoon, and marvel, to root for characters, charmed by the subtle mysteries of this work. The ending is marvelous - and I suspect, if I go back and re-read, that that blasted beginning is marvelous too. 87 likes Like Comment Fergus, Quondam Happy Face 1,125 reviews 17.7k followers March 26, 2024 Come nearer, Odysseus, Flower of all Greek warriors, Bring your ship to rest, and hear our song. Our voices are as sweet as honey in the comb, And all things are known to us - all things that happened before Troy - And all things that shall come to pass upon the fruitful earth. - Homer, Odyssey, The Sirens’ Song. And the Sirens in the Aegean, for us, echo those of the serpent to Adam and Eve: “I will make you as gods among men,” at the foot of the Tree of Good & Evil. I have struggled to grasp the rationale that drives this book for nearly two years, and - now that I have - I see that it is a pivotal book for everyone attempting to grasp the raison d'etre of our chaotic times (that's the sole reason for my Full rating). It is simply the ethical malaise of our own postmodern hearts: the constant barrage of the Siren’s (or serpent’s) song. A good deal of this novel's milieu has a Parisian locale. That is no accident, as Paris was the venue of James' coming-out-of-the-closet, as is clearly evinced in the recent insightful book, Henry James in Paris, and I recommend it for your followup. Now, I'm fully hetero, but like all of us boomers who came of age in proximity to Flower Power, have fallen victim to its conditioning - its widespread line-blurring - to evolve into a guy of tolerant confusion. And that's the new normal. Further, there are Damoclean swords above us all to safeguard our bemusement. For James, therefore, it is an awakening. To many of us, it however must remain a typical Jamesian aporia. So this novel is not an unmitigated success. F.R. Leavis, as always, is right. Or was, once. But guess what? The lines EVERYWHERE now are blurred. That's what makes Misinformation successful. We 'moral majority' - now - are confused constantly. The devil is in the details, and we are swamped on all sides by details. That's why this book is a Must Read for literate people. James Taylor has recently written and performed a song about old age: and that’s the point we Boomers are advancing to now. And Taylor's advice is good - We've GOT to at least enjoy our aging experience as a downhill ride! And that's all Henry James is saying to us older folks. The wild call of the Sirens is endemic to our decaying Age - We may not like the way it’s dimming the lights of our civilisation - But we've GOTTA appreciate - at a distance, for a small moment - the fact that our own Ride Down is synchronized with the Transvaluation of all Values: And that we are called to be perhaps the last guardians of the Old Ways of grace in a new world where change is the name of the game, and where "Max Flex" is the slogan of the times... And that the tacit adaptability of our Faith can enable its survival. 80 likes Like Comment Helle 376 reviews 406 followers May 8, 2016 Henry James has taken circumlocution and obfuscation to new heights in this novel. I don’t often rate a book an ungenerous two stars, but this novel was in many ways an impossible book for me. I appreciate the architecture of James’s novel: the beauty of Paris as a backdrop for temporarily exiled Americans to meet and discover, or not, the underlying theme: ‘knowing how to live’. But I never felt the intended drama, or the sudden discovery of self, partly because I nearly drowned in James’s nebulous, impenetrable sentences which, while exuding a certain beauty, often defied understanding. Lambert Strether goes to Paris on behalf of Mrs. Newsome, who wants her son back in the fold in New England. Strether finds Chad Newsome in Paris, and he is, they all say, an altered man. He has discovered the moveable feast that the man of simpler prose called this great venue, and Strether feels a bit lost. Until he begins to feel the pull of Paris as well, and of the women residing there. This is basically the story. Will Chad go back? Will Strether? What will Mrs. Newsome do? What about Madame de Vionnet, the older French temptress, and the exiled American, Miss Gostrey, who is clearly interested in Strether? I value beautiful prose and don’t always believe in the simplicity of language that writers like Hemingway and King, albeit very different writers, are proponents of. However, there were convoluted sentences with embedded clauses, which had me going back to disentangle them to make any sense of the story. The writing, at times, seemed willfully obscure. Then there is the idiosyncratic placement of adverbs as well as an immense accumulation of adverbs, both in the novel as a whole and on sentence level, which I’m sorry to say simply annoyed me. To wit: She immensely wants herself to see our friend’s cousin. (…) that she would really perhaps after all have heard (…) He had had, vaguely, his view of the probability of her wishing to set something right, to deal in some way with the fraud so lately practiced on his presumed credibility. He perceived soon enough at least that, however reasonable she might be, she wasn’t vulgarly confused, and it herewith pressed upon him that their eminent ‘lie’, Chad’s and hers, was simply after all such an inevitable tribute to good taste as he couldn’t have wished them not to render. And conversations in which people said things like: ’Is she that deep?’ ‘Yes, I believe that she is.’ On which someone typically ponders thus: He thought about it serenely. Interestingly, the novel was Henry James’s own favourite. It is clearly the work of his mature period, and I can only say that I prefer him, then, at his more immature. This was the third time I approached the novel. I had seen the mixed ratings among my GR friends (from 2 to 5 stars) but approached the novel, seeing – as claimed on GR – that Forster had appreciated it. Well, someone has misread Forster. In his Aspects of the Novel , Forster says of this novel that James pursued the narrow path of aesthetic beauty (…) but at what sacrifice! Forster goes on to say that the characters are stingily constructed, show no carnality, have limited sensations and that James’s rigid plotting shuts the doors on life . This perhaps goes some way to explaining why I never felt the drama that the characters talk about. Reading the novel was a stubborn struggle to me, and the only thing that comforted me in my inability to appreciate it more was that a much missed friend here on GR, whose literary judgment I completely trusted and usually agreed with, had also rated it two stars. (I checked this when I began reading the novel the first time, at which time he was still here). So while I want to applaud James’s total and utter disbelief in more modern advice (though Hemingway was around the corner) to leave out anything superfluous and to deliberately go for the overwritten style, the story was lost to me in the fogs of oblique language rather than rendered crucial via clear and vibrant language. But it is a preference, and as Zadie Smith writes in her chapter about Forster in her essay collection: His own preference for simplicity he recognized for what it was, a preference, linked to a dream of mass connection. So I hope I do not deter anyone from reading this, but you might arm yourself with patience. Nor am I done with Henry James, but it’ll be his younger, briefer self I approach next time. 1001-books american classics 74 likes Like Comment Kinga 487 reviews 2,407 followers April 30, 2020 This book asks a lot from the reader and offers precious little in return. Of course, those who gave it five stars must disagree and think this frustrating word salad was all worth it. I could barely stand it. The neurotic prose, that seemed so unsure and self-conscious, constantly checking itself, in turn clarifying and contradicting, almost drove me to insanity. When James gave voice to his characters it hardly got better as everyone talked to each other in Sphinx-like riddles. Friends, I did want to like this book. The premise was excellent - puritanical New England meets flamboyant Paris. I promise you I’m not that lazy of a reader, but by the end of this novel I started doubting whether I could speak English or if I was even literate. An occasional insightful observation was sure to get lost in all that verbiage and when something did eventually occur I almost missed it altogether as I was having an out of body experience where my soul had vacated my earthly shell to go read something more riveting, like the phonebook of the Cieszyn county from 1985. This could've been a great novel - if only someone else had written it. And after struggling through seven million convoluted sentences that never had the decency to end when a well-behaved sentence should end, I was rewarded with a revelation that it is, in fact, in people’s nature to have sex. For a novel about an older man who realises he has never lived, may I direct you towards the Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. Please recommend novels about prim and proper Americans in Europe, but novels that are actually good. pub-1903 66 likes Like Comment David 192 reviews 576 followers July 18, 2013 It is important to remember that Henry James's later works (his "major phase") are very much the roots of "modern literature" (whatever that means), and should be read in the same way as Proust's A la recherche du temps perdu , Joyce's Ulysses , Woolf's The Waves and Mrs. Dalloway : which is to say: slowly savored. James himself was cognizant of this and admonished his readers to read only five pages a day (a challenge which I found impossible, but rather read in small-ish bits over each day). In Barthes's The Pleasure of the Text he advises (in reading "modern" texts as opposed to classical ones): "Read slowly, read all of a novel of Zola, and the book will drop from your hands; read fast, in snatches, some modern text, and it becomes opaque, inaccessible to your pleasure: you want something to happen and nothing does... the interstice of bliss, occurs in the volume of languages, in the uttering, no tin the sequence of utterances: not to devour, to gobble, but to graze, to browse scrupulously, to rediscover--" This is sound advise, suited perfectly to find pleasure in James's The Ambassadors - the master's, and my own, favorite of his works. There is a painstaking and almost painful subtlety to James's "major phase" (which is canonized in the present work, The Wings of the Dove and The Golden Bowl ), a subtlety which was growing in power in his Portrait of a Lady but is in full force in Ambassadors . The sentences alone, little labyrinths, make the work difficult to read quickly, and foils any attempts to do so pleasurably. The "Ambassador" is Lewis Lambert Strether, an American man from Woollett, a conventional but fictional Massachusetts town, where he is engaged to be married to the cold and absent figure, Mrs. Newsome. He is sent by Mrs. Newsome to Paris to retrieve her son, Chad, and recruit him to take charge of the family's mysterious manufacturing concern (the product is never mentioned outright, though it is alluded to as something insignificant but over which the Newsome's hold a monopoly). When Strether arrives in Paris he sees that Chad is happily engaged in a romantic relationship with an older woman, Mme. Vionnet. The character of Strether is really the height of James's art. (An art which usually centers on the innocence/corruption of the female psyche, most famously Isabel Archer, Milly Theale, Kate Croy, Daisy Miller, Turn of the Screw 's governess, etc.). In this work, James presents us, rather than a central heroine, a central man who is affected on all sides by a covey of women (this approach is foreshadowed in James's treatment of Merton Densher in Wings of the Dove ) The three powerful women which both charm and control him are: Maria Gostrey, Marie de Vionnet, and Mrs. Newsome; Strether's nuanced relationships with these women constitute the web and drama of James's masterpiece. Maria and Marie, two names very similar (derived from the Virgin Mary), play diametrically opposite roles for Strether, though he is enchanted by both women. To call Marie (Mme. de Vionnet) the story's "villain" is to misread the novel, and would be much too explicit for a work by James (she is the more nuanced, more subtle Mme. Merle, a la ). The "tension" of the novel, is the tension between those who "know" and those who do not "know" (namely Strether). Mme. de Vionnet is in the knowing camp, she deceives Strether and keeps him in the dark about the unvirtuous nature of her relationship with the young Chad. She is certainly in love with Chad, or with her situation, and is passionately at odds with his returning to America. But to paint her as a villain is too black a lacquer for her; she opposes Strether, but she does so with something like love for Chad. Maria is Strether's confidant, and Strether's growing affection for her makes his ultimate return to Mrs. Newsome that much more poignant to the reader. She represents the life that Strether could still have, as opposed to the one which he has now with Mrs. Newsome, and even opposed to that which he had with his son and wife before the died. She represents a freer life, one which has elements of European freedom of spirit, and also American values (honesty, etc.). When reading The Ambassadors I can't help but sympathize accutely with Ms. Gostrey. She is the book's closest thing to a Jamesian heroine, and Strether represents as much a salvation to her as she does to him. The cold and absent shadow of Mrs. Newsome is cast far over ever nook and crevice of the book. Though she is 3,000 miles away in Woollett, her presence is felt in every motion and futile rebellion of Strether abroad. While Mme. de Vionnet deceives Strether, it is Mrs. Newsome who controls him. She is haunting figure, and one cannot help but see her as Strether's gaoler, imprisoning what is naturally a vibrant optimism and fullness of life, to the state of servant. The whole of his life is given a thin veneer of meaning by his association with Mrs. Newsome, but to that point, his life has no meaning for himself: His name on the green cover, where he had put it for Mrs. Newsome, expressed him doubtless just enough to make the world— the world as distinguished, both for more and for less, from Woollett—ask who he was. He had incurred the ridicule of having to have his explanation explained. He was Lambert Strether because he was on the cover, whereas it should have been, for anything like glory, that he was on the cover because he was Lambert Strether. He values himself insofar as he is known for editting a small publication in Woollett - a post which he has not earned through merit, but by his amorous association with Mrs. Newsome. Furthermore, his errand for Mrs. Newsome to Europe has the salty taste of a business transaction, even moreso when she sends her daughter to check on his progress and efforts. Their relationship is so coldly economic, it is almost horrifying to imagine a man as potent and vibrant as Strether (as seen in his speech to Little Bilham) married to such a domineering woman, who treats Strether like an account to be settled rather than a fiance. Though the story is relayed exclusively from Strethers point of view, Mrs. Newsome is never referred to by her first name. The petit mort of Portrait of a Lady , wherein Isabel returns to Osmond, is often rallied against, but the Strether's return to Mrs. Newsome, to me, seems as horrible. We may hate Osmond and Mme. Merle for betraying Isabel's innocence, but she remains a strong figure; we must hate with equal, or increased, vigor Mrs. Newsome, who stifles the chance of happiness for Strether, which he is so expressly aware of, which he knows full well are within his grasp, which he urges upon Little Bilham, upon Chad. usa 58 likes Like Comment Axl Oswaldo 375 reviews 217 followers January 20, 2024 Modern Library 100 Best Novels (27/100) " 'Mr. Lewis Lambert Strether’ ”—she sounded it almost as freely as for any stranger. She repeated however that she liked it—“particularly the Lewis Lambert. It’s the name of a novel of Balzac’s.” “Oh I know that!” said Strether. “But the novel’s an awfully bad one.” “I know that too,” Strether smiled. --- Some spoilers below: For some reason I felt the need to talk about the ending of the book, so I'm literally telling you how this novel ends in order for me to express my thoughts afterwards. Feel free to read that part of my review—the penultimate paragraph—regardless, and thank you for understanding. I'm quite sure we don't find books that change our life every single day—probably that would be insane—but when it happens, you already know that that book will be with you forever, that you won't be the same person you were before reading it. It is a big change, it is a whole thing for you to think of, as if you were about to start like a new chapter in your life. Well, I guess The Ambassadors is that book for me. I remember when I started my Jamesian journey back in 2020, and now here we are, having finished the final 'trilogy' by one of my all-time favorite writers: The Wings of the Dove , The Golden Bowl , and of course, The Ambassadors . Trilogy perhaps is not the right way to call them, since every book has its own independent storyline and therefore that story has nothing to do with the other two, but when it comes to James and his last works, I think it is rather useful to identify those that are very similar in terms of the prose and the topics, just like these three books are in particular, and to remember that a slow reading should be the best way for you to really enjoy them. The Ambassadors is not an easy read, even I would say it was the most confusing, ambiguous, complex and not-to-the-point novel by James I have read so far—along with The Golden Bowl —yet it was so profound and beautifully written that I almost felt as if the author were having a real conversation with me while I read it. Since I'm used to reading his novels and his style of writing, it was not as challenging as some of my previous reading experiences such as The Golden Bowl or The Beast in the Jungle , however, I would never recommend this novel to anyone, not even to someone who enjoyed reading his previous works. This novel introduces one of the most interesting Jamesian characters I have found thus far: Lambert Strether, a widower who is arriving in Europe from the States, has the purpose to rescue his son in-law Chad who is living a new, probably crazy life in Paris, and bring him back home, since Mrs. Newsome, Strether’s future wife, has asked him to do so. That's the storyline, by the way, a few lines and I have said what this book is entirely about. Perhaps, at the end of the day, this novel is not impressive because of the plot, but because of the way it is written; I know, ambiguity is always a main characteristic of any James' books, and The Ambassadors is not an exception. The more you read the book, the more you want to put it aside, which is a normal scenario (it might happen to everyone, in my view), but, on the other hand, if you are really into it, if the book is telling you something quite meaningful, remarkable, let's say, showing you a new perspective of life—just as my experience was—in the end you'll be able to love it, that's for sure. Strether's life before meeting Chad in Paris used to be simple, perhaps a little monotonous, and at one moment way back when he was younger, really sad and heartbreaking, but after that meeting, he started to feel young again, somehow he managed to be free, so to speak. 'Free? Free from what?' You might ask; well, basically now he is free from himself, free from anything which hindered his own life to success. As we know, it is a whole process to realize where you are in life at one precise moment, if you are heading in the right direction or perhaps losing your way—which is, in my experience, a good thing sometimes—and what you want to do about it. Therefore, Strether's story taught me two very important things: firstly, it's never too late to start living and enjoying your own life, maybe a new life, and secondly, that I don't want to wait one more minute to keep living mine. I am 26—almost 27 in a few days, holy cow!—and Strether is twice my age, but I know nevertheless I have lived many things that have shaped the person who I am right now, and I also know people are always learning new stuff, that people are always living new experiences that make them question 'who am I?,' 'who do I want to become?,' 'where will I be, let's say, in 10, 20, 30 years?,' and so on and so forth, but here is the thing, if I dreaded something while reading this book was the fact that I don't want to turn Strether's age and to say 'I don't even know who I am'. Better late than never, so people say, but what if you start working on it now, not tomorrow, but today? Perhaps the way Strether's story somehow changed me as a person, at this stage of my life, is unexpected and even inexplicable to me, yet quite remarkable, and eventually I prefer to figure it out on my own – I do remember there were many thoughts in my head while I was reading the novel, which, as I said, is not something that happened to me before, or at least not in the same way, not at the same level either. Never—perhaps I'm too dramatic saying this in this way—never before had a book made me feel what The Ambassadors made me feel when I read it, and yet I can't even explain how such a thing had an impact on me, this connection, this feeling... sorry but I can't (and if I could, I would rather keep it a secret than share it with everyone). The ending of the novel was really vague and something that only Henry James could have written: Strether coming back home and not staying in Paris – why is he coming back?! What does it mean? When I read that part I got confused and I started overthinking the whole scene, perhaps trying to make out what the author wanted to say here. After a few days, I went back, I read the last two chapters again, and perhaps this time I got a conclusion (needless to say it is my conclusion but probably not the most accurate): Strether is coming back Massachusetts, not because he didn't learn anything during his visit to Chad in Paris, but because he wanted to live his new life in the place where he grew up, the place where everything began, so to speak, although this time as a new man and with a different attitude; that person is not the same Strether who arrived in London in the first chapter, but a completely different Strether, a much better version of himself, in my opinion (if this is not a coming-of-age novel, then I don't know what is). Finally, I'd like to finish my 'review' by saying The Ambassadors is a novel which you have to read not only once in your life, but as many times as possible—as long as you enjoyed your first reading experience—and that's what I'm planning to do in the distant future – I can almost tell that picking it up again will have to be hugely rewarding. Here, for instance, I'm sharing only one of my favorite quotes with you, and probably the most important lines for me when reading the novel a couple of weeks ago: “ Of course I’m youth —youth for the trip to Europe. I began to be young, or at least to get the benefit of it, the moment I met you at Chester, and that’s what has been taking place ever since. I never had the benefit at the proper time—which comes to saying that I never had the thing itself. I’m having the benefit at this moment; I had it the other day when I said to Chad ‘Wait’; I shall have it still again when Sarah Pocock arrives. It’s a benefit that would make a poor show for many people; and I don’t know who else but you and I, frankly, could begin to see in it what I feel. I don’t get drunk; I don’t pursue the ladies; I don’t spend money; I don’t even write sonnets. But nevertheless I’m making up late for what I didn’t have early. I cultivate my little benefit in my own little way. It amuses me more than anything that has happened to me in all my life. They may say what they like—it’s my surrender, it’s my tribute, to youth. One puts that in where one can—it has to come in somewhere, if only out of the lives, the conditions, the feelings of other persons. Chad gives me the sense of it, for all his grey hairs, which merely make it solid in him and safe and serene; and she does the same, for all her being older than he, for all her marriageable daughter, her separated husband, her agitated history. Though they’re young enough, my pair, I don’t say they’re, in the freshest way, their own absolutely prime adolescence; for that has nothing to do with it. The point is that they’re mine. Yes, they’re my youth; since somehow at the right time nothing else ever was. What I meant just now therefore is that it would all go—go before doing its work—if they were to fail me.” 5-star-books favorites modern-library-top-100 ...more 57 likes Like Comment David 865 reviews 1,485 followers June 29, 2009 “The Ambassadors”, by Henry James This is Daisy Fuentes Miller, reporting to you live from the set of MTV’s “Real World Gay Paree”. Six strangers, from totally different backgrounds, thrown together, forced to live under the merciless glare of the Hankcam, which documents their every move for posterity. Let’s see what happens when the gloves come off, and things get real. Strether: Hi. I’m Strether. I’m engaged to Chad’s mom. She’s pissed at him, and sent me over to bring him back to Connecticut to run the family business. Paree sure seems like an awesome party town. Chad: This is the Chadster. I don’t wanna go back to Connecticut. I’m dating this totally hot older lady. Who’s a countess. She’s been giving me some private life coaching lessons. If you know what I mean. Countess: ‘allo. Zis is Marie. you can call me Countess Cougar. Sacre bleu, but you American boys are fine! Strether: Damn, that countess is one hot MILF. Chad – no rush about going home. We should just hang out here in Paris and par-tay! 6 weeks later: Sarah: This is Sarah, Chad’s older sister. What the f*** is going on here? Strether, you’ve been over six weeks already. Mother sent me over. She wants you both to haul ass back to Connecticut, pronto. (You can ignore my fat philistine slob of a husband, Jim. He’s only here to provide a cheap diversion as a lazy stereotype and adds nothing to the plot) Chad: Chill, sis. This is my girlfriend Marie. Ain’t she smokin? Did I mention she’s a countess? Sarah: Filthy French slut! Chad, Mother expects you to do your duty. Strether: Dude, don’t go! It’s a trap. Sarah: You be quiet! And you can forget about marrying Mother. Which means you’ll die lonely and poor. Strether: Bite me. Your mother always was one uptight bitch, anyway. I’ll just stay on here. Maybe catch a little menage-a-trois action with Chad and the Countess. Chad : Not gonna happen, dude! Sis, tell Mom to take the job and shove it. I’m having too much fun tapping aristocratic ass here in Paree. Screw Connecticut. 2 weeks later, Strether, alone in the confessional room: So Sarah and Jim are on the way back home, with no hanging Chad. My life is totally screwed up. But at least I can be happy about getting Chad to do the right thing, to avoid the money trap, and to choose life! 2 weeks later, Chad, alone in the confessional room, very drunk: You know, I’ve always thought that advertising was where the future is at..... And, there's no two ways about it, Marie's boobs have definitely been showing some major saggage .... Operator! Get me the number for the Cunard line, please. Fade, to the sound of Strether whimpering pathetically, off-camera. (Marie, of course, goes on to star in the breakout Bravo series, “Real Housewives of the 4th arrondissment”). ******************************************** OK, I'll come clean and admit that I’ve had a definite prejudice against Henry James for as long as I can remember. But reading Colm Toibin’s “The Master” last month made me think I should give him another try. “The Ambassadors” certainly confirmed my belief in the brilliance of Toibin’s accomplishment. It also changed my opinion of James – though I doubt I’ll ever achieve fanboy status, it was a far more interesting read than I had anticipated. In “The Master”, Toibin gives us a portrait of James in mid-career, focusing on the period between 1895 and 1900. It’s eerily well done – it’s almost as if he were channeling the spirit of James. Although Toibin is an avowed fan, his depiction of the author seems scrupulously honest and right on the mark. The picture of Henry that emerges is not entirely flattering – that of someone who is fascinated by the workings of the very privileged segment of society into which he was born, with a keen, almost obsessive, eye for the subtleties and complexities of the relationships among the various players, and the talent, determination (and free time) to document it in his writing. Even if that came at a certain emotional cost. In James’s case, that cost appears to have been an inability (or unwillingness) to form truly deep emotional attachments. There seems to have been a pattern of his withdrawing emotionally whenever another person threatened to come too close. This was a man who lived far too much of his life in his own head. It shows in the writing, of course. Every detail of every character’s action, no matter how minor, is picked apart and analyzed. Characters are presented as being engaged in endless analysis and speculation about how to interpret the actions and motives of others. And if it takes a page and a half to pin down the precise nuance of A’s reaction to a casual snub by B, then so be it – James always assumes that the reader has both the time and interest to stay with him. The odd thing is that, although this can be a little offputting at the beginning, ultimately it becomes kind of hypnotic. He is so clearly fascinated by the inner world of his characters that he ultimately draws you in. The plot of “The Ambassadors” is wafer-thin. But the author’s focus on the psychology of his characters is so intense (and so believable) that one is motivated to keep on reading. This was not a dull book. Much is made of Henry James’s style, and I just don’t get it. This is a man who never met a subordinate clause he didn’t like, with a definite preference for the baroque. Hemingway he’s not. But his penchant for convoluted sentences means that he’s not particularly easy to read. On any given page, there is likely to be at least one sentence that you will have to read three times over, and still not be sure you understand what he was trying to say. (He has a way of nesting negative particles in his various subordinate clauses that is particularly evil – I’d find myself counting them on my fingers, trying to figure things out). Stylistically, the writer he reminds me most of is Thomas Mann, who also had a penchant for long, complicated sentences. At least James wasn’t writing in German, so there is a limit to how convoluted things get. Personally, I don’t consider opacity to be a virtue. YMMV. A book that was far more interesting than I had anticipated, and which definitely changed my mind about Henry James. read-in-2009 51 likes Like Comment BAM can’t even go to the gym without going to the ER 1,962 reviews 431 followers August 24, 2019 Catching up with the classics # 20 I️ am not a fan, but I️ WILL finish I hate this book. I'm never going to finish this For god sake! I read this entire book with the main male character, Strether, making everything his business, for him only at the end to say that that none of it his his business. WTH was this book about then, James????? You must have been paid by the prepositional phrase! And had no editor to tell you that most of your novel was extraneous. I finally threw up my hands when you wrote the "want to want to" conversation. REALLY?!?!? I took the time to read this and that is how it fucking ends???? Really, Strether?!?! What a dude! 1000-before-death books-that-sucked-ass classic-literature ...more 47 likes Like Comment Katia N 620 reviews 839 followers May 6, 2020 If I've figured the one thing about this novel for certain, that it is not a realistic novel. At least not in the sense of the 19th century. The people populating it are not real. Lets take the main character Lewis Lambert Strether (even the name is ridiculous). He arrives to Paris from Woollett, Massachusetts to fetch Chad, the son of his fiancé and the heir of a manufacturing empire on her request. He appears at the same time the man of great imagination and fantastically perceptive man at that. He manages to read the romantic intention of a young girl by watching her for a few minutes standing on the balcony. At the same time, he misses something which is dead obvious in other romantic relationship he is in charge to actually break. Lets take Chad, his charge. That man, we are told, has greatly improved in Europe, has become refined and “beautiful”. But he acts as an infantile and not very bright moron. And I am not even talking about a bunch of very strong-willed, but weirdly disoriented women cast (that is apart from the ones from Whoollett). So in short, the characters can be both: perceptive and simpleminded, daft and refined, free-will and puritanic. Such characters do not exit in realism, but they do in modernism and even in post-modernism. So, this book, I think is just a game for James. He cannot be bothered with realism or true psychological depth when he plays his comedy. It is also made obvious with the famous question: what is that the manufacturing empire producing? The multiple generation of the readers keep guessing until now. He has teased people with that somewhere at the beginning of the novel. But I seriously doubt James knows himself. That is not the point. And I guess, if one would not share his sardonic, slightly evil sense of humour, this book might become a torture. I found the dialogues very funny. The blanks in them, the repetitions, the expletives. It is difficult to convey what i mean without a huge quote. But for example, the use and overuse of the words like “wonderful”, “beautiful” “deep” (in the context of a person) or sharp (in the context of the situation) might indicate the narrowness of James’s sensual vocabulary. We know it could not be further from the case. Some people would be irritated. But it made me smile - again someone else is being wonderful! Is it the first novel addressing middle-life crisis? I’ve read somewhere that the term has not been coined until the 60s of the 20th century. But our lovely Strether has come to Paris to experience it and he jolly well does. I do not know whether it sounded revolutionary in 1904. Many people, especially of a male gender come to a certain age and try to regain whatever was missed earlier, often in a romantic sphere. It is described poignantly here but again the situations constantly border the comic ones: he “relapsed into the sense- which had for him in these days most of the comfort - that he was free to believe in anything that from hour to hour kept him going.” It is a great sentence, isn’t it? On the one level, it is a perfect life philosophy. On the other, it is simple wishful thinking. So, it depends on the user very much. Sometimes i felt that while writing James was not quite sure where he was going to end with all of this. And that let me down somewhat as I was primed on suspense and psychological depth of his short stories. I expected the powerful twist at the end. It has come. But the power of it was actually in the banality of the revelation. Was it James’s strength on this occasion? I am not sure. But I think what was definitely very strong in the novel was leaving a lot of open possibilities at the very end. Since I came up with my perceived “what happened next”, I’ve read very different perceived ends from the others. And this is what I appreciate the most in the novels. And now, the sentences. One certainly need to work on them. Though after the first 20 pages or so it is becoming much easier. Some of them are truly beautiful as only a language can be: This one is about Paris: “the vast bright Babylon. like some huge iridescent object, a jewel brilliant and hard, in which parts were not be discriminated nor differences comfortably marked. It twinkled and trembled and melted together, and what seemed all surface one moment seemed all depth the next.” In general, the sense of place in the book is magic. And not all of them are so long. This one is almost Joycean: “He only glowered grandly at the tops of the old gables.” But some of the sentences, while deciphered individually, do not come to much in terms of meaning. I guess it is not always the point. The idea has come to me quite late in the book to listen to it on audio. And yes, it is great. These sentences flow audibly with all musicality of the language. And the dialogues stood out as well. I might listen to the whole book one day. I am new to James. I liked this novel a lot. But it did not beat for me “Aspern papers” and other stories in the only other book by him I’ve read before so far The Aspern Papers and Other Tales . Those were “deeper” using the one of James’s favourite words in this book. This novel is clearly not for everyone. But it could very entertaining for the right sort of a reader. 40 likes Like Comment Elizabeth Urello 79 reviews 6 followers August 30, 2016 I’m sure Henry James is a genius and all, but untangling his prose is like trying to talk to a verbose, over-educated person who’s drunk off his ass but refuses to pass out. For example, he might start off with “The effect of the man’s speech was as if he were a tippler who…” then meanders here, there, and over there to the other bar, and then wanders back toward you, but veering off at the last second, borrows several drinks (by which I mean to imply words) off surrounding tables (by which I mean, words that ought to belong to other sentences entirely), and then, seeing the end of the sentence approaching (which, by continuation of our metaphor, would be meant to suggest the end of the night, or bed, or the end of drinking festivities, which drunk would prefer at all accounts to avoid and so stalls to keep off at a distance), he throws any number of adverbs, barstools, prepositions, gerunds and the like in between himself and that end, and once you are fully convinced he has lost all sight of his aim in telling you the original anecdote he had introduced, he sometimes arrives back at that point, but other times, he does not, and if you were to map his meanderings, it would take a smarter person than most readers nowadays to derive any sense from it, and at that point, the other woman whirled right out of the room, and the first, though not affected by the same thing to the same degree of the latter, or rather, it was the same thing, but she did not derive from it the same intent, but was nevertheless affected in a different way of her own, said, “My word, what a lot of…” but then hung fire. So, that’s what reading The Ambassadors is like all the way through. The other problem with the book is that it was written in a time when Americans had a hard time believing anybody on Earth was actually fucking, since nobody in America was. The premise of the book is that the narrator has been sent to bring back his fiancé’s son, who is having an illicit affair with a married (she’s permanently separated from her abusive husband) woman in Paris, but when he gets there, he really likes the woman and he really likes Paris, and he really likes the son more than he did before, and so he decides the son might be better off there. But he convinces himself (somewhat) that maybe the son’s relationship with the married woman isn’t technically sexual, and then (spoiler alert…?) at the end, he has this big realization when he can’t pretend anymore that it isn’t. Except, being a modern young woman, I didn’t get that AT ALL, and read the whole thing assuming that he knew they were a full-fledged couple, but that he didn’t, in these particular circumstances, think it was immoral. So then, when his grand realization came, I was all, “Oh, wait, hold on. This was a thing? Oh, I guess it was THE thing. Where have I been?” JUST SAY WHAT YOU MEAN, HENRY JAMES!! Actually, this is a really hilarious novel when looked at in hindsight, but as you’re thwacking through the jungle of it, it’s pretty tiresome, and also, I think I am far too stupid to understand this book. novels 35 likes 1 comment Like Comment AC 1,831 reviews June 9, 2015 I have been reading quite a bit of James. Last year, I audio’d The Bostonians and Washington Square. I read The Aspen Papers, reread Beast in the Jungle, and read Turn of the Screw (which I disliked -- found it excruciating). And then this spring read a large collection of James’ stories (ed. Fadiman), then Wings of the Dove, and now The Ambassadors. I love the late James... Even though these books are long, and there is a certain degree of artificiality in the dialogue (much worse in Dove; much more economical in The Ambassadors), these two late novels represent a form of psychological thriller, the patient unraveling, layer by layer, of the inner drives (and narrative outcomes) of some remarkably rich characters. Kate Croy…, Strether…, Madame de Vionnet – all remarkable, and none more so than the latter two. It is shocking to find James creating a female character that one actually has the hots for! (And Maria Gostrey is a close second…!!). And Strethers… what a character HE is…! I am surprised at the ambivalence about this book. It is an absolute masterpiece, in my opinion. I found nothing flabby or any excess in Ambassadors – while it is a slow and patient read – it is nearly perfection. The one thing I would add – that makes the Ambassadors a bit difficult -- is that it is NOT (as Dorothea Krook correctly saw) actually a tragedy (as one expects from James). It is utterly tragic AND utterly comic… and it is not until the very end that one sees precisely how. I’ll have to rest now from my James feast, and leave the Golden Bowl for a future repast, while I catch my breath. henry-james 33 likes Like Comment James 1,312 reviews 42 followers March 12, 2020 American man overthinks in Paris. 30 likes Like Comment Kansas 668 reviews 353 followers January 7, 2024 https://kansasbooks.blogspot.com/2023... "Leyó las cartas una tras otra y despacio, guardándose las demás en el bolsillo, pero dejándolas antes un buen rato en el regazo. Las dejaba allí, abstraído en sus pensamientos, como para prolongar la presencia de lo que le proporcionaban; o como si al menos le garantizaran su parte en la construcción de cierta lucidez." Mientras leía esta novela llegué a preguntarme si el mundo que retrata Henry James tendría algún sentido hoy en día, porque era un mundo en el que la gente se tomaba todo el tiempo del mundo en releer una carta, darle una vuelta, y otra, guardarla, y volver a releerla mientras esperaba la siguiente, o se preparaba para responderla y durante esos espacios de tiempo entre una carta y otra, la vida continuaba, hasta que esta rutina volvía a detenerse con la llegada de una nueva epístola. Todo esto ha sido sustituido hoy en día por los mensajes instantáneos, que se leen, masivamente a medida que nos van llegando, y al momento ya han sido olvidados. En el mundo epistolar jamesiano por llamarlo de alguna forma, estas cartas son las que construyen la atmósfera de lo que ocurre en la cabeza de su receptor, : “Después de cerrar la puerta cogió las numerosas hojas sueltas de su carta inacabada, y luego, sin volver a leerlas, las rompió en trozos pequeños.” . Y por supuesto una carta concreta determinaba las acciones de más de un personaje sin que el emisor estuviera fisicamente presente en ningún momento durante la novela, y sin embargo, resulta tan concluyente para elaborar esta atmósfera jamesiana, que realmente te hace ser consciente de todo lo que se ha perdido a la hora de poder comunicarnos: esos tiempos y esa anticipación de lo incierto y que aquí consigue transmitir tan bien Henry James. Durante "Los Embajadores", el protagonista, Lambert Strether recibe las cartas de la señora Newsome , un personaje femenino totalmente presente en la novela solo a través de sus cartas, la gracia está en que Henry James no se preocupa en transcribir estas cartas ¿para qué?, lo importante estará en cómo influirá en las acciones de su receptor a través de la narración de Henry James. “Era la diferencia, la diferencia de estar justo donde estaba y cómo estaba, lo que constituía la evasión: una diferencia que era mucho mayor de lo que había soñado, y lo que por fin se sentó a meditar allí fue la extraña lógica de sentirse tan libre.“ De todas formas, Los Embajadores no es para nada una novela epistolar, igual me he perdido por los Cerros de Úbeda y si he empezado a hablando de las cartas, es porque asientan una buena base del argumento de esta novela, que creo, que ya se ha convertido en mi novela favorita de Henry James. No es una novela epistolar, realmente es una novela sobre el choque de culturas entre gente que tiene un pie en Europa y otro en Estados Unidos, como venía siendo habitual en el mundo jamesiano, esa fascinación por el viejo mundo de Henry James, que realmente no era tan viejo en su concepción, sino que para él Europa era una especie de liberación en contraposición al puritanismo americano, y en este novela, se hace continuamente patente esta liberación desde el momento en que su protagonista Lambert Strether llega a Europa, primero a Chester, Inglaterra, para posteriormente llegar a su destino, París. Lambert es un americano de Woollet, Massachusetts que acude en una misión orquestada por la que se podría convertir en su futura esposa, la señora Newsome. La señora Newsome convierte a Latham en una especie de embajador con instrucciones pertinentes de traerse a su hijo de vuelta para que se haga cargo del bollante negocio familiar y deje a esa mujer de dudosa reputación que ha conocido en París; de esta misión dependerá también si el futuro de Lambert seguirá ligado al de ella… ¿una prueba de fuego por la que tendrá que pasar Lambert?? “... le había procurado la conciencia de una libertad personal que no conocía desde hacía años; una muestra tan profunda del cambio, y por encima de todo de la falta de la obligación de preocuparse por nada ni por nadie..." Esta misión “diplomática” sin embargo se verá trastornada desde el momento en que Lambert empieza a caer bajo el hechizo de París, que podría ser para él una metáfora de la liberación. Poco a poco y gradualmente desde el momento en que llega a París comenzará a establecer comparaciones con su vida en Woollett y a partir de aquí, su mente parece que se verá en un conflicto continuo entre la imagen preconcebida y llena de prejuicios que había tenido de la vida en Paris, en contraposición al encorsetamiento del lugar de donde proviene, Woollet: que es un simbolo de la cerrazón y el provincialismo local de los Estados Unidos. Nada más llegar a Europa, Lambert conoce a Maria Gosfrey americana afincada en Europa, que se convertirá en una especie de guía y confidente: "- Bueno, prometo no volver a dejarle, pero lo único que haré será seguirle. Ya tiene usted empuje suficiente para andar solo." , y que será la prueba de que es una americana que ha podido huir de ese provincialismo americano. Maria Gosfrey es la antitesís a esa cultura americana de mujeres puritanas y chismosas que Lambert había conocido en Woollet, y a partir de ese momento y gracias a ella, se encuentra cuestionando el mundo del que viene y estableciendo comparaciones continuas. Lambert comprobará que Chad no se ha denigrado en Paris, sino todo lo contrario, se ha refinado y liberado, un reconocimiento que le hará entrar en conflicto interno con las instrucciones en forma de cartas que le van llegando de parte de su madre, la señora Newsome. “Él se alegraba muchísimo de verla, y le expreso con franqueza lo más importante que ella le había enseñado: que era posible vivir años sin sospechar la existencia de algo beneficioso, pero que descubrirlo por fin equivalía a necesitarlo o a echarlo de menos para siempre. Ella era ese gran beneficio que ahora se le había hecho necesario, y ¿qué mejor prueba que lo perdido que había estado en su ausencia?" A lo largo de esta novela, Lambert pasa de ser un puritano y estrecho de miras a un hombre de mentalidad cada vez más abierta y sus reflexiones al respecto son apabullantes en el sentido de que es consciente por primera vez de que nunca había actuado por propia voluntad ni siquiera había tenido confianza en sí mismo. Las instrucciones de la señora Newsome son cada vez más cuestionadas por su parte, hasta el punto de que la estabilidad de un futuro con ella peligre y en este aspecto quizá lo más impactante es la forma que tiene Henry James de conducirnos a través de este cambio interior en Lambert Strether usando una voz narrativa que debió ser un referente en aquella época, porque aunque tengamos la impresión de que la novela está contada en primera persona, realmente es un narrador onmisciente el que nos está conduciendo a través de la trama, y esa impresión de que puede ser una voz en primera persona viene por el hecho de que este narrador ominisciente casi nunca se desvía del punto de vista de Lambert. Es un narrador omnisciente que nunca abandona Lambert, habla en tercera persona pero solo sabemos lo que sabe Latham, así que el lector tendrá que unir ciertas piezas que no es capaz de unir Lambert en el momento en que van ocurriendo. Es una forma prodigiosa de mantener el suspense, de mantener el climax por parte de Henry James y en este aspecto quizás lo más desfiante de esta narración es que somos conscientes de que la fiabilidad de Lambert puede estar en entredicho, por eso a su vez crea un personaje como el de Maria Gosfrey, que podría ser la luz o la amiga del lector a su vez, para que vaya aclarando la confusión en la que está sumido Lambert: "Habría equivalido a contarle demasiado de sí mismo y en ese momento era precisamente de sí mismo de quién estaba intentando escapar." Es una técnica narrativa yo diría que muy arriesgada para la época porque convierte esta novela en un texto muy moderno, muy avanzado, con información que puede resultar vaga pero el motivo está en este narrador omnisciente que nos transmite una información limitada casi exclusivamente a la percepción de Lambert porque aunque su punto de vista sea el predominante, no siempre es el correcto sobre todo en su fiabilidad a la hora de expresar las emociones de Lambert Strether… de esta forma Henry James convierte al lector en participante muy activo porque cada lector percibirá algo diferente a medida que el texto evoluciona. "Tenía la sensación de que era allí, delante de él, cerca de él, una de esas raras mujeres de las que a menudo había oído hablar, o sobre las que había leído, o en las que había pensado, pero que nunca había conocido, cuya sola presencia, aspecto, voz, el hecho mismo de su ser desde el momento en que se hacían presentes producían una relación de simple reconocimiento." El ritmo de esta novela es lento, sutil y apenas hay acción salvo la que bulle en la mente de Lambert Strether, pero ya sabemos que en las novelas de Henry James la mente es pura acción que no para a la hora de elucubrar, sobrepensar y establecer teorías antes de que ocurran los hechos, es la anticipación de la acción en la que Henry James era un maestro. Hacia mucho tiempo que no leía a Henry James y casi se me había olvidado el arte que tenía a la hora de sumergirnos en las reflexiones de sus personajes y en esta novela, riza el rizo a la hora de enfrentarnos a un personaje en continuo cambio. Es una novela mucho más compleja y que trata muchos más temas de los que he sido capaz de establecer en esta reseña, pero me quedo con la manera en que Henry James, casi sin llamar la atención trata temas que en su época debieron escocer como por ejemplo la manera en la que deconstruye las definiciones tradicionales de matrimonio, las ramificaciones en torno a sus intereses porque en esta novela los hombres también se beneficiaban económicamente a la hora de casarse, y había mujeres, tal como comprueba Lambert al llegar a París, que primaban la independencia por encima de estos intereses económicos. Finalmente Los Embajadores tiene un tono de comedia negra soterrada en la que la fínisima ironía de Henry James se carcajea entre lineas de muchos temas que en la época en la que novela fue publicada debieron ser tabú. Finísima novela. "La señorita Gostrey tuvo que pensar cómo expresarlo. - Bueno, yo soy imposible. Es imposible. Todo es imposible. La miró un instante. - Veo dónde quiere ir a parar. Todo es posible." ♫♫♫ "That Leaving Feeling" - Stuart Staples & Lhasa ♫♫♫ 2023 los-americanos 29 likes 5 comments Like Comment Gary Inbinder Author 8 books 179 followers February 6, 2017 Lambert Strether, the needy editor of a little New England literary magazine, is sent to Paris by his patroness, wealthy Mrs. Newsome. His mission as "ambassador" or emissary for the Newsome family is to fetch the wayward heir Chad and return him to the USA to work in the family business. Strether's presumed reward upon successful completion of his mission, would be marriage to his rich patroness. During a stopover in England, Strether meets Maria Gostrey who acts as a guide for the innocent American about to confront the strange ways of Europe. However, once in Paris other guides emerge, including Chad's expat artist friend, Little Bilham and a sophisticated French woman, Chad's mistress. Strether soon falls under the spell of Paris and his charming new companions. In fact, Chad and company play Strether the way Heifetz played the violin, but Strether is a more than willing "victim". As he says to Little Bilham, "Live all you can; it's a mistake not to." Strether having failed in his mission, Mrs. Newsome arrives with ambassadorial family in tow to ratchet up pressure on delinquent Chad. A masterpiece of James's late period, it's the sort of book readers either love or hate. There's no middle ground with an uncompromising artist like Henry James. SPOILER ALERT: In the end, Chad decides to return to the USA and go into business. What is it that convinces Chad to abandon Paris and all its culture, sophistication and old world charm? The modern American art and science of advertising! Priceless. THE WOOLLETT MASS. MYSTERY: What do the Newsome's manufacture in Woollett? Clue: it's small, and no one seemed to want to say exactly what it was. Many guesses as to the nature of this mysterious product have been made since the book was first published. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review american-literature british-literature 25 likes Like Comment Genia Lukin 234 reviews 194 followers October 16, 2011 That's it. I must accept this. I am chronically unable to understand what he's actually saying. It's as though he is writing in a language I haven't studied; some sort of pidgin that throws in a few words of English here and there. I freely admit defeat, and add James-lexia to my store of Kafkaphobia and Joyce-pathia. classics 26 likes Like Comment Alan Author 6 books 333 followers April 24, 2021 I read this in college, in a seminar on Dickens and James with Prof G Armour Craig (later interim Pres of Amherst College). I know I wrote one of my best papers on this novel, culminating in revelations at the ending: of course, Jamesian narrators are very surprised by sophisticated European affairs that more naive Americans are drawn into. Their "education" may include moral torment, as here, little Bilham, "But being in love isn't, here, thought necessary, in strictness, for marriage" (169, Norton Critical). Once home, I shall find my copy and look for my notes, to fill out a review. I still haven't found my copy of the novel, though I did locate my essay on it for Armour Craig's Eng 68, AmColl '65, which I dust off and--beware--publish. Start with some quotations, "Was it after all a joke that he should be serious about anything?" (124, dif ed). There was "simply a lie in the charming affair"(311). "'Ah prepare while you're about it,' said Strether,"to be more amusing.'Well, you are amusing--to me.' 'Impayable, as you say, no doubt,'But what am I to myself?'"(132) In my college essay, "James's education for Strether I suppose to work from a seriousness to an appreciation of art in human [French] terms, to a final, higher seriousness, the seriousness of personal core beyond art, known through revealing intimacy." "The critical problem with this novel focuses in the ending. I take the ending to be meant as 'serious,' a high American magnanimity manifested in final self-sacrifice. What Strether has learned is sufficient for his deepest happiness. But I think this is contrived. James ends the novel so completely that Strether is going back to a world which can in no way be seen in the novel; it is an 'other' world. 'Yes, he goes back other, and to other things," James says in his project for the novel. Strether has been offered the opportunity to live, but he sacrifices it 'to be right.' "Not, out of the whole affair, to have got anything for myself" (last page) sums American generosity as HJ saw it. The woman he abandons points out, "but with your wonderful impressions you'll have got a great deal." Yes, for a novelist, for H James, who fills his novel with impressions, vision and double-vision. Strether sacrifices for no alternative; he is gaining nothing but an escape from the world he has rejected. His education is a joke; he has learned that he is 'grey,' but he chooses to become even greyer. It is a joke that James's highest seriousness fails to open Strehter's path to intimacy." Oh, as for this edition I did not use in 1965, edited by Harry Levin, I once had a great discussion with him over lunch at the Shakespeare Association of America, or possibly the RSA. We happened to sit next each other at a round table for eight. I had quoted, depended on Levin as a T.A. in a Minnesota Joyce courses, as well as for my knowledge of comparative lit, and I had recently heard his fine talk on Shakespeare and certain other classics. But at the table we largely discussed my Amherst Coll Shakespeare prof, Theodore Baird, who had invented a great Freshman Writing course, he and my own freshman teacher, Armour Craig. On leave from Amherst, Craig had taught a Harvard novel course though his Ph.D. there had been in 17C lit. Baird was a renegade from Harvard, doubted its teaching of writing and sometimes its scholarly writing, too. Baird had been a student of Kittredge's, and always joked about his often dreaming of examinations: "Sometimes I do very well." american-lit 24 likes Like Comment Daniel Villines 420 reviews 73 followers May 27, 2019 I can’t. Ok? I just can’t do this. I can’t spend hours reading through paragraphs that span pages filled with trivial contemplations. These paragraphs are comprised of sentences that second guess themselves before they end. Some may cheer this book as a literary accomplishment, but as a consumer of great stories, I can honestly say that this story is so overburdened by words that the story is hardly there. not-completed 26 likes Like Comment Don 330 reviews 3 followers June 4, 2012 Yeah, so reading this novel is basically like driving through Indiana. That's the analogy I'm going to use. It's like driving through Indiana. You know, it's long, it's generally boring. You start drifting off. Instead of focusing on the road, you're mind begins to wander. You tell yourself to stay focused, but that doesn't work, because now you're just thinking about staying focused, you're still not paying attention to the road. But then once you get through it, once you're out of Indiana, you're happy, you're glad you made the trip, because now you're in Illinois, you're now approaching Chicago, and Chicago is really a pretty fricking amazing place. So yeah, that's what reading this novel is like. 24 likes Like Comment Jee Koh Author 23 books 180 followers December 30, 2008 A Perched Privacy I finish reading this novel feeling exalted and cowed by what a man may accomplish in a work of fiction. Human relationships, so various, so changing, so beautiful, are so variously, changeably and beautifully conceived here that they constitute a cause for moral uplift and terror. Flying from an apparent bedrock of ethical certainties, fine discriminations flutter in the air, and cannot find a sure place to land. All (a word that punctuates the novel like an orgasmic cry) is guesswork: who is the "wicked" Frenchwoman holding Chad Newsome back from returning to Woollet, Massachusetts, to take up his responsibility as heir to a great manufacturing concern? how is Lambert Strether, himself a fiance and supplicant to Chad's formidable mother, to convince the prodigal son of his duty? what, really, is one's duty to life? The third person narrative, told entirely through the perspective of Strether, dramatizes the changes in his consciousness wrought by the atmosphere of the city of Paris. Yet, he does not bring nothing to the alchemical experiment; he carries a sense of advancing age and professional failure, a sense that is old with him, true, but also young enough for its modification, and, even, transformation. For in Chad, Strether sees a younger self that he never had. I use "had" deliberately. The fine women Strether encounters in Paris are described with deep admiration, but young man receives the only extended description of physical person. Arriving at Chad's house, Strether saw another young man smoking on the third floor balcony: He was young too then, the gentleman up there--he was very young; young enough apparently to be amused at an elderly watcher, to be curious even to see what the elderly watcher would do on finding himself watched. There was youth in that, there was youth in the surrender to the balcony, there was youth for Strether at his moment in everything but his own business; and Chad's thus pronounced association with youth had given the next instant an extraordinary quick lift to the issue. The balcony, the distinguished front testified suddenly, for Strether's fancy, to something that was up and up; they placed the whole case materially and as by an admirable image, on a level that he found himself at the end of another moment rejoicing to think he might reach. The young man looked at him still, he looked at the young man; and the issue, by a rapid process, was that this knowledge of a perched privacy appeared to him the last of luxuries. To him too the perched privacy was open, and he saw it now but in one light--that of the only domicile, the only fireside, in the great ironic city, on which he had the shadow of a claim. I find this passage extremely moving in its contrast of youth and age, its double seeing, its longing for transcendence and domicile ("perched privacy"), and its tenuous claim of belonging in a great ironic city. The style may be impressionistic--seeing the balcony in one light which may, and will, rapidly change to another--but it is also profoundly human. 19 likes Like Comment Johan Author 8 books 7 followers December 24, 2008 What a tremendous load of over-articulated crap. The only reason to write such shite in the era of early Picasso, Freud, Einstein and many other giants of early 20th century is to try to carve out some sort of semblance of a reason to exist...when there really is none. It's one idiot writing about his brethren and sisters for his brethren and sisters. It was published as a serial in The North American Review for minor (read: wannabe) intellectuals in New England in 1903. Truly an example of the blind leading the blind. On top of that, the sentences...jeez. Why is this anyhing but pulp for tissue? 20 likes Like Comment Roy Lotz Author 1 book 8,570 followers March 4, 2020 He had spoken in the tone of talk for talks sake, and yet with an obscure truth lurking in the loose folds… One would think that, of all the people living on this good green earth, I would be especially prone to loving this particular work of literature. After all, it is about a young American who moved to Europe, fell in love, and then resisted his family’s entreaties to come back and make more money. If you know anything about me, you will know that this has a special resonance. I am also, as it happens, a lover of fancy prose and classic novels. Clearly, in my case, the book’s prospects were extremely favorable. It is with mild surprise, then, that I report that my feelings are mixed. This is not a novel that one can easily love. It is, rather, a product of James’s infamous late style, which divided critics at the time and has continued to do so ever since. There are many ways to characterize this style—dense, laborious, obscure—but I think that the keynote here is vague . Both in his descriptive passages and his dialogue, James maintains a kind of studious vagueness that can be either delightful or infuriating, depending on your mood and taste. In everything from his sentence structure, to his dialogue, to his descriptions, to his plotting—vagueness reigns. To indulge in highfalutin terminology, I would say that this is an aesthetic triumph at the expense of humanistic value. First, the triumph. James, at his best, achieves something like that achieved by the impressionist painters. The strokes of his pen are suggestive rather than illustrative. He asks much of the reader; and this means that the reader becomes an active part of the story. Virtually nothing—not the book’s resolution, nor the personality of the major characters, nor even the meaning of some knotty sentences—is unambiguous, which means that each reader can make the book her own. In other words, James’s late style is quite like the Ostomachion of Archimedes: a set of puzzle pieces that can be assembled in a myriad of ways. I say that this is an aesthetic triumph because James achieves an effect that is unique, distinctive, novel, and demanding. He creates, in other words, his own aesthetic realm. The cageyness, the uncertainty, the self-referential quirks of this book—we can clearly see, in retrospect, that James was paving the way for literary modernism. And like much of modernism, I think that this aesthetic triumph comes at a great cost to humanistic value. To simplify matter somewhat, you can describe this loss at the emphasis of form over content. The novels of Dickens, Dostoyevsky, Elliot, Tolstoy—say what you will about them, but they have an awful lot of content. Putting aside whatever explicit messages these novels may carry, they introduce us to concrete places, to remarkable individuals, to unforgettable stories. They capture, in other words, a human reality; and in so doing they help us to come to grips with life itself. Now, do not get me wrong: all of these authors also have aesthetic merits. If they did not, they would not be artists at all—merely columnists. My point is that their artistic style was entirely compatible with a definite view of the world, a view that is communicated in their works. This I call their humanistic value. My main criticism of this book, then, is that James’s remarkable aesthetic sense overpowered whatever message he wished to transmit. Based on a straightforward reading, the intended message is this: American culture is narrow and materialistic, and it leads people to give up enjoyment for superficial, conventional reasons. We are, thus, presented with a cast of characters who embody this difference. Strether and Chad are exquisitely sensitive to the charms of Europe, and improve under its influence; while other Americans, such as Waymarsh, insistently stay within their narrow horizons. The problem is, again, the vagueness. James is vague on every detail. How exactly is life in Europe more liberating than life in America? And how exactly have Strether or Chad improved? These may seem like superficial questions, but the entire weight of the plot hinges on them. We cannot come to any moral conclusion without knowing the details. Indeed, James is so impressionistic in his portrayal of the main characters that we can hardly come to any conclusions at all. Do we even like these people? What are they like? Even the ending is veiled in vagueness. Will Chad return to America? And why does Strether decide to return? And is his return a failure, or a success, or what? It is simply impossible to answer these questions. Perhaps I would have been able to stomach all of these irresolutions if I had absolutely adored James’s style. But I do not. Indeed, I confess to finding James’s prose quite ugly—laborious, convoluted, and dry. There is hardly a passage in this book that one can read aloud without sounding like an alien. The following is entirely typical: Nothing could have been odder than Strether’s sense of himself as at that moment launched in something of which the sense would be quite disconnected from the sense of his past and which was literally beginning there and then. It has begun in fact already upstairs and before the dressing-glass that struck him as blocking further, so strangely, the dimness of the window of his dull bedroom; begun with a sharper survey of the elements of Appearance than he had for a long time been moved to make. A few sentences of this may be fine; but pages of it are painful. Granted, James is capable of quite lovely writing. I was enchanted, for example, by his description near the end, of Strether’s venture into the French countryside. Yet, all too often, the book is like this passage: opaque. His dialogue is only slightly better—readable, and yet still plagued by the strained and unnatural cadences of James’s prose. Besides this, James’s characters have the same tendency to vagueness as James himself, and never spell out what they mean. Obviously this will come down to taste. I like things to be clear and unambiguous. That is my taste. James clearly did not agree. That I liked this book in spite of this divergence is a testament to James’s aesthetic power. He was an artist in the highest sense of the word. novels-novellas-short-stories 16 likes Like Comment Sketchbook 688 reviews 241 followers October 24, 2016 An eternal situation. When I lived in Paris the worried mum of an American girl arrived to get her back to the US. Her daughter, a close friend then, had developed, in one year, a style and manner -- a chic, if you will, far beyond her suburban Baltimore roots. She soon had a romcom with a visiting, married US pol that resulted in a Paris abortion, which we treated w hilarity, and, after a 3d year, returned to America and married. She now lives in the midwest. Is that Jamesian or not? It's not, really, because my friend truly lived without giving up anything. With James there must be melancholy...and a certain suffering. When writing his last celebrated 3 novels (this, plus "Wings" & "Bowl"), James, in his late 50s, finally admitted his pash for sculptor Hendrik Andersen ("I hold you long") and a certain warmth crept into the writing of this fine and lonely writer. The theme here is Live, all you can (later spoofed in "Auntie Mame") -- but what you remember is how Paris opened many to beauty and transformed them. It still happens. The writing in this 400+ pager is flabby, as I see on a reread. Cut, pls, 200 pages. James (dictating) gets carried away by his own droning meanderings. Maybe he was slobbering over Andersen. Too many scholars elevate these 3 novels, forgetting the perfection of his short stories and novellas. Or the chilly wit in "The Awkward Age." (The dialogue in "The Ambassadors" is, at times, downright awful). So I am skipping any rating. It's time for fresh, young scholars to study James. Happily, we have the late Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, who published her piercing Jamesian ruminations in 1990 ("Epistemology of the Closet"). The finale to "The Ambassadors" betrays the conflicts within James, though it's marvelously spare. His hero, Lambert Strether, who has learned how to live, says farewell to his loyal, loving confidante Maria Gostrey -- because of integrity, says James; Strether failed in his mission abroad. This is poppycock. He says farewell because he simply isn't interested in her that way. currently 19 likes Like Comment Krista 1,469 reviews 723 followers April 27, 2020 “When you presently meet her, all the same you’ll be meeting your mother’s representative – just as I shall. I feel like the outgoing ambassador,” said Strether, “doing honour to his appointed successor.” Henry James writes notoriously impenetrable fiction, and with 1903's The Ambassadors , he upped the obtuse factor by conceiving a bit of a farce of manners: acting like ambassadors from distinct countries, characters rarely say what they mean to one another, sometimes contradicting themselves in subordinate clause after contrary subordinate clause, and after hundreds of pages of circumlocutious shenanigans, just as this reader's patience and eyestrain were reaching their limits, James makes a rather good point with it all, and it was worthwhile in the end. Ultimately, I more admired than liked this, but am happy I stuck it out. Henry James wrote an Introduction to my edition, and states that his inspiration for The Ambassadors came from a conversation he had with a young friend, who reported that when he had recently been in Paris, an older gentleman made a speech during a garden party, which James recreates as this: Live all you can; it’s a mistake not to. It doesn’t so much matter what you do in particular so long as you have your life. If you haven’t had that what have you had? I’m too old – too old at any rate for what I see. What one loses one loses; make no mistake about that. Still, we have the illusion of freedom; therefore don’t, like me today, be without the memory of that illusion. I was either, at the right time, too stupid or too intelligent to have it, and now I’m a case of reaction against the mistake. Do what you like so long as you don’t make it. For it was a mistake. Live, live! James had been so struck by this speech – and by the friend's description of the speaker and the setting within a Parisian garden – that The Ambassadors became his imagined narrative for what led this man to make this speech, and what happened after. And so, James' imagined reconstruction of events: The book begins with Lewis Lambert Strether – a fifty-five-year-old widower, from the small town of Woollett, Massachusetts – arriving in Europe, where he had been sent by his presumptive fiancée (the rich widow, Mrs. Newsome) in order to retrieve her playboy son who was destined to take over the family business, and who had stopped answering his mother's letters. Strether eventually made his way to Paris in the company of friends new and old, and before he ever found the son, Strether was forcefully struck by the beauty of the city and the first real feelings of freedom he had ever known in his life. When he does encounter the son, Chad, Strether is struck anew by how mature and composed the twenty-eight-year-old had become in his three years abroad, and if it turned out that a woman was behind this transformation – as Mrs. Newsome suspected and decried – Strether failed to see the harm in any relationship that produced such results. Hundreds of pages follow, in which Strether neither directly states nor receives clear information about anyone's actions or intentions, but his extraordinary experiences prompt him to deliver the inspirational speech. When it becomes apparent back in Woollett that Strether was failing in his diplomatic duties, Mrs. Newsome sends her daughter – the formidable Mrs. Sarah Pocock – to take over as ambassador, which comes as a threat to the stability of (the decidedly not wealthy) Strether's future. “Our hero” will then go through several transformations of his own before deciding on his ultimate course of action. I appreciate that the word games and obfuscation between the characters was rather the point, but I was still often impatient with the dialogue in The Ambassadors . (I also suspected that there was a lot of hanky-panky going on between all of these couples until the proof of one physical relationship sent everyone into a tailspin; am I really to believe that all of this flirty double-talk and intimate dining and men visiting women alone in their rooms after nine p.m. was all talk? The corruptibility of Paris was also one of James' points, according to the Introduction, but how corrupt is talk ?) What made this worse was just how wishy-washy Strether himself was – even with an omniscient narrator giving us the benefit of his thoughts, I rarely knew what was going on with this character; which is also apparently the point (to my consternation): • He was burdened, poor Strether – it had better be confessed at the outset – with the oddity of a double consciousness. There was detachment in his zeal and curiosity in his indifference. • Thanks to his constant habit of shaking the bottle in which life handed him the wine of experience, he presently found the taste of the lees rising as usual into his draught. • “There were moments,” she explained, “when you struck me as grandly cynical; there were others when you struck me as grandly vague.” • He was like one of the figures of the old clock at Berne. They came out, on one side, at their hour, jigged along their little course in the public eye, and went in on the other side. He too had jigged his little course – him too a modest retreat awaited. Henry James wrote many such intriguing sentences in this book and made many perceptive comments on human behaviour; wrapping everything in a layer of obscurity to satisfy his own literary sensibilities. Reading The Ambassadors is work. But it all leads to Strether's transformations, which was ultimately satisfying for me; the payoff was worth the effort. 2020 classics 14 likes Like Comment Melindam 742 reviews 351 followers February 10, 2017 Whenever I think of Henry James (and that does not happen too often), the words obfuscating & convoluted come to mind besides WTF is this supposed to be all about? Maybe I will give him another try in years to come .... a-classic-but-not-that-good classics meh 14 likes Like Comment Meem Arafat Manab 375 reviews 202 followers June 15, 2017 ত্যানা পেঁচান, কঠিন কঠিন শব্দ ঠেসে দেন, এমন জবরজং ভাষায় লিখুন যে পাঠোদ্ধার করতে নেপোলিয়র কাছে চাকরী নিতে হয়, কি দীনমজুরের কণ্ঠে তুলে দিন সুব্রত অগাস্টিন বা সিকদার আমিনুলের কবিতা, আমি আঙুল তুলবো না। শেষেরটা বাদে প্রতিটাই করেছেন জেমস সাহেব, আমিও নির্দ্বিধায় মেনে নিয়েছি। ভাষাটা খটমট, কিন্তু বিশ্রী না, বরঞ্চ স্বাদু। ইংরেজিতে যা কিছু বলা কঠিন, জেমস দেখা গেলো জানেন, কী করে বলে যেতে হয়। একটু পড়া কষ্ট, জেমস নিজেই বলেছেন, তার বই দিনে পাঁচ পাতা করে পড়ুন, পড়ুন। আমার সমস্যা হয়েছে যে এই বইয়ের পেছনের গল্পটা ভালো না। ভালো হয়ে উঠতে পারত, একটু একটু করে, কিন্তু হয়নি। একেবারেই হয়নি। চরিত্রগুলি ফিনিয়াস এন্ড ফার্বের চরিত্রদের মত, সারা বই জুড়ে ছুটি কাটায়, আর কথা বলে স্টার জলসার চরিত্রদের মত, বিয়ে করবো, মা কষ্ট পাবে, করবো না, প্রেমিকা কষ্ট পাবে, এইসব এইসব। হেনরী জেমসের ভাষা যেমন সুন্দর, গল্প সেরকমই ঝুলন্ত, আমি ভেবেছিলাম হয়ত মাথায় ভালো কিছু ছিলো, লিখতে গিয়ে পোয়াবারো হয়েছে, কিন্তু ভূমিকা পড়ে আর অ্যাপেন্ডিক্স পড়ে মনে হলো, নাহ্‌, ঢের আশা করা হয়ে গেছে। অবশ্য ভালো বয়ান বাজে গল্প হলে যে ভালো লাগতই না তা না। এটাও নেহাত বাজে লাগে নাই, পড়তে একটু সময় লাগলো আর কী, প্রায় সপ্তাহ তিনেক। কিন্তু বাজে লাগছেও কিছুটা, এই যে ল্যাম্বার্ট স্ট্রেথার শালা একজনের দিকে তাকাইলো, সেই তাকানোর বর্ণনা জেমস দিয়েছেন পাঁচ পাতা ধরে, সই, তারপর যখন তাকানো শেষ করে তারা চ্যাডের বিয়া দেই কার লগে নিয়ে কথা বলে, বিরক্ত করে দেবার জন্য যথেষ্টই। কিছু না ঘটলে আমারে আটকা অন্য কিছু দিয়ে - নাহ। ত্যানা পে ত্যানা, ত্যানা পে ত্যানা। আরো কয়েকটা হেনরী জেমস পড়তে হবে। লোকজন বাজে ঢঙে লিখে ভালো গল্প নষ্ট করে, আমি দেখতে চাই এই ভদ্রলোক বাজে গল্প লিখে আর কয়টা ভালো ঢঙ নষ্ট করেছেন। চমৎকার ইংরেজি ভদ্রলোকের, স্বীকার মানি। fiction 13 likes Like Comment Bill Hammack Author 7 books 105 followers January 5, 2013 I love Henry James, but he is an acquired taste. I have read the Ambassadors three times, and parts of it many times. While working in DC - 2005 - I got two copies: One for home and one for my office - a few years ago I added a third copy to my office at home.. I followed James advice and read it five pages a day being careful "not to break the thread." I did break the thread twice - so I read it in three extended chunks. (I read five pages a day at the State Department -- if anyone saw me I was reading a book about Ambassadors, so it seemed proper!) When even I start the book I just cannot stop. I found every re-reading very rewarding. I can see clearly now how James as really pared the novel to the absolute minimum - one hears just enough of the conversations between Strether and Chad to realize that they must see each other more often than the author lets on. How amazing that the most vivid characters are the ones seen least: Mrs. Newsome in particular, but even Chad and Waymarsh. James captures the appear of reading a book as rich as the Ambassadors when he has Strether describe Madame de Vionnet's home, or rather, its effect on Strether: "He liked the place she lived in, the picture that each time squared itself, large and high and clear, around here: every occassion of seeing it was a pleasure of a different shade." (Book 12, Chapter I.) Indeed, the pleasure in reading the Ambassadors squares itself each time. 12 likes Like Comment Faye 328 reviews June 3, 2014 I didn't finish this book. I would have pushed on through it, but I was reading a collection of Henry James essays at the same time, and when I got to the point where he was criticizing Joseph Conrad (my beloved Joseph Conrad!!) for demanding too much concentration from "the common reader," I figured to heck with it. James demands WAY more concentration from readers of The Ambassadors than Conrad has ever asked of anyone, and with absolutely NO reward of a delicious plot or anything AT ALL exciting happening at any point in the proceedings. I was basically reading it for the sake of education and comparison with other authors, but now... whatever, man. Just to be ornery, I'll read and enjoy a Joseph Conrad novel instead... american-literature unfinished 12 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 779 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 81 quotes 7 discussions 2 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities by Amy Stewart | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $11.99 Rate this book Wicked Plants and Bugs Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities Amy Stewart , Briony Morrow-Cribbs ( Etchings ) , Jonathon Rosen ( Drawings ) 3.81 10,368 ratings 1,376 reviews Want to read Kindle $11.99 Rate this book A tree that sheds poison daggers; a glistening red seed that stops the heart; a shrub that causes paralysis; a vine that strangles; and a leaf that triggered a war. In Wicked Plants , Stewart takes on over two hundred of Mother Nature’s most appalling creations. It’s an A to Z of plants that kill, maim, intoxicate, and otherwise offend. You’ll learn which plants to avoid (like exploding shrubs), which plants make themselves exceedingly unwelcome (like the vine that ate the South), and which ones have been killing for centuries (like the weed that killed Abraham Lincoln's mother). Menacing botanical illustrations and splendidly ghastly drawings create a fascinating portrait of the evildoers that may be lurking in your own backyard. Drawing on history, medicine, science, and legend, this compendium of bloodcurdling botany will entertain, alarm, and enlighten even the most intrepid gardeners and nature lovers. Genres Nonfiction Science Nature History Gardening Plants Reference ...more 236 pages, Hardcover First published May 1, 2009 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Amy Stewart 24 books 2,481 followers Amy Stewart is the New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen books, including Girl Waits with Gun, Lady Cop Makes Trouble, The Drunken Botanist, and Wicked Plants. She lives in Portland with her husband Scott Brown, a rare book dealer. Stay connected with Amy via her newsletter , where she offers cocktail recipes, creative inspiration, book recommendations, and more! Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.81 10,368 ratings 1,376 reviews 5 stars 2,643 (25%) 4 stars 3,960 (38%) 3 stars 3,032 (29%) 2 stars 641 (6%) 1 star 92 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,375 reviews Lori 308 reviews 99 followers January 31, 2018 It’s a nice desk reference for some plants. Mostly toxic plants, but some simply smell bad or disperse their seeds by attaching seed pods to you or your pet. I’m still not sure why they are wicked. About birthworts, I can't see a pipe. Birthworts ( Aristolochia clematitis ) Climbing vines that produce bizarre flowers that vaguely resemble pipes, which is how they got their other common name, Dutchman’s pipe. The Greeks looked at the flower and saw something else: a baby emerging from the birth canal. At that time, plants were often used to treat ailments of the body parts they most closely resembled. Birthwort was given to women to help with difficult labor, but the vine is very poisonous and carcinogenic. It certainly would have killed more women than it helped. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristol... 140 likes Like Comment ❀Aimee❀ Just one more page... 443 reviews 96 followers November 29, 2015 Interesting read, but I really would have preferred color photos in lieu of the illustrations. Some interesting things I learned: The Castor Bean plant with its infamous ingredient ricin is what was used in the famous KGB umbrella poisoning. The seeds are poisonous and indigenous to Asia and Africa. Victims get fever, trouble speaking, and vomit blood. Castor oil has the ricin removed and is often used for its laxative effect. Coyotillo shrub berries are quite sinister. This plant is found in Texas and causes paralysis and death, but symptoms don't start until days or weeks later. The houseplant, Jerusalem cherry is beautiful. However, all parts of the plant cause weakness, drowsiness, nausea and vomiting, and harm the heart. Deadly nightshade, also known as atropa belladonna ("beautiful woman"). All parts of the plant are poisonous. Even rubbing against it can blister skin. However, we also use it for several medicines – atropine, scopolamine, donnatol, and hyoscyamine. The plant can cause rapid heart rate, confusion, hallucinations, seizures. Italian women made mild tinctures of it to dilate pupils because they thought it made them more attractive. Some foods that humans consume have parts that are poisonous or poisonous if not prepared correctly. CORN of all things. If eaten as a primary staple, can cause severe niacin deficiency. If eaten with lime it becomes safe. Typically, if you're eating a well rounded diet with plenty of other foods, you won't have a problem. Symptoms include dermatitis, dementia, diarrhea, and even death. Cashews –if the nut or a person touches the shell, it will cause a bad rash. Traditionally it is steamed open and makes them partially cooked, which makes them safe. Green potato skin – basically if it’s green and eaten raw in large enough quantities, it can cause burning and GI symptoms, coma, and death. Potato is a part of the nightshade family. The green happens when exposed to light and creates high solanine levels. However, this isn't typically an issue, since most people cook their potatoes and don’t eat a ton of the green flesh all at once. The Habanero Chile: “Strangely, the active ingredient in hot peppers, capsaicin, does not actually burn. It stimulates nerve endings to send a signal to the brain that mimics a burning sensation. Capsaicin does not dissolve in water, so grabbing for the water jug to put out the fire in your mouth is useless. However, it will bind to a fat like butter, milk, or cheese. A good stiff drink is also in order, as the alcohol works as a solvent.” “But nothing could protect you against the power of Blair’s 16 Million Reserve, a so-called pharmaceutical grade hot sauce made of pure capsaicin extract. A tiny one-milliliter bottle of the clear potion sells for $199 and comes with a warning that it must be used “for experimental/display purposes only” and never as a flavoring for food.” Jimson Weed was found on Jamestown Island in 1607. Looking for food, settlers tried to add Jimson Weed to their diet. Death came by delusions, convulsions, and respiratory failure. 70 years later, British soldiers arrived and settlers secretly added it to their food. While they didn’t die, they went crazy for 11 days which gave settlers the upper hand. People started calling it the Jamestown weed and over time, became Jimson weed. Giant Hogweed causes severe blisters that worsen when exposed to sunlight. It's scary because I’d never heard of it, and it’s in the Washington/Oregon area of the United States, and in Canada. It sort of looks like a huge Queen Anne's Lace. If you're really into poisonous plants, you can visit the Alnwick poison gardens in Northumberland, England. If you go, let me know. get-from-the-library learn-something-new-every-day nonfiction ...more 48 likes Like Comment Richard Derus 3,199 reviews 2,102 followers November 30, 2020 This review has been revised and can now be found at Expendable Mudge Muses Aloud . Warning: Prepare for multiple baths 44 likes Like Comment Diana 835 reviews 682 followers June 30, 2018 WICKED PLANTS was an Audible Daily Deal, and with that title and cover, I couldn't resist downloading it. The book is a curious and often unsettling encyclopedia of plants that have caused harm in one way or another throughout the centuries. I don't think a lot about plants being dangerous, but after reading this I definitely should. I was surprised that even some everyday foods can be harmful. (There's a reason cashews aren't sold in their shell.) However the most harmful of plants kills nearly 6 million people per year. (You can probably guess what it is.) The audiobook was narrated by Coleen Marlo, and she did a fabulous job making each culprit plant seem down right sinister. I will say that I also checked out the hardcover of this book so I could see the illustrations and read the scientific names of all the plants. There were many presented and they moved by quickly, so it was nice to have a physical copy to reference. 31 likes Like Comment Manybooks 3,366 reviews 104 followers July 5, 2019 I actually stopped reading Amy Stewart's Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities in utter frustration in September 2013 and really also in massive personal disgust, when I realised with a vehement sense of "oh no" that while the botanical information and details on the presented toxic, dangerous and destructive plant species are most definitely and indeed interestingly and even fascinatingly enough recounted, it simply bothered and continues to annoy me to no end that the author has made Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities appear almost like some kind of murder-mystery offering, with the included and featured toxic plants and noxious weeds appearing as though they were actually evilly cunning nasty villains or raging unbalanced psychopaths. However and sorry, Ms. Stewart, but plants are neither to be described as atrocities (what a terrible and cringeworthy concept that is in and of itself and the kind of attitude that in my opinion both condones and encourages the use of toxic weedkillers and so on and so on) nor are they personally evil, calculating or deliberately and nastily cruel. Honestly, please do stop with the anthropomorphism; plants are NOT human beings, and your insistence on making the included toxic and dangerous plant species appear as basically human type villains, this has really and truly utterly destroyed Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities for me, it has really and utterly ruined what might well have been a potentially enlightening and engaging reading experience (for just to point out the inherently obvious, even the most deadly, the most toxic plant species are as a general rule NOT poisonous out of inborn malice and/or evil intent, but due to the necessity of defence and protection, the need of trying to avoid being consumed, trying to avoid being destroyed). And finally, last but most surely and definitely not least, destructive invasive, non endemic plant species are also NOT by their general nature somehow nasty and of active offensive intent (which is how to and for me Amy Stewart seems to have textually described them in Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities ). No, most invasive plant species like purple loosestrife and other similarly problematic, rapidly spreading weed-like entities are dangerous and destructive not really in and of themselves but due to the fact that they often have been callously and thoughtlessly introduced into fragile ecosystems by US, by humans (introduced into ecosystems where they have no naturally occurring checks and balances and could thus profligate and spread unhindered), a fact and I guess inconvenient truth that the author generally chooses to ignore in her striving to make her featured "wicked" plant species appear overdramstised, imbued with and full of natural evil, personal nastiness and wanton and deliberate destructiveness. And thus, I cannot really give more than one star to Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities since I can on a personal level neither accept nor in any way condone this type of for me textual annoyance, this type of callous and silly anthropomorphism (toxic plants being described as deliberately cruel, invasive non endemic plant species being labeled as deliberately destructive on a personal level, that goes simply and utterly too far for me, the interest engendered, the fact that I do find the subject matter of toxic plant species very readable totally and utterly notwithstanding). And I think I will also and yes gladly refrain from even considering the sequel, where Amy Stewart analyses bugs and other insects that might be, that are considered as pests, considering that in the title she is already clearly showing us her bias by calling them, by labelling these insect species as diabolical. book-reviews ecology field-guides ...more 28 likes Like Comment Jennifer 1,784 reviews 6,701 followers August 4, 2015 "We would never pick up a discarded coffee cup from the sidewalk and drink from it. But on a hike, we'll nibble unfamiliar berries as if they had been placed there for our appetites alone. We'll brew a medicinal tea from unrecognizable bark and leaves that a friend passes along, assuming that anything natural must be safe. And when a baby comes home, we rush to add safety caps to electrical outlets but ignore the houseplant in the kitchen and the shrub by the french door. This in spite of the fact that 3,900 people are injured annually by electrical outlets while 68,847 are poisoned by plants." Writer Amy Stewart begins this book by saying that her intent is not to scare people away from the outdoors, but to encourage knowledge and respect. I for one have a new found respect for the power of plant life now. I do a fair share of gardening, and I have to admit that I typically plant what looks cosmetically appealing (for the exception of my must-have butterfly plants!). Of course, I knew about poison ivy and all the other commonly known skin irritating plants. I even knew about the dangers of oleander and certain berries. But did I know that two plants I have had in my backyard secrete toxins? No. Did I know the vine that is was randomly growing along my fence is poisonous? NO! But now I do. I have to admit, as knowledgeable as I feel right now, I'm also slightly paranoid in light of the fact me and my boy are doing some primitive camping next month (perfect timing huh?). But it's all good. My only regret is that I borrowed Wicked Plants via audio from the library and I don't have a physical copy to include in my camping pack...but that can be rectified. If you are a gardener, nature-lover, or even if you just enjoy nurturing houseplants, then expand your knowledge by reading this book. Note: If you are interested in this book, I'd recommend against the audiobook if you have the option. From what I understand, there are etchings and drawings to help with identifying each plant that Ms. Stewart discusses, and audio just can't deliver this component. I listened to the audio and then had to research the visuals when I thought I recognized the description of a few plants that were in my yard. So although the audio is still effective, save yourself some time and start with the paperbook/ebook to begin with. Just a thought. Extras! Check out Ms. Stewart's darkly comedic book trailer for Wicked Plants HERE ! Wicked Plants has inspired a national traveling exhibit at science museums, zoos, and botanical gardens. Click HERE if you would like to learn more. Also, if interested, click HERE for a Q&A with Ms. Stewart about her book Wicked Plants . changed-my-perspective listened-to-audiobook nonfiction ...more 22 likes Like Comment Kathleen Bianchi 89 reviews 34 followers November 4, 2016 Very interesting and educational. Written well and with humor. non-fiction 16 likes Like Comment Lois 2,018 reviews 530 followers December 15, 2018 This was light, interesting and fun. I learned a bit as well. audio-book books-i-own-digital-copy books-i-read-in-2018 ...more 15 likes Like Comment Shelby *trains flying monkeys* 1,674 reviews 6,357 followers November 4, 2014 Really interesting. I don't think I'll ever eat figs again though. digging-in-dirt read-2011 15 likes Like Comment Beth 888 reviews 4 followers February 18, 2022 Amy Stewart, a self-proclaimed gardener and writer (not a botanist or scientist) presents, in alphabetical order, mini-biographies of botanical villains, weaving in pop culture, mythology, history, folklore, medicine, and law with botanical and biological information. The most captivating entries are the topical ones that were interspersed in the encyclopedic style, themed with "houseplants," "ragweeds," and "the devil's bartender," all about more common plants. While I love the concept, I was really bothered by the organization (maybe it's the librarian in me!). I would have found this more engaging arranged by the author's creative categories of Illegal, Painful, Intoxicating, Deadly...or even by plant family. There is no index, so the reader cannot get a list of all the nightshades, or search by a particular toxin. The writing is fine - Stewart's ability to pack in a lot of really fascinating information in a small amount of space reminds me a little of Kathleen Krull, but less engaging. A glossary is lacking, along with source notes; the bibliographies are limited to books. A list of poisonous gardens is a whimsical touch. From the poison green cover to the satiny maize colored bookmark, it's a nice package - good size, soft pages, consistent style, older fonts to give a grimoire sense to the volume. I love the botanical etchings by Briony Morrow-Cribbs, but these are much more successful than the images by Jonathan Rosen that are illustrative of the stories Stewart relays; the two styles didn't mesh for me. All in all, Wicked Plants has a great hook, a catchy title and is a pretty package, but this doesn't feel like a book to read straight through. It assumes some knowledge about plants (like what an angiosperm is) because it's really directed at "gardeners & nature lovers." The A-Z organization make it feel more like a reference book than it is. The writing is good, but not over the top great. Those with morbid curiosity will be drawn to it (I already know who I'm going to pass my copy along to!) and I envision some students using this as a secondary resource for a report for Health or Biology, but the casualness of the book creates reservations for me; I like sources cited. botany non-fiction 12 likes Like Comment Lata 4,118 reviews 230 followers January 16, 2020 A quick and light review of numerous plants and their toxins. The author provides historical and anecdotal views and uses, as well as the physiological effects. Aieeee. The only thing I really have to say about the huge variety of plants that have developed a variety of passive methods to deter insects, fungi and herbivores is, how the heck did we ever manage to find so many different plants to eat safely? auth-f x2020-read 11 likes Like Comment Fiona MacDonald 754 reviews 178 followers September 26, 2020 What a fascinating book! Written in a clear, concise and fun manner. The plants are placed in specific categories and we have quirky little subsections called 'meet the relatives' in each category. The only bad thing about the book is it has made me terrified about going out into my garden.... 11 likes Like Comment Moonkiszt 2,432 reviews 285 followers August 13, 2019 I love a book that gets me googling. . . . this has every plant you could think of. I remember playing in the heart of a huge hedge of oleanders in one of the backyards of my childhood. . . .the branches spread in a very straight, organized fashion to the leaves, making a "space" just perfect to play in. I remember placing the pretty flowers and leaves on plates and pretending I was fixing food for my siblings. Don't worry, they didn't die - picky eaters, both. This book mentioned oleanders. . . . In fact this book mentioned just about everything! Lantana, Callas, Camas, Trillium, Hydrangea, White Snakeroot. . . types heard of and not heard of. My biggest take away is contrary to all those who work so hard to convince us that we should trust nature in its environment. I will be buying all my produce in a brand named store for the foreseeable future! No lollygagging with grass stems twined about my fingers, chewing on stalks of green or gold. IT's POISON, I TELL YOU! IT'S POISON! Anyway. I liked this book. Was encyclopedic and very listy. 3 stars from me. botanicals-flowers-trees-plants indigenous-peoples island-lessons-learned ...more 10 likes Like Comment Viola 410 reviews 63 followers June 19, 2019 Tas bija jauki, daudz interesantu faktu,ne tikai botānika,bet arī kāds interesants stāsts no vēstures. Indīgie augi,kā izrādās,uzglūn mums gan no piemājas dārziņa,gan tuvējās pļavas,gan mājas palodzes (daudzi istabas augi,kā redzies, ir indīgi). 9 likes Like Comment Greekchoir 302 reviews 504 followers March 8, 2024 Solid 3.5/5, I loved the short anecdotes and illustrations. Would be an excellent coffee table book nonfiction 9 likes Like Comment Klaudia_p 557 reviews 86 followers April 8, 2020 Entuzjazm i pasja autorki są niemal zaraźliwe. Chyba dlatego tak przyjemnie się to czyta. 9 likes Like Comment Lisa 354 reviews 5 followers July 31, 2010 I really couldn't decide if this book was supposed to be farcical or not; it was so melodramatic and sensationalistic. Its claims of DANGER seem to be overrated. Consider elderberries and habanero peppers for example. Elderberries are the favored food of cedar waxwings and I've never seen a pile of these dead birds around a bush. I've eaten them raw many times and never had any problems. As a chemist I just couldn't see how cooking them would remove the cyanide. Curiousity got the better of me and I found this informative site: http://museum.gov.ns.ca/poison/?secti... . Seems it is the unripe fruit and the seeds that are toxic. It is not the cooking, but the fact that you remove the seeds from pie, jelly, and wine that removes the toxin. So spit out those seeds when you eat elderberries! So much for that danger. On to the peppers. "A jalapeno pepper - generally considered to be the hottest pepper any sane person would attempt to chew and swallow". Hello? Poppers? This common bar food is eaten by thousands daily, many of whom find them to be mild. Must be a lot of us insane people out there who enjoy habaneros, bannana peppers, and the like. I suspect some of the claims about other plants may be equally exaggerated. This is about as much a reference book as Wikipedia is an encyclopedia! The advice about poison ivy was interesting, but bad! The author recommends crusing the stem of a suspect plant between paper. If the paper turns brown it is poison ivy. Yikes! What ever happened to "leaves of 3, let it be"? And contrary to the book, poison ivy is not difficult to recognize -- my 7-yr-old can identify it. So don't go digging up your yard and ditching your houseplants to remove these "dangerous" plants. The classification of non-fiction lends a great deal of credibility to the factuality of this book. Read it for what it is, an amusing over-the-top book about plants with great botanical drawings! 9 likes Like Comment Kater Cheek Author 34 books 274 followers April 18, 2012 Stewart wrote FLOWER CONFIDENTIAL about the floral industry, so one can posit that like me, she loves plants. Like me, she's also fascinated with poison and murder. The book is lush with exquisitely beautiful (and sometimes exquisitely macabre) illustrations. With short chapters, plentiful illustrations, and a thorough table of contents, this is a fast read. (I'm not going to go so far as to say that this is the perfect book for the back of the toilet, but WICKED PLANTS does have short entries, each of which is interesting, and yet none of which will take longer than five or ten minutes to read. Just sayin...) It's a little light on the science for science fans, but at least there aren't a huge cast of organic chemicals clogging up the prose like characters in a Russian novel. It's a little light on the gardening tips for passionate botanists, but has enough new facts in both categories that you'll learn new things. I didn't realize that I had three of these plants in my own yard. I knew oleander was poisonous (everyone knows that) but sago palm? This is a good gateway book for people who aren't into non-fiction but would like to be. It's also a good book if you have anyone in your life who doesn't read much because they think novels are a waste of time. 7 likes Like Comment Kamil 274 reviews 39 followers July 7, 2018 "Zbrodnie roślin”, czyli opowieść o sile natury, o tym jak może być niebezpieczna i jak niewiedza może doprowadzić do naszej zguby. Ten rewelacyjny zbiór wiedzy pokazuje, jaką rangę na świecie stanowią rośliny i jak ich natura może być inwazyjna. Mimo, że może ta pozycja momentami nie jest idealna to historie, jakie się w niej znajdują są warte przeczytania. Nie dość, że książka uczy i jest ciekawa to przy okazji poszerza naszą świadomość, jeśli chodzi o rośliny, ponieważ pokazuje, że jeden głupi błąd może zadecydować o tym czy będziemy dalej żyć. Czasami bywały opisywane nudniejsze gatunki i mimo lekko naukowego języka autorka starła się jak mogła, żeby przedstawić to tak żeby przeciętny zjadacz chleba zbytnio się nie przestraszył natłokiem terminów. Oczywiście, książka nie jest pozbawiona tego słownictwa i pojawia się ono, ale w moim odczuciu jest ono zrozumiałe w większo��ci przypadków. Jednak to, co najważniejsze w tej książce jest to, że po prostu zaskakuje i to niejednokrotnie, czasem opisywane są rośliny, który są nam naprawdę bliskie, a potraktowane w niewłaściwy mogą być naprawdę niebezpieczne, ale to nie wszystko! Niektóre gatunki są przedziwne, niektóre dały zaczątek nawet nowej wierze, a niektóre przyczyniły się do procesu powstawania niektórych dzieł kultury a niektóre odmieniły nawet świat pod pewnym względem. Muszę przyznać, że były takie chwile, w których nie mogłem się od tej książki oderwać i chciałem cały czas dowiadywać się coraz więcej i poznawać coraz to ciekawsze rośliny. To, na co chciałbym jeszcze zwrócić uwagę to fakt, że książka opatrzona jest naprawdę cudownymi rysunkami, ale często są one niepraktyczne i gdy chciałem zobaczyć jak dana roślina wygląda (nie tylko w mojej wyobraźni) niestety musiałem sięgać do internetu. Myślę, że ta książka to coś po prostu świetnego na prezent, nie dość, że szata graficzna jest naprawdę urokliwa to i treść jest ogromnie ciekawa i myślę, że pokusiłby się na nią nawet ktoś, kto z reguły nie czyta i mówię to z własnego doświadczenia, bo opowiadając innym o tej książce wzbudziła ona nie małe zainteresowanie. Bardzo wam tę książkę polecam i jak na literaturę popularnonaukową jest to naprawdę perełka, bo sam nienawidzę naukowego żargonu, ale tu było inaczej i to doświadczenie było bardzo pozytywne. favorites 6 likes Like Comment Amy 7 reviews 3 followers April 16, 2013 Stewart attempts to exhaustively catalogue toxic/medicinal plants and herbs using supposedly charming historical vignettes that illustrate and implicate the various species' morbidity and mortality on hapless folk. Humanity is the butt of the joke, all of us apparently being bumbling idiots or murderous half-wits in confrontation with our native flora. Not the most winning premise, and I was irritated by her tone right off the bat. Long on attempted wit and short on scientific detail, with most plants falling into multiple categories which are ill-defined and haphazard, this book fatigued but did not enlighten me. Specifically, I was hoping for a clarification of botanical chemistry and pharmacodynamics nestled in charming anecdotes, legends and actual historical records (or at least etymology, basic mechanism of action and receptor affinity). No dice. Frustratingly, there was little acknowledgement of the vital & beneficial role many of these plants played in folk medicine and the present-day development of life-saving cheap synthetic analogues by pharmacists-- e.g., digoxin, aspirin and coumadin are widely prescribed, affordable, effective and directly derived from "wicked" plants. Ditto for atropine, a mainstay of cardiac resuscitation and an essential antidote to nerve gas; or rocuronium, a curare analogue which is essential in modern surgical anesthesia. It's sort of the "pulp fiction" of naughty plant history with minimal citations and slipshod evidence to support the "atrocities." Anything NOT lascivious about the subject was essentially discarded. Further, the pencil illustrations were lurid and childlike. Bizarre and unsatisfying overall. meh 6 likes Like Comment Mauoijenn 1,131 reviews 116 followers March 20, 2015 Insightful. Scary. Never touching anything in the woods again!! 2015-rc dying-dead-death how-to-kill-yourself ...more 6 likes Like Comment Lisa Wolf 1,708 reviews 290 followers May 12, 2021 An A-Z guide to all sorts of weird and deadly plants. It's interesting, but don't expect a narrative. This is a great little book to leave on your nightstand and randomly open for a page or two. nature non-fiction reference 6 likes Like Comment Susan in NC 975 reviews July 9, 2019 I enjoyed this book, as an amateur but enthusiastic gardener, but also as an armchair popular science nerd. Amy Stewart’s entertaining, humorous yet informative style, and the layout of the Kindle book I read, allow readers to dip in and out of the information, and read as much or as little as they like each time. I will keep an eye out for a copy of this book to buy for my collection of gardening books, it is helpful and interesting. The author offers common sense advice like always wear gloves in the garden, never ingest berries or leaves you find or are given unless you can identify them (as she wisely points out, you wouldn’t drink from a cup of coffee you found sitting on the roadside!), and if you think you or a loved one or pet has ingested or rubbed against one of these potentially harmful plants, don’t leaf through the book for information, call poison control immediately! Her humor shines through, as does her fascination and respect for the natural world, as she guides readers through quick, short chapters like “This Houseplant Could be your last”, “Deadly Dinner” and “Botanical Crime Families”. Gardeners, indeed anyone who spends time outdoors, would benefit and learn a lot from this book, and be entertained in the process! 5 likes Like Comment Melissa Bennett 846 reviews 11 followers August 6, 2020 Great book with lots of interesting information. I ended up having the physical book and also had the book on Audible by accident. I found that it was nice to listen to the Audible version as I followed the book with it. With Audible, the pronunciations of all of the plants were nicely done but the book had lots of drawings that I wanted to look at as well. Some of the information I knew and some just blew me away. 5 likes Like Comment Malia 943 reviews 28 followers August 21, 2011 This book is exactly why I don't like to read science books written by non-scientists. Anyone who writes the sentence "mushrooms aren't truly plants" has no business writing a book about plants. Also, as far as writing style goes, this book is more like going on a wikipedia fugue than reading a book. I like the topic, but the execution is abyssmal. 2011-reads nonfiction 5 likes Like Comment Latasha 1,320 reviews 415 followers May 28, 2019 this book is really great and informative but maybe the audio book is not the way to go. no illustrations. audio-books books-i-own 4 likes Like Comment Pamela 102 reviews 21 followers October 16, 2019 Wonderfully informative and fascinating. Perhaps a bit dry here and there but balanced out with interesting anecdotes. I will never look at a cashew nut the same again. non-fiction science 5 likes Like Comment Ann☕ 342 reviews November 27, 2019 Actual rating: 3.5 stars This book might be a good choice for people who are a bit squeamish and would rather skip Stewart's Wicked Bugs: The Louse That Conquered Napoleon's Army and Other Diabolical Insects . After reading Wicked Plants, I was surprised how many houseplants and common garden plants are toxic and it made me wonder why there aren't clearer standards for labeling by growers and nurseries. Otherwise, it also made me wonder historically how many people lost their lives or became ill while trying to figure out which plants were safe to eat and which weren't. As with my similar criticism of Wicked Bugs, I wish the author had included photographs for identification purposes. In this case, I really did not care for the illustrations at all, even from an artistic perspective. Still I appreciate books I learn something useful from and knowing a few plants in my garden can potentially cause major skin irritation is definitely useful. ag-hoopla nature non-fiction ...more 4 likes Like Comment Kuba ✌ 308 reviews 66 followers July 27, 2021 oczekiwałem czegoś innego, ale doceniam research zrobiony przez autorke do przygotowania tej książki🙌 4 likes Like Comment JE 100 reviews 3 followers August 27, 2011 Who knew plants could be so wicked? This book contains the terrors of the plant world. Be afraid. Be very afraid. My favorite plant was the dangerous Jimsom weed. The Jamestown settlers used it against some British soldiers, to get the upper hand on ‘em. Clever colonists. Also interesting was the caster bean, whose poisonous extract was used to kill a communist in the 1970s. And how ‘bout those crazy poisonous ordeal beans, used to determine guilt within the West African criminal justice system? That’s what I liked about this book. It’s not a dry encyclopedia of wicked plants. Every plant has its own wicked story. Did you know there are male plants and female plants, and male plants are the ones responsible for all our allergy problems? Are we really surprised, ladies? Did you know atropine (extracted from plants like Deadly Nightshade), which causes various horrible symptoms when ingested, is sometimes added to addictive painkillers to keep patients from getting hooked? Well done, laboratory chemists! But I can’t help but wonder if there’s a better way… Anyhow, the plants in Wicked Plants are organized alphabetically, but I would have preferred if they had been organized categorically first, like Destructive, Illegal, Intoxicating, Offensive, Painful, Dangerous, Deadly… and then organized alphabetically within those categories. I like to read about my plants categorically. Also, it contains lots of cool drawings and etchings, but I still found myself Googling real pictures of the plants to get a better idea. On that note, I Googled this offensive plant called “slobber weed,” which, when ingested, causes a person to drool two or more pints of saliva, and Google gave me a bunch of pictures of hippies “drooling” over their marijuana. Slobber weed. Yes, this was a swell read. And I had no prior interest in plants. Recommend. 4 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,375 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 8 quotes 2 discussions 4 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Catalyst (Insignia, #3) by S.J. Kincaid | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Insignia #3 Catalyst S.J. Kincaid 4.39 5,463 ratings 475 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Tom Raines and his friends return to the Pentagonal Spire for a new year, eager to continue their training for the elite Intrasolar Forces. But they soon discover troubling changes. Strict new regulations, suspicious agents in positions of power, and the revelation that the Spire is under military control. The trainees are now cadets. What begins as an irritating adjustment soon reveals a dangerous shift in reality. Those in control are aligned with corporate sponsors who have ruthless agendas. And when the military academy begins welcoming new cadets with suspicious neural processors, they reveal the first step in a plan with horrifying worldwide ramifications. Tom is desperate to stop it, even if that means keeping secrets from his closest allies, and it seems he is not alone: the other Ghost in the Machine also begins fighting against the Corporations, but with methods even Tom finds shocking. And when the enemy comes for Tom, how much can he endure in the battle to save himself? Genres Science Fiction Young Adult Dystopia Fiction Adventure Fantasy Action ...more 464 pages, Paperback First published October 28, 2014 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author S.J. Kincaid 15 books 2,214 followers Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.39 5,463 ratings 475 reviews 5 stars 3,008 (55%) 4 stars 1,707 (31%) 3 stars 640 (11%) 2 stars 90 (1%) 1 star 18 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 475 reviews Josh 6 reviews 3 followers June 21, 2015 Okay so I feel obliged to tell you all that I've been stalking around GoodReads, reading reviews for almost a year now, but this series is what finally got me to create an account so I could post this. THIS SERIES IS AMAZING I actually just got Insignia yesterday morning after seeing the GoodReads page and finished Vortex about 10 minutes ago. The only reason I ever put the book down was to eat, and even then unwillingly. But anyways, I didn't just come on here to post what an amazing series this is (though that indeed is a big part--THIS SERIES IS AMAZING), let's think about where this final book can go... When I first found out there would only be three books I was thrown. I'd just finished Insignia and I had no idea how Kincaid could wrap this whole thing up in only two more books. I was thinking something like 5 or 6. And now, after finishing Vortex, I still have no idea how she's going to do it. Okay sure things are coming to a head with...well...EVERYTHING, but I still expected to have AT LEAST another two or three more volumes to enjoy the sarcasm and book gripping plot. But then again maybe it's better if she sticks to three and doesn't have to pump out a fluff book. On the other hand though, it sounds like Kincaid signed the trilogy contract from the beginning, so what if she's going to have to squish everything into this last book? I mean, Tom only just got promoted to Upper for god's sake! I'm sure it'll still be amazing though. GOD I CAN'T FLIBBIN WAIT. Alight, let's start with Wyatt and Tom. We've been getting hints about Wyatt's feelings for Tom since the beginning: She shifted her weight and took a few deep breaths, like she was bracing herself for something. Then her dark eyes moved up to Tom's. "Do you think I should be with him?" "I can't tell you that." "But you can. Do you think that he's really the one I should go out with? You bet against it. Was there a reason for that?" She was looking at him with an odd intensity. Tom stared back, bemused, and her cheeks grew pink. "I don't want to make a mistake, that's all," she mumbled, looking at the ground. "I just don't want to do the wrong thing here." And again post-Yuri: "Look," [Tom] said, "I was curious about seeing Medusa again after the incursion. We played games and she killed me a lot and stuff. Oh, and Medusa is a girl. Yeah, I found that out, too." "A girl?" Wyatt said, frowning. "Like a girlfriend girl?" Tom's cheeks flushed. "No. I mean..." He still wasn't sure what to say to that. "No!" He considered that kiss. "Well, maybe. I'm not sure." "How long has this been going on?" she mumbled. "Not so long." "You never told us." "So? Why's it such a big deal?" "It's not," Wyatt said. "I don't care." I have a weird feeling SOMETHING is going to happen with this in the final book. I was scared pretty much all the way through the two books that eventually Wyatt would tell Tom how she actually felt and then Yuri would find out one way or another and be upset with both of them. The poor big teddy bear. He'd have nowhere to go except Vik, and we all know how emotionally supportive Vik can be (oh that Spicy Indian...). Although, even though it seemed like Wyatt wasn't entirely reciprocating all of the couple stuff most of the time, at the very end of Vortex we get this just as Yuri's waking up: And then [Yuri's] lingering distress seemed to melt away when Wyatt slunk forward and settled by his side. He craned his head back so he could gaze up at her adoringly, and for the first time Tom could remember, she looked back at him the same way So perhaps we won't have a scene with Wyatt awkwardly confessing how she feels about Tom in this last book? I hope so, for Yuri's sake. Aside from her feelings for Tom and Yuri, we have her programming, which leads us to Blackburn. Is this guy a nut job? Uh hell yes. Let's see, he accidentally blew up both his kids (though in all fairness that was before he amended his mental health), he's been stock piling information on Vengerov for the last who knows how many years, and finally he's willing to kill off children or strip their minds to further his revenge against Vengerov. And yet, this guy is one of my favorite characters? Could it be that my inner programmer is a little bias? Probably. But still, even knowing how crazy and unstable he is and how far he's willing to go to back his own plans, I really wish Tom would finally get along with him (I thought for a second that might happen after he saved Tom from the snow, but then we got the Heather incident). Anyways, if you don't think this guy is going to have a big role in this next book, boy you better go back and read those first two. My bet is he'll end up dying a martyr hero immediately after saying something endearingly fatherly and protecting Tom and the crew and Tom will finally appreciate him, but only after he's dead. On the other hand, I can also distinctly see him going head to head with Vengerov in a programming battle and getting beaten (though of course Tom would see this scenario and end up respecting him as well). Who knows, maybe I just really want to see Tom finally respect an adult other than his crazy father and Marsh? But my guess is that if any of the characters are going to die, I'm afraid Blackburn would be the first one on that list (maybe after Karl). And then we have Medusa/Yaolan. I absolutely LOVE Medusa. I was so scared this book would be another case of the shy nerdy boy somehow gets the outgoing hot blonde and they ride off into the sunset. Thank god I was wrong. Medusa is AMAZING. Not only is she the only one who can beat Tom, she kicks ass at literally everything . I'm a little bit scared for Tom though. I mean how many times has he messed this Medusa thing up? Let's count: 1. "We can still meet online, can't we?" Medusa said, peering at him. "Once you're out of the Spire, it's not treason anymore if we meet." [...] "It wouldn't be a good idea," Tom said. "I see." There was something flat in her voice. "So once you're gone from the military, you can't be bothered. I get it." Tom's head wasn't in the right place for this stuff. "What? Where did you even get that?" "Maybe this was a bad idea all around." 2. I see why you're called Medusa 3. Tom turned back toward her. "Medusa!" He'd almost forgotten to think of her lately, with everything that had happened. "I'm so glad you're here." "I know I've been staying away," she said. "I wanted to tell you--" "Medusa, I need to ask you something." He steered through the chaos, only a sliver of his attention on the conflict. "It's important." "I need to ask you things, too. About, well, when you kissed me--" "Not now," Tom said. "I can't right now. This is a bad time. Look, have you ever been bounced out of a system while interfacing with it? I need to know." There was a thick silence. Her voice grew icy [...] She was silent a long moment as the plane shook around them. Then, so softly he almost didn't hear her, "I shouldn't have come back." 4. (and the worst so far) Tom drew her into a kiss, and for a moment, there was nothing else in the world, just Medusa...Yaolan. And he never wanted to let her go. But Tom didn't like to fool himself, and he couldn't passively accept doom. He pulled back from her, dread saturating his every pore, knowing there was a way he could fix this. He could save her. There was one way. Only one. He'd been willing to walk out into the snow in Antarctica for her. He was willing to do this now, even if she never forgave him for it. "I'm sorry, Yaolan," he whispered. A shadow passed over her face. "Sorry?" Tom stared right into her eyes and thought out the trigger phrase, I'll never do this to her . (I know I'm leaving out the one where he calls her ugly and says it doesn't matter because of the avatars, but I can't seem to find it ATM) I, as the reader, understand that Tom really likes her, but I don't know how much longer she'll keep thinking that...I can't help thinking that eventually she's going to stop coming back to him (maybe we're already to that point after this last stint with Vengerov's virus). But anyways, as much as I want to see the two of them together, as in, PHYSICALLY together, I have doubts if that will ever be possible if Tom continues on the road he's on...She'll only give him so many second chances... That's pretty much all I've got right now (this took surprisingly longer than I thought). I know there's a lot I'm missing with the revolution and Elliot and the state of the world in general, but I'll be sure to update this as more information for the book comes in. Noting the pattern of the release dates for the last two books (July 10th and July 2nd respectively), I'm guessing this one will be out either early July or late June hopefully? I guess we'll see...until then I suppose we'll all just have to begin the long hard wait... 30 likes Like Comment Alice 229 reviews 48 followers July 27, 2018 4.5* I was a bit pissed when I finished this because things weren't exactly how I wanted it, but now I love this book which literally happens every time I finish one of these because I remember the really fucking weird moments that happen. Like there was this part where the world was ending (yes I'm serious) and Tom's friend walks in breathless because he fucked someone. This whole book was super dramatic. This last book takes place over 2+ years. I liked the 2nd book better though. Didn't like the romance. The author pretty much admitted though Wyatt that she considered putting Tom with her instead. I never bought into the romance because I was already convinced that's he would be better with Wyatt with the author's wishy washyness with the situation. I'm pretty pissed actually. Luckily I never ship non-canon normally. I'm fucking furious. Also fuck the number of plot twists too. Let Tom do some cool shit instead of dropping plot twists left and right. Tom was so crippled in this that he didn't even do much. Also what's with him not playing video games anymore that pissed me off too. There were a lot of plot twists in this. I'm not really a plot twist person so they were just fine. I like figuring out situations not when explanations are given for situations which is what plot twists do. Here's the thing about this book compared to the first 2 books. It's very different. It's more plot driven. There was a lot of references to the first 2 books which I loved. That was done very well. I didn't really like the ending + epilogue which is around 30 pages. Everything before that was very exciting and cool. My favorite part of the whole story is the VR simulation with Tom and the soldiers. Best scene of the whole series. So epic. I loved how he used both the kid Zane as bait and his neural processor to play out the situation. This is the stuff that made the first 2 books amazing. My favorite book is definitely the 2nd one. The 2nd book is pretty much a perfected version of the first book. The first book started off bad, but I ended up loving it. The reason I like this book least is because in the first 2 books Tom drove every situation and decision in the story and I loved him for it. In this one he's not driving the story as much because the scope of the story in this one is so large. There was also this random scene where he goes to a holocaust museum: (By the way this book takes place in 2116. The main character is born in 2100. Pretty cool.) Tom realized how callous he’d sounded. Given his brand-new reputation as a psychopath after the ethics simulation, he knew he needed to backtrack. “Don’t get me wrong,” Tom said. “It’s not like I saw the Auschwitz stuff and worked up an appetite. I was already thinking about burgers way earlier in the day, long before we came here.” Iman stared at him. “But I wasn’t like, thinking of burgers the whole time we were in there, of course,” Tom added quickly. “I was mostly thinking about the murdered children, like you were. And the adults, too. And everyone who died. I mean, I guess I covered everyone when I said adults and children, but still . . . it’s bad.” He tried to think of something articulate to say, and settled with, “I think genocide is wrong. Very wrong.” Here something from my favorite scene: Tom released his grip on the railing and landed at an awkward angle on the stairs. A split second of terrible realization informed him he was about to fall downthe stairs, so he seized the soldier, and made sure he came tumbling down with him. They hurtled down, step to step, as Tom sped up the time perception of his neural processor to give him space to run calculations. Twist left forty degrees to make sure Kuik took the brunt of the next hit . . . right thirty degrees to crack his head against the next concrete step . . . They landed on the bottom of the stairwell, and Tom reset his perception of time to its default. He reared up faster than Kuik could, and slammed his palm into the man’s face, driving the cartilage of his nose up into his brain with a brutal crunch. Blood seeped out from his nostrils. Tom heard Zane’s rapid footsteps, scuttling down the stairs after them, and hastily twisted the guy’s head to face the wall so the kid wouldn’t realize he was dead. “That went well.” (edit: Tom is literally the exact definition of a chaotic good. I was just thinking about this book and finally realized this.) I feel like I should throw this in here. Tom is my favorite main character of all time. Uh these quotes might make him seem crazy, but there's more context to these scenes trust me. So in the start of the first book his life is absolute shit. His father is a gambling alcoholic. His mother is gone. He is however very good at VR gaming. He gets recruited to a military academy to train for a war in space. He has a very headstrong personality, but he's also a very good person. It's a fun combo. Usually I hate headstrong characters because they are stupid and I don't get their actions at all, but in this series it's always clear why Tom does certain actions. In other words he gets shit done no matter what. He always makes the move AND I always see the reasoning behind it AND I almost always agree. He pretty much has my ideal personality for myself which is a little weird, but also awesome. Oh yeah no one is going to read up to this point, but I hate the book Nyxia which is pretty much a crappy version of this series. Emmett has a very similar backstory to Tom, but his personality is opposite. Yeah that's why I hate that book. He never makes the move and you know what, he never gets shit done and gets screwed over by the people in charge. Eat a rock dude. I realized this whole review is straight ass so might I well shade Nyxia while I'm at it. I think this might be my current favorite series? This or the Leviathan series. I bet people think my favorite series is Shatter Me lol. I mean it's up there. 4-star-5-star 5-star 25 likes Like Comment Esthela Gómez 122 reviews 28 followers November 15, 2014 update OK IM GOING TO START READING IT RIGHT NOW NOOOOOO! I FINISHED IT, I DIDN'T WANT TO. I WANTED TO KEEP ON READING FOREVER sorry for the shouty letters Since I started this series I said THIS IS MY FAVORITE SCIENCE FICTION BOOK EVER and still is. This trilogy has everything, I laughed hysterically, cried, screamed, sighed, etc, It has inspired so many feelings that other books have not. Why is that? the characters, each one of them are so fantastically written. Throughout the series you can see how they grow and change but the incredible friendship between them remains constant until the end. Tom is one of my favorite characters of all time, some people have a love-hate relationship with him, but mine was only love, sometimes he infuriated me, yes, however his stubbornness and other imperfections are what makes him unique and real, as well as his courage, strength, perseverance and loyalty. I would like to talk about each characters; Vik, Wyatt, Yuri, Yaolan, Blackburn...but that would make a testament haha. So I'll just say that I wish we all had the opportunity to meet people like these. Chuck and Stark Trek have been influential in Kincaid to write these books but the construction of this world as well as its plot and extraordinary dialogues makes them incomparable to these and other books like HP or Ender's Game. I will miss reading new follies of The Doctors of Doom, The Evil Wench and the handsome android, but I'll settle for rereading the books and wait for the movie (hope it does it justice). Kincaid thanks for such a great adventure, I can not wait to read more of your wonderful imagination. P.S I FREAKING LOVED THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS "You can say it’s naive or say it’s foolish. But please never say it’s impossible" 2014-is-so-far-awaaay badass-heroine book-boyfriends ...more 17 likes Like Comment Carolina 145 reviews 36 followers March 10, 2024 SU P*TA MADRE QUÉ FUE ESTE LIBRO, TODO EL TIEMPO ESTUVE TENSA, LLORANDO, PREOCUPADA SIN PODER SOLTARLO PORQUE PASABAN TANTAS COSAS, REALMENTE NO PUEDO CREER QUE TARDE 6 AÑOS EN TERMINAR ESTA TRILOGÍA ES UN FINAL TAN BUENO Y DOLOROSO, TODO ME ENCANTA. y la verdad no veo su versión del futuro (al final) muy lejana eh AMO LA TROPE DE FOUND FAMILY, WYATT Y TOM BESTIES FOREVER Después de pensar un poco más creo que no hay forma de describir este libro sin spoilers, mis pensamientos siguen siendo exactamente los mismos de arriba, creo que puedo agregar el crecimiento que tuvo Tom conforme a confiar en sí mismo y en otros, como entenderse un poco más y ver realmente a sus seres queridos como personas que lo aceptaran sin importar qué. Siempre me conflictuo que incluso cuando Tom consideraba a Wyatt, Vik y Yuri sus mejores amigos, no lograba abrirse del todo con ellos, tenía muchos miedos sobre cómo lo verían si mostraba ciertas partes de sí, todo lleno de miedo al abandonó y el rechazo, los quería tanto que temía perderlos por ser completamente él, y en este libro se da cuenta que cuando la gente te quiere en verdad tu pasado y problemas no importan, y es algo que me puso muy soft, incluso cuando tuvo que pasar por cosas horribles y enfrentar sus más temidos demonios Tom aprendió que la gente lo quería de verdad, y eso no cambiaría. Also, uno desde el inicio sabe los grandes problemas psicológicos de Tom, y que al fin empiece a tomar terapia como parte de querer ser mejor fue precioso, y lo mejor fue que cuando tomó el valor de decirlo sus amigos estaban como "todos vamos bro, es la cosa más normal del mundo, pero que bien que te este funcionando". SPOILER. Siempre supe que para Blackburn Wyatt era como una hija, pero cuando noté que también se sentía así por Tom... me llegó, lloré con su muerte, dejo de lado su venganza, lo único que lo motivó a seguir luchando por 15 años para salvar a sus hijos :CCC 2021 6 likes Like Comment C.P. Cabaniss Author 7 books 113 followers December 2, 2021 "There's no meaning in life once you're a monster." This book is spectacular. It is honestly one of the best series conclusions I've ever read. If you're at all inclined to pick up the first book, I say go for it. One of my favorite series. Original Review 2016 Insignia and Vortex , the first two books in this trilogy, were excellent. Some of my favorite reads this year. This, however, was in an entire league of its own. I was honestly wondering, going into this, how things could possibly be wrapped up in ~400 pages. I did not need to worry. These pages were packed with non-stop action, insane twists that surprised and delighted me, heartbreaking events, and a beautiful story. This is one of the best series conclusions I believe I have ever read. And now that I have read all of S J Kincaid's published novels, I really need her to get another one out. Everyone needs to go read this book right now. Well, start at the beginning. Full review will be coming on my blog. books-i-own favorites science-fiction ...more 7 likes Like Comment Michelle 1,252 reviews 187 followers November 30, 2014 Catalyst has got to be one of my most anticipated reads of this year....and that was before I had even finished reading Vortex. I have loved this series from the start, devouring every book and wanting more straight after, and while I wanted to have Catalyst , I also didn't want it, by reading it then I was admitting that this series would be over. that there would be no more from the characters that I have loved, that have grown up in each new installment and made an even bigger impact on me. I began reading Catalyst immediately after finishing Vortex, so everything was still fresh in my mind. Now an Upper Tom has to prove he has what it takes to deserve this promotion, he must prove he should be there, and that he has what it takes to become a Combatant. But his journey will not be an easy one, everything has changed at the Spire, and not for the better. With new rules, and new 'management' Tom is finding it hard to fit in, to bend to these rules, and follow instructions that really don't make sense. Catalyst is jam packed full of awesomeness, I am actually scared to say to much in case I reveal what happens in the pages. A lot of the events that happen I did not see coming, some had me shocked and really sad wanting it to be over, that someone would come. Others had me surprised I had not realised this would happen and it completely came out of the blue. The action and the fighting had me on the edge of my seat, there was never a sure thing over who or what would win, and right down to the last few chapters you are kept guessing over what the ending will be like. I loved getting to see this group of friends grow, as adults, as friends, and as fighters...fighters for the truth, for friendship, and for what is the right thing. I love how they were not easily coerced into something, that they had enough self belief in themselves and their friendship to know what was really right in their hearts. We even get to see an old face that really made me smile. Catalyst is a fantastic end to this series, which is a MUST READ for everyone, and I can't wait to see what the author has in store for us in the future. signed-by-author 6 likes Like Comment Kayla Ashley 118 reviews November 2, 2015 This was so good. I am so sad right now to say goodbye to this story and these characters. I really enjoyed this trilogy! I did have a few issues with this book but it was so wonderfully crafted and I enjoyed it so much that I feel like I have to give it 5 stars! :) books-i-own want-to-read-again 5 likes Like Comment Jennie 68 reviews 17 followers July 9, 2014 A solid conclusion to a solid series. Insignia was one of those books you blow through in a day. Sure, it may have been a bit derivative, but the strength of the plot and the characters was enough to keep me up all night. The second book, Vortex was less engaging. I forgive it, sophomore slump is not uncommon. But I finished it still interested in Tom Raines, still anticipating where the plot would go next. I take that all back for Catalyst . It's the best of the series, for me -- an accomplishment considering how much I've hated some of the conclusions of other YA trilogies (case in point: Divergent. Oh, Divergent). Breakneck pacing all the way through, more plot twists than you could ever see coming. Just when you think the stakes can't get any higher, Kincaid finds even more depraved and jaw-dropping ways to torture her characters. I loved it. And most of all, I love that it doesn't end on some semi-resolved cliffhanger. The ends are neatly tied up. The arcs of all the main characters is resolved. Every question I had about so-and-so's background, what happened to some minor character in book two -- resolved. Hallelujah. And no flash-forward where all the relationships she's constructed turn into cliche nuclear families where everything is perfect and nobody hurts (sorry, Rowling, but the epilogue was cringy). I was so dedicated to finishing this that I read it in the car on the way back from a roadtrip. Yes, in the car , braving inevitable car sickness. There's staying up until 4am reading dedication, and then there's I might vomit for this dedication. Thanks (I think), Kincaid. Oh, and I don't hate the main relationship. Halt the presses, I don't find the romance in a YA book tacked on, derivative, and one of the romantic interests cliche and boring. The love story actually has relevance to plot and character growth. Super satisfying end to a super satisfying series. This is one I'll probably read again, all three books in a row. fiction sci-fi ya 4 likes Like Comment Lindsay Cummings Author 15 books 5,074 followers October 15, 2014 I was always intrigued by the INSIGNIA series, especially when I heard that it was pitched as "Hogwarts in Space" on a recent Goodreads description. I hadn't picked up the series until HarperCollins sent me this final book for review. I picked it up...and flew through them all. I have always love SciFi, but for some reason, I'm reluctant to pick up some titles, because I'm afraid they will disappoint. Now I wish I'd picked up INSIGNIA long ago, so that I could be a part of the fandom's excitement all the way through! These books are SO well done. I love the concept, the characters, the writing, the entire world. I'm often afraid that when a series comes to an end, that it'll be disappointed. There have been a few YA series that have left me wanting more when it was all over, and not in a good way. Luckily, CATALYST delivered. At times, it was confusing, but that didn't matter after a few pages. And by the time I finished it (at 2am, as I always seem to finish books I love), I was so happy to see it ended the way I wanted it to end, which doesn't always happen! I'm hoping SJ Kincaid will have a new series in the future---I'm dying for more from this author!! 4 likes Like Comment N Islam 251 reviews 7 followers July 15, 2014 So, I've finished this entire series in 3 days. A book each day, and i don't regret it. This had to be one of the most rewarding stories I've ever read. Loads of people write dystopian/sci-fi without doing any research into science fiction or even science for that matter. This author most certainly did. I don't like bittersweet endings. This series makes you suffer through a lot of painful experiences, but I can assure you that there's a good end, and its a completely justified one. This book brought me to tears, made my laugh my ass of and left me reading non-stop. Its funny, crazy, romantic, well thought out and frankly a well written novel. I'd recommend this to anyone. fantasy sci-fi 4 likes Like Comment Reading is my Escape 952 reviews 48 followers March 9, 2017 I love this series. World War III played out in space by teenagers with computers in their heads. Evil corporations and men that control the food, the water, and the war. The teens experience typical teen angst, in addition to the intrigue and dangers of being pawns in a war. This final book in the series takes a bit of a turn, but I loved it! Read this series or encourage your 5th graders and up to read it!! ages-9-12 dystopian-future great-ya-series ...more 4 likes Like Comment Antonio Campos 496 reviews 31 followers December 26, 2019 Una forma sencillamente ingeniosa de cerrar esta trilogía. Es más, creo que esta trilogía pudo haberse extendido a una saga de 100 libros!. Quedo contento, satisfecho, esta trilogía cumplió con mis expectativas en su totalidad. Sencillamente genial. No encontré ningún defecto. Perfectos!!. 3 likes Like Comment Renuka 546 reviews 229 followers August 26, 2017 Let me get something out of the way. My younger brother is twelve years old. He loves playing video games and building things. I am a sixteen year old girl. I wear makeup and dresses and like shopping. We both love, love, love this series. This series is not for a particular group of people. It is for everyone because it is genius. Please do not be turned away because it is a science fiction series. It is genuinely a wonderful set of books. First off, it is funny. I have laughed out loud in all three books. My sides actually hurt from laughing alone in my room. (I have also heard my brother doing this very same thing). It is rife with hilarity. This last book takes a much darker turn than I expected compared to the other two, but it was also filled with light moments and brilliant dialogue. Why is it so funny? The characters of course! They are diverse, witty, and constantly teasing each other. They complement each other perfectly. There is our reckless protagonist, Tom. His best friend, Tiny Spicy Vikram. The Android (Yuri). And the brilliant, Man Hands (Wyatt). Their friendship gives me life, and I love the way they grow throughout the series. This last book showed me exactly how far they've come since starting out as naive little plebes. Secondly, the plot. Everything twists around in this last book. It darkens to a point I did not ever consider this series would go. It deals with questions of identity, justice, sacrifice and humanity. Again, the difference from book one is astonishing in how much the characters need to deal with. Kincaid does not hesitate to develop real threats in this novel. Joseph Vengerov's twisted mind games frightened even me. He certainly ranks high on the evil-o-meter with his villainy and disregard for human life. The romance. These books are pretty light on romance, but the relationships that grow certainly impact the book greatly. Tom and Medusa (not her real name obviously) have come a long way since beating each other up in simulations, and I loved how they didn't rush together. It was gradual and subtle throughout the series. It never overpowered the other friendships or the plot. Also, Wyatt and Yuri continue resolving their relationship which I loved. And finally, the ending. I'm sure people will complain about the "neat" ending. We all know the world is far from perfect. But the beauty of science fiction is that, we can imagine the world to become a utopia. The science fiction elements are just plain exciting! It is the stuff of dreams: computers in brains, nanomachines, simulations, space warships. I'm tired of post apocalyptic societies that suffer rebellions and utterly collapse. Why not a rebellion that ends in the reconstruction of a world? Old movie science fiction is back, and there are finally flying cars. Why not, after all? 2014-favorites action adventure ...more 3 likes Like Comment Audrey 412 reviews 102 followers September 19, 2014 4.5/5 Gosh, I love this series. I don't finish a lot of series, but boy am I glad to have finished this one. It's a bit slow to start, and it takes some time to get used to the characters, storyline, and terminology again... but it didn't take too long to get up and running again. I LOVED the way Kincaid has evolved her young, exciting action series into something more mature, thought-provoking, darker, and ominous. She went DARK, man, I didn't expect it but I really appreciated it anyway. She managed to up the stakes and deal WONDERFULLY with character development. Although we saw less of Wyatt, there were a few significant moments that I thought were just perfect. She's always been an underdog favourite of mine, and I love her character arc. Blackburn was always a wild-card (though I'll admit, I have forgotten a lot about his role in the earlier books) but I loved that he's a really complex, ambiguous character that I couldn't pinpoint. Vik and Yuri's dialogue was once again pitch perfect; they were unique and so entirely them . And of course, Tom. Tom Raines, I can't say enough good things about you, you wonderful character. Infinite hugs for you. His storyline was just beautifully done, which is kind of difficult when you feel caught up in a Transformers-movie-esque action scene, but still. Harrowing and heartbreaking at times, his progression in this entire series is marvellous. Kincaid gave us a sympathetic character who had to grow into his own, and undoubtedly succeeded. I liked the plot, although the ending was a bit too tidy for my liking, but the ride was so worth it. I had no idea how they'd get out of this mess, and the resolution was wholeheartedly satisfying. I liked how we ventured a lot further from the Spire and into the 'real world', away from pranks and into murders, villains, and the struggle for humanity. It's an imaginative series with broad appeal that has great characters, writing, pacing, and heart. As a picky reader, I'm not easily impressed... I'll be sitting here urging you to pick this series up. Thank you, SJ Kincaid. best-of-2014 3 likes Like Comment Aylee 266 reviews 71 followers January 27, 2015 You can also read this review on my blog In short: Catalyst by S.J. Kincaid is a fantastic finale to a very entertaining trilogy. And so ends another much beloved series. I've been anticipating the ending to this high-action, high-stakes dystopian sci-fi for a while now - and thankfully this finale doesn't disappoint! The Insignia Trilogy follows gamer Tom Raines who, upon being recruited by the Pentagon and having a chip implanted in his head, can control fighter ships remotely in space as part of an intrasolar World War III. It's Ender's Game for a new generation and it's AWESOME. Catalyst is the darkest book yet in this trilogy - the stakes are at their highest and the plot is at its most perilous. S.J. Kincaid takes risks and introduces twists and I have to applaud her for them as that's exactly what I want and NEED to see in a finale to a series like this. This series is also memorable to me because of the many moments of hilarity it induced while reading - and while Catalyst is the darkest and least playful of the trilogy, there was still some room for S.J. Kincaid's brilliant humour and I welcomed that. As with Insignia and Vortex, I will say that the plot reaches almost ridiculous levels - complexity-wise and plausibility-wise - in Catalyst. The reliance on technologically-related plots sometimes goes over my head, while the political inferences are sometimes a bit on the nose. This series isn't about subtlety, it's about that entertainment factor and it definitely delivers on that. I will be sad to say goodbye to the greatest friends Tom, Vik, Wyatt, and Yuri, but I am pleased at least that Catalyst was a satisfying ending to an exciting series. 3 likes Like Comment Marcus 64 reviews 20 followers May 13, 2015 Let me start this Review by saying: "The World does not come to an End on Page 171, it will be okay." In my opinion catalyst starts off a little slow, with no clear cut path. Really Kincaid spends a lot of time in the first half of the book setting up for the climax. And setting up with what will happen in the latter half. Which she does a good job doing. The first half of the book is a four star, but the second half is a five star. Finally for those readers who are wondering... Blackburn and Raines make a truce of not to kill eachother. This might be considered a spoiler, but in my opinion it was obvious and predictable. But I didn't tell you how???? (That u have to read to find out) I did find not to be big surprise ending, but en emotional ending where everything Tom and his crew of Yuri, Wyatt, and The spicy Indian go through to be entertaining, satisfying and emotional. Most books try to wow you with a huge emotional ending. This book did have a good ending, but not because of one last big scene. But because it all just comes to together emotionally for everyone at the end. 3 likes Like Comment Michael 121 reviews 46 followers January 20, 2016 I think this series is underrated or at least under read on Goodreads. Granted it isn't earth shatteringly awesome, but it is a worthy book in its own right with a complex story and fun dialog. This final book had me repeatedly thinking "how is this going to wrap up this whole series by the end of this book?" There was just so much conflict and I couldn't predict the resolution. I can say that the ending didn't feel rushed or abused as things moved toward completion. This isn't a complaint about the story but I do wonder if you can't kill or hurt Vengerov you could at least imprison him somehow. I mean it would still take some doing, but if you trapped him somewhere and cut him off from technology and the internet then he would be neutralized. Easier done by Blackburn before the events of book 3 though. 2016 favorites-young-adult 3 likes Like Comment Guillermo Morales Author 10 books 15 followers May 17, 2017 No tengo palabras para decir lo mucho que me hizo sentir este libro. Me saco infinidad de carcajadas, me hizo enojar e incluso me entró frustación por no poder ayudar. Lo me sorprendió fue como pasó, de entrenamientos para las Fuerzas Instrasolares a la unión de naciones para evitar que una persona se hiciera con todo el control del mundo. Me voy a llorar al rincón. 2017 adquiridos-2016 favorites ...more 3 likes Like Comment Majd 148 reviews 6 followers February 22, 2016 Amazing characters. Amazing character development. So many emotions. Has its faults, but makes you feel so much that you don't even care. This is one of my all-time favourite series and Thomas Raines will forever have a dear place in my heart. 3 likes Like Comment Taschima 904 reviews 458 followers January 6, 2015 This book was SO good, I literally have no words for it. Review to come, when I am able to get my thoughts straight again. e-arc-titles-done my-happy-place 3 likes Like Comment Gary 167 reviews 69 followers December 29, 2015 the end of this series was a bit of a let down don't get me wrong i enjoyed it put i feel as if there is so much still missing from the story so because of that only four stars 3 likes Like Comment Shannon 508 reviews 2 followers July 18, 2017 I no longer think it's possible to read an S.J. Kincaid book and not love it. She's amazing! I love this series so much. I don't know why I put off reading this for so long. For some reason I thought I wasn't really into the series anymore but this book quickly sucked me back in and I loved it. It is definitely one of the best sci-fi series out there. If you love Harry Potter and space you need to check it out! 2 likes Like Comment Shaheen 639 reviews 75 followers January 14, 2015 Catalyst is the final instalment of the amazing science fiction series that began with Insignia . Tom Raines faces new challenges in this book and faces them with his usual combination of bravery and brashness. The world-building in this series has always been one of my favourite things, and this book impressed me with how much it explored the consequences of everything in it. Tom Raines is one of a small group of teenagers picked to train as Combatants in WW3. This war is waged off-Earth - unmanned spaceships and drones battle in space, piloted on Earth by teenagers that have brain implants in their heads that help them perform complex calculations and interface with machines. There are new alliances in this world, and the war-effort (and thus the world) is controlled by huge corporations that own the spaceships, drones, and Combatants that are used in combat. Catalyst explores how dangerous it is to have the corporations in charge of everything, and how destructive the brain-implants can be in the wrong hands. Tom Raines begins the book as an Upper within the Spire, but ends it a hero who has saved the world from a terrible fate. Tom's character growth caught me off guard in this book. I spent most of the second book, Vortex , being exasperated and angry at his immaturity and stupidity, but Tom's learnt a few lessons since he was fifteen and it shows in his conduct and the decisions he makes in this book. He's always been brave, but now he takes the time to think through what he's doing and examines the consequences. He's also a lot less selfish and self-centred, which was great (for me anyway). I've always loved the secondary cast in this series because they're so realistic and awesome! Tom's best friend Vik deserves a special mention for how he looks out for Tom (he didn't do a very good job in Vortex ). Wyatt's story-line surprised me but her relationship with Yuri made me very happy! And Yuri's still amazing :) Vengerov is one of the most nuanced villains I've had the pleasure of reading, with a believable history and motivation. I especially loved the twist near the end! However, the award for best supporting actor must go to Blackburn! I also liked the way the romantic storyline between Tom and Yaolan turned out. It's super sweet and cute! Catalyst is a stunning conclusion to one of the best YA science fiction I've ever read. I've thoroughly enjoyed my journey with Tom and the gang and highly recommend the series to readers who enjoy the works of Michael Grant. A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review. You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic . 4-not-on-shelf 2 likes Like Comment Christina (Ensconced in Lit) 984 reviews 291 followers July 26, 2014 I received this ARC from Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review, thanks! I love when authors totally, utterly, and completely prove me wrong. I enjoyed Insignia, but wasn't in love, then read Vortex, and was very impressed, and the there's Catalyst, which is by far my favorite of the three. I don't know of a series where the books improved so much from book to book, but Kincaid has definitely done that in spades. I picked up Catalyst yesterday evening for some light night time reading, and that was a HUGE mistake, as instead of going to sleep like a normal person, I ended up staying up into the wee hours of the morning finishing it. But I don't regret it one bit, just had to have a little extra caffeine before work. I don't usually do that, so it just proves how much I loved and was impressed by this book. Catalyst takes place right after the events of VORTEX when Tom makes another big decision that echoes around him as the book starts. All of his relationships are in jeopardy, and he pretty much put a sign on his head for Vengerov to come kill him. Things take a dark turn, which was another risky move by Kincaid, but once again, she totally pulls it off as what happens to Tom, is so important for his development as a character as well as how the rest of the story plays out. I don't want to say much more, but there were several twists that completely surprised me (and were deployed perfectly at the right time), and from the first few pages, the story doesn't lose its lightning pace until the very end. I was so unbelievably blown away with this book. And I don't impress easily. The world building as usual is incredible, which is totally hard to do in a sci fi novel, and the character arcs and development finally finish in this installment. Everything is resolved one way or another, and I think it's in a very satisfactory and perfect way. While it is the darkest of the three books, we've been heading this way for a long time, and it's the only way the story could go. I love how Kincaid barrels ahead, willing to take risks, and then executes them in a way that knocked my socks off. I went from thinking Kincaid was a talented writer with a lot of potential to now completely convinced she can do anything she sets her mind to. She's arrived. Overall, one of the best if not BEST ending to a trilogy I've ever read, and you'll want to read all three of these books back to back. I knew after reading this book I needed to have the entire set on my shelf. wishlist-arc 2 likes Like Comment Ally 1,346 reviews 82 followers December 24, 2015 I have to admit that it's only polite curiosity that brings me back to finishing this trilogy. After the crazy events in Vortex, I'm not quite happy with the series. Insignia will and always will be my favorite book. But... When I start reading Catalyst, I start liking this book too. It's much, much better than Vortex, and the stakes are so much higher than ever. Tom Raines is annoying, but he is that kind of annoying that grows on a person. Catalyst shows one of the most interesting character development of Tom Raines, and it definitely doesn't hide how much Tom is affected by torture. (And I mean, extreme torture. Psychological torture that one doesn't walk unscathed away from.) He learns so much from his experience, and he reaches out to people. It's a big change from who he was in the beginning of Insignia, and I'm so glad he isn't that teenage boy from Vortex. Blackburn has a few great moment, but there is a quote that comes to mind. I don't remember the exact quote, but he highlights one of Tom's most annoying yet also influential talents. He can create crazy disaster in even the most "benign" problems. Blackburn is amazing, and even though he is slightly similar to Professor Snape, he does come for our heroes in the very end. It's a very bittersweet ending for him, but I think Blackburn wouldn't have it any other way. The plot is seriously unstoppable. It starts off with a mystery, several murders, a nasty problem, and strange occurrences. Though the action is mixed with light-hearted and tender moments between friends, I honestly can't but hope for more friendship moments. (But the lack of sweet moments most definitely serves a purpose.) Tom's character arc remains one of the strongest parts of the book, and he learns and learns and learns. He matures. Though he does has his James Bond-like moments. (63 kills in a stimulation. A freaking one-man army.) The ending of Catalyst is great, and I can't think of any other way to end it. (After all, in this genre, there is always someone dying.) Catalyst, as the last installment in this series, is wonderful, and it proves to be a strong sequel to Vortex. Overall, Catalyst ends the trilogy cleanly without any large complications. The adventure of Tom and his friends is left open for more stories. This book is definitely for those who would love a Sci-Fi version of Hogwarts. Rating: Four out of Five -ofpaperandwords.blogspot.com 2 likes Like Comment Shelley 5,358 reviews 482 followers October 27, 2014 **I received this book for free from Katherine Tegen Books via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.** *Genre* Young Adult, Science Fiction *Rating* 3.5 *My Thoughts* CATALYST brings an end to the INSIGNIA trilogy, and sends our hero, Tom Raines, off into the sunset where he definitely deserves a much need vacation. Tom is once again joined by his gang of misfits/friends; Vikra Ashwan, Wyatt Enslow, and Yuri Sysevich. CATALYST is by far the darkest novel of the trilogy, and Kincaid doesn't leave anything to chance. **Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews* Link Below! http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201... *Recvd 05/29/2014 via Edelweiss* Expected publication: October 28th 2014 by Katherine Tegen Books 2014-release edelweiss-arc katherine-tegen-books ...more 2 likes Like Comment Andres Becerra 168 reviews September 8, 2016 Me demoré por que estaba como con una pequeña resaca literaria. Pero es perfecto de principio a fin, está lleno de giros y lleno de acción. Se puede ver como el personaje sigue evolucionando a pesar de los momentos difíciles que está pasando. Uno de los mejores finales de trilogías que he leído hasta el momento. Me encariñe bastante de cada personaje y se les extrañará bastante. No se si quedarme con este o con la primera parte, por que ambos están llenos de acción y partes que te dejan completamente impactado y con ganas de querer leer más. Sinceramente recomiendo esta saga, y no sé por que es tan poco conocida, aunque poco a poco veo que más gente la lee. Buen trabajo S.J.Kincaid. 5/5 Estrellas. Gracias al Mon <3 2 likes Like Comment Christina 423 reviews 31 followers December 5, 2016 Kapow, I've finished this series! It's hard to believe I could complete a series in such record time but S.J. Kincaid made it so easy with her inspiring plot and loveable characters (even the ones you hate at first, you'll grow to love in the end)! The Insignia series has been nothing short of spectacular from the very first book. Catalyst concluded everything wonderfully, delivering more impressive twists and mind-numbing action than ever. 2016-series-challenge 2 likes Like Comment Ara Montoya 153 reviews 27 followers August 18, 2015 Ochenta mil estrellas. 3 likes Like Comment Jaci 412 reviews May 17, 2023 Como había mencionado en mi reseña del primer libro, hubiera amado esta serie si la hubiese leído a mis 15 años. Aun así, la historia me gustó, hay mucha tecnología y asuntos que llegan a engancharte. En este último libro se le da aún más importancia a la amistad y el trabajo en equipo. Además sentí a Tom más maduro y eso fue bueno porque en el libro anterior detesté a este personaje. Si quieres descansar de lecturas pesadas y quieres darte una escapadita a una aventura juvenil con tecnología y realidad virtual, esta serie es la indicada. 1 like Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 475 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 1 quote 1 discussion 7 questions Can't find what you're looking for? 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Final Girls by Riley Sager | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $4.99 Rate this book Final Girls Riley Sager 3.83 192,697 ratings 22,082 reviews Want to read Kindle $4.99 Rate this book Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Horror (2017) Ten years ago, college student Quincy Carpenter went on vacation with five friends and came back alone, the only survivor of a horror movie–scale massacre. In an instant, she became a member of a club no one wants to belong to—a group of similar survivors known in the press as the Final Girls. Lisa, who lost nine sorority sisters to a college dropout's knife; Sam, who went up against the Sack Man during her shift at the Nightlight Inn; and now Quincy, who ran bleeding through the woods to escape Pine Cottage and the man she refers to only as Him. The three girls are all attempting to put their nightmares behind them, and, with that, one another. Despite the media's attempts, they never meet. Now, Quincy is doing well—maybe even great, thanks to her Xanax prescription. She has a caring almost-fiancé, Jeff; a popular baking blog; a beautiful apartment; and a therapeutic presence in Coop, the police officer who saved her life all those years ago. Her memory won’t even allow her to recall the events of that night; the past is in the past. That is, until Lisa, the first Final Girl, is found dead in her bathtub, wrists slit, and Sam, the second, appears on Quincy's doorstep. Blowing through Quincy's life like a whirlwind, Sam seems intent on making Quincy relive the past, with increasingly dire consequences, all of which makes Quincy question why Sam is really seeking her out. And when new details about Lisa's death come to light, Quincy's life becomes a race against time as she tries to unravel Sam's truths from her lies, evade the police and hungry reporters, and, most crucially, remember what really happened at Pine Cottage, before what was started ten years ago is finished. Genres Thriller Horror Mystery Fiction Mystery Thriller Audiobook Adult ...more 368 pages, Hardcover First published July 11, 2017 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Riley Sager 15 books 37k followers Riley Sager is the New York Times bestselling author of eight novels, most recently THE ONLY ONE LEFT and THE HOUSE ACROSS THE LAKE. His first thriller, FINAL GIRLS, won the ITW Thriller Award for Best Hardcover Novel and has been published in more than thirty-five countries. His latest novel, MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, will be published in June. A native of Pennsylvania, he now lives in Princeton, New Jersey. When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, cooking and going to the movies as much as possible. His favorite film is "Rear Window." Or maybe "Jaws." But probably, if he's being honest, "Mary Poppins." Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.83 192,697 ratings 22,082 reviews 5 stars 49,187 (25%) 4 stars 79,582 (41%) 3 stars 49,410 (25%) 2 stars 11,791 (6%) 1 star 2,727 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 22,079 reviews Emily May 2,059 reviews 312k followers July 14, 2017 I must confess my expectations were pretty high going into Final Girls . It's been receiving starred and positive reviews left, right and centre. It keeps popping up on the "must-read thrillers of 2017" lists. So I'll allow that the extent of my disappointment might have something to do with that. Final Girls takes the trope of the "final girl" - the blood-soaked sole survivor that staggers away from a massacre at the end of a horror movie, like Sally Hardesty and Alice Hardy - and attempts to turn it on its head. In this book, Quincy Carpenter is one of those Final Girls. A party at a cabin in the woods with a bunch of her drunk friends ends with all of them dead. Except Quincy... the Final Girl. Years later, she's moving on. Sort of. She is with a great guy called Jeff and she bakes to soothe all her troubles. Until one day, a woman called Lisa - the first Final Girl - is found dead. Shortly after, yet another Final Girl - Samantha Boyd - shows up at Quincy's home. The first two thirds-ish of the book is so so sloooowwwww . In the present, Quincy spent her time baking cupcakes and angsting over the past that she doesn't remember, and having the most dull disagreements with Jeff the bore. When Sam shows up, we spend more time making baked goods, followed by some bonding and nail-painting... and who the hell cares?! This alternates with the past - short scenes from the Pine Cabin massacre - but for a long time, we get nothing here either. These snippets show the teens getting drunk, smoking pot, and Quincy debating whether she wants to lose her virginity or not. I'm sorry, but I couldn't help thinking: will someone come along and kill these people already? I upped my rating to two stars because things picked up around the last third of the novel. Dramatic things started to happen. It is not a spoiler to say that Sam Boyd is one seriously twisted character with several closets full of secrets. And, of course, the Pine Cabin massacre is not all it first appears. But then the ending happened and I felt let down again . I'll say one positive thing - the author successfully juggles a handful of red herrings throughout, and many of the things the reader will probably expect to happen are not the twist the book moves towards. That being said, I thought the actual reveal was disappointing. It didn't seem to fit with the rest of the story and felt plucked from nowhere for the sake of having a shock ending. I didn't buy into it. Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube 2017 mystery-thriller 1,171 likes 3 comments Like Comment megs_bookrack 1,805 reviews 12.2k followers April 10, 2024 Do you love Teen Scream, or Slasher films? If you answered yes, I would highly recommend you pick up Final Girls by the always fantastic, Riley Sager. Personally, I love Slashers, as well as B-Horror in general and I REALLY enjoyed this book. Yes, I do believe there's a correlation. Let me be clear, calling a movie B-Horror is not shade. It's a feeling. You know the ones: attractive young people, usually high school or college age, getting together, drinking, flirting, making bad choices and before you know it, a blood bath ensues. They're campy, they're funny, they're gross and they're my favorite. Also, this is not necessarily a Horror novel. I would classify it as a Thriller with a Slasher film edge. What Riley Sager does here is bring that B-Horror feeling to life on the page. I live for that! So well done. I would definitely reread this. 539 likes 8 comments Like Comment Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin 3,588 reviews 10.8k followers January 24, 2018 Let us just take a moment to admire the beauty of my UK edition of this book. My favorite colors together: pink & black =) As you will see in the first picture, it's the standard front cover with brilliant pink and black standing out. Oh, Book Depository I love you and thank you for making my day. This next photo shows you the inside cover flap which is black and goes perfectly with the rest of the book. And in the final ( <--- heh ) picture, we have the freaking awesome black colored outer edges. I'm freaking in love! Oh, and don't mind Frankie there, he didn't come with the book. He belongs to my dog, Lucy, and he just wanted to help out. He's awesome that way. Now lets crack on with the review! I thought this book was fan freaking tastic! I'm glad I stick to my guns and read what I want because there were mixed reviews on this one. But, I don't give a rats behind! I read what I want! And don't be coming on my review saying how much you didn't like the book. RESPECT people. I don't need nobody trying to rain on my parade! Ya get me? I didn't read much of the summary of this book. I just read about final girls and something about a killer. To be honest, I was thinking about that movie I love and own, see below ↓ It wasn't nothing like that people. So, there are these three women. WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ********* SOME MILD SPOILERS************** So, there are these three women. They each go through a horrific ordeal with a crazed killer and they each live to tell the tale, well for the most part. They get labeled the final girls because they were the final ones in a killing spree. It's this whole thing, you can probably look it up or watch that cool movie I mentioned above. Anyway, we have Quincey, Sam and Lisa. Quincy is the main character in this book because she just is and Lisa has some stuff and then Sam comes in and she's all in some stuff with Quincy. Quincy has a nice life. A great home, husband, a cooking blog and she's all good. Well, not so much, she's on pills and can't ever remember what happened all of those years ago. She still talks to the cop that saved her, just sort of a see how you're doing from time to time. The final girls have never met one another. Quincy and Lisa talked a few times but never in person. Then Lisa is dead. How? What? Not telling you. Then Sam shows up on Quincy's doorstep. I'm thinking, girl you have never seen this woman in your life and they never had anything but yearbook pictures of her. Don't be letting people into your apartment. I mean seriously? The girls strike up a weird type of friendship and then all kinds of weird stuff starts going on. Then Quincy starts remembering things! She's the only one that couldn't remember anything from her attack and all of her friends getting killed. But now it's slowly coming out . . . Then all kinds of cray stuff starts happening and it's the what the hell moments and then all this stuff happens and it ends. I'm like, well, I thought I saw that coming. But, I didn't! Anyway, who cares. It was soooooooooo good, I loved it. I'm so glad I got it and a million starts goes to the cover. Enjoy! Mel ♥ MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List favorites mystery-thriller-etc own 475 likes Like Comment emma 2,121 reviews 67.3k followers February 3, 2022 i had a weird time reading this. it was unlike any thriller i've read, which at first seemed good and then turned out to definitively not be. https://emmareadstoomuch.wordpress.co... let's get into it. the title "Final Girls" is a reference to a group of 3 women who were the sole survivors of separate serial-killer massacres: Lisa, Samantha, and Quincy (our narrator). they're tabloid darlings each living separate lives (with varying degrees of normalcy) until one of them dies. ooOOH SPOOKY WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?!?!? (unfortunately, it's nothing anywhere near as exciting as what that glorious premise deserves.) first compliments!!! hurray. the good: -the main character, quincy, runs a baking blog and it's really cute - you should know by now that sweets are a passion of mine so that's exciting -neither of my 2 guesses for what The Big Reveal™ would be were exactly right (i really care about two things in a thriller: i want to have fun guessing the ending and i want my guesses to be wrong, and i want to be scared. or at least, you know, thrilled. and i guess it's good that this checked one of those boxes. the less important one, but still one of them.) -a little bit of the last chunk was somewhat exciting. at times. (how enthusiastic does THAT sound?) -as mentioned, the concept itself was very good (but GOD why couldn't the book live up to it) the bad: -nothing happens for the first 3/4 of the book. SERIOUSLY NOTHING. starting yesterday i just had to hunker down and read this in 100 page chunks. it never!! grabbed me!! and like it's a thriller so i'd like to be grabbed. (...you know what i mean) -like i was literally checking Goodreads and Snapchat and my email and whatnot every five seconds. just bored af. -the first 75% was also So Repetitive. i really wanna avoid spoilers, so i'll just say that the book implies two potential Big Reveals™ over. and over. and over. -even the interactions feel repetitive -Sam and Quincy's conversations and banter are always the saaaaaame. Jeff and Quincy have identical "r u ok" convos 3298472389 times. -we hear the same spiel about Quincy's mom easily 8 times. if i have to read the phrase "Xanax and grape soda" one more time i'll be sent spiraling into a war flashback so intense i'll forget what reality is. -most of the characters are BANANAS FLAT. Sam and Coop and Jeff, for sure. i have no real concept of Lisa. and it's IMPOSSIBLE to get a grip on who the hell Quincy is. -when things start to come together (FINALLY) in the last third, it's, well...it's not great. here are some adjectives i would use to describe it: choppy, confusing, nonsensical, poorly explained, half-baked, characterizationally ill-fitting -the climax of the book happens at about page 320 out of 345 and is over in 10 pages, SO THAT'S NOT EXACTLY A PAYOFF WORTHY OF THE 800 TIMES I READ ABOUT QUINCY LOOKING AT THE DOOR TO THE GUEST ROOM -the last five pages really don't make sense or offer closure or fit with whatever scraps of concrete characterization Quincy had wow. i really didn't think i had that much of a rant in me. but sweet lord i am so disappointed in this book. I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE GREAT. bottom line: how much thrill could this "thriller" thrill if a thriller actually thrilled? also........thanks much to Penguin First to Read for the ARC! i love that program. 2-stars arc eh ...more 472 likes 1 comment Like Comment Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) 1,643 reviews 254 followers January 20, 2018 I seem to be on a run of really good books at the moment but this one totally blew me away! "Final Girls" by Riley Sager was just SOOOO good!! I was drawn into this intense story from the very first page until the tremendously gripping end. I started this on a Saturday morning and I was a ghost in my house until it was finished Sunday night it is that unputdownable and addictive! "Final Girls" is about three girls, Quincy, Sam and Lisa, sole survivors of three separate murderous killing sprees but linked by their trauma. When Lisa dies mysteriously and Sam suddenly turns up on Quincy's doorstep, a series of events following their new friendship ensues. Who can Quincy trust and will she totally remember the events of that terrible night she endured many years ago. You just don't know where this story is going at times it's so well plotted and written - just when you think you may have worked everything out you realise in the final chapters you are so wrong! Twists and turns will keep you guessing all the way! There's two stories running alongside each other, the present day Quincy and the unfolding events that occurred the night she survived her ordeal at Pine Cottage with the horrid anticipation of what's going to happen clearly palpable. I love this style of writing which for me always adds to the enjoyment of the plot. I'm not normally easily freaked out but I have to admit that there were times that there was slivers of ice running down my spine and I'm not sure I would like to read this late at night and on my own! Adrenaline was searing at my senses during the highly climatic end! This was one hell of thrilling ride, I know Riley Sager will do really well with this book - I wouldn't be surprised if this was made into a horror/thriller movie. I more than recommend "Final Girls" and I will certainly read more by this author in the future. For a writer to be able to engage the reader as well as this debut author has done, is just amazing and this hotly anticipated book will resolutely be the talk of 2017!! A huge 5 stars! giveaways kept-book 429 likes Like Comment Chelsea Humphrey 1,487 reviews 81.8k followers July 27, 2017 3.5 stars I feel like the past 13 reviews I have written have been tough; they all are books that I don’t want to spoil for the reader and am having trouble putting the proper wording forward to describe my feelings. I’m going to try and be brief on this review, but I’ve found myself somewhere in the middle of the opinions I’m seeing spread out over the internet. Yes, if you are a regular reader of thrillers and mysteries you have a good chance of having the whodunnit figured out early on (I don’t want to say exactly when I had it figured out to avoid spoilers as it was very early on), but honestly it doesn’t matter as Final Girls is still a compulsive and addictive read. Let me back up for a moment… As an avid reader in the Mystery/Thriller/Suspense genre (meaning I read on average 150-200 books in the genre per year), it’s getting difficult to find a book where the big twist is a complete surprise. I’m going to share a secret of mine, because it may help another reader as it’s helped me. After I read the unspecified section of the beginning of the book, I flipped to the end to see if my guesses were correct. GASP! Hold the torches and pitchforks! When I confirmed my suspicions, I realized the burden of expectation that we as readers place on a big, shocking reveal just became another aspect of the plot. I enjoyed the book even more than I would have with unrealistic expectations. All this to say, I’m glad I skipped ahead before reading the entire book as it allowed me to enjoy the journey just as much as the conclusion. Being the huge fan of slasher films that I am, I was thrilled to see that this story stuck to the traditional formula that we find in movies such as Scream (my personal favorite) and Halloween . If there has ever been a book categorized as pure fun and entertainment, this is it! I found myself agreeing with most of the positive comments in friend’s reviews; I favored the flashback scenes and found myself completely lost in the story. If you are looking for a read to blow through in a weekend any time of the year, look no further. Here’s where I’ve seen people differing on their thoughts; some felt the characterization and present day scenes were slow going and not as gripping as the flashbacks. Here’s my take; the characterization, especially with Quincy, was my favorite part of the book! Call me weird, but I found myself lost in thought wondering what it would be like surviving something so horrifying and being left with the guilt of being the only one to live through it. Watching Quincy’s perfect facade slowly melt away once Sam enters her life again was quite literally breathtaking and the strongest story building pieces of the overall puzzle. This is what set apart Final Girls from similar horror stories that were B-rated at best. If you’re on the fence about this one, just go ahead and read it. Everyone else is doing it-PEER PRESSURE!!! In all seriousness, you’ll have a hard time finding anything like it if you’re looking to be fully entertained. While this isn’t what true horror readers would classify as “horror”, it does contain aspects of the genre and would be a great bridge for those readers looking to dip their toes into darker waters. This will be especially appealing to readers who are fairly new to the thriller genre and looking for the next popular read to keep them guessing. I’m really excited to see what Riley Sager brings to the table next! *Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy; it was a pleasure to provide my honest thoughts here. from-publisher 389 likes Like Comment Melissa 647 reviews 29k followers July 14, 2017 Reminiscent of a slasher flick, Final Girls sticks pretty close to the typical script. All of the required components are there—survivor of a murder spree that’s barely holding it together, dead space where there should be memories, a person or two casting doubt, the hair-raising feeling that things aren’t at all what they seem and most importantly, a leading lady that makes a ton of questionable choices. It’s been ten years since Quincy and a group of friends were attacked in a remote cabin by a knife-wielding psycho and she was the ‘Final Girl’ left standing. As Quincy recovers her lost memories and slowly unravels the truth of what really happened all those years ago at Pine Cottage, it becomes clear there was one major detail that everyone got wrong about that night. Despite all outward appearances—her baking blog, swanky apartment and relationship with a successful guy—Quincy is a mess. Really though, after what she’s been through, who wouldn’t be? Still haunted by what happened, she's prone to popping Xanax and washing it down with a swig of grape soda. My initial thought was that Quincy was doing the best she could—faking it until she makes it. I would even go so far to say I liked her . . . in the beginning. Quincy, along with two other women that survived their own separate nightmares, were dubbed ‘Final Girls’ by the media and garnered a ton of attention. Let’s be honest here for a minute though, shall we? With social media making news stories like this so readily available, these chicks would have had their fifteen-minutes of fame and the world would have moved on to the next crime. There wouldn’t be this huge media following 10-14 years later, despite one of the ‘Final Girls’ dying a suspicious death and the other arriving on Quincy’s doorstep. I’d expect some news coverage and maybe a Dateline special, but a front page spread and paparazzi . . . I’d say not. Have I mentioned, I struggle with suspending disbelief? The author flips the timeline between the present—Quincy and Samantha on a downward spiral together—and Pine Cottage. For me, it was the teens in the woods that held the most interest. I found the present chapters to be a little repetitive and slow; I was constantly waiting for something exciting to happen. A large part of my disdain resided with how unlikable I found Samantha to be and the fact that those feelings started to stain Quincy as well. I didn’t expect her to fall apart quite so easily at the hands of this stranger, who was a complete wreck herself. The story gained some much needed momentum in the last thirty pages or so, leaving me eager to confirm my suspicions. Despite all of the doubt the author had been casting, I was pretty confident I had in fact figured it all out. I'm happy to admit now, Riley Sager played me. I was completely wrong! Again, the author might have stuck to the proven slasher flick formula by pulling out a surprise ending, but it only helped to redeem the story in my eyes. Had it not been for that ending, my feelings and rating would have been drastically different. I have to disagree with the almighty Mr. Stephen King who declared this book to be the “ first great thriller of 2017 ”. Marketing hype aside, I would say this mild thriller is enjoyable for the most part, but not memorable. *My first Goodreads Giveaway win! Imagine my surprise when I opened the mailbox and discovered I was lucky enough to snag an advanced reading copy from Dutton. Yay me! 2017 horror suspense-mystery-thriller ...more 302 likes Like Comment destiny ♡ howling libraries 1,845 reviews 6,013 followers November 11, 2019 "We were, for whatever reason, the lucky ones who survived when no one else had. Pretty girls covered in blood. As such, we were each in turn treated like something rare and exotic. A beautiful bird that spreads its bright wings only once a decade." Let me start this review by saying that I wanted to love this book. I honestly went into it expecting it to be amazing. Everyone I know who had read it gave it 4+ stars, so that must mean it's flawless, right? Sadly... I must have missed something, because I almost DNF'd this about a dozen times. PLOT ➳➳ This book starts off by following Quincy, who is a "final girl"; this term is derived from horror films, and refers to the last girl standing. Almost a decade prior, Quinn and her friends were savagely attacked by a mass murderer while on a weekend cabin trip, and only Quinn survived. The biggest problem? She has no memory of anything that happened between the moments before the attack and the moment she was rescued. Maybe part of my problem with this book was the fact that I went into it expecting it to pick up with some sort of action right from the start. Nope! The first 60% of this book had me beyond bored. It turns out that the bulk of the plot for the first while is just Quinn coping with what happened to her, getting to know her asshole public defender boyfriend, her Super-McSteamy-cop-who's-clearly-in-love-with-me-but-of-course-I-don't-want-to-sleep-with-him-who-me-nope-no-way-teehee savior Coop, finding out that the oldest "Final Girl" has just mysteriously committed suicide, and meeting the middle "Final Girl", Sam, who is established as being Pretty Freaking Strange from the get-go. The second half of the book is a slew of twists and turns that mostly just didn't make a whole lot of sense and/or felt super predictable. I think I guessed both of the "big twists" 30% in? And one of those big twists, when I finished the book, made me realize... why was it even there? What sense did it make? It was this huge build-up and yet it ultimately added nothing of value. CHARACTERS ➳➳ Alright, y'all already know I'm a sucker for good characters; I'll ignore a poorly developed plot all day long if there's some good, solid character development and at least one likable starring role. Sadly, this book was not having ANY of my nonsense. • Quinn is awful. I mean genuinely, 100% awful. She is so self-contradicting it's pathetic, and she just makes one terrible decision after another. I rolled my eyes so many times I'm surprised they didn't fall out of my head. • Jeff, the public defender boyfriend? Also awful. He spends most of the book demanding Quinn to fit into his little box of Perfect Survivor Girl Who Never Dwells on the Traumas of Her Past™, and every time she slips outside of it and shows any form of weakness, he strikes. • Sam is boring, and annoying, and she ends every other sentence with “babe”. That’s all I really can say. • Everyone else is either too minor to mention or their entire existence is a ~twist~ so I don’t wanna spoil anything for you lovely folks. FINAL VERDICT ➳➳ I wanted to love this book. I tried to love this book. I couldn't do it. I would still encourage anyone who's a fan of adult thrillers to check this book out, because seriously, guys, my entire friends list seems to be head over heels for this book, and if that's the case, I want people to pick it up and read it and hopefully fall in love with it. That just didn't happen for me. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dutton for providing me with this ARC! As you can see, my opinions are entirely my own. adult mystery-thriller review-copies 288 likes Like Comment zuza_zaksiazkowane 437 reviews 39.5k followers April 23, 2024 Ehhhh…. Chyba niedługo skończę przygodę z Riley Sagerem :((( in-my-home-library mystery-thriller 248 likes 1 comment Like Comment Paromjit 2,944 reviews 25.4k followers May 25, 2017 This is a dark and unsettling psychological thriller that made me uncomfortable but compelled to get the bottom of the various mysteries in the novel. A hungry media have dubbed Quinn Carpenter, Lisa Milner and Samantha Boyd, the infamous Final Girls, a term derived from horror movies for the last woman standing in a bloodbath where a serial killer has murdered everyone else. The women have never met but the suicide of Lisa is the catalyst for Quinn's carefully rebuilt world to begin to disintegrate. Quinn has a beautiful apartment in Manhattan, bought from the proceeds of legal settlements and media interviews. She has a fiance, Jeff, who makes her feel secure, and is planning to marry him. She is supported unwaveringly by Coop, the cop who shot the killer and saved her from the massacre at Pine Cottage where all her friends died. She writes a popular baking blog, which has helped her maintain her sanity through dark times and she relies on Xanax, to mentally cope with the world. She is scared by Lisa's death and the myriad of implications it might have for her. Quinn receives a visit from Sam Boyd whom she invites to stay in her apartment. No-one else knows what it is like to be a Final Girl, and when the media prints a photograph of the two of them, she becomes closer to Sam seeking reassurance and support. However, Quinn's personality begins to markedly change as she begins to engage in risky and dangerous behaviours and actions that jeopardises the life she has so painstakingly built. She has no memory of the horror that occurred at Pine Cottage but details start to come back to her. She has never been able to call the killer by his name, this triggers an emotional panic attack and Sam is pushing her to remember. Can she trust Sam? In a story full of twists, we come to finally understand precisely what happened at Pine Cottage. This is a atmospheric thriller I could not stop reading. It has a compelling narrative that grips, you get drawn into into the shaky and unreliable world of Quinn Carpenter. It is so well plotted to ramp up the suspense and the feeling of fear that pervades the book keeps you on tenterhooks. I was mesmerised by the character of Quinn, so stunningly developed and that of Sam, as I wondered who exactly she was and what did she want from Quinn? Sam insinuates herself into Quinn's life and apartment with no intention of leaving whatsoever. A brilliant and gripping read that I highly recommend. Thanks to Random House Ebury for an ARC. crime-fiction mystery netgalley ...more 236 likes Like Comment Emily (Books with Emily Fox on Youtube) 580 reviews 65.1k followers September 5, 2020 I read and really like "The Last Time I Lied" so I picked this book while waiting for "Lock Every Door". Final Girls ended up being okay. Not unputdownable, the twists were fine but I didn't care about the characters as much as I should have. Reviews of all his books: https://youtu.be/SAd1t5LZqus audiobooks 222 likes Like Comment Emma Giordano 316 reviews 108k followers November 26, 2017 I really enjoyed this read. It was not flawless by any means, but addictive and thrilling. I would definitely still recommend. CW: murder/gore, substance abuse/alcoholism, adultery My favorite thing about this novel is the plot. I was completely captivated all throughout. The beginning was a bit slow and the ending was a little overstimulating, but nonetheless, I was engaged and interested the whole time. Some twists were surprising, others were anticipated but I still wanted the plot to keep developing. It's a fast read - I devoured it in two days. This is just one of those books where I can't accurately express why I enjoyed it so much, but I did. I'm not normally nit-picky when it comes to writing style, but this one just didn't do it for me. I can't help but feel frustrated, especially in mystery/thrillers, by lines similar "You trust me, don't you?" and "But how could they possibly know this unless..." I tend to use the word "obvious" to describe this type of writing as I feel too much of the story is being laid out for me. That being said, Final Girls is a debut, and I believe the personal issues I had with the writing are ones that can absolutely improve with time and experience. Also, I feel the ending did get a bit muddled. There was a lot of information being released in a short span of pages, and I believe it needed to be a bit more fleshed out. The same goes for the characters. By the end, certain characters had changed so much that I can't understand how I'm meant to feel about them. I assume that's the intention, but it leaves me a bit perturbed. Additionally, I feel "repressed memory syndrome" is kind of a cop-out for thrillers to withhold information. I'm not trying to invalidate survivors of trauma because dissociative amnesia is a real thing, but it can only be done so many times in literature until it feels like the easy way out. I would definitely recommend to readers new to the thriller genre like myself. It's a fast, chilling read that is easy to enjoy. I'm not sure if it's developed enough to satisfy "experts" in the genre, though I have seen many glowing reviews, so maybe my judgement isn't the strongest. Overall, I'm satisfied by Sager's first release and am eager to read more from him in the future. 209 likes Like Comment j e w e l s 315 reviews 2,539 followers August 19, 2017 Go with me for a second. Are you under the impression that FINAL GIRLS is about a horror movie? Please tell me I'm not the only one that thought that! That's a huge misconception....The blurb says something about a "horror-movie scale massacre" and that's all I remembered reading before thinking, "SKIP". Not interested in a horror movie remake. Well, I'm proud to announce that FINAL GIRLS is not about a movie. And double proud to announce it is a fun, scary and highly entertaining book! There has been so much hype surrounding this current book of the month club  that I was standoff-ish about rushing to it. I'm weird like that. Plus, like I said, I'm not much of a horror-movie-slasher fan. But then, Penguin Group Dutton publishers sent me an ARC and how could I not read it? I am so happy they did! Do you know what a Final Girl is? A final girl is the sole survivor of a horrific murder scene. Movies like Halloween and Scream inevitably end with a final girl left standing. Yet another movie reference, sorry! Author Riley Sager has written a startling story about three final girls (all survivors of different gruesome scenes) who eventually have their separate lives intersect under troublesome circumstances. Quincy Carpenter, aside from having a cute name, is a final girl. She lived through a mass murder scene ten years before and has tried her best to get on with a semi-normal life. A tad dependent on Xanax and dealing with a mild kleptomania problem, she has steadfastly stuck to her story that she didn't remember anything about the night of the killings. She has dealt with her survivor guilt by becoming a successful baking blogger and by refusing to talk about that grisly night. That's really all you need to know about the set up of this addictive story. I was hesitant about the degree of slashi-ness, but it's actually not that bad (nowhere near a Patricia Cornwell book!) and the narrative switches just fast enough between the murders 10 years ago and the new mystery Quincy is currently caught up in. So you never really have time to get tired of the bloody stuff! Despite the subject matter, I wouldn't call FINAL GIRLS a dark or disturbing horror novel. This was the biggest surprise to me! For one thing, author Riley Sager, is no Gillian Flynn. Sager's writing is lighter, an almost superficial style, never diving below the surface of words. No need to read between the lines, just read. There are a couple of plot twists, the pages turn fast, it is a very quick, compelling mystery. I love the character of Quincy. She is an imperfect, somewhat unreliable narrator and an interesting protagonist. I have no doubt, FINAL GIRLS, has all the elements in place to be THE beach read of 2017. And deservedly so. THANK you to Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC. I appreciate the opportunity to give my honest opinion! books-bejeweled 203 likes 2 comments Like Comment Lala BooksandLala 517 reviews 71.2k followers February 6, 2017 Well that took me on quite the damn ride. thriller-mystery 202 likes Like Comment Erin 1,376 reviews 1,395 followers January 8, 2018 As you should all know by now, nothing makes me happier than the brutal murders of teenagers So that means I love slasher films, especially those made in the 80's. The gorier the better. Have I weirded you all out yet? No. Okay than on to the review. I've been wanting to read Final Girls for awhile, I've also been putting off reading Final Girls. I wanted to love it but was afraid I would hate it. If you know me, than you know I mostly read the bad reviews for books I plan on reading. I like to keep my expectations low, I find I enjoy the book more that way. So I only read 1 & 2 star reviews for this book and they all said it was boring, nothing happened, that it had no action, & that it wasn't what they thought it would be. So I went in with very low expectations, plus I was coming off of 2 books I really didn't like/hated. Goodreads friends I'm happy to inform you that I loved this book. Now of course it wasn't perfect I did guess one of the twist and had a strong suspicion of the second twist. Unlike with the book I finished yesterday The Breakdown, with this book it didn't bother me. Maybe because I had so much fun reading it. Final Girls is so entertaining, it will have you racing to finish it. I think Final Girls is a great homage to classic slasher films. I highly recommend Final Girls. september-2017 195 likes Like Comment Debra 2,700 reviews 35.7k followers February 23, 2021 This is how you do a psychological thriller!!! Quincy Carpenter is the lone survivor of a grisly crime. Ten years ago she went away with a group of friends to a cabin in the woods (sounds like the setting for a horror movie) to celebrate the birthday of a friend. She is the only one who came home alive. Everyone that weekend was murdered, Quincy was attacked as well, but survived her ordeal only to not remember what happened. She remembers arriving at the cabin with her friends, she remembers events leading up to the night of the murders, and she remembers being saved by a police officer as she ran through the woods covered by blood. The police investigating the murders don't believe her when she does not recall the attack. How could everyone be murdered viciously and she survived with non-life threatening stab wounds? Now the press has dubbed her a "final girl" She in not the only one with this title. Two other women who have survived vicious attacks have also been dubbed "final girls" by the media. The press and society are interested in how these women survived. The press wants to know everything about their attacks and what these "final girls" had to do in order to survive. Quincy has made a life for herself since her ordeal. She lives with her boyfriend, she has a baking blog and gets through her day with the help of her Xanax prescription. She has also maintained a relationship with Coop, the police officer who saved her all those years ago. Even after ten years, she still can't remember the massacre that occurred at the cabin. Then she receives word that one of the other "final girls", Lisa is dead, and the other final girl (Sam) shows up on her doorstep. Suddenly Quincy's life is turned upside down and she starts engaging in activities that are out of the norm for her. Sam wants Quincy to remember what happened the night she was attacked. She tells her that knowing will set her free....but will it? Do you really want to remember your worst nightmare? Will knowing set your free or will it make things worse? Soon Quincy begins to have her doubts about her new "friend" Sam, about the night her friends were murdered. She learns more details about Lisa's death which make her even more concerned about Sam, her own recent behaviors and that horrible night all of those years ago. Suddenly the nice comfortable life she has built for herself begins to unravel. Reading this book was like watching a really good horror film/psychological thriller and I do mean that as a compliment! This book had a lot of twists and turns. I like when a book can keep me guessing. There were so many ways this book could have ended and I think this book ended brilliantly. Quite a few times I thought I had this book figured out. I liked that it managed to shock me. I also loved how the Author wrote each character to be interesting - I didn't like all of the characters but they had depth and felt real. Everything unravels at the perfect pace. I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. I also enjoyed the way the story is presented. The reader is given glimpses into what happened ten years ago at the cottage as Quincy ,in the present day, is going about her life. As Quincy begins to remember more, the reader is shown more of the past. This was a very nice touch! As that "AHA" moment comes to Quincy it is also revealed to the reader. I felt like I was on the road to discovery with the main character. The story-line told at the cabin was very atmospheric. It was actually quite perfect and gave the story that "horror film" type feel to it. The atmosphere is foreboding, creepy and dark - this setting the "mood" for the massacre. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I wish I had the time to go back and read this book all over again. It really is that good! I have a feeling this book is going to be on my top 10 favorite books of the year list! I highly recommend! I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. (I honestly LOVED it btw!) See more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com favorite-books horror netgalley 181 likes Like Comment Larry H 2,645 reviews 29.6k followers June 21, 2017 I'd rate this between 4 and 4.5 stars. This book kicked some serious ass! "We were, for whatever reason, the lucky ones who survived when no one else had. Pretty girls covered in blood. As such, we were each in turn treated like something rare and exotic. A beautiful bird that spreads its bright wings only once a decade." Ten years ago, Quincy Carpenter went to the woods with five of her friends to celebrate her best friend's birthday. But instead of the carefree celebration they planned, that night turned out to be something out of her worst nightmares. She was the only one to survive a brutal massacre. She can't seem to remember what happened, nor does she want to—all she remembers is being covered in blood and being rescued by a policeman after outsmarting a killer she can only refer to as "Him." With that incident she became part of a group the press called the "Final Girls," with two other sole survivors of massacre-style attacks—Lisa, who witnessed an attack on her sorority house which left nine of her sorority sisters dead, and Samantha, who survived a late-night attack at the motel where she worked. The three girls want nothing more than to put their lives back together and somehow shake the memories that haunt them, as well as the guilt that they survived when their friends or others did not. "Even before Pine Cottage, I never liked to watch scary movies because of the fake blood, the rubber knives, the characters who made decisions so stupid I guiltily thought they deserved to die. Only, what happened to us wasn't a movie. It was real life. Our lives. The blood wasn't fake. The knives were steel and nightmare-sharp. And those who died definitely didn't deserve it. But somehow we screamed louder, ran faster, fought harder. We survived . Quincy has done fairly well pulling her life together, thanks in large part to her Xanax prescription, which helps keep any lingering anxiety at bay. She has a successful baking blog and a handsome, steadfast boyfriend, Jeff. She also knows that Coop, the policeman who saved her life all those years ago is always looking out for her, ready to come if she needs him. But then Quincy finds out that Lisa, one of her fellow "Final Girls," has apparently committed suicide, despite how hard she fought to survive all those years ago. If that isn't enough to cause Quincy to lose her composure, it turns out Lisa emailed her right before she died, trying to make contact with Quincy. And then Samantha shows up, ostensibly to check up on Quincy once she heard about Lisa's death (despite the fact that they've never met). It appears Samantha has other motives in mind, too, as she is intent on getting Quincy to relive that night at Pine Cottage 10 years before, and challenges Quincy's carefully composed life. The more she forces Quincy out of her comfort zone, the more Quincy wonders why Samantha really appeared, and whether everyone else in her life is right to be suspicious. When new information about Lisa's death is revealed, Quincy doesn't know where to turn, or whom to trust, and whether she can handle reopening her memories to the trauma she survived 10 years ago. Final Girls is full of suspense and twists and turns. Riley Sager is definitely a talented storyteller, and she knows how to throw a few misdirections the reader's way, so you don't know how things will be resolved in the end. She does a great job illustrating the dichotomy of Quincy's life, and how quickly the calm she has come to know can be shattered. I also like the way she developed Quincy and Sam's characters—I don't feel as if the other characters were given the same complexity and depth. This is definitely one of those books which will make a terrific movie. I really enjoyed this a great deal, although some of the shifting back and forth between past and present was a little more jarring than it should have been. If you're a fan of suspense novels, this is one you'll want to pick up. It certainly will make you think the next time you hear about a sole survivor of a horrific incident. NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available! See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo... . netgalley 167 likes Like Comment Barbie 109 reviews 344 followers July 15, 2019 My thoughts in a nutshell Riley Sager is one of my favorites thriller authors, but his first book was a massive disappointment for me. It is a very problematic novel; I explain why. The story is about… Skip over this point if you don't like the sneak peek. Three girls experienced and survived some horrific events. They are called Final Girls. But the nightmarish situation continues... What impressed me I don't like too many things about this book. I adored the two timeline perspective. The final twist was okay. It didn't shock me, but I can live with it. What I don't like The first half of the book was boring as hell. The main girl Quincy is just baking or doing stupid things. Sam (one of the Final Girls) moved to Quincy for a few days. She is a stranger, but Quincy let her in. Sam's behavior is awful. She scolds Quincy, but Q does nothing just listens to the scold. It is so dumb... she invites a complete stranger in her house and tolerates her awful personality. It is totally logical. lol. Sam breaks the lock on the closet and she finds out Q's secrets. Do you think Q throws Sam out of the house? Negative, captain. She forgives her. The characters are idiotic. I mean, they are really stupid. Sam gets in trouble and the police drops her arrest because she is a final girl. Then what or why? The cops are absurd too. In the past Q wants to sleep with her big crush, but she changes her mind. Then the boy has sex with another girl. Q sees that. So she goes back to the cabin and sleeps with a random dude with whom she met a few hours ago. OK. Another crazy act... Q breaks a homeless' head because she is angry and sends him into a coma. But the police didn't know for sure that it was Quincy. Why? She is a suspect for 10 years! The writing style was dull, the whole novel is poorly-written. Let's look at the bright side, he improves a lot since his first novel. Make a conclusion I'm glad that I didn't start with Final Girls. Sager's other two books were phenomenal. I gave it 2 stars because the ending was okay. I don't recommend it. 170 likes Like Comment Kaceey 1,251 reviews 3,959 followers August 17, 2017 “Final girls is film-geek speak for the last woman standing at the end of a horror movie.” Quincy was the one and only survivor of a horrible massacre that took the lives of her close friends. The media eats it up and gives her the nick-name “A final girl.” They follow up by aligning her with 2 other well-known F.G. survivors. Enter Samantha and Lisa, who each walked away from their own version of hell. Ten years later, Quincy is trying to move on. She has a loving boyfriend and a successful baking blog. She still has limited recall of the tragedy and is unable to even speak the name of the person responsible for the attack without becoming physically sick. When a recent tragic event brings one of the F.G. girls literally to Quincy’s front door, the peaceful world she has slowly re- built for herself is beginning to spiral out of control. Very well written thriller. I devoured this one in 2 sittings! Could not put it down. Once again, I thought I had it all figured out but the author creatively dropped in some fantastic twists I never saw coming. I had wanted to read this one from the moment I heard about it!! It totally lived up to my expectations! Highly recommend for all thriller lovers! 4.5* You can find my review along with Brenda’s on Norma and Brenda's fantastic book blog: http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi... libby traveling-sister-read 183 likes Like Comment Emma 990 reviews 1,074 followers July 13, 2017 This is one of those thrillers that properly got me. I read a lot of these books, watch a lot of stories, and i’ve turned into one of those annoying people that guess the ending and accidentally ruin films/tv shows for other people by pointing out the probable culprit or plot direction early on. After correctly guessing the central twist of The Sixth Sense, and blithely commenting my thoughts to my then partner, he told me never to speak during cinema visits again. Apparently ‘but it’s so obvious…’ is not an acceptable justification. Who knew? Yet this book, this story, did not take me where I expected. I was guessing madly as each snippet of information revealed by the author twisted the narrative in a new direction, or tantalisingly offered a seemingly innocent action or comment that was, in fact, a massively huge, big fat red herring. But Sager has created something that’s more than just shock value. When I think back to the book, it’s not just pleasure and awe at being misled, it’s the well drawn characters, the clever unfolding of person and plot, the language and style, even the tone of the whole novel. It’s all these things together that make this a masterpiece of the genre and it deserves to be one of the big books of 2017. Get hold of it if you can... it's a cracking crime read. *** My opinion has been seconded by Stephen King, no less. He calls this the 'first great thriller of 2017' *** ARC via Netgalley netgalley 152 likes Like Comment Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill 639 reviews 606 followers October 5, 2020 I am sooo late to the party on this one...but now I can officially say I have read every single Riley Sager book! Sooo...I never knew what a "Final Girl" was until I read this book! I think the concept was fantastic for this book. Quincey is a final girl. You know that commercial where the girl has a choice between the running car and the shed of power saws with the murderer inside it...and she chooses the shed...yet she still lives to tell about it..that is Quincy. This was a highly entertaining read and it did keep me at the edge of my seat. However, I wish I had read this one before his last three. I have now been privy to Sager's books that I found to be absolutely brilliant. Even though I did enjoy it, I did not find this debut the same writing style as his last 3 books. His writing has gotten more atmospheric with each book. I thought I was the last person on earth to read this book. However I was not! I read this with two of my best book peeps...Susan and Javier! Thanks guys for a great buddy read! 152 likes Like Comment Kathryn 169 reviews 323 followers July 18, 2017 In a culture of bespoke…..well, everything , Riley Sager’s Final Girls seemed tailor-made for this horror fangirl. The phrase ‘Final Girl’ is a widely-used trope in horror films that describes the last person standing who confronts the killer and WINS. Think Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween, Neve Campbell in SCREAM, or Heather Langenkamp in Nightmare on Elm Street. In Riley Sager’s book, she takes the Final Girls trope and translates it to a real-world setting. And while the book is undoubtedly compelling, it’s ultimately disappointing. Basically, it’s the literary equivalent of binging on sour patch kids [or insert your favorite sugary treat here]. It tastes good. You can’t stop eating it. But when you’re done, you’re vaguely ill and feel curiously unsatisfied. Final Girls centers around Quincy Carpenter, the lone survivor of ‘The Pine Cottage Murders,’ a horrific event (almost like it’s ripped from a horror movie….BUM BUM BUM) where all her college besties were brutally stabbed to death. The murders make Quincy an overnight Nancy Grace sensation and the media dubs her a “Final Girl.” This title places Quincy in an exclusive “club” with two other women who have similarly earned this distinction. Lisa Milner and Samantha Boyd. Fast-forward 10 years, Quincy is living with her lawyer boyfriend and running a successful baking blog. Sounds like she escaped relatively unscathed, right? WRONG. She be popping xanax like it’s hot and hoarding random stolen shit. CRAZY. CAKES. When Quincy receives word that Lisa has died under questionable circumstance and Samantha abruptly shows up at her door, things quickly start to spin OUT. OF. CONTROL. Final Girls has a great premise. It’s got all the ingredients for an amazing story. But it’s just…..kind of a mess. Partly, it’s because it never quite decides what it wants to be. Critical satire or legitimate thriller. There’s clear reference to multiple horror movie tropes. Let’s take a glance, shall we? The Pine Cottage Murders are of the ‘cabin in the woods’ oeuvre and occur adjacent to a psychiatric asylum. Two checkmarks. Spoiled, rich, obnoxious white kids rent said cabin for weekend of drink and debauchery. Third and Fourth checkmark for no diversity and “immoral activity.” Quincy’s friend informs gang about previous murder in the area. This mention establishes ominous tone. Fifth checkmark. Janelle, the birthday girl and trip organizer, is portrayed as an oversexed exhibitionist. Sixth checkmark for “slutty chick.” Hello, morality police. A cell phone ban has been placed. Seventh checkmark: no ability to get help. Then, a mysterious and oddly behaved stranger arrives. Seventh checkmark. FINALLY , we have Quincy. An intelligent, kind, virginal, non-drinker, non-drug user. Best friend to slutty chick. Ladies & gentlemen, please give a hand for our…...FINAL GIRL. AND our eighth checkmark. Et voila, a horror movie, in all its conservative, moralistic, misogynistic glory, is born. The present day Quincy-Samantha storyline plays out another familiar horror trope, that of the standard Single White Female. Samantha enters the scene abruptly, things are all peachy keen until she gradually takes over Quincy’s life. Ominous warnings about Sam are given by concerned third parties, followed by Sam’s behavior growing quickly more erratic. Now, I have no issue with Final Girls constructing a story entirely around tropes. In fact, it’s kinda what I expected. But when a writer so heavily references another work there needs to be SOME humor present. Here, there’s none. Zip. Zilch. Nada. It’s devoid of anything remotely funny. All the horror cliches are used, but only with the utmost gravity. So the novel reads more like an inferior knock-off than a satire. And it’s too bad because it’s possible to meld both satire and suspense, look at SCREAM & Cabin in the Woods. Both poke fun at the scary movie genre, while retaining the creep factor. Yes, as promised there are plot twists. Final Girls delivers on that. I was genuinely surprised at the end, but not happily. I love a good twist. But Final Girls clearly valued SHOCK and AWE over consistent characterization. A surprise ending doesn’t work if there’s no build up, logic, or cohesion. You can’t rip off a mask, declare someone a killer, and end story. This ain’t Scooby Doo, kids. And FFS... can writers STOP using the repressed memory device??!! PLEASE??!! It’s such lazy writing. Oh, and the Central Park sidestory? Completely unnecessary. It didn’t serve the plot and was a distraction from the primary narrative. What a waste of time. UGH. So basically….. Final Girls was readable. So readable I stayed up until 6AM. But it so wasn’t worth it. It wasn’t bad….it just wasn’t anything and I’m sad because it had the potential to be….SOMETHING. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advance, complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. general-adult-fiction horror mystery-suspense-thriller-non-uk 147 likes Like Comment Charlotte May 763 reviews 1,217 followers August 20, 2020 Holy shit! What a book! I devoured this in 3 days. Absolutely addicting. “Forged from blood and pain and the cold steel of a blade. I’m a fucking final girl.” Quincy is what the newspapers are calling a Final Girl. The only survivor of a murderous rampage in which all her fellow camp mates were slaughtered. Along with Sam - who survived a knife attack in a motel and Lisa the only survivor in her Sorority house, they are infamous. Quincy has never met Sam or Lisa. She is determined to put everything that happened at Pine Cottage behind her and move forward with her boyfriend Jeff. Sure she still keeps in touch with the policeman who saved her - Coop, and sure her memory blank of a good portion of that night terrifies her, but it’s ok she is working on being ‘normal’ as her mother would say. But when Lisa turns up dead and Sam arrives unannounced on her doorstep Quincy believes her past isn’t done with her yet. This was an absolute page turner I could not put this down. And although the reveal at the end involves a lot of suspending your disbelief - it’s a thriller, what was I expecting?! It was a good twist. turns out the policeman Coop was actually the murderer at Pine Cottage. He stayed in touch with Quincy to make sure her memory never returned. I find it hard to believe he managed to kill all those people, get covered in blood and then his police mates rock up and don’t question anything?! But there we are. A very good thriller that will keep you guessing and leave you wondering what really makes a person murder? crime-mystery-thriller 133 likes Like Comment Brenda ~The Book Witch at Witch Words 860 reviews 903 followers August 16, 2017 Final Girls was a Goodreads Giveaway win for me! Yay! Final Girls is an entertaining, fast paced, and a suspenseful psychological thriller that played out like a slasher horror film in my head. Leading me down a cringe-worthy path of twists and turns that had me guessing right to the very end. The story is mostly told from Final Girl Quincy who is the only survivor of a mass murder. The chapters alternate from her perspective and from scenes of the night of the murders allowing me to see the events of the night along with some things that Quincy can’t remember. This had me asking myself a few questions about Quincy. Sager does a good job leading us down a path of planted clues that kept me turning those pages as fast as I could. Of course, I thought I had it figured out only again to find out I was wrong. Even though I can’t say this was a well or badly written story as it had its moments that made me cringe and parts of it that annoyed me. I let it go and enjoyed it for what it was. I recommend to horror thriller lovers who just want to be entertained. Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for my copy to read and review. Kaceey's review can be found with mine and all of Norma and my reviews along with our Traveling Sister reviews on our sister blog https://twogirlslostinacouleereading.... 128 likes Like Comment Julie 4,142 reviews 38.2k followers July 29, 2017 Final Girls by Riley Sager is a 2017 Dutton publication. It’s dark- it’s twisted-… it’s predictable. UGH!! Quincy, along with two other girls, has survived separate mass killings, with the press dubbing them ‘The Final Girls.’ Ten years later, Quincy still has a gaping hole in her memory about the night in Pine Cottage, is living with her boyfriend, Jeff, and has a baking website. But, her shaky handle on life is suddenly disrupted, when one of the other ‘Final Girls’, commits suicide, and the other one, Sam, resurfaces after a long absence, hoping to reconnect with Quincy. Sam’s invasion vibrates like a proverbial earthquake, as she works to jar loose the memories Quincy has locked away, which has her smoking, drinking, and swallowing excessive amounts of Xanax, and exhibiting bizarre behavior. Thus, begins a flip flop between the past and the present as Quincy finds herself forced to face her past and finally confronting her lost memories, revealing the identity of the person she has been trying so hard to forget. This book does have the ‘horror’ novel feel to it, like the blurb hints at, if you would place slasher style films or stories in that category, which I don’t. To me, it must have a supernatural element, which this book does not. In my opinion, the suspense is psychologically layered and does have one good twist, I did not figure out in advance. However… I figured nearly all the rest of it out by chapter two. Seriously. But, it was a smooth, mildly atmospheric tale, and for what it’s worth and it was entertaining, as far that goes, but I really, really wanted to like this book, but, I’m afraid it didn’t live up to the hype for me. So, I'm a little bummed out. Not bad, not great- an okay read. 3 stars 2017 e-book mystery ...more 136 likes Like Comment jessica 2,576 reviews 43.5k followers September 8, 2018 i hate slasher flicks and i avoid horror movies like the plague. so why, do you ask, did i read a book where a girl practically lived in one? because ive lost my mind, thats why. luckily, this wasnt scary. not in the least. which i honestly didnt mind but, having been marketed as horror and even endorsed by stephen king, i was expecting at least one bad dream afterwards. oh well. i will say that i am impressed that this was a debut. i thought it was well-written, the characters were decent, and there was always something going on that kept me guessing. i thought the last 40 pages or so were phenomenal and were what really sold the story for me. it got to the point where i really wanted to know what was going on, so i was practically speed reading through everything! i had to slow myself down and go back and read it because i kept skipping sentences. i was that eager! lol. i can honestly say i did not expect the ending, and not because it came out of nowhere, but because it was soooo twisted. i loved it. overall, this was a solid thriller. it wasnt without its flaws, but i suppose all books have them. i can say that enjoyed this enough that i will most likely look into sagers other books! ↠ 3.5 stars 122 likes Like Comment Andreia Bookish Butterfly ❤️Art student❤️ 287 reviews June 26, 2023 "We were, for whatever reason, the lucky ones, who survived when no one else had. Pretty girls covered in blood, we were treated like something rare and exotic. A beautiful bird that spreads its bright wings only once a decade." 2017 audible-2017 riley-sager 135 likes Like Comment karen 3,997 reviews 171k followers June 18, 2020 LOOK AT ME! I’M THE FINAL GIRL OF READING THIS BOOK!! oh, man—i’m so late to the riley sager party that he’s already written three other books, and i'm over here with my pantyhose drooping ‘round my ankles, muttering TO NO ONE about how i thought Final Girls was a pretty fun debut thriller, but i won’t tell you how it ends no matter how much you beg, because it gets right twisty thereabouts, and how in MY day, no one knew whether riley sager was a man or a woman, can you believe that? &why, back then, there were actually several male authors pretending to be ladies, or being coy about disclosing one way or t'other, because of the industry, you see, and the demographics, and you guys are all WE KNOW GRANDMA, JEEEEEZ STOP LIVING IN 2017 as i’m shuttled back to the facility, shaking my tiny fist in the air as kleenex and werthers rain out of my ill-fitting cardigan. in conclusion, he loves big fonts come to my blog! 124 likes Like Comment Anne 4,265 reviews 70k followers June 11, 2023 This is a fun genre. It is a genre now, right? The final girl genre? I mean, I've read several stories dealing with the FG trope and while they've been hit-or-miss, I just can't seem to give any of the stories a pass. Now. I did correctly guess who the killer was in the first chapter or so. BUT! Riley Sager took me on such a ride that I second guessed and third guessed and fourth-guessed myself right up till the last chapter. And while I was right (sooooo satisfying) there were so many twists and turns along the way that I never smugly thought that I had the answer in the bag. Of course in my head when it was over, I was like bitch, I knew it was you all along! The lies we tell ourselves... Now, the concept of Final Girl is kind of thin here. So you'll need to be a fan of this sort of thing and kind of suspend the disbelief that the media would make such a big deal out of these Final Girls. Partially because you'll have to suspend disbelief that there are only 3 of them in the whole wide world. As in, only 3 "girls" survived these somewhat overdramatic serial killer ish attacks by crazies. If you can do that, you'll probably really have fun with this one. The gist is that a young woman named Quincy survived one of those cabin in the woods with a group of college friends attacks. The ONLY survivor. And when one of the world's other famous Final Girls is found dead, Quincy teams up with her only surviving counterpart to find out if it really was suicide or...something else. The thing that makes this story so interesting is that her mind has completely blocked out the vast majority of the night, so the reader isn't completely sure whether or not she's a reliable narrator. I'm not going to say this is for everyone who is looking for a good horror-mystery/thriller, but for those of you who know what you're getting into? Recommended. audio horror mystery ...more 114 likes Like Comment Kristen 160 reviews 35 followers July 19, 2017 I have some feelings and some thoughts, mostly tied to this author's use of an ambiguous pen name to hide his identity as a white male. I'm going more in depth here than I usually do on Goodreads, but if I didn't know this and I was planning on reading this book...I'd want to know. Spoilers and rage below; proceed at your own risk. The closer you get to the end of this book, the clearer the problematic white male author content is. In the last 70 pages, it is so clear I wanted to throw it across the room. "The thing" at the end is that the big murder Quincy survived was committed by the cop / detective who "rescued" her and has been staying in contact with her all along. You find this out AFTER she sleeps with him, and his reasoning is THE WOMEN and THE SEX and they're all WHORES. Men. How dare you. How dare you hide your gender identity to take advantage of women's recent success in the thriller niche. Historically, women HAD to adopt ambiguous pen names because they COULDN'T get published. And now, here you are in 2017 taking advantage of the knowledge that women are against your sexist bullshit and want to read female-centric thrillers written BY women, so you're hiding your identity. How dare you try to exploit this niche, encroach on this modicum of success publishing has allowed female thriller authors to achieve, and yell discrimination. "It's not fair that we don't get to tell OUR stories." Oh, sorry--EONS of telling your stories aren't enough? And your "stories" include depicting women who dare to have sex as whores and your villain "can't help" but kill them? You're right, actually. I don't want you to tell your trash story. "It's a good thriller, though!". Well, that's not enough for me. You don't get to ignore problematic issues with genre fiction just because it is genre. This is how misogyny and racism continue to exist SO PERVASIVELY in genre fiction. What I'm saying here, essentially, is NOPE. 2017 109 likes 5 comments Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 22,079 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 56 quotes 66 discussions 20 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $8.99 Rate this book Shelter in Place Nora Roberts 4.26 43,222 ratings 4,080 reviews Want to read Kindle $8.99 Rate this book Sometimes, there is nowhere safe to hide. It was a typical evening at a mall outside Portland, Maine. Three teenage friends waited for the movie to start. A boy flirted with the girl selling sunglasses. Mothers and children shopped together, and the manager at the video-game store tended to customers. Then the shooters arrived. The chaos and carnage lasted only eight minutes before the killers were taken down. But for those who lived through it, the effects would last forever. In the years that followed, one would dedicate himself to a law enforcement career. Another would close herself off, trying to bury the memory of huddling in a ladies' room, hopelessly clutching her cell phone--until she finally found a way to pour her emotions into her art. But one person wasn't satisfied with the shockingly high death toll at the DownEast Mall. And as the survivors slowly heal, find shelter, and rebuild, they will discover that another conspirator is lying in wait--and this time, there might be nowhere safe to hide. Genres Romance Romantic Suspense Fiction Suspense Thriller Mystery Contemporary ...more 438 pages, Hardcover First published May 29, 2018 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Nora Roberts 1,770 books 53.5k followers Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb . There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.26 43,222 ratings 4,080 reviews 5 stars 20,583 (47%) 4 stars 15,559 (35%) 3 stars 5,491 (12%) 2 stars 1,112 (2%) 1 star 477 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,080 reviews Deanna 716 reviews 13k followers June 4, 2018 My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr... 4.5 Stars!! “Sometimes, there is nowhere safe to hide.” It’s been a while since I’ve read a book from Nora Roberts. When I came across this novel, I read the description and immediately added it to the top of my list. In my opinion, “Shelter in Place” was another great read from Nora Roberts!! Friday, July 22, 2005 Simone Knox and her two best friends, Tish and Mi are at the DownEast mall to see a movie. Simone orders what she normally does at the movies; a large Fanta drink and Swedish Fish. She has no idea that these choices will likely save her life... Halfway through her large Fanta, Simone has to run to the ladies room. Just as she's heading back towards the theatre, she hears loud popping noises. It sounds like firecrackers. All of a sudden, the theatre door slams open and a man covered in blood comes stumbling out… “Blasts and blasts, screams. And people, shadows and silhouettes, falling, running, falling. And the figure, dark in the dark, walking methodically up the rows.” She doesn’t want to believe what she’s seeing. Her instincts kick in and she runs back to the bathroom and calls 911… Reed Quartermaine waits tables at a restaurant in the DownEast mall. He's just finishing up his break when he hears popping noises...then screaming. People are running towards him, falling, almost crushing each other. A man says there’s someone shooting. Then he sees a little boy all on his own. Reed doesn’t think, he just picks up the boy and runs for cover. “The gunfire-and he would never, never forget the sound of it-came closer. Front and back. Everywhere”. Officer Essie McVee is in the parking lot of DownEast Mall dealing with a minor car accident when her police radio squawks. Active shooter. She knows what she’s supposed to do, she had the training. Back-up is coming but they can’t wait…. “Locate, detain, distract, neutralize” The shooting finally stops. IN JUST EIGHT MINUTES – SO MANY LIVES DESTROYED After the tragic events of July 22, 2005, the book follows the lives of many of the survivors and family members, Some can't get far enough away, some are stuck and angry, while others used that day to find purpose in their lives. BUT UNBELIEVABLY IT’S NOT OVER YET…. Someone doesn't like how it all went down and wants revenge on those they feel screwed up their big plan. They want PAYBACK. The opening of “Shelter in Place” was shocking and pulled me in immediately. Witness to a horrifying scene. Even though I had an idea of what was coming, I was still anxious and on edge. Nora Roberts sure knows how to write a gripping plot along with fantastic characters including diabolical villains. I know I've said this before but with fiction (especially thrillers) there will be times where we may need to suspend disbelief. However, I was so intrigued by the story, it wasn't really an issue for me. With its great cast of characters and a gripping and dramatic plot. "Shelter in Place" kept me engaged from start to finish. I definitely won’t be waiting long to read another book from Nora Roberts. I'd like to thank St. Martin’s Press for giving me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 2018 arcs 196 likes Like Comment Jilly 1,838 reviews 6,395 followers June 2, 2018 Well, I can't be a smartass for this review. It was just too close to home to joke about. This story is really timely because it is about a mass shooting. It really gets in-depth with what happens with those who survived and how their lives were changed. So, the book is divided into sections. The first part is the shooting itself. How it went down, how different people reacted, what the survivors experienced. It was sad and horrible. The second part of the book goes through a lot of years telling us about several different characters and their lives after the shootings. That part was my least favorite because it really jumped around for a long period of time. But, I know it was important to bring us to the third part of the story. The third section of the book is a romance that develops between two of the characters, along with a murder-mystery of sorts. We know who did it the whole time, and we see that person's viewpoint too, it was just a matter of them being caught. This final part read more like Nora's regular romance-mystery type of stories. The female is artsy and a commitment-phobic girl. The male is a great guy who is trying to win her over. Overall, it was a great book, but there were tough moments. I think Nora did a good job imagining how living through an experience like that would affect the rest of the person's life. I hate knowing that we have all of these teens and others who are growing up with this reality. But, honestly? I don't think we have seen the last of these events. Unfortunately, we are just getting used to it. romance thrillers 141 likes 1 comment Like Comment BernLuvsBooks 912 reviews 5,019 followers December 19, 2018 Shelter in Place 8 minutes - a mass shooting - a physical and emotional aftermath that leaves countless lives changed forever This was a gut wrenching book to read in light of the mass shootings we have endured but I found it well written. Roberts' focus wasn't solely on the shooting itself. The book fast forwards and focuses instead mainly on the after effects of the shooting - on the lives of the victims and heroes and on the true mastermind behind the plot's warped quest for vengeance. The story is part romance, part mystery & thriller. It's not always easy to blend these genres but Roberts does it well. She knows how to write an engaging plot with characters you become invested in and villains you hate. There were moments that required a definite suspension of belief but I was definitely invested enough in the story to be able to just go with it. After all, I enjoy a well written psychopath and we certainly had that here. Overall, it wasn't my favorite Nora Roberts read but it definitely rates among the top 5. Shelter in Place is sure to draw in new fans while appealing to Roberts' tried and true readers as well. 2018 adult-reads 131 likes Like Comment CD {Boulder Blvd} 963 reviews 94 followers June 30, 2018 I'm so torn on how to rate this one. There were quite a few positive points but there were also quite a few negative points. There were several times while reading where I just put the book down as it wasn't pulling me in and I was either bored, irritated or doing an eye roll. The book started off great with the shooting in the shopping mall and I really thought I was going to love it, but... The ability of the person behind a stream of murders after the shooting became too much. The FBI became the cliche of incompetence which gets old. Reed always saying he would run off with Simone's grandmother got old fast (cliche as well) and sometimes just was ick. And Simone's family issues felt more contrived than real. The ending felt like a let down. So much potential but... 102 likes Like Comment Jonetta 2,317 reviews 1,153 followers June 5, 2018 In the space of a few minutes, the lives of those visiting or working at the DownEast Mall and adjacent theater in Rockpoint, Maine were permanently altered. Three shooters decided that whatever was wrong in their lives warranted the selfish actions they took in those moments. Survivors Reed Quartermaine and Simone Knox followed paths that weren’t part of their original destinies until that event in the mall. Reed went into law enforcement and Simone expressed her feelings through art. I first thought this was going to be a story about a mass shooting and the immediate aftermath, more about the pursuit of the attackers and those involved in the investigation. This couldn’t be further from the reality as that event just serves as the context for those that survived the massacre. Reed and Simone may be the central characters to anchor the story but there’s a richness to the breadth and angles of the lives of those that surround them and others. Their relationship develops slowly and fairly organically, a quick ignition but then a slow burn. I adored CiCi Lennon, Simone’s grandmother and admired Essie McVee, the police detective who plays such a strong role in Reed’s life and decisions. All of this is in the midst of a really diabolical character connected to the mall shooting. This person was chilling, a true psychopath hiding in plain sight. You’re just not going to breathe easily until the creep is stopped. The tension is constant but it doesn’t detract from some truly lovely moments throughout the book. I loved and inhaled this book, as I knew I would, especially when I learned January LaVoy was narrating the story. She delivered her typically outstanding performance, which made this one of my more favorite reading experiences. (I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review) 12800-in-2018 2018-nora 5000-books ...more 88 likes Like Comment Corina 767 reviews 2,461 followers November 27, 2023 4.5 stars REREAD 2022: was in the mood for some NR, it's been four years since I read it, and the novel is still as fantastic as the first time around!!! ___________________________________ Nora Roberts chose a topic that gives me goose bumps every single time I hear of it in the news. Mass shootings. She took this topic and spun a story that was utterly fascinating as well as captivating from beginning to end. Her impeccable storytelling and incredible skill to spin an enthralling tale produced an UNPUTDOWNABLE novel for me. REED AND SIMONE WERE A COUPLE THAT CLICKED IN EVERY WAY. Both hero and heroine were genuine and likable characters. Reed Quartermaine and Simone Knox were mature and level-headed, something Nora Roberts excels at. Both were survivors of the DownEast Mall shooting and teenagers at the time of the event. Naturally they were molted by the horrific incident and coped with it in different ways. Years later their life intersected again. They made it look easy. For them, meeting each other was like finding a piece that had been missing. They connected on a level that felt right and their relationship and interactions literally felt like the calm before the storm. Reed was a darling. His dry humor, and his never-ending appreciation for his colleagues and friends warmed my heart. His genuine and reciprocal connection with Simone’s grandmother was a highlight of this book. Additionally, Simone’s journey was as interesting as her personality – colorful, and deeply layered. There were so many parts in this book that made me smile and happy – and than there was the suspense. I HONESTLY COULDN’T PUT THE BOOK DOWN. This story gave me chills. I think the reason why I was so invested in this story was because of its topic. In the end Shelter in Place was a piece of fiction, but it was also based on events that unfortunately happen all over America, in schools, malls, and outdoor functions, multiple times a year. It wasn’t just the realism and horror that the author so masterfully wove through the story that kept me turning the pages, but it’s partially why this book is as good as it is. last thoughts So, if you love reading romantic suspense, an utterly suspenseful story that had such an authentic feel that will chill you to the bone, especially the opening scene, this is a MUST READ in my opinion. It’s one of her best books so far. BONUS it also had an adorable puppy as a sidekick. ___________________________________ I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author. romantic-suspense standalone strong-woman 77 likes Like Comment Phrynne 3,540 reviews 2,395 followers April 10, 2020 Nora Roberts takes a very sad and serious theme in Shelter in Place and turns it into a gripping and totally enthralling story. The book starts with a shooting in a cinema and Mall when three young men kill multiple people and themselves. This part of the book is traumatic and very well described. The story then moves into the future focussing on a small group of survivors and what happens to them. Of course the author adds extra tension and drama with a psychotic killer trying to finish off those who did not die on the day. Ms. Roberts applies her usual skill to drawing many really likeable characters even including one delightful puppy. She creates a slowly developing but very sweet romance. She tells several tales of different characters making something of their lives despite the terrible event they all suffered. All this at the same time as racking up the tension and stress as the killer slowly makes their way towards them. Another splendid book from this remarkable author. Loved it. 73 likes Like Comment jv poore 632 reviews 234 followers December 12, 2023 Just when I think I know exactly what I'm getting into, Ms. Roberts regales with something entirely unexpected and creepy-current. mystery own-it re-read ...more 68 likes Like Comment Teri Parks 106 reviews 3 followers November 19, 2017 Nora Roberts is BOLD! I don't know of many authors who could get away with what Nora accomplished in Shelter In Place without losing some fans. In her newest book, set to come out in the summer of 2018, Nora tackles a topic that has become all too common in society today - a mass shooting. When I read the synopsis, I wasn't sure what my feelings were. I had just come off of reading the ARC for Year One - a masterful new direction for Nora due out December 5th - and I was apprehensive that Shelter in Place would fall flat in it's heels, or worse, having Nora losing some fans. By page 25, Shelter in Place already met one of my criteria for a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️rating, but I was still concerned over the subject matter. What I read was a fast-flowing, grab your attention story that flowed so well you were quickly thirteen years removed from the tragedy and into a typical Nora Roberts romantic suspense novel that reminded you it is just a story. I was impressed most with the way she blended all the characters in their own way of dealing with the tragedy and their healing. While we all pray that we are protected from such a horrific event in real life, it may just help open eyes of those who have never been touched by such an event what those who have or will experience it in the future to be more sympathetic and understanding. I will say it again. Nora Roberts is BOLD. This is the second story in a row that she has taken a new approach. The story could have had fans alienating her because of the subject matter. But I sincerely believe anyone who reads it will have a fascinating summer read, with a little bit of human awareness thrown in. It just proves that Nora continues to be a master of her craft and isn't afraid take new directions or play it safe to keep her readers entertained. A solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating from me! THANK YOU, again, to Marissa at St. Martin's Press for the honor of being one chosen to review this Advanced Reader Copy! romance 53 likes Like Comment Celeste 1,009 reviews 2,441 followers June 11, 2018 Full review now posted! In my opinion, Nora Roberts is one of the most underrated authors ever. Yes, she’s incredibly popular, but her work is relegated in people’s minds to chick-lit and breezy, mindless beach reads. There’s so much more to her work than that, especially her more recent novels. There’s a depth to her prose and characterizations and descriptions that is overlooked by those who belittle her work and believe that she just writes fluff. I’ve never come across another author who can make me care as deeply about her characters or make me feel their joys and sorrows more profoundly. With this novel, Nora broaches a topic that is unfortunately all too common in our modern world: mass shootings. Shelter in Place begins with such a shooting, and follows the lives of survivors as they try to put their lives back together. You can never move on from such a travesty, but you can move forward, and that’s what one of our main characters does. After the DownEast Mall shooting that rips his life apart, this character decides to become a cop in hopes of helping prevent other such happenings in the future. Another character dedicates her life to art as a way to block out the past, to try to forget. When someone starts picking off survivors of the shooting, these two come together. And in the midst of this reopened wound, there is healing. And love, because this is still a romance, after all! Within the first ten percent of the book, Nora had me in tears. Her descriptions of the shooting and the victims and survivors were so realistic that I could hear the pop of bullets and the terrified screams of mall shoppers and movie goers. I felt like I was there. While I’ve been heartsick every time I’ve heard about a shooting in the news, no news coverage has ever sucked me into the midst of death and pain and fear like Nora did through her writing. I was in awe of her skill even as I read on in horror. But what was hardest to read was the stories of survivors trying to figure to how to go on living their lives. Thankfully, our main characters had family and friends who pulled them up and helped them rebuild. My favorite character hands down was CiCi, a free-spirited artist who is a little bit psychic. She’s also a loving grandmother, and is there for the granddaughter who needs her so much. She opens her heart and home and life to so many people, and I love her for it. There’s no one else quite like her, and she felt incredibly real to me. I don’t want to name any other characters or go into much more detail, because I don’t want to spoil anything for those who decide to pick up this book. But I will say that I absolutely love when Nora adds art into her stories, because she does such an amazing job describing both the process and the final result. In no other books can I see art so clearly as I can through Nora’s writing. Whether it’s a painting or a sculpture, Nora has such an amazing way of describing art where I can almost look up at my wall and expect to see the piece. If you can’t tell, I have this deep and abiding love for Nora Roberts. There is no other author who I’ve read more, or reread more. And I have such deep respect for her choice in recent years to start incorporating hard topics that have touched her heart into her work. If I had to choose a favorite author, it would honestly be her. For more of my reviews, as well as my own fiction and thoughts on life, check out my blog, Celestial Musings . favorites romance thriller 51 likes Like Comment Kat Author 11 books 530 followers March 5, 2022 This was an intense, emotional book detailing the aftermath of a fictional mass shooting in Maine. As a warning, with all the mass shootings that have been occurring recently in the US, the first part of the book can be pretty intense to read. I found it quite triggering. Much of the narrative jumps forward in time after that and looks at the after-effect on the survivors, and the investigation as police try to determine if the shooters acted alone. One of my favorite Nora Roberts books to date! 5/5 stars. Trigger Warnings: mass shootings, murder LOTS of murder Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader. library-2 50 likes Like Comment Cara 395 reviews 757 followers May 11, 2022 Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts had my emotions all over the place!! This book was so hard to put down, but I enjoyed every minute of it!! One minute I was sobbing, the next minute I was swooning over the characters, another minute I was gasping for air, and another minute I was screaming, I think you get the point, but I have no clue what to feel. Shelter in Place is part psychological thriller, romantic suspense, and a coming of age for a group of people who survived a mass shooting event. I have no entire clue what to feel, I feel so damn empty after reading this story. What's a book if it doesn't make you cry? I highly recommend this book to anyone, but have a box of tissues close by. I went into this story completely blind, I was shocked, I was speechless, which made it more all the better! Friday, July 22nd, 2005 was just an ordinary summer evening that changed the lives of so many people in Portland Maine. Simone Knox and her two best friends, Tish and Mi were at the movies at the DownEast Mall. Simone went to the restroom, but when she starts to leave, she hears screams and gunshots. Simone is instantly worried about her best friends, but her instinct kicks in, Simone returns to the restroom stall and is the first person to call 911 as she shelters in place. This mass shooting was perpetrated by three teenage males at a suburban mall. The chaos only lasted eight minutes, but eight minutes that transformed the lives of everyone in its wake. Some had their futures stolen from them, while others would discover their true calling. The carnage lasted only eight minutes before the killers were taken down. But for those who lived through it, the effects would last forever. In the years that followed, one would dedicate himself to a law enforcement career. Another would close herself off, trying to bury the memory of huddling in a ladies' room, hopelessly clutching her cell phone--until she finally found a way to pour her emotions into her art. Simone didn't have any injuries but her life was changed forever. Simone's best friend Tish was declared dead at the scene, Simone's other best friend Mi, had serious injuries but made a recovery. Reed Quartermaine waits tables in an Italian restaurant at the DownEast Mall. Reed was on his way back from his break when he heard gunshots and screams coming from the other direction. Reed picks up a little boy who is covered in blood and is alone, Reed takes the little boy and runs with him for cover. Essie McVee is a police officer with her partner, dealing with a traffic accident in the mall parking lot when the 911 calls come in that there's a mass shooting. Essie is the first police officer on scene and is able to take down one of the shooters. CiCi, Simone's grandma takes Simone under her wing and helps her overcome her fears of the mass shooting. As time goes on, there is one person who is not finished with that day and is seeking revenge against all those that have survived is, Patricia Hobart, one of the shooters sister. Patricia seeks revenge by tracking down those who have survived or loved ones to those who died during this incident and kills them. Simone creates a huge sculpture of all those that died and makes it a memorial. All I can say is grab a cozy blanket, a cup of tea/coffee and just cozy up and read this novel, you will NOT be disappointed!! Simone and Reed had my heart, CiCi was such a sweet and sassy person, I loved her from the minute the book introduced her!! I will never forget this book. I found Simone to be so brave after this shooting, Mi was such a sweet friend to Simone, and my heart broke after they lost Tish. 50-state-challenge-2022 books-read-in-2022 42 likes Like Comment Brenda 4,464 reviews 2,854 followers June 15, 2018 Simone, Mi and Tish – best friends, with Mi and Tish there for Simone after a nasty breakup with a boyfriend – sixteen years of age and waiting for the movie to start. The theatre in the DownEast Mall was busy, as was the mall outside the doors. Families shopping, video games pumping, people laughing and having a good time. Until the shots started, and the screaming began… Portland, Maine made headlines from the carnage that night – the three teenage shooters didn’t live to tell the tale; neither did a lot of other innocent people. But those who did made their way into the future, never forgetting – some made a success of their lives; some lived with bitterness and hate. One who went forward was Reed Quartermaine who became a policeman, determined to protect the innocent. Another, Simone Knox, lost herself for awhile until she found therapy in her art. But behind the scenes, as the survivors rebuilt their lives, was an angry psychopath, committed to finishing what was started in that shopping mall… Shelter in Place by the inimitable Nora Roberts is another outstanding and spectacular psychological thriller which kept me glued to the pages. I don’t know how she does it, but I haven’t read anything by this author that I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed. Gripping, intense, heartbreaking and emotional, the suspense kept my heart racing - Shelter in Place is one I highly recommend. With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read and review. 2018-release 5000-books arc ...more 38 likes Like Comment Suzzie 924 reviews 165 followers July 2, 2018 Absolutely incredible! I ate this book up in a short time because it was so intriguing with amazing characters. This is my favorite Nora Roberts book to date that I have read so far (have not read all her books though). The angst, perseverance, and growth of these characters is so detailed and effective to getting the reader pulled in and invested into the story. I cannot say more than these characters take a devastating tragedy and veer into different directions for their lives, but unfortunately most come face to face with a huge aspect of the original tragedy years later. I really do not want to give too much away and spoil the book, but this book deserves a spot on the reading list for most! My quick and simple overall: Incredible book that draws the readers in quickly. 34 likes Like Comment Ira 1,102 reviews 112 followers June 2, 2018 4.5 stars. I love this one, the story pull me in, the romance part is rather thin though but is sweet 😍 also too many pages given to the villain 😠. This book feels like a feminist story to me, perhaps that #metoo movement give Ms. Roberts few ideas, many characters involved, except our hero and few supporting characters, are women! That’s for both side, the good guys and the bad guys, er why do they use guys when they are not? 😬 Also, this book show how Ms. Roberts stands regarding the horrific guns crimes who is keep happening in the US and slaughter the children month after month after month after month! You see, the good guys with the guns who stopped the bad guys with the guns in this story? They are ALL, law enforcement officers, just like the rest of the world, they allows to carry guns! Not just a mere civilian who can pop to a gun store and get himself that nasty stuff whenever and wherever he fancy them!!! For that alone, I will be Ms. Roberts’s fan for life ❤️. It made me realise, I don’t think Roarke ever take his guns outside his home at all, correcting me if I’m wrong, will you? 🤔😘. Okay, this is out of the book review already, but yeah from what I write here, you can see I’m one of those befuddled foreign mum who is never ever understand how children keep slaughtering by guns in schools and the most powerful government in the world couldn’t do anything to prevent it! That’s it, read this book, the scars from shooting sprees continues long after the victims buried 😢. It’s a heartbreaking story really...💔 contemporary plenty-lol-moments strong-heroine ...more 29 likes Like Comment Wendy 1,770 reviews 619 followers June 17, 2018 Shelter In Place has to be one of my favourite novels by Nora Roberts. The story begins with a mass shooting at a mall in the U.S. followed by a related killer out to murder the survivors. However, the subsequent events in the lives of the victims are portrayed as happy and positive moments as the years go by. It's a story of tragedy, love, family and friendship but most of all a story about survival. Loved it! 5000-books jun-18 wom-2018 27 likes Like Comment Carol 1,347 reviews 249 followers August 20, 2018 5 stars.🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 My first Nora Roberts book and I feel like I struck gold with this recent release. I had borrowed this book from the library after patiently waiting my turn, hold no. 68 on 20 copies. It was so worth the wait. This story not only jumped off the pages but it was like the "Law and Order" series disclaimer it was "ripped from the headlines". It had so much realism, which made me a little sad but what a wonderfully crafted, suspenseful and thrilling tale in this age of gun violence. I was so invested in this story from the very first pages when three young girls sat down in a movie theater together and their lives were forever changed - more so for the two who survived the bloody massacre that followed. All the characters in this book were fascinating to me, they like this story also evolved over time - more than 13 years to be precise . I really wanted to bite at my nails for the last portion of the story as it was so suspenseful (I am not good at dealing with that in either movies or books). I also liked that Reed decided to become a law enforcement officer (in the aftermath of events) so we get a little of the police procedural angle with this story as well as a little romance but for me this was mostly a really excellent psychological read/thriller combined. Definitely a page turner. I absolutely loved this but really don't know what to try next by this author.❔❓❔ I am open to suggestions here from my fellow readers.🤔🤔🤔 2018-five-stars borrowed-library-ebook mystery-thriller ...more 27 likes Like Comment Jaya 457 reviews 238 followers February 5, 2019 ⭐ ⭐ After reading more than 100 from the same author, the story arc, plots, characters are bound to feel familiar, predictable, stale and honestly? tiresome. hmmpff bah-humbug did-we-read-the-same-book just-kill-me-instead ...more 25 likes Like Comment b.andherbooks 2,205 reviews 1,188 followers February 9, 2018 Trigger warning: mass shooting Nora Roberts has been traveling some dark roads lately and I for one am not finding myself loving the results. I adore Roberts romances, but alas I wouldn't hardly classify this as one (yes there is a HEA so technically it fits the bill). There is a romance, eventually, between two survivors of a mass shooting but the road to get there makes the overall romance arc a bit of a throwaway. About 40% of the novel is a very detailed account of the mass shooting from various character perspectives, the immediate aftermath, and years of separate character development for the main male and female characters who eventually meet up and fall into destined love. There is really no tension between the characters as they are 'fated' so it wasn't really interesting. The book is supposed to be suspenseful because there is a nefarious person out there killing survivors of the shooting, but I found myself skimming those parts. You know what is going to happen in the end, so meh. I believe many Roberts fans will love this book. It is well written, it is a page-turner, it has the Nora Roberts flair. For me who checks in to her for an escape, this was more a "let's get this over with." I'd much rather read about best friends running their successful wedding planning company. Plus, the hero tells his lady love about fifteen times that he would leave her in a heartbeat for her grandma even during HIS PROPOSAL ! Yes, grandma is awesome. Maybe he should have been with her. Now THAT would be interesting! Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC. arc 24 likes Like Comment Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews 2,050 reviews 299 followers July 21, 2018 * https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com 3.5 stars My book club read this month is Shelter in Place, the latest standalone novel by Norah Roberts, an author that does not need any introduction. Her worldwide appeal and long list of popular book series, mostly of the romance fare, has secured her a permanent place on the bestsellers list. I feel that the release of this title in incredibly timely, offering up plenty of discussion for book groups and the like. Gun violence and mass shootings in the US seem to be hot topics. These tragic events are a sad fixture on our television screens, beaming out across the globe revealing the sadness and regret of these common incidents. Shelter in Place begins with a mass shooting in a shopping mall in a town in Maine, in the US. It examines the time of the shooting (trigger warning), the time immediately after and it explores ten years down the track. It follows the survivors, as well as those authorities/media first on the scene. Shelter in Place focuses on the emotional character dramas of two survivors, Simone and Reed, their polarising experiences and eventual fateful romance. Long standing fans of Robert’s work may be a little dissatisfied by the lack of high romance, but this is offset by the strong psychological study on the after effects of such a life changing event. Roberts captures the horror, grief, loss, guilt, and revenge aspect of this situation. The suspense is high, especially when the villain of the story is clearly hell bent on revenge. This adds to the intrigue of the book. Shelter in Place travels to a heady climax and asserts Roberts place as an auto buy author. 2018-books book-club 24 likes Like Comment Somia 2,064 reviews 155 followers August 18, 2020 I've always enjoyed Nora Robert's work but this book is something else, my second time reading it and the start still packed an emotional punch. This storyline could have gone horribly wrong but Roberts has woven her magic and has taken care in addressing a very horrible reality of contemporary society especially in the US - mass shootings. The way in which she dealt with the mass shooting and it's aftermath was done well and with care. The thought given to the characters in this book was clear - for example Reed and Simone were both strong and the development of their relationship was lovely to see, although I would have liked to see a bit more of their romance and wish they had met sooner. contemporary-romance nora-roberts 24 likes Like Comment NZLisaM 443 reviews 459 followers November 11, 2018 Actually closer to 3.5. As I’ve come to expect from Nora Roberts this was a well written, straightforward read with interesting, varied well-rounded characters, who were easy to connect with. The Mall shooting was tastefully handled – still horrific and tense of course – but the violence was kept as brief as possible, taking place over less than two chapters. There are some pretty emotional scenes, that had me tearing up, especially in Part 1, so keep the tissues handy. Based on the first half of the novel I was leaning more towards 4-4.5, but after the half-way point there was way too much emphasis on the character’s lives, family drama, and day-to-day routine for my liking. The final confrontation with the killer was long overdue, as I slogged through chapter after chapter waiting for him/her to finally make an appearance. Little time was spent on the romance, and it was one of those relationships where they meet and fall instantly in love, which I’m not a fan of. The crime portion was well done, as were the police procedural parts, even though the killer was almost super human in what they managed to get away with, and the body count was ridiculously high. Because the story encompasses so many genres there’s pretty much something for everyone, and I can see it appealing to a wide range of audience. A good read, but I’ve read better books by this author. crime drama romance ...more 21 likes Like Comment Mo 1,382 reviews 2 followers January 21, 2019 Had a longer review done but deleted it. It deals with a delicate subject matter ... I enjoyed the book. It flowed really well. There were no real "who dunnit" moments or shock moments. You sort of knew what was going to happen most of the way throughout the book. Loved the setting on the coast of Maine. Liked the main characters. Loved CiCi. Hot sex scenes - forget it! I didn't mind. 24 likes Like Comment Jess☺️ 522 reviews 87 followers February 22, 2021 Shelter In Place by Nora Roberts is an emotionally charged cat and mouse thriller with a touch of romance which makes this a great Nora Roberts book. It starts of with a mass shooting at a mall which has such a real life feel too it, it then continues with a murderer spree. The twist in this book is just as twisted and absolutely shocking as the beginning. I definitely recommend this even with the heartache 📖 2021 20 likes Like Comment Graylark 944 reviews 43 followers April 23, 2019 I didn’t like the heroine and couldn’t feel the chemistry between the hero and heroine. The heroine’s grandmother had more chemistry with the hero than the heroine did. I greatly enjoyed the relationship between the hero and the grandmother so much more than the boring one he had with the heroine. The romance, such as it was, comprised about 15% of the surprisingly long book. The rest of it was the shooting in the past; after which came many, many POVs, including the killer and the victims. There wasn’t really any tension in the book. Hero and heroine got together without any hurdles. We don’t really see that much face time between them, relatively speaking, as most of the book is devoted to the having so many other damn POVs. Killer is revealed relatively early and everyone knows what’s going on. It felt a little like an Eve Dallas book except the main characters weren’t as appealing. I think so much more could have been done with the shooting—exploring its aftermath on other survivors and people dealing with it, rather than the more unlikely development she came up with. Oh, well. suspense-romance 18 likes Like Comment ♥Sharon♥ 978 reviews 142 followers January 22, 2019 I enjoyed this one even with the difficult story line. When picking it up I wondered how the story would affect me. Sadly this story centers around a tragic and senseless event that happens one too many times in this world. But Nora Roberts took care with how this story unfolded. My heart broke but it was put back together by the end. She nurtured each of the characters bringing them to a place in their lives that seemed realistic. I adored the characters. Simone and Reed were perfect for each other. Whether apart or together they were each others saving grace. And Cici. I would love to have a grandmother like her. She was the constant sunshine in the story. LOVED HER! It was lovely to have the setting be Tranquility Island in Maine. What a beautiful part of that state. I am blessed to be so close by. I know this is a vague review but that's all I have! :) 25 likes Like Comment Jessica 2,261 reviews 14.9k followers January 21, 2024 I was so excited to read this one, but it took me months to get through. The beginning was so intriguing and so good, but for a book that follows a serial killer, the plot was so slow. And the big stand off at the end happened so quickly and didn't feel satisfying at all. I did really enjoy the hero and watching his journey, but I wanted more from the overall suspense and the romance. 17 likes Like Comment Chris 720 reviews 15 followers January 7, 2019 2.5 averaged stars - 🖐🏻Shooting Alert🖐🏻this story starts out innocently enough with some teens going out to a movie theater at the mall, but turns into a planned mass shooting by three other individuals. There is the usual teenage behavior in play; close girlfriends out, concern/confidence in looks, pressure of sex by one the boyfriends, what does the future hold, etc. The mall is busy; there are a lot of people out and about in the stores, kiosks, theater, restaurants. Once the shooting begins, and it’s horrific, people scramble for cover. Some survive, some don’t, some carry the emotional and physical pain and suffering to their end of days. The problem is, it’s not over. It’s not over for the twisted individual, the mastermind, who is the brains behind the crime, and it’s not over for the survivors. Each deals with their trauma in their own way - Reed becomes a Detective, Simone becomes an artist, a sculptor. Each has their own mentor to guide them through their life journey and I enjoyed reading of their full support and friendship to each other. I was invested in this story for about half of the book then didn’t really like the way it proceeded. We always know who the deranged perpetrator is - they’ve been identified early on. There was romance (not hot and heavy as usual Nora Roberts’ style), in the second half between two of the shooting survivors, Reed and Simone. What I definitely didn’t like: The character of CiCi, the old hippie, artist, footloose and fancy free, open about her sexuality/promiscuity, eccentric, new age, “did I tell you I’m psychic?” Grandmother of Simone. She was a free spirit, rather loose mouthed and a loose cannon, though she knows how to use it. She paints and enjoys her liquor and smokes weed. She boasts of people she knows/met, her worldwide travels, her drug use, etc. she comes off as being a know it all, voices her thoughts and opinions to all, “did I tell you I’m psychic?” She and Simone are relations cut from the same cloth, with their artistry the thread that binds them. I cringed with all the outrageous flirting going on and sexual innuendoes between CiCi and Reed. It was all fake but sentimental; was it or wasn’t it? I didn’t think it was cute or funny though at the beginning I thought it was. I know the character was done up in that particular style, but it was getting very overdone, tiresome and slightly outrageous. “Did I tell you I’m psychic?” 😳 Enough said on that character and her part!! The other part I most definitely did not like was of an abused dog that was found on the island by Reed. Reed is now the new top honcho, the Chief of police of Tranquility Island. He has his past and he has his future ahead of him, and he’s doing a good job dealing with both. He is fair and treats his police staff and islanders and visitors with fairness, concern and respect. So when he comes across this dog, who has health issues and psychological issues, he takes this dog on as his own and also deputizes it. The dog literally cements his relationship with Simone. But...when he calls the dog a “fucking moron” many times in the story, I completely lost all respect for him and was angry. You rescue this dog, take him in and on as your own pet, pay for his care out of your pocket, give him his medicine and food, toys; earn his trust, and then for things beyond the dogs’ control or his life knowledge, you call him a fucking moron??? This part was not crucial to the story so I have no idea why it was included. Calling your dog a fucking moron is abusive in my book. Grrrr At this point, I’d lost all my animal loving patience and my interest, however, I was almost near the end, so I just pushed on, though I was not real happy about it. The ending was quickly done and anticlimactic. Because we all pretty much knew who it was and it was easy to figure out where this was all going. I had formerly been a fierce fan of Nora Roberts years ago and followed her publications and read many of her books. I was invested at the start of this one, but was disappointed with the rest of it, my reasons above, thus averaging my rating out to just 2.5 stars. 17 likes Like Comment Anne OK 3,727 reviews 528 followers May 28, 2018 Meeting today’s headlines head-on with a mass shooting, Nora Roberts’ latest release may be a trigger (no pun intended) for many readers. I admit that the blurb left me a bit hesitant. Roberts expertly creates a realistic story where the lives of two teenagers are forever changed in just eight short minutes. Shelter in Place is agonizing and harrowing with an intense view into long repercussions of violent crime, filled with a cast of characters that readers won’t soon forget. The psychological and intriguing plot immediately seizes your attention from the first page to the last. Simone Knox and Reed Quartermaine are survivors. Years later, they are now adults ensconced in careers – one an artist and the other a police detective. But fate – good or bad – has a way of rearing its ugly head. And survivors of the DownEast Mall shooting are once again being targeted and killed. Reed believes their deaths are related to the mall massacre, but others disagree. When he is wounded, people begin to pay attention to what he has been saying. With time off to heal, he returns to his childhood roots where he becomes involved with Simone. And a psychopathic killer is on the loose. And that’s all I’m sayin’ folks because spoilers aren’t my thing! The romantic connection between Reed and Simone doesn’t come until late in the telling – thirteen years after the mall shooting. A little disappointing maybe for some readers — me included. That seems the way Nora Roberts has chosen to roll these days. Less romance and more focus on intensifying the suspense. But in her usual inimitable way, NR has once again delivered readers another unforgettable couple — a perfect match with a first-rate relationship. I can live with that so long as the rest is engaging and interesting. That would be the case with this storyline and Reed and Simone’s relationship. A small nitpick regarding the hero’s somewhat obsessive infatuation with his lady love’s grandmother. Not only does CiCi play matchmaker, she helps Reed with his dream house and in obtaining a new position as police chief in his hometown, too. In my opinion the infatuation was overplayed – so much so that granny was included in personal moments where grannies aren’t normally found. A little strange! But NR counteracts my distress over the granny lovefest by introducing an adorable puppy that turned my frown upside down and upped my appreciation for the tale. I’ll fess up that Granny CiCi plays a key role throughout the book adding goodness and wisdom and without her this story would not have been the same. Another bugger I found within this story was the significant jumps in time that weren’t always easy to follow. This reader appreciates clearly marked changes – both in backward and forward movement — in a timeline. And it shouldn’t be too hard of a request to manage. With her decision to seemingly break new ground and head in new directions, NR appears unaffected by what her fans may find too much of a drastic change in topics. Her romances continue ever popular and her In Death Series written as J.D. Robb is a favorite among so many readers. I stand among those! Never miss a new release. Nora Roberts remains at the top of her game — a skilled master of her craft. If you’re a fan Ms. Roberts and/or romantic suspense that will terrify, move, and at times, humor mixed with the sweetness of new passion — but with less emphasis on this aspect of the genre — this captivating saga is a must read. Note: An Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) was provided by the Author and Publisher. 2018-arcs 2018-reads 17 likes Like Comment Pilar S.C. Author 9 books 239 followers April 9, 2019 ¡¡MARAVILLOSA!! No esperaba menos de Roberts pero, desde luego, el libro ha superado mis expectativas. Personajes muy muy definidos, trama envolvente, descripciones ajustadas... ¡Es increíble cómo escribe esta mujer! Nora consigue mantener al lector en continua tensión. Es imposible decir el famoso cliché de "un capítulo más y ya". ¡Imposible! Reed me ha enamorado. La evolución de adolescente a adulto es palpable en cada página. Su madurez se hace patente con cada decisión que toma, cada pensamiento, cada palabra que sale por su boca... Incluso la forma de enamorar a Simone, de cortejarla, darle el espacio que necesita (el justo)... es sencillamente increíble. Simone, por otra parte, es el personaje con el que seguramente se identifique más el lector. No por cobardía en sus decisiones, sino porque muchos actuaríamos como ella hizo ante una tragedia semejante. Es fantástico ver como se vuelca con los años en resurgir como el Ave Fénix: más fuerte, más invencible, más segura de sí misma... Más ELLA. CiCi es ENCANTADORA. Quiero una así para mí. ¿Dónde se piden, Roberts? Moderna hasta rayar lo surrealista y, sin embargo, maravillosamente fácil de querer. Incluso los personajes secundarios (Tish, Mi, Bradley, Tiffany, Trent...) son adecuados para la trama. Perfectos. Necesarios. CONCLUSIÓN: Me encantaría poder borrar de mi memoria los posos que ha dejado esta novela en mi corazón para releerla de nuevo y recuperar esas sensaciones -millones, incontables- que me ha provocado cada página. Sencillamente inmejorable. ¡Enhorabuenísima, Nora Roberts! This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review 17 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,080 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 17 quotes 12 discussions 9 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $6.99 Rate this book Charlotte’s Web E.B. White , Garth Williams ( Illustrator ) , Rosemary Wells ( Illustrator ) 4.20 1,850,041 ratings 24,060 reviews Want to read Kindle $6.99 Rate this book This beloved book by E. B. White, author of Stuart Little and The Trumpet of the Swan , is a classic of children's literature that is "just about perfect." This high-quality paperback features vibrant illustrations colorized by Rosemary Wells! Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte's Web, high up in Zuckerman's barn. Charlotte's spiderweb tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the runt of his litter. E. B. White's Newbery Honor Book is a tender novel of friendship, love, life, and death that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come. This edition contains newly color illustrations by Garth Williams, the acclaimed illustrator of E. B. White's Stuart Little and Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series, among many other books. Genres Classics Fiction Childrens Fantasy Young Adult Middle Grade Animals ...more 184 pages, Paperback First published October 15, 1952 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author E.B. White 101 books 2,842 followers Elwyn Brooks White was a leading American essayist, author, humorist, poet and literary stylist and author of such beloved children's classics as Charlotte's Web , Stuart Little , and The Trumpet of the Swan . He graduated from Cornell University in 1921 and, five or six years later, joined the staff of The New Yorker magazine. He authored over seventeen books of prose and poetry and was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1973. White always said that he found writing difficult and bad for one's disposition. Mr. White has won countless awards, including the 1971 National Medal for Literature and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, which commended him for making “a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.” Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.20 1,850,041 ratings 24,060 reviews 5 stars 903,456 (48%) 4 stars 550,630 (29%) 3 stars 293,057 (15%) 2 stars 67,255 (3%) 1 star 35,643 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 24,061 reviews Jason Koivu Author 7 books 1,328 followers August 2, 2012 I don't give a fig if it is a kid's book, Charlotte's Web is one of the most well-crafted stories ever written. This classic children's tale deserves 5 stars for story craft and language usage alone! (Read your Strunk & White to understand this man's talents in that regard.) The fact that it's a heart-warmer/wrencher clinches it. Never was I made to love pigs and spiders so much in my life. Charlotte's Web will always rank high amongst my favorites. But why, for the love of god, did they make us watch the cartoon version of this tear-jerker in school? Did they want to make us weep embarrassingly in front of one another? If so, mission accomplished, you sadistic school district! favorites 819 likes 1 comment Like Comment Lisa of Troy 647 reviews 5,786 followers September 8, 2023 Some Pig! Charlotte’s Web is the story of an unlikely friendship between a runt of a pig named Wilbur and a spider named Charlotte. One day, Wilbur hears from one of the farm animals that he is destined to be Christmas dinner. However, one animal is determined to save him, Charlotte. She starts to weave messages into her web about how incredible Wilbur is. Will it be enough to save the pig? When I was a child, I saw this movie and found it very moving. As an adult, I read this story, and I still think it is very moving, but I have a deeper respect for the symbolism. Since January, I have been going full tilt with the readalongs so I put a pause on them. And, of course, I am regretting that decision. Because Charlotte’s Web is such a great book for discussion! First, this book can be interpreted in a variety of ways. For example, Wilbur breaks free from his pen. All of the animals are giving him conflicting information about what he should do (run uphill, run downhill, etc.). While in a state of confusion, Wilbur is lured into his pen by the farmer with a bucket of slop. This reminded me of counteroffers in the workplace. Your corporation might be perfectly content with you working 24/7 in a dark closet in the back of the building, never to be seen or heard from, and at a low rate of pay. When you finally find another company who will actually treat you decently, your old company tries to lure you back into their fold with a tempting offer. Wilbur’s situation also reminds me of a classic abusive relationship where the person afflicted wants to leave but feels compelled to stay, especially without a clear plan for extraction from the situation. Second, there are a lot of relationships in this book that give me pause. If you read my review on The Giving Tree, I absolutely hate it. But I love Charlotte’s Web. Maybe because Wilbur loves Charlotte in return? What do you make of Fern? Is Wilbur just a phase to her? Is Templeton really a friend or is he just a hired hand (and that’s all he wants to be)? Are you upset that Wilbur receives all the praise when it is really Charlotte that is extraordinary? My favorite character: Dr. Dorian. He seems to be the most sensible person of them all. Third, I love this book because it encourages praise versus complaining. Charlotte spins kind words into her web about Wilbur, and he tries to live up to them. She doesn’t write, “Needs Bath” into her web. Instead, she spins a positive adjective. What do you think of Charlotte spinning the word, “humble”? Do you think that being humble is a bad thing in this day and age? Overall, this book is deeply moving, has beautiful illustrations, provides a lot of valuable food for thought, and the action is fast paced. Connect With Me! Blog Twitter BookTube Facebook Insta 416 likes 2 comments Like Comment Lala BooksandLala 517 reviews 71.2k followers March 29, 2020 Book 23 of 30 for my 30 day reading challenge. 378 likes Like Comment Mark Lawrence Author 73 books 53.5k followers December 2, 2023 'pologies to anybody following my reviews in hope of insights into epic fantasy novels - I get through more kids' stuff reading to my little girl (who is too disabled to do it for herself). Charlotte's Web is a book I've been aware of for nearly 40 years but somehow managed to avoid reading when I was little. We picked it up at the hospice last week and read the first half, then had to buy a copy at Waterstones yesterday to finish it off (59 years in print and it's still selling for £6.99 in paperback!) The book's a classic for good reason. It delivers an emotional but refreshingly unsentimental story with twists and turns, and inadvertently lets us have a look at rural American life in the late 1940's. In addition to a strong and engaging story E.B White has powerful prose that doesn't confuse a child, but carries more weight than you're likely to see in most children's stories. There's a circle of life theme going on, the amusing and varied anthropomorphising of various animals, a county show and prizes to be awarded, oh my! But putting a welcome edge on all this is the bald fact that the pig you can see on the cover is balanced on a constant knife edge with people gearing up to reduce him to bacon and ham at every turn. And although there are tender moments in the story, it's never saccharine *slight spoiler* the rat never comes through with a change of heart, the little girl grows up and loses interest in the animals *end slight spoiler* All in all a fine children's book. Perhaps it I'd read it when I was 7 I'd be giving it 5* It also contains the saddest line in children's fiction: No one was with her when she died. Join my Patreon Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes .. 330 likes 3 comments Like Comment James Author 20 books 4,030 followers January 15, 2019 If you've never read Charlotte's Web by E.B. White , you are utterly missing out on a classic Newbery Honor award winner. Go to the library now and borrow this book first published in 1952. You shouldn't buy it (unless you have children or are giving it as a present), but choose to embrace the entire experience of being a small child walking through your public library's doors, searching for an amazing book and finding yourself bringing home a tale that will make you cry and fall in love all at the same time. And don't spoil it by watching the cartoon or regular movies made based on the book until you've read it yourself! It's important.... At a quick glance, a little pig arrives on a new farm and is basically going to be entered into a contest to win a prize for the farm owner. But the pig is scared and confused, turning to all sorts of other farm animals for love and guidance at his new home: chickens, mice, birds and of course, Charlotte, the friendly spider. To help save the pig, Charlotte spins webs overnight about the pig's talents in the hopes that he'll be saved from the... sniff sniff... chopping block even if he wins the contest for best pig. But there's so much more going on in this book... Charlotte is everyone's mother. She's everyone's teacher. She's everyone's friend. As Pollyanna as it will sound, we should all have a Charlotte in our life to help us grow up and mature into terrific, radiant and humble human beings. (I'll avoid calling us "some pig" as the other message she crafts). All the lessons children can learn from this book are important, even the ones about death. I won't spoil it, but despite all the efforts across all the animals and the people in this treasure, someone doesn't make it. It's on the same level as "Bambi" in my opinion when it comes to a must-read for children, even if the harsh realities of life are exposed. Please go read it. :) 1-fiction 291 likes Like Comment Emily (Books with Emily Fox on Youtube) 580 reviews 65.1k followers Read February 11, 2020 Look at me reading about spiders again. Not exactly the same thing as Children of Time but still... This was part of my "Reading Children Classics for the First Time as an Adult" Challenge for January and... I'm pleasantly surprised! Cute book about friendship! I'm sure I would have loved it as a kid! 221 likes Like Comment Michael Finocchiaro Author 3 books 5,858 followers April 5, 2017 One of the great tear-jerkers of my long-lost childhood, the unlikely friendship between a spider and a pig makes for wonderful reading and a shared moment of love when reading it to kids. It is tender and teaches the values of constancy and integrity in a light, beautiful prose. A classic and a masterpiece. american-20th-c classics kids ...more 194 likes Like Comment Ahmad Sharabiani 9,564 reviews 155 followers October 29, 2021 Charlotte's Web, E.B. White A girl named Fern saves a pig named Wilbur from death, but knows that the pig will eventually be killed for its meat. On Uncle Homer's farm, Wilbur meets a spider named Charlotte. Charlotte saves him from the death that awaits him by weaving words on his nets, which describe Wilbur with strange qualities. Wilbur draws people from farms, and villages near and far, and eventually wins a contest in the cunning market. Charlotte, who lost her strength by weaving nets, ... Charlotte's Web is a children's novel by American author E. B. White and illustrated by Garth Williams; it was published in October 15, 1952, by Harper & Brothers. It is tender and teaches the values of constancy and integrity in a light, beautiful prose. تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز سی و یکم ماه آگوست سال1972میلادی عنوان: کارتنک شارلوت؛ نویسنده: ئی.بی وایت؛ مترجم: مهشید امیرشاهی؛ تهران، امیرکبیر، کتابهای جیبی، انتشارات فرانکلین، سال1350، در173ص، چاپ دوم سال1353؛ چاپ دیگر تهران، علمی فرهنگی، سال1383؛ در168ص؛ چاپ دیگر تهران، علمی فرهنگی، پرنده آبی، سال1395؛ شابک9786004362832؛ داستانهای نویسندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا - سده 20م دخترى به نام «فرن»، خوکى به نام «ویلبر» را، از مرگ مى‌رهاند، اما می‌داند که خوک، سرانجام برای گوشتش، کشته خواهد شد؛ «ویلبر» در مزرعه ى «عمو هومر»، با عنکبوتى به نام «شارلوت»، آشنا مى‌گردد، «شارلوت» با بافتن واژه‌ هایی روى تورهایش، که «ویلبر» را با واژه های ناباورانه مى‌ستاید، و او را از مرگى که در انتظارش است، رهایی مى‌دهد؛ «ویلبر»، مردمان را از کشتزارها، و روستاهاى دور و نزدیک، به تماشاى خویش مى‌کشاند، و سرانجام در مسابقه‌ ای در بازار مکاره، برنده مى‌شود؛ «شارلوت»، که نیرویش را با بافتن تورها از دست داده، ...؛ تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 19/10/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 06/08/1400هجری خورش��دی؛ ا. شربیانی Like Comment Barbie 109 reviews 344 followers April 18, 2019 My thoughts in a nutshell Charlotte’s Web is one of my favorite childhood books. I watched it so many times and never got bored with it. The story is about… Skip over this point if you don't like the sneak peek. A little pig who wants to see the first show and who wants to live instead of becoming sausages. What impressed me the most 😊 This little story has many important feelings and lesson. It teaches us to respect other living creatures and how to live side by side in peace. It told about humility and explained how important it is to have a great friendship. A friend who does anything to saved her little buddy’s life. A friend who once made a promise and now she will go through fire and water to keep her word. I’ve become such a sensitive little girl if the story is about an animal’s death. I’m feeling sorry about all of them. In my world, I think they have soul and they are sentinent beings. This book is an amazing classic, and it made me emotional. Haha. Make a conclusion I gave it 5 stars because it is perfect for me. It has a much valuable lesson and I really appreciate it. I recommend it to everyone who hasn’t read it. Wait a second! Why don’t you read it yet? Go to the library, NOW! Or watch the movie I recommend it too. Atmosphere collage aka. how did I imagine the book vibes? 166 likes Like Comment Matthew 1,221 reviews 9,560 followers July 21, 2020 Another classic read with the kids! I love reading to them – they enjoy a chapter every evening and it gives us some good, quality family time. Also, it is cool to see them disappointed if we don’t have time to read (sad, but cool that it is so important to them!) If you don’t remember Charlotte’s Web from your childhood, did you even have a childhood? While it is dated – even more so now than when I read it as a kid – it is a timeless tale of life, death, and friendship. There are so many amazingly deep facets in this little book written for children. I am pretty sure a group of adults could still have a very deep discussion about the themes, plot points, and characters in this book. I mentioned that death is a key part of this book. Some may think that could be too much for kids. But I feel like White presented it in the perfect way to show that death and rebirth are a part of life; perfect in a way as to not upset kids and allow them to explore their curiosity on the subject. If you have never read Charlotte’s Web, you really should! 2020 coming-of-age own ...more 194 likes Like Comment Julie G 932 reviews 3,347 followers January 9, 2023 Update 6/2018: I will boldly assert here that I think this is the greatest children's book ever written, and I am embarking today on my 4th read of this classic. It is my youngest child's turn to discover the joys and sorrows of friendship and of life, as presented by one of my favorite writers, Mr. E. B. White. Rest in peace, Andy, you beautiful man. Original review : This is quite ridiculous, that I should read this, at 42-years-old, for the third time in my life, and end up blubbering hot tears all over my face and down the front of my shirt. I can't get over that my youngest, at 5-years-old, sat through the entire book this week, mesmerized by the brilliant and timeless story-telling. She giggled, frequently, at the funny passages, and then she laughed at me, her grown mother, crying a river for the last 40 pages. I honestly cried to the point of being physically incapable of reading out loud. And then, as Charlotte's babies drifted away shouting "Good-bye! Good-bye! Good-bye!" my daughter's face contorted strangely and the next thing I knew, she was face down on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. This is one powerful story. 50-from-the-1950s animal-house favorite-books ...more 120 likes Like Comment Reading_ Tamishly 4,947 reviews 3,046 followers August 6, 2023 I feel like I did something right by picking up this book years after of having it in my to-be-read list! I picked it up at the right time (as on 11th April 2020) as I have picked up this book at least 4 times before during a span of 2 years. At first I thought it would be a really short children's fiction with lots of pictures of animals and the family of the little girl on the book cover. But I got genuinely surprised the way it weaved an unforgettable story of various animals with distinct personalities who live in a barn together sharing the ups and downs of life. I would say this book is pretty insightful in understanding kids from their perspective as well as some very useful information regarding the animals (Charlotte the spider as one of the main characters which is one of the best nonhuman fictional characters ever, Wilbur the pig which was almost given up for being the weakest at birth, Templeton the rat which is notorious for his catty remarks, the geese family which speaks the truth and provided entertainment during the whole story). The way these characters were written, how bits of information about these animals were interwoven in the story isn't like a chore as it tends to happen in most of children's books. This book is entertaining, this book is fun to read. It is packed with emotions. It ended beautifully! You won't believe I cried towards the end of the book. The story seems so real. A good book is a good book. No matter for whom it's written for. I am so glad I read this book finally! *The story highlights: 📌 Being empathetic towards animals of all kinds 📌 Friendship that is loyal and unforgettable Here's something about Charlotte the spider from Wilbur the pig: "She was in a class by herself. It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both." (You would be really lucky to have a friend like this who you would say this to. But even more lucky if you have someone who say this to you.) 📌 Parents who are not overbearing. Parents who has the sense to listen to their kids. Parents who does not behave like know-it-alls and who have the sense to take help when needed. 📌 The gullible nature of us human adults 📌 The author is really witty! 118 likes 1 comment Like Comment Melki 6,463 reviews 2,462 followers September 14, 2016 ". . . this lovely world, these precious days . . ." Charlotte, a spider I always get in the mood for this book when county fair season rolls around. Ah, the midway with it's dizzying rides and scary carny folk. The agriculture buildings featuring prize-winning giant produce and lovingly crafted quilts. And the yummy scents of frying dough competing with the much earthier smells emanating from the livestock tents. It smelled of hay and it smelled of manure. It smelled of the perspiration of tired horses and the wonderful sweet breath of patient cows. It often had a sort of peaceful smell - as though nothing bad could ever happen again in the world. I always pay a visit to the cows, sheep and pigs temporarily housed there, and try not to think about how many of them are doomed, already auctioned off to local restaurants. With that sad fact in mind, is it any wonder how this fanciful tale can grip the imagination and tug at the heart . . . the story of Zuckerman's Famous Pig - Wilbur, the Pig Who Lived! The book begins with our hero narrowly avoiding the ax, saved from death by a young girl who promises to raise him. He grows and thrives under her care, but soon he's sentenced to a lonely life in a pen at her uncle's farm. But fret not, for he soon meets Charlotte, a large grey spider with an impeccable vocabulary. It is truly the beginning of a beautiful and unforgettable friendship. I know this is a childhood favorite for many readers, but I was introduced to these characters not through the book, but by the 1973 animated film. Because of this, I will always associate Paul Lynde's memorably snarky voice with Templeton the rat. "What's in it for meeee?" I should be ashamed to admit that I didn't read the book until 2011, but I'm not. I think I appreciated it more fully as an aging adult than I would have as a kid. Having lost some friends and both parents, I know how fleeting life can be and how important it is to grab onto every last experience and memory. How strange that it is the wisdom of a spider that reminds us of what matters most in our lives. No pig ever had truer friends, and he realized that friendship is one of the most satisfying things in the world. Adding to the joy of the book are the sweet illustrations by Garth Williams. So thank you, Mr. White, for your most marvelous book. I can think of no other author who could make an arachnophobe like me shed tears over the death of a spider. fiction-favorites keep-the-tissues-handy kidstuff ...more 104 likes Like Comment Dem 1,217 reviews 1,300 followers February 26, 2019 My 8 years old self would have loved this book, I had been looking for an excuse to read this book for years and just realised on seeing it this week in a book shop that I didn't need an excuse to read it, I can just pick it up and indulge myself in little animal behaviour and so I enjoyed this beautiful story of a livestock pig named Wilbur and his friendship with a barn spider named Charlotte. This book is so beautifully written and the illustrations in the copy I have just made it that much better. Friendship and love are the central themes of Charlotte's Web, This is a terrific children's book which I think many adults like myself will appreciate the story as well and I am going to hold on to this copy as I hope if the future (long distant future) to take it out again and perhaps read to my grand children. I seem to have missed out on so many of these great books that I should have read as a child but as the saying goes " better late than never" and so nice to choose one to read every now and then. childrens 102 likes Like Comment Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin 3,588 reviews 10.8k followers December 11, 2019 The book made me cry as a child. The movie made me cry and it still makes me cry! So there!! Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾 classics 93 likes Like Comment Deanna 716 reviews 13k followers July 31, 2015 One of my favorite childhood memories is of reading this book with my mother. I remember how much I giggled at some of the funny situations and cried especially when we read it the first few times. Sobbing into my pillow with my mom rubbing my back I wondered why Charlotte had to die. My mom patiently explaining the gift Charlotte left for Wilbur. Even now I feel a bit of a lump in my throat. It was treasures like this that started my love of books and reading. I loved it so much I don't know how many times I read it over the years. Such a timeless classic that will continue to be enjoyed for generations to come. It was easy to understand and I loved the illustrations. The characters were so well developed and completely lovable. I wanted to move to a farm right away and have my very own baby pig. So many life lessons... It was all in there! The meaning of true friendship, love, life's adventures, miracles, death, trust, betrayal, sorrow and the passing of time. Enjoyable to both children and adults I hope everyone reads this book at least once in their lives. Truly a timeless classic. 95 likes Like Comment Tharindu Dissanayake 298 reviews 728 followers September 10, 2020 "Slowly, slowly!" said Charlotte. "Never hurry and never worry!" Charlotte's Web is one of those books that anyone can enjoy, irrespective of our age. Language might be very simple and plain, but once you picked up this, you will quickly find out that this is probably one of the best stories you have ever read. Author not only brings the readers a lot of fun with this little story, but also has a very subtle way of conveying a few of life lessons. And as for children, I believe, letting them experience such pure perspectives on life will assist them see the world quite differently - in a better way. "After all, what's a life, anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die." favorites favorites-fiction 84 likes Like Comment Richard Author 5 books 449 followers February 10, 2017 I have been familiar with the story for most of my life, but never read it until now. Wilbur the pig is born a runt, and the farmer decides he must face the axe. Kind-hearted little Fern intercedes and saves him. She cares for the undersized pig, who later goes to a nearby farm. Wilbur's life is nearly idyllic until he discovers the fate that has been woven for him: he will likely be the next Christmas ham. Horrified, he looks desperately for a door of escape. His pleas for help are overhead by a large grey spider who is almost invisible in the doorway. She decides to try to alter the thread by which his destiny is hanging, but will she succeed? The barnyard animals, while displaying some human characteristics--Charlotte the spider can read and even has a smattering of Latin--behave like the animals they are. The geese are noisy and silly; the rat is sly and greedy; the pig is good-natured and always hungry; the spider, while kindly, is also an opportunistic and bloodthirsty killer The story is one of friendship, loyalty, and self-sacrifice. While at times it threatens to cross over into a sort of Victorian sentimentality, it never quite does, because the author injects touches of humour and irony into the portrayal of both animal and human characters. 2012 america animals ...more 85 likes Like Comment Maureen 1,561 reviews 7,016 followers November 27, 2022 A delightful reread! 85 likes Like Comment Sr3yas 223 reviews 1,021 followers August 7, 2017 'I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you.' 'You have been my friend,' replied Charlotte. 'That in itself is a tremendous thing.” Wilbur is some pig who is Radiant and humble. On the top of that, he could do a mean back flip like the Karate Kid. But would you believe me if I said that this radiant pig was almost killed..... twice? This is Wilbur's remarkable journey from almost being bacon to a beacon in the community! But this is not just his Journey. It's about Fern, the little girl who saved Wilbur's life when he was just a runt, and it's about Charlotte, a smart and sweet spider who befriends Wilbur. And Charlotte can spell! It's like she has eaten a spelling bee! *wink wink* It's a great Children's book. If I were a kid, I would've loved it even more. And as an adult, (well, an almost adult) I loved the descriptions on summer (It was almost as if I could feel my childhood!) and Charlotte's protective instincts towards Wilbur. I was not quite sure about parts focusing on Fern. They seemed a bit off towards the end. Oddly enough, Charlotte also reminded me of the characters from Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race . Well, food for thought. In the end, Charlotte's Web is a story about kindness and love. It's about reaffirming faith in a person's personality and values rather than appearances. And above all, It's about the value of friendship. TL:DR? hall-of-fame-2017 79 likes Like Comment Debbie W. 830 reviews 702 followers November 8, 2019 A beautiful tale of friendship for all ages! animals broke-my-heart classics ...more 76 likes Like Comment Lynda 209 reviews 123 followers March 20, 2014 4-stars author-usa childrens-literature ...more 76 likes Like Comment Carolyn Marie Castagna 309 reviews 7,430 followers March 21, 2022 One of the very best! From the first line to the last line and everything in between! classics-i-ve-read favorites 72 likes Like Comment Debbie 479 reviews 3,554 followers July 6, 2019 This is some book! This well-known classic kids’ book is all it’s cracked up to be. Charlotte is the nicest, wisest spider you’ll ever meet. Wish I could think of sweet Charlotte the next time I see a creepy crawly spider, but I’m sure the memory of her will go right out the window and I’ll run for my life, as always! Everyone should read this book. Well, probably every one has. But true confession here: When my teacher read the book to our class over a few weeks, my 8-year-old self daydreamed off every time! Yep, that’s me: the attention span of a shoo-fly! How did I do this, I want to know, since now, reading it more than 60 years later, I was completely captivated. I guess I wanted to give back what I didn’t allow myself to receive way back when: an amazing, heart-wrenching read! So I read the book to Eliska, the 10-year-old I kid-sit for. She had liked the movie so was up for a read-aloud. I did NOT appreciate it when, half-way into the story, she proudly blurted out the sad ending. The stinker—she knew what she was doing and she just wanted to see my expression—which, of course, was pure shock and dismay. She thought she was hilarious; I wish she had gotten the memo on spoilers. There’s so much good about this story about two friends: a spider, Charlotte, and a pig, Wilbur. Talking animals, quite a trip. There are stuttering geese; a wise-guy rat. The best part was Charlotte writing in her web, in the hope that she could save Wilbur. I loved the words she chose and how she acquired them. Tickled me to death—so ingenious! A good lesson in the power of words, the power of language. The first thing Charlotte wrote in the web was SOME PIG. WARNING: The rest of this so-called review is just a true story about the drama (seriously, not important drama) that occurred while I read this book. Proceed if you want, but I won’t be insulted if you ignore it. While I read, Eliska always does some craft. Once she made rubber-band earrings that could have mutilated my ears, but luckily she warned me, and I removed them the second I left the premises. This time, she decided to give me a tattoo. Oh, she did ask first, as she dangled the tattoo pens in my face. When I hestitated, she assured me that the tattoo would wash right off. I nodded okay, and she went to town on my wrist. I figured the tattoo would be the size of a dime, but as I read about the fate of Charlotte and Wilbur, I saw out of the corner of my eye that it was a multi-colored flower the size of a post-it note. Hm—that thing is BIG! I agained ask if she was sure it would come off. This time her story changed a little. “Oh, in a couple of days, for sure,” she says. What??? It hits me that she has no idea whether it will come off! What have I let her do? Am I nuts? I subdued my freakout and kept my head inside Charlotte’s Web. How my reading voice stayed calm I do not know. Eliska was done, and I have to say the tattoo was pretty. Next, she started going crazy painting her fingers with mulit-colored stripes. At first I thought they looked cool, but then I started seeing them through a mom’s (her mom’s) eyes and I realized they were pretty ugly—loud and bright brass knuckles, except they didn’t cover just the knuckles. Every square inch of her fingers was soaked in marker pen. It suddenly occurred to me that maybe mom would not appreciate the fact that I let her kid write all over her hands. Maybe I was in deep doo-doo. I started getting antsy and I asked Eliska, “Are you SURE these wash off?” She promptly went and washed off one finger and returned. Huge blue spots like bruises were what remained. It looked like she had USED the brass knuckles, for crying out loud. She giggled nervously as I gasped. “Well, if you scrub it with one of those hard brushes that you wash dirty nails with, more will come off,” she said. Like this would reassure me. We all know those brushes are nasty! Scrubbing my old wrist might scrub off the skin for all I know. We’re talking pain. And where to find such a brush in the first place? I don’t have one lying around. Freakout time! At this point I was more worried about Eliska’s painted fingers than my tattoo. What if her mom was furious? What kind of babysitter lets a kid drench her skin with ink? Maybe Eliska liked this new look so much that she’ll become a badass when she’s 18 and cover her body in tattoos. Her mom will blame me for sure—the babysitter with no sense, the babysitter who was too busy reading Charlotte’s Web to notice the kid ruining her soft, clear skin with ugly ink. Aha moment: maybe I should have had Eliksa draw graffiti on me that said, SOME BABYSITTER. Maybe instead of her mom being mad at me for letting Eliska loose with tattoo pens, she’d be impressed. Just like the world was impressed that Charlotte had written SOME PIG and it had saved Wilbur’s life. Yep, maybe a SOME BABYSITTER tattoo would save my job. I threw the idea out to Eliska, who was in the middle of deciding whether her next finger should have three or four stripes. She thought I was nuts—what was wrong with the beautiful flower she painted? Writing words wouldn’t be any fun! And come to think of it, it depends on how you interpret SOME BABYSITTER anyway. If you emphasize the “some,” you could mean “that was SOME babysitter, alright. She was a humdinger!” (i.e., bad). So maybe it was best that I didn’t steal Charlotte’s idea after all. It was the dad who came home and I didn’t see him notice Eliska’s hands. You better believe I was glad that it wasn’t mom who walked in that door. But I never heard a word about it. No news is good news. Eliska must have had an easier time removing the ink than I had thought. What about my tattoo? When I got home, I looked at it a lot but I didn’t try to remove it right away. I was afraid that if I did, I’d have a blue blob, like Eliska’s painted finger. I was trying to ignore it so that I’d chill. It didn’t help when my husband glanced at my arm and said, “What? You got a TATTOO?” No way I could pretend it never happened. I told him the story, adding, “It will wash right off,” though I didn’t for a second believe it. He was so excited, he took pictures and sent it out to our daughters, “Look, mom got a tattoo!” It horrified me that it looked that real. If the tattoo looks so real, does that mean it’s permanent? I kept telling myself that there was no way that Eliska’s mom would allow her to have permanent markers in the house, no way. I fretted—should I wait a few days before I tried to wash it off? No, that would be torture. I needed to know now. So after a few hours, I tried. And damn if the tattoo, the beautiful tattoo, didn’t disappear—completely. No scrubbing necessary, and no blue blob in sight. You know, I’ll always think of the tattoo whenever I think about Charlotte’s Web. That was some book. Wilbur was some pig. I was some babysitter. animals betsy-recs classics ...more 70 likes Like Comment David bernardy 11 reviews 5 followers November 25, 2007 I grew up without reading this book. For some, that seems to be unimaginable. I can maybe understand why. My wife and I are reading it now, or I should say, I am reading it aloud before bed, and it's really wonderful. I could totally see why it would be a kind of life-formative book. I was reading a passage last night and laughing at it (there is so much in here that is really funny), and it made me wonder about the level of the humor. That is, would the kid me have thought this was funny or is it my adult self? And I think probably the kid would have. This is all to say that reading it now, as an adult, it gives me an appreciation for kids' minds, and kids' books that take them seriously, even in their humor. I hope that all makes sense. I'm a late comer to the Harry Potter books, too, but was really delighted by them in some of the same ways. But--to get back to "Charlotte's Web"--there's a section about the end of summer, a couple chapters away from their Fair trip. White makes this lovely kind of song about the end of the season and the coming of Fall and the kind of beauty and dread and tinged sadness of it all. My god, it was affecting. That's something that I probably would not have picked up on as a kid, but I think that has more to do with kid-me than with most kids. I know my wife remembered that part distinctly, in fact it is one of the reasons we went back to this book now. We have recently moved from Minnesota, our home for about four years, and Fair Time there just passed. We really experienced the sort of sad beauty of summer's end there. In our new place in Chapel Hill it hasn't happened quite yet. It is still hot and very dry from drought, so I don't know if there will be that kind of fading moment or not. We'll have to see. Anyhow, when a book for kids (whatever--for all of us) can make you laugh and cry and think about the beautiful sadness of death--then, damn, what can you do but ramble? 68 likes Like Comment Natalie Monroe 607 reviews 3,738 followers June 29, 2014 How I feel about spiders when I read Charlotte's Web: How I feel about spiders when I see one in my house: But I really do love this book. Charlotte A. Cavatica, you will live on my heart forever. reread-for-the-nth-time when-i-was-young 66 likes Like Comment Carol 1,370 reviews 2,270 followers February 18, 2017 As I now join the million's of readers who have enjoyed this great book, I realize it truly is a book for ALL ages. Loved every minute of it! childrens classics saw-the-movie 64 likes Like Comment TL 1,990 reviews 113 followers April 2, 2015 No words I can say but this book is magical and beautiful and everyone should read it... a truly wonderful tale :) <3 58 likes Like Comment Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader 2,349 reviews 31.5k followers August 10, 2017 I have been listening to or reading Charlotte's Web since 1983. My first grade teacher, Mrs. Bunting, read this magical book to our class, and I can vividly remember sitting on my carpet square, entranced. Her reading that book to our class was the highlight of each day. Later that year, there was a movie in the theaters, and we went to see it as a class field trip. From my memory, everyone in class was excited about the book and the movie. This was book was that important in the lives of early readers. I also remember the book fair that school year, and my mom allowed me to buy one book (and bookmark- these were the days of unicorns and rainbows, and my first bookmark had both. 🦄 🌈 ). I'm sure you can guess what my purchase was. My copy of Charlotte's Web was read more times than I could ever possibly keep track, and as some of my book friends know, even at age 6, I worked hard to keep that well-loved book in pristine condition. 😉 We still have my copy somewhere, and I'm on a mission to find it. All of that to say, when Audible had a sale recently on the audio read by E.B. White in the 1970s, I quickly bought it. You know an audio is good when you are instantly ready to listen to it again. There is nothing better than the author of THE perfect book reading his own perfect words. So much love and connection in his voice, tone, and inflection. Some books are full of magic that lives in your heart forever, and Charlotte's Web is certainly in mine. Summer 2017 Read #18 55 likes Like Comment Ines 322 reviews 235 followers December 24, 2022 May I say that this book is one of the most tender and cute my daughter and I ever read. Yes, she is 10 years old and we still love to read together just before bedtime. We really appreciated this precious friendship between Charlotte and Philbert the pig as the way they respect each other and got joyful for the small little events and things they encountered during the days.... Charlotte way of being a mom, friend and then a guide to Philbert was really lovely and emotional. The legacy Charlotte's will leave to her friend pig are new lives to protect at any cost in order to protect Charlotte's legacy and memory. too. We really loved the description of the farm's life and how all the other animals interact between each others. 56 likes 1 comment Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 24,061 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 120 quotes 202 discussions 91 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Little Warrior by Giuseppe Catozzella | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $9.49 Rate this book Little Warrior Giuseppe Catozzella , Anne Milano Appel ( Translator ) 4.32 13,692 ratings 2,722 reviews Want to read Kindle $9.49 Rate this book A heartbreaking novel, inspired by a true story, about a Somali girl who is willing to sacrifice everything to fulfill her dream of becoming a champion runner. LITTLE WARRIOR is based on the life of Samia Omar, a girl who grows up in war-torn Somalia determined to be a world-class sprinter. She sleeps with a photo of Mo Farah by her bed, trains hard despite the violence and prejudice around her, and makes the national team. But with the war encroaching on their family, her sister is forced to make the treacherous journey to Europe by boat. Samia, scared for her life and for her dreams, decides to join her, which means putting her life in the hands of traffickers... Winner of the Premio Strega Giovani Prize in Italy and sold in over a dozen languages around the world, LITTLE WARRIOR is a timely, inspiring and moving story about war, family and hope, for readers of THE KITE RUNNER, PERSEPOLIS and THE OTHER HAND. Genres Fiction Novels Africa Audiobook Historical Fiction Somalia Italian Literature ...more 250 pages, Paperback First published January 8, 2014 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Giuseppe Catozzella 13 books 318 followers He was born in Milan and studied philosophy at the University of Milan. After graduating, he moved to Australia. After living in Sydney for an extended period, he returned to his native Milan. He has been nominated by the UN Goodwill Ambassador UNHCR. Catozzella has published across multiple literary genres, including plays, short stories and novels, and writes on the main Italian newspapers La Repubblica and L'Espresso. His novel Don't Tell Me You're Afraid, dealing with the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean Sea, was a very popular and critical success in Italy and in the world. The novel sold more than 500.000 copies in 40 countries. In Italy it won the Premio Strega Giovani 2014 and it was shortlisted for the Premio Strega 2014. It has been translated into English by Anne Appel, and published in the US and Canada by Penguin and in UK and Commonweal by Faber&Faber. A major movie is in preparation from Don't Tell Me You're Afraid. His last novel is "The Great Future". Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.32 13,692 ratings 2,722 reviews 5 stars 7,116 (51%) 4 stars 4,493 (32%) 3 stars 1,615 (11%) 2 stars 333 (2%) 1 star 135 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,722 reviews Mohamed Al Author 2 books 5,231 followers July 1, 2016 يبدأ الأديب الروسي "تولستوي" روايته الخالدة "آنا كارنينا" بهذه العبارة "كل العائلات السعيدة تتشابه، لكن لكل عائلة تعيسة طريقتها الخاصة في التعاسة". ولكن ما لا يذكره تولستوي في عبارته، بأن حتى العائلات التعيسة، لديها طريقتها الخاصة في مقاومة التعاسة أو في أسوأ الأحوال تخفيفها. إنها ترفض تصديق فكرة التعاسة كقدرٍ، كمصيرٍ، كلعنةٍ أبديّة، وكنقطةٍ في نهاية السطر، لأنّ ذلك من شأنه أن يزلزل أركان حياتها كلها، ويقودها بالتالي إلى التساؤل : لماذا نعمل إذًا، ونتزوج، ونتشاجر، وننجب الأبناء، وقبل ذلك كله لماذا نحيا، إذا كان كل شيءٍ في حياتنا محكومًا بالتعاسة الأبدية! منذ البداية، منذ لحظة الولادة، تختار التعاسة العائلات التي ستحلّ ضيفة ثقيلة الظلّ عليها، تأتي إلى منازلها بلا مواعيد مسبقة، تختار لنفسها أكبر الغرف، تنغّص على القاطنين فيها حياتهم، ثمّ تدفعهم أخيرًا إلى المغادرة. في الصومال، ذلك البلد الذي لا نعرفه جيدًا، عاشت سامية يوسف، تلك العدّاءة التي لا نعرفها جيدًا، قصة طموحٍ وتحدٍ ورفضٍ لحياة تعيسةٍ في بلدٍ تعيس. كانت سامية يوسف، مع ذلك، ترفض مغادرة الصومال، إيمانًا منها بقدرتها على تغيير مصير النساء في بلدها، الذي أحبته ولم يبادلها الحبّ. على الرغم من معرفتها بأن علاقة الحبّ مع وطنها كانت من طرفٍ واحد، لم تتردّد سامية يوسف في تمثيله في أولمبياد بكين  ٢٠٠٨ حيث لفتت أنظار الصحافة يومها رغم أنّها احتلّت المركز الأخير. عادت سامية إلى الوطن عازمةً على أن تشارك في أولمبياد لندن ٢٠١٢ لتعويض خسارتها، ولكنها لم تكن تعلم بأن التعاسة كانت تنتظرها في المطار بباقة من الأشواك وبيدها لافتة كتبت عليها "مرحبًا بك في الجحيم مرةً أخرى". تعرضت سامية منذ عودتها إلى الصومال لإرهاب "حركة الشباب" الإسلاموية، التي كانت تسيطر على أجزاء من العاصمة مقديشيو، بدأت بالتحرش بها وبعائلتها، وانتهت باغتيال والدها الذي وقف في وجه المتطرفين من أجل أن تواصل ابنته عدوها نحو حلمها. على إثر ذلك، قررت سامية أن تهاجر إلى إيطاليا بعد أن فُجعت بموت والدها، وأدركت بأنه لن يكون بعد الآن في استقبالها عندما تعود إلى المنزل، أو يتلقى التهاني بانتصاراتها، أو يهمس لها، كلما اجتاحها الخوف واليأس والتعاسة، قائلاً "لا تقولي إنك خائفة". ولكن لم تكن سامية تعلم بأن التعاسة ستكون رفيقتها في رحلتها المريرة، التي قطعت خلالها إثيوبيا والسودان وليبيا، حيث دفعتها من ظهرها إلى البحر أثناء محاولتها الوصول إلى إيطاليا. ماتت سامية بمرارةٍ ورعب، وحيدةً، غريقةً، وعلى شفتيها ابتسامة رضا، لأنها رأت قبل أن يبتلعها البحر التعاسة، التي ما انفكت تلاحقها في حياتها، تحلق بعيدًا عنها. طموح سامية ألهم الصحفي الإيطالي "جوزِّبِه كاتوتسيلا" لتخليد حياتها في روايته " لا تقولي إنك خائفة" التي تُرجمت إلى أكثر من ٤٠ لغة، وترجمتها حديثًا منشورات المتوسّط إلى العربيّة. تذكرت وأنا أقرأ الرواية عبارة للكاتبة الزيمبابوية "دامبيسا مويو" تقول فيها "بأن الأمر يدعو للحرج عندما يتصدى الكتاب الغربيون للحديث عن قضايانا الأفريقية، إذ يبدو أن الغرب بعد أن انتهى من استعمار بلدان القارة قبل قرن، أصبح يستعمر اليوم قضاياها الاقتصادية والتنموية والثقافية"، لكن المفارقة أن حال الصومال، الذي كان جنوبه وحتى عام ١٩٦٠ مُستعمرًا من قبل إيطاليا، بينما كان شماله مُستعمرًا من قبل بريطانيا، أفضل بمراحل من حاله بعد الإستقلال. الأمر الذي يدعو للحرج فعلاً بأن المستعمر، بشهادة التاريخ، هو من عمّر البلد، في حين أن من حكمه من أبناء البلد بعد استقلاله دمّره. أمّا المفارقة الأكثر مدعاةً للحرج، أن يقوم الإيطالي (حفيد مستعمر الأمس)، عن طريق الأدب، بإعادة الحياة لسامية،  التي سلبها الإسلاموي (مستعمر اليوم) سعادتها، وحلمها، وحياتها. روايات 477 likes 2 comments Like Comment Pakinam Mahmoud 922 reviews 4,220 followers December 29, 2023 قصة حياة العدائة الصومالية سامية يوسف.. مينفعش أكتب عليها أي كلمة...يمكن الدموع اللي موقفتش طول الرواية تعبر أكتر من أي كلام.. رواية توجع القلب:( 378 likes Like Comment Nayra.Hassan 1,259 reviews 5,974 followers November 3, 2022 بإمكاننا ان نقاتل الشر و لكن مقاتلة الغباء:هباء و الندم على َما فات من مراتب الغباء؛ لكننا لابد أن نتسائل لماذا لم تتحول العداءة سامية يوسف الي الوجه الاخر للعداء محمد فرح؟ لماذا انسحقت كفراشة على حجر و تحول محمد فرح الي بومة نعقت ذات يوم في وجهها لتحفر مستقبلها على حوائط الخسارة؟ هل لأننا :*نموت كي يحيا الوطن، يحيا لمن؟ نحن الوطن؛ اذا لم يكن كريما آمنا فلا عشنا و لا عاش الوطن *مطر سامية يوسف عمر عداءة صومالية اوليمبية؛ ولدت في عام الاطاحة بمحمد سياد بري ١٩٩١ شبت على أصوات مدافع الهاون؛و ترصع آثار الرصاص حوائط بلدتها في مقديشو؛ نشأت مع رفيقها علىّ؛ متصالحين مع فقر لا يصدق و لكنها كانت َمحظوظة: بموهبة في الجري لا ينكرها احد  و بأفضل اب في العالم يوسف عمر كان ثوريا تم اختبار ثوريته يوميا؛ فهل اشتكي؟ لا *فالشكوى تزيدنا تعاسة في القيام بما لا نحبّ* تحول يوسف الي رمز لابد من محوه؛ و مع تزايد سيطرة جماعة الشباب على العاصمة؛ سلبوها والدها و برحيله غربت شمس سامية واختها هودان؛ تلاشت النقطة المرجعية للابد"لم أقم بالنظر إليه حتى. أردتُ أن أحتفظ بذكراه على حالها إلى الأبد.. " كم مرة فعلتها انت مع احبابك ممن رحلوا كضحية لعنف؟ اعتقد ان اغتيال على بالذات ليوسف من خيال المؤلف؛ فقط ليقرب للقارى الأثر المدمر للحرب الاهلية تزاحمت عليها الاوجاع. . فهل استسلمت؟ جسدك كان دوما يعيق روحك الحرة الوثابة، * على كثرة قرائتي .. الا انني لم اُصدم بهذا القدر من  الفقر المهين؛ كم مرة وجدنا سامية"في الألفية الثالثة" تندهش في سن الرابعة عشر لأنها اول مرة تركب حافلة؟ اول مرة تركب سيارة ملاكي تعرف معنى التكييف في سن ١٦؟ الانترنت في سن ١٧؟ دهشتها من اول حمام تشاهده و تستخدمه في سن ١٧ اوجعت قلبي بحق.. و لكن لماذا يوجعني قلبي و في بلادي توجد اتنين مليون أسرة يستخدمون حمامات مشتركة و مليون فرد لا يمتلكون حماما من الأصل؟ و هي نفس البلد التي تمتلك ٢٣٠ الف غرفة فندقية بحمام.. انه حال العالم الثالث يا سادة.. بحرب او بدون السؤال بصيغة أخرى؛ هل كان مسموحا لسامية ان تصبح الوجه الانثوي لمو فرح؟ في بلد متناحر؛ كان التواجد الصوري  لسامية ضروري؛ لكن كان مطلوب ان تظل : شبح؛ صرصور؛ فراشة مكسورة الجناح؛ محاصرة دوما بجريمتها الشنيعة :طفلة نحيفة عجفاء تجري كالفراشة؛ بطاقة الرياح بالطبع سامية كانت من الممكن أن تتحول إلى لاجئة محترمة لو انها طلبتها في اولمبياد بكين أمام الكاميرات و لكنها لم تعي قدراتها/ماساتها. حينها.. كانت منبهرة هل هناك رياضية في العالم تعيش على الخبز و الماء و بعض الخضر الموسمية؟ بالطبع لو كانت فراشة حقيقية! و لكن فرصتها كعداءة كانت صفر ابنتي عندما تلتحق بتدريب لتكوين عضلات تتناول كميات ترعبني من الدجاج و البيض و الحبوب و الحليب و منتجاته في اليوم الواحد؛ و سامية قبل و بعد تمثيل بلادها اوليمبياً لم يمنحوها و لو علبة حليب يوميا السؤال بصيغة ثالثة هل سامية اضاعت فرصتها بتعجلها؟ لا انكر انني تسائلت مرارا و لماذا لم تنتقل سامية الي هرجيسيا و تعمل و تتدرب و تبتعد عن الجماعة؟ او تستغل كل تلك الأموال التي طلبتها في رحلتها السيزيفية التهريبية الشنيعة في الاستعداد للأولمبياد التي كانت بلادها سترسلها إليها طالما هي فيها؟ طبعا انا اطلب من مراهقة حكمة الشيوخ و برودة قلب من لم يخسر احبة و لم يعرف الغدر بعد اخر عام و نصف من حياتها كانت ضحية لقرار واحد تدحرج بها ككرة الثلج الي مياه متجمدة كانت احن عليها من مخلوقات تم نسبها خطأ للبشر السؤال الأهم الذي يلح علينا؛ هل كانت هذه نهاية السباق الأخير لسامية؟ لماذا كانت النهاية بعيون إيطالية؟ لماذا كان كاتب هذه الرواية إيطالياً؟ لقد عرف قصتها من قناة عربية؛ هل هناك هدف خفي من تخليد واقع غير منطقي نحاول كلنا تجاهله؟ بأسلوب صحفي رشيق جدا "يشبه اسلوب إحسان عبد القدوس" جذبنا للتجول مع سامية للنهاية و ساعده معاوية عبد المجيد بتفوق و لكن هل كان لموت سامية تأثير الفراشة؟ هذه قصة تروق للعالم الغربي"؛ بكلمات سامية" بمعنى اخر هل تغير تعامل العالم مع سفن المهاجرين؟ مخيمات اللاجئين؟ هل لان إيطاليا شهدت نهايتها هي و آلاف من المهاجرين الأملين في التحول للاجئين ؛أمام جزيرة لامبيدوزا التي جأرت بالشكوى هل اهتموا لأنها على بعض الشهرة او لان  قصتها تُمثل:اللاجدوي للحلم.. قمة اليأس من نجاح الرحلة؟ او لان إيطاليا كانت مُستعمرة الصومال و تشملها برعايتها "الثقافية"كعادة المستعمر.. أليس هذا واجبا علينا نحن" كعرب؟ ألم تكن اجزاء من الصومال تحت حكم مصر مثلا لفترة؟ تهريب البشر مهنة نشات مع ترسيم الحدود و تحولت عصابات التهريب لعصابات تعذيب سادية معظمنا رأي طرفا منها ألم الرواية  قلب على مواجع أجناس أخرى عانت مثلنا؛ فقد ابدع لوران جودّه في وصف الامهم و وصف آلام المهرب ايضا في شمس ال سكورتا .. و الليندي في ملحمتها ابنة الحظ..و ستنضم "لا تقولي" معهم في توثيق "الرحلة"؟ و لكن رحلتنا نحن أهل الجودريدز  الي الصومال لن انساها مع رفاق قدامي و جدد تقاسمنا الظلم مع سامية و اسعدتني مراجعات ثرية من كمال؛ رحمة؛ ياسمين؛ محمد بيومي؛ شيماء؛ ندى؛ مازن؛ شهاب الدين؛محمد عزت؛ احمد سعد؛ زياد؛ أمنية اخيرا :هل كل من يعيش؛ يحيا؟ لقد تركت سامية عقلها و هويتها و ادميتها مع حقيبتها الملقاة في أديس ابابا.. لقد خُنت نفسك يا بنيتي "بإمكاني أن أخون الجميع، حتى نفسي". خانتك الرياح و لم تكن اول مرة ليتك خُفت يا فراشتي.. لم يهزمك خوفك؛ و لكن  هزمناك نحن جميعا فالقبور تعج بالشجعان biography 326 likes Like Comment بثينة العيسى Author 23 books 27.4k followers June 18, 2017 رحلة مضنية في عالمٍ غير عادل. 275 likes Like Comment Sherif Metwaly 467 reviews 3,753 followers April 8, 2017 بحق الله ماذا أكتب عنها؟، هذه قصة مأساوية حدّ البكاء كالمفجوع، ويا ليته يجدي نفعًا !يا ليته يجدي نفعًا يا سامية pdf أجمل-ما-قرأت أدب-مترجم 195 likes Like Comment نبال قندس Author 2 books 6,885 followers October 6, 2016 كمية العذاب والوجع في رواية لا تقولي إنك خائفة التي تحكي قصة حياة العدّاءة الصومالية سامية يوسف، لا يمكن تصورها. حكاية تدمي القلب، كما لو أنه كتب علينا أن نُحرم كل شيء في أوطاننا وحتى أن نحرم من حقنا في العيش. صراعات القبائل والميليشيات المسلحة والجماعات المتأسلمة ونتيجة كل هذا موت مستمر للأحلام للطموحات للأمل للحرية. هذه الرواية يجب أن تكون مقرر دراسي في كل مدارسنا إلى جانب رواية غسان كنفاني رجال في الشمس وكل الشكر للمترجم على الجهد المبذول في هذه الترجمة الرواية كشفت لي جانباً كان مجهولاً تماماً عن الصومال وطبيعة الحياة فيه، إضافة إلى التعرف إلى تفاصيل حياة سامية وما حدث معها وكفاحها لأجل الحرية ولتحقيق ما طمحت به. في الرواية تقول عن موت والدها: بعد مرور شهر، وبينما كانت حياتي تجري على قدم وساق، رحل أبي إلى الأبد. في ظل السرعة والحتمية التي كان يحدث بها كل شيء، رحلت النقطة المرجعية التي كنت أهتدي بها. تضيف هكذا، ببساطة هكذا. استغرق الأمر لحظة واحدة. لحظة تبدو ليس لها معنى، إذا ما نظرنا لها من الخارج، لحظة مرت في هدوء وتكمل: حتى ذلك الحين، كان سوق بكارة مكان وفاة الآخرين. الموت الذي لا يعبأ به أحد. لكن؛ في ذلك اليوم، أصبحنا نحن هؤلاء الآخرين، واكتسب الموت مجدداً قيمته. وأيضاً: رحل أبي، وكان يجب أن تستمر الحياة، بالضرورة. كان غيابه اليومي قد سبب لي حالة من الغضب الشديد التي اشعلت رغبتي في الجري والفوز بدلاً من أن تطفئها. كما أنها جعلت من الصعب الحاق الضرر بي. لم يعد هناك شيء بإمكانه أن يؤذيني. كانوا قد سلبوني أبي، ولم يعد هناك من له الحق في مراجعة ما كنت أفعله. 2016 owned 142 likes Like Comment Ahmed Kamal 523 reviews 1,614 followers January 4, 2024 هذه رواية مؤلمة. لكنني تحمّلتُ كل الألم -مع بعض الدموع- حتى الصفحة الأخيرة، الصفحة المرعبة التي نبأتني أن جُل ما قرأت كان حقيقيًا! عند تلك اللحظة ارتعدتُ وزُلزلتُ بقدر كل حدث من جديد، كأنني أعيش معاناة صديق أو معاناتي الشخصية. وجدتُ تجربة قراءة الرواية غاية في القسوة، وعصف بي مجرد تخيل أن إنسانًا مرّ بكل هذا، أنثى.. طفلة لا تقول أنها خائفة. سيدات-مذهلات 103 likes Like Comment هَنَـــاءْ 342 reviews 2,451 followers December 9, 2016 ‏ ‏ ليس بمقدورك تطويق الحلم، لن تكسر فراشات النور .. قلبي ينبض .. جسدي يركض .. عقلي يطارد ذاك الطيف البعيد .. كل مافي الكون يصفق لي .. ألا تسمع ؟ حاول أن تصغِ جيداً .. حاول أن تراني وأنا كالشعلة في الميدان .. سأصل ! حتماً سأصل !، أبي ذات مساء قال ذلك لي .. وضع يده الحنونة على قلبي وتنبأ، وضع يده الحنونة على روحي .. وأشعل نار الإرادة بين جوانحي .. سأصل وسترى كيف يكون الفوز .. وكيف تضاء جناحاتي بكل الألوان .. لا فرق .. أحمر أخضر أزرق أصفر حتى لو كان بلون الموت الأسمر سأصل إلى وجهتي .... 100 likes Like Comment Mohamed Fawzy 171 reviews 119 followers April 2, 2024 لاتقولي.... كم أحزنتنا .....!! ... أخيراً ... وجدت سامية يوسف عمر السلام وهي تغادر الحياة ، كانت تحلم أن تركض نحو خط نهاية السباق وكانت تري في الركض والفوز تمرداً علي كل الظروف القهرية المحيطة بها دون أن تدري أنها كانت تركض نحو خط نهاية سباق العمر وليس أتلانتا الذي حلمت بأن تحمل ميداليتها علي عنقها كم أحزنتنا يا سامية وأنت تكتبين بالغرق نهاية قصة كفاحك الرائعة أرهقتنا ونحن نقرأ وكأننا نشاهد كفاحك وسط الفقر دون أن يغيب الأمل عنك رغم كل ما حملته حياتك من أهوال وصعاب رواية جميلة... وكونها مستقاة من أحداث واقعية أضفي عليها الكثير من روعة وجعلها تمس القلوب عنوان الرواية كان خلابا للغاية كونه نصيحة حرص والدها يوسف عمر علي قوله لها دائماً كنصيحة يقدمها لإبنته ..عشنا مع سامية أحلامها وأوجاعها بدءاً من الطفولة بكل براءتها وصولا للنهاية بكل مأساويتها وتأتي اللحظة التي يحتضنها فيها البحر الذي كانت تعشقه عشقاً ليقدم لها عناق الوفاة كم كنت رائعة يا سامية .. أخذتنا دون أن ندري للصومال لنعيش معك وسط مجتمعك وأفراد أسرتك ووالدك وعلي صديق الطفولة وخيانته لك وهودان التي أحسسنا وكأننا نستمع معك لغنائها ليرحمك الله يا سامية ... لم يعرف اليأس طريقاً للتسلل لقلبك رغم كل ما عايشته من أهوال... رواية أثني الجميع علي جمالها ولعل هذا كان هو السبب الأول لإختياري لها وقرائتها ولم أندم الرواية أصبحت ضمن مكتبتي الآن بالفعل ومن الروايات التي أنصح بقرائتها وهذا الفيديو ضروري جدا بعد الإنتهاء من قراءة الرواية https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oapll... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqZ-_... تصنيف-روايات تقييم-رائعة ضمن-مكتبتي-سعيد-بها ...more 89 likes Like Comment KSS 320 reviews 386 followers June 22, 2020 ثم سألنا أبى إذا كنا نعلم أن الحرب ثمرة الكراهية وأنها تضع غشاوة أمام أعين الناس، وتجعلهم متعطشين للدماء فقط لم تجرجرنى رواية خلفها كذلك منذ فترة طويلة، بداية 2018 ربما، حينما كنت أقرأ ظل الريح، لم تؤثر فى مزاجى العام رواية كما أثرت على مزاجى العام هذه الرواية، رواية ليست كئيبة، لم يفهم مغزاها من قال أنها كئيبة، لأنها ببساطة هذه هى الحياة لكن من جانب المعاناة التى ربما لم يكتبها الله عليك وأدعو الله أن لا يكتبها علينا ولا عليكم، هذه رواية عن أحداث حقيقية فكيف نصفها بالكآبة، إنها واقع أليم نعيشه جميعاً اليوم، فكيفما تُركت سامية يوسف عمر لأمواج البحر تتقاذفها وكما تُركت لأسماك البحر تأكل جثتها، تُرك إيلان الطفل السورى الجميل البرئ لتتقاذفه أمواج المتوسط أثناء رحلة هروب أبيه وأمه من نيران وجحيم بشار الأسد فى سوريا، هى نفس الحكاية من الممكن أن نحكيها كل يوم وعلى مدار سنوات طويلة من معاناة الشعب السورى تحت نيران بشار وقواته وكذلك معاناة الشعب العراقى تحت نيران القصف الأمريكى منذ ما يقارب السبعة عشر عام وحتى يومنا هذا، ومعاناة الشعب الصومالى والليبى والسودانى تحت نير الحرب الأهلية والاقتتال الداخلى. أحداث الرواية: الشخصيات: إبان الحرب الأهلية الصومالية المستمرة حتى وقت كتابة هذه السطور تولد سامية يوسف عمر الطفلة التى حلمت بأن تكون عداءة أوليمبية تمثل بلدها الصومال وفى ظروف اقتتال وحمل سلاح من جميع القبائل تولد سامية لعشيرة أبجال المتناحرة بدورها مع قبيلة دارود، لكن الصداقة تجمع والدها بياسين أبن قبيلة دارود لدرجة أنهم يسكنون نفس البيت ويتشاركون نفس الفناء، يوسف عمر ينال نصيبه كاملاً من الاقتتال الغبى وسط حرب أهلية لا ترحم فيصاب بعجز جزئى عن الحركة نتيجة إصابته بطلق نارى من أحد أبناء قبيلته وهو يدافع عن صديقه ياسين، ثم ينال فى النهاية جزاء آخر لا يستحقه لسماحه لبناته بممارسة هواياتهن فى الجرى والغناء، فيقتل على يد على ياسين ابن صديقه وصديق ابنته المفضل. الصداقة تجمع بين سامية وعلى ولن يفرقهم سوى نزوح أسرة ياسين من منطقة بونديرى حيث عشيرة أبجال كانت تهاجم كل أبناء قبيلة دارود فى تلك المنطقة، سامية وعلى يقضيان أغلب الوقت معاً يلعبون ويتسامرون يخرجون للعدو ويعودون سوياً، على يساعد صديقته على تنمية مهاراتها فى الجرى ويصبح مدربها، ويذهب بها للسباق فى ناجية هرجيسا حيث سيتم اكتشافها من قبل أحد اعضاء اللجنة الأوليمبية لتمثل الصومال فى أوليمبياد بكين 2008. حلم سامية لم يتوقف عند حد المشاركة الضعيفة فى أوليمبياد بكين، فبعدما تنال تصفيق الجمهور وتعاطفه وكذلك تعاطف وسائل الإعلاد المختلفة بعدما حلت الأخيرة فى السباق وبفارق عشر ثوان كاملة عن الفائزة بالسباق، تحاول أن تنال تصفيق الجمهور فى أوليمبياد لندن 2012 ولكن هذه المرة تحلم بالفوز بالسباق، ولكن هيهات من أين لكى أيتها الصغيرة بالرعاية والتغذية والعناية التى ينالها الأبطال الأوليمبيين فى بلد يرزح تحت خط الفقر بالآف الأميال، بلد أنهكته الحرب والكراهية والفقر والجوع. الرحلة: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aV2wa... سامية تخطط للمشاركة فى أوليمبياد لندن فتبدأ الرحلة، رحلة الوصول للبر التانى حيث الرعاية الصحية والإشراف الطبى والرياضى على الأبطال الأوليمبيين، فتفكر بالسفر بحراً إلى إيطاليا، لتبدأ معاناتها التى تنتهى بها بين أمواج بحر لا يرحم الضعفاء والمستضعفين. حلم سامية فى النهاية تحول إلى رحلة شاقة نحو الموت المأساوى قصة تتكرر يومياً فى جميع دولنا العربية المبتلاة بحكامها من العسكريين السابقين أو خالعى البدلة كما أحب أن أُطلق عليهم أصطلاحاً. طالما أنك تتحدث عن دولة يحكمها خالعى البدلة فيجب أن تذكر ثلاثية أو أضلاع مثلث ضياع الأمم: الجهل الفقر الفساد الجدير بالذكر أننى أنهيت هذه الرواية فى جلستين ولم يحول بينى وبين أنهائها فى جلسة واحدة وفى يوم واحد إلا أننى أفضل أن استمتع بالقراءة ومشاركة التحديثات مع أصدقاء القراءة. 86 likes Like Comment Amira Mahmoud 618 reviews 8,654 followers October 27, 2019 حسنًا، منذ فترة لا بأس بها لم تدفعني رواية إلى منحها الخمسة نجوم بكل هذا الحماس، ولم يدفعني عمل إلى البكاء إلى هذا الحد. منذ عدة سنوات وتلك الرواية تقع تحت نظري في مختلف الأوقات، أرى العديد من الناس يقومون بقرائتها، تقييمها، كتابة المراجعات الحماسية والحزينة عنها. وأنا لازلت أشعر بالتردد والنفور من كل رواية تقع تحت الأضواء و��صبح هي "التريند" الحالي، اضطررت إلى الانتظار لما يقرب من عامين كي اتجرأ على قرائتها. الرواية تدور حول قصة العداءة الصومالية "سامية يوسف عمر" والتي لم أكن أعلم عن قصتها أو حادثتها شيئًا يُذكر، ��نت قد بدأت في قراءة الرواية دون أن أحمل بداخلي أية توقعات لما سأقرؤه، لكن تلك الرواية منذ بدايتها، منذ التفاصيل الأولى التي تحملها، تُشعرك بأنك على أعتاب البؤس، ستغوص فيه شيئًا فشيء لا محالة، "سامية" هي الفتاة التي سأتعلم أن أكونها، هي الفتاة التي سأعلّم أطفاليّ إن رزقت بهم يومًا أن يكونوا هيّ، الطموح، الحالمة، الجريئة التي تسعى إلى تحقيق حلمها البسيط رغم الظروف المحيطة، رغم الفقر والبؤس والتعاسة، رغم بطش الإسلاميين الإصوليين في "الصومال" وقبضتهم الخانقة المميتة. كنت أتعجب من شجاعتها وإصرارها على تحقيق حلمها رغم حياتها البائسة، كيف تسعى إلى أن ��أخذ المركز الأول كأسرع عداءة في الوقت الذي لم تحصل فيه لا على الطعام اللازم ولا على التدريب اللازم لذلك، كيف تمكنك في المقام الأول من أن تحصد المركز الأخير في ظل تلك الظروف! يا إلهي. أشعر أن قصتها تلك بمثابة الصفعة على وجهي في كل مرة أتكاسل وأتحجج بالظروف السيئة من حوليّ، تلك القصة كي تحكيّ ليّ كيف يكون السوء الحقيقي، كيف يهجم عليك الواقع بكل قبحه دفعه واحدة، بلا عزاء واحد ولو صغير. ربما يكون عزاء "سامية" هو عائلتها، أبيها وأمها وأختها المقربة وبقية أخوتها، تلك العائلة المثالية التي تدفعك للأمام بكل قوتها، بآخر قوتها، ربما لهذا كانت "سامية" بكل تلك الشجاعة والمثالية والجمال، إن عائلة المرء هي كل شيء؛ إذا رفعوه ارتفع وإذا أحبطوه وقع أرضًا، ربما العزاء الآخر لـ "سامية" أنها أصبحت ملهمة للكثيرين، أثرت في حياتهم وعقولهم وقلوبهم ربما أكثر من التأثير الذي كانت ستحدثه فيهم إذا نجحت في كافة سباقات العالم، لكنني لا أستطيع أن أصدق شيئًا من هذا، هل تلك العزاءات اللعينة ستعوضها عن كل العذاب والألم الذي شهدته؟ لا أعتقد. تلك الحياة غير عادلة، هذا العالم قبيح ذهبت "سامية" إلى مكان حيث لن تشعر بالتعاسة والحزن والخوف أبدًا "لا تقولي إنك خائفة أبدًا يا صغيرتي سامية" سأنهي تلك المراجعة هُنا، لأن الكتابة فيها لا تجعلنيّ أستطيع التوقف عن البكاء. تمّت translated أدب-روايات جعلتني-أفكر-أفضل-وأضافت-لي ...more 101 likes Like Comment Ahmed Jaber Author 5 books 1,709 followers June 2, 2018 رواية #لا_تقولي_إنك_خائفة: لا تقولي إني خائفة، قصة العداءة الصومالية سامية عمر. فعندما تتناقل وسائل الإعلام خبر وفاة سامية في البحر الأبيض المتوسط، مشيرة إلى أنها شاركت في أولمبياد بكين 2008، يكون الخبر عادياً، ووقعه على النفس لا يسبب تلك الضجة الكبيرة في وقت كثر فيه القتل والخراب، وصارت الحرب شيئاً ليس بالغريب، لكن هنا، في الرواية، يدخل الإيطالي جوزيبه كاتوتسيلا عالم سامية عمر غير المعروف، يتسلل عبر أبواب الذاكرة، يطرق الأجراس غير المرئية، ونسمع من خلالها صوت سامية المختنق، وضجيج حلمها الذي مات، الحلم الذي عملت جاهدة على تحقيقه، الرواية تدقّ جدران الخزان. بالمحكي: بكفّي حروب، بكفي قتل، بكفي خوف وقهر، ناس بتموت بلا سبب، أحلام كثيرة تقتل هيك بحكم الدين أو العنصرية أو تحت أي مسمى ثاني، ناس ما إلها ذنب غير إنه انخلقت في بقعة جغرافية معينة، واللي بيقتلوهم همي ناس ثانيين، يعني صراع بشر ضد بشر، وين ما كان فيه قتل، لو حربنا ضد الحيوانات بنحكي إشي منطقي، لكن حروبنا دايماً ضد بعض، بنتلذذ بس نشوف لون الدم، وبنطرب ع صوت الوجع. ماتت سامية، وأعاد إحياء قصتها الإيطالي كاتوتسيلا، في الرواية نقرأ براءة وجمال والشمس المشرقة في قلب سامية، لو عاشت لكانت بطلة أولمبياد لندن أو ريو دي جانيرو أو طوكيو، فبأي ذنب ماتت؟ كنت أمشي كظلها عبر الصفحات كأنني بجانبها، أفرح لما تفرح له، وأبكي لما تبكي عليه، أضحك معها، وأركض نحو حلمها معها، وأنتصر كلما فازت بسباق، وأصفق كأنني واحد من الجمهور، لكن في النهاية، وصل المحظوظون الذي يعيشون في بلاد آمنة، وماتت هي لأنها لم تملك هذا الحظ. العالم كله مسؤول ومذنب تجاهها كما هو مذنب تجاه من يموتون من أطفال وشيوخ ونساء ورجال وأي كائن في هذا العالم بسبب "الحرب". المفارقة، أن الروائي الذي كتب قصة سامية، كان أجداده يحتلّون بلدها في ما مضى، إيطاليا والصومال. italian-library المتوسط 71 likes Like Comment Manar 140 reviews 105 followers May 2, 2023 "طيري يا سامية ، طيري كالجواد المجنح في الهواء ، احلمي يا سامية احلمي كما لو كنت ريحًا تعبث بين أوراق الأشجار .. اركضي يا سامية ، اركضي كما لو كنت لا ترغبين بالوصول إلى أي مكان ،عيشي يا سامية عيشي كما لو أن كل شيء مستحيل .." رواية حقيقية عن حياة العدّائة الصومالية سامية يوسف عمر كتبها الكاتب والصحفي الإيطالي جوزية كاتوتسيلا وترجمها المُبدع معاوية عبد المجيد الذي يضيف سحره الخاص في الأعمال التي يترجمها ..وحازت الرواية علي جائزة أدبية ، وتُرجمت إلى كل اللغات الأوربية .. سامية المحاربة الصغيرة التي ابتلعها البحر ، سامية التي تركض من أجل الحرية ، لترفع علم بلادها الصومال في الأولمبياد ،بدأت مشوارها في الثالثة عشر من عمرها ،عاشت سامية حياة قاسية بين فقر أهلها والقبائل المختلفة والجماعات المسلحة والحرب التي انهكتهم ..وتقرر سامية أن تركض وراء حلمها وشاركت في مسابقة هرجيسا وفازت في السباق وشارك في مسابقة بكين وكانت تتأهب للمشاركة في اولمبياد٢٠١٢ وقررت ترك بلادها وبعد أن تم قتل والدها ، والدها الذي آمن بها دومًا قائلًا لها " لا تقولي إنك خائفة أبدا يا صغيرتي سامية وإلا تعاظم ما تخافينه حتى هزمك " ولكن هروب سامية من بلادها وهجرتها الغير شرعية إلى إيطاليا كان هروب من الموت إلى الموت ،الكاتب قرر أن يجعل نهاية الرواية النهاية التي أرداتها سامية وذهبت روحها من أجلها (الفوز بأولمبياد ٢٠١٢) ،قرر الكاتب أن يحقق حلم سامية ولو على ورق فلترقد روح سامية بسلام هي وكل الأبطال ❤️ الريڤيو ليس فيه حرق من يعرف قصة سامية سيعرف النهاية من قبل للقراءة ولكن الرواية عظيمة ، انهمرت دموعي رغم معرفة النهاية ،شعرتُ أنني اعرف سامية كأني صديقتها ، دومًا أشعر بأن الذي يموت في سبيل حلمه ولم يحققه ويلقى حتفه قبل ذلك فكأنه حققه بالفعل تمامًا وهذا ما شعرت به مع سامية المحاربة ، هل حقًا يمكن أن يُضحي الإنسان لأجل بلده ، أو حلمه ؟!! مريرة هي الحرية التي ثمنها الموت ، اللعنة علي الحروب، عانت سامية الكثير من أجل تحرير النساء المسلمات في بلادها، رمز للقوة ، أين نجد هؤلاء المحاربين الآن؟ تذكرت مقولة نجيب محفوظ : الحلم, ومنذا الذي يحقق الحلم؟! -الإنسان ، لا شيء سوى الإنسان منار علي. favorite-books 64 likes Like Comment Diane S ☔ 4,853 reviews 14.3k followers July 26, 2016 4.5 Her name is Samia. She wanted only to run, she had a dream, to represent her country of oppressed women in the Olympics. She starts running at the age of eight, with her good friend Ali, who will be her coach for many years. But, this is Somalia, a country perpetually at war, she runs in holey old gym shoes trying to bypass the glass, iron and other debris on the streets. Al-Shabaab is everywhere and they soon take power. Everything changes, no music, no singing, women must always wear the burka, never be seen without, no movies and life becomes unbearable. Still she runs, at night, dangerous, she has a dream and is not willing to let it go. Eventually she realizes her dreams will never come true in her country so she puts her faith in the traffickers, a journey that is hard and treacherous. Had to put this book down at certain places, pause and just reflect, take a little time out of mind. So powerful, so intense. I hope I never forget this remarkable woman's name, she is the embodiment of everyone who has their own dreams, tell themselves it is not possible, she is an inspiration. Based on a real person, this is her odds defying story, though it is heartbreaking. Puts things in perspective in my own country, why I think we need to read books like these no matter how hard. Even at their worst, in this country, we are so lucky. Books like these remind me of that and also how many people are struggling throughout the world. Always remember. ARC from publisher. 62 likes Like Comment Wissal H 839 reviews 352 followers May 23, 2024 تعهذا العالم البائس المليء بالحروب والمجازر اليومية في حق الانسانية والطفولة والحياة هذه الحروب التي شردت ملايين الأسر و مزقت أحلام الملايين من البشر ، أصبح حلمهم الوحيد هو البقاء على قيد الحياة حتي و إن لم تكن عيشتهم في ظروف كريمة حتى وان كانت البطون فارغة والقلوب متخمة بالالم والخوف و البأس ... حين يجتمع الفقر و الجهل و الحرب ، يشكلون أضلع مثلث الموت الثلاثة ،فالموت حتمي هنا سواء بسبب قنبلة أو رصاصة طائشة يحملها أحد طرفي الحرب دون معرفتهم سبب حملهم للبنادق أصلا ، ولا السبب الحقيقي لانتماءهم لأي هتين الجهتين ، حروب أهلية شعواء قصفت الأخضر واليابس في العديد من الدول و لازالت ليومنا هذا تطبيقهم الاوامر رغم جهلهم من يكون وراء إقدامهم على اتخاذ قرارات مصيرية التي لا هي منطقية ولا هي شافية لأي علة في حياتهم أو أخيراً الهرب من فقرهم بفرش أحلام وردية وتتبع طرق مظلمة لتحقيقها. .... احتاجهم للتقدير و تصديقم كذبة بطولتهم بحمل البنادق و طلق الوابل من الرصاص بمناسبة ومن دونها، فهم بذالك اقوى واعظم، المحركين الفعليين للحرب و المطبقين الاوامر رغم كل شيء .. حين تنعدم الإنسانية والادمية ... حين يطفو الدم فوق كل شيء حين يحكم قانون الغاب حين تُقتلع الاحلام من جذورها في أرض سقيت بالدم حين تغتصب الطفولة فقط حين تبدأ الحرب ولا تنتهي وحتى و ان انتهت ما مصير كل هؤلاء المواطنين ؟ مصير احلامهم؟ حياتهم ؟ أطفالهم ؟؟ رواية أدم�� قلبي ألما على المئات من القتلى و الجرحى و النازحين المشردين ، من استطاع الفرار من جحيم الحرب بنجاح و البدء من جديد بأمان لكن بغربة ، لكن من لم يساعفهم الحظ أو من رفضوا الرحيل ، حياتهم اليومية ما هي فيلم رعب تتكرر احداثه الدامية في كل ثانية دون توقف رحمة الله عليك يا سامية ، أنت ضحية لكنك بطلة .. دافع هربك مختلف لكن مصيرك كان مماثل في البؤس و الفشل كحال الملايين قبلك و بعدك ! روايات-عالمية-مترجمة 61 likes Like Comment AMEERA &#x130ee; 277 reviews 327 followers January 22, 2018 رواية جميلة و مؤلمة ، أنصح الكل بقرائتها 💜✨' 62 likes Like Comment Angela M 1,348 reviews 2,160 followers July 28, 2016 One of the things I love about watching the Olympics is the opening ceremony when the athletes march into the arena carrying the flags of their nations, donning match outfits, and faces filled with smiles of pride and anticipation of a chance to make their dream of winning a medal come true. I'm always touched by the smaller teams of a few and you can't help but know they have struggled more than anyone to get there. So I wonder if I saw the young woman named Samia Yusaf Omar, whose story this novel is based on, in the parade in 2008 as part of the two person delegation sent by Somalia to compete in the Summer Olympics in Beijing. One thing I do know for sure is that Samia is someone you'll never forget if you read this book. I know that I won't. Eight year old Samia loved to run and Ali, her friend and coach lived in a difficult time and place, Somalia during war and civil unrest and violence. Yet, in spite of the danger and hardship, and what seem like unbeatable odds, Samia dares to think of the Olympics . In 2008 she somehow gets there in spite of loss and sorrow and putting herself in danger to train . She gets to Beijing and becomes a role model for young women in her country even though she comes in last in her race. Her desire to run , her strength of character, her determination in the face of hardship moves her to dream of the 2012 Olympics in London. I'll be thinking about Samia when I watch the upcoming Summer Olympics. Her pursuit of this dream and her perilous journey are difficult to read about but suffice it say that her life is a profile in courage. This is a first person narrative, a novel , which reads like a memoir, a partly imagined story written by a man about a more than amazing human being. I highly recommend this book but if you don't read it, I recommend that you go online to learn something about Samia's life. It's impossible that you won't be moved. Thanks to Penguin First to Read Program. 61 likes Like Comment Yehia 59 reviews 34 followers August 15, 2023 ❄️مؤلمة تجعلك تعيد التفكير في الحياة التي تعيشها في كم النعم التي تغمرك فأنت تنام علي فراش مريح وتأكل طعاما جميلا وتشرب مياه نظيفة وغيرها الكثير . والكثير من النعم التي اعتدنا عليها ... ❄️نبذة بسيطة عن نتائج الحروب والإنقسامات التي تقتل أمنيات الشعوب فتجعلهم يحلمون بأن لايتم قتلهم برصاص طائش أو بسبب شجار بين بعض الجماعات .... (فقط يريدون الحياة بسلام) ❄️سلام لروحها ولأرواح ضحايا الحروب 🥀 60 likes Like Comment Sundos 102 reviews 32 followers November 11, 2016 خمسة نجوم دون تردد. كتبت هذه المراجعة لنفسي في مدونتي وشعرتُ أنني سأظلم الرواية دون نشر المراجعة هنا. سأظلم الرواية إن قيمتها بخمسة نجوم فقط دون كتابة مراجعة. لا يسعني فعل شيء بعد الانتهاء من قراءة رواية لها وقع وتأثير في نفسي سوى الكتابة عنها. فكّرتُ في أكتب في دفتر من دفاتري ولم أرغب، بل رغبتُ بالكتابة هنا في مدوّنتي. نعود للوراء ٦ أشهر عندما اشتريت الكتاب من معرض أبوظبي. كان الكاتب جالسًا في دار النشر، ولم أكن أعرف أنه هو. أخذتُ هذا الكتاب وتصفحته. فكّرتُ: “قد لا يكون ملائمًا لي، أكبر من سنّي ربما” فأعدته حيث كان. ولكن القائمة على دار النشر أخبرتني أن الرجل الذي يجلس بجانبها هو الكاتب نفسه جوزبه كاتوتسلا. لم أصدّق! تفاجأت! ربما احمرّ وجهي أيضًا! أخذتُ نسختين من الكتاب مع توقيع الكاتب وإهدائه، أحدهما لي والآخر لصديقة أنا ممتنة لها. أخذتُ صورة تذكارية مع الكاتب أيضًا. الآن أقول في نفسي: الحمدلله أنني اقتنيتُ نسخة من الرواية، الحمدلله، الحمدلله أن رواية كهذه لم تفُتني. حلم، أمل، صراع، إصرار، وطن، هجرة، عائلة، صديق الطفولة، موت، فقدان، صدمة، سعي، ماضي، مستقبل، خوف، عدم الاستسلام، الوصول نحو المستحيل... كل هذا تجمّع في الرواية. لن أقول إني خائفة يا سامية، لن أقول إني خائفة. وإلى الكاتب جوزيبه كاتوتسلا: أريدك أن تعلم أن هذه الرواية منحتني القوة والأمل لإكمال طريق أحلامي. لستُ أعرف كيف أعبر عن امتناني لك هذه اللحظة. سامية، الفتاة الحرة، المحاربة الصغيرة.. سعيها نحو حلم حياتها الكبير، ترى، كم من شيءٍ تركت وراءها لتحقيق هذا الحلم؟ كل شيء تقريبًا، تركت أهلها مؤمنة بانتصارها يومًا ما، تركت وطنها الذي لم تعد تثق به، تركت ماضيها كله على تلك الأرض التي شوّهتها الحروب. وفي ظل الحرب وطلقات الرصاص كانت تحلم بأكبر ما عندها من قوة. قصة محاربة صغيرة ضحّت بكل ما لديها لتحقيق حلمها. سامية، الفتاة التي حملت أملها الكبير في قلبها إلى كل مكان توقفت عنده. حملت حلمها في سيارات الجيب في الصحراء بين الكم الهائل من الناس، وبين الروائع الكريهة التي كان تُصدر من ازدحام الأشخاص في السيارة. ضحّت بكل شيء إلا ذلك الحلم الكبير.. كل شيء إلا شي واحد..... مبكية، محزنة، ومضحكة في آن. تمنحك الحياة. تمنحك القوة والأمل. تمنحك الحلم. سأركض، سأركض معكِ يا سامية كما لو أنكِ لا ترغبين في الوصول إلى أي مكان. آخر مرة قرأتُ فيها رواية مأثرة كـ”لا تقولي إنكِ خائفة”؟ لا أذكر. حتى الحارس في حقل الشوفان لم يكن وقعها كذه. الحارس في حقل الشوفان كانت مواساةً لي. لكن هذه الرواية هي ريح تدفع بك للأمام. ريح قوية تخبرك أن لا جدار يستطيع الوقوف أمام أحلامك. أشعر أنني أريد شراء نسخة من هذه الرواية وإهداءها لكل صديق له معزة عندي.. الرواية الأولى التي أشعر تجاهها بهذا الشعور.. ربما سأدعها تنام بجانبي.... “لا تقولي إنك خائفة، وإلا فإن ما تخافينه سيتعاظم حتى يهزمك” 21st-century favourites 56 likes Like Comment شهاب الدين 178 reviews 184 followers August 7, 2023 ’’ البحر أمامي، أخيراً البحر، وبإمكاني الدخول إليه، دون أن يقول لي أحد شيئاً، للمرة الأولى في حياتي يمكنني أن اشعر بأنني محاطة، بكل تلك المياة بإمكاني السباحه بداخلها كما وددت أن افعل دائماً ’’ ’’لا تقولي - ابداً - إنك خائفة يا اختاه، إن لم تفعلي ذلك فإن الأشياء التي تتمنيها لن تتحقق.’’ في بداية الأمر لم أكن أعرف اي شيء مسبق عن الرواية ولا أعلم لماذا يوصفونها بكل هذا الحزن، ركضت مع سامية في صفح الرواية دون تمهل وأنا أقرأ وأحزن في كل صفحة أكثر من الأولى وبرغم كل ذلك أذكر نفسي دائماً ألا أحزن إنها مجرد قصة تحدث في دول العالم الثالث، كما أن هناك الملايين منها لكنهم حقيقيين والحمدلله إنني لا أعرف عنهم شيئاً والحمدلله إن سامية مجرد فتاة من نسيج خيال الكاتب. ثم في نهاية الرواية كان الأمر بمثابة الصاعقة لي، أكتشفت أن سامية كانت بطلة حقيقية، محاربة لأجل الحرية بشكل واقعي وحقيقي! سامية الصغيرة الطفلة التي كانت تحلم في بلاد لا تعرف الحلم، والتي تركض لأجل الحرية هي إنسانة عاشت كل هذه المعاناه بالفعل. ولم أشعر إنني كنت أناني إلى هذا الحد من قبل، وشعرت إني أنا وكل من في العالم أجمع مسئولون تجاه سامية وكل من يعيشون هذه المعاناه بشكل يومي؟ فما هي الظروف المحيطة بي مقارنة بسامية؟ فهي هراء، لا شيء! أنا لا استطيع أن أتحمل بعض ما عاشته هذه الصغيرة! هناك الكثير من الكتب والروايات التي تتحدث عن الحروب والمعاناة الحقيقية التي يعيشها الناس عامة والأطفال خاصة حينها! إنهم يألفون الحرب، فبطبع الإنسان أنه يألف من حوله وكأنه هو الواقع الوحيد اليقيني وما غير ذلك أحلام لا يمكن أن تكون واقعية في بلد أو أرض أخرى، حتى أنك احياناً تهتم بطقوس بلدك حد التقديس ولا تسمح لأحد أن يهينهاً ابداً، لكن طقوس سامية وعلي الصغيران كانت الحرب! فهم كانوا يقدسون بلدهم رغم كل شيء. ’’ كانت رائحة البارود قد وُلدت قبلي، أنجبتها شقيقتي الكبرى، الحرب وأنا لم أقم - أبداً- بفصل تلك الرائحة عن رائحة الهواء الطبيعية ’’ تلك الحرب التي لا تهدأ ابداً ونحن هنا لا نتحدث عن الحروب العالمية او الحرب الباردة او الفتوحات الفرنسية للعالم بل نحن بصدد الحديث عن الحرب الأهلية في بلاد الجياع! بلاد لا تنتمي حتى للعالم الثالث بل هي أدنى من ذلك، بلاد أهلها لا يعيشون على الأرض، ظروفهم لا تلائم البشر ولا حتى الحيوانات المفترسة! - أعزهم ورحمهم الله - ومع ذلك هم يعيشون ويحاولون ويتكيفون مع الواقع ويحلمون ويناهضون ويركضون وسامية كانت المحاربة الصغيرة تلك التي تحارب لأجل الحرية!. ’’ لم تكن الحرب تخيفناً بل كانت بمثابة شقيقتنا الكبرى ’’ المعاناه التي يعيشها أهل الصومال هي معاناه لا مثيل لها في العالم اللهم إلا في خيم اللاجئين في الغرب، بعيداً عن الأمور السياسية فلا فائدة منها، لماذا كتب الإنسان على نفسه الحرب؟ لماذا دائماً نتصارع ونتناحر بهذه الطريقة! نحن ورثنا عن ابينا ادم كل شيء لكن لا اعتقد اننا ورثنا شيئاً أسرع من القتل فعندما قتل قابيل هابيل، سن البشر بعدهم هذه السنة دون رحمة نسينا الأخلاق والمغفرة والتوبة والرحمة وورثنا القتل والحرب والدمار والفساد والطمع، هل عرف الإنسان صفة أسوء من الطمع والغباء؟ لا أظن ذلك كان لدي الكثير لأقوله حول هذه الرواية، لكنها لم تعد في نظري رواية بل هي قصة لفتاة صغيرة - صغيرة جدا - على كل ما كانت تعاني منه إنها قصة لا تقبل التعليق او التعديل او البحث حولها، لا يمكنني أن اقوم بشيئاً بنهايتها إلا البكاء وأن أحمل سامية الصغيرة بين ثنيات قلبي حتى الممات وأروي قصتها للجميع، ذات يوم يجب أن يعلم العالم أجمع أن سامية لا تفرق كثيراً عن نيلسون مانديلا وغاندي بل كانت تتناهض وتحارب في الظلام فقط. تعليقاً على هذا المشهد بشكل خاص والأقتباس التالي، وهو يحدث بأحد المركبات حيث دُفنوا المهاجرون أحياء، ولم يستيطعوا أن يفرقوا بعد بين الرجل والمرأه بل أختلط كل شيء عليهم حتى إنهم لا يهتمون بخفايا جسدهم كثيرأ فالأمر كان بمثابة أن تموت كل ثانية لكنك حي كم ذكرني ذلك حينها بيوم الحشر وهو أعظم شأناً من ذلك فرحمتك يارب حينها وأسترنا يوم نعرض عليك ’يوماً ما، ربما نتوصل إلى اكتشاف القوانين التي كانت تدفع البشر للحروب، فنمحوها إلى الأبد. سيكون هذا اجمل يوم في تاريخ البشرية على الإطلاق" ’ ’’ سوف أحمل معي -دائماً- تلك الوجوه التسعة الباكية، سيكونون إخوتي إلى الأبد وأنا سأكون أختهم ’’ شكر حقيقي لكل من ساهم في إخراج هذه القصة إلى النور. وأخيرا شكراً لجميع أصدقائي الذين سمحوا لي بمشاركتهم في هذه القراءة الجماعية وإن شاء الله أنضم لكم دائماً أنا ممتن لكم كثيراً. 52 likes Like Comment Rahma.Mrk 726 reviews 1,416 followers June 18, 2020 من أقسى الروايات التي اطلعت عليها. لانها تصفعك بالوجه الآخر لانسان.و للحياة . تستشعر أن همومك اليومية و مشاكل لا تُقاس أمام هم أن تبقى حيًا وسط الصحراء. تجعلك ترى مدى قسوة و أنانية الانسان و أهم ما أقسى الحرب . سامية رحمك الله النجمة الرابعة لأجل أسلوب، أسلوب كاتب سلس و هادئ و يمزج بين الكآبة و الأمل لدرجة تجعلك تكمل الرواية في جلسة واحدة عيشك برشا استاذ كمال على ترشيح الذي لولا هذه الجمعة الحلوة ما كنت تجرأت و قراتها. دمتم ب��ير و سالمين بعد التثبت في وقت سبقت استاذ كمال بثواني لهيك وصلت تونس ومصر لنهائي معا .😂😂😂 🖍يمكن مراجعتي انا الوحيدة التي فيها حس فكاهي الرواية تراجدية بالامتياز 13/juin/20 🌸🌸 avec-les-amis literature 52 likes Like Comment Amr Mohamed 883 reviews 371 followers November 13, 2018 لو كانت تلك الرواية مجرد خيال للمؤلف ليعبر عن واقع الصومال المرير وحكاية من يريد الهجرة للحرية إلي أي بلد لكانت اصبحت رواية مؤلمة مابالكم وهي قصة حدثت بالفعل وقصة حقيقية للعداءة الصومالية سامية يوسف عمر :( سامية اتولدت فى مقديشيو عام 91 وطوال فترة طفولتها حلمها الوحيد انها تكون عداءة ..وبالرغم من ظروف فقرها والحرب من الميليشيات فى الصومال فهى مصممة على هدفها وتدريباتها حتي تذهب الى الاولمبياد بكين.. فهي يريد ان تكون سبب لتحرير نساء بلدها ولكن دون ان تهاجر من الصومال فمثلها الاعلي العداء محمد فرح الذي ذهب الى انجلترا وهو طفل تسع سنوات ولكن هي تريد ان تفعل مثله ولكن من بلدها وذلك ما وعدت بها اباها تفعل المستحيل رغم كل ما تواجهه ولا تنسي حلمها وبالفعل تكسب السباقات المحلية وتذهب الى مسابقة جيبوتي حتي اصبح الحلم حقيقة وسوف تذهب الى اولمبياد بكين بدون اعدادات خاصة او حتي مدرب وبالرغم من انتهاء السباق وهي الاخيرة ولكن وصف الكاتب لشعورها وفرحتها كانت كافية لتعلم انها حققت جزء من مما تحلم به وتصمم على الذهاب الى اولمبياد لندن 2012 لتفوز بالميدالية الذهبية ويتم العرض عليها من قبل صحفية امريكية الذهاب الى اديس ابابا للتدريت مع مدرب متخصص وحتي تكون مؤهلة ولكن سامية لا تريد ترك بدلها الصومال ولكن عندما تعلم ما فعله صديقها عمر تشعر انها بلا وطن وتهاجر الى اديس ابابا ولكن تواجه ايضا ظروف ان ورقها لم يصل ولا تستطيع ان تتدرب فتقرر الهجرة من اديس ابابا وهو اصعب جزء بحياتها اكتر من عام وانت تعيش مع الكاتب وهي يحكي معاناتها للوصول فقط الى ايطاليا حتي تتدرب وتذهب الى اولمبياد لندن ولم اصدق نهاية الرواية لأني عندما بدأت القراءة تخيلت انها عن شخصية واجهت كل الظروف القاسية ونجحت اخيرا ولكن لم اتخيل ما حدث لها. وتمنيت ان يتحقق حلم تلك الطفلة ومنذ انتهائي من الكت��ب وانا اقوم بالبحث عن سامية لأري اي اخبار وصور لها ..وكل صورة وفيديو اتألم اكثر على تلك الفتاة .اريد ان ألعن الحرب ومن يمول السلاح وفقر وجهل بلاد افريقيا الذه صنعه الاحتلال تريد ان تلعن كل شئ لا تقولي انك خائفة، أبداً يا صغيرتي سامية وإلا فإن ما تخافينه سيتعاظم حتي يهزمك مقوله والدها الى كانت سبب لتصميم سامية على حلمها ولكن مع نهاية حكايتها كنت اتمني ان تكون سامية خائفة حتي لا تقوم بتلك الرحلة الملعونة من اديس ابابا للسودان لليبيا لايطاليا :( لينك لفيديو عن سامية يوسف عمر favorite pdf مذكرات-تراجم 47 likes Like Comment إلهام مزيود Author 2 books 1,042 followers February 18, 2017 الأعمال الإنسانية من هذا النوع تصيبني بالكآبة، بعد إنهائها مباشرة، تدخلني في دوامة من الخوف والألم، غير أن هذه الرواية وجدت فيها بصيص الأمل وروح التحدي في الجملة التي كانت تستوقفني بين الحين والآخر: "لا تقولي إنك خائفة" لم أحس بهذه الأحاسيس المتناقضة منذ قرأت رواية " بينما ينام العالم" للكاتبة سوزان أبو الهوى، التي تناولت بدورها التطهير العرقي في إحدى القرى الفلسطينية، كانت أم البطلة تقول لها في كل مرة: " أيا كان شعوركِ، أكبتيه في داخلك" أما أب سامية بطلة هذه الرواية فكان يقول لها دائما: " لا تقولي إني خائفة" هذا النوع من الروايات الإنسانية مؤلم جدا، يجعلني منحازة له بكل جوارحي، أما هذه وبالإضافة لما أسلفت ذكره فقد حطمت قلبي، وأنا أطرح على نفسي سؤال متكرر مع كل صفحة أقلبها: " أيعقل أن يولد المرء ويموت فقط ليتجرع العذاب؟" لماذا يجد البعض كل شيء مسخر أمامهم بمجرد نزولهم من بطون أمهاتهم، وتمنحهم بلدانهم شعور جميل ينجلي تحت شعار " أنت إنسان"؟ في حين بلدان أخرى تجعلك تحس أنك معاقب فقط لأنك ولدت على رقعتها وحدودها الجغرافية، عليك أن تستعد لأسوأ ما يمكن تخيله، عليك أن تتأقلم مع الحروب، الجوع، الفقر، الأمية... عليك أن تدفع عقوبتك بأي شكل من الأشكال، فأنت أدنى من أن تعامل كإنسان! السؤال الآخر الذي طرحته على نفسي بشدة: " ماذا لو خافت سامية؟ هل كانت هذه الرواية بين يدي الآن؟ ينطلق بنا الكاتب الإيطالي في هذه الرواية من الصومال، حيث سامية الطفلة التي اختارت العَدوَ هوايتها، أو الهواية التي سكنتها، الطفلة التي تحدت الفقر والجوع، ثم التنظيمات الإرهابية، الطفلة التي لم تسمح لحجر عثرة أن يثنيها عن مرادها ويوقفها عن تحقيق حلمها في تمثيل الصومال البلد الذي لم يقدم لها سوى الاحتقار! سامية الطفلة التي لم تنكسر حتى بعد وفاة الرجل الذي كان يقول لها: " لا تقولي إنك خائفة أبدا، يا صغيرتي سامية أبدا، وإلا ما تخافينه سيتعاظم حتى يهزمك". الكاتب في هذه الرواية، لم يعالج قضية سامية الطفلة ثم الشابة، كرياضية مهمشة تصارع طواحين الوطن، بل قضية شعب يعاني، سلط الضوء على الهجرة الغير شرعية إحدى أسوأ ما يمكن أن يحدث للمرء حين يتقيأه وطنه، تطرق لجوع الشعب الصومالي بصفة خاصة، والإفريقي بصفة عامة، للاقتتال الدائم، للصراع الدامي.. أصعب جزء في الرواية وأوجعه هو الهجرة من أديس أبابا إلى السودان فليبيا، تلك المعاناة التي يتجرعها آلاف الأفارقة للوصول إلى بقعة من أوروبا تحترم آدميتهم، أما النقطة التي جعلت دموعي تنسكب فكانت لحظة تعطل القارب للمرة الثانية، أخذتُ أعيد كلمات هودان مثل المهووسة: طيري يا سامية، طيري، كما يطير الجواد المجنح في الهواء.. احلمي يا #سامية، احلمي، كما لو كنت ريحا، تعبث بين أوراق الشجر.. اركضي يا سامية، كما لو كنت لا ترغبين في الوصول إلى أي مكان.. عيشي يا سامية، عيشي، كما لو أن كل شيء مستحيل.. مهما تحدثت عن الرواية ستبقى كلماتي قاصر، سأنصح كل من أعرفه بقراءتها، كي يلقي نظرة على رمز التحدي والصمود.. 46 likes Like Comment Fahad السيابي Author 6 books 203 followers December 28, 2016 أهدي خامس نجمة إلى روح سامية عمر، آه! لو تدركين كم كنت امرأة عظيمة ومكافحة وموثرة فلتنم، أخيرًا، روحك في سلام، لا تقلقي، ما كنت تسعين، جاهدة،ً في الوصول إليه قد بلغتِه حررت نساء الصومال، أكملهن، بشجاعتك، هنيئًا لك، 45 likes Like Comment Odai Al-Saeed 904 reviews 2,631 followers July 31, 2018 عن خذلان الوطن تتحدث ..عن الإرادة التي تكبحها لغة البارود وأيدولوجيات التطرف التي إبتلى بها العالم الإسلامي في شرقه وغربه وأصبح سرطاناً يسري في عروق مجتمعاته. رواية الكاتب الإيطالي جوزبه كاتوتسيلا التي ترجمها المبدع معاوية عبدالمجيد بإتقان تحكي مأساة العداءة الصومالية سامية عمر حيث الإصرار والمعاناة والفقر والعوز والإرادة وقهر القدر...روايةالكواراث واللجوء ��الموت في قوالبه التي تعددت ...رواية تتحدث عن حنين الفراق وحب الأب والوفاء للوطن ...رائعة 43 likes Like Comment Shaikha Alkhaldi 414 reviews 173 followers July 13, 2019 في لحظه ما تموت داخلك الصورة وينهار العالم كله، إذا تمكن وطنك من جعل أخاك وتوأم روحك يتحول إلى وحش قاتِل والدك، فهذا يعني انه لن يكون لهذا الوطن أي قيمة لديك.. فعليك أن تهجره. ألا تخشى الحرب يا أبتي؟؟ لا تقولي انك خائفة، أبداً ياصغيرتي سامية.. وإلا فإن ماتخافيه، سيتعاظم حتى يهزمك. الرواية حقيقية، جاءت بصيغة المتكلم، والمتكلم هنا العداءة الصومالية ساميه يوسف عمر التي شاركت في أولمبياد بكين 2008. رواية أبكتني.. favorites 44 likes Like Comment Yasmine Mohamed 179 reviews 24 followers Read June 14, 2020 "أثر الفراشة لا يُرى أثر الفراشة لا يزول" محمود درويش تلك الفراشة الصفراء هي سامية، فراشة رقيقة صغيرة لا تكاد تراها ولكن يبقى أثرها في قلبك وروحك. فراشة محاربة صغيرة وقفت على ناصية حلمها وقاتلت بكل ما أوتيت من قوة، قاتلت دون وسائل من أجل بلوغ حريتها وحرية شعب بأكمله. فراشة لم تحلم سوى بحياة كالحياة، ولكن أبى سادة الحرب وتجارها حتى أن تحلم سامية. فلا مكان للحلم ولا للحالم في بلد تدور فيه رحى الحرب. فراشة لم يكتمل حلمها بعد، ولم تكن ترغب في ترك شرنقتها، الشرنقة التي ظلت تضيق عليها حتى دفعتها لمغادرتها في "رحلة" لا تُصف بالكلمات. "رحلة" تفقد مرتحلها إنسانيته، وتمحو روحه، وتضيع فيها نفسه، ويتيه فيها أسباب الرحيل، ولا يبقى سوى سراب الأمل في بلوغ النجاة. وبنهاية "الرحلة" طارت الفراشة الصغيرة، بعد أن هزمت خوفها، وأخيرا أصبحت حرة، حرة كالرياح، حرة لتركض كأمواج البحر. حلقت الفراشة الصفراء بجناحين محفور عليهما حلمها، حلقت بعيدا إلى مروج خضراء ترويها الرياح، والفراشات الصفراء. لسامية ويوسف: سلام على أرواحكما الطيبة. ولكل المرتحلون، والمهجرون، والحالمون بحياة كالحياة: تصبحون على وطن. كنت خائفة من قصة سامية، كنت مرتعبة من كسرة القلب، ووجع الروح الذي كنت متأكدة أنه سيحدث، ومع نهاية القصة حدث كل ما توقعته ولكن أثر يوسف وسامية على القلب والروح ��هم وأبقى ولن يزول أبدا. أشكر أصدقاء القراءة الجماعية، فلولا الصحبة لما هانت الرحلة. 41 likes Like Comment Taghreed Jamal El Deen 640 reviews 630 followers February 7, 2017 " كنت أعلم جيداً إلى أين أريد أن أصل . لكن الرياح لا تُجاريني ، إنما أنا التي تحرّكها . أنا من تعلّم أن يستخدمها كقوة ، تدفعني في ظهري ؛ لتجعلني أطير " 41 likes Like Comment Asmaa Essam 243 reviews 209 followers December 18, 2019 ما كل هذا الوجع والألم يا ربي؟! ماذا اقترفت تلك الصغيرة لتعيش هذه المأساة؟! كل ما فعلتها انها كانت تحلم في بلد لم يعد يعرف للحلم معنى للأسف لم أكن أعرف من قبل من هي "سامية يوسف عمر" حتى قرأت هذه الرواية ومن وقتها لم أكف عن التفكير بها وبما مرت به من بلد مزقته الحروب الأهلية والمليشيات المسلحة، من أرض الصومال، نبتت فتاة صغيرة ترغب بالسلام والحب نبتت سامية عاشقة العدو .. حلمت أن تصل إلى الأوليمبياد وتكون أسرع عداءة في العالم وبأن تحرر نساء الصومال ولكن بعد كل الصعاب التي مرت بها وأثناء هروبها على زورق إلى أوربا غرقت سامية في العشرين من عمرها عام 2012 مأساة حقيقية خطت في سطور من ألم لن أنساها ما حييت. "لا تقولي إنك خائفة، أبداً، يا صغيرتي سامية، أبداً. وإلا فإنّ ما تخافينه، سيتعاظم حتى يهزمك" 2019 favorites for-her ...more 39 likes Like Comment Wafa'a 173 reviews 15 followers December 5, 2018 لا تقولي أنك خائفة أبداً ياصغيرتي سامية قصة العداءة الصوماليــــــة سامية يوسف عمر ، التي حلمت بأن تغد بطلة في العدو منذ نعومة أظفارها القصــــة تحكي عن العزيمة والاصرار على تحقيق الحلم رغم قسوة الظروف والحيــــاة ، رغم الحروب والقتل والجماعــــات المسلحة وحظر التجول .. لم تحظ سامية بمدرب ولم تكن اسرتها تملك المال الكافي لتوفير الغـــذاء المناسب لبناء العضلات وتقويتها ولكن رغم ذلك جعلت ساميى حلمها هو الهدف وضعته قبالـــى سرير نومها ونصب عينيها متمثلا في صورى العداء البطل محمد فرح ابن بلدها ليذكرها بتحقيق هذا الحلم .. عانت سامية أشد المعاناة خلال حياتها غاب عنها صديق طفولتها ورفيقها علي ورحل والدها وسندها عن هذه الدنيا وهاجرت اختها المقربة الى اوربا ولكنها صممت على تحقيق الحلم برغم الصعاب تركت اسرتهــــا وسافرت عن طريق التهريب خلال خمســة أشهر كاملة عانت فيها أشد المعاناة من قسوة المهربين وسوء معاملتهم الوحشيـــة ، سافرت برا الى الصومال ثم الى اثيوبيا ثم الى السودان ثم الى ليبيا لتعبر بحــرا الى ايطاليــــا حيث كانت تحلم بحريتها وبمشاركتهــا اولمبياد لندن 2012ولكن لا سعادة في هذا العالم البائس ، رحلت سامية عن هذه الدنيا غرقا في البحر الابيض المتوسط في محاولة منها للوصول الى القوارب الايطاليــــة حاملـــة معهـــا حلـــــم البطولـــة في الاولمبياد وحلم الحريـــــة ... طيري يا ساميـــــة ..طيري كما يطير الجواد المجنح في الهـــــواء .. احلمي يا سامية كما لو كنت .. ريحا تعبث بين اوراق الاشجار .. اركضي ياسامية .. اركضي كما لو كنت لا ترغبين في الوصول الى اي مكان .. عيشي يا سامية عيشي كمل او ان كل شي مستحيل ... القصـــة مكتوبـــة بلغــة سرديــة رائعـــة وترجمــة متقنـــة من الأعمـــال التي لا تنسى ..... europe favourite novels ...more 36 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,722 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 10 quotes 1 discussion 8 questions Can't find what you're looking for? 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Dragon Mountain (Dragon Realm) (Volume 1) by Katie Tsang | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Dragon Realm #1 Dragon Mountain (Dragon Realm) Katie Tsang , Kevin Tsang 3.96 1,189 ratings 218 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book From the authors behind the critically acclaimed Sam Wu books, a thrilling new fantasy series about friendship, courage, adventure, and dragon magic. When 12-year-old Billy Chan finds out his parents are sending him to a language and culture camp in the middle-of-nowhere China, he can't imagine anything worse. He's not expecting to become friends with fellow campers Dylan O'Donnell, Charlotte Bell, and Liu Ling-Fei. And he's definitely not planning to meet any dragons. But when the four kids accidentally open a crack in an ancient mountain, they become involved in an ages-old struggle of good versus evil. Now it's up to them to save the Dragon Realm--if they don't, the world as they know it might disappear forever. Genres Middle Grade Fantasy Dragons Adventure Childrens China Mythology ...more 240 pages, Hardcover First published September 3, 2020 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Katie Tsang 35 books 51 followers Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.96 1,189 ratings 218 reviews 5 stars 403 (33%) 4 stars 423 (35%) 3 stars 284 (23%) 2 stars 66 (5%) 1 star 13 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews Gavin Hetherington 681 reviews 6,967 followers September 21, 2020 This was SO MUCH fun! I had such a blast reading this one. We follow Billy who gets sent to a camp in China. The camp is in the middle of nowhere, but we also have the legend of Dragon Mountain there. Billy makes friends with three kids at the camp where they discover four legendary dragons. They then have to save the world from the Dragon of Death. This is the first in a series so there are a lot of questions left to be answered. I enjoyed the characters and their differing personalities a lot, as well as the Dragons and their personalities. There was a twist at the end I didn't really see coming so I found that exciting! 2020-reads middle-grade 40 likes Like Comment Leo 4,562 reviews 485 followers October 19, 2022 Not as fun and emersive middle grade book as I had hoped but will probably continue with the series at least with book two 10 likes Like Comment Caitlyn 202 reviews 1 follower October 30, 2020 I really wanted to like this book more than I did. It sounded like it had a great premise, boy goes to a summer camp in China to study Mandarin and ends up discovering dragons. I was hoping for a Percy Jackson type story but with Chinese mythology and culture. Unfortunately, it just fell really flat for me. The best part of the book was definitely the beginning when Billy arrives at the camp. He'd much rather be back in Califonia spending his summer surfing. Instead, his family have packed him off to China so he can improve his Mandarin and gain a wider knowledge about his Chinese heritage. This, along with thoughts about how perfect his older brother Eddie is, introduces an interesting dynamic that was never really explored. I also liked meeting Billy's fellow campers and following their inital activities. We get some history about the Chinese Zodiac and the task set for the campers involves solving a riddle. This was the sort of content that I was looking forward to. However, soon after this the story goes in a different direction and I just found it wasn't holding my attention. The main thing that didn't work for me in this story was the characters. 1)Each member of the team feels like a caricature. They have one feature of their personality that is introduced early on and that is all that they are with little noticeable development. 2)There was no banter between members of the team to make you feel that their relationships are building and they are coming to care for each other. They go from total strangers, quite happy to exist alongside each other with no interaction, to best friends willing to die for each other in the space of a few days and no-one cracks a joke or makes a funny comment to ease the tension. 3) In almost every situation, every character gets to make a comment. This may not sound like a problem, but once other important characters are introduced, you end up with scenes where 8 characters all say essentially the same thing one after the other because everyone has to have their time to talk. 4) They are far too willing to believe everything that is told to them without any real doubts, hesitations or questions. Also, there is a lot of times when the characters, out of nowhere, just suddenly know what to do to solve a problem even though its something they've never done before, seen done or been told about and amazingly it works. I think this book would be suitable for readers aged 8+ and it is particularly suited to readers aged 8-10. 8 likes Like Comment Jacob 92 reviews 8 followers January 23, 2021 Yeaaaaaaah... This book 🤦‍♂️ Genuinely, it started off quite strong, with a handful of likeable characters and a pretty fun premise. But boy did it plummet downhill about half way through. The world building was beyond clunky, and the quality of writing seemed to decrease for some reason. What started off as a lighthearted romp became increasingly convoluted and boring. The action scenes (if they can even be called that!) were particularly bad, with perpetual use of deus ex machina. I mean, really! Some of the drop of a hat solutions to the heroes’ predicaments were just laughable. Oh and gods, that “twist” ending! Things wrapped up within the course of about 30 pages, and it was wholly unsatisfying. The set-up for sequels was pants-poor too, leaving everything hanging without the slightest sense of a conclusion. Nope, I will not be check them out. (Shout out, by the way, to Samatha Shannon for describing this as “a joy to read” – further confirmation of her woeful understanding of what makes a good story.) This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review 8 likes Like Comment Katy 677 reviews 427 followers September 3, 2020 4.5 stars Dragon Mountain is such fun middle-grade that really reminded me of everything I love about children's fiction. Adventurous, magical and heartwarming it so easy to fall in love with this story and it's characters!! We follow Billy as he goes to a summer camp in the "middle of nowhere" china, and there he befriends Dylan, Charlotte and Ling-Fei (which first of all these four have the best friendship and was such a joy to read about!!) and they discover they can enter a magical mountain where they meet 4 dragons, who they bond with and have to team up with them to help prevent the dragon of death from taking over the world!! There was so much I loved about this book, the characters were all so loveable, Billy was your standard middle grade protagonist full of spirit and a great leader with a good heart and his other friends complimented him so well, I love strong friendships (in middle grade especially). The dragons where also such interesting characters to follow and I loved how they bonded with the humans who had similar to hearts to them and how much they cared about there humans! There was aslo so much action in this book, the characters are constantly getting up to mischief both in the dragon realm and the human realm!! This book just flew by for me and I couldn't believe it when the audiobook was over! Also watching the characters take initiative and use each of their strengths to help the group problem solve was so great to read! Billy is also bi-racial (with a chinese father and white mother, which I think the authors are a biracial couple) and although I'm not biracial myself I really appreciated that this representation was included in the book and hopefully helps young kids who might be confused about there idenity!! I also loved the mythology that was woven into this book! Also I listened to the audiobook arc and the narrator was FANTASTIC. one of the best middle grade audiobooks I've ever listened too!! fantasy_2020 middle-grade 6 likes Like Comment Marie the Librarian 1,433 reviews 255 followers April 28, 2021 Oh what a lovely adventure and such magic! Plus dragons are always great. 6 likes Like Comment Teri B 637 reviews 3 followers September 2, 2020 When I first heard about this book coming out and saw its cover I wanted to read it as soon as possible. I was so excited to discover what the actual book would hold. I was sure I would love it and that it would be an outright 5 stars read. I requested and received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review. Looking at its intended reader in younger middle grade, this book holds a fantastic adventure story where four kids in their early teens meet up for the first time and set soon out onto the adventure of their life. There are dragons and scary moments and riddles that need to be solved and a world that needs saving and all four children learn more about themselves by being thrown together into this adventure. There is some really good representation in this book with breaking up gender stereotypes bit by bit. So far so good. However, there were also parts of the story I did not get along with as well as expected. First of all, there is the overall impression that everything needs to be harmonic, nearly at all times. If there is any kind of conflict popping up, it is immediately smoothed out. And yes we accept each other as we are. We never get upset with each other. And, yes, we co-operate at all times, we understand, even as children, how important team work is. And so we co-operate at all cost. The dragons flip from being immensely fearsome creatures in one moment to become the cuddliest of cuddly teddy bears in the next. And dangers and scary moments dissolve from one moment to the next into thin air. With the story itself I could not get rid of the feeling that I was mostly being told but not really shown, and so I found it difficult to believe anything that was told in the story. Specially, the threat that comes from the Dragon of Death is never substantiated in the children’s world. All there is, is that the dragons say, it is so, and the children just believe them and act upon it. And that is all the motivation the children have for risking their lives or for working together, apart, obviously, from being on an adventure and dealing with real dragons. Not one critical question is being asked. In addition, the four main characters come all loaded with lots of stereotypes, like the surfer boy from California, the successful pageant girl from the South of the United States, the Irish boy with lots of freckles, green eyes and a preference to stay home when it rains or sleep through difficult moments and the Chinese girl who is at all times it seems subservient and tries to please every one. In the end, this book was quite a mixed bag of reading experiences for me with some wonderful scenes in it and having an overall feel of gentleness, kindness and cosiness, of wonder and adventure, and on the other hand a story that fell in quite a few ways somewhat apart. 5 likes Like Comment Mathew 1,526 reviews 193 followers September 7, 2020 The idea of travelling from California to the ‘middle-of-nowhere’ China for a Summer Camp to help brush up on Cantonese is the worst possible use of holiday time for Billy Chan. Yet little does he know that fate has in store for him a trip like no other and the time spent far up in the mountains at Camp Dragon will turn out to be anything as dull as he had imagined. Dragon Mountain has everything in it that you would want from a domestic-fantasy novel but with something far more relevant and updated with regards to relationships between friends who become family. Billy Chan, disjointed from his home and at odds with his Hong-Kong heritage, finds himself trapped on a mountain with other 11+ year olds in similar positions. Dylan O’Donnell, a reserved and cautious boy from Ireland, the over-confident ju-jjitsu specialist Charlotte Bell from the deep South and native Leng-Fei who carries a zen-like calm about her, inadvertently find themselves grouped together. Countries and characters apart, they should have a reason for communicating yet when the Camp’s mentor, Old Gold, sets them a task each finds that they bring something special and unique to this partnership that means that it all just works – as if by magic. Yet when they encounter an other-worldly tiger and an ominous crack in the mountainside wide enough for a person to fit through, the partnership is stretched to its limits. Dragon Mountain is the first in a series of stories by Katie and Kevin Tsang which sees our four protagonists team up with a group of dragons who need their help to save their world and the human world. Realms away, lost in time, a darkness is slowly awakening as the Dragon of Death gradually regains the strength and power it once lost. Will our protagonists and their dragon companions have the strength, cunning and teamwork required to stave off its coming? Aside from the richly imagined dragon world, Katie and Kevin Tsang story should also be celebrated for the modern and wholesome relationships between the four children. Whilst much of this story is about each protagonist confronting their identity and understanding their strengths, it is also a story of self-belief and the power that real friendships have in fostering this. No hero here is perfect but each imperfection is what makes them unique and believable. Put together though and this sense of support, care and trust in each other makes the story and characters so very special. I found myself particularly fascinated in Billy’s own conflict between his love of the Californian waves and the dismissiveness of his Chinese heritage. The other characters too, alongside their dragons, each have their own journeys to make and these are not rounded nicely by the end of this first instalment. Instead they each have room to grow. Some have tough exteriors that may need to crack whilst others remain self-doubting. What Katie and Kevin Tsang have here is not just a world rich in imagination but characters rich for growing and changing and building together. Considering how much children’s fantasy is full of characters who carry on regardless of any conflicts or challenges that come their way, Dragon Mountain acknowledges that it is the inner journey that is the real adventure and how we choose to get there and who with is part of the real magic. absence-of-parents adventure alternate-worlds ...more 4 likes Like Comment I' 513 reviews 299 followers January 7, 2021 Waterstones Children's Book of the Month for September 2020 I received a promotional reading copy from the publisher. I decided to read it out of interest and my opinion will not be influenced by this. As soon as I saw the cover I knew this was one that I was going to read. After I read the blurb I took it home. Then, I saw the authors and thought things have gone better since I was familiar with their other works and I liked them. So yeah, I was kind of biased in terms of DRAGONS, but oh I enjoyed this book so much! The writing style was very engaging and the story had a very good rhythm, you literally cannot get bored as you jump from one action to the next one and twists and turns and changes and it won’t stop getting better. I found it very easy to connect with the characters, there are four kids who are the protagonists with very different personalities, so it makes it fun and natural to connect with them and their struggles as a group. But also the dragons are such lovable characters as well, and their relationship with the kids is equal parts wholesome and funny. Billy, one of the main characters is bi-racial, with a Chinese father and white American mother, which I only highlight in terms of diversity and representation for kids. As the authors are a bi-racial couple, I feel like this issue was dealt and woven into the plot perfectly. If I had to compare this books I would recommend them to kids who liked How To Train Your Dragon, Percy Jackson, Frostheart and obviously The Land of Roar. It is the first one of a series and it has drawn my attention enough to keep an eye on the sequels as I need to know how the story continues. It kinda end on a bit of a cliffhanger, so it definitely encourages you to read the rest. arcs-proofs-work book-of-the-month smol-humans 3 likes Like Comment Alexa (Alexa Loves Books) 2,313 reviews 13k followers December 26, 2023 I really should have trusted my instincts on this one, because I enjoyed listening to Dragon Mountain a whole lot! There's dragons and friendship, magic and mayhem, funny banter, great sentiments and a plot filled with adventure and action -- all things that I personally adore in the stories I read. While it certainly is geared towards a younger target audience (and I'll definitely be gifting this one to the younger readers I know), I still very much enjoyed getting to know Billy and his friends, as well as their dragons, and getting to be a part of the adventure they go on. It's such a delightful read, and I'm looking forward to continuing with the series. listened-to-audio 3 likes Like Comment Jasmine 580 reviews 10 followers January 16, 2021 This was a brilliant middle grade fantasy. With dragons, magic, adventure, friendships and did I mention dragons? What more could you want. An easy read a brilliant adventure. 3 likes Like Comment Jelke 251 reviews 6 followers April 11, 2022 CAWPILE rating: 6.93 actual rating: 3.5 ⭐️ 2022-reads 3-stars 3 likes Like Comment Lindsi (Do You Dog-ear?) 720 reviews 218 followers December 9, 2021 I would have stopped reading Dragon Mountain after the first few chapters, if it wasn't for my son. He's seven and it's about dragons, so obviously he liked it. However, the storytelling was awful. It's like the authors were trying too hard to convince readers that their characters were believably afraid of the dangers they faced. Billy constantly questioned his choices and bounced between excitement and trepidation so often it made me want to scream. Just go on your flarking adventure! We already know this book is fiction, you don't have to constantly berate me with a character's inner turmoil over one decision. There are DRAGONS for the love of God. I wish they had just accepted their situation and went with it. Comparing this book to Percy Jackson is an insult to Rick Riordan. The story itself didn't always make sense, and I could tell my son was getting frustrated with me for stopping so I could notate my issues with the book. The dragons have been trapped in a mountain for what? A hundred years or something? Yet they don't have names? What have they been calling each other all this time??? "When our humans die, so does the name. It is wiped from my memory and all who have ever spoken it." Okay, so why do other dragons have names? They've been referring to other dragons like Dimitrius, yet they themselves haven't had one for more than a century? Pfft. Additionally, the names they are given by children were predictably lame and unoriginal. Tank? Spark? Buttons? (If I were an ancient and powerful dragon, I would have been insulted by their lack of imagination.) The dialogue between the characters is also obnoxious af. The kids talking amongst themselves is one thing, but the ANCIENT DRAGONS sounded just as inexperienced and came across as childish themselves. Don't even get me started on Billy's acceptance of death. In the midst of him constantly questioning what they're doing he somehow comes to terms with his own death. "This might be the last thing that he ever did. He thought about his life at home, his life before dragons. And he realized that even if this was the end, it would be worth it. To get a chance to experience magic in the world. To be a part of something epic." What is he? 12? And he's known about dragons and magic for less than 24 hours. How did he go from speculative to full on I WILL DIE FOR THIS SHIT? There were also several inconsistencies that I'm not even going to bother to list, but they made me roll my eyes and wish for the book's seemingly inevitable conclusion. I just wanted the story to end so I could get rid of the book and never think about it again. Dragon Mountain had the potential to be a fun middle grade book for kids, but the redundancy and dialogue were too off-putting. I liked how the book started, but it went from okay to terrible as soon as the kids discovered dragons. If you're going to write something fantastical, it has to be believable (this was not). The world-building needs to make sense (it didn't), and the characters have to be somewhat likable or at least people you want to root for (not even a little bit). (★★☆☆☆) Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Bloglovin' | Amazon | Pinterest possess read-with-my-kids 3 likes Like Comment Victoria Roe (Reading Addict) 62 reviews 9 followers July 14, 2021 I started this book at 8am this morning it’s now 3:30pm I could not put it down and absolutely brilliant adventure story with fabulous characters you can’t help but immediately love, and the dragons!! Such amazing individual personalities that leaped from the page! I’m so glad I have dragon legend that I can dive straight into! 3 likes Like Comment Ris Sasaki 1,101 reviews 190 followers August 23, 2021 This is the kind of book that even though it was really adventurous and fast pace, the really juvenile writing threw me off completely. It was one of those cases that the middle grade read way too young for me unfortunately. 3 likes Like Comment Wendy Bamber 609 reviews 10 followers March 31, 2021 Great attractive looking dragon book, perfect for fans of Wings of Fire and moving on from Dragon Defenders. The age of the protagonist being 12 makes the idea of going to a summer camp in China more believable than the age of the readers who seem to be going for this book, namely about age 7-9. The kids I am selling it to are reserving it in their droves and number two has been ordered. 2 likes Like Comment Julie Martinez 112 reviews 1 follower March 24, 2022 There was zero resolution to this story at the end. Hearts of humans bonding with dragons and the dragons issuing them spidey suits and spandex with skirts was unexpected. Real unexpected. Almost a DNF 2 likes Like Comment Danie ♡ 258 reviews June 12, 2021 2.5 2 likes Like Comment Lindsey 22 reviews October 12, 2021 Rated by nine year olds Josh- 5 stars Abby- 5 stars Aiden- 10 stars 🤷🏻‍♀️🤣 2 likes Like Comment BooksForTopics 145 reviews 47 followers September 11, 2020 A dragon-filled adventure and the first book in an exciting new series by Katie and Kevin Tsang, co-authors of the popular Sam Wu books. 12-year-old Billy Chan has been sent from his home in California - where he’d much rather be surfing - to a Chinese Summer Camp deep in the shadows of a mysterious mountain in China. In between learning Mandarin, martial arts and cooking, there are to be team challenges, the first of which takes Billy and his new friends (Charlotte, Ling Fei and Dylan) into an area that is out of bounds. Ling Fei loses her necklace and they are forced to return to the area. When his new friends disappear, Billy bravely enters the mountain to find them, but comes face to face with four dragons! As each of the children forms an unbreakable bond with a dragon, they discover that Ling Fei’s necklace is more than it appears to be and with the power it bestows, along with other magical pearls, the four small humans are tasked to save the whole dragon and human realms! This was an amazing start to the Dragon Realm series and I was quickly hooked. Filled with legend, magic and, of course, dragons, this would sate any young fantasy lover’s reading appetite. There's excitement around each corner - from magical objects to out-of-bounds adventuring. I also loved that each of the children was so different, but managed to form a loyal team, exemplifying how you don’t have to be friends with only people who are similar to you. This is a beguiling start to a promising adventure series, filled with humour, warmth, action and magic. Many thanks to the publisher for our review copy. This features on our Autumn 2020 Ones to Watch list. 1 like Like Comment Sabrina 1,451 reviews 31 followers August 25, 2020 Billy is shipped off to language camp in China by his parents, in a bid to teach him about his half Chinese heritage, and he thinks it's going to be boring without his friends and away from the sea his favourite pastime, surfing. He never imagines that legends will come to life and he'll find himself in a battle to save both the dragon world and his own from the Dragon of Death. All the talk of delicious Chinese food made me feel extremely hungry throughout the book. I would have preferred a slightly more satisfying ending, I wasn't expecting to be left with such a cliffhanger, however it does say this is part of a series. I liked the narrator and all his different accents for the various characters. 1 like Like Comment WyrmbergSabrina 456 reviews 20 followers October 3, 2020 Okay, I figured I'd been a bit harsh giving this 3 stars, so it's getting 4. Dragon Mountain follows a group of young teenagers as they go to a summer camp in China, and then discover dragons. The first in the Dragon Realms system, this was an entertaining, fun tale that sets up an interesting concept and four very different kids. I got a little bit Five Children and It vibes from it, the way that we quickly got to the dragons and some of the dragon lore explained, and there's a thing I can't spoil for you, but I should have guessed that would happen. Easy to read, I did this in just over two 40 min bus journeys. It rattles along nicely and I think I'd like to see where this goes. I'd say this is a solid 8-10 year old story with lots of dragons and fun moments. young-adult-and-childhood 2 likes Like Comment Arrash Mazdai 190 reviews 1 follower October 10, 2021 Expected rating - 4stars Actual rating - 3.5stars New words learnt - 1 MILD SPOILERS HERE AND THERE, READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. You got dragons? Then I'm in. And when I saw this book in a Waterstones email, I knew I had to get it, and it held up well for the most part. Took a bit to get going, but that was understandable, and once the dragons come into play then the story really starts. As far as the story goes, it felt like a mixture of Eragon and Avengers: infinity war. These comparisons were noticeable, though they were mostly forgiven. And I did appreciate the darker tone and higher stakes. Characters were again, mostly likeable. We have our main four children protagonists: Billy, Charlotte, Ling-Fei, and Dylan. Billy is the main character, and he experiences way too many mood swings, even for a twelve-year old. Apart from that he's sound. Charlotte is the confident one in the group, a perfectionist that isn't afraid to speak her mind, or throw a punch. Ling-Fei is the calm, optimistic child that believes in the best of outcomes and is always cheerful or looking on the bright side. Dylan is the skeptical, pessimistic, nerdy child and to be honest, it was with his character that I had my biggest issue. I don't really like these sort of characters, because a) their pessimism most often is their main trait, b) the story uses them as a wacky comedy-relief side-character (mostly at their expense as well [what, do you expect us to laugh at his misery?]) and c) they barely offer anything to the story. And he fell in all three categories. Not gonna say much beyond these four, because there aren't many other human characters that we focus on. For the dragons, I will go in a bit more depth with each one in our Dragon-o-meter, but a quick review is that the main four were varied in both personality and shape type. And I think the 4 of them collectively brought more to this book than the 4 humans. Writing wise the book was light and simple. I think 7+ ages will all enjoy it, with plenty of flowery prose to sparkle the imagination, especially with the Dragon Realm. Not much else to say right now, I shall definitely pick up the next one whenever I can, and am intrigued on where the adventures leads next. DRAGON-O-METER: In this edition of Dragon-o-meter, we will take a detailed look at the four main dragons of the story: Xing, Buttons, Tank, and of course, Spark. I'd also like to take this moment to say that this is in no way criticising the authors of their work, they did great and should be proud. It is just my opinion on the dragons and should as always, be taken with a grain of salt. Size: Starting with Xing, she is basically a Chinese/East Asian dragon, long and snake-like with long whiskers. It does say early on that she managed to wrap around the children a few times with enough length to chase after and wrap Billy, so she has decent length. Buttons is described to have a sort of dinosaur appearance, like a T-rex, with short arms and strong thick legs and tail. The fact he can give hugs means he isn't THAT big. I believe Tank and Spark are bigger, but where Tank is built like, well a tank, Spark is more elegant looking and her wings also serve as the front limbs (basically she's a wyvern). (4/10), (3/10), (7/10), (6/10). Personality: Xing is the more mean-spirited, straight-to-your-face attitude dragon that put a decent amount of respect on appearance, so not too far from certain standards. Buttons is the more cheerful, optimistic dragon that is also quirky and a bit different. Also highly emotional and naïve, which is not common with dragons. Tank is the ferocious one, and the closest to western versions of dragons. Finally, Spark has the calm, wise and patient personality that balances out the other three. (6/10), (4/10), (8/10), (7/10) Appearance: Ok so I think I went through these in Size, so just gonna be quick with this one. They all are different versions of dragons, and I tend to have a bias towards a certain type (mainly Tank and Spark). I'm not the fondest of the asian dragons, as their main strength is wisdom and not strength, and also they're more vulnerable than western dragons. I'm also not the fondest of the image of a T-rex with small wings. Tank is the real deal, four legs, big bulk of a body, massive wings. Spark is also very nice, though points taken off for no front legs, and the fact she has antlers. No, just no. (5/10), (4/10), (9/10), (7/10). Intelligence: They can all talk, so great news here. And they can hold deep, emotional conversations with their knowledge and wisdom. Buttons might be a bit lacking in this compartment too compared to the others from the pages that I've read, but I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and rate them all the same. (7/10), (7/10), (7/10), (7/10). Power: Each have their own unique power, I think. Xing can sense things, and Spark can have visions. Tank has his brute power, while Buttons is... I don't know to be honest. He's a bit like the Dylan of the group. (5/10), (4/10), (8/10), (7/10). My Approval: Xing has potential, but I feel is the most vulnerable dragon of this four, Buttons should apply to become human, Tank is an OG that the other three should envy, and Spark is basically Saphira with Antlers and a voice box. (5/10), (3/10), (8/10), (6/10). Overall: 32/60 (5.3/10), 25/60 (4.1/10), 47/60 (7.8/10), 40/60 (6.66/10) P.S. Sorry Buttons! Concept wise you are actually great, but you seriously need to dragon up otherwise you'll be eaten alive! mid-g mid-g-fantasy 1 like Like Comment Kim_reads 538 reviews 18 followers November 16, 2021 This book was a lot of fun. I absolutely loved how magical the adventure was. So easy to read with a lot of action, hard to put down. The characters are all likeable. I like that the dragons match their human so perfectly. This is a great start to a new series for me. This book ended in a way that makes you want to read the next one the find out what happens to a character. I can’t wait to pick up Dragon Legend. 1 like Like Comment Helen Swinyard 139 reviews 5 followers July 21, 2020 Promising start to a new adventure series. Dragons! Quests! Monsters! Magic powers! Hurray. No sterotyping whilst still sticking to questy style tropes. Four new friends learning much about friendship, courage, empathy, all good things. Both happy there will be more adventures, but disappointed you can't feel satisfied just reading this on its own, really. 1 like Like Comment Caity 1,182 reviews 11 followers August 20, 2020 This is a great adventure for younger readers. I liked the children in the book and found them to be well written and interesting. The Dragons are really cool and it was fun to see all the different types of dragons. The plot was adventurous with a great twist ending. The book ends on a pretty big cliffhanger that is sure to leave readers wanting more. 1 like Like Comment Claire Booksnink 274 reviews 15 followers March 28, 2022 Really did enjoy the first book in this series and found it to be a great start. Liked the group of characters that we followed mainly in the book. The one thing I will say that confused me was the disappearance of the camp that was introduced in the beginning. Did really like it though and I can see already how the characters will hopefully develop throughout the rest of the series. The dragons I found absolutely great and how they came across them was good and really exciting. Am looking forward to the progression in this series but am chuffed how it started out owned-and-waiting-to-be-read 2 likes Like Comment Chrissey 45 reviews 5 followers May 19, 2020 An action-packed adventure story filled with magic and dragons. The Tsangs have struck gold again with another brilliantly pitched series for children- I think I love it just as much as Sam Wu! middle-grade-epics 1 like Like Comment Mycoton32 4,896 reviews 72 followers January 3, 2021 16/20 - https://www.leslecturesdemylene.com/2... 1 like Like Comment thereadinggenie61 103 reviews 4 followers March 25, 2021 An enjoyable book, lots of adventures, excitement and an unexpected twist:) loved it! Have just purchased book 2 and looking forward to the next chapter!👍👍 1 like Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion 1 question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Forbidden Promises (The O'Malleys, #4) by Katee Robert | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book The O'Malleys #4 Forbidden Promises Katee Robert 3.89 3,156 ratings 370 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert delivers the next book in her sizzling O'Malleys family series, hailed as "The Godfather meets Romeo & Juliet." FORBIDDEN PROMISES features Sloan O'Malley and her mysterious new next-door neighbor, Jude MacNamara. Some lines should never be crossed . . . not even for love. Sloan O'Malley just left her entire world behind-her family, her wealth, and even her real name. For the first time in her life, she's free. She can live the "normal" life she's always wanted. A life without fear. But there's nothing safe about her intensely sexy next-door neighbor. Jude MacNamara has no room for innocence in his life. Only revenge. Still, he's never been able to walk away from the forbidden, and Sloan--who is every inch of pure, mouthwatering temptation--has forbidden written all over her. Only after it's way too late does he discover the real danger: claiming Sloan as his puts a target on her back. To protect her, Jude is willing risk everything . . . and to hell with the consequences. Genres Romance Contemporary Romance Contemporary Romantic Suspense Suspense Fiction Erotica ...more 337 pages, Kindle Edition First published May 30, 2017 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Katee Robert 162 books 30.8k followers Katee Robert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of spicy romance. Entertainment Weekly calls her writing “unspeakably hot.” Her books have sold over two million copies. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, and two Great Danes who think they’re lap dogs. Sign up for my newsletter to get access to exclusive bonus content! https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/form... Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.89 3,156 ratings 370 reviews 5 stars 907 (28%) 4 stars 1,236 (39%) 3 stars 806 (25%) 2 stars 159 (5%) 1 star 48 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 370 reviews Sabrina 3,666 reviews 2,303 followers June 4, 2017 NOW LIVE Amazon * B&N * Kobo If you've read the previous books in The O'Malley's series than you know that Sloan is the quiet one of the group that doesn't like to go against orders too often. After she's had enough of her family's constant battles, though, she leaves and sets out on her own, determined to not need anyone's help. But then she meets her neighbor, Jude, their attraction leads to a danger far greater than she's ever imagined. Forbidden Promises had a different feel from the other books and it wasn't as involved in the Mafia world, but it really worked for these characters. Sloan was trying to stay out of her family drama when we were first introduced to her so I was really happy that her character stayed true to that now that we got the chance to read her story. There is definitely still Mafia dealings, which I loved the suspense of, they just weren't overly abundant in the story. Honestly I think this story is going to be one of my favorites from the story. Sloan and Jude had an amazing chemistry that was undeniable from the beginning of their journey. There was a good amount of drama involved in their relationship too and it sucked me right into this book. Overall, this is a must read. It could potentially be read as a standalone if you didn't mind not fully understanding what's going on with side characters, but I would recommend reading the previous books first. ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review. arc-edelweiss-netgalley mafia-crime-boss 51 likes Like Comment Wendy'sThoughts 2,668 reviews 3,278 followers August 29, 2021 5 Still Waters Run Deep Stars * * * * * Spoiler Free Never assume the quiet woman in the background is all as she appears. It may seem she is quiet, dutiful, and would never rock the boat….But if that was your take on Sloan from the past books, then you would be wrong. In this entry, Forbidden Promises (The O'Malleys, #4), Sloan learns all about Sloan… and so do we. Sloan saw the writing on the wall and knew she was to be the next sacrificed woman to wed in order for the Family to remain in a power position. The Irish Mafia made up of the three Families which have run Boston, now have another player encroaching in their territories...and they aren't Irish, they are The Russians. With the help of one of her brothers and his wife...Sloan makes her escape to Washington State...to a small town to hunker down and start fresh. Here she is a clean slate...She may be educated but in many ways, she has so many things she has never done... And working for a living is one of them. Sloan is a woman who is learning all about life as others know it. It is a crash course on blisters, fear of being fired, and the joy of being told "You Did Good Today" from a boss. All of this is happening because Sloan applied to a diner and got the try-out for the waitress position. It was the first step for her...and as exhausted as she was from those first days...She had never been happier. She also had never been more curious about her handsome, mysterious neighbor, too. She lived in a borrowed cottage arranged by her brother. It belonged to an aunt and was on the water. There was another cottage not too far away and when Sloan first arrived... she went there, thinking it was her new home. Well, that did not go over well...The man was mean, cold, and had no interest in hearing why she made the mistake. He was also the town's curiosity...He didn't mix with anyone...went to the store when no one would be around and the only thing anyone knew was that he said was a writer. As Sloan walked home after surviving a whole week at the diner, she happened to look at the door of her neighbor's cottage...she was drawn like a magnet... And there he stood...leaning up against the door jam, drinking his coffee, and looking straight at her...Sloan was mesmerized by this vision of Man...Broad Shoulders, Bare Chest, a perfect V to his hips all perfectly displayed with no shirt and loose...very loose cargo shorts slung low on his hips... His eyes catching her flushed face...his man bun, cut cheeks, and chiseled jaw all looking straight at her. She was like a deer caught in headlights with the only thing breaking the connection was Him lifting his mug to her...then turning and closing the door. What the Hell was that! Jude MacNamara had no time or interest in an Innocent....and he knew that was what this woman was...Jude had a singular purpose for being here in this cottage, in this waterfront town. His whole life had to lead up to this...and no little Innocent was going to ruin his perfectly planned revenge... For that was what had driven Jude his entire life. He was a product of love and then death. He learned from his mother's words to him what others did to his father and brothers...She didn't sing him lullaby's of little lambs...instead she sang of retribution in his ear...and it became his mantra. He was here to finally achieve his goal and the aunt was his target. He had waited over the years...he could wait a little longer...He would just have to fight the feelings he had for this woman... Katee Robert created this dynamic saga of three Irish Mafia families who for generations have ruled the underworld of Boston and the East Coast. Each family has its own way of doing things...and the decedents have continued on the same path over the years. Now, though, things have shifted and families have merged through marriage. There are new factors to consider and segments of these families are either trying to move away from the criminal to the legal...and others are adjusting to new leadership thrust upon them due to family members being locked up. And all of this has the additional element of The Russia Mob's emergence to power. This is the setting Robert devised for these intricate love stories involving these characters. It is compelling, impossible to put down, and addictive as hell....and this latest entry is one of the best so far. Sloan is a woman who is not silly or blind to what she grew up in...She is very aware of what her family is and does. She wanted no part of it and never felt she was confident or strong...But in reality, she is one of the strongest women in the family. She takes the leap to leave everything behind....everyone she loves and cares for...She isolates herself and starts new with no real-world experience to fall back on...She forces herself to fight for a job she hasn't a clue how to do...but is willing to prove to the owner she can... And when the situation presents itself to her...She is willing to be brave and go after a man she knows she has no future with...She is willing to push her boundaries and be brave... time and time again. Jude watches this woman and although he knows he should stay clear of her...he cannot...and when he realizes how dangerous he is for her and she for him...He rises up and becomes a better man...one that would do anything for her. What is captivating about these two is both are equals...Sloan may have started out as seemingly innocent...yet with this clear idea of what is right, wrapped up in the understanding of her world...and then His world...She stands strong. These two together are magnificent. Everything works...their times together...their fights and their commitment to each other. This book has every element to keep you locked and loaded for the series. We have the continuing story of intrigue and power with the Families and Russians. We have specific characters who are important players ...brothers and sisters who cause more chaos... there are attractions between people which should never happen but we are thrilled that it does...All of this continues our devotion to follow this series. I was one of the lucky ones who found this series very early... Katee Robert has not let me down...she has only made this series better and better with every entry. There seems to be only one more book left ... I will be front and center waiting on it... I can only imagine how amazing it is going to be. This series is best read in order: The Marriage Contract (The O'Malleys, #1) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... The Wedding Pact (The O'Malleys, #2) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... An Indecent Proposal (The O'Malleys, #3) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Forbidden Promises (The O'Malleys, #4) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Undercover Attraction (The O'Malleys, #5) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... The Bastard's Bargain (The O'Malley's #6) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... And The New Second Generation: The Bastard's Betrayal (Scandalous Scions #1) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~ Katee Robert created this world and it lives on her pages. I cannot wait to see the next installment with Sloan...for the the tease I read was perfect: Some lines should never be crossed . . . not even for love. Sloan O'Malley just left her entire world behind-her family, her wealth, and even her real name. For the first time in her life, she's free. She can live the "normal" life she's always wanted. A life without fear. But there's nothing safe about her intensely sexy next-door neighbor. Jude MacNamara has no room for innocence in his life. Only revenge. Still, he's never been able to walk away from the forbidden, and Sloan-who is every inch of pure, mouthwatering temptation-has forbidden written all over her. Only after it's way too late does he discover the real danger: claiming Sloan as his puts a target on her back. To protect her, Jude is willing risk everything . . . and to hell with the consequences. A gifted copy was provided by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley for an honest review. For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways 37 likes Like Comment Terrie's Just Another Book B*tch 160 reviews 157 followers June 18, 2017 Just Another Book Bitch's SPOILER FREE REVIEW *I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review Can we just talk about that cover for a sec... SEXY AS HELL RIGHT?!!! Not your typical random male torso... nope sexy "older guy" clothed looking all dark, mysterious, and definitely dangerous! Then I read the beginning of the blur Katee Robert delivers the next book in her sizzling O'Malleys family series, hailed as "The Godfather meets Romeo & Juliet." That's it! I didn't know anything about the series (except that my sister has read them and really enjoyed them) I went in blind! I can say that while this book is part of a series. It is truly a standalone. So well written that while I got glimpses into the other novels I didn't feel like my reading enjoyment was hindered at all because I hadn't read the other books. I will say that the author did her job superbly because while I read all I kept thinking was... I can't wait to go back and read the other books!! We meet out H/h on the beach and you can feel the instant attraction. No corny insta-love or prolonged drawn out whiny WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO DO IT ALREADY!!!! NOPE! We get a glimpse into the characters, what's placed them there and then you are swooped away into a fast paced intense mafia romance full of suspense & twist that will make it impossible to put this book down! Sloan and Jude .... what can I say... The relationship between Sloan & Jude is so intense you can feel the heat coming off the pages. So much so that I had many moments where I caught myself looking around while I was reading because it felt so "naughty" and "intimate". Sloan is escaping her family, trying to build a life of her own when she meets the HOT DIRTY TALKING Jude. SERIOUSLY HOT HOT HOT!! He's a no-nonsense bad boy that I feel in love with instantly! I would highly suggest this novel and can't wait to get caught up with the previous books in time for the next installment Undercover Attraction This novel is a new release and available now so get to clicking and enjoy!! Let me know what you think! Amazon US Amazon CA Goes live July 4th Amazon UK Find me on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram @JustABookB arc forever-romance-grandcentral-publis 28 likes Like Comment Christie«SHBBblogger» 978 reviews 1,295 followers May 28, 2017 Title: Forbidden Promises Series: The O'Malleys Author: Katee Roberts Release date: May 30, 2017 Cliffhanger: No HEA Yes “I’ll never cage you, sunshine. It’s not my way. I’d rather watch you learn to fly instead.” While Forbidden Promises can be read as a standalone, I wouldn't go so far as to say easily read as one. As with any well developed Mafia Romance series, the MCs may change from book to book, but there is a continuing storyline with plenty of past events that you will need to be caught up to date on. While I was able to differentiate between the different members of each of the warring families, and their connections to each other, it took me some time to get there. Honestly, that did slow down my reading speed. Once I got situated, I was firmly entrenched with this forbidden love story and the surrounding hate-filled violent vendetta. The O'Malley family members had taut expectations set on them from birth. Love matches weren't to be accepted, a union to bolster family power was the custom. Anybody who resisted what was considered to be their duty was shunned and exiled. Associating with "the enemy" was another unforgivable black mark against you, though her brother Teague's marriage to Callista Sheridan formed a new alliance with their previous adversaries. Twenty-four-year old Sloan has always been the biddable and pliant sibling. She's not what you would view as a tough heroine in the beginning, but breaking off from her family's Boston empire and striking out into the unfamiliar world was the most courageous thing she could have possibly done. She's completely naive and inexperienced. Not only with men, but making her own decisions. With surviving on her own. She had no idea what kind of dangers already lurked in Callaway Rock, where she began this new, independent chapter of her life. Living right next door to her was Jude MacNamera, the last remaining member of his family. After his father and brothers were murdered in cold blood by the Sheridans, his mother met a misfortunate and tragic death years later. Now, nothing will satisfy his fury except sending those responsible to their own untimely fates. His honor had died with the rest of his family. Any chance he’d had of resurrecting it had died with his first mark when he was twenty-one. Jude is not a knight in shining armor, in fact, quite the opposite. He may have standards about killing innocents, but that doesn't take away from the fact that he's a stone cold assassin. He's self-serving, because there's no one in his life to care about or make him weak. He's also a man of many skills, and as smart as a whip, but his people skills leave something to be desired. He doesn't regret the path his life has taken, because it aimed him directly towards the direction he sought. Nothing else was allowed to rule his heart or conscience. After having everything of value ripped away from him, he has nothing left to lose except the one thing that gives his life meaning. Revenge. I was not Jude's biggest fan in the beginning of the book. He's not the most likable character, using the heroine towards his end goal and taking the her virginity in the first 16% of the book without remorse. . The heroine I wasn't crazy about either, as she seemed to take his treatment without much pause simply because he turned her on. There wasn't enough backbone for my taste, but I figured there was plenty of room for growth, and that thankfully ended up happening on both sides. A quickly igniting passion led to an unexpected wrench in both of their plans for the future. And their break from the reality of their past was sadly, short lived. They were hunted, as several players in the game moved their chess pieces into position. These two fought to survive together by any means necessary, and their emotions made an unexpected entrance into the equation. She helped him see the possibility of a future free from the ties that have bound him for his entire life. And he doesn't know what to do with that. “You’re a man, Jude. You have a more colorful past than most, but I mostly understand your reasoning for wanting Colm to pay. I just don’t think you should run around murdering people.” “An eye for an eye.” “Leaves the whole world blind.” What started out as a purely physical relationship soon became much more. Personally, it seemed rushed in my opinion, considering the progression happened after sleeping together for about a week. Jude became very possessive and protective, which felt abrupt compared to his recent behavior. Not that his growing respect was unwelcome, but they seemed to be moving at light speed. The odds where overwhelmingly stacked against these two. Dmitri Romanov, the head of the New York Russian empire was playing puppetmaster in the Sheridans' destruction. Jude was backed into a corner by the Russian, and forced to make the most difficult decision of his life. Love or Vengeance. Even if he chose the woman he was falling for, it could be his ultimate downfall. On the opposite side, Sloan's family was unpredictable and underhanded. She discovered that not everyone was to be trusted with her back turned. Because she could easily have a knife plunged in her back when she least expected. This story was action-packed, and had an elaborate storyline that had me hooked the deeper I dove in. By the end of the book, though I felt somewhat detached from the two MCs, I did grow to respect and like them. I just didn't love them as I should have. I was fascinated by all of the interconnected story arcs, particularly Aiden and ex-cop Charlotte Finch's tease for the next addition to the series. I would definitely read their book Undercover Attraction in November. If you're already a fan of this series, this will be a must read. If not, you could start here as I did, but be prepared to have an adjustment period. Recommended for fans of mafia lovers, and redeemable heroes. FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON: advanced-copy mafia-syndicate part-of-a-series 19 likes Like Comment Alyssa 1,069 reviews 852 followers October 5, 2017 *** Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog *** Forbidden Promises by Katee Robert Book Four of the O'Malleys series Publisher: Forever Publication Date: May 30, 2017 Rating: 4 stars Source: ARC sent by the publisher Summary (from Goodreads): All Sloan O’Malley ever wanted was a simple life—and now she’s finally got it. She’s left everything behind in Boston—her family, her money, even her name—and set herself up in a tiny seaside town in Oregon. What she doesn’t plan for? Her mysterious and painfully attractive neighbor, Jude. Jude MacNamara has been many things in his life—pampered son of a prestigious family, only surviving heir to a lost legacy, hit man—but now he’s out for revenge on the man responsible for the death of his father and brothers—Colm Sheridan. He’s tracking Colm’s sister when he encounters Sloan living with her in her beach house. He’s a patient hunter and he’s willing to sit back and wait for his prey...he just doesn’t expect for this woman to give rise to emotions he hasn’t felt in years. He doesn’t want to see Sloan hurt, but in order to protect her, he will have to turn his back on the one thing he’s spent his life pursuing—revenge. Even then, there’s no guarantee either one of them will make it out alive. What I Liked: From the start, I knew that this would be a very different book compared to the previous three. I loved The Marriage Contract, and enjoyed The Wedding Pact and An Indecent Proposal. The books have been incredibly engrossing, entertaining, and sexy. This book was all of those things, and yet it is distinct when compared to its predecessors. I loved Jude and Sloan's story - I think theirs is my second-favorite of the series now! Sloan O'Malley, the fifth O'Malley child in a brood of seven, has finally gotten out. With the help of her older brother Teague, she has fled Boston and is neatly ensconced in a small seaside town in Oregon with an old woman - Sorcha Sheridan. Everything is new and interesting to her... especially her next-door neighbor. Little does she know, Jude MacNamara has been watching her new house. He has been tracking Colm Sheridan's sister for a long time, for revenge. And now he has found her, but he didn't expect Sloan O'Malley to appear. Sloan doesn't know at first who Jude really is, but it doesn't matter: one looks is all it takes. Jude and Sloan can't keep away from each other. But it's not long before the dangers of Boston catch up with Sloan, and Jude's own deals catch up with him. Jude will have to choose between his plans of revenge and his growing feelings for Sloan, and Sloan will have to decide if Jude is worth it. This book had a bit of a different tone, compared to the others. Maybe because most of the book is far-removed from Boston, and all of the crime stuff in Boston? Not that the crime stuff doesn't come up - remember, Jude is very much involved in all of that (not that Sloan knows, at first). But the crime and the Russian mafia and all that aren't physically present in most of this book. Which makes the story a little more about our couple, especially in the first half. I always felt bad for Sloan in the previous books, but I didn't love her, necessarily. She seemed a bit bland to me, and not outwardly strong as her older sister Carrigan, or her sister-in-law Callie. She isn't as stubborn and rebellious as her younger sister Keira. She's just Sloan. young and innocent and desperate to get out of the crime that surrounds her life. Right? Well. Sloan is much tougher than she outwardly appears, and she is her own brand of strong. Jude is a rough, gruff, no-nonsense hardened man who is the last of a dynasty - the MacNamara's. He is bent on revenge and wants nothing in his way, so he isn't quite sure what to do with his instant attraction to Sloan, at first. But he is also a man of action, and he likes to have all of the control. Jude has made himself believe that he is a cold, merciless, heartless man who isn't worth more than his revenge, but that isn't true at all. This book is as much about Jude's self-worth as it is about Sloan's. The two of them together are incredibly hot! The attraction and lust are there from the start. The sex starts off very early, which I don't always love, but I was fine with it in this book. The first half of the book is very focused on Jude and Sloan's physical attraction to each other, and there is a loooot of sex. The second half of the book deals more with their growing emotional connection, and the growing threat of Dmitri Romanov. But back to June and Sloan's chemistry - so hot. Jude is 100% alpha, and Sloan is... well, she isn't a meek and submissive innocent, but she is innocent and she likes it Jude being controlling and demanding, when it comes to sex. The two of them fit perfectly together and in so many ways. So the physical attraction started off very quickly, but the emotional connection took longer. I liked seeing Jude and Sloan slowly trust each other and lean on each other. They don't know each other for very long before they have to make several decisions about Sloan's safety. But they begin to trust in their feelings for each other, which was sweet to see. There is one trope that appears in this book that I usually hate - but I found that I did not mind it at all, in this book. The presence of this trope makes sense to me, and its purpose is something I understand. I love how the author switches up romances and relationships and keeps things original or at least on shuffle. Don't think that this is purely a romance novel! It's dark romance, and the crime aspect of this series does not disappear at all, don't worry. The second half of the book really picks up speed with several crime-related plots, both back in Boston and in Oregon. The ending is pretty explosive! In terms of crime, and in terms of Jude and Sloan's relationship. Not in a bad way! I love how we don't just get Jude and Sloan's POV. Occasionally (very rarely), we read from Aiden's, and Dmitri's. While Aiden has definitely grown on me, it is Dmitri who I have really gotten to like. I can't wait to read his and Keira's book (O'Malleys #6)! The snippets in this book between him and Keira are downright tantalizing. I'm going to wrap this up and end with saying that I really enjoyed this book. It's my second-favorite, or possibly my favorite, tied with The Marriage Contract (I don't know that any of these books will touch Teague's - though maybe #6 will!). This book was different compared to the rest of the series, and so, so good. What I Did Not Like: Nothing specific that I can think of! Though this book is not getting a five-star rating. Would I Recommend It: I highly recommend this book, especially since it's one of my favorites of the series! I've not read a series like this one, but I can say with confidence that no one writes crime/dark romance like Katee Robert. In my opinion. I highly recommend this series in general! Rating: 4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars. I am looking forward to reading Undercover Attraction (Aiden and Charlie's story)! But more so, Dmitri and Keira's, which publishes in February 2018. This series is easily one of my favorite adult romance series of all time! Pre-read squees: WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT. :D HIIIIIIIII JUDE!!!!!! Brood away with your broody self. :D 2017-releases 15 likes Like Comment Sissy's Romance Book Review 8,912 reviews 16 followers May 30, 2017 Book Review For: FORBIDDEN PROMISES by Katee Robert 'FORBIDDEN PROMISES' by Katee Robert is book Four in "The O'Malleys" series. This is the story of Sloan O'Malley and Jude MacNamara. I have not yet read the other books in the series so for me this was a standalone book. Sloan has left her family in Boston to get away from their Mafia Drama and start a new life on her own. Only her brother and his wife knows where Sloan is staying. Sloan has lived a shelter life where she didn't have to work and they had servants so learning to be on her own is a new adventure. Sloan has just found her first job and looks forward to being more independent. But one thing Sloan is finding hard to do is stay away from the neighbor she has. Their first meeting we learned was the night she first came to the cottage but he seem to make it clear he didn't want anything to do with her. Jude is a hit man who is looking to get to the owner of the cottage. Jude knows that Sloan is just a innocent girl and he tries to make a stand to stay away from her but that isn't looking to easy. This story had a very exciting and hot alpha male character with just a sweet determined leading lady. Really enjoyed this story! I can't wait to go back and read the other books in this series!The O'Malleys Series:The Marriage Contract Book 1The Wedding Pact Book 2An Indecent Proposal Book 3Forbidden Promises Book 4Undercover Attraction Book 5"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read." https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2H... http://sissymaereads.blogspot.com/ https://romancebookreviewforyou.wordp... https://www.tumblr.com/blog/romancebo... 2017-read arc-netgalley contemporary ...more 14 likes Like Comment Francoise 761 reviews 33 followers May 30, 2017 4 Stars Forbidden Promises combines passion with intrigue and danger in a fast paced and entertaining story set in the Irish mob underworld. The addictive plot captivated me and I read this book almost in one sitting! It is well-written with great characterization and a perfect pace. The story starts off like a small town romance. The heroine, Sloan O’Malley, has chosen to leave her pampered life of Mafia princess behind. Against her father's wishes, she wants the freedom to make her own choices and has escaped her Boston mob family with the help of one of her brothers. She has relocated to a small town on the West Coast, and has started a new life, working at a local diner and trying to remain under the radar. She is intrigued by her surly neighbor, Jude MacNamara. He is mysterious, overbearing, high handed, and yet Sloan is attracted to him. As it happens, Jude is the last surviving member of a rival mob family. He is a lone wolf, dangerous and cold, who falls for sweet and sassy Sloan. Their chemistry sets the pages on fire! Jude is not a protector, but rather a hit man with a hidden agenda. He has no idea how much his life will change after meeting Sloan, though. He is close to seeing his endgame realized, but he could lose her in the process, and it changes everything. He doesn’t want her to be a casualty in the war he has started to avenge his family. He knows they won’t be allowed to ride off in the sunset, their future is uncertain, but he is prepared to fight for Sloan and deal with mob politics. The characters were the strength of this book for me. I loved how they both grew as the story unfolded. Not to mention that there was enough action and drama to keep me invested in this gripping mafia romance! The author surprised me at some point, mainly because I expected the story to progress in a different way, and I really liked that. Forbidden Promises is the fourth installment in the O’Malley series, but it can be read as a standalone, in my opinion. I will read the other books in the series, I want to know more about the intriguing O’Malley siblings. I’m definitely hooked! An advanced copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley. 2017-reads enemies-to-lovers mob ...more 15 likes Like Comment Scarlett Loves Books 379 reviews 46 followers August 5, 2022 Genre : Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Mafia Romance Trope : Age Gap, Forbidden Sloane O'Malley ran away from her family which is a prominent mafia family in Boston. She's living in a small town under a false identity. Next door to her is her very mysterious and attractive new neighbor, Jude MacNamara. Jude has a secret of his own and is dead set on revenge; getting involved with his very alluring neighbor is the last thing on his mind. However, their attraction for each other cannot be denied, their chemistry quite explosive. And once their real identities are revealed to one another, they will have to face a new set of challenges that will pose a threat to their relationship. I can't be sure but I think there is a slight age gap between Sloane and Jude. Sloane is very innocent and sheltered whereas Jude is a lot more mature and hardened by tragedy. There is nothing taboo about their relationship but there is certainly a forbidden aspect to it which you will discover as you read the book. I really like this book. It is very steamy and very intense. The plot is also very good and the thriller aspect kept me on my toes. I also like the main couple; each had relatable qualities in their own way. I would suggest reading the previous books in the series. I didn't and was a bit lost when it mentions Sloan's past trauma. I was also intrigued by her brothers and curious what happened to make their relationship dynamics that way. read-in-2022 reviewed 11 likes Like Comment Esther 902 reviews 198 followers May 1, 2017 ARC provided by Edelweiss and Publisher for an honest review. This was an intense and engaging read with mystery and suspense thrown in. Sloane, the heroine from our story, comes from an Irish family that is the most powerful Mafia (combination of three Irish families) in Boston. But word is out that the Russian Mafia might be encroaching on their territory. Sloane is surrounded by strong siblings that are outspoken and major doer's who get things done and achieve what they want. Sloane is the more reserved and quite one that dose pretty much what she's told. And she's well aware she's the next to be married off. With the possibility of marriage on the horizon, Sloan with the help of one of her brothers and his wife, decides to escape. Sloane ends up in a small coastal town working incognito, as a waitress. She wants to start a new life with a clean slate and enjoy the small and big things in life that weren't doable in her old life. Sloane's living arrangement is a cottage that is loaned to her through her brother. When she arrives at the there she finds she's at the wrong one and her's is actually next door. The actual occupant is a handsome, gruff and cold man who let's her know to stay away. Sloane was immediately intrigued and attracted to the stranger knowing it was going to be difficult to abide by his wishes. Jude, Sloane's new neighbor, wants nothing to do with the innocent young woman. Even though he was attracted to her immediately, more like lusting after her immediately, he needs to stay away. He has a mission, a mission of revenge for his family and he's not going to be distracted by the beautiful and innocent neighbor. Jude's life was filled with a lot of heart ache, tragedy and killing. His life goal was in reach and the cottage next door was a key component to achieving his revenge. Excellent read into the Mafia life and all it entails. Found the intense connection and passion between the two MC intriguing and passionate. The romance was key but the mystery, suspense and mafia life are equally as engaging. The characters had depth and grew as individuals as well as a couple. Lot's of chemistry and sexual tension too. This might not bother some readers but it did me, the heroine did take the morning after pill after having sex with the hero and being fearful of becoming pregnant. But she did become pregnant and was happy she was. action-packed angst arc ...more 11 likes Like Comment Michelle 2,102 reviews 1,339 followers June 7, 2017 ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review Forbidden Promises is the fourth installment in The O’Malley’s Series and while this book can be read as a standalone, I highly advise you to read the first three books since secondary characters play a crucial integral part of the story line. With that out of the way, now onto the review. Sloan O’Malley has lived a very sheltered life even though her family is part of the Irish mafia. This life that she has now is not the life that she wants and so when the opportunity presents itself her to start over, she takes it. While she is adjusting to her newfound freedom and job, she meets a neighbor who intrigues and sparks her interest. Jude McNamara knows that he should stay away from Sloan O’Malley. She drips with innocence and he just has no time to deal with that. Or does he? Jude only cares for revenge since he is the last surviving one of his family. In his quest for revenge, what happens when Sloan interrupts his life? And what happens when feelings and attraction collides with danger? Forbidden Promises was indeed a real page turner. Robert’s did a terrific job blending the themes of family, romance, suspense, and revenge into the story line. She allowed readers to finally see the real Sloane come out of her shell. The once perceived little meek mouse does have a backbone and it was great to finally see that showcased in this installment. As I said earlier, yes this book can be read as a standalone but I highly urge you to read the previous books of this series to see how far the O’Malley family has come along. Katee Robert 2017 arc contemporary ...more 11 likes Like Comment Jenn (The Book Refuge) 2,157 reviews 3,335 followers June 7, 2021 I have been reading a lot of Maia Romances lately, but it felt so good to go back to a series that I love so much and spend time with this crazy family. Sloane was so sweet and just wanted to escape, only to fall under the eyes of Jude MacNemera, a contract killer who is the in the house next door. Sexiness ensues and drama unfolds and it was all a treat for me. 4/5 stars read-2021 10 likes Like Comment Lover of Romance 3,214 reviews 988 followers April 23, 2017 This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance Forbbidden Promises is the fourth installment in the O Malley Family series. This is Sloane's book. And I have been wanting Sloane's book for quite a while, because I know that she is one of the siblings that is more secretive. I always knew that she is one of those characters we don't see who she is and now we do in this wonderful book. This sibling is the more reserved of them all, she is shy and quiet and does what is asked of her. But when her brother Teagan offers to give her freedom and peace away from Boston, she agrees and she finds herself in the small town on the coast of Oregon. She gets her first job at a diner, starts doing yoga on the beach and then she stumbles across her growly and formidable neighbor, Jude. Jude is part of the MacNamara family. The only last living one, when his family was killed and he wants revenge. But his revenge will compromise his relationship with Sloane. At first Sloane, wants Jude but he also makes her stronger and makes her realize her strengths, strengths she has hidden from even herself. She becomes very spirited and outspoken when she is around Jude. But now she is in danger from an enemy that is out to destroy the Boston families, and destroying them will destroy her family. I had quite a fun time with this book, and it was slightly different than the others. I really liked both of these characters for the most part. The first half of the book, was pretty high in the sex scenes. In fact, I was skipping a bit more since it felt like overkill especially compared to the previous books. But once these two start to get to real issues and get the heart of the matter of what they feel for each other, is where the story really gets interesting. Especially when there is a surprise that both of them have to face, and the plot really increases with drama from her family and their enemy Dimitri. This story was intense, and suspenseful but I really enjoyed the dynamics between Sloane and Jude find a way together. Forbidden Promises is an intense ride of passion, danger and a fight for true love. Click To Buy On Amazon [foogallery id="18661"] character-alpha-hero character-assassin cover-color-white ...more 14 likes Like Comment Syndi 3,177 reviews 924 followers January 8, 2019 I have a luke warm toward this series. The first 2 series, I like it OK. So I give it a try to read the 4th book. Forbidden Promise is story about Sloan and Jude. Sloan who is an innocent girl and escaping her family. She sets her life in a secluded area. She even gets a job at diner to support herself. It just happens her next door occupant is a hitman, Jude. As the romance goes, Sloan and Jude falling for each other. Hard. Jude is a cocky alpha male. But his cockiness is very cheesy to my liking. And Sloan is bit confusing. She is timid at first but then when Jude pushes her, she finally push back. The story and the plot is better on this book compares to the predecessor. So hence the 4 stars 8 likes Like Comment Catherine (The Sassy Bookster) 715 reviews 63 followers May 23, 2017 4.5 Stars! This series is intense, passionate, addictive and filled with so many twists and turns, you'll need a map and a guidebook to navigate it but you'll love every minute of the journey! Katee Robert has created an incredible world filled with drama, passion and suspense that you won't want to leave and FORBIDDEN PROMISES is definitely worth reading. From all the previous books in this series, Sloan O'Malley was the mousy sibling, pretty much scared of her own shadow and to be honest, my impression of her was that she might need psychiatric help at some point, so color me surprised to see her make a bid for freedom at the end of the preceding book, and successfully too, I might add. But she can't seem to outrun the Boston underworld because she about to get ensnared in a revenge plot that will draw her back into her family's orbit, courtesy of her next door neighbor, who is not exactly who he claims to be. Every choice Jude MacNamara had made in his life was made with one end goal: taking revenge on the man who cost him his entire family and if it means taking out his enemy's own family, well, an eye for an eye and all that. But his carefully laid plans are about to be torpedoed by the one person he never expected or planned for and he'll have to make a choice between happiness and revenge. It's fun watching a strong woman wield her power, as Callie and Carrigan did, but it's also so much fun to see a timid woman grow into her power with the support of the right man and I loved that Sloan and Jude were that couple. They had really great chemistry and very little drama between them, but they also knew the world they came from as well as its limitations and didn't pretend to be anything different. Sloan found her confidence once she put some distance between herself and her family, but she really grew into herself with the help of Jude. For Jude, relationships, family and a future had no place in his life but once Sloan came into it, he had to decide if he could give up his quest for vengeance for the happiness she could bring into his life. His career choice also means that he has made a lot of enemies who would not hesitate to use Sloan against him, but the future he can have with Sloan is worth more to him, so walking away from all of it may not be such a loss after all. I enjoyed Jude and Sloan a lot but Carrigan has a special place in my heart and I loved that she and James made an appearance in this book and that she made her peace with Sloan. This is one series I wish did not have so much time between installments because of how engrossing the stories are and also because a refresher is needed before starting every addition. At the heart of it are the three Boston crime families jousting for turf and trying to fend off the encroaching Russian mob from New York and the Feds, but with the families getting all tangled up in marriage and relationships, who's going to be the first to tell them that working together could be better for them? Besides, with Dmitri Romanov unable to stay away from Keira O'Malley, what does the future hold? And who really is Aiden O'Malley? What does the O'Malley patriarch have to say about what's going on? So many questions that I can't wait to find answers to and if the hints dropped in this book are any indication, the next two books to come are going to be explosive and I cannot wait! Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely mine. Want more? Subscribe to my Newsletter on The Sassy Bookster . Follow me on Twitter | Tumblr | Bloglovin’ . Like my page on Facebook . contemporary-romance netgalley-arcs organized-crime ...more 7 likes Like Comment Maf (Bookworm Wanders) 286 reviews 74 followers May 31, 2017 Reaction right after finishing it: I don't usually enjoy books with anything mob-ish related but this one was actually so good and the romance was *fire emoji* Full review originally posted on Bookworm Wanders First of all, guys…that cover…THAT COVER. This has to be one of my favourite covers so far this year. I’m not even kidding. Katee Roberts’s books and I have an interest relationship because before I read this one, I had read two others by her, one I adored and one I didn’t adore so much, Forbidden Promises though definitely showed up to break the tie and made this author a “10/10 would recommend” for me. I don’t reach for books revolving around the mafia often because I constantly have this feeling that no matter what, the main couple will never get a HEA so I was hesitant to read this one but one of my friends told me I NEEDED IT because the hero was very up my alley, meaning that he is alpha, broody but with a soft spot for his heroine and my friend said he kind of reminded her of a Tessa Bailey hero which was what ultimately sold me on this book and I have zero regrets. Sloan gets away from her mafia family with the help of her brother and she is trying to do everything she can to get as far away as possible from all the baggage she has from her past, she moves to a small town and she is trying to learn how to be outside what she has known her entire life, mostly, she knows she has to stay out of trouble, so when she meets Jude, she sees absolutely nothing wrong with having a no string attached relationship with him because he is just some stranger but eventually she realises he is way more connected to her past than she thought. I loved Sloan so much because she has spent her entire life trying to fit into what her family wanted her to be, so what she does by getting away and trying to restart her life is obviously not easy but I adore that we got to see her grow into her own person and stand up to her family when necessary and shed some ideas that had been ingrained in her for so long. “Are you done?” Just like that, she had a whole lot more to say. “Actually-“ “That was a rhetorical question, sunshine.” Like Sloan, Jude also goes through a lot of changes in this book, he is the only member left alive from his family and he is set on getting revenge, however, meeting Sloan kind of gets in the way of his plans. I really loved Sloan and Jude together, their chemistry was off the charts and every scene they had together was either setting my phone on fire or it was turning me into the heart eyes emoji. Their banter was adorable and I was definitely left wanting to see more and more of them at the end because I became so invested in their happiness. Overall, this book was definitely a huge win for me, something I did notice was how the author really tried to set up the next books a little bit with different POVs thrown in and I’m not sure if I loved this or hated it because I am definitely super intrigued and interested on the next two couples but also, those pages could have been used for more Sloan and Jude cute times but okay, consider me officially hooked on Katee’s books, I’m very excited to see how all these stories come together at the end. * I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. 7 likes Like Comment ☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) 3,228 reviews 720 followers July 28, 2017 Coffee dates with Forbidden Promise First Date: Thanks to her brother's help Sloan O'Malley has gotten away from Boston and is hiding in a small rural town in Oregon. She staying at the home of a family friend and has taken a job at the dinner as a waitress. She is enjoying the quiet "normal" life but all that changes when she meets Jude MacNamara the sexy, dominate next door neighbor. Jude has spent his life revenging his family and all is going according to plan. That is until he lays eyes on his new neighbor. These two had wicked chemistry and the suspense angle came into play immediately. Jude is posing as a writer and immediately sets out to determine who Sloan is and that discovery opens up a door that cannot be closed even as he fights his attraction to her. Second Date: Even though we are far from Boston and enjoying the developing romance, as we get to know both Sloan and Jude, we feel the tension growing. Jude has a job to do and soon Demitri is involved. Gads he is an arrogant bastard. ( I cannot wait for his story) I was really glad that Jude came clean to Sloan early on, and wow do we see Sloan bloom. In previous books, she has been an obedient follower and she transforms into a warrior. I appreciated how Robert developed Jude and defined him as more than a ruthless killer. The men in this series are fierce, all alpha and protective of their females, but each respects their woman. No longer safe, the two take off but more than one player has eyes on them. At this point, I am all in and found myself looking for excuses to listen. I may have dusted the house twice. Third Date: The men in this series make me crazy. Sloan's brothers think they know best and are determined to retrieve her. At the same time, we have Demitri making a threat against Jude with outcomes that will never allow this couple peace. Instead of running Sloan and Jude head back to Boston and into the eye of the storm. OMG. Tempers, danger, and deals. This last date was intense and moments with the couple were touching. Sloan really shines and while Adian is ruthless, let me just say thank goodness he's also Sloan's brother because Teg is a serious control freak. Robert delivered twists, turns, and deals along with indicators about where this series is headed in a climatic ending that had me holding my breath. Charlotte North continues to narrate this series and she enhances the emotions, characters, and tension in this nail-biting series. I love her lilt and her pacing is perfect as she moves between perspectives. Audio provided by publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer 7 likes Like Comment Vashti 1,168 reviews 29 followers June 5, 2017 4.5 stars....review to come. 6 likes Like Comment 1-Click Addict Support Group 3,749 reviews 483 followers July 21, 2019 The tangled web gets even more tangled… The O’Malley siblings were back and things were heating up once again! This drama-filled series hasn’t stopped for breath once and Sloan’s story amped it up even higher…. Sloan had broken away from her family. She loved them but living with them wasn’t an option any longer. She couldn’t live with the fear, she was simply not made that way. Finding her own path was the only way to be free and even if she stumbled she would make it… Jude, on the other hand, had been alone forever. He had nothing and no one to stop him from finding the revenge he worked towards his whole life. Nothing until a beautiful woman stopped him cold in his tracks… OMG! The twists and turns never stopped when Sloan and Jude make an unexpected connection. Lust, love, tenderness, protectiveness… If their situations weren’t already crazy, the odds of them making a go of it were zero to none. Of course, I wanted it to work out. And with Jude and Sloan at the helm… Jude needed love as much as Sloan had it to give and when they finally got on the same page, anything was possible. If complicated family wasn’t bad enough try three or four of the deadliest around, and then try to make love work. Yeah, I had no idea how it was going to play out so it was a nail-biter all the way through. A wonderful, stomach-achey, head-pounding, nail-biter. I loved this instalment and can’t wait to find out what is in store for Aiden and Keira. Though I have a feeling I know what to do with my time while I wait… This story had me dusting off the yoga mat in search of my own zen! ~Diane, 4.5 stars 6 likes Like Comment Kate 848 reviews 107 followers October 30, 2021 2.25 stars Again, the most intriguing part of the story was not the main couple, Sloan and Jude, but Dmitri and Keira 😂💀💀 whose two scenes together served more sexual tension than Sloan and Jude throughout the whole book 🔥🔥 and you know, that's ok, maybe it's a me thing and I'm unreasonably fixated on the dark, mysterious Russian but COME ON He pointed the gun at him, pausing when the stranger leaned forward and clicked on the light. Dmitri Romanov. Jude didn’t holster his gun, but once he determined the other man didn’t have a weapon pointed at him, Jude let his arm fall to his side. “Very dramatic. How long did you sit in the dark, waiting for me?” Dmitri gave a small smile. “Ah, but that would be telling. I have it on good authority that you’re in the neighborhood to see me.” (...) “I’m bored of your games.” “Then stop playing.” Just like that, the amusement disappeared from Dmitri’s face and he straightened, his hands carefully set on the arms of the chair and away from his sides. And the two scenes with Keira, where he follows her to the rave or to an underground, seedy club? A flash of dark hair caught his attention, and he turned to find the very woman he was looking for staring at him, not ten feet away. Keira O’Malley had all the beauty of her oldest sister, but it was sharper, more likely to cut than seduce. She watched him with the jaded gaze of a woman who’d seen so much that nothing surprised her any longer. (...) Dmitri waited, part of him curious to see how she’d react. Would she run? Attempt a poorly thought-out attack? But Keira gave him a look that only an idiot would mistake as anything other than a challenge. And then she slipped into the pulsing crowd and disappeared. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's still over-the-top sometimes, and that scene where Dmitri waits for Jude in his dark apartment and uncovers himself by turning on the lamp is some 101 cartoonesque villain shit, but dammit it's working 😭😭😭 I just know Dmitri and Keira will just keep on playing their cat and mouse game on my feels until their own book, to the point where I can't even focus on the current couple, especially when said couple is drier than low-shelf toilet paper 😭 Anyway...back to the MCs of this story...what's-their-names...Sloan and Jude 💡 I have nothing against instant gratification, I even prefer it more often than not to be honest, especially when it comes with emotional slow burn. But here there's really no build-up, not in emotions and not in sexual tension. Sloan meets Jude, Jude acts like a total asshole once or twice, then suddenly decides to get close to Sloan bc Reasons (to get information on someone else bla bla bla not relevant tbh since once Sloan finds out, she has zero emotional reaction to that revelation), they fuck. And that's like, first 80-90 pages of the story lol. Peak comedy was achieved in a scene when Sloan and Jude are having sex, I swear it's like a week into their acquaintance, the condom breaks and what is Jude's reaction? He rushes Sloan into the shower to, I quote, "get his motherfucking come out of her" 🤣🤣🤣 I swear I died and went to literary hell, what did I do to deserve this 😭😭 (just to make it clear, Jude is a grown-ass 35-year old experienced man, and Sloan has been a virgin -duh- up until a week earlier, but at least she has some common sense and is all like yeah dude, shower is good and all, but I better get some Plan B pill 💀💀💀) And you know what, she does, within like 12-24 hours, and she gets pregnant anyway 💀😭 Which is of course possible, even if quite highly improbable, but how else could we get Jude from total emotional unavailability to "I will guard you and our child til my last breath" in five hot seconds, if not with pregnancy? Lazy AF!!! Anyway, after that the plot became such a clusterfuck that I just decided to hold on tight and throw away all my WTFs, and take my pleasures where I could, aka the hot supposed villain. mafia-romance 7 likes Like Comment Hadeel 224 reviews 94 followers September 24, 2023 THIS. THIS IS THE ONE!!! Its crazy because this book had my least favorite trope ever but for some reason i LOVE this book?? I loved seeing the complexity of pass characters and how messy the family dynamic between the siblings truly is. It feels like we only got peeks the last few books but in this book we get to see how truly screwed up everything really is. Next book is Adien who i wasn't a fan of until this book. i CANT wait to dive into his story. 4.5⭐️ 5 likes Like Comment Jessica Alcazar 4,097 reviews 574 followers October 1, 2019 If you've read this series from the start, then it won't be news when I tell you that the O'Malleys are a crime family in Boston. However, unlike the rest of the series, the world doesn't figure predominantly in the story-line. It's more of a backdrop. The story of Sloan O'Malley moves away from the crime family element the series has been carrying and really focuses on her romantic journey and self-growth. It's always the quiet ones .... Sloan O'Malley is one of my favorite fictional people. She was the quiet one. The rule follower. The one who never made a fuss. Until she wasn't ... Sloan knew the only way her life was ever going to be her own was if she ran far and fast. And so she did, right smack into Jude MacNamara :) Jude MacNamara is the last in his family line. He's a man who's sole purpose in life is revenge. He lives and breaths it and nothing or no one is going to get in his way. Or are they? :) You guys ... these two were explosive. I didn't see this story coming. I've known Sloan from the start and nothing prepared me for her story. It is captivating and passionate and just plain thrilling! It was a fight for love story. It was amazing! Copy provided for blog tour review 2017-blog-tour-read library-netgalley pr-barclay-publicity ...more 6 likes Like Comment Elaine - Splashes Into Books 3,664 reviews 121 followers June 5, 2017 One of my tests of a good series is that when you get the next book, even if it is months or more later, you're immediately immersed in the action again, reconnecting with the characters and overarching plot. That's exactly what has happened with every book in this series for me and this one is no different in that respect. The series is concerned with the O'Malley mob family from Boston and the rival families. This story focusses on Sloan O'Malley who has always seemed to be able to slip into the shadows and stay in the background in the earlier novels but this is more about her endeavouring to escape from the expectations and dangers inherent with her life as the daughter of a leading mob figure. Her father has little time for his daughters, mainly seeing them as potential marriage partners he can use to create political links with other families to boost his own spheres of influence, without any regard to their feelings or wishes. Sloan knows she's probably about to be told who she is to marry and has convinced her brother to help her escape only to unwittingly attract the attention of her new neighbour, Jude MacNamara. He's an assassin out to revenge the slaughter of most of his family by Colm Sheridan but he can't resist the sweet innocence of Sloan. When others come looking for her he's going to have to determine how he can protect her - or sell her to the highest bidder! This is another fast paced, hot, action packed thriller with great characters and more details added to the overarching story. Both main characters are on journeys of self discovery, finding things out about themselves and each other, questioning and reevaluating their decisions and plans as the story progresses. There's plenty of intrigue, suspense and danger from start to finish and it is a real page turner that I have no hesitation in highly recommending. I know others have read this one as a standalone but I think you'll appreciate this one even more if you've read the earlier novels first. I received a copy of the book via NetGalley and chose to read and review it. 2017 adult adventure ...more 5 likes Like Comment Ta || bookishbluehead 531 reviews 29 followers November 23, 2022 In the fourth book of the O’Malley series, we get a very different setting from the other books. Sloan tries to break away from her family and is willing to leave everything and everyone behind to get out of Boston. I really admired Sloan as the main character. She didn’t see herself as strong and capable as her sisters and Calli and I had a different feeling about her than about the others. But she was strong and clever in her own way. She was determined to make her new life work and not taking anything from anyone, not even from her brothers when her old life inevitable caught up with her. With Jude as the main male character, we meet someone totally new, and I enjoyed reading about and him and finding out his backstory. We also get a closer look at some events from the past, that were only mentioned briefly in previous books, which I found highly entertaining. The love story between these two characters wasn’t as strong as the previous ones, but I still liked it. In all these books the ending felt rushed, and it wasn’t any different in this one, especially with the ending Sloan and Jude got. I would have loved to read a little more about them. read-in-2022 5 likes Like Comment Gina *loves sunshine* 2,009 reviews 87 followers May 24, 2018 This is book 4 of the O'Malley series. A series that I thoroughly enjoyed when I binged the first 3 books 6 months ago. I wish I had made a better plan and was able to binge them all - so much more enjoyable that way, especially in a series like this that has so many people and storylines!! I waited 6 months in line at the library for this one and it was a doozy of a wait that pretty much killed the whole mojo I had going! OK, enough about me, how about this book?!?! I truly love all things Mob, Mafia, Old crime NY, Boston, Chicago, whatever - the Italians, Russians, whoever - I love it all. (I'm still talking about me, LOL) And this series has everything. Multiple families after each other, a lot of action, some insta-love, etc. Forbidden promises has 2 strong characters in Jude and Sloan - who fall for each other instantly(a little too instantly) but OK, it was kind of believable! I still enjoyed the story....and again - all the players and storylines are going nutso. Since it had been 6 months since I read these books, I actually had to draw myself a family tree type graph to remember and keep it all straight(anal nerd alert) - there is that much going on and I am that anal about order in books. Between the 6 siblings of the O'malleys and all the extra families, cops, FBI - Crazytown. But I love it! I do not love that I will wait again for the next though!! do not try and read these as a standalone - that would not be fun!!! 2018 audiobook 5 likes Like Comment Sofia Lazaridou 2,778 reviews 138 followers May 25, 2017 3.5 stars Forbidden promises is the fourth book in the O'Malleys series by Katee Robert. I liked it more than the third book, but I still had a couple of problems with it. It seems I was right and each O'Malley will marry a person from a rival family. Jude is the last MacNamara. If the name doesn't ring a bell, I will remind you how he is connected with the other families. The Sheridans aka Callie's family killed every single member of Jude's family and he is alive to live the tale because they didn't know his mother was pregnant with him. See? Our hero in this novel wants to kill the heroine of the first book. I cannot say that I don't understand why he wants to do that, but it wasn't the most pleasant situation for me to be in. I wanted him to get his revenge, but I love Callie. Speaking of rival families can you tell me how Dmitri will be redeemed? He is the biggest threat and not one of the nice guys, so I am wondering how much he can redeem himself in order to be with Kiera. I cannot believe I am rooting for them, but I do. They have a lot of chemistry and I don't like the idea of having to wait for their story. Aiden's story better be good. I feel like the more we get into the lives of the O'Malleys the more we see them falling apart. They are a united family. Instead, they fight and give ultimatums that separate them more and forget what made them a family. I am hoping to see them unite again because it saddens me to see them like that. Jude and Sloan are a nice couple. Their relationship doesn't involve a lot of drama which is nice and they are a good match. Honestly, with everything else that went on, my focus wasn't exactly on them. I liked seeing how Sloan was slowly coming out of her shell. She is no longer the sheltered girl we knew her and is trying to live her life hiding. I didn't like that her job and everything else was forgotten after they stopped being used as a plot device. The side characters at the dinner were completely forgotten. June on the other hand, needs to let go his revenge if he wants to be with Sloan. The question is will he choose her or the revenge? to-read-2 4 likes Like Comment Dawn 1,014 reviews 48 followers May 31, 2017 Love this book. It's the trifecta of ingredients for me. Action, love, and alpha male/mob. This is a new author I'll add to my favorites and I cannot wait to read book 1-3. Slone O'Malley has walked away from her mob family and is now finding out how sheltered she actually was. What she decides though is that she can now do what she wants. Jude McNamara, the only living McNamara of his family, is a hit man and he is after the owner of the house next door. The house Sloan is currently living in. While he knows she isn't his target, getting to know her better and getting information from her is something he is ok with. So while there is a lot that happens, I am scared I'm going to ruin some of it for you so just read it. I promise you'll like it if you like the genres I gave you earlier. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4 likes Like Comment Timitra 1,419 reviews 8 followers April 11, 2017 I enjoyed Forbidden Promises, I loved the dirty talking hero and the heroine who started as a timid caterpillar and evolved into a fierce butterfly. I also loved that it was not only action packed, filled with hot sex but that it also focused on the politics between the ruling families. I'm going to liken what went down to a game of chess because lots of pieces were moved back and fort on the board forming strategic alliances that changed the dynamics between the them so much so that it's anyone's guess what the endgame will be. I for one cannot wait to see what happens next. I definitely recommend this book and series to not only lovers of mafia themed books but also to lovers of Contemporary romance that has a Romantic Suspense feel to it. ARC provided by publisher through Net Galley in exchange for a honest review 4 likes Like Comment Gretchen 918 reviews 149 followers May 30, 2017 I freaking love, love, LOVE this series! It's an elaborate and intense world filled with twists and turns. Seriously exciting! It's a tangled web of deceit, drama, love, and family. Excellent characters and details. This was so, so good. Loved every second of Jude and Sloan’s story. Sloan and Jude were awesome. I loved their connection, their feistiness and sparing. That bit of animosity in the beginning that draws them together as well as the attraction was fantastic. I've always been curious about Sloan, this quiet seemingly naïve girl and I loved getting to really know her. I thought she had an amazing transformation. I loved watching her come into her own, find her place and and become such a force of strength. And Jude, talk about a changed man. He seemed to be breed for vengeance and then here comes Sloan, knocking him off his axes. It made it so much fun to read. I loved that Jude was commanding and sexy and oh my with the dirty talking mouth. They both of so many wonderful changes taking place as they grow and come together. I loved their journey. Besides the love story, I loved the crime family drama that was happening, it kept me on the edge of my seat. Alliances, and backstabbing, and people thinking they know what's right and all these back door deals. Holy wow! The betrayal. The power dynamic between families and men and women. There was a lot going on but I love how it was presented. I’m seriously hooked. This is book four in the series so it was great to see how all the couples from past books and different connections associated to them have come into play. I love the continuing storylines. I love the multiple POV’s and getting a glimpse into everyone's head to see where they're. I was excited to get more Aidan and get some foreshadowing for his love interest and getting more details on Dimitri Romanov too. This wicked man totally fascinates me and I loved getting to see a different side of him. I will be beside myself when it comes time for his story. This story, just like the others in the series, is filled with emotion and heat, action packed moments, drama, an excellent love story and sexy times. It really has it all. The writing is excellent. Everything is just so well thought out and detailed. I loved the build and pace. It’s just all so exciting and awesome! A must read for sure! Complimentary copy received for honest review. 2017-reads contemporary-romance romantic-suspense 3 likes Like Comment Kathleen R. 1,408 reviews 43 followers June 6, 2017 Title: Forbidden Promises Author: Katee Robert 4 unexpected stars Having read some of Katee Robert's novels in the past, some part of the O'Malley Family Saga, i was excited to catch up with them once again through Jude and Sloan's story. I'll admit, it's been quite some time since I've last read this series, so it took me some time to situate myself in the timeline, even remembering who and what all the players are, but once i did, i don't think i could have read this book any faster. 4 breath taking dreams In true Katee Robert fashion, this book had it all - drama, suspense, romance and angst aplenty. I enjoyed reading Jude and Sloan's book to find out what i missed in the previous instalments and getting lost in this adventure that kept me guessing from start to finish. The O'Malleys are, and i have a feeling, always will be a family full of secrets and i know that i'll always want to read more from them. For certain, i'll be recommending this series in the future many times over! *ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Kathleen, The Small Girl from A small girl, her man and her books Goodreads | [image error] Amazon | Facebook | By Email | Twitter | Pinterest 3 likes Like Comment Laura 2,425 reviews 115 followers June 6, 2017 ***ARC Provided by the Author and the Publisher*** 3.5 Stars I struggled with this one a little bit, and it took me some time to figure out why. The other books in the series are in Boston, and they take place in the underground/Crime setting. This one, for obvious reasons, moves the action to another location, so the switch from Oregon to events in Boston seems a little jarring at times. I understand the reasoning for the way it was written, and overall it does work, but it took me a second to switch from Oregon to Boston as I was reading. It's possible this is just me, but I think the juxtaposition of Boston events and how hard Sloan was working to get away from Boston conflicted a bit for me, if that makes sense. That said, I really enjoyed the parts that were Sloan and Jude, and I think we can all relate to wanting to make our own lives away from our families and on our own, although most of us don't have reasons that are as compelling as hers. I liked the evolution not only of the story but of the attachment with Jude and Sloan, and I believed their reactions to the events that took place. Again, I have a book in which to totally discuss the events, I will have to spoil a plot point, so I am going to have to be vague and just say that I believed both of them, and their reactions. I do recommend this book overall. 3 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 370 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 3 quotes 1 discussion 1 question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Dexter (Mistress & Master of Restraint, #3) by Erica Chilson | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Mistress & Master of Restraint #3 Dexter Erica Chilson 4.29 290 ratings 42 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Master of Restraint and sadist, Dexter Hayes has always used the following adage as a form of self-preservation: never ask questions when you aren’t prepared to hear the answers. Dexter turned a blind eye on Maître du Jeu’s activities, only doing as he was told without question. His sole focus for the past few years had been on his girlfriend, Monica James, and their housemate, Tobias Kline. When the riots began at Restraint, the two halves of Dexter’s world collided, putting everyone at risk. Adelaide Whittenhower published the Mistress & Master of Restraint, exposing the secrets of Dominion’s underground. The book drew the public to Restraint, and it has been spiraling out of control. Dexter tried to maintain his stance of never knowing too much, but he was swept into the fray. He had lost control of Monica, allowing her insecurities to ruin her from the inside out. Tobias flexed his newfound independence by no longer following Dexter’s instruction. The members of Restraint were running rampant, forgetting their training and doing whatever they wished. Dexter felt he knew the people in his life, but as the questions he never asked were being answered, he learned they were always complete strangers. As the battle lines were drawn, Dexter learned a valuable lesson– pleading ignorance may have been his greatest downfall yet. Publishers Notice The author did an extensive rewrite on this title, and the entire Mistress & Master of Restraint series. Not just editing and formatting, but a rewrite to where it's #NotTheSameBook #NotTheSameSeries The final republished editions began in early 2015 with Restraint, and mid-2017 with Checkmate so far. Reviews written before those dates may include elements that are no longer contained within the book, or the series as a whole. The author apologizes for any confusion this may cause. To avoid any reader having to repurchase the titles (via Amazon), no matter the significant changes in the contents, they are listed as the same book. Readers who are in possession of the old edition only need to update their copies via Amazon. Ms. Chilson also requests for those who reread the series to update their reviews and ratings accordingly, either for the positive or the critical, to help readers make informed decisions on whether or not to read based on what is currently in the final editions of the series. Thank you Genres BDSM Menage Erotica Romance Adult M F Romance Kindle Edition First published July 1, 2012 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Erica Chilson 42 books 435 followers Erica Chilson does not write in the 3rd person, wanting her readers to be her characters. Therefore, writing a bio about herself, is uncomfortable in the extreme. Born, raised, and here to stay, the Wicked Writer is a stump-jumper, a ridge-runner. Hailing from North Central Pennsylvania, directly on the New York State border; she loves the changes in seasons, the humid air, all the mountainous forest, and the gloomy atmosphere. Introverted, but not socially awkward, Erica prides herself on thinking first and filtering her speech. There are days she doesn’t speak at all. If it wasn’t for the fact that she lives with her parents, giving her a sense of reality, she would be a hermit, where the delivery man finds her months after expiration. Reading was an escape, a way to leave a not-so pleasant reality behind. Reading lent Erica the courage she gathered from the characters between the pages to long for a different life. Writing was an instrument of change, evolving Erica into the woman she is today- a better, more mature, more at peace thinker. Erica has a wicked mind, one she pours out into her creations. Her filter doesn’t allow all of it to erupt, much to her relief. Sarcastic, with a very dark, perverse sense of humor, Erica puts a bit of herself into every character she writes. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.29 290 ratings 42 reviews 5 stars 145 (50%) 4 stars 90 (31%) 3 stars 50 (17%) 2 stars 3 (1%) 1 star 2 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme 6,798 reviews 1,381 followers November 3, 2015 One train wreck coming up! This is a 2.5 story for me. Here's what I liked: BDSM Scenes were decent. The sex scenes near the end were good for me. I enjoyed them. What bothered me The people in here are flawed and broken. This I'm fine with. It's the self medicating through BDSM which can give the wrong impression. Since I'm in the lifestyle and know better, I find this fucked up poly with formal protocol hilarious. The formal protocol is nifty. Are there people who practice this in real life? Yes. Is this how most of the people are in the lifestyle? No. Based on my personal experience, this is becoming less and less prevalent. Just like in the work place people don't wear suits and address each other by their surname, in the lifestyle, formal protocol and the old guard is becoming less and less a majority. This is neither right nor wrong. It is just how the world is changing. I draw the same parallel as we see for members joining Restraint. It's a good allegory (is that the right term?) of all these new people rushing to join because of publicity in the lifestyle. The Masters of Restraint are the old guard. The writing style was not as up to par as the previous. It's all from the perspective of Dexter. This is fine. It was just so much telling and little action. The action mainly occurred when the characters got their freak on. What irked me When I go to sleep at night I wonder why you love me and I wake up thinking the same thoughts. I can see how much you love me and I can’t fathom why. (loc. 843-844) This is from Monica. I feel the same. I can't fathom why anyone would love you. You are TSTL and you need to be micro managed. WTF. Why does Dexter love her? She's a suicide waiting to happen. A submissive can’t resist a dominant, even a shitty one. (loc. 852-852) Okay, I see Dexter has his perspective. He's free to think this way. We can agree to disagree because fuck that. I can resist a dominant, especially if it is a shitty one. Let me show you how. I hold the belief that everything happens for a reason. God sent Monica to me because I’m the one that can fix her injured soul. I can complete her. Please don’t let me fail her, I pray. (loc. 894-898) Hubris, thy name is Dexter. Seriously, WTF? Funniest shit I've read in a long time. “It’s going to be alright, Dexter. It’s not your execution. Kat is a gorgeous woman. She knows what she’s doing. Don’t you trust her?” I [Dexter] sigh heavily and let that be my answer. No, I don’t trust Kat to treat me with my best interests in mind. I trust her to treat me with hers in mind. My body beads with sweat as my mind conjures up scenarios that aren’t arousing. (loc. 3953-3956) No words. Really? Let me say that again. If one doesn't understand the connection between trust and BDSM by now, let's just stop there. I am also irked by the constant dragging out of "mystery" mole etc. This is purely a reader preference. Some love it; some don't. I don't. So while I want to know happens and if my guess is correct, it doesn't necessarily mean this book is going to be enjoyable for me. I just want to know. bdsm borrowed-kindle challenge-ee-points ...more 5 likes Like Comment Dee 1,984 reviews 83 followers November 9, 2013 3 1/2 star rounded up to 4 fk'd up stars. This series is seriously twisted, but I love it. I didn't enjoy this story as much as the first two as Monica grated on my nerves. The eating disorder thing and how it was dealt with also didn't sit well with me, so that is something that hit on a personal level. There were many mixes of sexual scenes in this story, most steamy as hell some verging on pretty fkd up. Then we have the mole and the media slant, what the hell is going on. The author knows how to give just enough to leave you wanting/needing more. I see the next book is tagged as having some MM action in it. Something I don't care for. Do I plan on reading it regardless, hell yeah. Bring on Dalton 's story. anal-play bdsm dark-not-fluffy ...more 4 likes Like Comment ✨Cassie ✨ 531 reviews 5 followers June 20, 2012 Erica Chilson did it again! I love getting sucked into this world and leaving my "normal" life behind for a while. And that is exactly what happens when you read these books. I loved learning about Dexter and seeing who he really was. You also get a peek into Kat's and the two Ezes life's and see what is happening to them now. And I'm pretty sure you wont be let down. As well as learning new stuff about other characters. I don't want to give to much away about the book, but I just have to say I fell in love with Dexter and the kind of person he is. Dexter (Mistress & Mater Of Restraint, #3) doesn't let you down. It's steamy, sexy, kinky and just a pinch of "Holy Hell", lol. 3 likes Like Comment Kris 843 reviews 8 followers June 26, 2012 Dexters story and a great one at that! all our favorite players are in there too...but goes into dexter & monica's relationship. Loved it! Chilson rocks this genre! 2012 3 likes Like Comment Dvillalobos 141 reviews 25 followers February 3, 2013 Loving this HOT series! Dexter is definitely at the top of my list of favorite characters now. He doesn't seem to be clouded by a horrific, confusing past like the rest. He's refreshing after reading about the f***ed up lives of the others. Being a sadist is a need he seems to be born with and he does it REALLY well!! Now on to the next book, DALTON..... battle-of-books-challenge favorites 2 likes Like Comment Kent 442 reviews July 20, 2014 Ok, I still have a problem with the whole master hierarchy and the total lack of respect for the lower masters by forcing them to submit, but I am hooked at this point and I still need to get the full story on Queen so I will continue at least through book 7. adult kindle-books 2 likes Like Comment Janie 183 reviews March 7, 2017 Book three in the series lets us get into the life and mind of our favorite whip wielding sadist, Dexter Hayes. He's sexy in nothing but leather pants but he is so much more. Dexter is loving and loyal and lives by his own moral code. When he loves someone he loves them with absolute devotion. He definitely loves Monica and his submissive Tobias and their well being is very important to him. This book also delves into the ongoing problems at Restraint and we get to see that there are problems in the relationship between Kat and the two Ezes. I am loving this series. 1 like Like Comment Scarlett Rue 414 reviews 25 followers June 2, 2023 Revised Edition: I loved this book. I love this saga, and I love the changes Erica made as compared to the original versions. I was waiting until the Queen arc was released before getting into Dexter and Dalton. If you have already read the series, you know why Having read the entire M&M saga twice, I can say that I do like this version better. I initially didn't see a reason for the rewrite because I felt that the originals were perfect and needed to be left alone. I was wrong. This new updated version is far and away better. Erica was right, her abilities as an author and storyteller has grown and now she has gone back and made what was great even better. Dexter and Monica's relationship is much more deeply written, along with the overall arc of the book which is the whole mystery that unfolds through the series. I guess if you are reading this review you have read the first two books Restraint and Unleashed and are wondering if you need to read Dexter or skip it, or if you should just leave the series after that first ARC because you don't think you want to read about a minor secondary character from the first books. Let me say this, if you liked the first two books, read each following book, in order and trust me, trust me, you will not be disappointed. TRUST ME. I waited until the Queen trilogy to be released because the end of that ARC is a decent resting point. Revised Dexter: I know reading this saga is an undertaking. Erica doesn't write short stories that you can skim. You cannot read these books a few pages at a time. You won't finish them if you do this. If you have the time and like what you have read so far, continue on. Look at it this way, if you start this book and find you don't like it, stop reading. How hard is that? It's a Kindle Unlimited and for those of you who have that subscription can get the book for "free". No great loss. The only thing I recommend is that you don't read this book if you are looking for light and fluffy. Read this when you are in a book slump. When you are desperate for something that will make you feel something after you finish. Read this when you want to read something with substance. Ok, that's all. 5-stars-loved-it bdsm-d-s-relationship g-f-erotic-fiction ...more 1 like Like Comment Billi 156 reviews 11 followers December 23, 2015 ARC by author for honest review. WOW… This story is just amazing! When I first started this series, I never thought that there could be so many twists and turns and just plain ole f'ed-up-ness! Boy, did Chilson prove me wrong. As the third book in the series, we get a chance to hear about what Dexter in going through with Monica and Toby and how the Ez's, Maître du Jeu’s and the BDSM Lifestyle Authority is still continuing to make everyone's lives miserable. In the beginning of the book, we start to see how the relationship aspects work between Dexter, Monica and Toby work. With their status on extremely rocky ground due to Monica's troubling self-esteem and trust issues, Dexter has to be able to step up and be the Master that he was always supposed to be for Monica and Toby. Once they finally find the rhythm that they were always supposed to have, here comes another problem that needs to be taken care of: The Maître du Jeu’s and the BDSM Lifestyle Authority. And the problems that they cause are damaging the lives of every Master and Mistress at Restraint. To me, this book is a necessary stepping stone in the M&M series. Though there may be a lot of questions that are left unanswered in this book, we learn a lot about a very important character that has a major role in the whole story. It will keep you on the edge of you seat till the very end and leave you there wondering what the heck just happen! Great Job, Erica! 1 like Like Comment Mary Mooney 2,468 reviews 57 followers October 4, 2013 I am loving this series. The characters are evolving with each page I read. Dexter is the sadist and loves dishing out pain to others and he knows how to push there limits. He has been with Monica for two years and fell in love with her the first time he saw her. He is still helping Tobias to become a better person and to feel good about himself. To me this one has more of a story line with someone trying to tell all the secrets of the Masters of Restraint. Dexter may be a sadist but he has a kind loving heart and he wants to make Monica his wife and start a family. Will Monica get over her self-loathing with Dexter's help? Will Tobias continue to make improvement? Can Dexter help train new Dominants and submissives? Can the Masters figure out who the mole is and getting information to the press? And what the hell is up with Marcus, Cortez, Ezra and Kat? And Ava is definitely a little demon, can Master Marcus straighten her out? I think so!!!! Erica Chilson has a great series going here and can't wait to read Dalton, book 4. 1 like Like Comment Daisy Sloan 776 reviews 114 followers November 23, 2012 Erica Chilson has one f***d up imagination. This is one wickedly messed up group of friends and family. It's amazing! It's been a while since I read Restraint and Unleashed, so it took me a few chapters to remember who everyone was and their role. Once I had everyone in their place, the story flowed nicely. Dexter and Monica are perfect for each other. I think out of everyone, they have the most normal relationship. I'm curious as to who the mole is. I won't feel sorry for them at all! I'm still liking the series and plan to read the rest of them, however, this one didn't match up to the first two in intensity. I don't know if anything will match up the intensity of the first one! I had a hard time connecting to Monica. She is a nice person and deserves Dexter. He's good for her. I just didn't connect with her. After that epilogue, I can't wait to read Dalton's story. This is gonna be good! bdsm eepartychallenge erotic ...more 1 like Like Comment Candice 2,897 reviews 132 followers January 20, 2015 Erica Chilson, you did it again! Holy hell. Why did I stop after the first two for a break? Oh yeah, they were too good for me to plow through. I needed a breather to savor the moments. I am so glad I am back on the Masters of Restraint train. WOW! I won't be stepping off anytime soon. I'm in this til the end now. Dexter, oh my sadist, Dexter. You are so hot. I don't care how small (short) you are, you are hung like a horse and know how to use it. We learned so much about the Zeitler's, through the eyes of Dexter. Marcus, wow. So much emotion. Cort, so much confusion. Dex and Kat, amazing reward ;) Kat and Monica...LOVE! That Dungeon orgy scene was amazing. I can't wait to find out more about Greta. Please tell me I find out more about Greta. My only cringe worthy issue with this was the children in the club (especially Ava!) I wanna know who the mole is. Onto, Dalton! cream-of-the-crop heavy-bdsm kindle 1 like Like Comment Sarina Asheford Author 5 books 6 followers September 9, 2012 Somehow I managed to miss writing a review of Dexter, which is a real shame because he is probably one of my favorite characters. Katya's attraction to him, his dominance and his love (?) are all explored in this book as well as some of the reasons why he is what he is. As with all of Ms. Chilson's stories as soon as I finish I am eagerly awaiting the next, with her dual release of Dexter and Dalton she gave me a little more to read at one time...but now I'm eagerly awaiting the next huge installments of this story! The characters are realistic, they have flaws, they have families, they have children and they have sex... a lot of sex. Some dark sides slide away to reveal happiness while some happiness hides the dark side. Immerse yourself in the Master and Mistress of Restraint series and enjoy! 1 like Like Comment Kristen 108 reviews 1 follower October 30, 2015 I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Dexter takes us back to Restraint for another view into the lives of the Masters and Mistresses who cavort there. This story delves into the mind of Dexter while he tries to save his love, Monica, from herself while dealing with the mayhem going on in Restraint. Someone close to the Masters is leaking information to the media about their members and families. The mysterious Maitre du Jeu is interrogating everyone trying to find the mole, riots keep erupting in the club, and the families are as screwed up as ever. This book is a complete page turner. You will not want to stop once you get sucked into the world of Restraint. With a ton of steamy scenes, plenty of BDSM, and a bit of intrigue thrown in, it has something for everyone. I am looking forward to the next in the series! 1 like Like Comment Shauntise 43 reviews September 26, 2014 although my heart belongs to the Ezes (well mostly Cortez, he's quite naughty, cheeky and very sneaky) i do have a crush on Dexter. I think it has something to do with that whip he has. he's the kind of man you dont want to piss off bc he looks dangerous, but then you do want to piss him off bc he can be dangerous. the whole book was sick and twisted (def in a good way) at times i was confused about who was with who and when i thought i figured it out, the party would rearrange and become a different cast of partners. and speaking of partners, Kat and Dex together, sinfully delicious, i may need more of them together. on to Dalton and the mysterious mole. I have an idea who it is and its probably wrong, but lets just say if im right, this person is in a whole lot of trouble ;) 3x-romance 1 like Like Comment Christy 192 reviews 7 followers April 21, 2013 Dexter. By Erica Chilson This book is a big turn from the previous two books in Ms Chilson's series. Instead of a complete focus on Mistress Kat and her two husbands there is an expansion of devolving the other family characters. In this point Dexter is the driving force. And from the way the ladies and men love him, he is quick a force. Dexter is a true Master. Ladies bewared his character easy to crush on. I will admit I am bit green with envy of Monica. I look forward to seeing where her Master takes her. Erica Chilson books are honest in a way that I found refreshing. I love thst the BDSM lifestyle is presented in what I found to be a very real way. I am off to start the next book in the series. Review by Jedi Christy 1 like Like Comment Veronica 1,002 reviews 8 followers May 8, 2016 I always loved Dexter. He seems the most sane person in Dominion even if he does have tendency to stick his head in the sand in relation to truth behind the things that are going on around him. I'm not sure what it says about the residents of Dominion that I find the sadist the most normal person around. Seeing they way Dexter loves Heidi makes it easy to love him. The riots at Restraint and issues of who is behind what is fascinating. And the ending is killer. As soon as I finished Dexter I immediately started reading Dalton, book 4 in this series. This is a fascinating series and each book must be read in order. It is well worth your time to read this series. Each book leaves you wanting the next one. 1 like Like Comment S.M. Harshell Author 5 books 43 followers May 6, 2013 I found Dexter very intriguing. You get to see that Dexter can be a dark sided Master in Unleashed. Reading from his point of view in Dexter, you learn what makes him a sadist. Finding out why giving someone pain/pleasure is so comforting to him. His emotional ties to Monica and Toby. Watching the battle between love he feels for Monica as her boyfriend and knows what she needs as her Master, and his wants to be equal. Finally getting that hotter than hell scene with Katya then bring the suspense factor in on what is happening at Restraint with the mole and the publication of Generation Next...this book is HOT!! 1 like Like Comment Robin Brister 271 reviews 7 followers November 3, 2015 I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the author. Dexter followed the characters from the earlier Master of Restraint series. As it had been several months since I had read the first two books, it took me a bit to remember who everyone was and how they were related. I enjoyed seeing how all of their lives are weaved together and how they react to each other. I liked the suspense in this story that had me wondering who and why. Dexter was full of surprises in how he interacted with the other characters. If you have read the first two books, this is a great addition. 1 like Like Comment Deborah 78 reviews 25 followers July 22, 2012 I have to admit, I was interested in learning more about Dexter from the beginning. Katya's passing interest in him as he's introduced in Restraint, and her growing relationship in Unleashed, leave you wondering what it is about Dexter that makes him so mysterious and desirable at the same time. In this book, another great addition to the Mistress & Master of Restraint series, you'll certainly find out! 1 like Like Comment Jodi Mcknight 9 reviews 1 follower November 6, 2015 Loved this book! I read all the previous books in the series so I looked at Dexter as someone dark and scary. I After reading I no longer looked at him that way. He is very loving and caring. Was good to see the softer side of him and get to know him better. Monica pissed me off in the beginning of the book but once I got to understand why she did was she did I understood and felt bad for her. Def don't want to miss out on this book! 1 like Like Comment Sherry Bohrmueller 1,249 reviews 5 followers November 15, 2015 I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This series is very dark. The twist and turns that this book took were unbelievable. The characters are so complicated in each their own way. Although it took me a while to get into this story it once again captivated my attention as did the other books. This is a definite must read series for those who like dark stories. 1 like Like Comment Kimberly Howe 995 reviews 29 followers January 3, 2015 I absolutely love this series! I love the complexities of the characters and that everything is not all sunshine and roses all the time. Love is messy, it hurts, and when reciprocated honestly, blissful! Thank you! 1 like Like Comment RobinLee 387 reviews 9 followers April 28, 2023 Revised Edition: I loved this book. I love this saga, and I love the changes Erica made as compared to the original versions. I was waiting until the Queen arc was released before getting into Dexter and Dalton. If you have already read the series, you know why Having read the entire M&M saga twice, I can say that I do like this version better. I initially didn't see a reason for the rewrite because I felt that the originals were perfect and needed to be left alone. I was wrong. This new updated version is far and away better. Erica was right, her abilities as an author and storyteller has grown and now she has gone back and made what was great even better. Dexter and Monica's relationship is much more deeply written, along with the overall arc of the book which is the whole mystery that unfolds through the series. I guess if you are reading this review you have read the first two books Restraint and Unleashed and are wondering if you need to read Dexter or skip it, or if you should just leave the series after that first ARC because you don't think you want to read about a minor secondary character from the first books. Let me say this, if you liked the first two books, read each following book, in order and trust me, trust me, you will not be disappointed. TRUST ME. I waited until the Queen trilogy to be released because the end of that ARC is a decent resting point. Revised Dexter: I know reading this saga is an undertaking. Erica doesn't write short stories that you can skim. You cannot read these books a few pages at a time. You won't finish them if you do this. If you have the time and like what you have read so far, continue on. Look at it this way, if you start this book and find you don't like it, stop reading. How hard is that? It's a Kindle Unlimited and for those of you who have that subscription can get the book for "free". No great loss. The only thing I recommend is that you don't read this book if you are looking for light and fluffy. Read this when you are in a book slump. When you are desperate for something that will make you feel something after you finish. Read this when you want to read something with substance. Ok, that's all. 5-stars-loved-it bdsm-d-s-relationship erotic-fiction ...more Like Comment Epiphany 584 reviews 9 followers December 13, 2017 In the third installment of the Mistress and Master of Restraint series, we are more focused on Dexter and Monica plus someone or a group of someones is trying to cause major problems for the club and its patrons. Now each of the books in this series is full of emotional roller coaster riding. It is a mind twist that at times leaves me shaking my head. This book did not disappoint. Like I said in my review of Restraint if you are not into BDSM this book is not for you. But, if you enjoy an erotic read which gives the reader BDSM, love, hate and a well of other emotions this book is for you and you won’t be disappointed. I can't wait to read the next book in this series. bdsm erica-chilson Like Comment RobinLee 387 reviews 9 followers April 28, 2023 Original Dexter 5-stars-will-or-have-re-read bdsm-d-s-relationship dark-erotic-fiction ...more Like Comment Coco.V 50k reviews 21 followers Want to read May 27, 2023 🎁The Complete Series is FREE on Amazon today (5/27/2023)! 🎁 erotica-bdsm freebie menage Like Comment G 911 reviews 3 followers November 9, 2015 Flipping Amazing, I loved this book. I totally got into the head of Dexter in this book and my gosh, i finally knows how it feels to have a gigantic cock. The story is a continuation of the M&M series by the author and this time we get the story of Dexter. It's now been three years that Dalton got Monica at Kat's ceremony, and just a bit longer that he's had Tobias, the young man who loves pain and has under his care. Whilst Tobias grows, Dex has had to watch Monica the woman he loves fall, until the minute he's hit by a betrayal so bad he has to refocus on what their relationship is and takes over finally taking charge of the relationship in the positve manner it needs to go in order for his dreams to come true. Whilst he rebuilds his life, he's watching as Restraint gets overrun by riots and underlying threats. As the Maitre de Jeu finally arrives in the area and the tests begins for the future of the club and all. there is a lot going on in this book. We get there is more secrets as the published book by Ade causes issues for all, then comes Generation Next where the secret lives of the members all come out. Who's who and who's doing what? There is a lot we don't see as we live in Dexter's head so only knows what he figures out or is told and he likes to not know, so there was a lot going on around him he missed or didn't want to know until it becomes so much he has to know to keep a lot of people safe. I loved that we get to see him lose himself totally at the end of the book with his session with Katya and that made me both sad and happy for so many reasons. I loved it, but now need therapy myself. I received a ARC copy of this book from the author for an honest review. bdsm family Like Comment Billi 156 reviews 11 followers November 20, 2015 ARC by author for honest review. WOW… This story is just amazing! When I first started this series, I never thought that there could be so many twists and turns and just plain ole f'ed-up-ness! Boy, did Chilson prove me wrong. As the third book in the series, we get a chance to hear about what Dexter in going through with Monica and Toby and how the Ez's, Maître du Jeu’s and the BDSM Lifestyle Authority is still continuing to make everyone's lives miserable. In the beginning of the book, we start to see how the relationship aspects work between Dexter, Monica and Toby work. With their status on extremely rocky ground due to Monica's troubling self-esteem and trust issues, Dexter has to be able to step up and be the Master that he was always supposed to be for Monica and Toby. Once they finally find the rhythm that they were always supposed to have, here comes another problem that needs to be taken care of: The Maître du Jeu’s and the BDSM Lifestyle Authority. And the problems that they cause are damaging the lives of every Master and Mistress at Restraint. To me, this book is a necessary stepping stone in the M&M series. Though there may be a lot of questions that are left unanswered in this book, we learn a lot about a very important character that has a major role in the whole story. It will keep you on the edge of you seat till the very end and leave you there wondering what the heck just happen! Great Job, Erica! Like Comment Toiya 64 reviews 5 followers September 19, 2015 Dexter, I wasn't to sure that I would just enjoy this read to be honest, but I wanted to find out what happens next and Dexter really didn't capture my attention, but once I began reading about him and his "relationships" I began to enjoy it. Each character is flawed in his or her own way. I enjoyed Dexters interactions with his submissives. I thought that, that was really beautiful. Umm, this felt more like a filler to be honest, but it was a really good read, it adds value to the story and it introduces new characters and new plots :D Also, I would just like to add! You should most definitely read this book if Dexters cock doesn't do it for you then I don't know what will. bdsm favorite-author 1 like Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 1 quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle Unlimited $0.00 Rate this book Childhood’s End Arthur C. Clarke 4.12 160,410 ratings 7,454 reviews Want to read Kindle Unlimited $0.00 Rate this book The Overlords appeared suddenly over every city—intellectually, technologically, and militarily superior to humankind. Benevolent, they made few demands: unify earth, eliminate poverty, and end war. With little rebellion, humankind agreed, and a golden age began. But at what cost? With the advent of peace, man ceases to strive for creative greatness, and a malaise settles over the human race. To those who resist, it becomes evident that the Overlords have an agenda of their own. As civilization approaches the crossroads, will the Overlords spell the end for humankind . . . or the beginning? Genres Science Fiction Fiction Classics Science Fiction Fantasy Dystopia Aliens Fantasy ...more 224 pages, Mass Market Paperback First published January 1, 1953 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Arthur C. Clarke 1,416 books 10.6k followers Stories, works of noted British writer, scientist, and underwater explorer Sir Arthur Charles Clarke , include 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). This most important and influential figure in 20th century fiction spent the first half of his life in England and served in World War II as a radar operator before migrating to Ceylon in 1956. He co-created his best known novel and movie with the assistance of Stanley Kubrick . Clarke, a graduate of King's College, London, obtained first class honours in physics and mathematics. He served as past chairman of the interplanetary society and as a member of the academy of astronautics, the royal astronomical society, and many other organizations. He authored more than fifty books and won his numerous awards: the Kalinga prize of 1961, the American association for the advancement Westinghouse prize, the Bradford Washburn award, and the John W. Campbell award for his novel Rendezvous with Rama . Clarke also won the nebula award of the fiction of America in 1972, 1974 and 1979, the Hugo award of the world fiction convention in 1974 and 1980. In 1986, he stood as grand master of the fiction of America. The queen knighted him as the commander of the British Empire in 1989. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.12 160,410 ratings 7,454 reviews 5 stars 63,932 (39%) 4 stars 60,835 (37%) 3 stars 28,330 (17%) 2 stars 5,653 (3%) 1 star 1,660 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,452 reviews Lyn 1,919 reviews 16.9k followers July 31, 2023 Kurt Vonnegut said of Arthur C. Clarke’s novel Childhood’s End that it is one of the few masterpieces in the science fiction genre. Vonnegut went on to say that he, Vonnegut, had written all the others. As humorous as that is, at least the first clause of that declaration I feel to be true. Written simply but with conviction and persuasion, with an almost fable-like narrative quality, Clarke has given to us that rarest of literary achievements: a science fiction masterpiece. The genius of Clarke’s achievement is compounded by the fact that his accomplishment remains so unique, how have later artists failed to match or even make an attempt at duplication? I especially liked the racial memory (or racial premonition) ideas and the ideas of collective consciousness. Interestingly, Clarke’s concepts could be seen as having a theological transcendent theme, perhaps even an allegory for awakening to a collective ego. Clarke’s ingenuity remains untouched and this work stands atop the science fiction canon, comparable to only a handful of other science fiction classics, including the novel that won the Hugo Award in 1954, the same year Childhood’s End was nominated for that award, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 . 2023 reread - During this reading I considered the political and social climate of the time when this had been written and first published. World War II had ended, but the Korean War was beginning and there was still much global fear and anxiety and the full extent of totalitarian atrocities was still being grasped and understood. When a reader examines Clarke’s great work but also similarities with other books written during the same period - 1984 and Fahrenheit 451 - we can see the dehumanizing themes prevalent in all of these works. While this is a thought provoking book, full of science fiction themes but also philosophical musings about the meaning and the purpose of life, this time I also considered this as a political allegory, especially regarding collectivism and the role of the individual - and again noting comparisons with other works during this time. Finally I am again reminded of how important this work is in the genre but also as a landmark in our literary history. The layers of religious and philosophical allusion and reference were impressive. On a very short list of greatest science fiction stories of all time. 533 likes 4 comments Like Comment Jeffrey Keeten Author 6 books 250k followers January 11, 2020 “No utopia can ever give satisfaction to everyone, all the time. As their material conditions improve, men raise their sights and become discontented with power and possessions that once would have seemed beyond their wildest dreams. And even when the external world has granted all it can, there still remain the searchings of the mind and the longings of the heart.” The United States and the Soviet Union were in the midst of a military space race when large ships appeared in the skies over all the major cities. The aliens have come to keep humans from annihilating themselves. An act of altruism? Or do they have another agenda? The press dubs them THE OVERLORDS , but they much prefer to refer to themselves as The Guardians. They allow humans to govern themselves by whatever means they feel comfortable unless policy decisions involve hurting people. “Man’s beliefs were his own affair, so long as they did not interfere with the liberty of others.” The Overlords also did not approve of hurting animals for sport. In Madrid, when the Spaniards insist on continuing to hold bullfights, a lesson is administered. Every time the bull is stabbed, the pain the animal is feeling is transferred to the audience. No more bullfights. Robotics and computers are advanced to the point that humans are only needed as overseers. Work weeks are cut down to twenty hours a week. (OMG sign me UP.) People are encouraged to go to college, to develop hobbies and skills, and even go back to school several times over their lifetimes to learn something completely new. ”The existence of so much leisure would have created tremendous problems a century before. Education had overcome most of these, for a well-stocked mind is safe from boredom.” And for a while the excitement of improving themselves keeps the humans on a spectacular track of not only bettering themselves, but also evolving civilization. Murder has become almost nonexistent, and when passion inspires such aggression, it is only the matter of turning a dial for The Overlords to find the perpetrator. When I google NSA, the National Security Agency of course comes up, but so does No Strings Attached, which I found very ironic. Given the range and the depth of what the NSA knows about all of us, not just US citizens by the way, maybe we should start applying the term The Overlords to the United States government. It would be nice if they would convert all this information into something practical, like catching murderers. Knowing how these things work, they may not want us to know that they are capable of doing that. We might get fearful of our government. Barrage balloons over London during World War II. Clarke observed balloons like these floating over the city in 1941. He recalls that his earliest idea for the story may have originated with this scene, with the giant balloons becoming alien ships in the novel. It seems to be the fate of all Utopias to turn leisure into sloth and turn unlimited possibilities into boredom. Interesting that Arthur C. Clarke uses the advancement of Television technology to be a major contributor to the degradation of a perfect society. People became passive sponges--absorbing but never creating.” Clarke mentions that people in this society started watching television three hours per day. Rookies! The latest statistics that I saw mentioned that Americans now watch five hours of television a day on average. Obviously, I don’t watch television five hours a day as can be ascertained by how many books I read a year. If the Kansas City Royals are playing, I do watch about three hours, but I’m also still reading and researching while the game is on. Baseball is the perfect background noise for doing just about anything, including taking a much needed nap to rest the noggin for a few minutes. When people ask me how I read so many books a year and still work full time, I usually ask them how much time they spend watching television or playing with their cell phone or playing games on their iPad? Everyone has the same number of hours in their day; it just depends on how you choose to use them. I choose to read. People who read fewer books than me are making different choices or in some cases may have more obligations. Of course, this is relevant only because I see reading as the best way to evolve the mind. I’m old fashioned that way. “There were some things that only time could cure. Evil men could be destroyed, but nothing could be done with good men who were deluded.” There are concerns voiced by various religious groups and also by people who are not thrilled about humans losing their ability to govern themselves, but for the majority of people the lack of responsibility and the lack of ambition to succeed are concepts they readily embrace. A society that was evolving to the greatest heights of artistic and progressive achievements starts to prefer apathy. The Overlords are very careful to control what the humans learn about them. A man named Jan Rodericks stows away on one of their ships and sees a world he can barely comprehend. “And in its sky was such a sun as no opium eater could ever have imagined in his wildest dreams. Too hot to be white, it was a searing ghost at the frontiers of the ultraviolet, burning its planets with radiations which would be instantly lethal to all earthly forms of life. For millions of kilometers around extended great veils of gas and dust, fluorescing in countless colors as the blasts of ultraviolet tore through them. It was a star against which Earth’s pale sun would have been as feeble as a glowworm at noon.” In one of those time travelling, mind bending events that I always have trouble fully comprehending, Jan only ages a few months, but has missed eighty years on Earth. The Overlords make allusion to the fact that science can destroy religions, but that science is not the top of the mountain, but only a stepping stone to a much greater understanding of life. They search through our archives looking for information on the paranormal and other elements that have been written about outside the realm of science. When the children of earth start to develop telekinetic powers, the true reasons for The Overlords being our guardians becomes clear. We also learn that the Overlords defer to another power much greater than their own capabilities called The Overmind. I caught a commercial for the six hour miniseries that the Syfy Channel is planning to launch in December and realized that I have hauled a copy of this book around with me for a couple of decades without reading it. Sometimes we need one more push. As always I’m impressed with Arthur C. Clarke’s ability to tackle the bigger issues and to be somewhat controversial in his presentation of the best and worst of being human. It does seem that we are incapable of possessing true happiness for very long. We are designed for strife, for pain, for joy, and ambitious achievement. When any of those elements are removed from the equation, we start to falter. Joy can only be fully appreciated if we experience pain. Ambition can only be relished if strife was overcome to achieve it. As The Overlords fix all the problems, there is a huge cost, too big of a cost, in that we lose what makes us unique. It is disappointing to think that harmony and lack of fear will turn us into beings unworthy of admiration. When defense is no longer a primary objective, it is disheartening to believe that the energy previously expended on security can not be transferred to higher levels of achievement in the arts, philosophy, music, and literature. To be the best that we can be, we still need the growl of the Sabretooth tiger coming from just beyond the edge of the firelight. We still need to be capable of picking up a club and saying “here kitty, kitty, kitty.” This is a short book, power packed with ideas and concepts, and certainly deserving of inclusion in the list of classic, influential, science-fiction books. See all my recent book and movie reviews at http://www.jeffreykeeten.com book-to-film science-fiction 367 likes Like Comment Matt 216 reviews 720 followers July 7, 2016 I've done a lot of odd jobs over the years. At one point, back before I got my degree and I was still working to put my wife through school, I worked as a delivery driver for a company that sold construction supplies - 50 lb boxes of powdered Kool-Aid, portable generators, hammers, safety harnesses, 2x4's, circular saws. It was one of those barely above minimum wage jobs generally populated by people who for whatever reason find themselves unable to get anything else and competing against a large number of similar people where the decisive advantage is often no more than you show up everyday. My colleagues were an interesting mix: an ex-door gunner on a SOCOM gunship, a teenage kid dreaming of rapping his way off the street, the musician whose real job was Jazz and who’d played everywhere in N’awlins, a bow-kneed redneck that could still remember fondly when racism was acceptable but couldn’t manage to make his hatred stick because he didn’t really believe it, and the black racist ex-boxer would be preacher who once told me with an apologetic smile that white people couldn’t get into heaven because they had no souls. One of my colleagues was an aging chain smoking gray haired country boy missing half of his teeth and so learning disabled as to need my help with basic addition. He probably knew more about literature than many of the professors I've had, or at the least he was more interesting to talk to and his opinions were less rote. I found this out after he came in one day aglow after seeing 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'. He absolutely needed someone to talk about the experience with, and by that time I was unable to hide the fact that I was an "egghead" so I was probably the only person he knew that was qualified. Turns out, he'd lived a rather interesting life. He was fluent in Spanish and had spent his youth working construction on hotels up and down the Central and South American coasts. And, he'd read everything. As I came to realize that this redneck knew something about books, despite as best as I could tell never completing high school, I started inquiring into his tastes. What I found remarkable was not so much that he'd read everything I'd ever read and then some, but that on those things we'd both read he shared much of the same opinion. At some point in one of the conversations Arthur C. Clarke came up, and he said, "Well, I liked 2001, but I really think that 'Childhood's End' is his real masterwork." Not only do I agree, but I lack the ability to give a better recommendation. I don't recommend the works of Clarke in general, and certainly not to anyone who isn’t a fan of science fiction. His works - even the better ones - always suffer from seeming to be short stories turned into novels. He also displays a strange combination of fascination with but complete incuriosity towards religion and spirituality that can probably be infuriating at times to the religious and non-religious alike. But this work rises above its defects and is well worth your time. literature science-fiction 325 likes 1 comment Like Comment Mario the lone bookwolf 805 reviews 4,794 followers May 9, 2021 Overlord and Overmind come to open up many questions about the meaning of life and stuff. The main underlying theme is how much of the presents given during a first contact event should be used or not and this trope grew to a redwood tree size and may evolve to a planet tree in the future with all the subfields, new interpretations, use in a mainly Social Sci-Fi setting, etc. How Sci-Fi was written those days would be close to unsellable today because each agent would just step back as wide as possible while his panicked eyes that are screaming: "Not enough bucks to make due to far too high complexity."Although this might be limited to the philosophical, complex, and far over my poor little mind concept works many of the behemoths of classic and golden age sci-fi used to deal with these bad, old days. Bad cause human evolution = technological progress moves on, being the only thing distinguishing us from apes. Not feeling sorry for telling the truth. The science part, on the other hand, has exploded to ultra hardiness in many new works and can often easily be skimmed and scanned without losing much of the inner plot logic and red line. Subjectively I deem that the reason why science got big and higher philosophy got lost in the genre, because the ideological concepts have to be integrated into the whole thing and one can´t just jump over the difficult parts. Feels too much like work rereading many passages to get it. It´s really, brrr, shivers, sometimes more feeling than learning, getting knowledge or, in general, nonfiction and not like easygoing, funny, and quick entertainment. Be warned, because it hits hard to find out that one has invested time in something that is called fiction or formula literature and suddenly one opens the book again and finds out that one is completely off track and undertands nothing anymore. But maybe I´m just slow on the uptake, not the sharpest knife in the shelf, biasing and cognitive dissonancing my way around that sad, self- made incompetence and unconsciously fake newsing about my favorite genre. Maybe, or very probably, sorry for that. Clarke and Lem are definitively the worst in this case of overachieving in sophisticated mind game complexity, it blows little minds like mine on a general level. Lem is the only one, I know so far at least, who comes close to Clarke and has a much darker, sarcastic, and pessimistic underlying tone. The cynical, disillusionized uncle who makes one laugh while Clarke is sitting in the other corner of the sci-fi family meeting and is still wanting one to believe in a quick realization of a positive outlook on humankind and life in general. Not absolutely, but still optimistic in contrast to the grumpy, black comedy alternative. It's really quite tricky to read Clarke (and Lem and some parts of Heinleins´work that aren´t too weird), compared to the much more easy-going and more plot-driven and space opera style Asimov, Herbert, etc. because it´s so fully packed with this amazing language and so many characters talking like college professors that, without full focus, much of the additional value and the understanding gets lost. But being left with many philosophical thoughts about life, death, immortality, the future of humankind on earth and in space, alien invasions, visits, visitation, medical examination (yes, that thing), etc. is fully worth it. Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph... https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph... clarke-arthur-c 271 likes Like Comment mark monday 1,748 reviews 5,553 followers August 7, 2012 you think you're so fucken smart, don't you mark? ha, think again. all your little plans and goals, your little community of friends and family and colleagues, your whole little life... what does it matter in the long run? not a whole fucken lot. grow up. take this book for example. a classic of the genre, written by a classic author. you thought you knew what you were getting into; you've read countless examples of the type. you sure are a well-read little scifi nerd, aren't you? for the first half, maybe longer, you were right. a well-crafted central character, flavorful supporting characters, intriguing aliens, a spicy mystery to solve. it was all laid out as expected and the pleasures were of a familiar sort. when the mystery of the aliens' appearance was solved, you were a wee bit surprised. but it was a comfortable sort of surprise. it's not like it blew your mind. it was clever. but everything up until then was as you expected. well fucking Congratulations, chump, your predictions came half-true. you want a medal? you don't get one. there aren't any half-medals. there are some fucking spoilers that follow! you weren't expecting what came after. those revelations came out of the blue for you, didn't they? you didn't expect to be made to feel so small, to get a little depressed, to have your expectations pounded all to pieces. it was kinda beautiful in a way, kinda mind-blowing. but mainly it was fucken sad. oh you poor baby. you have your own private little dreams of widespread empathy and the future of children and the future of humanity and our future place in the world and - at the most secret, sentimental heart of you - some corny spiritual post-life higher consciousness transcending type shit. you didn't expect that to be a part of the novel, did you? you didn't expect it to all come out, be laid out on the page like a body in a morgue, your body, and then just get eviscerated. your dreams of some sort of future beyond this present, where you are still you , a wistful dream that you like to think is both delicate and profound like one of those origami things you like to do. what's your favorite one? a pinwheel. well you get to watch that pinwheel of a dream get smashed and turned inside out and torn up into bits. revealed as a typically naive and childish fantasy. ha! so much for that. grow the fuck up, chump. rain-man-reviews scifi-classic 214 likes Like Comment Ahmad Sharabiani 9,564 reviews 155 followers February 19, 2022 Childhood's End, Arthur C. Clarke Childhood's End is a 1953 science fiction novel by the British author Arthur C. Clarke . The story follows the peaceful alien invasion of Earth by the mysterious Overlords, whose arrival begins decades of apparent utopia under indirect alien rule, at the cost of human identity and culture. In the midst of the US-Soviet rivalry for space, unknown spaceships appear over all major cities on Earth, ending the race. Spaceship crews avoid showing their faces, but they bring peace, well-being and security to humans. Unknown visitors to the planet have advanced technology to such an extent that their abilities are like magic to the human eye. Resistance to their will and determination is useless. Although their ultimate goal is hidden from humanity, they are openly helping the earth and its inhabitants, and even fighting violence against animals ... عنوانهای چاپ شده در ایران: «پایان طفولیت»؛ «پایان کودکی»؛ نویسنده: آرتور سی کلارک؛ انتشاراتیها: (سپهر، چکامه)؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز نوزدهم ماه فوریه سال1983میلادی عنوان: پایان طفولیت؛ نویسنده: آرتور سی کلارک؛ مترجم: رسول وطن دوست؛ تهران، سپهر، سال1362؛ در285ص؛ داستانهای خیال انگیز از نویسندگان بریتانیا - سده20م عنوان: پایان کودکی؛ نویسنده: آرتور سی کلارک؛ مترجم: جهانگیر بیگلری؛ تهران، چکامه، سال1363؛ در336ص؛ پایان طفولیت داستان به تکامل رسیدن معنوی انسان‌ها، و در نهایت پیوستن آنها، به ابرذهنها است؛ انسان‌ها این تکامل را، به یاری موجوداتی که ظاهری شیطانی دارند، و در واقع نمود شیطان، در افسانه‌ های انسان هستند، به دست می‌آورند؛ چکیده: درست در کشاکش مسابقه‌ ی «آمریکا» و «شوروی»، برای تسخیر فضا، سفینه‌ هایی ناشناخته، بر فراز تمام شهرهای مهم کره‌ ی زمین، ظاهر می‌شوند؛ و نقطه‌ ی پایانی، بر آن مسابقه می‌گذارند؛ مسافران سفینه‌ ها، از نشان دادن چهره‌ ی خود، پرهیز می‌کنند، اما آنها صلح، و رفاه، و امنیت برای بشر، به ارمغان آورده‌ اند؛ بازدید کنندگان ناشناخته‌ ی کره‌ ی زمین، به چنان پیشرفت تکنولوژیکی رسیده‌ اند، که توانایی‌های آن‌ها از دید بشر، چیزی شبیه به جادوست؛ مقابله کردن با خواست، و اراده‌ ی آن‌ها، هیچ فایده‌ ای ندارد؛ اگرچه قصد و هدف نهاایی آن‌ها، بر بشریت پوشیده است، با اینحال آن‌ها آشکارا به زمین، و ساکنان آن، یاری می‌کنند، و حتی با خشونت علیه حیوانات نیز، مبارزه می‌کنند...؛ تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 08/11/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 29/11/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی Like Comment Leonard Gaya Author 1 book 1,036 followers January 24, 2021 This is a strange and beautiful novel. Written in the early 1950s (some 15 years before 2001: A Space Odyssey ), it is, with Asimov’s (overrated) Foundation , Bradbury’s (superb) The Martian Chronicles and a few others, one of the significant works of sci-fi’s “Golden Age”. Oddly enough, apart from a few plot irregularities and the outlandish author’s naivety regarding the paranormal and the occult, Arthur C. Clarke’s story doesn’t feel dated. The plot is based on a few episodes scattered in time. It starts with a situation that has since become commonplace in SF literature and film: alien UFOs descend from space and park themselves over the major cities on Earth — a vision inspired by the barrage balloons Clarke had seen hovering above London during the Blitz in 1941. However, there is neither destructive attacks (cf. The War of the Worlds , V , Independence Day ), nor strange signs coming out of these spaceships (cf. Close Encounters of the Third Kind , Arrival / Stories of Your Life ). In this instance, the aliens bestow utopia upon humanity. Later on, after a few leaps forward in time and across generations, we understand how this new heaven on Earth is, in fact, humanity’s swan song. Arthur Clarke’s style (like that of many other SF writers of the day) is explicit, plain, nondescript, almost flat. He manages nonetheless to make his story perfectly lively and suspenseful. But the real masterstroke of this novel is the ending. As we witness the last moments of our planet, the story takes a genuinely Dantesque and sublime dimension, evocative of the majestic and unfathomable vistas of Olaf Stapledon’s Star Maker and Last and First Men , or Teilhard de Chardin’s Le Phénomène humain . This is, in essence, a true masterpiece within its genre. Edit : Syfy recently released a four-hour miniseries, based on Arthur Clarke’s novel. As someone prophetically puts it in the book, it has become “a full-time job keeping up with the various family serials on TV!” Still, I have managed to watch this one. It is, roughly speaking, true to the novel's structure: three episodes, one for each section of the book, and a plotline that thins down but doesn’t deviate too much from Clarke’s vision. The imagery is reminiscent of Kubrick ( 2001 ), Spielberg ( Close Encounters ) and Carpenter ( Village of the Damned ). However, the screenwriters have obviously considered appropriate to elaborate on the main characters’ romantic lives (Stormgren, Rodricks and Greggson, particularly) and indulged in a melodramatic tone that, unfortunately, bogs the whole thing down. 166 likes 1 comment Like Comment Emily (Books with Emily Fox on Youtube) 580 reviews 65.1k followers January 10, 2019 As a sci-fi fan, I've been trying to go back and read some of the classics and it's been... interesting. The book manages to have some very captivating concepts while being quite tedious to read. The book felt dated when mentioning POC and women which, while not surprising, did still take me out of the story at times. Overall I'm glad I read it, at least I can consider that an achievement as I look at all the "top 100 sci-fi books to read in your lifetime" type of lists but, contrary to popular opinion, I don't think it's something you must read. If you're curious go for it. If you're not feeling it, it's fine to skip it. 145 likes Like Comment BlackOxford 1,095 reviews 69k followers November 13, 2020 Theological Politics For an avowed atheist, Arthur Clarke had a great deal to say about God, and not all of it negative. Childhood’s End is a tale of the theological roots of politics and how religious belief simultaneously stimulates and inhibits human society. Clarke’s view is subtle, complex, and appropriately ‘cosmic.’ As a commentary on the centrality of religion to human existence - for its opponents as well as its adherents - Childhood’s End is hard to beat. If I read Clarke correctly, his view is that God is not the product of frightening illusion but of loving emotion. God is the idea we use to describe the wholly irrational but irresistibly compelling force of human affection. Fear is merely a derivative emotion brought about by the threat of loss of affection, not something positive, therefore, but an absence of love. The force of love is invisible, immaterial, unmeasurable, enacted everywhere and at all times; but it is, without any doubt, real. What Clarke does in Childhood’s End is provide a voice for such philosophical realism. Love in all its forms - sexual, familial, communal, special, and inter-special - is only minimally an instinct, that is a motivation or drive. Rather it is a learned ability, a capacity which increases with experience and practice. Childhood’s End opens with conflict; moves to feelings of trust and friendship by one individual towards a powerful alien; and develops, under alien direction - which is effectively omniscient and omnipotent - into general peace and harmony among all of humanity. The capacity to love evolves over a century such that personal jealousy has disappeared, crime is almost unknown, involuntary or oppressive human toil has been eliminated, economic abundance and equality have been substantially achieved. In other words: paradise has arrived.* Love is also a metaphysical condition. That is, it cannot be demonstrated to be beneficial, or even to be at all, except through a commitment to it. It is self-validating just as its antithesis, fear, is self-validating. Love and the world is loving; fear and the world is fearsome. The alien Overlords bring the whole of humanity to the metaphysical revelation of love through their tutelage and discipline. Only when love has been created as a reality can it be perceived and appreciated as a reality. This is a metaphysical paradox which is known to the Overlords, but must be demonstrated by human beings to themselves. “But the stars are not for man,” the Overlord Supervisor proclaims. Human beings are not sufficiently competent in the skills of love to include anything outside their rather insignificant world. They may never be. They are therefore denied by the Overlords - in the name of love - the knowledge which would allow them to travel to distant worlds. This constraint is annoying and incomprehensible to many, mainly scientific types - not unlike the prohibition of eating from the Tree in the Garden. And the Supervisor could foresee the consequences, just as the book of Genesis had described - a loss of the Golden Age of innocence. But it is not the scientists who are the first to rebel. The trouble starts among creative types - artists, actors, film producers, writers, musicians. They feel cheated because they have nothing to struggle against. Without an ‘other,’ they say that society has lost the ability to be creatively imaginative. So they club together in an isolated sub-culture to reverse the trend, as they see it, of people becoming “passive sponges” absorbing banal popular culture. Led by a Moses-like figure, the artistic inhabitants, appreciate the peace and ease of their world but still feel it is inadequate. So according to Clarke’s story, the half-life of metaphysical appreciation is extremely limited. Love and its effects are easily taken for granted. We are a thankless species in our search for more, better, adventure or just something different. The skills of love can be lost within a generation. The absence of love spreads like a virus among a society’s children, creating a new species through a sort of Lamarckian mutation. The consequences are catastrophic: “It was the end of civilization, the end of all that men had striven for since the beginning of time. In the space of a few days, humanity had lost its future” Theology considers love as a gift which is received from elsewhere. It can’t be produced on demand, only received when made available. We have no right to it and it dissipates when it is presumed upon. More important, it can be taken away by whoever or wherever it came from. It can disappear instantly as both an emotion and a practice. Love is a mystery about which Homo Sapiens has no clues. Therefore, when love is lost, we are wont to deify and pray to it as well as for it. Hence the remark of one of the characters early on in Childhood’s End : “Basically, the conflict [between the Overlords and humankind] is a religious one, however much it may be disguised.” So the reason for the Overlords refusal to enlighten humankind eventually is made clear “The road to the stars was a road that forked in two directions, and neither led to a goal that took any account of human hopes or fears.” There may be an Overmind which is superior to the Overlords and calls the shots in the universe; there may even be an intelligence, or many, which are superior to the Overmind. It matters not at all. Oblivion is inevitable. Love as we know it will likely be destroyed since it doesn’t really seem to conform to any cosmic purpose. This is a brutal religious truth and one we’d rather not deal with: There is no reward for love, except love itself. Recognition of this truth is the real end of childhood and marks an entry into grown-up thinking. *There is substantial theological precedent for the idea of an evolving capacity for human beings to not only behave with each other, but also to behave, as it were, when confronted with divine revelation. The medieval Joachim of Floris, Nicholas of Cusa, and the modern Teilhard de Chardin are Christian examples. Jewish Kabbalists like Akiva, Luria, and Abulafia held similar views. Interestingly, it is the Mormons who hold this view most explicitly in their doctrine of the progressive divinization of humankind. Clarke is clearly tapping in to a long-held cultural tradition in this story. See here for more on the theology of sci-fi: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... american philosophy-theology sci-fi 138 likes Like Comment Petra on hiatus but getting better.Happy New 2024! 2,457 reviews 34.8k followers December 16, 2021 I read this long ago, just when I was becoming a teenager and my tastes were changing, you might say I read it at childhood's end. "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 1 Corinthians 13:11. But we cannot do this without the help of our parents and teachers and politicians. Well some of them. A few. One or two, you know . And so it is the Aliens come. The story is essentially the one of zen buddhism told as scifi-fantasy. Its climax is nirvana. Nirvana for all, for the Earth. Nirvana is the liberation from the repeating cycle of birth, life and death. It is the extinguishing of desire, affection, aversion, delusion and ego. All that makes us individuals evaporates in the uniting with divine power of the universe in perpetual bliss. And on that note, the book ends. 2014-reviews books-read-a-long-time-ago fiction ...more 128 likes Like Comment Samadrita 295 reviews 4,947 followers September 19, 2013 If science fiction usually treads the fine line between mere speculation and actual scientific feasibilities, then Arthur C. Clarke can be accused of taking a cosmic leap of faith into the realm of highly unrealistic speculation, in this book. For at least 75% of the narrative, I remained largely clueless about where the story was heading and for the remaining 25% I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the ludicrousness of it all. Aliens, who are referred to by a fancy name like 'Overlords' (*eyeroll*) to boot, come down from a distant galaxy in the universe and establish their rule over Earthlings. Earth transforms into a kind of utopia in a hundred years during which disease, poverty, hunger, crimes, social inequality, threat of nuclear wars are permanently eliminated thanks to the diplomacy and benevolence of the Overlords. And then comes the shocker or the real reason for the Overlords colonizing our cherished planet - turns out the almighty Overlords are no more than mere agents in the service of an even higher form of intelligence called the 'Overmind' (*more eyeroll*) who seek to tap into the reserves of metaphysical power of the mind of man and help mankind transition into the next stage of evolution. Don't bother trying to make sense of that last part. It didn't make much sense to me either and I generally keep an open mind while reading science fiction. And what happens at the end sounds way more ridiculous that what I wrote for the sake of this review. In his effort to explore a subject like existential crisis (why are 'we' here? what is the meaning of life?) and ponder on phenomenon Science has still not been able to explain convincingly enough, Clarke has taken a tumble into the abyss of sheer absurdity. Not even willing suspension of disbelief helped endear me to your theories Mr Clarke. Mankind's purpose of existence is to birth an ultimate generation of not-very-human children with potent psychic powers (*insert more eyeroll*) who achieve a sort of communion with the 'Overmind' (was this Clarke's euphemism for 'God'?) and get to be one with the Universe. While their progenitors eventually die out, thereby, wiping out the last of the human species as we know it. (Huh?) Neither is Childhood's End event-driven nor does it contain the heart-stopping suspense that I have come to associate with Clarke's creations. And to further intensify my lack of interest in the book, none of the characters made an impression. I guess Clarke's aim was only to propound a theory (albeit a far-fetched one) rather than to weave an intriguing tale revolving around space exploration/travel. And I was clearly not among the target audience of this book. But this does not in any way diminish my love for Clarke. My science-fiction adoring soul, will come back to this man time and again, in search of a story as fascinating as 2001: A Space Odyssey . I just hope I find something better next time. **Originally posted on:-April 3rd, 2013** This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review 1001-and-more dystopian-fiction hugo-nebula-locus-awards ...more 105 likes 1 comment Like Comment Frank Hidalgo-Gato Durán Author 8 books 230 followers May 6, 2021 Esto es una maravilla de libro.Me ha sacado las lágrimas. Y no precisamente por ser yo aquel romántico; todo lo contrario! Soy tan...practico,se dice? Nada, son cuestiones orgasmo-sinapticas de un ser ajeno a este mundo,como lo soy yo. Este libro es una obra de arte. Cómo se puede escribir un libro así y haberlo publicado hace más de 65 años?! De qué manera evoluciono yo ahora “lo tuyo”,Arthur? Jajaja, tranqui,en eso estoy! Ya veis? Una vez más me encontráis hablando a solas 😆 Como autor de ciencia ficción he leído bastante ya del género, sus estilos, la prosa de uno del otro etc etc. Estoy convencido de que Clark no era solo un visionario, sino alguien que sabía más de cuatro cosas, aparte de haber sido “contactado”. Era masón, pero no estoy seguro si solo llegó al grado de Maestro, o incluso alcanzó el grado 33. Posiblemente. „Allá lejos estaban las montañas, donde moraban el poder y la belleza, donde el trueno sonaba alegremente por encima de los hielos y el aire era claro y penetrante. Allá, cuando la Tierra ya estaba envuelta en sombras, brillaba todavía el sol, transfigurando las cimas. Y ellos sólo podían observar y maravillarse. Nunca escalarían esas alturas.“ Se puede ser visionario como lo han sido muchos, pero a veces se te hacen tal futurismo, y en este caso por parte de algunos otros autores, como que...”tropezado”? No sé. Tendría que ponerme a conferenciar y, aquí sabemos que no estamos para ello. Este libro, en mi opinión, ni se queda corto, ni se pasa. Te expone lo justo, la fusión entre una prosa/pluma elegante, una historia lógica, plausible, y elementos científicos si bien no razonados hasta el desquicie técnico, lo mínimo al menos para darle su credibilidad racional merecida. Es místico y filosofal, y quizá sea por ello que me gusta tanto. Apocalíptico, pero, nos obstante lo ha sido luego de haberle dado la oportunidad al ser humano de disfrutar de lo que tanto anhela: Justicia y bienestar pleno en lo que ha igualdad social se refiere. La historia ha demostrado que hasta incluso después de lo antes mencionado, tanto “paraíso” es capaz de acabar con nuestra paz/vida. Y es que necesitamos siempre de los matices de la imperfección, los defectos y competencia para darle sentido y motivo de existencia a nuestra vida humana. ficción 95 likes Like Comment Susan Budd Author 5 books 250 followers October 16, 2021 “ The stars are not for Man ” (137). In Dante’s Inferno , there is a place wherein the virtuous pagans dwell. It is here that Virgil spends eternity. Here there are none of the gruesome punishments to be found in the lower circles of hell. But it is a dreary afterlife. This place exists because the virtuous pagans do not deserve the punishments that are inflicted upon the vicious, yet they lived before Christ redeemed mankind, so they cannot enter heaven. It may seem unjust that they are condemned to hell at all. It’s not their fault they were born before Christ. But the fact remains: They were not redeemed and the unredeemed cannot enter heaven. Is this not the fate of Man in Childhood’s End ? To be banished from heaven due to bad timing? The Overloads are an “ evolutionary cul-de-sac ” (177). Man was not. I can appreciate the Overlord’s envy, for Man, at least, was not a dead end. Nevertheless the race of Man must die utterly. There will be no immortality, no paradise, no nirvana for Homo sapiens . Man’s progeny will gain heaven, but Man will die utterly. I do not think this is what Karellen meant when he said: “ The stars are not for Man .” I do not think this is what Arthur C. Clarke meant when he wrote this brilliant novel. I think Clarke found his vision of the future inspirational. I do not. I see a heaven with the gates barred to me just as they were barred to Dante’s virtuous pagans. And the Overmind: Is this the universe knowing itself? Is this the universe evolving? Consciousness and cosmos becoming one and the same thing? Imagine there is a purpose in the universe and the human race is merely a means to that end: Homo sapiens meaning no more in the grand scheme of things than Homo neanderthalensis . All of our culture amounting to nothing. Science and art, the monuments of history, noble sacrifices—all so that the human race could be the genetic vehicle of a new and superior race. This is not atheism. This is religion with a capital “R.” The difference between the Overmind and the Christian God is that the Christian God is not indifferent to the fate of individuals. The Christian God loves each individual. In contrast, this atheistic religion is loveless. Not loveless as hateful. But loveless as the absence of love or hate. Beyond love and hate. Thus “beyond good and evil.” This is the God of “The Star.” And it is unbearable. It is crushing. The “benign indifference of the universe” is not benevolent. It is neither benevolent nor malevolent. It is “beyond” all that. It is indifferent and that is unbearable. The indifference of God is worse than the nonexistence of God. Who could find solace in this fate? The Overlords could. But the Overlords are not human. It is no coincidence that their culture has no art. This is a fundamental trait of their species, a fundamental trait of an “ evolutionary cul-de-sac .” But art, that product of the human imagination, is integral to the human condition. So is the suicidal despair of individuals suddenly bereft of meaning. The genius of Clarke’s book culminates in the story of the Last Man. It is not redemption, but it is closure. After being condemned to oblivion, to at best a memory in the Overmind, it is at least satisfying to see the noble death of the Last Man, for in the end, that is all there is and all there can ever be—the noble death, the acceptance that consciousness is just some sort of “stage” in evolution: from nonconscious ape to conscious man to supraconscious whatever, consciousness being like a vestigial tail that drops away in time, obsolete. The last Australopithecus did not know it was the last. It died never having known itself. It is the death of consciousness that is an existential horror. With the death of religion came the knowledge that individual death was oblivion. Immortality for the atheist is one’s legacy—the discoveries, the inventions, the art, the contributions one makes to future generations. But oblivion for the species! With only the consolation that we have been superseded! It is the second death. The death suffered by Dante’s virtuous pagans. The Last Man witnesses the end of the Earth ~ the Earth as a lake of fire. “... the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death ” ( Revelation 21:8). Childhood’s End is sublime and visionary. Clarke’s writing is beautiful. His story is subtle and masterfully told. But it is a terrible fate. An appalling fate. And after reading the tale of the Last Man, I can name the feeling this book inspires: nostalgia for the human race. It is bittersweet and humbling and deeply meaningful, but no less appalling for that. “ The stars are not for Man .” Heaven is not for Man either. Neither paradise nor nirvana. Just oblivion. Heaven is peace. But oblivion is not peace. Mere extinction is not peace. english-literature-uk 70 likes Like Comment Zigger 9 reviews 7 followers March 17, 2009 I always feel so terrible when I read, or attempt to read, Arthur C. Clarke. But I also feel terrible when I don't. I like fantasy. I like science fiction. Arthur C. Clark is a genius, a pioneering, farsighted sci-fi icon. I should like reading his books. And so I try every once in a while, in the same spirit that I eat half a banana once or twice a year. I like fruit. Bananas are good for you. But I have yet to finish either a banana or an Arthur C. Clarke book. It's me. It must be. So I'm giving myself the one star as a reader, not this book. But so help me,every time I get to page nine or so of Athur C. Clarke I feel myself reverting into exactly the same mindset as when my (much more intelligent snotty twenty-year-old) brother sat me down in front of 2001. I just sort of go right into crisis mode and let it all wash over me without trying to string together events, identify characters, or extort meaning from any of it. Oh look, the cavemen are fighting. That's a neat space ship. Poor Hal. Ah, Dave is apprently in a Best Western in Flint, Michigan. Oh good, the credits. I did exactly the same thing up until page 41 of Childhood's End, which was when I closed it because all I could think of was, predictably, the book's end. I need help. I admit it. Maybe I could read it with one of those things in my ear like at the UN, with somebody smarter than I am explaining what the heck is going on, page by page. I do like banana bread, however. 66 likes Like Comment Megan Baxter 985 reviews 710 followers May 19, 2014 From my vast expertise of having read all of two, count them, two, Arthur C. Clarke books, I am seeing a common theme. I don't know if it extends beyond that to his other books, but here it is: The universe is a very, very big place. And humans might just be irrelevant to it. What is going on out there is so vast that it's an immense piece of egotism to think of ourselves as central, or even incidental, to it. Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the recent changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here . In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook 65 likes Like Comment Matthew 1,221 reviews 9,560 followers March 19, 2018 As I read this book, there is a part that led me to believe that the picture that They Might Be Giants found to use for their album Apollo 18 had to have been inspired by this book: Sadly, I was expecting more from this book. I had heard lots of good things and seen many positive reviews, but it didn’t strike as much of a key with me as other Clarke novels have. While there was some food for thought and a few cool sci-fi concepts, it was a bit too out there and disjointed for my tastes. I know that sci-fi is supposed to explore the unknown in the universe, but I didn’t really feel like a lot of the story was making any coherent points. In fact, a perfect example is the movie Kubrick made for 2001 where there is somewhat of story that descends into a very long montage of eerie images set to music. For me, breaking the book up into the smaller vignette stories is what made it better. There are about 6 or 7 smaller stories that tie together to make up the bigger one – and if you take those each on their own they have some really neat things to think about. This including why we are here, perceptions of heaven and hell, the potential issues of space travel, and how we might interact with alien life. Hardcore sci-fi fans will probably enjoy this. Sci-fi fans who don’t need a coherent story, just the bizarre potential of the cosmos, this is right up your alley. But, casual sci-fi fans who are looking for Star Wars/Star Trek or something of that ilk, this is not it. 2018 kindle library ...more 63 likes Like Comment Apatt 507 reviews 827 followers December 25, 2015 As I write the TV adaptation of Childhood's End is being promoted by the cable channel Syfy (goddam silly name). Given how much I like this book I will probably watch it but before I do I want to reread the source material first, as it’s been decades since I last read it. Childhood's End is — to my mind — Clarke's best novel. It is very unusual among his works in term of plot and setting. Most of the book is Earthbound and the story starts in the present day (year not specified). Very little time is spent on the space voyage and the minutiae of spacefaring is not dwelled upon. The opening scene of gigantic spaceships suddenly appearing in Earth's sky, casting massive shadows over cities, has been ripped off by the 1996 movie Independence Day , two versions of “V” TV series*, and probably other media I am not aware of. The movie and TV shows just use Clarke’s vivid imagery but did not do anything particularly creative with it. Another concept “V” may have lifted from Childhood's End is the idea of a seemingly benign alien invasion. V soon switches to the conventional evil reptilian aliens route, whereas Clarke has a far more ambitious tale to tell. At the beginning of Childhood's End the world is on the verge of another world war, with the superpower nations still engaged in an arms race. Suddenly the aliens show up and put a stop to all that and other human destructive tendencies, they also eliminate crime, poverty, hunger, and even cruelty to animals. Then they go on to unite mankind under a literal united nations where different countries and governments are made unnecessary. The sort of thing John Lennon imagined (and no religion too). These are all wonderful things of course, but there is a price for this global utopia. Basically subjugation of the human race in the nicest possible way, the mysterious aliens are even called “Overlords” by the humans. These Overlords also have an ulterior motive for their guardianship of mankind which is not revealed until the last few pages of the book. Clarke’s depiction of the human race before the advent of the aliens gives the impression that Earth is a planet run by children, a little like Lord of the Flies on a global scale. Left to our own devices, we would eventually self-destruct (looking at the news headlines these days Sir Arthur seems to have the right idea). So whatever the Overlords’ endgame is they are doing us a favor. The human society after a few years under the alien administration reminds me of the post-scarcity society of Iain M. Banks ’ Culture series, with the same result of ennui and loss of creativity. “As their material conditions improve, men raise their sights and become discontented with powers and possessions that once would have seemed beyond their wildest dreams. And even when the external world has granted all it can, there still remain the searchings of the mind and the longings of the heart.” Another unusual feature of Childhood's End in comparison to Clarke’s other books is that it is fairly light on hard science. Of course what little science expositions there is is quite rigorous and beautifully explained but Clarke unusually relies more on handwavium science in this book, like this description of the Overlords’ mysterious “stardrive”: “They leave the Solar System under such tremendous accelerations that they approach the velocity of light in less than an hour. That means that the Overlords must possess some kind of propulsive system that acts equally on every atom of their ships, so that anything aboard won't be crushed instantly.” The time dilation effect of an interstellar voyage is put to good use though. The fate of mankind at the end of the book is mind blowing (I wonder what Clarke was smoking when he wrote this). It is so awesome that Led Zeppelin used the imagery from this part of the book for the cover of their album “Houses of the Holy”. As with all the Clarke books I have read there is not much in the way of characterization, the humans, and even the Overlords are there to move the plot forward. Somehow Clarke always makes it works, the lack of emphasis on characters development is even a virtue as the storyline is so engrossing. I even enjoyed Clarke’s prose in this book which verges on lyrical at times: “The ground should have cracked and trembled beneath that tremendous weight, but the vessel was still in the grip of whatever forces drove it among the stars. It kissed the earth as gently as a falling snowflake.” I hope Syfy can do a good job adapting this stupendous sci-fi classic, though their past "achievements" don’t inspire much confidence. Regardless, this is one of the few sci-fi books that I would not hesitate to recommend to everybody . If you are going to watch the TV show read this first, I cannot imagine the show improving on the book, but I can imagine it ruining the book all too well. __________________ * V (1984) V Remake (2009) Notes : While Childhood's End clearly inspired the aforementioned film and TV shows, I think it may have been — in turn — inspired to some extent by John Wyndham’s The Midwich Cuckoos and The Chrysalids . Syfy's Childhood's End trailer . That hysterical screaming woman already makes me dread what other changes they are going to make. There is no hysteria in the book, well except one guy who screams like a little girl for a moment when he spots something weird in a museum. Update 16 Dec '15 : The great David Brin just posted this beautiful article about Clarke. If I may quote a couple of relevant passages: "And yet, what most intrigues me about Arthur’s work is something else – his ongoing fascination with human destiny – a term seemingly at odds with the scientific worldview. But there is another Arthur C. Clarke. The one who sent David Bowman through the monolith in his great classic, 2001. The author who gave us Childhood’s End. One who frets that we may not be wise enough to survive the next few generations of tense immaturity, let alone become worthy of joining more advanced communities of mind." pre-80s-sf sci-fi sf-top-20 ...more 61 likes Like Comment Bradley Author 5 books 4,426 followers December 23, 2015 Old SF sometimes has a kick to it that nothing modern can quite manage. There's a speed and economy of words, of action progressing so quickly that I feel like I'm on a roller-coaster ride and it's all downhill. This is what Childhood's End feels like. It's hard not to write about this book without giving away spoilers, so I'll just warn you now and get right down to business. It starts out with damn old tropes and bit of spunky adventure, but it quickly becomes obvious that all that was a lark. The real story wasn't glamorous in the traditional sense. It was certainly glamorous in a few instances, but it did manage to do was pull off both tragedy and glory. Or the old definition of Romance, if you so prefer. Who are the overlords who have disrupted and forced humanity to behave? They hid their faces for good reasons. Our race has had an old premonition of its end, and these tragic figures figure heavily. But wait, is this a novel about them, or humanity? Humanity has had its last hurrah. Our childhood is done. It is time to move on and discard everything we might recognize as *our* lives. There's no sense of the life we known continuing. It's certainly the end of the novel. There's no hint of anything resembling future conflict, no hook to give readers further meaning or interest beyond a "Hey, look at those pretty lights!" moment. Of course, the point is that when we're ready to put down our toys and pick up the mantle of adulthood, we'll not understand a damn thing from this side of the veil, and that's just fine from a story standpoint, and it definitely has a lot of impact. It doesn't pull any punches with me. I like that. But then, I'm handed a full-stop. There's no where else for this novel to continue, even in my head. There's no further wondering or amazement. When it's done, it's completely done. Even our tragic overlords sit and pity themselves, never having changed as a people from page one. They're stuck in the same cycle forever, living out the same story, guarding and watching other's children grow up and leave home, without ever once having a taste of something truly grand. Of course, that's the point. The fall from heaven, always being cast out, learning that the greatest hell is the one in your own mind, always separate from the state of grace. Yes, they are a tragic race. Fortunately for us, the readers, Clarke doesn't expound. He weaves a simple tale from start to finish and ends it on a full-stop. Am I the only one that wishes that such a story might have been teased into something much greater, and have avoided that dreaded full-stop? If SF is in a constantly shifting conversation with itself, including the other writers of the craft and the public that reads it, then this book is an utter conversation-stopper. There's no where else to go unless we change the nature of what is written. It's a great story. Don't get me wrong. But it's about as subtle as an SS boot on my neck. Still, this is a classic for a very good reason, and it will always be memorable, even if there are a lot of imitators. I think this one is going to remain superior, even if I think some of the old cultural quirks (such as referring to blacks as negros) really needs to be edited out, and damn "literary integrity." Leaving that stuff in at this late date serves absolutely no purpose to either the story or the character. It only serves to date the novel and pull it out of an argument that it should be considered one of the "Great SF Masterpieces". But even so, it still deserves to be on that list, even with its faults. :) Truly a great re-read. reality-bending sci-fi space-opera ...more 62 likes Like Comment David Sheppard Author 16 books 85 followers June 25, 2012 {Warning: lots of spoilers.} I read Arthur C. Clarke’s Childhood’s End many years ago. I also read it to my son when he was eight. So why did I come back to a book that was originally published in 1953, read it yet again, and feel it necessary to write a review? What got me thinking about Childhood’s End again is the emergence of the Internet as force for change within the Global Community. Also, my limited experience teaching university students impressed upon me the impact that the Internet is having on the minds of our young people. As a novelist myself and an author of a book on how to write a novel, I first must say that Childhood’s End is marvelously plotted. It starts off with a startling revelation: Earth is not only being visited by extraterrestrials, called Overlords, but they have come to take over the world, prevent our annihilation, and impose restrictions on human activities that will insure not only our survival but also that we prosper. This then locks the conflict (first plot point) between humans and ET, and as with so much of Clarke’s fiction, the conflict is at a relatively low level. ET, or the Overlords in this case, is here to help. When one group, the Freedom League, wishes to oppose the Overlords more forcefully, they are soon subdued, non-violently. The one thing the Overlords will not do is show themselves. Humans make an attempt at seeing one of them, but don’t get away with it. As a result, the Overlords agree to let them see them, but not for another fifty years, two generations. This then is the second plot point, which occurs 20% of the way through the story, a little short of where you’d expect it. As time drags on, humanity loses its edge. We are no longer as creative as we once were, and culturally we have stagnated. Utopia is never all it’s cracked up to be. And the time finally comes when the Overlords reveal their physical selves, and a strange sight they are, and yet immediately recognizable. They are the very image of Satan, red skin, horns, and pointed tail, leathery wings. No wonder they’d been so secretive. However, since they had shown their goodwill through the years, little was made of their “coincidental” resemblance to an ancient symbol of evil. This revelation comes at the 1/3 point and a little beyond what we’d think of as the second plot point and well short of 1/2 point that we’d think of as the third plot point. At the mid-point of the novel, we get a true reversal. At a party, guests play a game similar to a Ouija Board. One of the participants asks, “Which star is the Overlords’ home?” And the answer they get back is “NGS 549672.” Only one of the guests realizes that this is a database entry for a star forty lightyears away in the constellation Carina. This person then starts making plans to stowaway on the next Overlord spaceship to their home. The Overlords have subdued the humans up until this point, but now one of them is on the hunt to find out more than the Overlords wish them to know. This is plot point three. Just before the three-quarters point, one of the earthlings stows away on the Overlords’ spaceship and leaves earth with them. His journey there and back will take eighty years, Earth time, but just a few months in relativistic time above the rocket traveling at close to the speed of light. Just a little later, at the three-quarters point in the novel, a strange event occurs. An Overlord saves one of the human children. For some reason the Overlords believe he is special. And then children all over the world start having strange dreams and developing telekinetic powers. This is what the Overlords have waited for all this time. At the end of the novel, we learn that what the story has been about all along is the children. The human race is entering a new phase, one that will only manifest in our children. They are becoming something other than human beings and metamorphosing into something that transcends human existence. It’s as if the worm finally becames a butterfly. And we learn that those who have been known as the Overlords are actually only caretakers of the human race while it undergoes the transformation into something spiritually superior to human beings. The children no longer relate to their parents, and the parents have no knowledge of their children. It’s a clean break. As it turns out, the Overlords are a tragic species. They cannot and never will make the transformation to this higher plane. And they take their orders from yet a higher power, the power that then comes for the children of mankind. The Overlords are a dead-end species from another world and can only witness the process, foster it, but never undergo it themselves. The denouement comes with the man who had hitched a ride on the Overlords spaceship and gone to their home planet. He returns after eighty years, having seen the home of the Overloads and what a magnificent species they are. But he is the only human being left on earth, and he witnesses the end of the human race. One other interesting facet of Clarke’s novel is that, since the story is spread over 150 years or so, he uses a series of third-person limited narrations. He skips from character to character as his story dictates. He even uses a couple of the Overlords as point-of-view characters. This he does with skill, so it never seems artificial or lacking knowledge of craft. Always professionally executed. Perhaps you can now see why I was so interested in taking another look at this story. Our children of today are growing up in the presence of the Internet, something no science fiction writer saw coming. And yet, it seems to me that Arthur C. Clarke did, in a sense, see it coming in this story. Our texting, blogging, FaceBooking neophytes to the human race are a strange species with unusual powers developed by virtue of the Internet. They are leaving us behind, and heaven knows what they’ll become in the future. It does appear that they are making a clean break from what the human race has been. Let’s just hope that they can store away a little of our humanity for future reference. 62 likes Like Comment Manny Author 34 books 15k followers December 16, 2009 I see that a lot of my GR friends have read this fine book. I just wondered if any of you have had the thought that's occurred to me several times over the last two or three years. One of the things I find most confusing about the current state of the world is that you can view it in two diametrically opposed ways. On the one hand, there's the terrifying stuff you see most days in the paper. Not only are we using up our irreplaceable natural resources, we're doing it in a way that's well on track to destroy most of our planet's ability to sustain life. People keep saying that we better do something about it, and no one does. The Western world spends trillions of dollars sorting out the largely artificial banking crisis, but when it comes to finding a few tens of billions of dollars to do something about climate change, it's mostly excuses. At least, so far. So that's one side of the story. On the other side, we have people like Ray Kurzweil, who point out that, over the last fifty thousand years or so, technology has moved forward at an exponentially increasing rate. Each advance takes half the time of the preceding one. It follows that we are now close to the Singularity, when machines will become smarter than people, and it is no longer possible for us to guess what will happen next. I think that Kurzweil's concrete figures are wrong, but I am much less certain that I disagree with his basic argument. The story so far in Artificial Intelligence has frequently been that people make optimistic predictions and get laughed at, but do in fact deliver in the end. The clearest example of this pattern is computer chess. As recently as 1985, I remember all sorts of very clever people, both computer scientists and chess players, explaining why machines would never even reach Grandmaster standard. It's now clear that they are stronger than any human players. But, when I think of Childhood's End , I wonder: is it possible that both sides are right? Maybe we're destroying the Earth, but it doesn't matter any more than it does at the end of this book; the next stage of evolution, which is almost here, will have completely different priorities. Once the tree has grown, who cares about the seed it sprouted from? If you're one of the people currently negotiating in Copenhagen, please don't pay any attention to me. I'm just free-associating. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review science-fiction 59 likes Like Comment Elizabeth 22 reviews 16 followers October 31, 2016 I am a fan of science fiction, and I wanted to read Childhood's End after hearing it is supposedly one of the best novels in the sci-fi genre. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I just didn't enjoy it. I won't belabor this review by posting a synopsis; I'll just summarize my general impression of the book (SPOILERS ahead). First off, the characterization is extremely weak. I understand that some science fiction is more plot driven than character driven, but I still think it is important to write good characters. None of the characters in this book were all that dynamic or multi-layered. The human characters were very similar to one another. The same can be said of the aliens (the overlords). Prior to reading this novel, I was unaware that Clarke was an atheist. However, his disdain for God and religion in general becomes clear throughout the novel. The overlords are described as having horns and a tail. It's interesting that the race that comes to save the humans from themselves is given the physical attributes of the devil. After the overlords come to Earth, all religions are eliminated as false by the overlords (who are apparently omniscient themselves). Here is a direct quote from the book regarding religion: "Within a few days, all mankind's multitudinous messiahs had lost their divinity. Beneath the fierce passionless light of truth, faiths that had sustained millions for twice a thousand years vanished like morning dew." Despite showing a level of condescension toward people who believe in God, Clarke seems very interested in the paranormal. Despite the overlords having dismissed all religion as fantasy, they are extremely interested in psychic phenomenon. At one point during the book, an overlord is sent to a man's home to stay so he can study the myriad of books the man has on the topic of the paranormal. In the same chapter, this man has a party in which he and his guests use a Ouija board. I found the whole scene (complete with a woman fainting) to be silly and it took away from the seriousness of the rest of the novel. My final complaint is with the book's ending. We learn that humanity's final stage in evolution is for its children to join the overmind. In joining the overmind (a vast cosmic intelligence), the children become essentially mindless zombies. They lose all aspects of individuality and uniqueness. Oh yeah, and the earth is destroyed. I'm not sure how this is supposed to be humanity's triumphant evolution, as it just seems sad and fatalistic to me. While there were some interesting ideas in the book, it was just not an enjoyable reading experience for me. I didn't relate to any of the characters (or care about them for that matter), I didn't agree with the author's dim view on religion and God, I thought the plot progression was slow for the majority of the book, and the ending was anti-climactic and downright depressing. All in all, I would not vote for this book to be considered one of the best science fiction has to offer. I might give Mr. Clarke another try, but this one certainly did not impress me. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review 56 likes 1 comment Like Comment Duane Parker 828 reviews 435 followers August 4, 2017 At one point while reading this I was reminded of astronaut Dave Bowman from 2010: Odyssey Two , when he was telling everyone, "something is going to happen, something wonderful". Something does happen; whether it is wonderful or not is a matter of debate. In 2010 the message was of new beginnings, in Childhoods End it is something quite different. You can't go wrong reading Arthur C. Clarke, just a brilliant writer with a wonderful imagination. 2015-book-challenge fantasy guardian-1000 ...more 55 likes Like Comment Jen - The Tolkien Gal 458 reviews 4,569 followers August 15, 2018 I was mulling over this book again, and its grandiosity and existentialism hit me square in the face. If you're ever going to read a science fiction classic, pick this one - I implore you. Courtesy of Jen's mini reviews. favourites own physical-book ...more 48 likes Like Comment Piyangie 542 reviews 622 followers February 19, 2024 Childhood's End is my first read of a work by Arthur C. Clarke. Being not an enthusiast of the science fiction genre, I wasn't inclined to try him out. But this year I decided to try out the genre and started first with Asimov. That experience gave me the confidence to try out another author, so I set my mind on Arthur C. Clarke. He is a genius writer, no doubt. I do agree with it having read this work now. But I chose to read him simply because I felt ashamed of not having read an author whose renowned worldwide and who lived in my country all his adult life. So, in a way, reading him was also paying tribute. The storyline of this book is a fantasy. The earth is ruled by aliens who call themselves the Overloads. With their rule, the earth has become a peaceful place to live in with no wars and equality among all the species. Overloads have introduced new superior technologies to secure the forward progress of the earth and its inhabitants. In short, a sort of utopian world is created. But humans aren't totally content. They feel the absence of creativity and adventure, and they fear that their restricted position will soon make them lose their human identity. So, they rebel subtly not knowing what the future holds for them. I'm not privy to the thoughts of Mr. Clarke in writing this work. But we know that he was a known futurist. So, I couldn't help making the following observations. First, I felt that Clarke wasn't too happy with the too technological forward progress. This is not to mean he was against it. On the contrary, he was very much interested in the technological inventions which made the human exploration of the universe possible. While he sanctioned the progress toward exploring the unknown, he also feared that humans will become slaves of their own inventions. He feared that the creativity the world once knew will slowly come to an end with this 20th-century technological revolution. But, towards the end, however, I sensed a thematic change and felt that Clarke was trying to say something more than what I initially grasped. He was certainly questioning the self-proclaimed superiority of the human race. In his story, the humans are overpowered and ruled by the Overloads. That shows that humans are just another race and no need for them to demonstrate any superiority and that the ego of "I" is meaningless. And his introduction of the all-powerful Overmind raises the interesting question of the ultimate ruler of the universe. Arthur C. Clarke believed in the Buddhist concept of Nirvana, a state of no-self, where there is neither suffering nor desire, a transcendent state in which the cycle of death and rebirth is broken and replaced by an eternal state of consciousness. I felt that the Overminds in the story were Clarke's representation of this eternal state of consciousness. The story is one that goes deeper than what one comprehends on the surface. I didn't dream that I could find so much philosophy in a fantastic science fiction. I was surprised and pleasantly so. I believe it's the thought-provoking nature of this novel that attracted me much to the story. I'm glad to have finally read Arthur C. Clarke. I can never be an enthusiast of this genre, but Clarke interested me enough to try another work of his. More of my reviews can be found on http://piyangiejay.com/ science-fiction 50 likes 1 comment Like Comment Paul Haspel 608 reviews 104 followers June 13, 2022 The “childhood” of humankind ends – and a daunting move forward into a new phase of human evolution begins – in this highly influential classic of science-fiction literature. Novelist Arthur C. Clarke, over the course of a long and illustrious literary career, accurately predicted a number of important developments, in science and in other fields of human endeavour. But I don’t think even he knew the influence that Childhood’s End would wield in the decades after the novel’s original publication in 1953 – as this book would provide the creative seed that, more than a decade later, inspired Stanley Kubrick’s landmark film 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Clarke is a good example of the sort of science-fiction writer that devotees of SF ( not “sci-fi”) refer to as “hard science” – meaning that the author takes care to make sure that all of the speculative elements of his or her work correspond, as closely as possible, to accepted, data-based scientific theory. Writing “hard science” SF means, for example, that one cannot cavalierly disregard the currently accepted scientific consensus that no object can travel faster than the speed of light, no matter how convenient it would be for storytelling purposes if a spaceship made a quick, Star Wars -style “jump into hyperspace.” In Clarke’s brand of science fiction, an author must find a scientifically responsible way around storytelling problems. Clarke was indeed a serious scientist – an early paper of his popularized the idea that satellites in geosynchronous Earth orbit would provide an excellent means of relaying telecommunications around the world – and Childhood’s End shows both his thoroughgoing mastery of relevant scientific concepts on the one hand, and his storytelling verve on the other. The first part of this three-part book, “Earth and the Overlords,” sets forth a scenario that will be familiar to viewers of science-fiction films from Independence Day (1996) to District 9 (2009): massive spaceships have appeared in the skies above every major city on Earth. By the time of the novel’s main action, the mysterious inhabitants of the spaceships (referred to by the people of Earth as “Overlords”) have established de facto sovereignty over the planet, and have used that sovereignty to end the wars that once plagued the Earth, and to end poverty and disease as well. I can’t help but think that Clarke had Plato’s Republic in mind when he wrote Childhood’s End . After all, Plato in The Republic posits an ideal state administered by “Guardians” of superior wisdom and training, who are given full power to administer the affairs of the state. The all-powerful and benevolent Overlords of Childhood’s End certainly remind me of Plato’s Guardians. And the proper name of The Republic , in Greek, is πολιτεία , Politeia , or The Ideal State ; and the very idea of an "ideal state" has always involved speculation regarding how a society that is free of war and poverty and disease could be created. Such is the kind of philosophical richness that one can look forward to when reading Childhood’s End . Communication between the Overlords and the people of Earth is mediated by one Overlord, Karellen, who communicates regularly with the Secretary General of the United Nations, a Finn named Rikki Stormgren. (This book is, by the way, one of the few novels I can think of where a representative of the U.N. plays a prominent role.) Stormgren is impressed by Karellen’s unfailing courtesy, but distressed at the Overlord’s unwillingness to reveal his appearance; indeed, the Overlords have specified that they will not reveal themselves to the people of Earth until 50 years after their initial arrival in the skies above the planet. For one of his visits to the Overlords’ spaceship, Stormgren, overcome by curiosity, devises a plan to use technology to get a look at Karellen’s face – “If, of course, Karellen had a face” (p. 51). Part 2, “The Golden Age,” begins at that 50-year mark after the Overlords’ first appearance in the skies above Earth; the Overlords finally reveal their appearance, and the reason why they felt that the people of Earth would need time to get used to the Overlords’ appearance becomes clear. But the people of Earth do get used to it, as does the reader. By this time, the Overlords’ administration of Earth is a long-accepted fact; small groups like the “Freedom League,” which had opposed the Overlords’ rule on religious grounds, have all but gone out of existence. But complications occur at a spiritualist party hosted by the socially prominent Rupert Boyce and his new wife Maia. George Greggson and his ladyfriend Jean Morrel attend the party (she’s interested in spiritualism; he is not), along with Maia’s younger brother, Jan, a sharp-minded student of science. Seated at a futuristic sort of Ouija table, with an Overlord named Rashaverak in attendance, the guests ask questions. When it is Jan’s turn, he asks, “Which star is the Overlords’ sun?” They receive the reply “NGS 549672” (a recognizable star coordinate from the National Geographic Survey). Jean faints, and the mystery deepens – fascinating Jan so much that he ultimately concocts a successful plan to stow away on an Overlord ship for the 40-light-year journey from Earth to the Overlords’ home world. The ways in which Childhood’s End looks ahead to 2001 and its sequels become clear in Book III, the forebodingly titled “The Last Generation.” By this time, George and Jean have married, have had two children, and have settled in the Pacific Island community of New Athens, a utopian community dedicated to the idea of rekindling the human creativity that has stagnated in the war-free, poverty-free, disease-free Earth of the Overlords. The seemingly miraculous delivery of George and Jean’s young son Jeff from a tsunami that struck the island awakens the parents’ suspicions that both Jeff and his baby sister Jennifer are undergoing changes of an unknown but dramatic nature; and as Jeff and Jennifer’s superhuman powers become ever more evident, the ways in which Childhood’s End looks ahead to 2001: A Space Odyssey become clearer. As in the landmark film that Clarke and filmmaker Stanley Kubrick gave to the world in 1968, the idea is set forth that humankind is about to undergo a new evolutionary change, into some new form of life that will be as far above humans as humans are above the animals. Karellen states that “this is a transformation of the mind, not of the body. By the standards of evolution, it will be cataclysmic – instantaneous. It has already begun” (p. 177). And Jan will have the chance to return from his visit to the Overlords’ world, to see the results of this next stage in human evolution, and to confirm that the end of humankind’s “childhood” has indeed occurred. Fans of 2001: A Space Odyssey , reading Childhood’s End for the first time, will think at once of the film’s rectangular black monolith, crafted by some extraterrestrial entity incomparably more powerful than humankind, that guides human evolution at a couple of crucial points. They will also recall Richard Strauss’s C-major cadence from Also Sprach Zarathrustra , and the appearance of the Star-Child at the conclusion of 2001 . The instrumentality of humankind's transformation in Childhood's End is different from what one sees in 2001 , but the outcomes of the two stories have decided similarities. Clarke, in a 1989 foreword to the reprint edition of Childhood’s End that I have before me, emphasizes that over time he abandoned the one-time interest in spiritualism that influenced his writing of this book in 1953; but it seems to me that those works of his that have generated the greatest reader interest outside the SF community have derived particular power from exploring potential intersections of science and spirituality. That can be said of Clarke’s story “The Nine Billion Names of God” (1953) in which a group of Buddhist monks in a Tibetan monastery diligently categorize every name they can find for God – believing that when they have completed their task, humankind's work will be done and the Universe will end. It can be said of “The Star” (1955), the story of a space explorer and devout Jesuit priest who makes a horrifying discovery regarding a supernova that destroyed an enlightened extraterrestrial civilization thousands of years ago. And of course, it can be said of 2001: A Space Odyssey . Fifteen years before the film 2001 , and half a century before the year 2001, Clarke made with Childhood’s End an inspired and influential foray into science fiction that would ask tough philosophical questions regarding the Universe and humankind’s place in it. science-fiction united-nations 45 likes Like Comment Shelby 45 reviews 114 followers November 11, 2015 I know I'm a little late on reading this (it was published in 1953), but as an avid lover of science fiction, in both the literary and cinematic sense, I am so happy that I did choose to pick up this timeless story. My initial motive for deciding to read Arthur C. Clarke's novel was the fact that in about a month, SyFy (I watch almost everything SyFy airs) will be premiering a mini-series based on the work bearing the same name, and I subscribe to the read-the-book-before-you-see-the-movie belief. But I digress; the most straightforward way to construe the sentiment of Childhood's End would be to liken it to an episode of The Twilight Zone, minus the omnipresent voice of Rod Serling guiding the audience toward the actuality of the plot, of course. Since Clarke is also the author of 2001: A Space Odyssey, I am not surprised at his ability of futuristic foresight as much as I am impressed by it. His ability to perceive an impending future of which he could not possibly have had any knowledge is simply stunning. This story is ageless; it is easy to believe that it could have been published alongside current bestsellers, or even 25 years from now, given that by then we as a race are still questioning the existence of intelligent alien life. The story begins in the mid-20th century and ends about a century later. There is no main character, and this alone exposes Clarke's avant-garde literary style. Divided into 3 parts, the story follows the lives of 3 separate people while being presented in the third-person omniscient narrative. The parts are seamless, and while they span a century, their cohesion is tangible. The alien visitation trope is not new to literature, not now and not during Clarke's time. Yet, out of all the science fiction I have watched or read, this story was able to leave an impact incomparable to any other no matter how similar the plot. As humans, we have no reason to question our existence as Earth's most intelligent life-form; it is as it has always been, and in our remembered history there has been no competition. While our questions about human existence may be limited to how and why, the fact that man rules the Earth is indisputable. Since there is so far no observable evidence to prove the existence of any alien life, we have no discernible reasons to query into the continuation of the reign of man. But what if there was? How quickly would our galactic perspectives change if alien life was introduced to Earth? Enter the plot of Childhood's End, where an alien race has in fact traversed billions of light-years to visit our precious planet. With a sense of altruism unmatched in any species, the Overlords abruptly end war, hunger, pestilence, and all other forms of suffering man has brought upon itself. Through economic, political, and social reform, the mysterious Overlords provide the foundation for a united planet. While the human race is thankful for these reformations, the reason for such benevolence is continually masked by our alien shepherds. Why have the Overlords arrived? Where have they come from? Why now? Why us? Childhood's End provides resolutions to all these pressing concerns and more. In shining light on many of the most notorious of mankind's existential questions, ranging from the truth of religion to the intricacies of parapsychology, the Overlords also reveal the purpose of human existence. The conclusion of Childhood's End calls into question a familiar idiom: is ignorance truly bliss? books-i-own 45 likes Like Comment Markus 478 reviews 1,861 followers March 16, 2017 ”He felt no regrets as the work of a lifetime was swept away. He had labored to take man to the stars, and now the stars — aloof, indifferent stars — had come to him. The human race was no longer alone.” Out of the authors emerging from the golden age of science fiction, Isaac Asimov is undoubtedly the greatest, but after reading this, I think Arthur C. Clarke might be my favourite. 2017 classics science-fiction 42 likes Like Comment Sanjay Gautam 244 reviews 474 followers October 3, 2016 Surreal, and epic in scope. Mind blowing stuff. 45 likes Like Comment Scott 302 reviews 360 followers October 22, 2018 Childhood's End is a stone-cold Science Fiction classic. Read it. No seriously, Read it. if you're at all interested in SF you should read this, and read it soon. Don't leave it for decades like I did. Oh, are you still here? Ok. If you still need convincing that Childhood's End is worth your time, read on. Arthur C. Clarke's novel is a haunting, thoughtful story that betrays few of its many years (it was published in 1954!) and still reads like fresh SF. Sure, there are a few glimpses of its era- some hints of dated gender relations, some tech that isn't as magical as it would have seemed in the 50s - but in the main this is still a relevant, exciting book. Humanity is on the verge of true space exploration, with both the USSR and USA readying their own space vehicles, when huge alien spacecraft appear without warning over all the major cities of Earth. A voice, transmitted to everyone on Earth and naming itself as 'Karellan', informs the world that the new arrivals are going to supervise human affairs to prevent us from causing our own extinction. Peace descends on Earth. Cruelty to animals is outlawed. National governments fall, and are replaced with greater cooperation between the many peoples of Earth than ever before. With no money being squandered on militaries the world enters a golden age of prosperity and health, where everyone is safe, no one starves and with advanced automation, no one need even work. It's a paradise, of sorts. Karellen and his species are soon named The Overlords, and the world settles into its new reality, the lives of the great mass of people massively improved. Creativity, however, suffers. Without struggle and threat, and with the psychological influence of all-powerful aliens watching over humanity, artistic expression falters and stagnates. No new artistic movements emerge. No new great artists. Science and technological research too suffers, as humanity loses motivation to create technologies that could never match the wonders of the Overlords, to create things the alien watchers clearly discarded centuries or even millennia ago. All research into spacefaring tech ceases, as does research into anything else that The Overlords' presence has rendered primitive by comparison. Fuelled by fear that humanity is being stifled, and despite the seeming benevolence of the Overlords, anti-alien resistance and lobby groups spring up. The fact that The Overlords refuse to reveal their appearances, to even hint at what they look like, and rule via decree from their ships only strengthens this resistance. The decades begin to pass, with the great ships hanging over Earth, seemingly content to watch and make small interventions, but their ultimate purpose remains a mystery, a mystery that eats at certain ambitious people, leading one of them - Jan Rodricks - into an audacious and risky plot to find out what the Overlords are doing. That's the basic plot, but this outline doesn't do it justice. There's a tantalizing sense of mystery in the story Clarke tells, and it tugged me through the narrative like a hare before a greyhound. Who are the Overlords? What are their plans? What do they even look like? Why are they hiding themselves? These are the questions the characters in the novel obsess over and they are so skillfully handled that I obsessed over them too. So where does this story of mystery go? To somewhere unexpected is the simple answer. This is no pot-boiler tale of a doggedly noble human resistance, or even a tale of species-wide uplift, of humanity being given technological gifts and joining the myriad races of some galactic federation a la Star Trek and the like. Instead it's something very different, something both sad and beautiful. I was genuinely surprised at the direction Clarke sent his story, and the thoughtful, poignant ending is one that stands high and tall as a genuine original in Science Fiction. This is a great book, a landmark of its genre. You really should read it. 4.5 stars. Postscript: One of my colleagues, while growing up in Sri Lanka, used to see Arthur C. Clarke taking his strolls along the beaches near Colombo. I must confess to being envious of my friend for having been in the presence of one of the greats of SF. science-fiction 42 likes Like Comment Tom Quinn 587 reviews 193 followers April 20, 2021 If you're in the market for a solid, dependable sci-fi story, this old gal will get you where you wanna go. Like many older models, she's functional but not very flashy. 3 stars out of 5. Genre enthusiasts will certainly appreciate the robust philosophical underpinnings, the mix of fear and optimism evoked by deep dives into speculation. But newer generations of readers will probably want something sleeker, speedier, and sexier. 39 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,452 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 181 quotes 45 discussions 9 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. 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Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $8.99 Rate this book Sweetbitter Stephanie Danler 3.32 73,843 ratings 8,273 reviews Want to read Kindle $8.99 Rate this book Newly arrived in New York City, twenty-two-year-old Tess lands a job as a "backwaiter" at a celebrated downtown Manhattan restaurant. What follows is the story of her education: in champagne and cocaine, love and lust, dive bars and fine dining rooms, as she learns to navigate the chaotic, enchanting, punishing life she has chosen. As her appetites awaken—for food and wine, but also for knowledge, experience, and belonging—Tess finds herself helplessly drawn into a darkly alluring love triangle. In Sweetbitter , Stephanie Danler deftly conjures with heart-stopping accuracy the nonstop and high-adrenaline world of the restaurant industry and evokes the infinite possibilities, the unbearable beauty, and the fragility and brutality of being young in New York. Genres Fiction Contemporary Food Audiobook Literary Fiction New York Romance ...more 356 pages, Hardcover First published May 24, 2016 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Stephanie Danler 5 books 1,807 followers 12 highlights in this book Stephanie Danler is a writer based in Brooklyn, New York. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the New School. Sweetbitter is her debut novel. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.32 73,843 ratings 8,273 reviews 5 stars 11,362 (15%) 4 stars 21,603 (29%) 3 stars 24,731 (33%) 2 stars 11,866 (16%) 1 star 4,281 (5%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 8,274 reviews Offbalance 533 reviews 92 followers August 18, 2016 If Sweetbitter is the book of the summer, then clearly I need a new season. I could not find one reason to understand why the reviews of this book were as good as they were. Most of them seem to center around how well they say the author describes food. As someone who has been deeply interested in food writing since high school, I can deem her merely adequate. This book is the ne plus ultra of terrible MFA writing. The self-indulgent meandering that the reader is forced to endure as the dimwitted main character blunders around life only is saved by the occasional inadvertently funny passage, or moment when one of the other characters rightfully give the main character shit for being a complete moron. What little plot exists centers around the narrator landing in New York with no drive or direction to anything except, like, I dunno, live or something? So she decides to get a job in a restaurant so closely based on the Union Square Cafe I hope Danny Meyer sues the writer's ass. Naturally, as only a privileged pretty white girl can do, she bats her eyes into a job at a pretty damn prestigious restaurant and proceeds to get away with all sorts of incompetent bullshit due to her youth, as far as I can tell. The character is supposed to be from some Midwestern city, and though anyone who's ever even only been adjacent to a copy of Food and Wine knows, food outside of New York consists of more than toast and canned soup. All of the other raves about the "look inside the restaurant industry" must have come from people who never read Kitchen Confidential or Blood, Bones & Butter . (This just in! Sometimes people use cocaine! Shocking, I know.) Our idiot heroine literally begs one of the older staffers who she idolizes into being her friend and mentor, in turns so pathetic they're incredulous. She also, naturally, falls in love with a beautiful boy behind the bar with the personality of her favorite food (which is toast, btw) but she can't figure out if he actually likes her. All of the "growth" she experiences boils down to her learning how to order wine like the kind of douchebag most of the people I know who have worked in the serving profession want to murder (describing a white she orders as "flabby but adequate"? Bitch, are you for real?). When the end mercifully comes at last, the last 40 pages are so breathtakingly incomprehensible as to only possibly belong to another book. Perhaps if the developments came earlier (and there was less wanking about Oysters and wine and whatever the hell else) there would have been, I dunno, a plot? Instead, we got a rundown of Chowhound.com's greatest hits from 2005 (dropping Sripaphi's name like it's a new thing? Come on now. Everyone's hip to that trick.) Do yourself and avoid this. All it will make you do is want to set the book on fire (especially not recommended if you have an ebook), and sing the Internationale and hope that idiots like the characters in this book are first against the wall when the revolution comes (and perhaps starting your own revolution to facilitate this). The book can only be summed up as follows: 1,354 likes 2 comments Like Comment Trin 1,962 reviews 610 followers June 23, 2016 I work in a bookstore in an affluent neighborhood. Today, the following conversation occurred: Customer: I want to return this book! (plunks Sweetbitter down on the counter) Me: Okay, what was wrong with it? Customer: It was stupid! Me: Oh, I really liked it! But I could see how someone could find it kind of pretentious. Customer : Yeah, all those waiters going around quoting Kant and Fitzgerald. It was ridiculous! Me: (surprised, as this had not been what I'd meant at all) Oh... Customer: A whole book about someone wanting to become a good waitress . I mean, who cares? What does it matter? Me: (After a few beats of dead silence that stretch a little too long) Why don't you go ahead and pick out something else? What I wanted to say, but couldn't -- because like the main character in Sweetbitter (you know, the waitress ) I am in a service position that requires me to hold my tongue even when someone insults me to my face -- is that I thought Danler's depiction of her protagonist's aspirations and growth were gracefully handled. The style is indeed a little pretentious -- with short passages of all dialogue and other experimental stunts -- but for me it created an almost dreamlike quality that meshed beautifully with the main character's whirlwind of new experiences. This is a book about a young woman finding herself in a big, strange city, and starting her career, and gaining life experience. And yes, she does all of those things as a waitress. (You condescending bitch.) I would hate to see how this customer tips. 2010s american-lit fiction ...more 720 likes Like Comment Kat 268 reviews 79.9k followers Shelved as 'will-not-finish' December 1, 2021 y’all ever relize a book is gonna annoy the shit out of u after about 7 seconds of reading?? lol DNF @ 2% 😅😅😅 686 likes Like Comment Frances Dowell Author 40 books 396 followers June 1, 2016 This is one of those "I really wanted to like it" books. The sentence-level writing is gorgeous, and the subject matter--working in a high end NYC restaurant--is (for some of us) nearly irresistible. And at first I liked Sweetbitter very much. Young girl moves to New York, gets an amazing job, is immersed in the life of the city ... What's not to like? But after a hundred pages or so (maybe even fewer), I started to get frustrated. While I was enjoying protagonist Tess's introduction to fine food and wine, I kept waiting for, well, a plot. Eventually I could no longer deny what I'd begun to suspect: there was no plot, unless you call a 22-year-old backwaiter falling in love with the attractive-yet-troubled bartender a plot. It's not. Tess's relationship with Jake the bartender is as tedious as you'd imagine. The more interesting relationship is the one between Tess and Simone, the restaurant's doyenne and longest-serving server. Simone takes on Tess as her protege, teaching her about wine, urging her to go deeper, learn more. Simone in many ways is who Tess wants to be--well-traveled, at home in the world, mysterious, cultured. The problem is neither Simone or Tess (or Jake, the troubled bartender) are fully developed characters. And they're the main ones, so imagine how unmemorable the secondary characters are. Simone is intriguing, but ultimately she seems like a type instead of real person. Same with Tess, same with Jake. But they're so close to being more than that! I finished this book wishing it had gone through one more round of edits (you will grow tired of the drinking and the snorting and the vomiting, I promise; you will begin to skim), in which the author had gone more deeply into her main characters. I had the feeling she didn't want to reveal too much about them because she was holding back for the penultimate reveal ... but to be honest, what we learn at the end of the book doesn't have much of a payoff. I think it's supposed to be shocking, but it isn't. Or it's not really that interesting--so, mildly shocking in a boring kind of way. I'd rather have real characters. Anyway, if you're twenty and living at home in the suburbs this summer, dreaming about how great life will be once you're shed of your parents and your job at the mall, you'll like this book more than I did. If you're me, you'll read to the end (after vowing to give up in the middle), skimming as you go, because you're curious how things will turn out. But of course you already know how things turn out. They always turn out that way. 480 likes Like Comment emma 2,121 reviews 67.3k followers August 22, 2022 this is a book about a few of life's greatest gifts: food, and pretentious people, and bad behavior, and gossipy drama, and women being intrinsically more interesting than men. sure, it strayed too far into interpersonal conflict and shouting for me at times, but i love books like this one - introspective, coming of age, girls who think too much and the completely normal people they obsess over just for having happened to be there. simone is so much more interesting than jake or even tess, but then i am a woman fan. this was addictive and fun!!! and i have literally 0 interest in watching the show. bottom line: the fun kind of unpopular opinion! -------------------- pre-review yum. review to come / 3.5 but super rounded up -------------------- tbr review leah said people hate this book because it has pretentious dialogue, and i immediately added it 3-and-a-half-stars contemporary non-ya ...more 246 likes 1 comment Like Comment Jennifer 787 reviews 27 followers June 1, 2016 It's weird - I couldn't put this one down and at the same time I was slightly annoyed the whole time I was reading. The descriptions of working in a restaurant are good, as are the food and wine discussions/descriptions, and they kept me going thru all the bar scenes and bumps of cocaine and thoughts that seemed too mature for a 22-year-old who was the opposite of mature. Enjoyable but just not my favorite. 200 likes Like Comment Joachim Stoop 801 reviews 630 followers July 3, 2016 I apologies in advance for sounding hard and harsh in this review... So... one of the most anticipated books of 2016 according to some (literary and press) sources. In their reviews and in the first GR-reviews it was said to be 'Anthony Bourdain meets Jay McInerney with a sprinkling of Siri Hustvedt.' So Anthony Bourdain? Tough luck I just read his Kitchen Confidential. Sweetbitter is supposed to 'engulf your gastronomic senses'. Except for a short episode of eating a first oyster, the first (and one of very few) real recipe descriptions was an omelet with cantaralles on page 106! Kitchen confidential had by then collected an entire Jamie Oliver Cookbook. And wow: I encountered some namedropping of wines that weren't the usual Chablis or Bordeaux! Maybe it's 'cuz I'm a European gastronaut (pun intended) but as Shania Twain exclaimed once: that don't impress me much. Siri Hustvedt? It felt that the writer didn't dare to choose between full-on incrowd food porn and, euhm, a good story. It felt that the writer just adored to show off her talent (which she has!) of writing playfull dialogues. It felt that the author went out to play, while the reader wasn't invited to play along, sitting and staring annoyed on a courtside bench. "Look y'all, with no hands" So, it's not that much more than yet another girl leaving everything behind to go to the big city tabula rasa to wait tables (another pun intended). And of course there is a likable/lickable waiter that our waitress is crazy about, untill she kisses him and he doesn't seem to remember afterwards... Sometimes I wonder if some readers on Goodreads actually read the novel, or just the promo talk... But, I know, it's all about taste... except for the topic of this 'culinary novel'... 187 likes Like Comment Samantha 389 reviews 199 followers June 3, 2016 Hmmm . . . Where to start when reviewing Sweetbitter ? My desire to read it can certainly be attributed to the Hype Monster and a serious case of Cover Lust. People were raving about this one long before the release date, and it was hotly anticipated ever since Stephanie Danlier's book deal was announced . Also, the cover lured me in the first time I saw it. I mean look at at it; it's just so striking. I went out and bought the novel right away because of the glowing reviews and that striking image on the front. Unfortunately, I don't think Sweetbitter lived up to the hype, or was as good as its gorgeous cover. Sweetbitter follows Tess as she arrives in New York City to escape her empty life in Ohio and have all the experiences she can. Tess isn't an aspiring anything—she gets a job at a fancy restaurant in Union Square as a backwaiter and that's enough for her. Just to live in the city and to be immersed in restaurant life is living her dream. Tess is subsumed into the culture of her profession. She drinks too much. She stays out all night. She does coke. She injures herself on the job and can be found crying in many a corner. Rinse and repeat. Aha! But there is something to shake up Tess's routine of toil and debauchery! There is the older woman, Simone, a senior server with affected, European ways who teaches Tess about Wine and Life and Literature. Enter a lot of platitudes. Tess, being a motherless child is soon in thrall to Simone. But she's even more captivated by Simone's closest companion, Jake, the moodily handsome bartender at the restaurant. The nature of Simone and Jake's relationship isn't clear, but one thing's for sure—Tess is ready to get in the middle of it. Tess was proclaimed by various shout-lines and reviews to be "uniquely beguiling" and "unforgettable." I found her to be neither. These lines from Tess's own lips more accurately sum up her character: ". . . I'm their pet. Their puppy. They need me to follow them around." Tess spends the whole book following her coworkers blindly, allowing them to mistreat her and determine the course of her life at every turn. I didn't really get her as a character, or feel for her, or like her. I can't say I cared about any character in this book. Not only are they an unlikable host of people (and I like a well-done unlikable character, don't get me wrong), they are an uninteresting bunch—beset by a cliched host of demons and addictions and foul mouthed one-liners. We've seen these people before, and they're not interestingly wrought here. The New York Times declared that "Sweetbitter…[is] an unpretentious, truth-dealing, summer-weight novel" and Kirkus Reviews (which gave the book a starred review) says it has "only occasional lapses into unintentional pretentiousness." I have to disagree. I found the majority of Danler's writing, in Tess's first-person narrative voice, to be pretentious. It was like she was trying too hard to sound literary. Here's how she describes figs: "Each one with a firm density that reminded me of flesh, of my own breasts." Um, okay. Here's how Simone talks: "I know you. I remember you from my youth. You contain multitudes. There is a crush of experience coursing by you. And you want to take every experience on the pulse." I'm sorry, but does anyone talk like that? A lot of the dialogue is stilted like this, just doesn't ring true, isn't the way people converse. The book also tries some ambitious narrative shifts that I don't think work. It switches from Tess's first-person narration to second-person narration, where Tess refers to herself as "you," and then there are passages dropped into the work at random of stream-of-consciousness dialogue, overheard from the guests and the waitstaff. It doesn't come together as a cohesive whole or illuminate any special meaning in the story. There is no plot to speak of. There is no driving force in the novel that keeps it interesting. There is a scene where finger-banging is supposed to be the sexiest, and it's not, it just ends up being ick . There are some well-written passages where Danler shows promise as a writer. But they're overwhelmed by the pages and pages of try-hard literary fiction. The book never lives up to its promise and I was left thinking, what's the point? I can't say I liked Sweetbitter . It left me feeling meh when I wanted to be wowed. dangerous-heroes-2016 179 likes Like Comment Elyse Walters 4,010 reviews 11.3k followers February 9, 2022 Update -- Chat about the Series?/! .... Has anyone watched this? Thoughts? Paul and I just discovered it (Amazon Prime Video). The interesting, diversified cast makes the show intriguing. The leading actress, "Ella Summer" (an English actress best known for her role as Jackie in the Showtime drama series Yellowjackets, which I haven't seen) ... must be 'THE MOST BEAUTIFUL' (drop dead gorgeous) actress in show business. Its hard to take your eyes off of her -- (and speaking of 'eyes' > WOW > they are huge) -- Paul and I are both liking the series -- terrific (even better) than the novel. OLD REVIEW ... This was a spontaneous audiobook pick ..... available through my library overdrive. I never had any serious intentions of reading it when it first came out. I had pre- judged it unfairly. I 'assumed' the writing would be amateurish. WRONG! The words that Stephanie Danler used in her sentences were invigorating- delicious-and thought-provoking. My original thought was, "what gifted author writes about a 22 year old female looking to reinvent herself in New York City?" I wanted to change the channel on this story before it even started. But for kicks - I pushed 'AUDIO-PLAY'. This story 'wasn't' about a girl with big dreams on being an actress - a singer - or dancer looking to be discovered. Tess actually just wanted a job.....away from America's heartland. I found myself intrigued during a job interview that Tess was having. The interviewer asked her questions that didn't seem related to the job whatsoever. He wanted to know what she was reading. She debated about telling the truth or not. Given that Tess was applying for a waiter job at the most popular New York restaurant.... The interviewer asked her to tell him about a problem situation she faced with her last job and how did she solve it. The entire interview had me on the edge of my seat. This book now had my respect!!!!! Tess gets hired as a back waitress. She learns to fold napkins correctly- set the tables -deliver the dinners but not take the orders - and clear the tables when the guests are done eating. She becomes infatuated with the wine expert name Simone and the bartender named Jake. Between Tess's lifestyle of alcohol, food, ( which you can almost taste), drugs, sex, and the dealings of the complexity of relationships... we get a personal back scene tour of the sweet, the sour, the salty, and bitter shenanigans. I definitely got an inside look and expanded appreciation into the restaurant industry..... THE AUDIOBOOK HELD MY ATTENTION.....'most' of the time.... but what surprised me more than anything was the writing itself. I enjoyed the way Stephanie Danler put words together. They were innovative!!!! NOT BAD FOR A LIBRARY FREEBIE!!! I liked it!!! LOVED THE WRITING... awesome sentences! Very impressive & enjoyable! 3.7 rating Like Comment Siena Mirabella 67 reviews 6,995 followers December 5, 2018 I have a new appreciation for this book, reading it the second time. One of my favorites. I adore Stephanie's writing, sis needs to come out with another one 🙏🏼 favorites 117 likes Like Comment Leigh Ellis 41 reviews 4 followers June 9, 2016 I love a good coming-of-age story, but 98% of this book was/is unbearable. Here's a sampling: ! ROMANCE ! ""Your eyes. It's unmistakeable," he said. He thumbed my cheekbone. "Veiled melancholy has her sovereign shrine." His hand moved up my cheek, flushing me, into my hair, where he tugged, his fingers dry, nonchalant. His other hand pressed into the bruise on my thigh, as he could intuit the blood below the skin. When he kissed me I said, Oh my god into his mouth but that, like everything else, was swallowed up." ! METAPHORS ! "Our three glasses touched and I pulled a mouthful of wine. The joints in my spine softened, like butter going to room temperature." ! DRAMATIC DIALOGUE ! *This is all one scene, mind you.* ""Fuck you," I said to a man I didn't recognize. "You want to repeat the names of things? You want to make out?" That person disappeared. "I serve people!" I yelled out above the music. "Sasha, you think my life is easy 'cause I'm pretty? It's not. I get a fucking door opened for me now and then. Being pretty...well..." "I wanna fuckin' record this shit right now." "It sucks." "Baby Monster, how 'bout you shut your face 'fore I break your face." "I hate you," I said to Will, but he was asleep on coats." OK, after typing these quotes, I'd like to amend my review to state that 100% of the book is unbearable, UNLESS, that is, you're drinking and reading it aloud to friends (or by yourself #summertimesadness). 116 likes Like Comment Shasta 211 reviews 4 followers June 10, 2016 This book is completely full of itself and full of shit. 117 likes Like Comment Blair 1,865 reviews 5,303 followers February 10, 2017 It's a coming-of-age story, not the one about all the realisations that come with entering your teens, but the more painful and laborious one about becoming an adult, learning to look after yourself. It's the year of your life you learn that you can't transform into someone you idolise through mimicry alone, and idiotically debasing yourself for love will get you nowhere worth going. The protagonist is twenty-two when she drives into New York: Let's say I was born in late June of 2006 when I came over the George Washington Bridge at seven a.m. Her plan is to walk into restaurants until I got hired; she's hired by the restaurant her roommate tells her is the best in New York, old-fashioned, unpretentious, but eminent. In a city where everyone's trying to be a writer or an artist or an actor or a musician, she has no ambitions beyond the immediate moment. Her life is swallowed up by her job as a backwaiter and bartender. Our narrator is fascinated by two colleagues in particular: enigmatic Simone and smouldering Jake, who share an intimacy that evokes siblings one day, lovers the next. Her name – Tess – is not spoken until halfway through the book, and it's no coincidence that its utterance marks the moment she arrives at the restaurant – in the sense of recognition, that is. She wins one of a series of joke awards given out at the New Year's staff party, and becomes aware that, at last, she is a visible part of this community, this makeshift, volatile family. It's also the occasion Jake really seems to see her for the first time, and insults her, moves her to tears. The inevitable next step is their seduction of each other. Yet it's Tess's inability to remove Simone from the equation that really forms the backbone of the plot. Sure, many ingredients of Sweetbitter are unoriginal. New York City. The emotionally unavailable older boyfriend. The drugs. That the main character is, of course, beautiful. But. This is a story which acknowledges that a job in the service industry – implicitly, any job – can be exactly as transformative and revelatory as something a thousand times more glamorous. That you can have wild nights and lonely days. That you can be young and gorgeous and still desperately want someone who doesn't want you. That friendships are not some infallible salvation. That you can live in one of the most exciting cities in the world and not have ventured much beyond your immediate neighbourhood, that one bar. That you're never indispensable. That you can be an adult and still fantasise about a future vision of yourself; still rely on a crush to give your days colour. It swerves cliches so gracefully that I felt continually relieved. I felt exhilarated and comforted at once. Vertiginous with recognition and affection. And the writing is spectacular. Stephanie Danler's prose shimmers and sings; it flows like water, clear and lucid. But the dialogue of group gatherings, whether across the kitchen or in a bar, is messily layered and can be difficult to pick apart. Sweetbitter doesn't always let you in on the joke. It leaves a lot of things unexplained, so you just have to keep going and learn on the fly, exactly like Tess. I could say I never wanted the book to end, but that wouldn't quite be true. It's self-consciously finite – four seasons counting down to the one-year anniversary of Tess's arrival in New York – and that's part of its beauty. You will see it coming. First jobs don't last, obsessive love burns out, but everything leaves its mark. Coming-of-age stories either work for you or they don't, and I suppose that's a lot to do with personal experience, whether they awaken particular feelings or dig up particular memories or push none of your buttons at all. I've lost count of the number of them I've found unrealistic bordering on comical, only to see someone I know or follow saying wonderingly of the same book, it's so true to life. So I can't promise this will work its magic on anyone else like it did on me. All I can say is that I felt validated by it somehow. I felt more alive while I was reading it. What a book, what a fucking book. TinyLetter | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr 2016-release contemporary favourites ...more 118 likes Like Comment Larry H 2,645 reviews 29.6k followers June 5, 2016 "I wanted to say, My life is full. I chose this life because it's a constant assault of color and taste and light and it's raw and ugly and fast and it's mine. And you'll never understand. Until you live it, you don't know." When we first meet Tess in the summer of 2006, she has just left home and driven to New York without any real plans, just a rented room in an apartment in Williamsburg. She somehow manages to find a job as a "backwaiter" at a famous New York restaurant, and it changes her life in ways she cannot even imagine. Sweetbitter chronicles a frenetic year of Tess' life—one of excess, exhaustion, enthusiasm, emotion, and education (not necessarily in that order). Those who have never waited tables or worked in a restaurant don't really understand that it's a far more difficult job than you could imagine, and when you work at an exclusive restaurant, the pressure on everyone, from the dishwashers and the food runners and the bartenders to the servers, managers, and hostesses, is brutal. Tess finds herself in the middle of a sea of employees, many of whom have been at the restaurant for a number of years, and have fought battles with each other and the customers over and over again. It's not easy being the newbie in a pressure-filled sea. Tess gets screamed at by the chef, tasked with cleaning out drains no one has touched in perhaps forever, falls down stairs, but starts to realize she is tougher than she thought and enjoys the job more than she could imagine. She builds a relationship with Simone, a senior server at the restaurant whose tip totals are legendary, someone whose section regulars request to be in. Simone becomes a sort of sensei for Tess, teaching her about wine, taste, the beauty of using all of your senses, and, of course, about life in the process. "You're only beginning to learn what you don't know. First you must relearn your senses. Your senses are never inaccurate—it's your ideas that can be false." Tess also becomes infatuated with Jake, one of the restaurant's bartenders. He is enigmatic and elusive, simultaneously flirting with her and keeping her at arm's length, and Tess is warned by many of her colleagues that Jake's demeanor isn't artfully sullen, but rather hides a great deal of emotional complexity. Yet her attraction to Jake makes her both vulnerable and courageous. I thought this was a pretty fascinating and well-written book. I worked as a server at a few restaurants during my college days, and while none were as high-end as this one, I certainly recognized some of the situations and the personalities that Stephanie Danler described. At times pretentious, at times emotional, Tess is a really interesting and flawed character. She annoyed me at times, but I can only imagine what someone so young might experience in a world populated by late-night drinking, drugs, food, and the hotbed that the pressure cooker-like environment of the restaurant world can be. Danler is a really talented writer. There were sentences and paragraphs that wowed me, even as the characters frustrated me, and that was one of the aspects of this book that definitely elevated it. Some people have likened it to Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential , which I don't quite see, but I think this is a book that is compelling in its own right. If you've ever wondered what it's like behind the scenes of a well-known restaurant, you'll enjoy Sweetbitter . But don't read it on an empty stomach if you're a foodie! See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo... . 89 likes Like Comment Diane 1,081 reviews 2,986 followers July 25, 2016 I couldn't finish this book. I checked it out because the novel had been hyped, and generally I like foodie stories, but the writing in this was too on-the-nose and I was groaning by page 5. For example, in the beginning she writes about driving to New York to "escape" from her hometown and its "twin pillars of football and church." ARGH. I skimmed ahead and didn't see much to improve my opinion. Maybe you will like it more. food unfinished 85 likes Like Comment NJB 171 reviews 2 followers January 22, 2021 I kept wanting to get to the part where I cared. The book started out promising, but then just dissolved. Much like the restaurant being condemned for its "architecture", this book falls apart because it becomes a drunken, drug-filled morass. 83 likes Like Comment Rebecca 3,834 reviews 3,164 followers June 5, 2019 I’m willing to go out on a limb and call Sweetbitter my novel of 2016. Twenty-two-year-old Tess arrives in New York City by car in June 2006. Two days later she interviews at a restaurant in Union Square and gets a job as a backwaiter and barista. Camaraderie makes the restaurant not just bearable but a kind of substitute home. Tess is most fascinated by two colleagues who stand apart from the crowd: Simone, the resident wine know-it-all, and bartender Jake. Try as she might, Tess can’t work out the dynamic between them. To mirror her one-year taste apprenticeship, the book is broken into four seasonal parts, headed by short sections in the second person or first-person plural. Everything about this novel is utterly assured: the narration, the characterization, the prose style, the plot, the timing. It’s hard to believe that Danler is a debut author rather than a seasoned professional. This captures the intensity and idealism of youth yet injects a hint of nostalgia. See my full review at Shiny New Books . (I also interviewed Stephanie Danler .) Related reading: Why We Came to the City by Kristopher Jansma (about friends who pull together to survive in recession-era New York City) Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal (another debut with a foodie theme and a nebulous main character whose life is revealed piecemeal) best-of-2016 foodie-lit reviewed-shiny-new-books ...more 82 likes Like Comment Skyler Autumn 241 reviews 1,556 followers August 26, 2018 5 Stars This book was everything I didn't know I was craving in my next read. A rich and immersive ode to the service industry, an industry I currently work in because writing is not paying the bills just yet. Maybe I'm slightly bias but this romanticized nod to a less then glamorous job and lifestyle made me revaluate and actually appreciate the hectic, frustrating and at times unbearable atmosphere that is the behind the scenes at any major restaurant. Sweetbitter is a coming-of-age novel centred around our fresh faced and wide eyed protagonist Tess and her journey to New York and inevitably the ins and outs of her job working at a fine dining restaurant. Tess is pulled into the industry more based on her charm and appearance then actual skills and starts off this novel as a bumbling, idiotic and completely out of her depth back waiter. Her new job is a shock to her system as it is for any newbie in the industry. The fast pace insanity that can come from serving is an onslaught for the senses not to mention navigating the eclectic and dysfunctional staff of any restaurant. In Tess's case that includes her obsession with the two older senior staff members; the dream boat brooding bartender (aren't they always) Jake and the older, wiser and sophisticated Simone. These two are a weird double edge sword they are beautiful yet tortured, sophisticated yet shallow, smart yet simple they are just like the industry itself sweet and bitter. This novel has a lot of mixed reviews and weirdly enough I totally agree with the negative reviews: YES! Tess and every other character in this novel is full of poor choices and is unlikable but hell so was I at 22 years old. I can now look back at those shady decisions with an older and smarter mindset but in the heat of the moment everything was a hectic blur of zero self control or self awareness. YES! This book really has no plot but I like stories that feel like windows into a person's life. I like snagging a peaking into a different world. I don't always need a storyline just an interesting setting I can immerse myself in. YES! This book is overly descriptive with metaphors up the wazoo but it made for a really visual reading experience that made me crave a fine meal and night out on the town. YES! The love story in this book is BULLSHIT! The dude is a 30 year old temperamental loser who has no direction in life, is disrespectful to Tess, and is in weird co-dependent relationship with Sloane. But what I perceive now as a loser at 27 is what I believed to be an artistic, tortured, and mysterious man at 22. I totally get why 22 year old Tess found Jake appealing I would have too because dating those type of men is what taught me to avoid them at my age now. So ya, I completely agree with why certain people didn't enjoy this read but for me all those negatives were positives in my eye. I can't help it I'm sucker for a book that kind of is Swan Song for an industry that has been so integral to my 20-something life. This book is definitely not for everyone but if you're a fellow server or use to be and have been in those trudges, I'd be surprised if you don't crack a smile at the cliches that seem to circle every servers life including Stephanie Danler. UPDATE: Do not watch the TV Show the TV Show is so bad it's almost painful it does a detriment to how good this novel is. BAD TV SHOW! favorites 64 likes 1 comment Like Comment Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell Author 56 books 19.9k followers December 10, 2021 Instagram || Twitter || Facebook || Amazon || Pinterest Okay, so I found this book in a Little Free Library and it looked really fun. I'd actually heard of it-- and I'm usually the last to hear about anything, so that said something. Looking at the critical reviews kind of upset me, though, because one of the common complaints I saw was that it was unrealistic for people working in a service position to be so familiar with literary references and allusions and aspire to, you know, the sweet life. Whether you love or hate the book, I think that kind of thinking is classist because it kind of implies that only people with "good" jobs are intelligent and if you have a "bad" job, you must be either stupid or not book smart. But there are plenty of people working in service positions with college degrees-- especially now. I used to be one of those people and it was a truly miserable experience. I worked in a service position where people proceeded to treat me like absolute shit. I had people threaten to call corporate and get me fired because we were out of Turkeys on fucking the-day-before-Thanksgiving. I had full on adults throw TEMPER TANTRUMS because we were out of Anna and Elsa dolls the day before Christmas. I got called "bitch" and all sorts of other fun names for telling people "no, this isn't a trading post, I can't exchange the mountain of goods you don't have a receipt for for a brand new XBox" and "ma'am, please stop trying on all the lipstick, we have to throw out the used ones." I had a guy try to scam us with fake coupons and throw a bitch fit in front of his kids, before telling them, "We're not having Christmas this year, because this woman doesn't want you to have your presents." And then the kids cried. Thanks, Worst Dad Ever. One of my favorite incidents happened on Christmas Eve, though. This lady was with her grumpy teenage daughter and they were being your typical harried holiday customers. I was putting up a display of holiday decor and the lady and the daughter were fighting about her college plans. And then the lady said, quite clearly, "If you don't go to college, you're going to end up like that woman right there." *points at me* At this point, I was just done. Done with the holidays. Done with this woman. Done with the display that wouldn't stay up. So I said, "Actually I went to [good college] and I still ended up here. Sometimes you just really need a job and you have to take what you can." Well, daughter's jaw dropped and woman looked horrified. I thought she was going to apologize but then she said, "Oh really? How did you get into your school? Do you have any admission tips for my daughter?" Sincerely and without any shame. Fuck this woman. So, you know, it's totally possible to work in the service industry and not be *sniff* dumb pleb, you snobs. And honestly, people in the service industry work pretty damn hard, college degree or no, and it seems pretty fucking rude to spit on them from your ivory towers. I've often said that everyone should be required to do at least two years of waitressing or retail. I think it makes you a nicer person. And throughout all this, did I aspire to greater things? Oh yes. Oh, God yes. So this is one element of SWEETBITTER that I actually really appreciated. It feels semi-autobiographical and you really get a sense of Tessa's sense of angst and ennui working in an industry that is so adjacent to the rich, while she's being treated like stage dressing or a prop. The writing is gorgeous and the descriptions of food are probably the best part of this book. The reason I'm giving it a two is that it is kind of boring. Not a lot happens, and feel like it would have been better either as a short story, an actual memoir (if this is, indeed, a semi-autobiographical work), or maybe as a romance. I don't know, I just felt like the book was trying too hard to be more than it was and it ended up not being all that fun to read. I can see why they made it into a TV series, though. And you might like this book if that sort of wistful appeal for luxury and finer things is something you relate to. It seems like a lot of people jumped on the hate bandwagon for this book-- for things that aren't even necessarily the book's fault-- and I actually liked a lot of the things other people complained about. I just wish it was a little more memorable. 2 to 2.5 stars literary-fiction you-can-watch-it-on-the-telly 63 likes Like Comment Dianne 590 reviews 1,163 followers October 30, 2016 I really liked this coming-of-age story set in the milieu of a high-end New York City restaurant. It does get off to a slow start and the writing style takes some getting used to but if you like complex and often unlikeable characters, this may be for you. Tess comes to New York City as a young adult with no plans and no resources. She unexpectedly gets a job as a backwaiter (plate clearer, drink bearer, dinner deliverer, table service setter) in a very upscale restaurant. The story traces a year in her life as she moves from being "the new girl" to an integral part of the restaurant's infrastructure. I loved all the details of restaurant life and the almost claustrophobic relationships between the various employees - owners, managers, servers, bartenders, cooks, dishwashers, hostesses, etc. Tess falls for a moody and aloof bartender who seems to have a strange co-dependent relationship with an enigmatic older woman, a senior server who serves as a mentor/tormentor to Tess. It's a complicated tale, with lots of shifting allegiances, betrayals, drinking, drugging and casual sex. This won't be for everyone - my Goodreads friends who have read it are either "love it" or "hate it," with nothing in between. Much like the exotic food and wines lovingly described in this tale, this book is most definitely an acquired taste. I ate it up! Great debut novel. best-of-2016 53 likes Like Comment Blaine 849 reviews 965 followers June 2, 2021 Somewhere inside Sweetbitter is a good story. A young woman from a small town moves to New York, and spends a year working in a restaurant learning about food, wine, and love. Not an original story, mind you, but at least a good one. Sadly, Sweetbitter is not that book. Tess is a rather frustrating narrator: naïve, and determined to make certain mistakes no matter how many people warn her beforehand. Jake, the object of her affection, is more of an archetype than a developed character. The only real question about their relationship is how it will end. Simone, Tess’s mentor, is a more interesting character, although her relationship with Tess is ultimately unsatisfying. And the ending is ... problematic. But the real problem with Sweetbitter is the writing. Or, to be precise, the overwriting. There are occasional passages—often almost a stream of consciousness—that really capture the controlled chaos of working in a restaurant. But large sections of the story are told in a style that just feels wildly pretentious, and after a while it becomes difficult not to transfer that sense of pretentiousness to Tess. Goodreads tried to warn me. Even for literary fiction, 3.29 is a mighty low rating. Sweetbitter sounds intriguing, but is ultimately much less interesting than it sounds. I’d recommend reading something else instead. 2019 from-library 51 likes Like Comment Diane Barnes 1,392 reviews 449 followers July 31, 2016 I started this book without knowing exactly what I would find. Some reviewers considered it their best book of the year, others found it just ho-hum, some hated it, and more than a few abandoned it after a few pages. I decided to jump in because I love reading about food and wine and behind the scenes action at restaurants. I figured I could DNF it if it proved no good. I was enthralled from the beginning. A 22 year old lands a job at a high priced Union Square restaurant in NYC. From a rube who has to turn around because she doesn't have money for the toll to get into the city on her first day, she turns into a person who loves the city, loves her job, and loves her co-workers, in particular the bartender, Jake, who has some pretty heavy baggage to deal with. "A year in the life", so to speak. I think this book appealed to me so much because I saw a lot in it that I could relate to. It's been a long time since I was 22, but I can remember the feeling that everything was new and exciting, so much to learn, loves and hates, everything was there just for the taking. I have never worked in a restaurant, but I did work in a big box retail bookstore for 10 years, and service industries of any type have a lot in common. Hatred/ridicule of corporate policies, tolerance of bad customers and respect for the good ones, fellow employees who became family because of shared experiences, and the way everyone worked together on days that seemed endless. This novel spoke to me because I understood the backstory underneath. This is not a book that I can whole-heartedly recommend to anyone, because it doesn't really fit into a category that will appeal to genre readers. It's personal. Suffice it to say if you're interested, give it a chance. 47 likes Like Comment Julie Ehlers 1,115 reviews 1,515 followers December 29, 2017 Sometimes when I'm reading a novel I picture one of those kids' toys that's basically a rectangular box with holes in it, and the toddler is meant to use a toy hammer to pound different-shaped pegs into the holes. (This is a real toy, right? I'm not imagining it?) When I picture this toy it's usually bad news for the book, because the pegs are never all pounded in the way they're supposed to be. They're sticking out all over, and no one has bothered to take the time to make everything fit together the way it should. It's unwieldy and unsatisfying. On the other hand, when I'm reading a novel where everything seems to work together perfectly, I tend to picture it as some kind of weaving, a tapestry maybe. Every element of the book is a different color thread, but it all forms one whole. That's the operative word: whole. What's the point of creating a large work, like a novel, with a lot of different elements, and then not taking the time to make it all fit? Stephanie Danler took the time. Sweetbitter is packed with characters of varying degrees of importance, with details about food and wine and the restaurant industry, with love and lust and heartbreak and dive bars and shabby NYC apartments and drug use in gross restrooms. But it all works together just as it should. It's not a perfect tapestry—there are a few broken threads in the form of characters not quite as well developed as I would like—but for the most part it's all unified by the point of view of Tess, a 22-year-old main character who makes some terrible choices, but no worse than those a lot of 22-year-olds would make in similar circumstances. At least she's alive; at least she's really living. At its heart, Sweetbitter is a coming-of-age tale, familiar but also singular. Danler's clear desire to weave it all together and her undeniable ability to make it happen set her apart from a lot of her contemporaries in the current fiction landscape. This talk of tapestries might make Sweetbitter sound labored or dull, but it's not. It's fun! It's juicy, like a soap opera—and given that it's going to be a half-hour series on Showtime, I'm clearly not the only one who noticed this quality. I loved getting immersed in the world of this high-end restaurant and all the weirdos and lost souls who worked there. As time has gone by I look back more and more fondly at Tess and her clueless behavior—probably the way Tess herself would look back at her 22-year-old incarnation with the benefit of years and hindsight. Didn't we all mess up a lot at that age? And if we didn't, we probably should have. When else would we ever have that kind of freedom? I follow Stephanie Danler on Instagram and she's always posting bits of the poetry collections she's reading, which doesn't surprise me, because this book was written by someone who cares about structure and cares about language. I genuinely hope she hasn't gotten so distracted by Showtime that she's neglected to start a new novel, because I'm already impatient to see what she comes up with next. literary-fiction 46 likes Like Comment Theresa 242 reviews 160 followers December 3, 2019 This book just wasn't for me. Stephanie Danler shows promise as a writer (this is her debut novel), but she's not a natural storyteller. "Sweetbitter" has zero plot, and the characters were paper thin. The protagonist, Tess, lands a job in an upscale restaurant in New York City, and that's pretty much the whole plot. "Sweetbitter" was pretentious as hell. Ugh. Tess basically speaks in a bunch of random, confusing thoughts about herself, her job, and her bland co-workers. Big whoop! I didn't feel connected to her at all. It was like watching paint dry. No personality or complexities as a young woman coming-of-age in a hectic city. The only thing I took away from Tess is she's a people pleaser, gullible, and spineless. She dabbles in drugs, binge-drinking, and meaningless sex just because all her co-workers are doing it. Peer pressure is no joke, folks. She was immature and lacked self-control/awareness. No character development. The best thing about this novel was the cover, (so gorgeous) otherwise this stinker is definitely bitter, bitter, bitter. The ending was disgusting. It made me dislike Tess even more, she makes terrible, terrible choices. Danler is a whiz at metaphors, but as an author, she lacks intensity. I love beautiful writing, but I NEED a plot. coming-of-age favorite-covers trauma 44 likes Like Comment Bonnie Brody 1,227 reviews 201 followers April 1, 2016 Stephanie Danler, a new-comer to the literary scene, has a poet's flair for words. The only unfortunate aspect of the novel is that the narrative is extraordinarily boring. It revolves around a young woman named Tess who drives to New York City from America's heartland in order to make a life for herself. She finds a shared apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and quickly gets a job at one of the top restaurants in Union Square (think Union Cafe). From there on, the reader is informed about the goings on of all the folks who work and eat in the restaurant along with Tess's perceptions of them and her surroundings. Tess is infatuated with Simone, the wine expert, and Jake, a bartender. Simone attends to Tess a bit but Jake, at first, acts like she doesn't exist. A relationship between Simone and Jake is alluded to but not revealed until later, much later. While Ms. Danler has a wonderful gift for writing, I wanted her to tell more of a story, one that was more interesting than the comings and goings of a restaurant crowd. Anthony Boudain, in non-fiction, can keep the writer interested but Ms. Danler had me hanging on to her words while I begged for a story. It is my guess that this novel is semi-autographic. It reads like the work of a young person who very much wants to know the world and those who people it. I applaud that effort but it just doesn't work as a novel. I rate it '5' for the beauty of the writing and '2' for the story line. 42 likes Like Comment Sarah 1,568 reviews June 9, 2016 You know how sometimes you can't stop hearing about some fabulous restaurant in town, that one you have to try and have to get reservations really far in advance if you don't want to go at 9:30 on a Wednesday night, that one with the famous chef who's really a white girl but makes amazing Spanish tapas and has changed the food scene forever? And then maybe you go and it turns out it really does taste like food that was made in a gas station, and not in an edgy way but in a gas station way? This is like that with books. To be clear: that famous tapas restaurant really is amazing and you should stop hating on that famous chef. That other food really does taste like it's from a gas station (a clean gas station, but a gas station nonetheless). This book is the gas station kind, not the famous tapas kind. 41 likes Like Comment Britany 1,046 reviews 463 followers September 8, 2022 Drugs, Binge drinking and sexual tension--- ah, life in the hospitality industry. I think I was a good way into this book before I realized it was fiction and not a memoir! It reads like a poetic flashback of the grime and spotlight that is being a bartender and server at a nice restaurant in Manhattan. We follow Tess as she moves to the city to start her life, with all of her belongings in her car and a dream of figuring it all out. She interviews with Howard- an eclectic older man that owns the restaurant that she ends up working at. The usual crew takes their places in this novel- you have the men that sleep around, those that binge drunks and alcohol, and those that don't take life too seriously. Simone, the sommelier intrigues Tess and she orbits her world like the sun around the planet. This was good, not great. It's not life changing and I'm sure while most can agree that this is the way the industry works at times, it was an interesting snapshot of life in the city hustling to make a living. 2019 audiobook bookriot ...more 37 likes Like Comment Marie 143 reviews 48 followers August 31, 2016 “Appetite is not a symptom,.. It’s a state of being, and like most, has its attendant moral consequences.” Sexy, racy, indulgent.. .an enlightening dive into life within a restaurant. It felt authentic and raw, a full sensory & gustatory experience.. for which reason, I recommend this book be read accompanied by a glass of wine. With all the drinking, drugging, and embarrassing mistakes made by the protagonist, you will need it. She bares her soul and the soul of the restaurant industry. I have not had the pleasure of working in a restaurant, but have had friends who have and this novel definitely sheds light on the subject. “Sweetbitter” was written by Stephanie Danler drawing on her own experience as a backwaiter in NYC. The protagonist in the novel, whose name you do not learn until half-way through is Tess. She presents herself as naive, unpretentious, inexperienced and unworldly, but is out to prove herself to survive and achieve in the restaurant which is modeled after Union Square. She comes under the wing of Simone, who is older, experienced, worldly and uncomfortably close to the bartender that Tess is fixated on. Tess learns about terroir, and develops an appreciation of food and wine. She gets swept up in the late night partying, which is part and parcel of working in the restaurant. She becomes involved in a love triangle. She makes ridiculous choices. She is a character you root for, though. Through her, you gain insight into the secret life of a restaurant, how it becomes all-encompassing, lending itself to late nights with drugs and alcohol, to relationships that lack depth, and self harm. I felt transported to the time after college where there is so much to learn, to experience, where anything can happen, where so many relationships are fleeting. I cannot imagine being Tess, alone and new to a city without any friends or family nearby, not returning home for the holidays. My heart ached for her loneliness, her desperate yearning to fit in, her poor choices. However, I also felt the energy and excitement of this time in life, the possibilities, the opportunities, the relationships. I loved the book for the most part. It’s an exciting and fun read. I recommend it to anyone interested in the restaurant industry, who enjoys reading about food and wine, who’s looking for a spicy book to read. For my wine & spirit notes, see http://www.book-chatter.com/?p=552 . fiction food wine 34 likes Like Comment Christine 874 reviews June 29, 2016 I was invested in the beginning of this book, but quickly lost interest. The characters didn't do anything for me. I couldn't find any character growth, and the writing style was quite choppy (fitting perhaps since the book is focused around food, I don't know). I kept waiting for the moment that I would care about the characters, but I mostly felt like I spending time with people I didn't want to be around. I was so disappointed in this novel. debut-novels 34 likes Like Comment Stacey 944 reviews 158 followers November 9, 2018 I finally read this novel. It has been on my tbr list since it was published. It was everything I thought it was going to be. Tess is 22 and finds herself in New York City wanting to make a start somewhere exciting. A tough place to be without a plan, but she finds a job in an upscale restaurant despite not having experience. She carves a space for herself in this industry starting at the bottom as a backwaiter. Following her ups and downs is a pleasure to read. The people, management, food, wine, and let's not forget about the drugs is what makes Tess's experiences authentic. I enjoyed Stephanie Danler's writing. She can write about food and wine and have me running to the store! If you have worked in the restaurant industry, Sweetbitter will resonate with you. 36 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 8,274 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 226 quotes 7 discussions 14 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Within the Mind (In the Mind, #1) by Alice Winters | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book In the Mind #1 Within the Mind Alice Winters 4.07 1,806 ratings 275 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Seneca is the complete package. He’s smart, sexy, and confident, much to Chevy’s annoyance. They’ve worked with each other for two years, and even though Chevy might secretly find his partner charming and attractive, playful harassment is all they have. Chevy was born with a unique gift that allows him to go into the memories of others. As detective, he uses this ability to find peace for victims who have been hurt or attacked. He delves into their memories and can pick out minute details that will help them put the criminal behind bars. But neither Chevy nor Seneca are prepared when they are asked to go into the mind of a serial killer in hopes of finding survivors. They are even more unprepared for the monsters they find inside the man’s mind. Drawn into a memory where it’s hard to figure out where the truth exists, they realize that there may be more to the serial killer than they originally thought. The dark world draws the two men together in a way they never dreamed. It will take everything Chevy and Seneca can give to stop the darkness that could consume their minds. As the two are forced to face what is keeping them apart, together they realize that there’s more to the mind and heart than either of them know. Within the Mind is a 90k word romantic suspense with lots of snark, an ominous gramophone, and finger cuddling, because we all know spooning isn’t as great as it sounds. Genres M M Romance Paranormal Mystery Romance Fantasy Humor Crime ...more 318 pages, Kindle Edition First published January 28, 2019 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Alice Winters 53 books 2,344 followers Alice Winters started writing stories as soon as she was old enough to turn her ideas into written words. She loves writing a variety of things from romance and comedy to action. She also enjoys reading, horseback riding, and spending time with her pets. Follow me on Facebook where I put up short stories, teasers, and giveaways: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Alice... Join my newsletter: https://www.alicewintersauthor.com/ Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.07 1,806 ratings 275 reviews 5 stars 708 (39%) 4 stars 655 (36%) 3 stars 329 (18%) 2 stars 88 (4%) 1 star 26 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 275 reviews Teal 608 reviews 230 followers Shelved as 'dnf' May 29, 2019 DNF @ 7% This isn't a review, just notes to myself so I'll be able to remember why I quit: - Nonstop on-the-job sexual harassment isn't amusing, it doesn't make for charming banter, and it's not an acceptable basis for a romance. - Contractions. In speech. People need to use them. Or else the dialogue ends up sounding stilted. - If you're accessing someone's memories, you're experiencing the world from their POV, not some external omniscient POV. So WTF ? crime-mystery-thriller dnf-in-2019 ebook ...more 32 likes Like Comment Eugenia 1,745 reviews 290 followers January 18, 2020 I now know that there is such a thing as TOO MUCH SNARK! While Alice Winters delivers a captivating mystery which is decidedly harrowing, her lack of balance between snark and real dialogue overwhelmed me. The two MCs—one perpetually chipper, the other always grumpy (stereotypes anyone?) —had perhaps ten sentences of dialogue that was not snark. It was sooooo tiresome! Sure, at first I found them hilarious, but soon I prayed for some normal conversation. Everything. I mean EVERYTHING was snark—even when they were in gruesome, life and death situations. Please. I do have to give Joel Leslie kudos for his performance in narrating this book. He was undoubtedly best apart of the whole experience. As for me, I’m as done with this book and author as I am with this “review.” My rec? If you love snark more than life itself, go for it. law-enforcement-pi mm-romance mystery-thriller ...more 22 likes Like Comment Dani 801 reviews 91 followers April 11, 2023 Well I felt as confused reading this as I did watching Inception 😂 16 likes Like Comment Amy Aislin Author 30 books 838 followers February 8, 2019 I wanted to like this more than I did. With all of the glowing reviews, I certainly expected to. But while I liked the overall storyline and I thought the author did a good job of portraying a sympathetic villain, a few things hindered my enjoyment. First, the world-building is nonexistent. I have no sense of geographical location, and I have to assume that that's done on purpose by the author so that the story can, theoretically, be set anywhere. But it didn't work for me because I never got a sense of place, of location. And not only that, whenever our MCs went somewhere new, we never had any description of the setting, so I literally could never place myself within the story. I also couldn't figure out what type of organization Chevy and Seneca work for. They're detectives, and yet they don't work for the police? Who do they work for? It was never properly explained, and neither was the reason for people having these gifts. Second, the secondary characters. Detective Collins (an actual cop, unlike our MCs) is your typical rude, abrasive, emotionless female cop. And her partner, Detective Rivens, was so useless he could've been cut out entirely and it would've made no difference to the story. I also never connected with Chevy's mother; she was a little OTT. Third, the MCs. I liked Chevy. Chevy was honestly the highlight of the story. But the banter/snark between him and Seneca meant that I never connected to their relationship. The banter is ALL sexual, and frequently made an appearance at inappropriate times. It got old about 10% into the book, and made reading the rest of a 90K-word book feel like a chore. I had hoped that when they got together the sexual banter/snark would stop, but it didn't. And because of that, and because they never had a serious conversation, Chevy and Seneca's relationship lacked depth. The banter/snark made for a rough read, and because I didn't find it funny or entertaining, it seriously impacted my enjoyment of an otherwise intriguing plot. 2-5-stars alt-universe boys-who-like-boys ...more 13 likes Like Comment Carol 2,965 reviews 114 followers April 19, 2023 This story has a fascinating and unique plot, and the detail of that plot is like nothing I’ve ever read before. Police detectives Chevy and Seneca live in a time when some people have unique mental gifts. Chevy is able to help solve crimes, searching for clues by rifling through a criminal’s mind as if it’s pages of memories in a filing cabinet. Seneca’s gift is that he can mimic another’s "gift"; in this case, it allows him to join Chevy on his mind trips. Entering the mind of a serial killer is as creepy and unpredictable as it sounds. Entering this psychopath’s mind was like navigating a twisted and depraved carnival house of horrors. Of course, working in "each other's skins" and already sharing a thus far unspoken attraction...produces something that they both think is unprofessional. However, Alice Winters gives insight into a relationship low on angst and often high on humor. Chevy and Seneca were first coworkers as well as friends before they become lovers. It takes a bit for Chevy to convince himself to move beyond the "friends" status. The story does have its share of humor...like when Seneca stubbornly insists on carrying four suitcases by himself across a hotel lobby...Chevy: "“How can I be attracted to this embarrassment, and why does he look so hot when he should look like an idiot? Who could possibly look sexy doing this besides Seneca?” Oh yes...who indeed? The book is well-written, as Alice Winters’ books always are, with an interesting cast of characters. The trip into the serial killer’s mind, and how he "built" this strange world is fascinating and intriguing, though you can't spend much time there without feeling the need for a long hot shower. It is so easy to form pictures of the dark journey Chevy and Seneca take. Thank you, Ms. Winters, for another terrific reading experience. 12 likes Like Comment Bo 386 reviews 23 followers September 8, 2022 Are there issues in this book! Yes. Did I care? No. WHY? I was too busy laughing my ass off!!😂😂😂 The banter and innuendo between characters is off the charts hilarious, imo! I didn't agree with any of the reviews that said it was blatant sexual harassment. If Chevy had a problem with it, he would've said something as a grown ass man should. If someone makes me uncomfortable... I tell them so... See how adulting works!? I thought it was hilarious. The anti-villain's story brought some tears to my eyes. It made the story really difficult at times because I felt so badly for the villain. 13 likes Like Comment Deborah 3,557 reviews 473 followers May 31, 2020 I’m a huge fan of this author but... I’ve held off reading this. The reviews are mixed and I was worried it would be too dark for me. I finally decided to just put on my big girl pants and dive in. It started well and I was kicking myself for not starting sooner. I liked both Chevy and Seneca. I found the idea of their gifts intriguing. Why had I waited so long? And then I found out exactly why. The mind of a serial killer is not the place I wanted to be. It was creepy and disturbing. I considered quitting but by this point I needed to find out what happened. This is a read through your fingers book or at least it was for me. And while it’s easy with TV it’s a lot harder with a kindle. I can tell you. I’m taking a break and then tackling the next book. Despite the ominous title of Lost in the Mind. I love her crazy characters. And I love the sarky banter between them but...it seemed a little OTT here at times. 10 likes Like Comment Nichole 611 reviews March 31, 2020 Alice Winters is one of my MUST READ authors. It doesn't matter what she is writing you just know it's going to be superb. Within the Mind was just another one of her stories that had me by page one. The story of Chevy and Seneca is a little different from a typical romantic story. The setting is in an alternate universe where people can have special gifts. And these two do. They use their special gifts to help people. Whether it's to find out who hurt them, who stole from them, etc. There goal is to see what the average person does not see. Throw in a serial killer with a strange mind, and now Seneca and Chevy have a whole different playing field. They have to partner up together like they never have before. I love a good mystery but to add in the Alice Winters humor into the mix and you have yourself a wonderful page turner. A definite recommend to anyone who wants to giggle as they figure out the mystery!! Here's also hoping we see more of these two! physical-books 8 likes Like Comment Qin 534 reviews 41 followers February 2, 2019 Four things prevented me from fully enjoying this suspenseful ride. 1° The story is written in first person, indicative present, with Chevy as the sole mouthpiece; this means that we are stuck with the least interesting by far of the two leads (the kind of character who feels the need to inform the reader of countless inept details, e.g. of his mother that " her eyes are brown, similar to mine. She wears glasses, so it's hard to see their exact color until she takes the thick lenses off "), never to get any straight, unbiassed inkling into Seneca's psyche, while having to suffer through several hundred pages of unsubtle narrative, for though present tense is notorious for many literary side-effects of dubious pedigree none proves more damaging than its capability to flatten the pacing into a dry kernel of actions devoid of any temporal subtility (this watering down is best seen in small details, such as the following bit of internal discourse: " he grins at me like he's proud that I understand how brainwashed he wants me to be "). 2° The universe building, insofar as the paranormal aspects extend, has been reduced to less than the bare bones; all the reader gets are scattered tidbits of utter dryness, e.g. " it has been only in the past hundred years or so that people with gifts have been treated equally. Before that, they were seen as witches or demons and burned at the stake ". Nor is this a procedural - whatever cop routine appears within these covers amounts to bland parlance of no great originality and precision. 3° While the quest for the villain has been cleverly done, with a good building up of the suspense and dramatic tension and a strong final reveal, Mrs Winters allowed it to overwhelm the romantic element by an excessive margin; to be more accurate, between the snark contest that supposedly doubles as Chevy and Seneca's expression of their slowly evolving feelings - I was actually unable to perceive any marked change in the two through their patterns of behavior and verbal volleys - and the tense chase to prevent further murders, the lads' chemistry is never concretely borne out. A slow burn that forgets to pave the way for the eventual pairing up of the protagonists, talk about a romantic read! Last but not least, 4° I have very mixed feelings about the writing notwithstanding its unfortunate choice of tense; for the style is lax, unrefined, short of breath, rather cliché (Mrs Winters loves to pile up ready-made expressions outside of the dialogue, where such parlance may safely be brushed off as the stuff of everyday life, until she obtains whole strings of wooden platitudes), and mostly repetitive. Let two small-scale samples suffice to demonstrate these different points: "“One of my students is anxious because she has to be tested,” she explains. Tested. I haven't been tested in years. The first time I was tested for a gift was when I was five. Gifts used to be more common. They are the mental ability that some of us have that allows us to do something beyond what is considered normal. Almost all humans have the probability of a gift, but most never develop into anything. My gift allows me to go into the minds of others. Not to listen to their thoughts or know what they're thinking but to invade their memories. I can flip through a person's memories with ease as long as I know what I’m looking for." "I open my mouth to speak, assuming she's talking to me, when Seneca takes over as Seneca is known to do. He joined us around two years ago and is one of those guys who knew from high school that he could charm anyone into doing anything for him. It's almost like he thinks he's God's gift to mankind. He swings either way, which he doesn't mind sharing, just in case there is a possibility of getting them to fall in love with his charming personality. He is almost as tall as I am, with a body he easily seems to keep in shape by doing nothing. He wears clothes that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe." Worse yet, nobody in the entire book ever receives a formal description. How on God's green earth is one supposed to picture the cast in one's mind when the author did not see fit to introduce them visually? Nor are the various places the action takes the leads through sketched up with anything that could conceived as precision. The whole story thus happens inside a sort of fuzzy, or rather: vague and nondescript, bubble that does little to endear the reader to the already unduly dessicated narrative, cortesy of the present tense. On the whole, my two stars are somewhat too generous. 7 likes Like Comment Joyfully Jay 8,079 reviews 470 followers Read February 13, 2019 A Joyfully Jay review. 4.25 stars Wow, this story totally had me captivated and is one that I can’t stop thinking about, even now that it is over. Within the Mind is sort of a hard book to classify, as it is a thriller, a mystery, a little bit of horror, a shot of romance, and a dose of humor, all rolled into one. First, I’ll say that Alice Winters has created a thrill ride here and this story was hard to put down. It is difficult to explain too much without giving away just what happens to Chevy and Seneca or what is going on in the mind of the killer, so I am going to be a little vague here. But as they delve into his memories, they find that the killer has the upper hand and the men are thrown into his deranged mind in ways that leave them terrified and confused. It is hard to tell what is real, what is a memory, and what is fabrication, and that sense of unreality makes the case even harder to solve. Throw in a serial killer who seems to be able to manipulate people at will, and it is a dangerous struggle to figure out his motive and how to stop him. It is at times creepy and horrifying, and, as we are in Chevy’s POV, we really get to experience all the fear and uncertainty right along with him. Winters really has put together a brilliant thriller here and it is twisty and complex, without being too hard to follow. The story comes together so well and all the pieces fall into place perfectly. Read Jay’s review in its entirety here . 7 likes Like Comment Tamara 220 reviews 2 followers February 21, 2019 This book had potential but it tried to be too cute with the MCs' banter which was juvenile and screamed of sexual harassment. The murder mystery was decent but again ruined by the MCs. I wanted to like this. I really did. 2019-books 7 likes Like Comment Aimora 329 reviews 59 followers November 10, 2021 2.5 stars. Would make an interesting movie but the writing was like a (very) young adult book and the banter got on my nerves. magic 7 likes Like Comment Ray Flores 1,448 reviews 234 followers July 9, 2019 This book made me utterly happy! Seneca and Chevy have unique gifts that help the police solve cases from the victim’s POV: Chevy can get inside someone’s mind by touch alone, and Seneca can mimic gifts from other people just the same. Only this time, the police wants them to go inside the mind of a killer. As the case lies in their hands, they’ll have try to stop all these murders because, even though they know who is responsible, people are still getting killed. Apparently, the killer also has a gift that can manipulate other people’s will without even touching them. Now, I rounded this to a 4/5 because I loved Chevy and Seneca’s interaction: their chemistry and banter made me laugh out loud like an idiot. I know some people mistake it as harassment, since they’re co-workers/partners, but I don’t think Seneca would ever do something to Chevy –he was just all talk, and actually, he was really insecure around him. All jokes aside, we find out why despite working together for two years, none of them made the first move until they were in kind of a life-threating situation. And when they're finally together, we see them being sweet and teasing to each other, which is something I always live for! In addition, the mystery is quite intriguing and some parts of the book were really dark –I was surprised that the author could write such explicit killings, since the book I previously read from her The Last Text was one of my favorite M/M novellas, and it was sweet to the core. Now I can really say I’m in love with Alice Winter’s writing because her characters always make me have a great time when I’m sleep deprived. Her stories make me laugh and cry and I feel like I’ve known these guys forever. I bookmarked a lot of moments and I even showed them to a couple of friends ‘cause they remind me a little bit of a couple I adore (Spideypool!). Though, I strongly believe they need to develop on their relationship a little, since in reality it’s not always that “married couple” state of mind. We need struggle in order to grow up, so I’d love to see them in difficult situations that will prove their love is true and worth fighting for. Either way, I would totally recommend to read this book and I’ll be reading the next one ASAP! 6 likes Like Comment Ariana (mostly offline) 1,472 reviews 64 followers March 23, 2019 So much promise and such great elements and yet, this book was not a total winner for me. It seems that for every 'like' there is something that balances it out. .) The scenario: Going into victims' memories to find evidence of what happened to them is a pretty intriguing idea. BUT: surely if you jump into somebody's mind, you'll see things from their POV, not from a strange 'outside' angle? I also wanted to know a lot more about this alternative universe. It is all kept very simple. .) The banter: I would say about 90 percent of Chevy and Seneca's interactions are banter, and most of it with a sexual innuendo. Chevy calls it 'sexual harassment', but it is clear from the beginning that this is the way he and Seneca communicate and that both guys thrive on it. I think the author labels the books as a comedy which explains all of that, BUT as much I love banter, I sometimes found it a bit on the rough side and simply too much. Chevy and Seneca have hardly any serious conversations. Tbh, there were two jokes, that made me cringe. One is very close to being ageist and the other one racist. But maybe I'm too sensitive here? .) The case: To my own astonishment (I was definitely not made for horror) I loved the creepiness of the 'in the mind' scenes. That is really fab writing! BUT: Some things are left unexplained at the end. .) The relationship between the MCs: Chevy and Seneca are very playful with each other, and from Chevy (as the story is told from his POV) we know that there are real feelings behind that playfulness. The attraction between them is clear and there is some good UST floating around, which is always enjoyable. BUT I could see no discernible relationship development. I was totally surprised when these guys declare that they are dating now. And then I was a bit taken aback by Chevy stating on a couple of occasions that he 'is not ready' for going all the way in the bedroom. We never find out why he is not ready or what is keeping him. So a clear case of a 50/50 and three stars. ku lgbtq 6 likes Like Comment Diane Dannenfeldt 3,768 reviews 72 followers January 2, 2020 OMG I loved this book & hope that this will turn into a series. I would love to watch these two do more investigations. This is a new to me author & I can't wait to read more by her. I have read a lot of books that can be considered paranormal but I have never read one that deals with entering minds to view their memories. Chevy has the gift and Seneca, who I absolutely adored, is his partner. To a certain extent, Seneca can mimic others gifts. Seneca goes in the minds with Chevy as his back up to help get him out should something happen as well as being a back up to what Chevy sees. Two reports are always better than one. They are called in to go into the mind of a serial killer to see if there are victims left alive after he is captured. And when they enter his mind, they are dropped down a deep rabbit hole not knowing what is real and what isn't. You see Page has a gift that hasn't been seen before, he can manipulate others minds. This kept me on the edge of my seat worried that they may never get out. I have to say that when all was said and done, I felt so sorry for Page, the serial killer, and what he went through. This was a great investigation and I never figured out, not even close, why Page did what he did. Seneca cracked me up to no end with his wise cracks, sexual innuendos and flirtatious shenanigans. Chevy and Seneca made a great couple, once Chevy got out of his own way & accepted Seneca. I highly recommended this one!! ARC provided by LesCourt Services in exchange for an honest review. So glad this finally came out in audio. Still felt so sorry for Page! 201-300_pgs have-audio m-m ...more 6 likes Like Comment Kendra T 2,611 reviews 42 followers March 21, 2021 Whoa!!! This book completely messed with my mind! This was so interesting, intriguing, twisted, smart, and brilliant. Chevy and Seneca are cops with paranormal/psychic type gifts. Chevy can read important memories of someone, and Seneca can mimic the gifts of another. The two of them work together to solve crimes. When they are pulled to work on a serial killer, things go totally wonky. There were moments that my heart was racing for sure! The two guys had a lot of banter and were funny together. There was some definite sexual tension between them, but it worked out nicely. This book was great. I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC provided by LesCourt Author Services mm own-prolific-works own-review 6 likes Like Comment Chris 2,070 reviews April 14, 2020 I really enjoy this author but I struggle with this book. Couldn’t get a flow of the storyline and felt off center the whole time. I didn’t really appreciate the connection between the MCs until 80% in. It was hard work but I’m hoping book 2 is easier to settle into 😊 crime-mystery mm-contemporary paranormal 6 likes Like Comment Skirmish 557 reviews August 9, 2020 Book Reaction: https://neverhollowed.com/2020/04/24/... Rating: 4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step away lgbtq 6 likes Like Comment M.I.A 406 reviews 100 followers April 4, 2020 'Within The Mind' is a treat: intriguing mystery, friend-to-lover trope, over the top humor and romance to wrap it all up in a pretty bow. There are mixed reviews about this story, and I myself was reluctant to read it... But after The Hitman's Guide series I knew I enjoyed Alice Winter's sense of humor and endless over the top humor. If you enjoyed that series, you'll love this! Within The Mind is more cohesive than The Hitman's Guide. Winter's sticks to Chevy's first person point of view which makes the story flow smoothly. The story starts off with two detectives, Chevy and Seneca, both have gifts that compliment one another. The ability to enter mind's, sift through memories and solve crimes. They've worked together for two years and they're friends. Friends that endlessly flirt, tease, banter and cross so many workplace sexual harassment boundaries... if it wasn't mutual, you'd be worried. Their 'ordinary life' goes to shambles when they're called in to help find two missing victims of a serial killer, Mason Page. The mystery in this story unfolds in bits and peaces. Unraveling Page's motivation, his drive, this is is done slowly and you find yourself just as lost and intrigued as the MC's. It's stimulating, engrossing and a total mind f***. Their relationship unfolds right alongside. Seneca's easy banter and flirtatious nature is as true as it is a facade. One that Chevy's sees through. Hints of Seneca's vulnerability is what begins to pull you in and balance out the endless over the top banter. Chevy gives it back to him just as hard, and though he has feelings for Seneca he refuses to be another notch on his belt. The pull they have towards each other, though masked in humor, is felt through the first half of the story. Chevy fights so hard to keep himself safe for giving in to Seneca's relentlessness. But I can't... I just can't be another one-night stand for him. I want to be something more, and if I can't be something more, than I want nothing there What I love about this is that Chevy doesn't just roll over and give in, he makes Seneca earn it. That gives their relationship growth so much more texture and balance. Now I'll leave you with some fun stuff: hand licking because duh it's sexy hand cuddling... it's a thing ok Singing Madonna during sexy scenes? Because people do that... and it's hot An adorable pitbull that is literally Seneca's twin Followed by so many more moments. This story was entertaining and original. I am off to the next book in the series... ciao feel-good friends-to-lover humor-snark-banter ...more 5 likes Like Comment Caz 2,907 reviews 1,091 followers April 11, 2024 I've given this an A for narration and a C for content at AudioGals (and the C is probably a bit generous - the plot is really good but the juvenile humour and undeveloped relationship completely tank the book. Alice Winters is a new-to-me author, but I’m a fan of paranormal romantic suspense stories and the synopsis of Within the Mind caught my eye. Seeing Joel Leslie listed as the narrator sealed the deal and I decided to give her work a try. Chevy Wright and his partner Seneca Bates (Seneca? Really?) are both psychics within a special department of the Westlands PD. (Which is where? It’s never made clear.) Chevy has the ability to access people’s memories and Seneca is a mimic, able to replicate and use the gift of the last person he touched. Together, they work with victims of crime to retrieve memories of whatever happened to them in order to help the police to bring the perpetrators to justice. So they’re surprised when they’re approached by a couple of homicide detectives and asked to enter the mind of a man – Mason Page, a well-known artist – believed to be responsible for several murders to see if they can find out where he’s holding his two most recent victims… assuming they’re still alive. This will be like nothing they’ve done before, and turns out to be a lot more dangerous than either of them had expected as they are thrown into a horribly deranged mind that leaves them scared, confused and struggling to tell the difference between reality, memory and fabrication. I enjoyed this audiobook the most when it focused on the plot, which is well thought-out and, at times, creepy AF. The scenes in which Chevy is trapped in Page’s mind and then in his own memories are superbly written and have a truly nightmarish quality to them, and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how things would play out. The author does a terrific job creating a sense of unreality and not knowing quite what or who to trust, and the way that Page always seems one step ahead only adds to the tension and menacing atmosphere. BUT. There’s one really big problem with the book, which is the overall lack of balance. It’s almost as though Ms. Winters has smushed two different books together, because the spooky thriller and the juvenile, undeveloped romance (and I use the term loosely) just don’t gel. At. All. Right from the very beginning Chevy and Seneca communicate almost entirely through snark; there are, I don’t know, a dozen sentences of ‘normal’ conversation in the entire book. Now, I love good, well-written banter, but this book proves that it really IS possible to have too much of a good thing, because there’s so much banter that it goes beyond saturation point. Said banter is ALL sexual – honestly, Seneca is a sexual harassment suit waiting to happen – and a lot of it just isn’t very funny. In the very first minutes of the book, we get this, as Chevy and Seneca are (in a memory) chasing down a suspect: “I can’t wait to deflower you.” “There’s no fucking flower in there for you.” “You’re right, it’s not a flower, it’s been so long for you that you probably have a cactus in there. Or like, a Venus Fly Trap… wait… wait…” “Don’t,” I warn, knowing him all too well. “A penis fly trap! Is that why you never date? You just snap their penis off before they even get close?” And later: “Please don’t come to work tomorrow.” “I’ll come just for you. I’d always come for you.” Have we somehow gone back to the 1970s and I didn’t notice? Imagine if a remark like either of those had been made to a female character by a male one… Seneca also goes into banter mode at the most inappropriate moments. During his and Chevy’s first foray into Page’s mind, after some seriously creepy shit has gone down, Seneca comes out with his usual stream of sexual innuendo, which completely ruined the atmosphere of menace the author had so skilfully built up. I get the use of humour to decompress or diffuse potentially difficult situations, but what the author did there was incredibly jarring – and not even funny. As the story is told from Chevy’s PoV, we know that even though he finds Seneca exasperating, he is nonetheless attracted to him. Given Seneca behaves like a hormonally challenged twelve-year-old who doesn’t seem to have a single thought in his head beyond getting Chevy into bed and doesn’t appear able to hold an adult conversation, I had no idea what he saw in him beyond his good looks and oft-mentioned (but never really demonstrated) charm. But okay, taking the attraction at face value, they then go from ‘You want me/I really don’t’ to ILY in the blink of an eye. There’s no relationship development whatsoever – unless you count the fact that the pair has worked together for two years and Chevy has been subjected to two years of constant sexual innuendo – and because they hardly ever have a serious, adult conversation (they have ONE, I think, during which they talk about the guilt they’ve both carried for deaths of people close to them) it’s impossible to take their relationship seriously or believe in an emotional connection between them. If Ms. Winters had written Within the Mind as a ‘serious’ romantic-paranormal thriller and achieved a good balance between plot, humour and romance in the way that Jordan Castillo Price has managed to do consistently throughout her long-running Psycop series, I’d be able to give it a strong recommendation in terms of both narration and story. But as it is, the poor characterisation – the best developed character was the villain! – and constant stream of sexual innuendo completely tanks the relationship, there’s no chemistry between Chevy and Seneca and no romantic development whatsoever. If I were grading the thriller, I’d be giving it at least a B+, but the rest of it would get a D, so my content grade is a compromise because I can’t, in good conscience, recommend the story as it is. It’s a different story when it comes to the narration, however, as Joel Leslie delivers another flat-out A grade performance. I’ve listened to him quite a lot, but this audiobook was something of a first for me, because it’s the first one I’ve listened to where he’s narrating using an American accent throughout. (Apart from the English villain, that is.) Yes, amazing as it may seem given the number of audiobooks he’s recorded, I’ve only listened to him so far in ‘Brit mode’! And when I’m used to hearing someone speaking in a certain way, it always takes my brain a few minutes to catch up with my ears and it sounds a bit strange until I get used to it. Once I did however, I was able to enjoy the performance immensely; the pacing is spot on, the character interpretation and differentiation is excellent and his vocal acting is superb; the ghastly, throat-wrecking growl he gives the nightmarish ‘birdy’ character is utterly grotesque. As we’re in Chevy’s head, we get to experience all the fear, horror and uncertainty that he does, and Mr. Leslie absolutely nails all of it, conveying a wide range of emotions with consummate skill. When it comes to the relationship between the leads, he does the best he can with such weak material; the incessant back-and-forth is expertly timed and delivered with all of Seneca’s insufferable smugness and Chevy’s world-weary exasperation. I just wish it had been as sparkling and witty as the author clearly thought it was. So there you go. Listen to Within the Mind for Joel Leslie’s terrific performance and the creepy plot, but don’t look for any depth of characterisation or romance. This review originally appeared at AudioGals . audiobook audiogals m-m ...more 4 likes Like Comment Sarah 329 reviews 13 followers February 7, 2024 4,5* (DEUTSCH WEITER UNTEN) I really didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did, haha. The ‚murder mystery‘ was incredibly good and really creepy from time to time. I liked how fantastical elements were incorporated, creating whole new possibilities. Our main characters are real sugar, even if the pubescent „Ohoho, he did say penis“ and so on often got on my ovaries. But hey, Alice Winters is extremely consistent with her characterisations and so I can forgive it. Seneca in particular is just a hopeless case in this area and at some point he was absolutely symapthic to me, although I often felt embarrassed :‘D About the English audiobook: I LOVE Joel Leslie. This person just reads so crassly and intensely that I get goosebumps. I love how he whispers and screams and is desperate and in love. How he changes the pace of reading at moments of tension and how he plays with the characters. Very, very fucking fantastic <3 (DEUTSCH) Ich habe wirklich nicht erwartet, dass ich dieses Buch so sehr mögen würde, haha. Der „Kriminalfall“ war unglaublich gut und von Zeit zu Zeit auch echt gruselig. Ich mochte es, wie phantastische Elemente mit eingebaut wurden und dadurch auch ganz neue Möglichkeiten erschaffen wurden. Unsere Hauptcharaktere sind wahrer Zucker, auch wenn mir das pubertäre „Ohoho, der hat Penis gesagt“ und so weiter doch oft auf die Eierstöcke gegangen ist. Aber hey, Alice Winters ist extrem konsequent mit ihren Charakterisierungen und so kann ich es verzeihen. Vor allem Seneca ist in diesem Bereich einfach ein hoffnungsloser Fall und irgendwann war er mir absolut symapthisch, obwohl ich mich oft fremdgeschämt hab :’D Zum englischen Hörbuch: Ich LIEBE Joel Leslie. Dieser Mensch liest einfach so krass und intensiv, dass ich Gänsehaut bekomme. fantasy fiction lgbt ...more 4 likes 4 comments Like Comment PaperMoon 1,624 reviews 68 followers May 6, 2021 Sometimes, snarky banter can become too much of a good thing. And it proved so as it really really distracted my attention and detracted from my enjoyment of what could have been a thrilling paranormal psycho-murder plot. Seneca's character may have been used to lighten up the relentless down-the-rabbit-hole dramatics our MCs seem to have been inadvertently dragged into; but by book's end - both MCs were beginning to annoy me with their seemingly flippant disregard of a murderous killer with a tragically distressing backstory. A who-dunnit with an interesting premise that got derailed - 2.5 star generously rounded up to 3 stars. 4 likes Like Comment Annika 1,376 reviews 97 followers March 3, 2020 Audiobook review 4,5 stars Alice Winters takes to a world where some people have gifts. Chevy and Seneca are two of them. Chevy is able to go into the minds of others and witness their strongest memory, happy and horrible ones. Seneca is able to mimic the talents of the last person he touched. The two work together with law-enforcement to seek justice for victims and put the criminals behind lock and key. That is until another agency seeks their help rescuing the victims of a serial killer. A serial killer with talents of his own that will turn both Chevy and Seneca inside and out. Within the Mind was different – in a good way. I think. It was a book that kept you on your toes, I know it kept me on mine. Constantly trying to figure out what was real, what was a game – were they still trapped inside someone’s mind, playing games with them? I mean how could they know they were out? It was a mind warp for sure, and I had a blast. At least I think I do, maybe I was tricked in thinking so… Either way, it was a fun trip. I quite enjoyed this world, it will mess with your head just a bit. I kind of wished it was more explored and explained though, as there are things that are still unclear. I’m not looking for some huge information dump, but it would be nice to know who they worked for. How did the world react to people with talents?, What other talents existed? Why and by who was Chevy watched when growing up? There were small stuff and bigger stuff that I wanted to know more about. In the end though, I still very much enjoyed the listen. I really liked Seneca and Chevy together. I loved the banter between them. Though, be prepared that it’s non-stop and at times really OTT. I also love the fact that when we met them they already had a history together, they knew each other. They weren’t new and their feelings weren’t new, but their subsequent developing relationship was. We were there for the changes, the progression, those tentative first steps. And I loved it. Joel Leslie really delivered on this book. Especially the banter was on point. I saw Chevy and Seneca bantering before me, exchanging one barb after the other. He captured each character just right, brought them to life and made the listener connect with them. And it wasn’t only the main characters, but the secondary ones as well. He made you feel like you knew them and wanted to spend more time with them. Then there was this creepy feeling this book gave that he also made you feel, whenever Chevy and Seneca were trapped inside the mind or being chased by the man with many faces – and his creepy voice! Spot on. There was one part that I find particularly telling in regards to Leslie’s talent, (minor spoilers to this particular event ahead). It was when Chevy spent time with his sister. It was the usual deal, the hellos, catching up and spending time together. At a particular point, I was so anxious to know more, what happened next, and I found myself back in that car and the hellos, repeating it all over again. I’m not going to lie to you. I was a smidgeon irritated. I mean here was this huge chunk of plot being repeated again. It wasn’t a minor slip with a word or a sentence. It was minutes! I also questioned the editor’s talent. Then I had to eat some crow, mentally adding my apologies to both Leslie and editor I’d just cursed out. Because it wasn’t a repeating chunk of text, it was a repeating memory for Chevy. And the fact that Leslie narrated them so consistently, possibly identically is really telling about what kind of talent he has. He nails it time and again, and I can't wait to learn more. A copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review audio contemporary fantasy ...more 4 likes Like Comment K.R. Phoenix 581 reviews 24 followers January 29, 2019 🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.5 stars 🔥🔥🔥 Heat Level: 3 (slow-burn) A thrilling read with the perfect balance of suspense and steam with an injection of Alice’s unique humour, this book is a sure-fire winner!!! Again Alice keeps you on the edge of your seat!! Everything Alice writes intrigues me and draws me in and this book is no exception! This book is set in a supernatural style contemporary world where there are people with unique gifts. This story follows gifted detectives Chevy and Seneca. Chevy is a ‘stick in the mud’ anti-social, introvert with the gift to go into peoples memories. His partner is overly friendly, flirty and hot, Seneca who has a smile and kind words for everyone. Seneca can mimic peoples gifts, so he can mimic Chevy’s gift and travel into peoples memories with Chevy to solve crimes and help victims. When they are faced with a psychopathic serial killer/talented artist, Chevy and Seneca are thrust into a dark game of cat and mouse where nothing is as it seems, and monsters in these memories are real and feed on their fears. This book kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat until the very end. A thrilling race and an altered perception kept me guessing. As always Alice’s writing is thrilling, humorous and easy to read, a serious page turner! The romantic elements of this book are very much second to the race to catch the serial killer and is a very slow-burn, frienemies to love type situation. I felt there was more to Seneca than we were shown and the couple, sort of fell into instant love once they agreed to start dating, which was a bit weird. I loved Seneca’s lack of tact, flirting and how he is always pushing Chevy’s buttons. They are a simple case of opposites attract and I sincerely hope we will see more of Chevy and Seneca!! A highly recommended author and story!! Loved it! Thanks for reading! For great stories, reviews and more please visit https://bookstattoosandtea.wordpress.com 📚 2019-4-5-star-reviews bisexual-characters detective-drama ...more 4 likes Like Comment Lelyana's Reviews 3,294 reviews 387 followers June 12, 2019 Review soon 2019 mm 3 likes Like Comment Micah 265 reviews 28 followers March 6, 2019 I’d give this a 3.5 outta 5 stars. This book has a lot of issues, but even so, I actually enjoyed it a lot. I genuinely had a fun ass time reading this. The relationship & banter between the 2 main characters is the highlight of the book. It made me excited to read just so I can find out what funny thing they did or said next. As the kids say, that was some funny shit. I’ve read other books by this author & I think she’s really good at writing relationships where the chemistry is off the charts & just really fucking cute. Also, the action in this book was pretty great too. I found myself thrilled a few times & unable to put the book down other than when I begrudgingly had to go to bitchass work. So my issues with this book: character descriptions, diversity, & character development. The character descriptions were severely lacking. Several characters had some descriptions given, but others had little to none. So as far as diversity goes, there could’ve been more of it in this, for all I know, but because of there being little to no descriptions, I couldn’t tell. The plot line developed pretty nicely but the character development was meh. Even though I LOVED the relationship between the main characters, I wanted more depth. I wanted them to have ups & downs, arguments, etc. Not a “fairytale always happy” relationship. there are a few vulnerable moments but they don’t last long & then it’s back to the happily ever after relationship. Speaking of character development, this would’ve easily been a 4 star book for me if it weren’t for the ending epilogue. I despise insta-love stories. This book isn’t that until like the last 3 pages. The characters have been dating for several weeks & are already on “I love you” & moving into together. I can’t be the only person that finds that shit strange. That high key made me give them the side eye. Regardless, I do wanna follow up on this story so I’m hoping the author decides to continue the series 3 likes Like Comment R 1,923 reviews February 2, 2019 Seneca is a headache, a beautiful headache, with a smile that Chevy just doesn’t know how to handle. They are partners, Chevy can go into peoples minds and see memories. Seneca is his anchor. When they are asked to enter the mind of a serial killer, reality as they know it is imploded. The mind that they delve into convolutes reality. Leaving them searching for answers to questions they can’t even understand. Putting their lives on the line, time after time. This was a mind bending book. The characters were rich and memorable. At times laugh out loud funny, then truly horrific. Their love story flows in and out of the story. Seneca is well versed in avoiding feelings for people. Using his considerable charm to his advantage. I enjoyed watching him realize how much he loved Chevy. There is a kernel of truth in every offhand, flirty, snarky remark he makes. Chevy on the other hand is afraid to fall for the charismatic man, knowing it won’t ever mean anything. But...Chevy’s dog does like Seneca and dogs do know good people from bad people, and Chevy’s mom already thinks they should get married. Both men are already falling down the rabbit hole so why not add love into the mix. A truly enjoyable book (if you don’t mind the serial killer aspect). I received an arc of this book. action-mystery-detective m-m mental-illness ...more 3 likes Like Comment Sue Ouellet-Cofsky 2,240 reviews 32 followers January 21, 2019 While I was expecting the usual M/M story...this one takes us to whole new places...within the mind. It is paranormal (ish) with the documenting of "gifts" but I, for one, believe there are some among us that have these gifts. Alice Winters takes us on a journey of not only a maniacal mind, but of two men who both for reasons of their own, live without love in their lives. Ms Winters has the ability to take a super serious, suspenseful, sometimes completely mind-bending, story and mixing it with enough snark and funny dialogue that I found myself snorting out loud at times when I knew things should be at their most serious. While not super sexy and super romantic, it had plenty of connection, both of the mind, but of the souls of Chevy and Seneca. I loved every mind bending moment of this story. 2 likes Like Comment Daydreamer 205 reviews 1 follower January 10, 2021 I really don't know how to rate this book. Despite being chaotic , messy and kind of weird I kept going through it because I needded to know what the hell was going on. I found the idea of going into crime victims' memories to find out what happened to them very engaging , even the idea of slide into a serial killer's mind was a major hook, BUT the juvenil humour and the lame banter between the characters screwed up the story. I didn't know if I was reading a thriller or a bad YA romcom. All things considered I enjoyed the story in general but can't say I'd recommend it 2 likes Like Comment Kaylee 572 reviews 29 followers March 9, 2021 Winters did a really great job with the case and when inside Mason's mind; even had some creepy bits which I especially enjoyed. However, I did not like the banter. At all. It also changed with the flip of a switch once they got together whereas before it was only Seneca. I get that Chevy was interested in Seneca for a long time but was just too quick of a change. A lot of the characters' personalities felt the same. I would be very interested in more cases by this author, however I feel like the banter/personalities are going to be similar (if not the same) so I'm going to have to pass. Also sexual harassment is still not funny. cop-detective-agent-military fantasy kindle-unlimited ...more 2 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 275 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote 1 discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Own the Wind (Chaos, #1) by Kristen Ashley | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Chaos #1 Own the Wind Kristen Ashley 4.19 48,858 ratings 3,437 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Too hot to handle... Tabitha Allen grew up in the thick of Chaos—the Chaos Motorcycle Club, that is. Her father is Chaos' leader, and the club has always had her back. But one rider was different from the start. When Tabby was running wild, Shy Cage was there. When tragedy tore her life apart, he helped her piece it back together. And now, Tabby's thinking about much more than friendship... Tabby is everything Shy's ever wanted, but everything he thinks he can't have. She's beautiful, smart, and as his friend's daughter, untouchable. Shy never expected more than friendship, so when Tabby indicates she wants more— much more — he feels like the luckiest man alive. But even lucky men can crash and burn... Genres Romance Contemporary Romance Contemporary Adult Erotica New Adult Motorcycle ...more 433 pages, Kindle Edition First published April 1, 2013 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Kristen Ashley 124 books 38.7k followers Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!). Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched). Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up. And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.19 48,858 ratings 3,437 reviews 5 stars 22,684 (46%) 4 stars 16,301 (33%) 3 stars 7,207 (14%) 2 stars 1,848 (3%) 1 star 818 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,437 reviews Aestas Book Blog 1,059 reviews 75.2k followers April 3, 2013 I ABSOLUTELY FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!!!! No word of a lie: I have quotes highlighted on nearly EVERY page of this book!! Kristen Ashley is one of those incredibly talented authors who has my complete and utter trust. I don’t need to read the synopsis or blurbs for her books, I don’t need to see reviews or ratings… Quite simply, if she wrote it, I’ll read it. And true to KA style, this book ROCKED. MY. WORLD. First, I just want to say that although technically this book can be read as a standalone, if you haven’t yet read the Dream Man series, you are going to miss out on a good chunk of the emotional impact of it. And to clarify: you’ll definitely feel the romance between Shy and Tabby for sure either way, but in order to get the full EPICNESS that this book has to offer (and trust me, there’s bucket-loads of epic!), you really have to read them after the Dream Man books. There are cameos from Tack, Tyra, Hawk, Elvira, Brock and Mitch, as well as Lee Nightingale, Tex and Fortums (from Rock Chick) so if those names don’t mean anything to you, their scenes won’t send you into the same squee-ing frenzy that they sent me into. So yeah, I suggest reading the Dream Man books first (click here for the full reading order). Ok, on to the review ;) Parker “Shy” Cage has a bit of a reputation. One involving copious piles of women. Ok, hang on, let’s just take a collective moment to SWOON over his name. I’m in love with it. I’m in love with him. *dreamy sigh*… Ok, moving on. Yeah, let’s just say he’s gotten around. A lot And to say that he and Tabby got off to a rocky start would be the understatement of the year. As the daughter of the leader of the biker gang Chaos that Shy was a brother in, Tabby was off-limits to begin with. But when he sees her going down a path he thinks is bad for her, he decides to try and teach her a lesson. His intentions were good, but his delivery… not so much. His point goes through but he went too far and the hurt ran deep. And for the next few years, she can barely stand the sight of him. But when a tragedy shatters Tabby’s world, Shy is there to help her put back the pieces and learn to be happy again. (And stop freaking out guys, Tack does NOT die!! Breathe. It’s okay!) “You need a safe place to just forget shit and escape, I’ll give it to you. Tonight. Tomorrow. Next week. Next month. That safe place is me, Tabby.” I totally loved both Shy and Tabby. Once they got past the initial misunderstandings and miss-communications and officially became a couple, my gosh were they ever functional!!! They were crazy in love and both valued what they had more than anything else in the world. It was precious to them and they weren’t about to let anything get in their way or come between them. They knew where their priorities lay and it was their relationship first. Above all else. I just absolutely freaking ADORED them as a couple!! “Promise me right now, my dick still inside you, you naked on top of me in my bed, sharing what we just shared, us having a taste of what it’s like apart and knowin’ were better together, you won’t leave me…. You’ll stick with me until there’s nothing to stick to, if that ever happens.” And as individual characters, they were both also amazing. Tabby was just incredible. She spoke her mind, stood up for herself and didn’t take shit from anyone (and considering that she was always surrounded by these badass biker dudes, that was quite a feat). And Shy just stole my heart because despite royally fucking up in the beginning, he was the kind of guy who could own up to it, apologize, and move on. He was Alpha, protected and defended his woman, but at the same time wasn’t overbearing and loved her for who she was – the good and the bad. I loved that despite the way the older bikers ran things, Shy, I guess being younger (27) and maybe more open to change was a biker through and through but at the same time, didn’t put up with a lot of the older ways of dealing with relationships. He had a lot of respect for Tabby in her own right and didn’t let anyone get in her way. “Shy, she’s yours… Control your woman,” High demanded. “Get her ass out.” My eyes went to Shy to see him looking at High, and he wasn’t looking pissed. He was looking reflective. Then he said, “Tab and I don’t play it that way. You wanna order your old lady around, do what you do, not for me to say. I asked her to go, she didn’t go. Not gonna make her. But you try, you’ll deal with me.” This book was tight. The story flowed, it was engaging, something new was always happening and there were no dull moments. The imagery was vivid – I honestly feel like I saw the whole book play out in front of my eyes like a movie. This story had a bit of everything. There were moments that warmed my heart right down to my toes, moments that had me fanning myself and moments that socked me in the gut so hard it took me breath away. I really felt like the message that came through to me from this book was that the shit life sometimes puts you through can cut deep, right into your soul. But sometimes, if you push through it, you can find beauty you’d never have otherwise found. I swear to God, KA’s writing has just SO much depth to it. She’s very much got her own style and let me tell you: that woman can WRITE. Brilliant dialogue. Scenes that make your heart squeeze and race. Scenes that make you sigh dreamily and just feel like you are right freaking THERE. And seriously, this book has one of the most epic verbal smackdowns I have ever read. I was cheering and squeeing. It had some of the best lines from any KA book I’ve ever read (and I’ve nearly read them all). I swear I highlighted almost that whole chapter!! And boy was this book HOT! When the main couple have a connection as strong as Shy and Tabby had, you can’t help but feel it. Again, EPIC. “I knew this day would turn shit,” I whispered. “I knew with how great it started, there’d be farther to fall.” His eyes flashed, his hand moved up to cup my jaw, he tilted my head way back, and brought his face to mine. “May feel like you’re fallin’, Tabby, but remember, I’m at the bottom ready to catch you.” It seriously took all my will power not to just post updates every 2 minutes screaming “I FREAKING LOVE THIS BOOK!!!” My only tiny complaint was that the epilogue was shorter than most and I do love me a big long gushy epilogue, but still... the book rocked! Aaand also, on a bit more of a random note…. what’s better than a hot-as-fuck badass biker?? Well that would be a hot-as-fuck bad ass biker with a smokin’ hot soldier brother. I totally crushed on Shy’s brother, Landon, and really hope he gets his own book one day The next installment in this series is well set up and I absolutely can’t wait for MORE!!!! **SPECIAL (spoiler-free) BONUS SCENE** For my Blog Tour post, Kristen Ashley wrote a Bonus Scene featuring me "Aestas" and a hot biker dude from Chaos!!! If you want to read it, go to this link: http://aestasbookblog.com/book-review... *squeeeeee* 5++ stars!!! Here is my casting for Shy: For more of my reviews, visit Aestas Book Blog And come join the Aestas Book Blog Facebook Page I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review. book-1-of-my-fav-series favorites 285 likes Like Comment Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️ 1,929 reviews 32.9k followers July 27, 2023 Re-read: 7/26/23 Oh. My. Gawd. I DREAMED AN EFFIN' DREAM AND IT IS THIS BOOK. Seriously, heaven in print. I thought there was no absolute way that this book could ever meet my ridiculously high, completely unreasonable expectations, but it did. In fact, it blew them out of the water. Kristen Ashley takes us back to the badass world of Chaos and boy does she bring it. Shy is straight gorgeous and Tabitha is just adorable. I loved how Ashley depicted the evolution of their relationship and made this book totally theirs while still giving us a sprinkle of Tack/Tyra and Hop/Lanie. KA is seriously a master at creating awesome characters--especially my personal favorite--the alpha male. I just love Chaos and I'm so glad she has made it a series. The excerpt for Fire Inside left me seriously hurting for more. I can't wait until June! 0-romance-all-time-favorites 0-top-reads-of-all-time 5-stars ...more 205 likes Like Comment Kristen 842 reviews 4,970 followers April 4, 2013 5+ OUTSTANDING stars –Kristen Ashley's best work yet! If I could give this book more than 5 STARS I would. That is how well-crafted and written this story is. I've always loved Kristen Ashley's work and was apprehensive that a professional editor would rob the author of her unique style of storytelling. FOOLISH ME! With a gifted editor, Kristen Ashley has NOW become a ROCK STAR! Kudos to GCP for recognizing a diamond in the rough. To sum it up, I absolutely loved the dynamics of this book. I loved how young Tabby and Shy were, I love the family interactions, and the atypical epilogue. I simply loved this book. **ARC kindly provided to Swept Away By Romance courtesy of Grand Central Publishing, Kristen Ashley and Chas** ---- If you're already a Kristen Ashley addict, or interested in checking out her books, be sure to stop by our Kristen Ashley Addict's Support Group here on Goodreads! 5-star authentic-and-realistic contemporary-romance ...more 178 likes Like Comment Christy 4,133 reviews 34.7k followers March 5, 2018 5 Dreamy Stars!!! When I started this one, I thought... no way could it be as good as Motorcycle Man and no way could I love Shy and Tabby as much as I loved Tack and Tyra... yeah- I was wrong! I absolutely loved Shy and Tabby is my new favorite KA heroine! We meet Shy and Tabby in Motorcycle Man. Tabby is Tack’s(Chaos MC’s president’s) daughter, and Shy is a recruit in The Chaos MC. Tabby is young (16) and has a big crush on Shy. Shy is just a few years older than Tabby, but Shy has a reputation... he is ‘that kind’ of biker. The one with a different girl in his bed every night. Now we fast forward three years... Tabby is 19 and in nursing school. Shy is no longer a recruit, but a member of Chaos. When Shy gets a call to check on Tab, he goes. Tab is out with some old friends from high school partying. Shy see’s how much potential Tab has, so he sets her straight. It doesn’t go over very smoothly. Tab is hurt and stays away from the MC for a while. Away from Shy. But she does get her act together. Graduates nursing school, becomes engaged to a nice normal guy. Then something big happens. Tab’s fiancée gets in an accident. Tabby is heart broken. Shy has always cared for Tabby, and even though she has ignored him for years, he wants to be there for her. “You need a safe place just to forget shit and escape, I’ll give it to you. Tonight. Tomorrow. Next week. Next month. That safe place is me, Tabby.” Shy and Tabby become ‘tight’. They spend a lot of time together and become very close friends. It was great to see their relationship change and grow. Tabby was doing better. Shy was helping her move on with her life, and letting her become the person she was always supposed to be. Shy was giving me back me. He was guiding me to healing. Even though everyone warned Tabby about Shy (although they all like him, they know his reputation and Tabby has been through enough, they don’t want her hurt) Tab doesn’t care. She knows the real Shy. Although this quote was pretty funny... “I’m just tellin’ you to keep your eyes open and watch your heart. Or, more to the point, watch your ass because if you don’t, Shy’ll tap it.” There are some misunderstandings between the two of them (I wanted to slap Shy for a minute) but they get situated, and eventually, Shy and Tabby become a couple. "I had a taste of you four years ago that I could never get off my tongue. Now, I've tasted more of you with more than just my mouth and I know I wanna keep it in a way I don't want to think of it bein' done. Not in a few weeks. Not in a few months. Maybe not ever" They both are so in love with each other, but they keep it quite for a while because they are worried about others reactions- mainly, Tabby’s dad Tack. So they spend the next few weeks in love and happy. Shy’s brother Lan knows(loved Lan!) but everyone else was kept in the dark. Eventually, they are found out and things aren’t pretty. But in the end, it only brings them closer together as a couple. They always have each others backs and stick up for one another. NOTHING is more important to Shy than Tabby, not even his family of brothers in the MC. I love that about Shy. He proves time and time again how much he loves Tabby and how he has changed. He gets Tabby back to herself. “You promised to get me to a dream, you got me to a dream. Thank you, honey.” I love Tabby as a KA heroine. I loved her in MM and I loved her even more in this book. She is broken and trying to discover herself in the beginning, but she becomes strong and finds herself. I loved watching her grow from MM and from the beginning and end of this book. Parker ‘Shy’ Cage... what to say about him... So hot and so freaking lovable. One word to describe him... Swoon “May feel like you’re fallin’, Tabby, but remember, I’m at the bottom ready to catch you.” Shy doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk. He shows Tabby how much he loves her, and proves it to everyone time and time again. He stands up for her, is there for her, and will do anything to protect her Even beat the shit out of Dr. Dickhead. Tabby and Shy face many obstacles. Both have had their fair share of tragedy. Their relationship isn’t an easy ride. But they find something in each other that both desperately need. Of course its a little emotional at times, and there is some drama (it wouldn’t be a KA book if there wasn’t) but their story was beautiful. I loved how their relationship spanned over the years. They went from not speaking, becoming best friends, and then lovers. This will definitely hold a spot in my top 3 favorite KA books. The epilogue was KA perfection. Can’t wait to read the rest of this series about Chaos and hopefully get much more Shy and Tabby! “I’m tellin’ you now, I want a lifetime.” 2018-audio 174 likes Like Comment UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish 1,097 reviews 1,675 followers June 2, 2015 Wooot! Own the Wind is only .99 for Kindle today at: http://amzn.to/1QnMRIk Want to hear what Tack had to say about Shy and Tabby, and find out how I used chocolate cake to bribe him for a bit about Hop and Lanie's story? Then keep reading.... Full review now posted! My keeper shelf just got bigger!! When you've finished reading my review, be sure and keep reading to find out what tidbit Tack shared with me about Hop and Lanie's story in Fire Inside! Getting the information out of him wasn't easy, but I love yous so I put it out there and got what I got and shared it with you all. So yeah, keep reading! Those of us who had read Motorcycle Man knew that Shy and Tabby would get their story someday, and it’s a story we’ve been looking forward to. Well, that story came much sooner than I had expected it, and I can’t tell you how thrilled I am about that! Own the Wind is totally, completely, amazing. It’s a beautiful tale filled with growth, passion and the kind of romance we mere mortal readers only dream of. It’s a story of letting go of the past, living in the now, with an eye to a future filled with nothing but the best things life has to offer. It’s sexy, romantic, funny... insightful, thought provoking and inspiring. It truly does not get better than this. And for those who are concerned, I know a lot of us were worried that going with a publisher would change the way she tells her stories, that we'd lose the voice we've come to adore. I'm telling you now... No worries. Seriously, this is Kristen Ashley at her finest, and you won't be disappointed. My thanks to Kristen Ashley, Chas, and Forever, an imprint of Grand Central Publishers, for providing BlithelyBookish Reviews with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was, start to finish, brilliant! To see how I spent my day with Tack and how he opened up about his baby girl and Shy, check out my Own the Wind Blog Tour post. You'll find it posted right below my blog review, here: My Afternoon Visit With Tack Allen THE WORKING CHAPTERS ARE UP!!!! March 7th 2013 Facebook Update Wanna meet Tabby and Shy? Download the teaser chapters of OWN THE WIND NOW! Ebook due out April 2. Print book out June 25. Pre-order available for folks in the US, but although not available for pre-order outside the US, the eBook will be available worldwide on Amazon! Enjoy and ROCK ON!!!! http://www.kristenashley.net/menu/tit... January 16th 2013 Facebook Update Here it is, Rock Chicks and Gurus! I know some of you have already seen it before but still, it's worth looking at again. I love it, love it, LOVE IT. I wanna be on the back of that bike, holding on, open road ahead of me, my arms around a hot guy. The cover of OWN THE WIND, the first in the Chaos series! WOOT WOOT! Rock on! Follow Kristen Ashley on Facebook and Twitter ----- If you're already a Kristen Ashley addict, or interested in checking out her books, be sure to stop by our Kristen Ashley Addict's Support Group here on Goodreads! 2013-reads 5-stars author-kristen-ashley ...more 137 likes Like Comment Shelby *trains flying monkeys* 1,674 reviews 6,357 followers November 7, 2015 I see a bunch of my Goodreads friends reading a series and I immediately want to be one of the "cool kids" and read it too. Then I end up like this: Tabby Allen is the daughter of the Chaos Motorcycle Club's leader. She has a troubled life as a teenager with wanting to go out and party, one of the "brothers" Shy is on rescue duty aka Tabby Callout. He goes to the party and "takes" Tabby and brings her back to the club and offers for her to join the two naked women in his bed. He is of course trying to "scare her straight". Later Tabby gets engaged and is actually happy. Tragedy strikes and now Shy steps in to help make everything all better. Did you feel the sarcasm in that gif? You should. Tabby has educated herself and tried to rise above the Club's motto's, she is working as a nurse and has her own place...but she might should just change her name to Doormat. Her bestie even tries to give her some advice. "He's a dawg, Tabby, and you can't forget that. If he's being cool with you, awesome. Pleased he's givin' that to you. Take it. You need family. I'm just tellin' you to keep your eyes open and watch your heart. Or, more to the point, watch your ass because if you don't. Shy'll tap it." Tabby rolls her eyes to that advice. Then this is the passage where I said to heck with this. I'm outta here: He leaned slightly toward me and it took a lot not to lean back. "Is your phone broke?" he repeated, his voice back to low and menacing. "No," I admitted. "So, explain, if you're not avoiding me, you got a call from me, why don't you take it? And, Tab, I'll throw this out there now so you have plenty of time to come up with another excuse, when I leave a message, I wanna know why it isn't returned." I stared at him and he stared at me. I licked my upper lip, his eyes dropped to my mouth, his face got hard, and suddenly the room felt like a silent thunderclap rolled through it. It was then I knew I couldn't take it anymore. "I know about her," I whispered, and yes, that came right out, and yes, it sounded like an accusation. "Say again?" he asked. "I know about her. Your woman." His brows went up. "So?" So? So? "So, you didn't tell me about her," I pointed out. "Sorry, Tab, didn't know I needed to report to you about who I fuck," he fired back. It's totally a real love connection. There is something else that bugged the crap out of me. The frigging obsession with her tongue. This girl licks her lips and rolls that tongue out more than my dog does when he is licking his non-existent balls. That just is so sexy. Now get in line: Booksource: library For the spotlight on this book I'm spotlighting my friend Brandie's review I love her review and I totally trust Brandie's opinion. So I probably did read this one wrong. Brandie and I have been friends since I think about the first week I joined GR. I adore the girl, so go show her some love. dnf don-t-judge-me everyone-loved-but-me ...more 132 likes Like Comment Georgia ♥ 420 reviews 1,171 followers April 17, 2013 5 KA DeliciousDreams&BadassLove Stars - Hey mommy, I dreamed a dream , last night. -Aw, honey… Did you get scared? -No, mom it wasn’t like that. I saw that beautiful man again. -Pumpkin, men aren’t beautiful. They are called HANDSOME. Do you remember, how we talked about that and we said that boys are a little sensitive that way? -Yeah, mom, but he WAS *stomp foot*!!!! And he was shiny and and hadsome and beautiful and he comed to me riding. -It’s haNdsome, love and came, not comed. *sigh* So, riding? Hmmm… Did you see your prince on his white horse like Snow White? -Nah…. Prince Charming is kinda lame, mom! My man, came riding on his Harley, wearing his scuffed boots and his tight leathers. He took off his helmet and he put it on my head. When I grow up I will be his old lady and he will love me enough for 3 Princes, 2 Doctors and 5 Lawyers. Sorry, mom, but MY MAN, will fight my battles and he will love me forever, cussing and cursing, colouring my world, me always on the back of his motorcycle. TEAM BIKERS & CHAOS CLUB Biker meets Biker Babe from birth Tabitha Allen was born a Biker Princess. The daughter of Chaos Motorcycle Club's President, she always knew that the brothers got her back. She was born to ride. And she had the biggest crush on one of her father's "brothers". Until a fateful night, that by saving her, he broke heart and crashed her dreams. She moved on, the only way she knew, finding love and a future. Parker "Shy" Cage knows how much it hurts to lose family. So he protects his new one, the Club and its people, at every cost. He lost Tabby before even getting her and just a taste years ago, haunts him. He understands that he doesn't stand chance and now he has to live with this mistake, trying to make the best out of his life. Find someone to ease his pain. Life, tragedy and their deep feelings are bringing them back together, stronger, brighter and forever. “Always and forever, baby, you’re stuck with me.” To dream again, to breath deep, to BE, they have to prove themselves to each other, their family, the Club and fate. Will fate be in their side, this time? Will they ride together? Or to earn this right, they will be asked to forfeit another? Amazing and kickass, beautiful and awesome, in a way that only Kristen Ashley can deliver, this is a book about badasses and their women, another way of life, dangerous and liberating in an outlaw(-ish) kinda way. Young but mature beyond their years, Shy and Tabby are growing up and falling deeper and deeper right in front of our eyes and we are witnessing their journey till they find each other. Life dealt them a hand and they are making the most of it, until the all in and them leaving with the pot. What makes this story even more beautiful and swoonworthy is the sheer amount of testosterone you experience.... Holy hotness, I wanted to rub my face in it!! SPECIAL GUEST STARS Kane "Tack" Allen Oh come on... A brother with a slutty past is messing with his daughter. What are you expecting??? I have to say, at first: but after some much needed epiphany: Lee Nightingale you’re hiring Lee Nightingale and, girl, you know, that dude has had books written about him. They were fictionalized, but he’s also in the paper all the time, so we both know whoever wrote that shit did not tone it down. He’s the badass to end all badasses. He’s such a badass, he’s the freakin’ definition of badass, and his team of badasses only exist to define alternate nuances of the same thing.” Her chin jerked out. “Badass.” Hawk Delgado I also knew Hawk Delgado could totally join the cast of The Expendables but it was more likely he would act as a consultant on the film because Hawk Delgado didn’t playact badass. He just was one. You don't mess with them... We also get a little insight in Hop's story that follows and without spoiling anything I'll only say that now I can't wait to read it. This book is missing the usual KA-bawl-your-eyes-out epilogue, but it makes sense because the "Chaos" series are more closely connected than her previous' ones. KA fans you don't wanna miss this story!!! And you, yes I'm talking to you!! PICK A KA BOOK NOW!!!! Bonus Quote courtesy of Elvira : If I was makin’ a porno, not that I’d make a porno, but, just sayin’, if I was, it’d be all about a UFC ring, sweaty hot guys with tape on their hands and shorts that come off easy, say, with that Velcro stuff at the sides. One yank and gone. You get what I’m sayin’?” 2013 abused-hero-or-and-heroine contemporary ...more 81 likes Like Comment Karla 987 reviews 1,103 followers April 1, 2013 5…10…15...20 Stars!! Absolute Perfection!! Shy and Tabby and Own the Wind embody everything that the Kristen Ashley name represents! She remained true to herself and her readers will NOT be disappointed. KA's brilliant story telling has been polished to a shine!! IT'S CLASSIC KA…GOLDEN!! "I dreamed a dream" I’m at a loss when I have to review a Kristen Ashley book. I sound like a broken record, because I say the same things over and over, but here I go again. Kristen Ashley is one of the few authors that transports her readers into the story, you become a participant; a bystander watching it all play out, you are so close you can almost reach out and touch the characters. I FEEL so much when I’m reading one of her books, a whirlwind of emotions, it exhausts me and yet I am fulfilled, utterly content after I turn the last page, and Own the Wind was no exception! I loved Tabby’s sass, strength and determination. She’s grown since Motorcycle Man and continued to mature and become her own woman in Own the Wind . She doesn’t wait for life to come find her; she goes out and finds it herself. Shy is smart, and most of the time he’s logical and reasonable. He’s a bad boy for sure, and he’s described as a player by those who know him, but I don’t see him that way. Oh yeah, he’s got girls bouncing off his bed, but he’s up front on what he’s doing, honest about what he’s looking for, and doesn’t pit one chick against the other. I see him as a man with a really strong libido, and if woman are willing to fall into bed with him, who is he to say no!! He’s had some hard knocks in his life and when the beauty that is Tabby is willing to give him a shot, he grabs at it with everything that he is. Once they commit…nothing can come between them…another strong point in the story. Oh they fight, but they don’t waver! When these two get between the sheets, in the shower, on the counter...wherever...it is EXPLOSIVE!!! The heat is on and it does not stop! But what I loved the most, was their intimate conversations, where they come to terms with one another. Talk about their past and their future... beautiful ! "Now I’m an us again, and that’s what I’ll be with my woman and the family we make until the day I fucking die." KA says some of the most profound things and relays powerful messages within the story. I love how the importance of family played into this book, all kinds of family…blood ties and also the club. Family is everything and you do whatever it takes to keep it together, but nothing comes between the one you’ve chosen to spend your life with. She also rocked the dialogue!! There are some amazing verbal smack-downs, like nothing I’ve ever read in any of her other books. It fires it off…bam bam bam …you can hardly keep up, it had me breathless, it was heartpounding, nailbiting, you are there in that moment… fantastic! So here are my final thoughts. In my opinion this is Kristen Ashley's most well rounded book, and the best she’s ever written. The story is a page turner, Tabby and Shy will capture your heart, and there is so much in the way of the other characters and setting that is familiar, it’s like going home. But most importantly, you will never doubt that the book you are reading is Kristen Ashley’s, her trademark storytelling is there is spades, yet it’s more defined, sharp, and has a professional stamp on it. Yes, the epilogue is not what we are used to, but it’s still very good , plus remember this is a continuing series, and just as we got to read about characters that are familiar to us in this book, I’m sure we will see Tabby and Shy’s story play out as the series moves forward. Last but not least, KA’s decision to partner with Grand Central Publishing was a smart move, as a businesswoman and most importantly as an author! I have no doubt that her fans will love this book as much as I did. “May feel like you’re fallin’, Tabby, but remember, I’m at the bottom ready to catch you.” Shy and Tabby’s song ~ Count on Me by Default https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1FQa... I know that life ain't always good to you. I've seen exactly what it’s put you through Thrown you around and turned you upside down and so you You got to thinking there was no way out You started sinking and it pulled you down It may be tough you've to get back up Because you know that life ain't over yet I'm here for you so don't forget You can count on me Cause’ I will carry you till you Carry on Anytime you need someone Somebody strong to lean on Well you can count on me To hold you till the healing is done And every time you fall apart Well you can hide here in my arms And you can count on me To hold you till that feeling is gone… **ARC kindly provided to Swept Away By Romance courtesy of Grand Central Publishing, Kristen Ashley and Chas** arc awesome-alpha bad-asses ...more 77 likes Like Comment NMmomof4 1,601 reviews 4,347 followers October 6, 2020 4 Stars (Originally Read 8/10/2016 and wrote following review) 4 Stars (Re-Read* 6/12/2019) 3.5 Stars (2nd Re-Read** 10/6/2020) Overall Opinion: I liked this one. I really appreciated getting the H's POV more than usual, as it really helped me understand him. It also helped me feel and believe in their strong connection. It's no secret that I am a Kristen Ashley fan, so I'm not all that shocked that this was a winner for me. This had a lot of the typical KA features, but it also had differences (in a good way). I really liked this couple, and if it wasn't for the ending (see pacing below) I would've rated it higher :) *Re-Read Update: I enjoyed this again. I am going to keep my rating the same, as I felt pretty much the same as I did when I read it the first time. I'm still frustrated with the ending which prevented me from rating it higher, but an overall good re-read! **Re-Read Update: This was enjoyable, but just not quite as much as before. It very well could be the book funk I’m in, but the constant time jumps and half assed ending bugged me more this go-round. I still enjoyed the overall premise and the characters though. I’m just not sure if this will continue to be a re-read for me. Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Tabby and Shy's story. Tabby is the mc's president's daughter and Shy is a brother, so when Shy gets called (yet again) to pick Tabby up from a party he isn't all that surprised. He lays it all out for her in a harsh way that her reckless behavior has got to stop, and he ends up hurting her. Shy didn't realize that he would lose her too, but he does and she avoids him for years because of his actions that one night. After a tragic event, he finds himself picking her up again and they start to form a friendship. The friendship turns into more, and they fall in love. There is some mc, family, and friend drama, some sweet moments, and some sexy times...and they do get a HEA ending. POV: This alternated between Tabby and Shy's POV. There seemed to be much more in the H's pov (as well as the h's) than there normally is in KA books. I liked that! Overall Pace of Story: Good until the end. KA books always tend to be on the long side, so I was expecting that. What I didn't expect was that it seemed like an abrupt ending. Don't get me wrong -- I got my HEA...but it felt like it was missing that big conflict right before the ending that is so common in her books, and it really threw me off. I never skimmed and it flowed well otherwise. Instalove: No. They've known each other for years. H rating: 4 stars. Shy. I liked him. He was the pushy alpha H that KA writes so well. I really appreciated how we experienced his regrets, and his longing for the h. h rating: 3.5 stars. Tabby. I liked her, but I felt like she held on to her grudges too long at times. Sadness level: Low/moderate. I never needed any tissues, but I did shed a few tears. Push/Pull: Yes The H does something to snap the h out of her reckless behavior and ends up hurting her. She then avoids him for years and pushes even his friendship away. The H is the primary pursuer in the relationship. Heat level: Moderate. They have some hot chemistry and scenes. Descriptive sex: Yes Safe sex: Yes. Condoms are used until std testing and birth control happens. I don't remember any mention of the h's past practices, but the H says he had never gone without a condom. OW/OM drama: Yes The h loses her fiancé and that is a large focus in their relationship as the H helps her heal. There is an OW that the H sees for 3 months (during their friendship because he didn't think the h would ever want more), and the h and H bump into her publicly once they're together. Sex scene with OW or OM: No There are 2 different chapters that start with the H waking up "in a pile of women". There is no descriptive sex with these women, but it is implied that things happened (both before anything happens with the h). There is also a scene with the H kissing his girlfriend (not sexual -- just kissing where the h sees). Cheating: Not between mcs Thr H had some significant feelings for the h while with Ow, so it could be considered emotional cheating on the OW. Separation: Not really The beginning has them separate from being friends (with stronger feelings) to only bumping into each other for approximately 4 years -- but they weren't technically "together" for me to consider it an actual "separation". During this time, both have other partners (h gets engaged). Possible Triggers: Yes Manwhore H (off page), violence (pretty mild for mc romance - on and off page), h's loss of fiancé (on page through H's memories), murder of parents (H - off page), abusive caregivers (H - off page), and drug use by side character (off page). Closure: This had good closure with a HEA ending they get married . I would've loved a farther jump ahead epilogue tbh -- but that is probably me just being greedy ;) How I got it: I got it on loan through my local library. Safety: I'd say that this is either Safe with exception or Not Safe for most readers depending on personal preferences. - Does Not have cheating between mcs - Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM (see above) - Does have the h pushing the H away - Does Not have a separation between the h and H (see above) - Does Not have abuse - Does have a HEA ending 4-star freebie-or-loan friends-to-lovers ...more 76 likes Like Comment Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁ 1,279 reviews 8,847 followers December 1, 2015 3.5 stars Okay, truth time. I read this when it first came out . . . and I hated it. I thought it was bland, boring, watered-down KA. I mean, come on . . . Instead of the normal snatch and grab in the last 15% of the book, Tabby's stuck at the Compound doing tequila shots with Elvira while Shy and and the rest of the Chaos crew rescue her dumbass friend-- off page --and Shy gets effing nicked by a bullet. That's it? And YES, I know that's sounds like PLENTY. But if you're a KA fangirl like I'm a KA fangirl, you know that shit is WEAK. At least it was . This time around . . . It still wasn't nearly as adrenaline-killing as what I was used to, but it also wasn't as half-assed as I'd originally judged it. SO. My bad. PS - if anyone knows which MC book has the biker dude and his girl having a knockdown drag-out that ends with him hitting the road on his bike while she's preggers, except he doesn't know b/c she never told him, please let me know what it was. B/c it wasn't this one. Also, my bad. Full RTC. 11/22/15: I borderline hated this the first time I read it, but I'm giving it another shot (b/c KA) with Robin , Joanita , Stephanie , Brandi , and Choko over at BB&B . *crosses fingers* bikers-are-hawt buddy-reads-are-the-best romance ...more 71 likes Like Comment Stacia (the 2010 club) 1,045 reviews 4,044 followers April 7, 2013 First off, I want to thank my friend Amanda for making it impossible for me to look at this cover title without thinking of flatulence. 2.5 stars. Remember when I said I was on a long, long break from this author? I blame friends for dragging me back in. Others : Stacia, this one is EDITED. Me : Nope. I'm not going there. Others : But it's shorter. It's more polished. You know... Me : Fine. I have at least 3 lives left. My curiosity is going to get me soon though. I honestly think that the ship of 'hoping for something unique' has sailed for me. Ashley's got a formula and she's sticking to it. The hardcore fans love it and I get that. I just personally can't get excited about reading the same story over and over with only a few tweaks here and there. You can change the wrapping paper each time you re-gift, but there's still gonna be a Chia pet inside. The Positive : ~ The editing and condensing helped. A LOT. I don't recall one 5 page scene of backyard BBQ details. ~ The characters were likable. Given that I don't generally like KA heroines, I was surprised to find that I liked Tabby. And Shy was more my speed than some of the super-roided out alphas I've seen before. I have a weakness for the tall and lean ones. ~ The steam content is always nice and the story was an easy read. For the first half, at least. The Negative : ~ There's nothing new to see here. The story is rearranged and the characters all still talk the same. And that remains the recurring problem (for me). ~ Shy put his hands on Tabby's mom by hitting her in the chest and pushing her into a wall. Not cool. ~ Like others have observed, it appears that the MC info was very poorly researched and/or lifted from television ideas. Nothing about that part of the story felt real. ~ The second half of the book had me skimming. I got bored after they got together and I didn't really care to want to read another "insert random scene of drama in the second half" again, so I skipped ahead a few chapters to the epilogue. All in all, I wasn't impressed but I also didn't feel like I completely wasted a couple of hours. I enjoyed the sexy times and was able to breeze past some parts I didn't like. The editing is really what saved the book from being repetitive to the point of being bad. I know now that I'll probably never again read one of the older (pre-edited) long KA books, but I might at some point check out another one of the newer short books. My one big WTF moment (if you know me, you won't be suprised) : It was more intoxicating than any liquor, a high better than any fucking drug. adult contemporary-romance 61 likes Like Comment Aly is so frigging bored 1,655 reviews 271 followers December 4, 2013 To whoever added this to the group and proceeded to vote for it: I hate you and I'll send you poop for your birthday, till the end of time. It’s not me, it’s you book, all you! This book made me so mad that I wanted to chuck my laptop out the window. I will never pick up a book by this author[side note: the female character from another of her books should have clued me in that this wasn’t for me, but it serves to see that I am a masochist; who the hell sleeps with a dude for over 6 months without knowing his name?!] or from this contemporary sub-genre. I try never to do this since I respect authors a lot, but WHAT THE HELL Ms. Ashley? WHAT THE HELL? If you need synonyms use a frigging thesaurus not the same word over and over and over and over and over and over again! See how annoying that is, see?? Examples of great literature(and this only from 2 or 3 pages): “Baby, bein’ your safe harbor doesn’t come with me gettin’ pissed when you gotta do what you gotta do when you gotta do it. or Jason hated my apartment. Not frequently but often enough to make his point, when we were cuddling on the couch watching TV or he was sitting on a stool at the bar watching me ruin dinner, he’d say something like, “Can’t wait until we can get you out of this pit.” It wasn’t a pit. It was old and worn, but it wasn’t a pit. Jason thought it was a pit. Looking at Shy leaning into the counter, he didn’t look like he thought my place was a pit. Thank you for repeating it. I really enjoyed that. I did! That sucks, huge, so huge it’s impossible to measure how huge that sucks, it’s that huge. My last neuron... he just died from sadness. It's like the characters are retarded: they repeat what other character said or repeat what they said/thought some moments ago. Are you all so dim?? Do you have a memory problem? Besides that I don't understand the thought patterns of any of these characters, they have so convoluted ways of considering problems and talking that I just couldn’t keep up. Apart from this MAJOR problems, let me tell you about the characters… We have the death-to-feminism-and-other-diseases hero who is the perfect example of the ‘80s bodice reapers dudes. It’s obvious he hates women and disrespects them(the overuse of the word “bitch” gave him away) and, like in those novels, I presume he’ll come to see that HIS woman, not all the gender, are worthy of respect. Besides this dominant character flaw he can’t just make up his mind: he disrespects, talks down to and insults the heroine and then he wanders why she avoids his shitty ass, shame on her for doing it too! Now, the heroine… she is the washed out copy of a snarky heroine and to add to it, stupid as well. He reduces her to tears, literally, and after 2 years or so he’s the best thing from toilet paper! This Tabitha[every time I see the name I think of the amazing character from dark Hunters that this idiot doesn’t even come close to] is from the earthworm-brained, TSTL category: she can’t make up her mind, is a coward and shacks up with the king of the world from above. Additionally the names from this books… I hate them. I don’t want to get into this since it will take me forever, but what the hell names are those?! All in all, I came to the conclusion that this biker book, and maybe all the others, is the re-enactment of the 80s bodice rippers, but with crappy clothing, bad language, stupid people, lesser manners, an uglier setting and the “fuck you grammar, I hate you” attitude. And if we are really lucky, we might find drug dealers and arms dealers too! All this was brought after 20% of reading, imagine what I could have done if I read more... I shudder in fear . contemporary epic-fail never-ending-aka-never-finished ...more 62 likes Like Comment Brandi 651 reviews 1,469 followers June 8, 2015 I adore KA's storytelling, and Own the Wind is another great example of her ability to create loveable characters and a story that will keep you turning the page. I enjoyed Shy and Tabby's book and look forward to continuing the series. 61 likes Like Comment Kelly (and the Book Boar) 2,600 reviews 8,874 followers February 9, 2016 Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/ 3.5 Stars Hmmmmm. Turns out I kinda like these bad boy motorcycle a-holes . . . Okay. So even though this is the first in the series it’s really not because the Chaos Motorcycle Club was introduced in Motorcyle Man . I now realize this whole biker scene is a vortex which is nearly impossible to pull yourself out of once you begin, but before I knew that I already had Own the Wind on hold at the liburrrrrrry (Kindle version only because ewwww - Holy Splooshfest, Batman). The reason???? The leading male was described as looking like this guy . . . Yes please. Do want. Alright, so like I said, even though this is book 1 it’s really more like book 2. The main characters are Tabby and Shy who were introduced back in Motorcycle Man . Tabby is the daughter of the Club’s President – Shy is one of the “brothers.” When we last saw Tab she was 16 – this book picks up a few years later. It was obvious she was creaming her underage jeans for Shy even back then, but since he was not interested in having a sitdown with Dateline he steered clear - and also because banging the Pres’ kid is strictly verboten. Long story short, Own the Wind does the fastforwardy timeline, bad shit happens, Tab and Shy play the will they/won’t they game for LIKE. FUCKING. EVER. and finally they get down to bidness. And unlike the Super Bowl halftime show, the smexytimes in this book were f-in’ . . . I think my underwears melted. Anyway, then more stuff happens and angst and drama llama and a bunch of totally not necessary monkeywrenches get thrown in, but luckily there was plenty more . . . . thrown in to keep my interest. These books have zero nutritional value, but somehow I want to eat a whole cabinet full of them anyway. I have no excuse for myself. At this point I am claiming that I won’t be reading the entire series because 600+ PAGES FOR BOOKS 3 AND 4 ?!?!?!?! Damn. Get thee to a book editor, Kristen Ashley. However, I would not place money on my ability to stay away. I also thought I’d have no interest in reading “Hop’s” book (which is the next in this series) after wanting to straight up pull a Cassius Clay on his ballsack, but then they talked about his mustache and it sounds very . . . So now I’m getting ready to immediately run back to the library website because . . . I need an intervention. The one good thing to come out of this is proof that Shelby and I do not share one brain. She read this 100% wrong and now I’m not sure we can be friends any longer ; ) guilty-pleasure hide-the-salami i-have-no-shame ...more 56 likes Like Comment Michelle [Helen Geek] 1,772 reviews 409 followers April 4, 2013 03/28/2013 -- FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED -- Overall Rating = 2.5 Stars Book Cover / Book Blurb = 2 / 2 = 2 Stars Writer’s Voice = 2.5 Stars Character Development = 3 Stars Story Appreciation = 2.5 Stars Worth the Chili = 3 Stars [Was an ARC, $3.79 on Amazon] I think it is safe to say this isn't one of my favorite Kristen Ashley books. The concept was sound. Execution was lacking. I was excited about reading this as an ARC. I liked Motorcycle Man. But, have to say, if you've read that one, you've pretty much read this one. Nothing new... A few things I liked: 1 – Shy and Tabby. They were actually pretty good characters, but here is the deal … they used much of the same dialogue I’ve seen in other characters created by this author. Their appearance is remarkably similar to other characters she has created. I liked them, but they were not unique in any form or fashion. 2 – I didn’t note any editing issues, but these haven't been a hot button for me in the past. Even so, this one was more polished compared to the wrongly spelled, poorly used verbiage we've experienced in the past. We all know, if the story is good, you can overlook much. We still have the stilted dialogue and the run on sentences. These have been described as Kristen Ashley trademarks. I’m not buying it. When you stop and look at some of this dialogue it just sounds stupid. You expect the guy to start pounding his chest and UGG’ing. I know men of few words. They aren’t men of few words because they don’t know how to talk or don’t know how to be polite, they are men of few words because they choose their words and battles wisely. I know bikers and to equate bikers with the degree of intelligence you see displayed here is just not fair. 3 – The cover informs the reader quickly about the subject content. I like knowing immediately about the contents. Does it pull me? Hmm… maybe a bit. 4 – The story length. Some of my favorite books were written by this author once upon a long time ago. One of the things I really liked was the longer length of story. When I like a story, I don’t want it to end. I absolutely did not feel this way about this one. It was mediocre in its’ best moments and I couldn’t finish it fast enough. Unfortunately, I found more to not like than like in this one – here are a few things: 1 – Where was the story? 2 – Characters I’ve read in other books by this author over again. Almost like playing Barbies. We can change their hair color, change their clothes and maybe put them in a fairy castle instead of a cabana by the pool, but they are still the same Barbies. Nothing different or exciting. Therefore, not really worth the time. 3 – The dialogue and run on sentences employed by this author are beyond annoying. They were at a minimum with this book, but were still present. Enough to annoy me. 4 – Did anyone else notice the similarity to a “Sons of Anarchy” episode? A very strong resemblance. A few of the characters were almost identical. I love the show and think it is escape’ism at its best. I thought this book a mediocre to poor copy. 5 -- A very noticed shortcut taken in writing this story surprised me. Maybe this was an effort to cut length. Not sure. At the beginning of almost every chapter you jump ahead; a week, two weeks, a day, three days. Almost every chapter. This is a shortcut transition style that I don't think works well - unless used sparingly. There is so much you feel you miss. You feel slighted. This is the cheap way out and it surprised me this author took that shortcut. I don't know about other readers, but for me, if this is an example of what happens when a writer finds a publisher, I'm not sure I think it is all worth it. I will to continue to give KA the benefit of the doubt for a bit longer. I will continue to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. I wouldn’t say this is my least favorite K. Ashley book, but it is leaps away from my favored Sweet Dreams [in the wrong direction]. I can hope … maybe next time? I'm sure at some point I'll give up trying. It didn’t happen for me this go ‘round. There are so many rave reviews for this one. I’m not one of them, but many felt this was a great offering. I hope when you read it, you feel the way they did. I wish I could :o| I hope you are happy reading this one. ARC provided by the publisher and author in exchange for an honest review. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I said this in a comment to someone as I was reading this book. The more I thought about it, it summed up my thoughts pretty clearly: Just don't know anymore about this author. Same song, different verse ... like riding down the road with your iPod shuffle on repeat. Works until you get sick of it and then you won't ever listen to the song again, or, if you do -- "oh, yeah. I used to like that song, until ...". Know? arc-netgalley less-than-3 tbr-kindle ...more 51 likes Like Comment Sheryl C. Nash 1,714 reviews 430 followers March 17, 2013 If you NEVER thought you could love Kristen and her men ANY MORE then BE PREPARED to be BLOWN THE F*CK AWAY by Own The Wind and Shy and Tabby! For me what has ALWAYS made it or broken it when it came to Kristen's books were the women and i am more than happy to say that Tabby is one KICK-ASS chick that TOTALLY blew me away!! She was strong, she was sassy, she was gutsy and BOY DID SHE GIVE GOOD LIP!!!! And OMG... Shy... he was just so... PHWOAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He was sweet... BOY WAS HE SO SWEET *stars in eyes* but he was also ALL the things that i love in Kristen's men; TOTALLY ALPHA, SEXY AS HELL with a TAKE-NO-SHIT-I-AM-THE-MAN attitude!!!! I F*CKING LOVED HIM!!!! Please note this is by NO MEANS my review... it is just my rambling of thoughts because its is 1am and i'm not in the right frame of mind to write my proper review. This book DESERVES A GAZZILION STARS, because it is THAT FREAKIN' AWESOME and i KNOW that all of you that will finally get to read it when it comes out will think that this is HONESTLY her BEST BOOK to date!!!! Kristen, there has NEVER been and there NEVER will be another author like you, for me... you have CHANGED MY LIFE with your books and i will FOREVER be in your debt for that!!! And can i just say that reading the preview of Fire Inside , the next Chaos novel has me CHOMPING AT THE BIT for Hop and Lanie's story!!!! BRING IT ON!!! MORE CHAOS, MORE HOT KA MEN, MORE AWESOMENESS... HELLS YEAH we all have SO MUCH to look forward too!!! A HUGE THANK YOU to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing with an ARC to read and review - yes folks you read it right, this book is up on Netgalley... run, i say, RUN over there and request it if you have an account NOW!!! loved-it romance-contemporary romance-erotica 52 likes Like Comment Heather K (dentist in my spare time) 3,976 reviews 6,103 followers June 6, 2013 **2.5 stars** At last!! I finished!! Three days of reading this book are finally over! **Happy dance!** Now for my review. It is safe to say that I am not a Kristen Ashley fan-girl. I have read one other book by her before this, which I enjoyed, so I was hopeful for this one. However, this book definitely falls in the "negatives outweigh the positives" category. By the end of this book I was just praying for it to be over. Let's start with some good news, shall we? What I liked: 1) The beginning. I didn't mind the time jumps and I was excited to see some backstory about Tabby and Shy's relationship. 2) The sex. Kristen Ashley SURE knows how to write a hot love scene! I think she has the panty-dropping scenes down to a science. What I hated: 1) Shy himself. Ugh, I wanted to slap Shy so badly for the entire second 1/2 of the book. He is so freaking arrogant and controlling. Don't get me wrong, I like an alpha male as much as the next girl but when a man tells me "... you can get pissed, you can rant, you can try sweet, I am not washin' clothes and I'm not pushin' a vacuum. Do you understand me?", I would be SHAKING with anger. No I don't understand you, buddy! You don't have to want to vacuum but I would certainly expect a discussion about it, not just a "I ain't doing that, you feel me?"!!! No way, Jose! That isn't how a relationship works. Want another example of something he said that made me FUMING mad? "You nag or bust my balls, I can dump my clothes wherever the fuck I want at my place or the Compound, and I won't have a woman gettin' up in my face about it." Mind you, these conversations were after the two were in a serious, committed relationship. You just don't talk to your partner like that, you just don't. What made me knock down stars left and right was that I didn't want to be Tabby or envy Tabby in her relationship with Shy. I was so HAPPY that my husband is nothing like him! That isn't what you want from your alpha hero. 2) Tabby herself. She was doormat central in this relationship. She talks a big talk about how she is going to balance him and not let him walk all over her but each time he argues with her, she says, "He was right." It is like a freaking annoying broken record. 3) The situation with Tabby's boss at work. I would FLIP OUT and file a restraining order if my boyfriend went behind my back and beat the crap out of my boss. In no way is that hot or sexy or him taking care of her. That is INSANE. If she was getting abused or she was getting beaten and Shy walked in and saved the day, sure, kick the crap out of that guy. But if a doctor is harassing you, a nurse, at work, your boyfriend beating the ever living shit out of him behind your back is just crazy-town. 4) Kristen Ashley's writing. Now I'm really going to get the fans rallying against me. I felt like this book had...well... no point. It was just a rambling series of mundane events in the life of a couple. Sure, there were things that happened, but it didn't feel like this story had a beginning, a middle, and an end. I also spend 4 pages reading an argument about whether or not to buy a refrigerator that makes crushed ice... **crickets**. Also, I couldn't stand the way that all of her characters spoke in truncated sentences. What is their beef with pronouns?! They are there for a reason! Surprisingly, I find myself wanting to move on to the next book in the series. I have the ARC already so I'm going to give it a try. I hope it is an improvement on this one for my tastes. contemporary everyone-else-loves-it hot-hot-hot ...more 51 likes Like Comment Lady Heather 1,301 reviews 766 followers September 13, 2020 Okay, let's just start off by saying that I rated this story a 4.5 star. The reason being, I was so excited, and eagerly anticipating a HUGE dangerous & dramatic scene at the end... and I didn't get one (or the one I was expecting (sorry!). I get what KA was doing.. any possible risk of losing Shy being the most devastating thing that Tabby would have to go through again being an enormous tragedy, but for me it just wasn't that... on the edge, chewing your nails, wondering what's going to happen next, a climax that I'm so used to in KA stories. What I LOVED about this story was being able to witness Shy and Tabby growing up and maturing. 1) Tabby 19 years old - Shy 23: Tabby partying with her friends & Shy over-reacting and ending up being a dick to her. He breaks her heart. She gives him a kiss to let him know what he's missing out on (and he never forgets the taste of). Tabby then straightens up, focuses on her studies to become a nurse, and makes him invisible for a couple of years. 2) Tabby then on the street with her boyfriend, all dolled up and looking at him like there's no one else in the world around them. Shy sees them together and realizes that if he wants to have "that" then he better stop acting like a dawg. 3) Tabby's fiancé (Jason) is killed in a car accident, and Shy knows he can't go to her directly (because he's still invisible to Tabby) but helps her and supports behind the scenes. 4) After many months of mourning Jason's death, Tabby decides she needs a night out, so she goes out with her best friend since high-school, Nathalie. Nathalie never grew up and is still partying like crazy, except she's partying with a dangerous crowd. Tabby doesn't like the situation she's in and calls Shy because she doesn't want the club & her father to find out about it. 5) Once Tabby lets Shy 'back in', they start to build a different kind of relationship. They become good friends. They hang out, cook dinner together, watch movies, and go for rides. They also begin to trust one another with stuff they never shared with anyone else. 6) Tabby goes to the compound one day, and sees Shy with another woman, and realizes he has an 'old lady'... and this almost kills her. She's upset, sad, and angry that Shy never told her he had a woman since she considered them really close. Shy calls her later on, and she freezes him out..again. After avoiding him for a couple of days, Shy is waiting for Tabby in her apartment when she gets home from work. She confronts him about 'Rosalie', and he loses his mind because he can't believe she's freezing him out since he listened to her talk about her dead fiancé while she was in deep mourning and didn't hold that against her. He leaves mad because now he doesn't want to have anything to do with her for a while. 7) After a month of not talking, Shy finds out that Tabby has taken a job across the country and is leaving soon. He freaks out, storms into her apartment and tells her she can't go... and then he kisses her..and she kisses him back. They both put all the feelings they've been holding into that kiss, and by the time they finish kissing, they're both breathless, and weak-kneed. Shy tells her she has 2 hours to get her shit sorted out, then she's to go to his apartment. Tabby goes to Shy's apartment and they make love for the first time. “I have never, not once, not in my life, made love to any woman. Not once. Not until what I just did with you.” Tabby is scared and has a lot of questions about how their relationship is going to be, and because they have such an awesome foundation already in place, Shy knows exactly what Tabby worried about before she even has to voice it. .... and this brings the reader to the most amazing place in the story. We've been able to be apart of their character and relationship development, and now we're finally able to see them be 'on the same page' as each other in their lives. This is what I like to call a 'divine point' in their lives. They were destined to be together, but they had to go through all the other stuff first in order to reach this point. This is so they would be 'ready' for one another, and be prepared and equipped to take the next step that will shape their lives. It is because they've been through all the other stuff that they're able to stand together (strong) when they are attacked, and ridiculed by the people they know and love. This is where the 'adventure & trouble' part of the story begins. I really enjoyed this story, and I LOVED seeing Elvira, 'Hawk", Lee, Brock, and Mitch *sigh*. ... and the ending & epilogue BEAUTIFUL! If your a fan of Bad-ass-biker dudes & and kick-ass, smart & sassy women - THEN READ THIS BOOK!! Favorite quotes: "I'm alive. You're alive. I gotta work to live so I do that and I'll have to do that for a long lime. But when I'm not workin', I'm livin'. So let's ride." "I dreamed a dream, Shy Cage." He shifted so his hips were against mine and his voice was now raw when he ordered, "Shut up, baby, and kiss me." "I dreamed a dream when I was sixteen and here I am, standing with my dream, feeling it come real." "Fuck me," he muttered. Then I knew he'd lost patience because Shy slanted his head and kissed me. Yes. I dreamed a dream and there I was, a ring on my finger, my man's mouth on mine, standing with my dream, feeling it come real. I was feeling everything. And it was beautiful." "So Shy lowered his voice and reminded him, "She's not your little girl anymore, not like that. She may always be your, little girl in some ways, brother, but not like that. You gave me the chance, I would have told you, this is solid. We started out and it was friends. That wasn't what I wanted, it was what she needed, so I gave it to her. We built on that. The foundation is laid and it's the kind that holds fast. This is it, brother. We're livin' together. Soon's we can do it, we're movin' to a better fuckin' place so I can provide her with a decent home. I'm puttin' my ring on her finger, I'm givin' her babies, and when she's laid to rest, that ring I give her will still be on her finger. I see you're accepting this now, so you need it all and there it is. I was a part of an us and I was happy. Some motherfucker killed my parents and took that from me, so life forced me to become nothin' but me. Now I'm an us again, and that's what I'll be with my woman and the family we make until the fucking day I die." "Christ, Shy," Tack whispered. "I think now you totally fuckin' feel me." "The best part of the ceremony was after Shy kissed his bride, and when we were done, he didn't let go. So I stood in his arms, my thumb stroking his jaw, my eyes gazing up at him. the world had melted away, so I didn't hear the hoots and hollers of friends and family. I only heard what he muttered in a voice that was weirdly raw but unbelievable beautiful: "Like I'm the only man on the planet." In that minute, he was but then again, for me, really, when it came down to it, he always had been." This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review 1st-in-a-series 2013-release adult ...more 46 likes Like Comment Mo 1,382 reviews 2 followers May 3, 2013 I dreamed a dream in time gone by When hope was high and life worth living I dreamed that love would never die I dreamed that God would be forgiving Then I was young and unafraid And dreams were made and used and wasted There was no ransom to be paid No song unsung, no wine untasted .. “You shittin’ me, are you fuckin’ shittin me, Mo, you think this was as good as Sweet fuckin’ Dreams”….. “Well, maybe not as good as but I am on a bit of a high here at the moment after reading about Shy Cage….. I mean, I do love you Tate, you know I do, but seriously do you not think that Shy is some real badass piece of shit…. I mean, if you were gay….. oK, me Bad, would you not turn for him?” “Fuck No, Mo, you mean the world to me – those other bithches meant nothing to me – that Baba, she has my name tattooed on her profile on Goodreads but she means nothing to me, she knows that you found me first and I am yours. Hell, she can’t even decide who she wants she has so many names tattooed on her. So I ain’t too happy that you think that Shy Cage is a badass biker that you could do – hey, ain’t he too fuckin’ young for you – he is only 27 – Jesus, Babe, you are old enough to be his fuckin’ mother”… “Nice one Tate, way to go to get a BJ tonight. All I am saying is that if anything ever happened between us, I could seriously go for Shy…. “ Sorry, girls…. Was away in my own little Denver world there for a while…. Yep, I found someone who could rival my one true love, Mr Tatum Jackson. Shy Cage…. A fuckin’ Dawg of the highest order – screws multiple women at a time, couldn’t give a shit about his reputation BUT he has his own One True Love – Tabby, Tabitha, Tab. Tabitha Allen, beautiful daughter of the equally beautiful Tack Allen and step-daugher of Ty-Ty. This was great – won’t go into to much detail about the story line as it has been done before but would like to said that I was a little disappointed with Ms KA’s last book Raid. Wondered if she was going to desert her fans now that she had got the magic publishing deal. I mean there was a time when I would email her and she would reply but not any more. I don’t begrudge her her fame. She deserves it. But after Raid I thought, No, Kristen, stay true to form. So it was with a bit of trepidation that I embarked on the story of Shy and Tabby. I was NOT disappointed. It had all the elements that I loved from some of her previous books. The clothes descriptions, shoes, belts, earrings. The room descriptions, duvets, pillows, photoframes…… Sigh, Shy – you sweet, sweet boy. .. LOVED IT. Off to bed soon to DREAM about Shy. Tate, you keep your hands to yourself tonight…. And Elvira, she deserves a special mention. She was great. And the next book sounds like it will be fan fuckin’ tastic. What to read next? That is the question. 45 likes Like Comment Robin (Bridge Four) 1,730 reviews 1,558 followers July 25, 2018 Amazon Kindle Daily Deal 25Jul18 here $1.99 I ♥♥♥ Kristen Ashley but she isn't for everyone. Still I enjoyed this book overall. 3.5 I Dreamed a Dream Stars Have you read Motorcycle Man ? If the answer is no…STOP now. Do not pass go, do not collect two-hundred dollars because even though this says Chaos #1 I think your enjoyment will be dramatically reduced without that foundation. At least for me Shy would have had an unsurmountable deficit to overcome if I hadn’t spent time in the Chaos compound and had a little history going into this. Shy Let’s say that Shy IS a D. O. double Gee, that spells DOGG. He apparently takes women whose names he can’t remember to bed, often more than one at a time and when we first get a glimpse of him here he is asleep under a few Chaos hoochies when he gets called out to go reel in Tabby and get her home. Shy thinks maybe she needs a lesson one only he can teach her. Hopefully, in about two seconds, she’d be a lot more than kinda freaked out. She’d be scared straight and out of this bullshit she kept pulling. Therefore, two seconds later, he yanked her into his room, tugged her to a stop and flipped the light switch. The two women were still naked, lying head to foot on the bed, having, since he was gone, tangled with each other. Briefly, he tried to remember their names. You think he’d stop there but nope…. “But you… you made assumptions. You showed you decided exactly the kind of girl I was that night when that guy took his hand to me without knowing one single thing about me. I wasn’t what you thought, Shy. I didn’t need your shit and I also didn’t deserve it. Family doesn’t make judgments. They talk. They support. You made a judgment. You acted on that judgment. You doing it hurt me so that means you are not my family.” And even after he has seen some stuff and realized that he has never felt anything for anyone like Tabby felt for the man she lost when he gets her call late at night for some help… “Get her ass up. Both of you need to get dressed and get gone.” He reached into the nightstand and grabbed his gun, shoving it into the back waistband of his jeans and pulling his tee over it. “You got fifteen minutes to get out. You’re not gone by the time I get back, I will not be happy.” “Sure thing, babe,” Who are these hoochies that are happy to have threesomes with a guy that throws them out right after??? And at this point I’m thinking Shy you are a complete douchecanoe and I’m not sure I’m ever going to like you. It is a pretty big hole even for KA to dig an alpha out of. But she did it!!! Thank goodness that most of the OTT jerkface things happen in the first 15% but still I’m not one to be gung ho for a leading man that can’t even remember the names of the women he is sleeping with. Still what it comes down to is that KA makes me believe that Shy was miserable in the life he had before Tabby and she was his wake up call he just never thought he’d deserve her. Tabby Tack’s only little girl grew up a Chaos princess. She has been around the hard life of the brothers for most of her life and she knows what happens with some of the brotherhood. She fell in love with a man outside that life and was ready to give him everything until a tragedy stuck and she lost her man and her dream. Shy was there for her in a way no one else could be and he brought her back from that depression and the hole that was left in her heart. However when she falls for Shy, the notorious hound dog, it leads to one of the best Adult to Child coming of age blow-outs I’ve ever read. Tack and Tyra are an alpha couple all the way so it took some doing for Tabby to show them she isn’t a little girl anymore and I LOVED the entire thing. Seriously this book was worth reading just for that conversation between Tabby and Tyra and then Tabby and Tack. She is a strong woman who will not be told who she can or can’t fall in love with and I totally love that about her. “You know you’re Dad’s one-and-only, Tyra, and if you don’t know this, seeing as he had kids before he met you, I’m sorry to tell you but even though you’re his one-and-only now, you weren’t his one-and-only.” Her head jerked, she flinched, and I finally saw it. Understanding. “You feel me,” I said softy. “I get I’m not Shy’s one-and-only but I still… fucking… am.” Go Tabby you stand up for your man. Shy and Tabby This is really more of a love story than most of KA’s books. There is some building tension with a new player in the drug game that is trying to get into Chaos territory and some trouble with one of Tabby’s no good friends from high school but for the most part this is just a story about Tabby and Shy finding their way to one another and learning how to accept the other for who they are. The biggest confrontation is when Tabby and Shy are found out and there are repercussions with the members of Chaos. Shy did some stuff in this that totally redeemed him with me. ❶ - He apologized for some of the things he said to Tabby when she was younger and for treating her like he did when he judged her and thought he was helping. ❷ - Shy totally stood up for Tabby and even though some of the boys think it is cool to boss their old ladies around, Shy doesn’t play like that. “Tab and I don’t play it that way. You wanna order your old lady around, do what you do, not for me to say. I asked her to go, she didn’t go. Not gonna make her. But you try, you’ll deal with me.” ❸ - Once Shy decided on Tab he was all in, all the way and never looked back. “Waited for you for four years, Tabby, baby. Four. Spent a lot of that time thinkin’ I’d never have you. Now I got you, not even for a day, I’m not big on lettin’ you go. Give me that for now, yeah? Make your calls here.” ❹ - Even though I want to be “no I can take care of myself” I love the way that Shy tries to look out for Tabby and take care of her and her problems, even if it isn’t exactly the way she would want him too. Overall I like being in the biker world. It is a fun place to visit and although it is a harder life than I’d like in the real world in my fantasy world it totally works for me. 39 likes Like Comment Pavlina Read more sleep less blog 2,434 reviews 5,108 followers April 12, 2013 Can someone tell me where I can found a man like Shy???? Please...!!! Tabitha is the daughter of Chaos Club President and she has been getting into trouble for three years... Shy a member of Chaos has had enough of 'Tabby Callouts' and decides to tame her wild side and teach her a lesson.Unfortunately Shy is wrong about Tabby and his lesson hurts Tabby deeply... I love that the first 15% of this book was completely from Shy's POV.It really gives us a chance to see where he is coming from and connect with him as a character We met him in Motorcycle Man & knew he was a stand up guy, but we didn't really know him. Out to protect his 'family'.It's obvious to the reader that he has feelings beyond a family bond for Tabby, but of course he doesn't realize this. I think that's what makes the first chunk of this book so emotionally.Watching him struggle with his feelings, and guilt trying to do the right thing... It really pained me to watch the chain of unfortunate events and time spent leading up to Shy & Tabby's 'brokenness' to their bonding. And when they finally came together...Holu shit!!! I just loved Tabby and I know you will too.I loved how she dealt with being the daughter of Tack and how she did dealt with her problems. And Shy wow he is in my top 5 favorite Kristen Ashley men!!!Shy is hot, sexy, smart, loyal, loving.I can go on and on.The only problem is that he doesnt like to do laundry or vacuum I can put up with that :) :) Together they are hot,intence and imotional.. "I dreamed a dream when I was sixteen and here I am, standing with my dream, feeling it come real." Another amazing book from Kristen Ashley!!! My Shy and Tab 2013-april favorite-boys favorites ...more 38 likes Like Comment Ingie 1,403 reviews 168 followers May 5, 2016 Review written May 5, 2016 3.8 Stars - Cute romantic and just the right amount of listening hours At last the first book in this Chaos series (loved both #2 and #4). — I bought the paperback some years ago but never got to it. A new try with a 11:30 hrs audiobook narrated by Angela Starling . This was a good enough KA. I liked but wasn't amazed. ******************************************* Tabitha 'Tabby' Allen grew up in the Chaos Motorcycle Club as the Chaos' leader Tack Allen 's beloved daughter. Years passed but one rider was different from the start and he is still there. Shy Cage has waited for his chance to get the woman he want... “You’re the fuckin’ shit, Tabby.” “I know,” I told him airily on another smile. “My man tells me that all the time.” His eyes dropped to my mouth and his lips ordered, “Kiss me, baby.” Actually, it feels embarrassing that we female romance books readers are so charmed by these semi-criminal motorcycle club men. Men who, all more or less, think they have the right to live by their very own rules. Yes, this is about a culture filled with goodlooking, horny sexy and badass tough men, with pretty dumb old-fashioned cavemen manners. Men that think themselves a bit god-like with women who accept much of these "man" rules way too often. ~ What happened to equality between sexes, democracy, and equal rights and the same law for everyone? Just wondering. ~ Well, we readers accept, swallow crap and freaking keep loving these KA characters time after time. I can't but be a bit irritated about overly sweet "submissive" heroines who often are just rambling, mumbling and likes to give (and GIVE even more) just they get it naughty good and cozy steamy in the bed.— YEP, but nevertheless I'm charmed, mostly silly enchanted and think it's romantic as hell. — Give me mercy! I'm an incurable romantic girl. ******************************************* I LIKE - hot badass bikers ...irritating but true books-i-read-2016 romance-m-f-audio romance-m-f-contemporary ...more 36 likes Like Comment Vika aka ♔ of GIF & Grumpy Smut-ateer *P/T Freebie Fairy 460 reviews 464 followers October 4, 2019 My Parker "Shy" Cage [image error] She pressed closer. “I dreamed a dream, Shy.” “You’ll dream more dreams, baby.” “I’ll never dream,” she whispered, her voice lost, tragic. “We’ll get you to a dream, honey,” he promised, pulling her closer. My Tabitha "Tabby" Allen [image error] “Today, at the Compound, what you said, you did it.” “What, baby?” “I dreamed a dream.” His arms spasmed. I drifted to sleep, muttering, “You promised to get me to a dream, you got me to a dream. Thank you, honey.” Then I fell asleep. [image error] This is definitly top 5 of KA , for me. You would think aaaah it's a biker story: rough guys, potty mouth, loose women, tequila and bikes. And it is all that and so much more. As only KA can do, she delivered a nice emotional punch to take the wind out of you and it's not enough she brought the big guns of Les Mis . Tabby is a CHAOS daughter... born, bred and raised in the life. We see her wild side in Motorcycle Man , in the story of how her dad and President of biker club, CHAOS, meets his one and only sex-kitten Tyra/Ty-Ty/Red/Cherry. Tabby parties and part of club's duty is to do Tabby Call-outs when things get wild and Tabby extraction is deemed necessary. One night Shy grows tired of if and lays it into her... HARD. So hard that not only he sets her on the right path... he puts her onto a different one where she turns into someone who is not her. That path is good and wholesome, no complains, but it is not her. I'm afraid to say it but "thankfully" fate has other plans and yanks her off that path into the void. A void of being a 23 year old with a dead fiancee. “Baby, bein’ your safe harbor doesn’t come with me gettin’ pissed when you gotta do what you gotta do when you gotta do it. It also doesn’t come with me expecting you to explain why you did what you had to do. Bein’ your safe harbor means lettin’ you do what you gotta do when you gotta do it and not gettin’ pissed.” So, Shy gets in there and burrows deep until he find her in the most bossy, alpha, biker, yet so gently to bring back Tabby. It was cute how he thought hard ultimatums will do it, but thankfully after 2nd time he learned that that won't work on Tab. It's an amazing ride of Shy and Tab getting to know each other, not exactly insta-romance but still is. SERIOUSLY! I love KA for giving us all these protective Alphas who can be total jerks but once they are straightened out the more I love them (Case in points my Joe obsession). The story is awesome and I LOVED IT! There are so many awesome characters who I hope to see more of... like NOW, NOW, NOW! There are some great shout-outs to Rock Chicks, Mystery Man and even a smallest hint of Knight series. I freaking loved it and I loved it that my girls enjoyed it and especially my girl Jamie who got a bit of her Hawk. apart-too-long bad-boy badass-antihero ...more 35 likes Like Comment Jen 738 reviews 138 followers January 11, 2016 5 I Dreamed a Dream Stars! Shy, Shy, Shy...you are definitely not shy, which totally made my day. I was in the mood for some biker loving and you gave me exactly what I was looking for. I do have to say that Tack Allen is still my favorite Chaos member, but Shy just pulled up right behind him. If you haven't read Motorcycle Man you really need to. Sooooo good! Parker "Shy" Cage is definitely not shy. He received his nickname for not being shy when getting around with the ladies. He is a ladies man, a player, a lover. He also has noticed Tabitha Allen. Tabby is the daughter of Tack Allen, leader of the Chaos Motorcycle Club, which makes her off-limits. Shy would do anything just like any of the other brothers in the MC would. One night Shy gets a. All that Tabby needs to be picked up. He assumes she's out partying, wasting her life away making careless decisions. When he picks her up he comes down hard on her. He's trying to get her to see that she can make something of herself if she would just try. God love him, he's coming from a good place. But he's harsh and he hurts her feelings. He doesn't let he explain the situation. So from that point on, Tabby decides to avoid Shy. She moves on with her life. Finished nursing school. Meets a boy, falls in love and is engaged to be married. Then tragedy strikes and Tabby's fiancé is killed. All of the MC brothers are there for Tabby. They would do anything for her. Soon Shy and Tabby are spending lots of time together. They form a friendship. Shy is there for Tabby day or night. But when Tabby finds out that Shy has been dating someone, this causes a major blowup between them. Tabby is hurt again for two reasons, 1) because she thought they were friends and he didn't tell her and 2) because she was starting to have feelings for him. Shy has to go all alpha male on her and make her talk to him, but once he finds out she has feelings for him that's all it takes for him to get his life in order. He knows he's been seeing the other girl because he was looking for something, but he wasn't getting what he wanted and so he let her go. Then he and a Tabby became a couple. “Now you’re willin’ to give me more and I'm gonna take that too.” "You were gone for me?" "Gone for you." There was no denying the chemistry between them. And because of stupid communication problems these two had, they had a lot of time to make up for. I loved them as a couple. They really were good together, even arguing over cleaning. But the one thing they didn't do was tell her family or the rest of the MC family. This caused a big fight between everyone, but I loved how strong Tabby was and how she stood up for her man. Having Tack Allen as your father can't be easy, but she didn't even back down from him. Eventually things get back on track, but Tabby's friend causes problems and I mean big problems. But what motorcycle club do you know that doesn't have some type of drama? Besides, this drama lets us have some more time with Hawk, Brock and Mitch. I can't wait to see where this series goes. Hop and Lanie are next in the series. I hope that I get more Tack Allen in each book. It only makes sense right? You can't have a book about Chaos MC and not have the leader in there somewhere. 31 likes Like Comment Jennifer Kyle 2,482 reviews 5,320 followers June 7, 2013 "I'm alive. You're alive. I gotta work to live so I do that and I'll have to do that for a long time. But when I'm not workin', I'm livin'. So lets ride." The first half of this book was fantastic, I was glued to Tabby and Shy’s story. I enjoyed both Shy and Tabby’s povs but sadly, the second half of the book fell flat for me. It still was a good read and I did enjoy it. Tabby Allen stole my heart in Motorcycle Man, she so likable and real. She is the daughter of Tack Allen (yes our Motorcycle Man) and she has crushed on Shy for the longest time. Shy pulls a scared straight act on her and she ices him out for years. Tabby’s life takes a different path than that of Ride and Chaos Motorcycle Club but when tragedy strikes Shy seizes the opportunity to have Tabby Allen in his life. "I had a taste of you four years ago that I could never get off my tongue. Now, I've tasted more of you with more than just my mouth and I know I wanna keep it in a way I don't want to think of it bein' done. Not in a few weeks. Not in a few months. Maybe not ever" Shy and Tabby stand up for their relationship and prove that they are in it for the long haul. The couple faces bumps in the road like family, laundry, toilet seat lids, and a drug addict best friend but they do it together. Loved Loved...all cameo appearances from some of my favorite characters. Hawk Delgado is still sooo yummy. You Get Me? Overall this book was a good read. I'll be waiting with my helmet on for the next ride! author-kristen-ashley book-boyfriends 32 likes Like Comment JoJo - JJJ (Jo Anna) Janesko 341 reviews 193 followers April 4, 2013 A Gazillion Stars!!! Best Book Ever!!!! Okay people this is going to be a complete and total gush fest. I absolutely loved this book. It ranks up there in the top 5 books I have read this year. I think it is my number 2 with True Love Story still holding at number 1. Tabby and Shy were just amazing together. The words on the pages were true genius. Shy was the perfect Alpha Male and Tabby was an awesome heroine. I love me some alpha male and Kristen Ashley certainly knows what she is doing when she writes one. Shy has been added to my list of book boyfriends and I have a huge fictional crush on him. It makes me wish my husband were part of a motorcycle club like Chaos and that he was an alpha male like Shy. Oh well I still love my hubby anyways. I have one huge complaint. This book was not long enough. It seems her last two books have been shorter than what I am used to from KA. I am accustomed to her longer books. I really hope this wont be a trend for future books. Regardless I am still in awe of this book. So I have a few words of advise for my fellow readers. If you haven't read this book. Stop the book you are reading and pick this one up. It is amazing. KA at her finest. Truly a must read people I have no doubt you will fall in love with Tabby and Shy as I have. Truly a brilliant book!!! awwww-romance-is-bliss bad-boys books-everyone-should-read ...more 32 likes Like Comment Shelley 395 reviews 528 followers Read April 8, 2013 DNF It's not the book, it's me. I can't read KA anymore :( The repetitive abrasive biker speak :( The pointless rambling explanations :( Luke warm characters, I don't particularly care for :( Gone is the angst and anticipation :( The story line no longer excuses the writing style :( The plots are predictable, long winded and no longer plausible (to me) :( This is a sad, sad day for me. I just give thanks that there are thousands of other readers out there who can love and appreciate these latest stories, sadly this is no longer my cuppa tea. favorite-author unfinished 31 likes Like Comment Lu Bielefeld 4,251 reviews 536 followers November 14, 2022 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Liked it! ================== ==>Re-read in November 2022 ==>Re-read in July 2021 ==>Re-read in march 2016 in ebook ==>Re-read in may 2015 in audiobook and paper. Increased a star. *SPOILLER* I thought he cheated, after all he was in love with the heroine and talking with her every day and going to her house to give her support. And even then was already dating (and fucking) another woman for 3 months without telling our heroine. It's okay that he kicked his girlfriend as soon as he received the green light from heroine, but still I think he cheated both. That's what I think Shy broke the long silence, “Need a fuckin’ drink.” “Okay, darlin’,” I replied. I could see the run-in with Rosalie cut him deep. I had to admit, seeing that wasn’t real comfortable. “I get slaughtered, you drive.” Uh-oh. I didn’t have a good feeling about that. He blew off Rosalie for me and, fresh from that, he didn’t seem to have a problem with it. Not at all. But I just saw close-up that she was gorgeous and she looked pained. “Don’t do laundry, babe,” he told the TV. “Your bitches did them for you.” “You either want me like I am, babe, or yeah, I can find a place where I don’t have hassle.” Respect me or, truthfully, I love you, you know it, you mean the world to me, but that will dig deep, fester, and there will come a time when I don’t mind your clothes are on the floor at the Compound.” 2021-biker-mc asshole-alert biker ...more 31 likes Like Comment Splage 604 reviews 381 followers March 10, 2013 5 Stars My review for this AWESOME book will be posted closer to the release date of April 2nd. I had high expectations because I loved Shy and Tabby in Motorcycle Man , my expectations were exceeded exponentially. **ARC kindly provided to Swept Away By Romance courtesy of Grand Central Publishing, Kristen Ashley and Chas** favorite-books favorite-series-1st-book-only 31 likes Like Comment Michele ~ la Smoocherina 382 reviews 305 followers April 3, 2013 Great job Kit! I am very impressed! I admit, I was worried when Kristen Ashley went from self-published to professionally published, but I must say they did not take away the magic of Kristen Ashley. If anything, they made it better. So I'm going to give it to you nugget style. :) What I loved- -Shy was Alpha, but not the Über-Alpha we've come to associate with Kristen Ashley. He listened to his woman, cared for her input. There were times when he brooked not argument, don't get me wrong, but he wanted the sweetness his parents had together for himself and it only made him a sexier hero in my opinion. He loved Tabby fiercely, even when they were just friends. Push comes to shove, he'd pick Tabby over everything, including Chaos. -Tabby is a nurse. I know a thing or two about this. I found she was one of the most level, drama free heroines KA has written. I loved her. Her intelligence. Her sweetness. The fact that she owned her "biker babe since birth" status and loved to be on the back of a bike. Her desire to be kind and helpful. She reminded me a bit of Tess that way. All that said, she put her foot down also, when it mattered. But stood by her man when it counted. She was brave, took chances and loved with everything in her. Great heroine! -We get some Tack! Oh yes. Tack. Love him, he's a grade-A man and father. He treats his adult children with respect and models love in the best way. - We get Elvira and her man. It's a small bit, but as with anything Elvira, it's AWESOME! We also get some of the characters from Rock Chick and the Dream Man Series. -This book had a good plot. Believable even. It wasn't filled with the big boom of kidnapping, rape and such that a lot of KA books do, but I can sense the big boom will come sometime in the series. -Condoms were used and a discussion about safe sex took place. Thank you Kit! *twirly dance* (The lack of safe sex practice in past KA books has really bothered me. I felt good that Shy gloved up!) -Alternating POV. Fantastic! I loved it! -Shy's brother Lan. I hope he gets a book. He's wonderful! -Character growth. Gotta love it. -Shy's sweet talk. When he puts it all on the line, it will make you swoon. -We get to see the beginning of Hop and Lanie's book. I didn't think I could like Hop due to the whole BeeBee thing. But I do. KA made it happen. -I could go on and on, but really, it was just great. What I didn't like- -This has to do with me being a nurse, but Tabby had issues with Dr. Dickhead riding her at work. So bad, she considered quitting. Then Shy had to take matters into the clubs hands, which is ridiculous. I'm not saying doctors aren't dicks, because they can be. But gone are the days when that was tolerated. Doctors and nurses are colleagues. Nurses aren't doctor's handmaidens anymore. Abuse gets reported. But I get why KA wrote that. It made for good plot. -Where's my kickass epilogue? It was just a few pages. Definite recommended read. alpha-male buddy-read can-t-keep-their-hands-off-each-oth ...more 29 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,437 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 78 quotes 20 discussions 10 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

Return schema.org Entities and their Properties in JSON-LD format as an array strictly based on the text below. Don't add any information that is not stated in this text.

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Becoming Wild: Living the Primitive Life on a West Coast Island by Nikki Van Schyndel | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $8.69 Rate this book Becoming Wild: Living the Primitive Life on a West Coast Island Nikki Van Schyndel 3.80 173 ratings 27 reviews Want to read Kindle $8.69 Rate this book Nikki van Schyndel is not your typical grizzled survivalist. She is a contemporary, urban young woman who threw off modern comforts to spend nineteen months in a remote rainforest with her housecat and a virtual stranger. Set in the Broughton Archipelagoa maze of isolated islands near northern Vancouver IslandBecoming Wild is a story of survival in the pristine wilderness of BC. Sometimes predator and sometimes prey, 29 year-old Nikki and her companion Micah fend off the harsh weather, hungry wildlife, threat of starvation and the endless perils of this rugged Raincoast. To survive, Nikki must rely on her knowledge of BCs coastal flora and fauna, and the ancient techniques of hunting and gathering. In this remote world she learns to skin bears, make clothes from cedar bark and take great joy in gobbling a fish tail whole. Told in a voice that is both familiar and vulnerable, Becoming Wild explores our innate longings to connect with nature and revert to a pure, Eden-like state. Genres Nonfiction Memoir Nature Survival Travel 224 pages, Paperback First published April 1, 2014 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Nikki Van Schyndel 1 book 3 followers Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.80 173 ratings 27 reviews 5 stars 51 (29%) 4 stars 57 (32%) 3 stars 47 (27%) 2 stars 15 (8%) 1 star 3 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews Story Circle Book Reviews 636 reviews 67 followers July 3, 2014 A fisherman gave Nikki van Schyndel some advice about following her dream to survive in the wild without modern day conveniences: "If you can find funny in the things most people complain about, you'll always be happy," he said. It was the best advice the writer could have received, as she and a male partner had stranded themselves with a cat on a small island in the Broughton Archipelago off the coast of Alaska--and everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. At various times, the two humans failed to find, trap or catch enough food to keep them healthy, and during one week they were even stalked by a cougar. While these things aren't what most people complain about, the author usually found something--after the events of course--to laugh about. Nikki learned to use cedar bark and moss for toilet paper and nose tissue, admitting as she wrote about the experience, that it certainly gave her a new appreciation for Kleenex. Fish head and kelp soup became one of her favorite meals. And she overcame her fear of sleeping in the open near a wild animal trail in a ragged, rain-soaked sleeping bag. Truly. "Why intentionally put oneself to such tests," some readers might ask? The answer is found in the book's opening sentence: "It is only when we follow our dreams that we discover the magic within ourselves." Nikki's dream of living off the land began when she was eight years old, after she read Jean Craighead George's, "My Side of the Mountain." In this children's book, the hero, Sam, runs away from home to live off the land with only a knife, fire-starting flint, some twine, and a pet raccoon. Her dream of doing something similar continued to grow through the years. To support it, Nikki retreated to nature whenever possible, and then started taking outdoor survival classes. As one whose own dream of traveling the world began at the age of ten, after reading Osa Johnson's "I Married Adventure," I understood the author's motive. But reading Becoming Wild made me thankful that my own dream didn't involve the kind of hardships Nikki lived through to achieve her goal. What made this book enjoyable was that despite the adversities the author faced, whether it was a marathon blister-creating rowing trip to another island in search of salmon or enduring mosquitoes that tormented her flesh, Nikki never failed to see the natural beauty around her. On Day 230 of her adventure, which she described as her first day off from the chores of surviving, she wrote in her journal that she ran "to the woods with the illusion that by living simply and purely in nature, I wouldn't have to deal with the temptations or distractions that bombarded me in the city. I thought becoming a truly good person would be easier in the forest." I think readers who have their own dreams will find this book inspiring. As do all journeys, this adventure changed Nikki. You can find out how by reading the book. by Pat Bean for Story Circle Book Reviews reviewing books by, for, and about women reviewed 5 likes Like Comment Andrea 533 reviews 19 followers September 27, 2014 I saw the author of this book speak at a recent conference and was completely hooked by her story of living in the wild and her demonstration of making fire with a bow drill. I have to admit that I just ordered a whole pile of books on local flora and fauna. Her memoir of her 18 months living with one other human and a feral cat in the bush was quite astounding and alluringly told. This is not just a story about the nitty gritty of survival. It's also about the soul and about a lost connection with the natural world that begins to manifest in senses we don't even realize we have. This was a good read and has inspired me to go out foraging in my back yard. I don't have access to the sort of deep wilderness that the author did, but I feel suddenly that I should at least try to know the names and uses of wild plants that grow in and around my neighbourhood. In my first foray I managed to identify cotoneaster (with berries that are NOT edible) which is in fact an invasive plant from China. I've passed clumps of it every day and only now thought to find out what it is. I think anyone who reads this will be inspired to know more about the plants and animals that we share our space with. canadian 4 likes Like Comment Linda 57 reviews 1 follower July 17, 2014 Fascinating. It was a well crafted memoir of an amazing experience of living in the wild of British Columbia's west coast. It gave me a peek at a remote community (Echo Bay) and wilderness survival. Just reading Nikkis prose made my mind more quiet. Now when I walk through parks in the city - I notice the flora more and take more interest in the natural fauna (such as eagles, heron's and other native birds of my area). Anyone interested in wilderness survival, nature and the wilds of British Columbia will love this book. I also recommend it for anyone who wants to consider a slower paced, more reflective life. 3 likes Like Comment Neill Smith 1,138 reviews 40 followers September 19, 2014 Becoming Wild tells the story of Nikki Van Schyndel's search for life in the wilderness of the Broughton Archipelago north of Vancouver Island with her friend, Micah. She prepared with wilderness courses, reading, and experimenting with a life in the wild but the realities of being in the wilderness, hunting, fishing, beachcombing, scavenging in the woods and on the beaches and on the ocean, scrounging for materials for tools led her to become what she both wanted and needed to be to survive in an incredibly beautiful but nevertheless harsh environment. If you love nature, or even the idea of nature, read this book. 3 likes Like Comment Randy 389 reviews November 4, 2014 A dozen years or so ago an attractive young woman gave my wife and I a tour of some rural property that a land trust was attempting to acquire. She was teaching at a survival school on the property. Deep in the woods she showed us a shelter she had built by scraping an indentation in the dirt and then covering it with branches, sticks and mud. She told us she had spent five nights in the shelter. I was both appalled and impressed. But, as it turned out, that was nothing compared to what Nikki Van Schyndel was about to do for a year and a half in the Canadian wilderness. My favorite kind of book is one that takes to places I'll never see and, often, where I would never want to go. There is no way that I'd be willing to voluntarily commit myself to living like a primitive in a nasty ass shelter for a year and a half, unable to bathe or groom, eating wild foods like seaweed, nasty looking bottom fish, bear meat and limpets. But Nikki and her boyfriend Micah did this and if one can believe her testimony, turned it into a spiritual experience. It's fair to say that Nikki is not a normal person. One wouldn't expect a woman who is movie star good looking to opt for a stone age life. Yet she does and relishes the experience sucking the marrow, literally, and figuratively from her life of becoming wild. It's a compelling read spoiled only by the cryptic ending where she briefly mentions being attacked by a human with no other details. If I had read the book before buying this copy at one of her book readings (she is equally amazing in person) I would have been tempted to ask her to elaborate on this detail. One might expect to see Nikki on TV in the near future with the popularity of this type of programming. If that happens, I'll be certain to be in the audience. 2 likes Like Comment D 324 reviews 9 followers March 9, 2016 Pass. Or rather, I wish I had. I found myself too curious about the nitty gritty details and ended up reading it to the end. The vaguely christian, explicitly new age approach just takes over the whole book. The serendipity, the platitudes, the it-must-be-destiny, the animism, was all pretty overwhelming and had me doubting the recollection of events. The writing isn't great and the dialogue felt forced. And the fact that she ends up owning her own eco business has me doubting things as well. Perhaps that's a bit harsh, but plainly said, this book just isn't for anyone who would shy away from over-romanticizing nature. The Stars, the Snow, the Fire by John Haines is much more lyrical and transporting. Chris Czajkowski is also much easier to swallow. On the Edge of Nowhere by James Huntington has more entertaining stories. This book does have the most bare bones, starting from scratch aspect to it, and if you're specifically interested in the BC coast, then perhaps this book is worth swallowing your pride for, but otherwise, maybe just watch the Dick Proenneke movie. canadian-non-fiction remote-living-bio 2 likes Like Comment Pat 275 reviews 11 followers May 30, 2019 Fast read. Written in an ADHD a lot of coffee drinking way. A lot of exaggerations, such as stating she could identify a plant by driving down a road at 70 MPH. Contradictions abound by the constant humoring of being a city person and can barely function in a forest (see the plant comment). Killing bears in a questionably humane way, questioning the legality. Catching fish and smoking it. Don’t see the need to burn so much energy smoking fish when they could go to the water and catch one anytime. What did the cat eat when they were low on meat and skinny? Rowing 6-8 miles to get some vegetables on another island? Everything seems so questionable. And a lack of details and how they really felt as they grew to live somewhat independent of civilization. I only finished it to catch the questionable comments and facts. 2 likes Like Comment Christy 51 reviews 2 followers October 1, 2017 Fun memoir of living almost 100% off the land in a BC archipelago. Narrative is simple, and like others I found myself wishing an editor had helped her massage it into something more mature. She drops a little bomb in the finale about being attacked by a human after returning to civilization, which left her almost dead. I think readers want to know more--was someone stalking her as she lived solo in the wilderness after starting her eco-tour business? Or did she get randomly attacked in the city after she returned from her adventure? It really interfered with the story for me, and needed to be explained or woven into the experience somehow. Overall it was a fun read and it was empowering to learn about this determined wilderness survivalist. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review 2 likes Like Comment Colleen 798 reviews January 19, 2016 Readable, but I was appalled by some of the needlessly life-threatening chances they took. There were many times when they almost died from lack of preparation and knowledge. Her weird flaky spiritual beliefs and unbelievable stories about the supernatural and dreams she had turned me off. autobiography book-club 2 likes Like Comment Grazyna Nawrocka 466 reviews 2 followers July 8, 2019 What a beautiful writing? The book read as easy, and had feeling of a fairy tale. I'll be missing it. I worked in school in Indian Reserve. Many people there were completely confused and lost as to further education of children. They did not want their children to read books. They wanted them to be hunters and trappers, and were angry with the system. Very strangely, the author is obviously of native origin, but was not equipped with all this traditional skills and knowledge. I still cannot believe how great her language skills are. Anyway, she started with reading and taking courses in survival, herbal medicines, edible plants, and then she just made a decision to "get into deep water, and start swimming." Although it wasn't easy, she was able to reclaim her heritage. What an awesome synthesis! I also loved spiritual side of her life. There are different stages to human life. Young people look for themselves, try to figure out what is their faith, what is the meaning of their life, how to live it. I would recommend this book to everybody, because it is fun to read, but especially to native students and youth. I still cannot wrap my mind around eating mouse without skinning it first. I have never hears or seen anybody cooking furry animal with the skin on. This photo made me question honesty and credibility of the whole story. Yet, as young people, Micah and Nikki sometimes took shortcuts, which, when I reach back with my memory to my teenage years, happened to me also. anthro-and-psycho-logy 1 like Like Comment Clewchuk 37 reviews 2 followers September 29, 2015 I enjoyed the story of Nikki's travels to remote places and her ways of surviving and eventually thriving there. The writing is simplistic and I would have liked a little more detail in certain parts of the book, but I did overall enjoy the book. It did make me wish to learn more about what she is doing now, and how she has continued on with her life. The vague description of the very last life events begs a little more explanation. Perhaps I will have to visit one of her eco-tours and see for myself how she is living these days. The book did inspire me to seek out greater knowledge of survivalism and journey to see more wild places. 1 like Like Comment Nowick Author 39 books 20 followers June 8, 2019 "Being still is about melting into your surroundings. It’s not vacuous staring. That creates boredom. It’s about shifting from a mundane mindset to one of wonderment. Enjoyable stillness comes from expanding one’s awareness and finding excitement and interest in even the smallest happenings." "The pattern of blaming others for nature's crisis will continue until each of us feels a soulful connection to the wild world. With this profound understanding we will make informed decisions about how to coexist with nature. Only then will we be able to make a positive difference for all life gracing our beautiful planet." 1 like Like Comment Unit of Raine 286 reviews June 29, 2016 I was afraid this was going to be like "Wild", but no, Nikki is skilled and knows what she is doing. I am in awe of her skills with herbs, tracking, and intuition. I really appreciated her use of Kwak'wala, which is alluded to in my favorite book of all time (I heard the owl call my name), but never really used. And, of course, I'd love to explore the Broughtons. 1 like Like Comment Patsey 718 reviews 9 followers Read February 16, 2017 What an adventurer you are Nikki! This fraidy cat, only-in-my-dreams armchair explorer applauds and admires you. You made me think about consumption and waste, jealousy and desire, what I am doing to the planet and how I can be better and "good". I wish I could tag along with your mom and Sherri on their next trip to Echo Bay. Dreams are good too! 2017 1 like Like Comment Sue 115 reviews February 26, 2018 A very interesting read about a young woman and a friend who choose to live off the land in a remote area of BC. Eating wild food, using plant medicinals, trapping and killing a bear and building their own shelter, the two did something very few of us could ever do ( or perhaps ever want to do ). Their's is a story of resilience and good planning. 1 like Like Comment Peter 34 reviews January 1, 2015 interesting. a bit too much like Grizzly Man Interesting how someone can live off the land but a few more practicalities of these 2 years would have made for a slightly more interesting read. 1 like Like Comment Elizabeth 129 reviews 2 followers January 30, 2016 Interesting true story of a woman who abandons all the amenities of the modern world to live "primitive" on an isolated island off BC's West Coast. Poignant in its illustration of just how much our once all encompassing connection to (and care for) the natural world has faded. 1 like Like Comment Natasha 7 reviews 2 followers August 16, 2014 I liked this book and was inspired by her story. 2 likes Like Comment Jeff Day 6 reviews April 18, 2015 Loved this book. 1 like Like Comment Lee Roversi 452 reviews 1 follower September 15, 2016 this book was loaned to my by my son-in-law, who, along with my daughter, met this author in british columbia this summer. she is remarkable and her story is as well. 1 like Like Comment Barb Kelownagurl 202 reviews 4 followers January 28, 2018 I always love books about living off the land and/or wilderness survival. If you enjoy the show "Alone", you might like this book. 1 like Like Comment Lael 361 reviews 3 followers June 28, 2020 I was enjoying this jaunty read until the third botched killing of an animal and then I was not. 1 like Like Comment Olga 139 reviews 9 followers May 7, 2021 ok, jāatzīst, ka tas nebija tas, ko es biju gaidījusi. Biju domājusi, ka tas būs vairāk par puslīdz komfortablu dzīvošanu prom no pilsētas, bet te bija full-on izdzīvošana uz nosalšanas vai bada robežas. Par izdzīvošanu runājot, autores uzvedība brīžiem bija bezatbildīga, piemēram, neapgūstot makšķerēšanas iemaņas, lai gan dzīvoja ūdeņu tuvumā un tas bija viens no pārtikas avotiem, ogu lasīšana blakus lāčiem, nezināmu sēņu ēšana (atstājot "pirmsnāves vēstuli"). Manai gaumei te bija par daudz botānisku aprakstu, kā arī "bezvārdu sarunu" ar kokiem, visumu, dzīvniekiem, utt. travel 1 like Like Comment Valerie 11 reviews August 12, 2022 The best thing that came out of covid for me was discovering Alone which led me to Nikki, the author. When I found out she wrote a memoir of her experiences living as a survivalist prior to the show, I had to read it. Her edible plant knowledge is enviable. What an amazing experience she had and what a courageous woman! I enjoyed every minute of this book. Like Comment Russell Cornwell 100 reviews 1 follower March 24, 2023 Living Wild/Becoming Wild What a wonderful story. Although partly disgusting and sad, it rings of truth. Even as a young man, I could never have lived the life that Nikki, Micah and Scout did, I understand the pull. Incredible as it sounds, I choose to accept her words as she has written them. Highly recommend this book. Like Comment Kris 31 reviews May 3, 2022 I bought this book for my son because Micah is a friend of mine from years ago and read it before I gifted it. I enjoyed Nikki's writing and have since gifted it to others who enjoy the idea of living in the wild. Great read. Like Comment Albert 21 reviews January 18, 2022 inspiring Like Comment Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews Join the discussion 4 quotes Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

Return schema.org Entities and their Properties in JSON-LD format as an array strictly based on the text below. Don't add any information that is not stated in this text.

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The Song Caster (The Wilderhark Tales, #4) by Danielle E. Shipley | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Buy on Amazon Rate this book The Wilderhark Tales #4 The Song Caster Danielle E. Shipley 4.63 8 ratings 6 reviews Want to read Buy on Amazon Rate this book The dull doom of impending marriage at his back and a reticent royal at his side, remarkable minstrel Gant-o’-the-Lute is off in search of adventure, and you can be sure he finds it – complete with much music, magicked maidens, and a dangerous power so great, Lute might for once find himself outmatched. The Song Caster Book Four of The Wilderhark Tales <> ~ <> ~ <> An enchantress’s curse turns a spoiled royal into a beast; a princess’s pricked finger places her under a hundred-year spell; bales of straw are spun as golden as the singing harp whisked down a giant beanstalk – all within sight of Wilderhark, the forest that’s seen it all. You’ve heard the stories – of young men scaling rope-like braids to assist the tower-bound damsel; of gorgeous gowns appearing just in time for a midnight ball; of frog princes, and swan princes, and princes saved from drowning by maidens of the sea. Tales of magic. Tales of adventure. Most of all, tales of true love. Once upon a time, you knew them as fairytales. Know them now as Wilderhark’s. 212 pages, Paperback First published June 15, 2014 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Danielle E. Shipley 31 books 53 followers Danielle E. Shipley – author of fairy tales retold, legends reimagined, and other expressions of wishful thinking. In the past, she’s worked as a librarian in a kindergarten, a Towne Crier in a Renaissance Faire, and a butler in Germany. In another universe, she’s a tenor on Broadway, a wandering minstrel, or at the very least a Dark Lord singing about world domination. Born, raised, and homeschooled in the Chicago area, she now resides primarily in realms of her own making, along with her crazy crew of character children. She hopes to ultimately retire to a private immortal forest. But first, there are stories to make. *She also doesn't hang out on Goodreads very often. Find her on her blog, Twitter, and Facebook* Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.63 8 ratings 6 reviews 5 stars 5 (62%) 4 stars 3 (37%) 3 stars 0 (0%) 2 stars 0 (0%) 1 star 0 (0%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews Nick 29 reviews 1 follower June 5, 2014 The Song Caster is yet another strong entry into Danielle Shipley’s Wilderhark Tales series, and one which I’m very glad to have read. As a matter of fact, I think this is now my favourite book in the whole series. The book gets remarkbly tense in places without ever ditching the tradition Wilderhark-style humour, resulting in a read unlike anything else I have seen this year. The first of the wo protagonists is none other than Gant o’ the Lute, one of my favourite characters the last time around. I was thrilled to find he’d be having a bigger role her and the result is even better than I’d expected. Faced with the prospect of marriage, Gant decides on one last adventure before settling down into a (relatively) normal life. Over the quest that follows, Gant’s character is fleshed out beautifully, with a huge character flaw brought to light which was only vaguely apparent in the past. The second main character, however, is what provides this book’s masterstroke. Shipley takes a bit character from book 2 – one that I (and I imagine, most people) had forgotten about – and gradually shapes him into an individual we can truly root for. I really enjoyed seeing this character develop over time, and sincerely hope we’ll be seeing more of him in future books. The writing is as good as ever, of course, with a good quick flow and nary a word wasted. And speaking of writing: I don’t recall seeing a single typo or grammatical goof anywhere in this. Given that this is an indie book – and an early copy of one at that – that is doubly impressive. Four books in, The WIlderhark Tales remains an absolute gem of a series. I eagerly look forward to the next installment. *I recieved a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. * 1 like Like Comment J. Ford Author 7 books 138 followers June 24, 2014 Let me start by saying I really enjoyed The Song Caster. I loved the narrative, the characters and the writing. The fairytale is familiar in the sense that our hero, Lute, must help a lesser protagonist (Benedeck) find what his heart desires and secure his fate at the risk of Lute’s own neck and future. The fact that Lute agrees to set out on this adventure speaks volumes of his character. I also love the way Shipley develops Benedeck’s character into this wonderful individual who truly deserves his share of happiness. I really enjoyed the storyline stuffed with overbearing parents, magical instruments and yes…a dragon. There is humor and plot twists all mixed with a wonderful touch of romance. I found myself rooting for the characters and I was completely satisfied with the ending. It’s a sweet story, clean and fun, and suitable for all members of the family. My only complaint about this story was a lack of development of Viralei’s character. I wished she had shown up sooner in the story and would have loved to have seen her as a more adventurous and daring type. I do like than none of Shipley’s characters are useless. There are no “walk-ons”, and everyone has a purpose and place. The Song Caster is well-crafted and an excellent addition to the Wilderhark Tales. I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting a fun, adventurous fantasy read with a happy ever after fairytale ending. A solid 4 stars. *I received an ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. * 1 like Like Comment Emerald Barnes Author 25 books 122 followers April 16, 2014 Well if Miss Shipley hasn't gone and done it again. And by luck, she's written an entire novella about my favorite character, Gant-O'-the-Lute! Imagine how happy this reader was when she found out that he had his own book! The Song Caster is a novella all about adventure! Our dear Jackillean doesn't want to marry until he's had one last adventure, so he's on the road with the most unusual of companions, Benedeck from The Stone Kingdom. Together, they go in search of a princess for Benedeck. Along the way, Gant-O'-the-Lute finds something that could destroy the world in the right hands. We discover just how far one can fall under the right influence. This novella is about love, adventure, and starting and breaking spells. It's everything you ever wanted in a fairy tale! Just when you think The Wilderhark series can't get any better, we're given The Song Caster! **I was given an ARC, and I have provided my unbiased review of the novel I was gifted.** 2014-reads 1 like Like Comment Kimberly Kay Author 22 books 4 followers September 8, 2016 The Song Caster is a lovely addition to The Wildherhark Tales with the familiar humor, adventure, and romance. Characters from the past return to find their happily ever afters--that is, if they can get past overbearing parents, midnight enchantments, and overzealous cats. Even if they do, can these fairytale adventurers survive the call of intense power and magic? Then there is that dragon... fairy-tale-retellings 1 like Like Comment A Story Explorer 400 reviews February 22, 2021 *I wrote this review several weeks after I had read it, so this is my after book thoughts. (An ARC was provided by the author for an honest review. I was not compensated in any other way.) Shipley continues her well crafted story telling and there continues to be no dull moment in her pacing. Most of that, of course, is because of magic that brings a little trouble to our protagonists who will have to get out of them in due time. This is another great tale told by our great wordsmith. I always enjoy the different fairy tale parallels the author throws in for us to find. She even changes things up a bit to keep us on our toes. I'm still sort of hoping that she'll throw in a tale that and twist it so that I totally won't see it coming but only time shall tell. Nevertheless, I don't get tired of reading Shipley's retold fairy tales. :D The ending is satisfying and complete. It successfully sums up the troubles the protagonists have gone through and needed to solve. It's nice and clean that leaves you with fluffy warm feelings. lol I'm going to leave it at that for you. (Working on my no spoiler review rule I've set for myself.) Lute continues to steal my heart and I'm looking forward to the next adventure Shipley has in store for her next story. Can I have it now? *makes grabby hands* lol Just kidding! 4 out of 5 rating for me! Read more of my review at: http://originiquequanimity.blogspot.c... Like Comment Amy Aelleah 887 reviews 7 followers April 14, 2016 Definitely my favorite of the series to date! Like Comment Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln by Margarita Engle | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $10.99 Rate this book Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln Margarita Engle , Rafael López ( Illustrator ) 4.21 1,779 ratings 394 reviews Want to read Kindle $10.99 Rate this book The story of Teresa Carreño, a child prodigy who played piano for Abraham Lincoln. As a little girl, Teresa Carreño loved to let her hands dance across the beautiful keys of the piano. If she felt sad, music cheered her up, and when she was happy, the piano helped her share that joy. Soon she was writing her own songs and performing in grand cathedrals. Then a revolution in Venezuela forced her family to flee to the United States. Teresa felt lonely in this unfamiliar place, where few of the people she met spoke Spanish. Worst of all, there was fighting in her new home, too—the Civil War. Still, Teresa kept playing, and soon she grew famous as the talented Piano Girl who could play anything from a folk song to a sonata. So famous, in fact, that President Abraham Lincoln wanted her to play at the White House! Yet with the country torn apart by war, could Teresa’s music bring comfort to those who needed it most? Genres Picture Books Biography Music Nonfiction History Childrens Historical ...more 40 pages, Hardcover First published August 27, 2019 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Margarita Engle 65 books 367 followers Margarita Engle is a Cuban-American poet, novelist, and journalist whose work has been published in many countries. She lives with her husband in northern California. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.21 1,779 ratings 394 reviews 5 stars 727 (40%) 4 stars 767 (43%) 3 stars 239 (13%) 2 stars 32 (1%) 1 star 14 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 394 reviews Calista 4,508 reviews 31.3k followers March 8, 2020 Teresa grew up in Venezuela playing the piano with her dad, a politician. War broke out there and they had to leave the country and came to NYC. (The picture of them on the boat in the ocean during a storm with an outline of a girl in the water and her hair was the turbulent waves was very cool.) She began playing with orchestra’s at age 10 and her name got around. In 1883, Abe Lincoln invited her to the White House where she played for the President in his red music room. This is all based on fact. She even wrote music and she wrote her own waltz. I would love to find that somewhere and listen to it preformed. It’s too bad stuff like that isn’t also preformed nowadays. The artwork was wonderful and it brought the story to life. I thought the prose was tight and it did a great job of conveying moods in this story. I love it. I love how images were used to convey music and not just music notes. The nephew, well, there isn’t anything for him. He’s a man of his age. This is set in the past about music that’s not Michael Jackson with no robots or monsters. He still likes those things plus Harry Potter. So, he thought this story was boring. I don’t think I’m going to get through to him. He likes what he likes and that’s okay. He gave it 2 stars for that picture of the boat in the sea. It was pretty cool. 2019 award-various bage-children ...more 35 likes Like Comment Natalia Sylvester Author 13 books 71.4k followers September 5, 2019 This book is so beautifully written & illustrated—the language leaps off the page as vibrantly as the illustrations, with a wonderful message of how courage, hope & kindness carry us far in difficult times. I love how the author explored the duality of light & darkness in life, the way they coexist and create music out of our joys & sorrows. 12 likes Like Comment Darla 3,902 reviews 885 followers September 18, 2021 The memory of meeting past challenges now helped her fingers dance, celebrating the way life had turned out to be a mixture of all sorts of feelings, happy and sad. Do you know the story of Teresa Carreño? She played the piano in a private concert for President Lincoln shortly after he signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Teresa's family emigrated from Venezuela in 1962. Her musical talent helped her to feel more at home here in a nation where brother was warring against brother. The composer Gottschalk gave her piano lessons and was also performed for the president. This book won the Pura Belpré Award for illustration in 2020. The colorful illustrations are beautiful and inviting while the lyrical text evokes the Teresa's dancing hands. A fabulous choice for Hispanic Heritage Month! 10 likes Like Comment Bookishrealm 2,495 reviews 5,814 followers September 4, 2019 Dancing Hands..Wow...this was such an informative picture book. Honestly, before reading this book I had never heard of Teresa Carreno or that she played the piano for President Lincoln during the Civil War. I was amazed at how young and talented she was and how she had to escape war from her home country of Venezuela only to come to the United states to become immersed in our own civil war. I found everything about this book fascinating. My only criticism is the simplicity with which the Emancipation Proclamation was handled. I think that Engle did not present the document in its true form. It was stated on one page that the Emancipation Proclamation freed all slaves and this simply isn't true. It may seem small to some readers, but as someone who received a degree in history, I think that it is important that our children receive access to historical information with as much accuracy as possible. If not, we run the risk of perpetuating falsehoods that are carried into adulthood. Other than that, I thought that the book was amazing and the artwork truly spoke to the narrative of the book. books-read-in-2019 lead-poc-picture-books non-fiction-picture-books 10 likes Like Comment Moonkiszt 2,432 reviews 285 followers April 23, 2021 Featured in a grandma reads session. I have lived in this country, gone through its education system in various states and studied history, as taught to the general public, many many times. This is a story I never heard. Not once. And I grew up in the Los Angeles School District to start. . . . The story Margarita Engle tells of Teresa Carreno's prodigious talent at the piano, and her invite as a 8 year-old child to play for President Abraham Lincoln was news to me. I am grateful for her writing the story, and for the bold, bright, imaginative swirls of color and clear featured illustrations of Rafael Lopez to accompany this surprising story. The art beckons, and then encourages a reader to linger, and ponder. It could be tricky to report a story about a child, set between two wars - one in Venezula, her home country, and in the US, the country in which her family finds refuge. She is nervous, and when settled on the bench is dismayed to discover the piano is out of tune. She doesn't want to play and her music be found wanting. She played, but was out of sorts with the results. The president, a kind and simple man asks her to play his favorite song, "Listen to the Mockingbird." She knows it, is pleased because it will not be lessened by the imperfect instrument at which she sits, and she lets her dancing hands dance. . .He enjoyed every note. Appreciated mightily by my zoom crew, all of who live in houses with pianos, and have mothers with Big Ideas about pianos needing to be played regularly by children. architecture-historical-structures arts-crafts-mixed-in bees-butter-dragonflies-bug-wings ...more 5 likes Like Comment Mid-Continent Public Library 591 reviews 226 followers Read September 29, 2021 The memory of meeting past challenges now helped her fingers dance, celebrating the way life had turned out to be a mixture of all sorts of feelings, happy and sad. Do you know the story of Teresa Carreño? She played the piano in a private concert for President Lincoln shortly after he signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Teresa's family emigrated from Venezuela in 1962. Her musical talent helped her to feel more at home here in a nation where brother was warring against brother. The composer Gottschalk gave her piano lessons and was also performed for the president. This book won the Pura Belpré Award for illustration in 2020. The colorful illustrations are beautiful and inviting while the lyrical text evokes the Teresa's dancing hands. A fabulous choice for Hispanic Heritage Month! *Reviewed by Darla from Red Bridge* biography picture-books 4 likes Like Comment Cheryl Gladfelter 370 reviews 28 followers December 14, 2019 I enjoyed the story and learning about Teresa Carreno, but the true star of this book is Rafael Lopez's illustrations. They are transcendentally beautiful and I notice something new every time I love at them. 2019 biography great-illustrations ...more 3 likes Like Comment Mary 208 reviews 4 followers March 14, 2024 Women’s History Month: book number 6. The text is lyrical. The illustrations are absolutely magical! Both evoke a sense of musical wonder. I like the themes of light and darkness; struggle and hope. Little Teresa Carreno began life within a musical family in Venezuela. “Papa showed Teresita how to let her happy hands dance across all the beautiful dark and lights keys of a piano.” “If Teresa felt sad, music cheered her, and when she was happy, the piano helped her share bursts of joy.” By age six, she was composing her own songs, and at age seven, she performed in a grand cathedral. At age eight, there was revolution in her country, her Papa rushed the family to the seashore and onto a ship during a storm. When they arrived in New York, Teresa was homesick and without friends or any English words. “All around her, curious strangers stared and whispered as if her whole family belonged in a museum of oddities.” Worst of all, her new country was also fighting a war - the great Civil War. Teresa began practicing the piano again, sharing her music with friendly people in her home. She became known as “The Piano Girl.” Newspapers spoke of her, she performed in concerts, played solos with great orchestras, and performed in elegant cities. People applauded and threw her roses. At age ten, Teresa received a special invitation from President Abraham Lincoln. He wanted HER to play for his family at the White House! The war raged, the country was suffering and divided; and recently, Abraham and Mary Lincoln’s son, Willie, had fallen ill and died. “How could music sooth so much trouble?” Teresa wanted to bring comfort to the grieving parents and their two surviving sons. Teresa was nervous and clung to Papa’s hand. She entered the red Music Room in the White House. She needed to be brave. She remembered all of the hard challenges that she had met with courage. She could do this, even with a piano that was out of tune, especially when President Lincoln was kind, and asked her to play his favorite song, “Listen to the Mockingbird.” She improvised and made this lively song very special. Teresa was happy that she had brought joy to the grieving family! awards-other biography-autobiography children-books ...more 2 likes Like Comment Ben Truong 5,870 reviews 140 followers September 30, 2019 Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln is a children's picture book written by Margarita Engle and illustrated by Rafael Laopez. It is a biographical picture book of Teresa Carreño – a Venezuelan pianist. Mid-September to Mid-October, at least in my part of the world is Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month, which I plan to read one children's book, particularly a biography, which pertains to the subject everyday this month. Therefore, I thought that this book would be apropos for today. María Teresa Gertrudis de Jesús Carreño García was a Venezuelan pianist, soprano, composer, and conductor. Over the course of her 54-year concert career, she became an internationally renowned virtuoso pianist and was often referred to as the Valkyrie of the Piano. Engle's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. The free verse whirls and twirls, playful and vivacious, which elevates narrative to an almost musical art form. López's swirling colors, soaring birds, and scattered notes conjure music's transportive powers amid the countries’ war-torn landscapes, which complements the text rather well. The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It tells the story of how a young refugee from Venezuela comforted the grieving president with her music. Music helps Carreño express her feelings and cope with her family’s emigration to the United States. Her reputation as a prodigy leads to an invitation at the White House. All in all, Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln is a wonderful biographical picture book of Teresa Carreño – The Valkyrie of the Piano. biography childrens history ...more 2 likes Like Comment Kris 3,394 reviews 70 followers February 10, 2021 Such a pretty picture book biography of a person I hadn't heard of before. I loved the idea of music bring light and joy to places where there is darkness and sorrow, even if only temporarily. One of the reviews I read addressed the inaccuracy about when the Emancipation Proclamation is mentioned, it is, as we are incorrectly told in elementary school, said to have "freed all the slaves". This is valid, and should be corrected. I hate inaccurate oversimplifications. If you are going to write a picture book, respect your audience enough to tell them the truth. This is wonderful in so many ways; I wish that error didn't exist. picture-books 2 likes Like Comment Susie 1,755 reviews 23 followers February 25, 2020 What a delight in recent years to learn about so many interesting people through picture book biographies; this is a prime example. I knew nothing of Teresa Carreno, and found the illustrations to be just perfect! No wonder Lopez won the Pura Belpre Award. As a matter of fact, this prompted me to go to his website; he has done a wonderful job with so many books! Many of the inside pages are much more vibrant than the cover, which does convey the idea that Carreno played for Lincoln during the somber war time period. In fact, I attended a JLG webinar where this book and several other award winners were discussed. Dancing Hands does a great job of conveying joy and concern. 2 likes Like Comment Angela 292 reviews 6 followers Read March 12, 2020 A gorgeous picture book biography biography music picture-book 2 likes Like Comment Keisha Rembert 26 reviews May 22, 2021 Is there any story Margarita Engle can not tell and tell well? This picture book is no exception. Set in two countries, Venezuela and the United States, readers are introduced to Teresa Carreno whose family seeks refuge in the U.S. as a result of persistent conflict in Venezuela. As a young girl, Teresa, the piano girl as she is also referred to, learns her gift of music brings joy during difficult times. Even when she is doubting herself, her music instills confidence. Teresa's hands glide across the piano and she is able to be at home with the memories of Venezuela and at home seeking comfort in the United States, a place so foreign. It is her musical gift that affords her the opportunity to play for President Abraham Lincoln. The president could use the comfort and confidence that Teresa's music offers as he had just lost his son and was also facing a huge moral and political crisis --slavery and succession. Teresa knew the brevity of her performance and although she was afraid she played through her fear and brought comfort to the grieving president. The picture book is lyrical through its words and illustrations. It tackles ideas notions of who can contribute to society (age, race, gender and citizenship) really well. I am glad to have been introduced to the music and story of Teresa. latinx_ccd690 2 likes Like Comment Sunday 965 reviews 49 followers September 15, 2019 “When Teresa was a little girl in Venezuela, Mamá sang lullabies while Papá showed Teresita how to let her happy hands dance across all the beautiful dark and light keys of a piano.” Lopez’s astounding illustrations and Engle’s lyrical text make this book pure joy to read. Teresa Carreño was a masterful pianist at a young age who grew up in an era of turmoil – in her home country of Venezuela and in her adopted country of the United States (i.e., Civil War). Music soothed not only Carreño, but also the people who heard her play (in Europe and the U.S.). Read this aloud in the k-3 classroom. While the text & illustrations tackle complex subjects like “homeless refugee” and “North battling South” and so forth, even our youngest students will glean some important messages from this book. SUGGESTIONS for INTERACTIVE READ ALOUD – As always, there’s so much to enjoy in this book that I’d just read it aloud with very few stops along the way the first time. Then return to the book and read aloud again, pausing to engage students in conversation with you or in small student-led groups. A few thoughts about questions you might pose – • On 2nd two-page layout – “What do Engle and Lopez compare Teresa’s playing to?” and “How does that help you understand the power of the music Teresa played?” • What does Engle mean when she writes (insert language from text)? (e.g., “playing hymns that shimmered like hummingbirds” or as Teresa made her way in a new unfamiliar country “Teresa practiced…her strong hands accepting the challenge of life’s many dark and light moods” or…) • How does Lopez use dark and light color schemes to reveal Teresa’s feelings or the mood of the world she lived in? • What does this page (the text and illustrations) reveal about Teresa’s character? • How does music play an important role in this particular part of the book? Or in this period of time? TIP for READING ALOUD – The sentences are long and can be quite a mouthful for us as we read aloud to students. Engle’s text is poetic – so I’d read this aloud as though you were reading poetry, pausing where it feels natural at the end of phrases and so forth. In other words, don’t rush—take your time, pausing to let students absorb the language and meaning. Honestly, I just LOVE Lopez & Engle’s Drum Dream Girl and am thrilled they chose to collaborate again. I’d read aloud BOTH books to students; great opportunity to compare two young artists who overcame obstacles in pursuit of their dreams. 2 likes Like Comment Kirsti 2,676 reviews 120 followers February 5, 2020 Sensitively written and colorfully illustrated biography of a homeless refugee who became a prodigy and concert pianist. She played not only for Lincoln but also for Liszt and Rossini. Venezuelans refer to her as the lioness of the piano. 2020 apostate-literature arts-and-photography ...more 2 likes Like Comment Katie 187 reviews 6 followers September 17, 2019 The message is beautiful, the illustrations are beautiful, and the blending of history, culture, and the arts is why I’ll read anything by this author. My music students will love this story! everyone-should-read-this 2 likes Like Comment Lindy Charles 6 reviews 1 follower March 10, 2021 This biographical story features the life of Teresa Carreño, a young musician from Venezuela, how she traveled to America and ended up playing piano for President Abraham Lincoln. The story begins with Teresa developing a love and passion for piano from a very young age. When her home country breaks out in war, Teresa travels to America with her family. Shocked by the same outrage in our country, she feels further and further away from home. Upon learning about the loss of President Lincoln's son, Teresa knows her music will help and realizes that music is a way to unite all people. Not letting her nerves get the best of her, Teresa performs President Lincoln's favorite song and brings joy to a grieving family. Teresa learns about the importance of music, and how it can unite us no matter our differences. This book would be appropriate to read-aloud with either 3rd or 4th graders because of the amount of text on each page and the complexity of the illustrations. An idea for how to use this book in classroom instruction could be a unit that incorporates multiple discipline areas into the content such as music, history, and reading/writing. This could be used in a lesson on immigration, and be an inclusive way to represent ELL students or students from immigrant families in the classroom. It could be used as a read-aloud to give students a real-world situation for any of these topics. This book could also be used by a Specials Teacher in music class with students to incorporate literature into a Specials class. Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln was a WOW! book for me because of the descriptive text that featured a multitude of metaphors and the detailed illustrations that captivated my attention. This book is also an inclusive book that touched on the lives of immigrants and can be relatable for ELL students. I also appreciated the loving message behind this story that music is a way to unite people and that we all understand music. biography-or-autobiography wow-books 1 like Like Comment Kaitlyn Drahos 22 reviews 2 followers February 4, 2021 I found this book while looking through the recent winners of the Pura Belpré award. It won in 2020 for it's illustrations and it is easy to see why with just a quick glance at the cover of this book. This book tells the story of a young refugee from Venezuela named Teresa Carreño. She was a talented pianist and brought joy to the country during the Civil War when there wasn't always much joy to find. The illustrations in this book truly bring all of it's events to life. The way the illustrator worked the pictures in with the words is breathtaking. There are so many slight details in each illustration that I'm sure I could read this 100 times and find something new each time. This book would be an amazing tool to teach figurative language! The descriptive words are incredible and create a new picture in your mind with each turning page. I would use this book in upper elementary for this purpose, as I remember specifically how difficult it is to teach the abstract concept of figurative language to 4th/5th grade ELLs! This book also includes many important pieces of history as it tells the story of a real life pianist and her relation to former president Abraham Lincoln. This could also be used to integrate history and reading! picture-books 1 like Like Comment Christy Author 16 books 62 followers March 7, 2020 The story of Teresa Carreño, a child prodigy who played piano for Abraham Lincoln. As a little girl, Teresa Carreño loved to let her hands dance across the beautiful keys of the piano. If she felt sad, music cheered her up, and when she was happy, the piano helped her share that joy. Soon she was writing her own songs and performing in grand cathedrals. Then a revolution in Venezuela forced her family to flee to the United States. Teresa felt lonely in this unfamiliar place, where few of the people she met spoke Spanish. Worst of all, there was fighting in her new home, too—the Civil War. Still, Teresa kept playing, and soon she grew famous as the talented Piano Girl who could play anything from a folk song to a sonata. So famous, in fact, that President Abraham Lincoln wanted her to play at the White House! Yet with the country torn apart by war, could Teresa’s music bring comfort to those who needed it most? character-driven concept-books history ...more 1 like Like Comment Ashley Fulkerson 14 reviews September 14, 2020 I really enjoyed this book for a few reasons. The first being that I had no idea that such a young girl performed for Lincoln, I think that is very special. The second being that I loved the figurative language used throughout the whole book. It kept me engaged in the story and kept my mind on track. One of my favorite lines is near the end of the book and it says, "Music swirled, twirled, and soared on wings of sound." I like this line because it shows how powerful music is and the ability it has to help people. Lincoln was going through a hard time after losing his son and Teresa was able to help him with her music which I think it very powerful. Finally, I thought that the illustrations were really good and vibrant. I was always interested to see the next page and look at the picture. I would recommend this story to others because it has a good message about believing in yourself and overcoming the hard times. biography civil-war music ...more 1 like Like Comment Joan 2,150 reviews March 9, 2020 What a lovely book! Well deserves to win the Pura Belpre illustrator award! This adds to the library’s rather slight holdings in music so I’m very pleased by this! This book can be pulled out for Hispanic month and women’s history month. It can be added to any display on music or a general one on the arts. It can be used for gifted children’s displays since she was only 10 when she played for President Lincoln and his family. I’m sure some thought would bring other uses for this bright versatile book! This was a pleasure to read. I cannot see it being used for preschool story time but I could see reading this to 3rd -6th grade classes. Highly recommended! belpre-award-honors for-preschoolers herstories-history-of-women ...more 1 like Like Comment Lidia 29 reviews May 7, 2020 This book is a Pura Belpré Award winner. It tells the story of Teresa Carreño who had to leave Venezuela. She is later invited to play for President Lincoln! This book intrigued me to learn more about Teresa Carreño. It is a great book to use for Hispanic Heritage Month with any grade level. The illustrations are beautiful and demonstrate Teresita's feelings. The first person that I watched do the read-aloud had the book positioned oddly that it looked like he was reading it backwards and he kept interrupting his own reading for comments. However, he read the book fluently. I found another reading and she could have practiced reading it first. picture-book 1 like Like Comment Julia 6 reviews April 26, 2021 In this colorful, eventful biography, you follow Teresa Carreno, a child prodigy through her life playing the piano. From her home in Venezuela, Teresa and her family were forced to flee due to a revolution. She finds herself in the United States during the Civil War. Amid the fighting, she finds herself homesick and feeling as though she doesn’t fit in with the Americans. Through the power of music and her piano skills, Teresa finds her way, and even plays for one of the most important people of the time period. I think this would be a perfect read aloud book for middle elementary students. I think this could be used to introduce a lesson on the civil war. I think this could also be used for students to do a research project on historical figures. This was a WOW book for me because of how engaging and beautiful the story was. The illustrations, the detailed descriptions, and the heartwarming tale of a Venezulan pianist’s life creates this must read children’s book! wow-books 1 like Like Comment June 5,533 reviews 79 followers January 30, 2020 About Teresa a child pianist prodigy, whose family fled to America to escape war. In 1863, when she was ten, she was invited to the White House to play for the Lincolns. The story basically covers her first 10 years, but the Historical Note goes further stating how she only returned to Venezuela once because of her county-men's disapproval of her independent spirit that caused her to divorce 3 times before finding happiness with her fourth husband. Her renown as a composer, opera singer and one of the best pianists of her time are also mentioned. She is remembered as "La Leona ("The Lioness") of the piano." biography hispanic immigration ...more 1 like Like Comment Rachel 2,839 reviews 60 followers March 11, 2021 Young Teresa Carreno learned how to play the piano from her father and was a piano prodigy in her native Venezuela before having to flee the country during a civil war and come to America during ours. She continued her rise in fame for a few years before getting the call from the President. Lincoln's son Tad had just died, and he and his family had not yet gotten over their grief, but in her own small way, Teresa helped him forget his pain for a few brief moments and enjoy the music. The book features a small biography of the girl inspired by the verses in the book. I had never heard of her before, so good on Margarita Engle for introducing me to another Latinx historical figure, and I really enjoyed the book. Recommended for ages 8-12, 4 stars. biography-and-memoirs children history ...more 1 like Like Comment Mia 531 reviews 4 followers March 14, 2022 What a beautiful story! Both literary and visually. Not at all surprised that this book got a Pura Belpré award. The story of Teresa Carreño is amazing, and the connection to Abraham Lincoln was really interesting (especially exciting for our Illinois patrons who go crazy for Lincoln). The illustrations throughout the book are truly breathtaking and the bright and vibrant watercolor style is so unique. The message gave me goosebumps at the end. The idea that music can comfort people in moments of grief and sadness was so so beautiful. Highly recommend. (Will be forcing my friends and family to read this.) apl-childrens 1 like Like Comment Meg 173 reviews March 23, 2020 Multiple award winner, Margarita Engle, has written a story about how child prodigy played the piano for President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. When a revolution drove her family from Venezuela to the US, the child, Teresa Carreno, had a hard time adjusting to a new life and language but her music gave her hope! When President Lincoln heard about her music, he invited her to play at the White House. Yet she wondered if she could bring comfort to the US leader during a time of war? Exceptional illustrations by Rafael Lopez highlight the text through mixed media: acrylic on wood board, with watercolor paint, pen, ink, and construction paper, assembled digitally. An important story, winner of the 2020 Pura Belpre Illustrator Award, recommended for readers, ages 5-10. historical-fiction picture-book 1 like Like Comment Karina 60 reviews January 20, 2024 Beautifully illustrated children’s book telling the story of a female pianist from Venezuela in the 1800s who was invited to play for president Lincoln. As a pianist myself, with a bachelors degree in music I had never heard of her. Which isn’t unusual as often it is male composers and performers that we are taught about in our education system. So I was grateful to find this gem. 1 like Like Comment Libby good 40 reviews February 19, 2021 I enjoyed this book a lot. I thought it had very captivating illustrations and that young readers would be inspired about how a young girl could play music for the president and bring people together through music. t-l-307 1 like Like Comment Cat Fithian 1,059 reviews 1 follower March 8, 2020 Young girl from Venezuela becomes great pianist in NYC, plays for Lincoln. True Story - Civil War, WW1 both referenced. Beautiful illustrations and descriptions of music. biography historical-fiction immigration ...more 1 like Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 394 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote 1 discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. 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Nova by Samuel R. Delany | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle Unlimited $0.00 Rate this book Nova Samuel R. Delany 3.81 8,375 ratings 642 reviews Want to read Kindle Unlimited $0.00 Rate this book These are [at least some of] the ways you can read NOVA: as a fast-action farflung interstellar adventure; as archetypal mystical/mythical allegory (in which the Tarot and the Grail both figure prominently); as modern myth told in the S-F idiom... the reader observes, recollects, or participates in a range of personal experience including violent pain and disfigurement, sensory deprivation and overload, man-machine communion, the drug experience, the creative experience - and inter-personal relationships which include incest and assassination, father-son, leader-follower, human-pet, and lots more! The balance of galactic power in the 31st century revolves around Illyrion, the most precious energy source in the universe. The varied and exotic crew who sign up with Captain Lorq van Ray know their mission is dangerous, and they soon learn that they are involved in a deadly race with the charismatic but vicious leader of an opposing space federation. But they have no idea of Lorq's secret obsession: to gather Illyrion at the source by flying through the very heart of an imploding star. Genres Science Fiction Fiction Space Opera Speculative Fiction Science Fiction Fantasy Classics Novels ...more 241 pages, Paperback First published January 1, 1968 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Samuel R. Delany 279 books 2,033 followers Samuel Ray Delany, also known as "Chip," is an award-winning American science fiction author. He was born to a prominent black family on April 1, 1942, and raised in Harlem. His mother, Margaret Carey Boyd Delany, was a library clerk in the New York Public Library system. His father, Samuel Ray Delany, Senior, ran a successful Harlem undertaking establishment, Levy & Delany Funeral Home, on 7th Avenue, between 1938 and his death in 1960. The family lived in the top two floors of the three-story private house between five- and six-story Harlem apartment buildings. Delany's aunts were Sadie and Bessie Delany; Delany used some of their adventures as the basis for the adventures of his characters Elsie and Corry in the opening novella Atlantis: Model 1924 in his book of largely autobiographical stories Atlantis: Three Tales . Delany attended the Dalton School and the Bronx High School of Science, during which he was selected to attend Camp Rising Sun, the Louis August Jonas Foundation's international summer scholarship program. Delany and poet Marilyn Hacker met in high school, and were married in 1961. Their marriage lasted nineteen years. They had a daughter, Iva Hacker-Delany (b. 1974), who spent a decade working in theater in New York City. Delany was a published science fiction author by the age of 20. He published nine well-regarded science fiction novels between 1962 and 1968, as well as several prize-winning short stories (collected in Driftglass [1971] and more recently in Aye, and Gomorrah, and other stories [2002]). His eleventh and most popular novel, Dhalgren , was published in 1975. His main literary project through the late 1970s and 1980s was the Return to Nevèrÿon series, the overall title of the four volumes and also the title of the fourth and final book. Delany has published several autobiographical/semi-autobiographical accounts of his life as a black, gay, and highly dyslexic writer, including his Hugo award winning autobiography, The Motion of Light in Water . Since 1988, Delany has been a professor at several universities. This includes eleven years as a professor of comparative literature at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, a year and a half as an English professor at the University at Buffalo. He then moved to the English Department of Temple University in 2001, where he has been teaching since. He has had several visiting guest professorships before and during these same years. He has also published several books of criticism, interviews, and essays. In one of his non-fiction books, Times Square Red, Times Square Blue (1999), he draws on personal experience to examine the relationship between the effort to redevelop Times Square and the public sex lives of working-class men, gay and straight, in New York City. In 2007, Delany was the subject of a documentary film, The Polymath, or, The Life and Opinions of Samuel R. Delany, Gentleman . The film debuted on April 25 at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.81 8,375 ratings 642 reviews 5 stars 2,243 (26%) 4 stars 3,208 (38%) 3 stars 2,152 (25%) 2 stars 593 (7%) 1 star 179 (2%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 642 reviews mark monday 1,748 reviews 5,553 followers February 7, 2016 flawed but heroic space captain, on a mission that is part vengeance and part noble quest, assembles a disparate crew to fly through a nova. this is Samuel R. Delany so that synopsis just barely scratches the surface. I'm going to copy & paste a post regarding this book that I just made in a group I moderate. hopefully the pasted post will eventually turn out to be notes for an actual review, but who knows, I'm whimsical. and lazy! Delany's prose reminds me of a couple musicians I like, John Cage and John Zorn. Cage because they both create strange, shimmering beauty out of disparate parts that I wouldn't expect to find beautiful. Zorn because I usually have no idea what is going to come next, what one part will turn into, and what that will turn into next. the music analogy occurred to me fairly early because the futuristic music that the highly endearing character Mouse creates is central to the story. is there hard science in this book? I am not a science guy, not remotely, and a lot of what Delany was describing flew right over my head. so much so that I couldn't tell if it was actual science or if it was Delany using science in a fantastical way. one of the things I often notice when reading science fiction from earlier eras is how much these authors can pack into such a short number of pages. just a bit over 200 pages! and yet Delany successfully develops multiple characters, an entire future society, a revenge narrative, and much else in those pages. very, very impressive. such a small package but so much within. loved the use of tarot cards. I think the only other science fiction I've read that had such heavy use was Piers Anthony's Tarot series. and now I'm a little embarrassed that I've mentioned Piers Anthony. but he had some good novels! I'm a bit shaky on the Grail Quest within this novel. it appears central but at the same time its use was somewhat obscure to me. I have to think on that a little bit, maybe do some research. one of the things I like about New Wave science fiction authors is just how literary they can get. I have no problem with straightforward 'genre prose' but I just really, really love the artistry of more experimental writers who don't handhold readers from point A to B and who treat their prose with a combination of playfulness and seriousness, like it's a fun challenge for them to write what they intend to be a fun challenge to read. reading Delany and others of his ilk is the opposite of a passive experience. it is the kind of a writing that hits many different parts of me at different times and in different ways. exciting prose! new-wave scifi-60s-70s-80s 62 likes 1 comment Like Comment Lyn 1,919 reviews 16.9k followers August 28, 2016 “NOVA!” – Queen sings – Ahhh-Ahhhh! Reading this, I could not help thinking about the 1980 Mike Hodges film Flash Gordon starring Max von Sydow and Sam Jones. Many critics and reviewers have used the term “space opera” to label and describe Samuel Delaney’s imaginative Hugo nominated 1968 science fiction novel, and I think I will join those ranks. Wikipedia defines “space opera" as follows: Space opera is a sub genre of science fiction that often emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, usually involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced abilities, weapons, and other technology. I call Nova a space opera because of the dramatic, chamber-like setting of a science fiction story. While Delaney explains his science well and his novel contains all of the usual elements of the genre, it is similar to John Ford’s 1962 film The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance in that all or most of the action takes place in a closed setting, as if on a theater stage. Comparing the novel to Flash Gordon and affixing the space opera label on the work may lead some readers to assign the novel to the campy or pulpy lower ranks of sci-fi mediocrity. This is far from the case. Delaney has crafted an adventure of far future cultural and socio-economic complexity and all wound together with a refreshingly original literary talent. It is readily clear that the author, a green but educated 25 at the time of submission, has a creative ability that generations of writers-to-be would give an artificial limb to possess. Delaney’s science is cutting edge as well, and he anticipates the cyberpunk sub-genre (more than a decade early) while blending together a rich topography of classical, mythological and mystical constituents. A must read for a true science fiction fan. 57 likes Like Comment Stuart 722 reviews 301 followers July 11, 2015 Nova: A New-Wave Grail Quest space opera from the 1960s Originally posted at Fantasy Literature Nova is Samuel "Chip" Delany's 1968 space opera with mythic/Grail Quest overtones. It is packed with different themes, subtexts, allegorical and cultural references, and literary experiments, and the young author (just 25 years old) is clearly a very talented, intelligent, and passionate writer. But I didn't enjoy it, sadly. While I thought Babel-17 was a very fast-paced, vivid and engaging space opera that centered on language and identity, this book felt very turgid and forced. Why, you ask? Well, the author was determined to mold the story along the lines of a Grail Quest, Moby Dick, and Jason and the Argonauts, with the goal being a race to retrieve the super material Illyrion from the heart of a recently-exploded nova, in order to swing the balance of power in the universe between feuding aristocratic families. So events in the story have to conform to this format, and none of the actions of the characters rang true to me. Obsession, greed, revenge, vying for supremacy - I can understand those emotions. But the actions of the characters, both the principals and supporting cast, don't seem to make much sense. If this rag-tag group of misfits was really determined to retrieve this material, why the heck did Delany structure the story the way he did? The first 10-15% of the book has Captain Lorq Von Ray gathering together his crew, and then for the next 50% of the book there is an overlong flashback of Lorq's childhood and encounters with the rival Red family and his nemesis Prince Red and his beautiful but submissive sister. It's good to build the backstory for why the characters have such animosity for each other, but this section goes on far too long. There is also a detailed side-story about a young gypsy musician named Mouse, a windbag intellectual named Katin who wants to try the long-lost art of writing a novel, a drawn-out episode involving Tarot cards and how scientific they are, and a seemingly-aimless pit-stop on a planet that results in a major confrontation that ends inconclusively. By the time the mission to find the nova gets underway, we're already 70% through the book! Finally in the last 10% of the book the long-awaited encounter with the nova develops into a thoroughly unbelievable standoff between the main characters. This part made no sense to me whatsoever. Though the writing quality and language are consistently strong like Babel-17, I feel like this was wasted since the story's pacing was so interminable and the mythic undertones just didn't resonate with me. I've always felt that realistic character motivations and world-building are far more appealing than stories that try hard to be symbolic and archetypal. Even within the book this dynamic is debated between the impulsive, emotional Mouse and the dry, intellectual Katin. Unfortunately, it seems that Katin has had a greater influence on the story than Mouse, and I never trust a book where a character is writing a novel that doesn't yet have a subject. You can see where that is headed a mile away. There are certainly some fascinating cyborg aspects of the book that have clearly been influential on the Cyberpunk movement, since characters have implants (plugs) that allow them to directly interface with sockets and operate all types of machinery. Neuromancer, anyone? Even in Babel-17, I liked the fact that there was a huge databank of stored personalities that could be revived as discorporates. But as should be clear now, though Delany can spin off lots of neat SF ideas, his real interests lie much more in the literary direction. Speaking of which, his 1968 Hugo Award winner The Einstein Intersection is probably the most overtly allegorical of all his books, but at least it is short, which cannot be said of his massive (and reportedly unreadable) magnum opus Dhalgren. galaxy-spanning new-wave-sf 36 likes Like Comment Mark Author 60 books 74 followers March 10, 2017 Finished a reread of Samuel R. Delany's Nova for my reading group. I'll post a longer review later, but for now... Nova is considered by some critics as the last of Delany's early period, "lesser" novels. I think it is the first of his masterpieces insofar as he fully embraces what will become a trademark in the next several--- Dhalgren , Trouble On Triton , and all the Neveryon books, ending with Stars In My Pocket Like Grains Of Sand , namely the full use of metafiction. Many mainstream literary novelists employed it in roughly the same time period---Barth, Pynchon, Gaddis, Fowles, even Vonnegut, and certain Atwood, Murdoch, Peircy, and Lessing---but one rarely encountered it in science fiction. Certainly it was never used to such effect until much later. In Nova we find it's first full deployment. On the surface, this is a space opera-style adventure, a feud between two great families across the galaxy, high politics and finance, and a race for a treasure. It has all the classic tropes---an independently-owned starship, a motley crew, wild and vividly described planets, and at times nail-biting pacing---but it also steps back from itself to comment on what is happening in terms of history and myth, mostly via the character of Katin, a more or less aimless young man with an immense store of academic training and a finely-honed sense of process who has been taking notes for years on a novel he intends to write, which in this far flung time is a lost art. He joins the crew of the Roc almost by accident and quickly becomes invested in their quest as much for the relationships he makes among the varied members of the crew as for all the resonances he sees in the captain's self-imposed quest. It is a grail quest, it is a hunt for a white whale, it is spy-craft, and it is fate all rolled into one mission to an exploding star. Delany offers up the points of mythic resonance throughout for anyone who cares to find out more, tying the adventure to literary and cultural archetypes spanning millennia. This raises the novel well above the level of simple adventure. Hints as to the nature of the crew---who is Jason, who is Argos, who is Medea, who is Ahab?---are sprinkled throughout. As well, this book gives us a foretaste of the kind of evocative language Delany will hone in the next several novels. As metafiction, Delany's novels are master classes on how science fiction is constructed and why the subtext connects so strongly to what on the surface appears to be a mere entertainment. He is as interested in how culture works as in what his characters go through. Nothing in a Delany novel happens in isolation from all of history and myth. books-by-friends 24 likes Like Comment Mike 520 reviews 122 followers June 20, 2013 Nova does not cease telling you how clever it is. It does this with plenty of the goobledigook that can mar any narrative, sci-fi or not. First: the neologisms meant to indicate that the writer really thought through his futuristic world ("sensory-syrynx" and "psychorama" are among the plenty). These are meant to broadcast the legitimacy of his imagined world and that, yes, he took care to note that language evolves with the times. Yet the dialogue and language otherwise has timeless problems: stilted exposition, weirdly clunky, or just plain stale talk no matter how grandiose the stage. Second are assumptions about structure that are disregarded for the sake of caprice: in this case, ending the novel in the middle of a sentence in the most groaner-y fashion possible. It should not have been a surprise considering chapters begin and end in the middle of a conversation for no discernible motive other than to force a cliffhanger when one doesn't appear naturally. But it was one of those non-surprises that still yielded an "oh, come on" out loud from yours truly. Third is the author-surrogate character, the always-unwelcome Katin, a neurotic soapbox of half-baked truths about a half-baked reality. Half-baked truths about the current reality are unpalatable; imagine hearing fallacious arguments spouted at length about the state of existence in an already intangible other-world. Let's see, what else: as a plot it's relatively paper-thin. It's, at base, a "space opera" as they call it. And the odor of triteness that comes with the territory is pungent, indeed: both the antagonist and protagonists are meant to look sympathetic not because of their actions, but because they are both marked by physical deformity. The seeds of their rivalry germinate in a childhood "traumatic event" that defines the rest of their lives. A man loves his rival's sister, or so one thinks. There's even a set of twins that finish each others' sentences. The protagonist and his rivals are identically maniacal. The book is melodramatic not just in its template, but in its "weighty" themes. There are ways Nova is just dangling philosophical ideas from a form as tried-and-true as it can get, and in the meantime uses the form to speculate about a future universe. This means characters relay background information to one another at length. This means the writer-surrogate gets to opine at length about whatever topic fits the author's whims. And sometimes it does feel like it is "whatever topic." The various subjects covered don't cohere all that well, even with the nova metaphor of a major self-collapse leaving something behind to salvage and re-build from. Basically, when the book isn't shoehorning Delaney's viewpoints into every open nook-and-cranny, it is marching along the narrowest and thinnest of narrative arcs. Moby-Dick this is not. I am confounded by the comparison. The sad thing is those viewpoints aren't very enlightening or provocative. Some just feel over-confident and inapplicable. There's a debate between fiction and music, music being "of the moment" and fiction being "of the past." There's a flourish about how future civilizations combat the problem of worker alienation that is fairly clever, but ultimately too romantic and hollow. So, truly, Nova is an unsuccessful balancing act between high-minded and unsuccessful ideas, and a broad-minded and unsuccessful plot-romance-template. Sure, The Brothers Karamazov was, in essence, a courtroom drama interspersed with Christian philosophy. But it was more, wasn't it? It was so much more. That mixture of form and invention leaves one with more than the sum of its parts sometimes. (This is something fiction and music can have in common.) Other times, it leaves one with less than. Nova is one of those times. 22 likes Like Comment Simon 386 reviews 80 followers October 8, 2022 Out of the four novels by Samuel R. Delany that I have read so far, this is by far the most accessible one but still an unusual reading experience even today. How often do you read a space opera novel that's also a forerunner to cyberpunk, a futuristic take on 18th/19th century seafaring novels and an Arthurian grail quest myth at the same time? You can see how "Nova" has been an inspiration for William Gibson and his ilk: Delany depicts a future where megacorporations have more influence than governments, mercenaries are more worth worrying about than state military forces, and where most humans in the story are partially cyborgised with brain/computer interfaces being commonplace and the villain's "red right hand" being that one of his arms is robotic. One interesting bit of worldbuilding is that Delany throws in a Roma character to show how the Roma people's refusal to cyborgise has become yet another excuse to discriminate against them! The scenes of "jacking in" to shipboard computers are reminiscent of similar scenes in Gibson's Sprawl Trilogy, and there are several plot points which Gibson outright borrowed for Neuromancer : Said Roma character, a travelling musician and soldier of fortune nicknamed "Mouse", functions as a viewpoint character who starts out down-on-his luck far away from home... where he gets a chance to get his life in order by signing up for a bizarre mission among other eccentric members of a ragtag crew. More or less the same situation as "cybercowboy" Henry Dorsett Case is in at the beginning of "Neuromancer". The villains are also a decadent and dysfunctional upper-class family whom Gibson might have modelled the Tessier-Ashpool clan on. At the same time, "Nova" feels more like a 19th century seafaring novel than anything else. The main characters are space pirates whose spaceship is powered by solar sails, future society has regressed to 18th/19th century mercantilist economic systems with the megacorps resembling the East India Company more than Microsoft, when Delany describes the future architectural styles and fashion trends they even sound similar to those of the 19th century. There are obvious callbacks in the story and characters to Herman Melville 's Moby-Dick , with the starship captain Lorq van Ray being very much a futuristic Captain Ahab figure. On a personal level, I noticed the "Moby Dick" analogues more than the Grail Quest parallels though the characters in "Nova" actively point out the latter - in particular a member of the ship's crew, who goes on to write a novel about his experiences. "Nova" might technically have a standard action-adventure plot at its core, but it's an unusual book to read because the whole thing is bristling with mad ideas. Delany puts a lot of work into creating several different future cultures with distinctive styles of art and craftsmanship, as well as lifestyles adapted to the respective exoplanets they inhabit - the results being future societies that feel genuinely alien. The atmosphere is certainly not as literal an "Age of Sail in space" which a more conventional SF author than Delany would have made of the same ingredients. The worldbuilding is consistently of high quality, where all the fictional cultures feel real in-universe, despite Delany avoiding more exposition than absolutely necessary. We also have characters successfully using the Tarot as a tool for divination, as well as the travelling warrior-bard protagonist having a futuristic music instrument that can also project holograms to illustrate the notes played (I wonder if Delany has synesthesia) which is used as a weapon in the book's very memorable climax. The closest analogy I can think of among other SF works is probably Alfred Bester 's The Stars My Destination , another futuristic take on 19th century adventure novels, but with a weird hippyish sense of tripped out surrealism that is the product of a different Zeitgeist than Bester. That atmosphere I've only really seen elsewhere in Jean "Moebius" Giraud' science-fiction comic books from the 1970's and 1980's ( The Incal , The World of Edena , Major Grubert etc), to the point I'd be surprised if Moebius wasn't a fan of "Nova" or Delany's writing in general. "Nova" is probably the best place to start with Samuel Delany out of those books by him I've read so far. Definitely recommended for people who want something different in their space opera. Many thanks to Justin Isis for recommendation, his own science-fiction short story collection Welcome to the Arms Race being a modern take on New Wave Science Fiction with several of the stories showing a clear influence from Delany's writing style. 1960s action-adventure america-north ...more 20 likes Like Comment Juho Pohjalainen Author 5 books 339 followers February 28, 2020 A grizzled young captain and his ragtag crew go on the biggest and deadliest refueling trip in history. Stakes: entire galactic economy, massive inflation should they succeed. It starts out promising, introduces the main characters effectively, gets us to hate the bad guys properly, and outlines enough of the life in the early fourth millennium to give us a good stage of where we are now. And it ends well, too, with a great climactic finish, triumph attained with sacrifice, and lessons learned. Should be great, right? Well, there has to be a middle point between the beginning and the end - and here there's a problem. Here the story shifts away into an almost-half-book tangent about other matters, things that are largely irrelevant for the narrative, yet not sufficiently fleshed out in their own right to be worthwhile. It gives glimpses to the future society in the form of a few worlds visited, but each world is so superficially described and detailed - the visits so short and fairly uneventful - that there's not much to them on their own. The trips between largely consist of philosophical ramblings, especially from the aspiring author Katin who is still looking for a subject for his book (a common malady even in our time), creating a bit of a backdrop for this whole thing but giving it too much direct focus. There's an extended scene - fired up by Tarot reading of all things - that goes into greater detail of the modern technology and the few Luddite gypsies that have chosen to stay out of it, but it would have needed to give us more spotlight of them for it to be worth our while, as the bits about the computer plugs had already become clear elsewhere... and yet at the same time the whole thing with Tarot feels almost the opposite, and completely out of place with the rest of the story. And as for the history of the setting, the book talks a lot about things that happened in our time, many millennia before the present of the book, as if there was nothing worthwhile that had happened since: it feels lazy, to be honest, a massive missed opportunity in worldbuilding. All these aspects feel transient, ephemeral, like tiny bubbles of potential interest floating in the void, separate from one another, doing nothing on their own, yet still taking up precious space and attention from the actually plot-relevant stuff. Very little of actual consequence to the story takes place in them. It compares itself to the Arthurian legends, towards the end, but it really would have needed more epic space adventures to qualify as such. And it started out so well, too. A bit of a shame. 20 likes Like Comment Kara Babcock 1,992 reviews 1,441 followers October 29, 2010 Ah, classic space opera: futuristic setting, oddball characters with oddball philosophies, and ships and science well beyond what we ken. Unlike a good deal of space opera, Nova is not a doorstopper . It is more modest in length and in focus, though not in scope. The cast of characters is small, but the events have large repercussion. Captain Lorq von Ray certainly has much in common with Captain Ahab, and obsession is an important motif in Nova . I hesitate to compare it to Moby-Dick —not because I think such a comparison is invalid but because I read Moby-Dick once, a long time ago, and don't much remember it. Instead, I'm going to grab hold of that space opera vibe and run with it. First, a caveat. The term space opera is so hopelessly imprecise that you might not agree with how I'm using it, and that's OK. Hopefully you still understand what I'm saying about this form, even if you don't agree with my label for it. I have a special place in my heart for space opera above other forms of science fiction. I want to attribute this in part to Dune , which was one of the earliest science-fiction novels I read. Two problems. Firstly, Dune is more of a planetary romance than a space opera. Sure, it has huge spaceships that cover vast interstellar distances in the blink of an eye. But as the title implies, the book is much more about the planet than the space around it. Secondly, and more importantly, Dune is not the book that influenced my perception of space opera for all time; that distinction belongs to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy . But this isn't a review of h2g2, and perhaps one day I'll write a review explaining why I consider it my formative space opera experience. For now, let's return to Nova and Samuel R. Delany's use of space opera. Delany has divided humanity into a tripartite society based loosely on constellation: Draco contains Earth and the richest planets in known space, and it's home to Red-shift Limited, the sole manufacturer of faster-than-light drives and company owned by Prince Red; the Pleidaes Federation is the home of operations for the rival Von Rays, and its other rich families are the "new money" to Draco's "old;" finally there are the Outer Colonies, whose only attraction are the Illyrion mines, and whose population consists mostly of working class people. If you read this and start thinking, "class conflict," then you are on the right track. Through the expository conversations between the Mouse and Katin, Delany explains how society has changed in the 1200 years that have elapsed between his time and theirs. I loved these parts of Nova , even when they seemed ancillary to the rest of the plot. Katin reminds me a little of myself, dismissive of the past yet simultaneously yearning for its philosophical renaissances. Katin can't quite believe that we twentieth-century folk were backward enough to doubt the accuracy of Tarot; he expresses his joy that the elimination of disease has made personal hygiene unnecessary (Delany neglects to address the problem of smell ). As a student of history, he has taken the ultimate plunge of falling in love with an anachronistic literary form: the novel. Katin goes around making notes—he has over twelve thousand of them now—in preparation for his novel, which he has not yet begun for lack of a subject. It's good to see that despite other changes, there will always be writers who perpetually procrastinate in their writing. Despite his deferral of the task, Katin remains obsessed with the idea of writing a novel, of creating something from a dead art form. And this obsession drives him forward to observe and take notes, eventually bringing him to Lorq von Ray's ship. Captain Lorq von Ray is obsessed with diving into the heart of a nova to harvest Illyrion. (I think Delany should have said a supernova, as they are not the same thing, but I'm not sure how well 1960s astrophysics differentiated between the two, so we'll let that slide.) This MacGuffin substance is a group of stable transuranic elements that, for reasons never explained, are the key to faster-than-light travel. Now, you can synthesize Illyrion, or you can mine it, but both of these operations are expensive and inefficient. Lorq is convinced he can come out—alive—with enough Illyrion to flood the market. Among other things, this would devastate Red-shift Limited. Lorq's motives for upsetting the careful equilibrium between the Reds and the Von Rays become clear in a series of flashbacks, through which we see the enmity between Prince and Lorq develop. At first it seems like the incidents that incur Prince's ire are the result of misunderstandings. The two family patriarchs do their best to inculcate friendship between Lorq and Prince, but it doesn't take. And eventually it becomes clear that Prince is psychotic. While this spoils some of the tragedy for me, it adds an interesting dimension to the conflict. Although Lorq and Prince have a personal enmity, their status as essentially modern aristocrats means this affects the fate of entire societies. If Lorq is successful, not only will he crush Prince's company; the Illyrion mines in the Outer Colonies will be obsolete over night. Millions of workers will be displaced. Prince—or more precisely, Ruby—asks Lorq how he can do such a thing, how he can damage the structure of society and create so much chaos. Lorq claims it is a matter of survival, that he has to strike before Prince does. But this is not a fairy tale, and Lorq is not Prince Charming, come to rescue the princess. That princess, Ruby Red, intrigues me because she's such a weak character. She seems to have no will of her own, devoting herself instead to Prince and his schemes. As "the sister," she always had the potential to bring Lorq and Prince closer together or drive them apart. Owing to Prince's psychotic tendencies, it seems inevitable that it would be the latter; any time Lorq makes any kind of overture to Ruby, real or imagined, Prince goes berserk. But as far as we can see, Ruby never makes an attempt at reconciliation. She takes Prince's hate for Lorq and makes it her own, to the point where should would murder-suicide Lorq if she had the chance: Your are not the only one with secrets, Lorq. Prince and I have ours. When you came up out of the burning rocks, yes, I thought Prince was dead. There was a hollow tooth in my jaw filled with strychnine. I wanted to give you a victory kiss. I would have, if Prince had not screamed. Delany never explicitly codifies the relationship between Prince and Ruby Red, so the extent of their closeness is open to interpretation. I think it's significant, however, that whenever Lorq talks about the search for a nova as a race, he refers to his opponents as "Prince and Ruby Red." But when he talks about his enemy, his rival, the person he has to defeat, he only mentions "Prince." And in the end, not to spoil it, I think that having to surrender this distinction is what defeats him. For a race, it seems like Nova spends an awful lot of time dallying before finally arriving at the finish line. Yet this might be an illusion caused by the brevity of the book—I think the build up to the climax at the nova is the right length; I just didn't expect it to end so abruptly. We just get an epilogue in which we learn the fates of Lorq and the rest of his expedition; Delany never deals with the larger ramifications of Lorq's plan. And unlike a lot of space opera, Nova does not involve fantastic battles between massive armadas or invasions of entire solar systems. Instead, the entire book is a series of stories about individuals, each with a different obsession, whose paths converge and clash, with consequences beyond just the scope of their own lives. More than that, it's a presentation of a fascinating future, burgeoning with so many good seeds of ideas that would later mature and flourish in other books, both those by Delany and by future contributors to science fiction. Alas, because of this wealth of ideas, Nova never delves into any of them with much depth. Nevertheless, I think I have not covered all that Nova has to offer a reader, and I am not entirely happy with how I have discussed what I did cover. True to my conception of space opera, Delany has taken an adventuresome quest and married it to an intensely personal conflict between two larger-than-life characters, Lorq von Ray and Prince Red. The result is a gem of a novel—and like most gems, this one has its share of flaws. But that is OK, and I still like it all the same. 2010-read hugo-nominee own ...more 18 likes Like Comment Jamie 1,283 reviews 164 followers November 14, 2019 Sprung from pirates, reeling blind in fire, I am called pirate, murderer, thief. Kudos to Delany for writing, in 1968, one of the first space opera stories with real substance and serious cultural and sociological underpinnings, as well as some interesting mythological overtones. It is also considered a major cyberpunk forerunner, introducing the concept of direct interfacing between man and machine. Clearly this can be viewed as groundbreaking sci-fi. However, perhaps because of it's age and New Age roots I found some elements hokey (Tarot cards, drug use, psychedelic musical/sensory instruments) and in general not all that entertaining. 16 likes Like Comment Leo Robertson Author 37 books 476 followers January 23, 2016 For those of you unfamiliar with Delany, let me explain to you what it's like reading one of his novels. (And Delany is a clever PLUS, so I think there should be way more raving about him than there is- I don't quite hear enough!) Here's the blurb they give you: "The balance of galactic power in the 31st century revolves around Illyrion, the most precious energy source in the universe. The varied and exotic crew who sign up with Captain Lorq van Ray know their mission is dangerous, and they soon learn that they are involved in a deadly race with the charismatic but vicious leader of an opposing space federation. But they have no idea of Lorq's secret obsession: to gather Illyrion at source by flying through the very heart of an imploding star." So you're like, 'Oh! 240 pgs of ragtag interstellar fun! I'm in!' But you start to read and you're like: - pg 1-50: intro to characters and recruitment for dangerous race with Lorq van Ray - pgs 51-220: 'Of course, if we consider the 25th century's extrapolation of interdimensional sociocultural hegemony, Heidegger is, in retrospect, the 20th century's most important thinker. If- and it goes without saying- we couple this idea with Marx's Scientific Dialectics... the physicochemical structure Illyrion is better understood if we conduct a thought experiment to consider the properties of a substance not yet available on the 21st century's periodic table of elements...' - pgs 220-240: 'Holy fuck: that van Ray guy's trying to gather Illyrion at source by flying through the very heart of an imploding star!' So you can see why I like it! Delany delves beyond shallow-novel dilettantism to make fearsome polymathic connections between disciplines. (And clearly his intellectual exuberance is infectious!) In fact, I'm convinced if this novel was really written in the 31st century, you'd barely have to change a goddamn thing- which is a ridiculous statement to make, but such is the power of Delany's sci-fi :) Given my little primer on Delany above, there's way too much to capture in a single reading, and that's why I'm delighted to be following this one up with Dhalgren , which I WTF-ed over years ago (it's sci-fi Ulysses.) But much like any WTF dense piece of showboatery (Camus, Joyce, Pynchon, Gass, DFW, Gibson?), the first reading is the breathless anxious "Will I even get through this?" investment that allows for the second reading's reaping of gold. So I see this is a 2015 version of this novel! And Delany's first three novels were recently reissued in a single compendium, so almost all his stuff is back in print, I believe. Let SF Masterworks know they've done the right thing and buy a paperback of this asap! (If indeed that does signal publishers- who ever knows :D) Because Delany's words thrive on a printed page and you'll judge yourself less for all the flicking back and forth :P 15 likes Like Comment Kevin Lopez (on sabbatical) 85 reviews 22 followers March 10, 2021 Nova is an interesting look into the early, unpolished work of a writer still struggling to emerge from his chrysalis; a portrait of an artist as young man; and one who would soon go on to become a towering figure in his field and a master of his craft. sf-read 14 likes Like Comment S̶e̶a̶n̶ 906 reviews 467 followers February 22, 2019 Direct-seeming in the mythic way, Nova still belies its modest page count, bursting at its seams with Delany's muscular world-building prowess. How could it come to an end so quickly, I thought, with how full it is growing. And Delany's world! Constructed with an innate faith in the ability of his readers to keep up, or perhaps simply not caring if they do. Having only read Dhalgren prior to this, I wasn't sure what to expect. More of the same? And that I did find in certain ways. How he only half-sketches out some aspects in concrete terms, leaving the rest to be filled out in the reader's mind with the aid of abstract impressions. I like this. It scratches flint for the imagination. How his outsider characters interact in unexpected ways—how from strangers they grow close and support each other. How he seems to relish showing us a good party. How his keen class consciousness pervades the text. And always his imagination glittering on the page—even on the yellowed pages of this old paperback. It was interesting to read this in parallel with Robert Sheckley's science fiction stories. Delany's worlds, so intricately textured and fully alien, contrast sharply with those of Sheckley, whose settings evoke Earth-centric roots and often read as if they are but window dressing for their creator's social commentary. The two could not be farther apart in style, and yet I enjoyed both, just in different ways. But comparisons to Sheckley aside, I won't rehash the storyline of Nova here, as I don't see the point. If you've read Dhalgren , you should enjoy this. And if you have not, this would certainly be a good precursor to that fine novel. 2019 science-fiction 13 likes Like Comment Chris 1,971 reviews 27 followers February 8, 2019 There's so much one can say about this book, but I'm not nearly smart or eloquent enough for all that. So here's my sad attempt: I think Nova is my favorite book by Delany - and that's saying a lot given how much I love Dhalgren. Being the fourth time I read it, I realized that it's really quite a short, quick book if you let it be. There's not so much to the plot itself; rather, most of what's in the book is devoted to scene or world(s)-building. But in the prose there's so much richness: Nearly each sentence is a true million-dollar sentence, not tortured, but masterfully crafted. And I love how the book tells you how and why it works so well. Katin, toward the end of the book, tells the Mouse (or is he telling Lorq?) about habitual, purposeful, and gratuitous actions and how characters live through the lens of how other characters experience them. Now re-read it and keep these (and the other scattered throughout the book) points in mind. Now remember back to other of Delany's books, such as Hogg, where we get to know the characters through their actions (Denny un(sub?)conscious masturbating, or, in The Fall of the Towers, Alter's acrobatics). In Nova, the reader is schooled by one of the world's greatest writers; the book itself is a masterclass in novel writing. Not only that, but, perhaps because of the above, the characters in Nova are so vivid and so likable. I've always felt this way from the first time I read this book in October, 2003. That lanky nerd Katin; the scarred, determined Captain Lorq; the graceful Tÿy, her partner Sebastian, and their pets; the excitable and perhaps a little drug-crazed twins who (in)complete each other's sentences; and, of course, our unassuming hero through whom we experience most of the story - the raspy-voiced, late-teen-age musician and wanderer, Mouse. I love reading about them, and I'm already looking forward to my next re-read of Nova. 12 likes Like Comment Punk 1,531 reviews 292 followers July 6, 2022 Space miners! Space ships! Weird syntax! Sadly, it's the weird syntax that stuck with me after reading this. Most of the action is set in the year 3172, in a universe where most of the galaxy is colonized by humans. In the Pleiades Federation, natives speak a dialect that always puts the verb at the end of the sentence. It gave us a lot of dialogue like: "I if his advisory meeting over is will see." The entire time I was reading I was wondering what kind of a culture puts its verbs last, and I'm disappointed in Delany for making this a prominent part of the book and making no move to explain it. Especially when his Babel-17 was all about language. So, two stars for disappointment, though if you don't care about alien languages and enjoy space travel and a rag-tag crew of space miners banding together to...mine space, then this is at least a three. July 2022: I'm back, almost twenty years later, to answer my own question: Japanese. The verbs come last in Japanese. science-fiction spaceships 12 likes Like Comment Liviu Szoke Author 35 books 417 followers December 18, 2017 O poveste care se citește ușor, în ciuda pasajelor cu ordinea cuvintelor inversată. O idee interesantă, cea cu călătoria în interiorul novelor pentru extragerea illyrionului, păcat că este lăsată cam deoparte până spre final, punându-se în schimb accentul pe conflictul celor două familii rivale care conduc practic întreaga galaxie. Ce m-a nemulțumit: cam puțin parcă a evoluat lumea din anul 1968, când a apărut cartea lui Samuel R. Delany, și anul 3172, când se petrece acțiunea. Acuma, eu înțeleg că autorul nu a gândit-o ca pe un hard-SF doldora de speculații științifice despre ce va descoperi omenirea în 1200 de ani, dar să vină numai cu niște racorduri montate la încheieturile mâinilor pentru a se lega de diverse componente ale navelor spațiale pentru a le face mai ușor de pilotat și cu un instrument muzical năstrușnic, mi se pare totuși cam puțin. Are totuși un merit: reprezintă probabil declicul care s-a produs șaptesprezece ani mai târziu, când William Gibson a lansat „Neuromantul”, ducând la alt nivel legătura om-mașină pe care a imaginat-o aici Samuel R. Delany. Aștept „Triton” (despre care am citit zeci de rânduri în superba „Printre ceilalți” a lui Jo Walton) sau „Dhalgren”, grelele scrise de Delany. Mai multe, pe FanSF: https://wp.me/pz4D9-2H8 . 1968-books 2017-reads sci-fi-reads 12 likes Like Comment Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) 2,490 reviews 4,114 followers June 16, 2022 I'll be honest, I don't feel like I fully understood what was going on with this book. Part of that is probably the structure of the book which is often non-linear, includes flashbacks, and lacks a straightforward plot. But part of it might be that I didn't have this to read physically and instead listened to the audiobook. I might have gotten more out of it in a different format. That said, Nova is certainly imaginative and experimental with interesting ideas as a book written in 1968. (Like this instrument that can play more than sound, but also smell and sight to recreate memories) It follows a spaceship captain and the ragtag crew he assembles on their quest to gather Illyrion, a lucrative source of power. We get flashbacks, side plots, and maybe some drug induced visions? So it can be hard to follow at times. Knowing Delany was gay, there is some queer subtext in the book, but given the time it came out it's pretty subtle. Interesting nonetheless. One thing to note is this book is "of it's time" in some ways, such as referring to a Romani character by a word now commonly thought of as a slur, or referring to Black characters in ways that are outdated. That said, it's quite a diverse cast of characters for a space opera written in the late 60's, likely due to the Black and gay identity of the author. This wasn't quite a hit for me, but I liked elements of it and I am interested in reading something else from Delany, perhaps from later in his career. black-authors lgbtq 10 likes Like Comment Nate D 1,603 reviews 1,107 followers May 24, 2010 This was fun. Samuel R. Delany is a talented writer with a lot of ideas and a good sense of character and social context. He's certainly not reaching here like he did in his masterpiece, Dhalgren , and a lot of this boils down to a drama cast in archetypes: bold, vaguely Ahab-esque captain, back from previous failed expedition plans next. Semi-amoral rival with a beautiful sister. Street-smart orphan who tries to live in the present without introspection. Etc. Except Delaney manages to make most of these central roles pretty compelling and well-fleshed out nonetheless. And in this case the melodrama plays out over a trip to fly through the center of an exploding star (via some very dubious, very exciting physics). sci-fi 9 likes Like Comment Adam 558 reviews 392 followers August 27, 2007 Bizarre psychedelic jewel of novel that sometimes reads like prose poetry. Allusions to Bester, Holy Grail, Moby Dick, tarot, City of the Dreadful Night add to the enjoyment all with interesting thoughts on film and music, the future of the novel, humanity and technology, work and other weird thoughts.This book has an especially chilling finale alleviated by the humurous last line and an unsuspected conclusion. First Delaney I've made it through but maybe this will give the urge to tackle more(I failed my first attempts at Dhalgren and Einstein Intersection) 10 likes Like Comment Maggie K 479 reviews 136 followers February 19, 2018 wow-a very charismatic space captain somehow gets a crew to take on a near-suicide type mission that's both greed and vengeance oriented...and it is so believable you will think its possible to fly into a nova! I find it so awe-inspiring that Delany stuffed all this into a 200 page book, but there you are. The most content per word book ever! favorites sci-fi-masterworks 10 likes Like Comment Jedediah Smith Author 8 books 2 followers September 7, 2019 This novel might be off-putting to readers of current SF or fantasy novels. Its approach to prose and plot is very different from contemporary works, and I note that SF novels of the 50s and 60s often approached plot as an exploration of ideas. It's not that they weren't often entertaining and well structured. But novels by Delaney, Spinrad, Dick, LeGuin and many others seemed to develop their characters and setting and plots in the service of theme, developing and testing ideas, and extrapolating social changes from technological inventions or scientific discoveries. And once a hypothesis had been established and tried and evaluated, the novel would end. Often around the 250 page mark. Today, the focus is on immersion into story and setting. Readers want long-term escapism for their money. So the prose is clear and simple, there is an emphasis on long changing relationships and fortunes of characters, and the page counts are massive, often stretching into a series of novels (trilogies? not a chance! why drop an established and successful brand) or "world" novels without end. Delany not only allowed his prose to be difficult, he delighted in it. He loved to throw the reader into a new world with new rules and new meanings, while providing them with few road signs. He often described his love for work by authors who would challenge readers to put together hints and make inferences in order to make sense of this new creation. Long exposition and explanation would make it too easy and rob the reader of the joy of discovery, of making connections and leaps on their own, of inference, which is really the process of making love to literature. Nova weaves a tapestry of its influences and creates an organic whole. Of course, Delany, Brunner, Pynchon, and Spinrad all had at least one magnum opus that pushed the page count well beyond the 500 page mark. But these were not SF soap operas following long character arcs. In each case, these were the authors' most challenging, experimental, and difficult works. 9 likes Like Comment Craig 5,429 reviews 127 followers October 15, 2016 I still believe that this may be Delany's best novel, his other (far) more acclaimed works notwithstanding. I've always been impressed with the number of levels it works on; as a space-opera, as a grail-quest, an an introduction to Tarot, as a character study using sf as an exploration of myth and/or the drug culture... Mouse rocks. 8 likes Like Comment Tina 851 reviews 39 followers October 24, 2014 When reading/reviewing this novel, you need to ignore the "science" parts of science fiction, as this was published in 1968, before the moon landing, let alone feasible space mining or colonization. Yet, Delany's ideas are not so out there to be considered improbable (or at least distracting to the story). Illyrion is quite properly described not as a substance, but as a superheavy material - that is, something more akin to particles than something you can hold in your hand (worst explanation ever, but you get my point, I hope), and the concept of people having cybernetic implants in their bodies to allow them to operate machinery using their nerves was a fascinating concept. The story itself is very simple but I wish Delany would have expanded a little more on the characters. Mouse, Katin and Von Ray are fleshed out pretty nicely, but the others we don't learn enough about - especially Ruby. Price's motivations make sense (he's a psycho with an inferiority complex) but Ruby... quite frankly, she's the most fascinating character in the novel, because she isn't given a perspective, and her motives/actions aren't clear. It's obvious she has some weird obsession with her brother, but why? And is she also attracted to Von Ray? And why? I'm convinced these lingering questions aren't an oversight on Delany's part, but intentional. There is just so much packed into this tiny novel you could extrapolate on. Race relations, humans and their relationships with machines, politics, power, alienation (Katin, Mouse, and Von Ray are very strange men - loners and vagrants), and various others. The book has a very distinct style - somewhere between post-modern and modernism, as if Delany wanted to experiment with the format (like in Dhalgren ) but decided not to. Either way, upon reflection, I enjoyed this book more in thinking about it than actually reading it (though it was a very quick and definitely interesting). I wish the characters were a little deeper though, as I said before, but Delaney's wordplay and concepts make this a great novel. Some wonderful Delany lines: "A moon’s beauty is in variations of sameness." "Katin tried to look reservedly doubtful. The expression was too complicated and came out blank." almost-thought-provoking author-i-love serious-sci-fi ...more 8 likes Like Comment Teresa 1,782 reviews 20 followers July 18, 2020 I was not impressed. I didn’t like the writing style, I wasn’t a fan of all the “flashbacks” It felt, to me, like most of the book was flashbacks and I disliked how nearly every chapter just “stopped”. No one I liked, crappy dialogue. 8 likes Like Comment sologdin 1,752 reviews 698 followers February 28, 2020 Nutshell: always already dashing petit bourgeois outsider seeks to break interstellar monopoly of Old Money aristocrat via innovative stellar semiotics. Text is kickass in its presentation of celestial objects and outer space, “where night means forever and morning’s a recollection” (18). Space itself: “the vermillion rush, in which hung the charred stars” (90). Each star is similarly “a furnace where the very worlds of empire are smelted” (86). One planet’s inhabitants speak with a dicked-up Yodaesque syntax, which is mostly annoying, but does have its corollary moments of awesome: “Into the blasting sun, plunge?” (94). Primary objective of protagonist and his seven samurai sub-protagonists is a fictive heavy element, ‘illyrion,’ found in the centers of stars, accessible during a nova, say—“the whole continuum in the area of a nova is space that has been twisted away” (21). Sufficient illyrion “to keep this moon’s core molten is measured in grams” (26); protagonist accordingly proposes to capture seven tons of the stuff (id.). This is set in an interstellar society, which retains its proto-fascistic losers who complain about “moral degeneration of the young” (40-41), that “economic, political, and technological change have shattered all cultural tradition” (41), that “there’s no reservoir of national, or world solidarity, even on Earth” (id.), and instead “pseudo-interplanetary society” replaced “any real tradition,” a “tangle of decadence, scheming, corruption” (id.). These losers respond with despair to interstellar society’s basic proposition that given any product, half of it may be grown on one world, the other half mined a thousand light-years away. On Earth, seventeen out of the hundreds of possible elements make up ninety percent of the planet. Take any other world, and you’ll find a different dozen making up ninety to ninety-nine percent. (79) This monologue leads up to the point that interstellar society is contingent fundamentally on transit so expensive that only “national governments on Earth, or corporations” “could afford the initial cost” (80). This leads to one sector of interstellar society having been “extended by the vastly monied classes of Earth,” whereas another sector “was populated by a comparatively middle-class movement” and a third sector, the newest, “comes from the lowest economic strata of the galaxy” (83). Protagonist is one of the principal nouveau riche greasers at the head of the ‘middle-class’ sector, and much of the conflict of the novel arises out of a silly set of childhood confrontations with antagonist from the ‘vast monied classes.’ Though the puerile sections are of little moment to the overall setting, the present moment conflict between them has world-historical significance, as though SRD were boiling down class struggle between an aristocracy and a bourgeoisie to these two principals. Protagonist reveals himself to be a ludic nihilist (is that a class-bound ideology?), which we shall recall is the upjumped cousin of lumpenized antisocial nihilism: the worlds we’ve been through haven’t really fit us for meanings. If I survive, then a world, a hundred worlds, a way of life survives. If [antagonist] survives… […] Still, perhaps it is a game. They keep telling us we live in a meaningless society, that there is no solidity to our lives. Worlds are tottering about us now, and still I only want to play. (152) This candor reveals protagonist to be not only a ludic nihilist, but likewise a bearer of Sloterdijk’s enlightened false consciousness: “the character I thought obsessed by purpose reveals his obsession is only a habit; his habits are gratuitously meaningless, while those actions I construed as gratuitous reveal a most demonic purpose” (166). Protagonist even informs antagonist that “the reason I must fight you is I think I can win” (183). So, he’s, like, supergross--and yet still better than antagonist, who’s merely an Old Right aristocrat. An example of how alien interstellar society might appear: There was a thousand-year period from about fifteen hundred to twenty-five hundred, when people spent an incredible amount of time and energy keeping things clean. It ended when the last communicable disease finally became not only curable but impossible. There used to be an incredibility called ‘the common cold’ that even in the twenty-fifth century you could be fairly sure of having at least once a year. I suppose back then there was some excuse for the fetish: there seemed to have been some correlation between dirt and disease. But after contagion became an obsolescent concern, sanitation became equally obsolescent. (123) Interstellar society also relies upon “a revolution in the concept of work” (195), arising out of the invention of “neural plugs,” whereby people plug their brain directly into machines to operate them: “All major industrial work began to be broken down into jobs that could be machined ‘directly’ by man.” This purportedly “returned humanity to the working man. Under this system, much of the endemic mental illness caused by feelings of alienation left society” (196). The conclusion is that this society has allegedly abolished Marxist ‘alienation’ caused by diremptions in the process of production, maybe (this is as yet still a class society based on private property, exploitation of wage labor, and suchlike, though). Manifestly a precursor to Rothfuss (insofar as one sub-protagonist is an orphaned gypsy lutist of sorts) and to The Matrix to the extent that people are plugged directly into machines. Metatextualist component in another sub-protagonist who is “writing a novel” and records notes on his travels for the book, amounting to “some hundred thousand words of notes” (15). Novelist contends that “novels were primarily about relationships. […] Their potentiality lay in that they belied the loneliness of the people who read them, people essentially hypnotized by the machinations of their own consciousness” (159). Something conceptually very interesting in “there are expressions that happen on the outside of the face; there are expressions that happen on the inside, with only quivers on the lips and eyelids” (93), a semiotics of face that we find most importantly later in R. Scott Bakker. One character notes that “on the ruptured features it was hard to read subtleties in [protagonist’s] emotions” (96) (emphasis added). Someone else’s “expression inside was a quick smile” (100). You for a few seconds only [antagonist’s] face have seen. In the face the lines of a man’s fate mapped are. […] From the crack across mine, you where those lines my fate can tell will touch? (id.) Similarly, dude notes “the smile the captain had not yet allowed on his face” (175). There is a cool concordance here—just as there are internal and external signifiers for persons, both of which can be read by the trained interlocutor, so too the star has its own semiotics, both internal and external: “Because the make-up of a star doesn’t change in a nova, you can’t detect the build-up over any distance with spectranalysis or anything like that” (88). Much is therefore made of the astrophysics of the nova, which are noted to be “implosions, not explosions” (86); the ultimate explanation for this is kinda cool (not gonna spoil it). This is important because protagonist wishes to pass to the center of a star while nova is in flagrante delicto in order to harvest his unobtainium ; he had already done as much by accident when “our ship was funneled directly through the center of the sun—and out the other side” (89). Novel reveals astrophysicist opinion to be lacking consensus on the question: After a thousand years of study [!!!], from close up and far away, it’s a bit unnerving how much we don’t know about what happens in the center of the most calamitous of stellar catastrophes [!]. The make-up of the star stays the same, only the organization of the matter within the star is disrupted by a process that is still not quite understood. It could be an effect of tidal harmonics. It could even be a prank of Maxwell’s demon. (95) So, after 1,000 years of study, the results of astrophysics is to note that the signifier changes but the underlying signified is self-identical (that’s synonymy, I think). Because it’s a Delany book, it can be labor intensive at times, though not so much as Babel , Einstein , or heavens forfend, Dhalgren . Contains however the normal SRD fixation on some body of mythological content, here, working with the Tarot and Arthurian sangraal . Authorial alter ego asks in this connection: I haven’t seen anybody read the Tarot since I was in school. […] I suppose at one time you could have called me quite an amateur aficionado of the Book of Toth [sic] as they were incorrectly labeled in the seventeenth century. I would say rather […] the Book of the Grail ? (100) (Am uncertain what the ‘Book of the Grail’ means; there’s a few allegedly lost things out there by that name, but it’s apparently not the name of any standard Arthurian text.) Author’s alter ego explains that “the cards don’t actually predict anything. They simply propagate an educated commentary on present situations” (101), which is innocuous enough. But: the seventy-eight cards of the Tarot present symbols and mythological images that have recurred and reverberated through forty-five centuries of human history. Someone who understands these symbols can construct a dialogue about a given situation. There’s nothing superstitious about it. The Book of Changes , even Chaldean Astrology only become superstitious when they are abused, employed to direct rather than guide and suggest. (id.) Uh, okay? It gets worse: “If somebody had told me I’d be working in the same crew, today, in the thirty-first century, with somebody who could honestly be skeptical about the Tarot, I don’t think I would have believed it” (110). Dude will “doubt if such fossilized ideas could have come from anywhere else but Earth” (id.); he “wouldn’t be surprised if in some upper Mongolian desert town there isn’t someone who still thinks Earth floats on a dish on the back of an elephant who stands on a serpent coiled on a turtle swimming in the sea of forever” (id.); indeed, this setting is so inverted that alter ego will carp “here you are, flying this star-freighter, a product of thirty-first century technology, and at the same time your head full of a petrified ideas a thousand years out of date” (id.). Alter ego can therefore proclaim that the thesis that the Tarot was faked by gypsies is “a very romantic notion” (111): “the idea that all those symbols, filtered down through five thousand years of mythology, are basically meaningless and have no bearing on man’s mind and actions [NB: idealist collective subject as per similar juvenile ideas in Ayn Rand], strikes a little bell of nihilism ringing” (id.). I suppose the basis of accusing Tarot skepticism of nihilism must be a hasty and unwarranted vulgar jungianism. Ugh. Despite all that, alter ego is an interesting cat, who believes that he needs “an awareness of my time’s conception of history” in order to write his novel, which is a fairly Benjaminian approach (cf. the ‘Theses on the Philosophy of History,’ especially No. VI, VII, & IX). History begins with the ancient Greeks as “the study of whatever had happened during their own lives” (116), and became in the hands of Anna Komnena “the study of those events of man’s actions that had been documented” (id.); a thousand years thereafter, it morphed again into “a series of cyclic rises and falls as one civilization overtook another” (id.), with events outside the cycle as “unimportant.” It may be “difficult for us today to appreciate the differences between Spengler and Toynbee, though from all accounts their approaches were considered polar in their day” (id.). Dude’s theory of history is revealed, after several deferrals, as “a great net, spreading among the stars, through time” (126), which is kinda philistine as a figuration, but may have some applicability when diffusion is dependent upon interstellar transit. A “great web that spreads across the galaxy,” “the matrix in which history happens” (155). Each person is a “junction” and each event “like a ripple” (id.). The effect of this doctrine: The United States was a product of that whole communication explosion, movements of people, movements of information, the development of movies, radio, and television that standardized speech and the framework of thought—not thought itself, however—which meant that person A could understand not only person B, but person W, X and Y as well. People, information, and ideas move across the galaxy much faster today than they moved across the United States in 1950. You and I were born a third of a galaxy apart […] Still, you and I are much closer in information structure than a Cornishman and Welshman a thousand years ago. (137-38) Recommended for those who make a last stand for cultural autonomy and all that, readers unable to distinguish between laughter and rage, and persons who between you and your flaming sun will come. burns-like-cold-iron 7 likes Like Comment Jonathan 37 reviews 5 followers February 10, 2021 TL;DR Review: A wonderfully satisfying read, Nova rewards any and all effort expended to read it. Science fiction that is truly "literature" though not without a few weak points. Recommended. The rest of it: Nova is a master's piece that consciously strives to be literature. As such, when reviewing, I'm mentally holding it to the same standards set by Tolstoy, Dickens, and the like. I'm comparing it to The (nebulous) Canon. To best understand it, I recommend a previous (and close!) reading of Moby Dick - or at least familiarity with its archetypes and symbolism. An additional aid to understanding this book would be War and Peace. The book itself: There's less scientific explanation than fans of harder sci-fi (Asimov, Clarke) would probably want, but more than non-speculative fiction (obviously). I thought the balance was good and allowed the characters and concepts to take center stage. Speaking of concepts, one character in particular is used by the author to relate some of the author's ideas quite directly. Some may find it annoying (particularly during more self-referential monologues) but I didn't mind it. A few exposed me to very new ideas I found myself agreeing with (e.g., the nature of work in contemporary society). Don't drop the book when Katin starts a speech! I give it 4/5 due to slow moments that did not advance either symbolism or plot and due to the ending. I can do slow: I've read War and Peace and Bleak House in the last few months. But those moments must serve a purpose in the scheme of the novel. As to the ending, I had mixed feelings though for good reasons. The denouement was very artistic and inevitable, 5/5. The climax, as inevitable as it was, I thought needed more. I didn't hear drum rolls and cymbal crashes - it was over too fast! I say "inevitable" often in this review. There are few twists and turns, but rather the steady grinding of time on humanity is on display. The book is a very cohesive whole. It straddles the line between good and great. I recommend to anyone seeking literary sci-fi, forgotten jewels, or who read an abridged Moby Dick and enjoyed the lack of nautical jargon but still wanted more. (Spoiler: what if Ahab succeeded???) Nova pairs well with: Mahler's 2nd symphony, Shostakovich's 7th, Sibelius' 4th or 7th, and Holst's Planets (mainly Neptune and Uranus). Also consider: Wagnerian overtures, Beethoven's "Shipwreck" or "Apassionata"  sonatas, Bartok quartets, Ives' "Concord" sonata. 7 likes Like Comment Simona Stoica Author 16 books 751 followers October 23, 2017 Recenzia completă: http://bit.ly/2gw0k8c „Presupun că singura modalitate de a mă proteja de blesteme ar fi să abandonez cartea înainte de scrierea ultimului capitol.” În 1968, Samuel R. Delany publica romanul Nova. În 2017, eu mă plimbam cu un geamantan și cu o listă kilometrică la Bookfest, ușor amețită din pricina miilor de cărţi care îşi „scuturau” copertele când îmi surprindeau privirea, doar-doar aveam să le iau cu mine acasă. Îmi amintesc cum turnul de romane primit de la Grupul Editorial Art ameninţa să se prăbuşească, însă asta nu m-a împiedicat să strecor un SF între două romane fantasy. Motivul? Coperta. A fost dragoste… chiar şi la a doua vedere. Coperta e hipnotizantă, seducătoare. Vârtejuri, haos, spirale şi întuneric. Promisiunea unei călătorii printre stele, până la marginea nopţii. Şi un grup de personaje cum nu mi-a mai fost dat să întâlnesc, fiinţe cu haruri neobişnuite, atrase într-un joc periculos, pe viaţă şi pe moarte, fără să fie obligate, constrânse sau ademenite de marele premiu. Nu cred că există un motiv întemeiat pentru care am evitat să citesc SF-uri, cel puţin în ultima perioadă, dar abia când am terminat de citit Nova mi-am dat seama cât de mult mi-a lipsit acest gen literar. În plus, cum aş fi putut refuza un space opera cu misfits şi o cursă contra-cronometru pentru obţinerea celui mai preţios element din galaxie, illyrionul? 10 likes Like Comment Tudor Ciocarlie 457 reviews 218 followers June 23, 2012 Wow! Nova is one of the greatest pieces of art that I've encountered in my life! jo-waltons-rec 7 likes Like Comment Anna 1,860 reviews 843 followers June 13, 2021 I grabbed 'Nova' off the library shelf as I've been meaning to read Delany's Trouble on Triton: An Ambiguous Heterotopia and SF Masterworks are generally a safe bet. 'Nova' was published in 1968 and gives a rather fascinating insight into late 1960s counterculture. The world-building features footloose freelancers, frequent tarot readings, and a multi-sensory musical instrument that I think Futurama parodied as the Holophonor. The plot is essentially an economic conflict between the super-rich, which the crew of a spaceship get dragged into. The class and economic themes are thought-provoking. The decadence and carelessness of the rich, not to mention their dialect, is in contrast to the largely working class crew. However, this is also a world without illness, where serious injuries can be fixed in seconds, and subsistence appears guaranteed, or at least comfortably easy. Delany explains the technological transformation of the 31st century economy, ingeniously getting round Marx's theory of increasing capital intensity and falling labour intensity of industry. Nearly everyone has plugs that allow their bodies to interface with and directly control machines. Thus automation has given way to symbiosis with machines, and unemployment is not a serious issue. The prospect of it once again becoming so is part of the central conflict driving the plot, though. A good deal of the book consists of meandering dialogue, with occasional descriptions of violence or other activity in somewhat overwrought prose. I was more interested in exploring the socio-economic underpinnings of the world than in the characters and plot per se. Indeed, I experienced the novel more as a piece of sci-fi history than at face value. The dynamic between Lorq, Prince, and Ruby felt excessively melodramatic, whereas the crew's debates and card games were more appealing. I was amused that Mouse got teased for superstition because he didn't believe in the tarot. Katin's monologues on writing a novel were also great and the ending very neat. 'Nova' is a book I couldn't evaluate outside its historical context, but that is by no means a bad thing. fiction scifi 6 likes Like Comment Nicky 4,138 reviews 1,074 followers September 16, 2017 I’ve meant to read this for so long, because it’s a total classic and everyone seemed to expect me to love Delany’s work. Although the writing is clever, the way some of the characters speak (verb last) just got infuriating, and I don’t think any of the characters are really there to be liked. As for the grail story narrative that’s supposed to be there, well; knowing the grail story as well as I do (clue: very well, thanks to Cardiff University’s medieval lit tutors) it didn’t really feel like a grail story. Moby Dick, perhaps; that’s a comparison that does feel apt. There are some gorgeous bits of prose and intriguing ideas, and I did want to read it all and find out how things turned out, but… it just didn’t blow me away. Possibly the fault lies in me, since Delany is a classic SF writer; I’ve still got Babel-17 to read, and we’ll see if I like that better. Reviewed for The Bibliophibian. speculative-fiction 6 likes Like Comment BridgeBurger Spoony 119 reviews 1 follower July 18, 2022 I’m being generous here because I have to think about it a little more. My immediate response is that I just don’t understand Delany. There are great ideas to explore in here, most intriguing being the death of tradition via the homogenisation of cultures. These lead to some great dialogue and blend nicely with the larger plot being one of a traditional grail quest in a sci-fi format. Despite this very classic style of plot, the novel is all over the place. The problem is just like in Babel-17, Delany doesn’t put in the work to truly explore the ideas, flesh out the story, or the characters. Everything feels a little distant and undercooked. I still don’t click with his prose. It seems more intent on keeping the reader on their toes than it does on actually telling the story. That’s new wave SF for you, but I didn’t much enjoy it here. The events and places feel very loosely sketched so I could never get my footing, but at least the dialogue is very good. 6 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 642 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 23 quotes 6 discussions 1 question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. 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A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $6.99 Rate this book A Clockwork Orange Anthony Burgess 4.00 715,549 ratings 21,001 reviews Want to read Kindle $6.99 Rate this book A vicious fifteen-year-old droog is the central character of this 1963 classic. In Anthony Burgess's nightmare vision of the future, where criminals take over after dark, the story is told by the central character, Alex, who talks in a brutal invented slang that brilliantly renders his and his friends' social pathology. A Clockwork Orange is a frightening fable about good and evil, and the meaning of human freedom. And when the state undertakes to reform Alex to "redeem" him, the novel asks, "At what cost?" This edition includes the controversial last chapter not published in the first edition and Burgess's introduction "A Clockwork Orange Resucked." Genres Classics Fiction Science Fiction Dystopia Horror Literature Novels ...more 192 pages, Paperback First published January 1, 1962 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Anthony Burgess 300 books 3,852 followers Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. Seriocomic novels of noted British writer and critic Anthony Burgess , pen name of John Burgess Wilson , include the futuristic classic A Clockwork Orange (1962). He composed also a librettos, poems, plays, screens, and essays and traveled, broadcast, translated, linguist and educationalist. He lived for long periods in southeastern Asia, the United States of America, and Europe along Mediterranean Sea as well as England. His fiction embraces the Malayan trilogy ( The Long Day Wanes ) on the dying days of empire in the east. The Enderby quartet concerns a poet and his muse. Nothing like the Sun re-creates love life of William Shakespeare . He explores the nature of evil with Earthly Powers , a panoramic saga of the 20th century. He published studies of James Joyce , Ernest Miller Hemingway , Shakespeare, and David Herbert Lawrence . He produced the treatises Language Made Plain and A Mouthful of Air . His journalism proliferated in several languages. He translated and adapted Cyrano de Bergerac , Oedipus the King , and Carmen for the stage. He scripted Jesus of Nazareth and Moses the Lawgiver for the screen. He invented the prehistoric language, spoken in Quest for Fire . He composed the Sinfoni Melayu , the Symphony (No. 3) in C , and the opera Blooms of Dublin . Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.00 715,549 ratings 21,001 reviews 5 stars 267,231 (37%) 4 stars 260,279 (36%) 3 stars 130,283 (18%) 2 stars 36,654 (5%) 1 star 21,102 (2%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 20,998 reviews Cecily 1,195 reviews 4,592 followers May 10, 2018 How to review an infamous book about which so much has already been said? By avoiding reading others’ thoughts until I’ve written mine. There are horrors in this book, but there is beauty too, and so much to think about. The ends of the book justify the means of its execution, even if the same is not true of what happens in the story. Book vs Film, and Omission of Final Chapter I saw the film first, and read the book shortly afterwards. Usually a bad idea, but in this case, being familiar with the plot and the Nadsat slang made it easier to relax (if that's an appropriate word, given some of the horrors to come) into the book. The film is less hypnotic and far more shocking than the book, because it is more visual and because, like the US version of the book, it omits the more optimistic final chapter. The British censors originally passed the film - uncut. But a year later, it was cited as possibly inspiring a couple of murders, leading to threats against Kubrick's family. The year after that, Kubrick asked for it to be withdrawn, and it was, even though he said " To try and fasten any responsibility on art as the cause of life seems to me to put the case the wrong way around. " See Withdrawl of film from UK screens and Omission of final chapter Plot and Structure It is a short novel, comprising three sections of seven chapters, told by “your humble narrator”, Alex. In the first section, Alex and his teenage gang indulge in “ultra-violence” (including sexual assault of young girls); in the middle section, Alex is in prison and then undergoes a horrific new treatment (a sort of aversion therapy); the final section follows him back in the real world, rejected by his parents, now the puppet of opposing political factions. The whole thing is set in a slightly dystopian, very near future and explores issues of original sin, punishment and revenge, free will, and the nature of evil. One awful incident involves breaking in to a writer’s house and gang raping his wife, who later dies. A similar incident happened to Burgess’ first wife (though he wasn’t there at the time). Writing a fictionalised account from the point of view of the perpetrator is extraordinary: charitable, cathartic, or a more complex mixture? Themes Why is Alex as he is? “What I do I do because I like to do”, and perhaps there is no more that can be said. As Alex ponders, “this biting of their toe-nails over what is the CAUSE of badness is what turns me into a fine laughing malchick. They don’t go into the cause of GOODNESS… badness is of the self… and that self is made by old Bog or God and is his great pride and radosty”. Can people like Alex be cured, and if so, how? Imprisonment, police brutality, fire and brimstone don’t work. Enter the Ludovico Technique, whereby Alex is injected with emetics before being strapped, with his eyelids held open, to watch videos of extreme physical and sexual violence. He becomes conditioned to be unable to commit such acts, or even to watch or think about them. This raises more questions than it solves. The prison governor prefers the old “eye for an eye”, but has to give in to the new idea of making bad people good. “The question is whether such a technique can really make a man good. Goodness comes from within… Goodness is something chosen. When a man cannot choose he ceases to be a man.” The chaplain has doubts, too, “Is a man who chooses the bad perhaps in some way better than a man who has the good imposed upon him?” On the other hand, by consenting to the treatment, Alex is, in an indirect way, choosing to be good. The technique (or torture) is promoted as making Alex “sane” and “healthy” so that he can be “a free man”, but although he is released from prison, he remains imprisoned by the power of the technique, even to the extent that the music he loves now makes him sick (because it was playing in the background) and his inability to defend himself means he becomes a victim. Do the ends justify the means? Dr Brodsky thinks so: “We are not concerned with motive, with the higher ethics. We are only concerned with cutting down crime.” However, if it wears off, it will all have been for nothing. Redemption? The possibility of redemption is a common thread, reaching its peak in this final chapter. Burgess was raised as a Catholic, educated in Catholic schools, but lost his faith aged sixteen. He continued to have profound interest in religious ideas, though, as explained here . The final chapter (omitted from US editions of the book until 1986, and also the film) feels incongruously optimistic in some ways, but by suggesting the true answer as to what will cure delinquency is… maturity, it might be thought the most pessimistic chapter. Is teen violence an inevitable cycle: something people grow into, and then out of when they start to see their place in the bigger picture? And if so, is that acceptable to society? Language - Nadsat Slang A distinctive feature of the book is the Nadsat slang that Alex and his droogs use (“nadsat” is the Russian suffix for “teen” – see here ). Burgess invented it from Russian with a bit of Cockney rhyming slang and Malay, because real teen slang is so ephemeral, the book would quickly seem dated otherwise. He wanted the book published without a glossary, and it is written so carefully, that the meaning is usually clear, and becomes progressively so, as you become accustomed to it: “a bottle of beer frothing its gulliver off and a horrorshow rookerful of like plum cake” and “There’s only one veshch I require… having my malenky bit of fun with real droogs”. Where an English word is used literally and metaphorically, the Nadsat one is too; for example, “viddy” is used to see with one’s eyes and to understand someone’s point. The skill of carefully used context makes Russian-based Nadsat much easier to follow than the dialect of Riddley Walker (see my review HERE ), even though the latter is based on mishearings of English. (To be fair, the whole of Riddley Walker is written in dialect, whereas in Clockwork Orange, it's conventional English with a generous smattering of slang.) Where the meaning isn't immediately obvious or is merely vague, you go with the flow until it seeps into your consciousness (much as would happen if you were dropped into an environment where you had no language in common with anyone else). It's another way of sucking the reader into Alex's world and his gang. Nadsat lends a mesmerising and poetic aspect to the text that is in sharp contrast to the revulsion invoked by some of the things Alex does: tolchocking a starry veck doesn’t sound nearly as bad as beating an old man into a pulp - Nadsat acts as a protective veil. In the film, this effect is somewhat diluted because you SEE these acts. The book was like published in 1962 and Alex frequently uses “like” as an interjection as I did earlier in this sentence – something that has become quite a common feature of youth speak in recent times. What happened in between, I wonder? Other than that, much of what Alex says has echoes of Shakespeare and the King James Bible: “Come, gloopy bastard thou art. Think thou not on them” and “If fear thou hast in thy heart, o brother, pray banish it forthwith” and “Fear not. He canst taketh care of himself, verily”. There is always the painful contrast of beautiful language describing unpleasant and horrific things. Similarly, the repetition of a few phrases is almost liturgical. Alex addresses his readers as “oh my brothers”, which is unsettling: if I’m one of his brothers, am I in some way complicit, or at least condoning, what he does? Another recurring phrase is, “What’s it going to be then, eh?” It is the opening phrase of each section and used several times in the first chapter of each section. Music Burgess was a composer, as well as a writer, and Alex has a passion for classical music, especially “Ludwig van”. This may be partly a ploy to make the book more ageless than if he loved, for example, Buddy Holly, but more importantly, it’s another way of creating dissonance: a deep appreciation of great art is not “supposed” to coexist with mindless delinquency. Alex has lots of small speakers around his room, so “I was like netted and meshed in the orchestra”, and the music is his deepest joy: “Oh bliss, bliss and heaven. I lay all nagoy to the ceiling… sloshing the sluice of lovely sounds. Oh it was gorgeousness and gorgeosity made flesh.” The treatment destroys this pleasure- with dramatic results. Horror and Beauty, Sympathy for a Villain Ultimately, I think Alex is sympathetic villain: he has a seductive exuberance and charm and although he does horrific things, when awful things are done to him, sympathy flows. Yes, there are horrors in this book, but there is beauty too, and so much to think about. The ends of the book justify the means of its execution, even if the same is not true of what happens in the story. Brilliant. Jabberwock in Nadsat Thanks to Forrest for finding this brilliant hybrid: https://medium.com/@johnlewislo…/the-... classics dystopian-apocalyptic film-good-or-better-than-book ...more 627 likes 9 comments Like Comment Martine 145 reviews 741 followers March 22, 2008 A Clockwork Orange is one of those books which everyone has heard of but which few people have actually read –- mostly, I think, because it is preceded by a reputation of shocking ultra-violence. I’m not going to deny here that the book contains violence. It features lengthy descriptions of heinous crimes, and they’re vivid descriptions, full of excitement. (Burgess later wrote in his autobiography: ‘I was sickened by my own excitement at setting it down.’) Yet it does not glorify violence, nor is it a book about violence per se. Rather it’s an exploration of the morality of free will. Of whether it is better to choose to be bad than to be conditioned to be good. Of alienation and how to deal with the excesses to which such alienation may lead. And ultimately, of one man’s decision to say goodbye to all that. (At least in the UK version. The American version, on which Stanley Kubrick’s film adaptation was based, ends on a less optimistic note.) In short, it’s a novella of ideas which just happens to contain a fair bit of violence. It is also quite an artistic and linguistic achievement. Those who have seen the film will know that Alex (the anti-hero) and his droogs (friends) speak a made-up language full of Russian loanwords, Shakespearean and Biblical influences and Cockney rhyming slang. Initially this nadsat language was nearly incomprehensible to me, and my first response to it was bad. I found myself cursing Burgess, telling him that it wasn’t fair to put his readers through something like that. (If I want to read an incomprehensible book, I’ll read Finnegans Wake , thank you very much.) However, Burgess takes great care to introduce his new words in an understandable way, so after a few pages I got the hang of the nadsat lingo, and after a few more pages I actually began to enjoy it, because I’m enough of a linguist to go in for that sort of thing. I found myself loving the Russian loanwords, rejoicing when I recognised a German loanword among them and enjoying the Shakespearean quality of Alex’ dialogues. I finished the book with an urgent wish to learn Russian and read more Shakespeare. I doubt many readers will respond to the book in that way (not everyone shares my enthusiasm for languages and classical stuff), but my point is: you’ll get used to the lingo, and at some point you’ll begin to admire it, because for one thing, Burgess is awfully consistent about it, and for another, it just sounds so damned good. I mean, if you’re going to come up with a new word for ‘crazy’, you might as well choose bezoomny , right? Because it actually sounds mad. Doesn’t it? Anyhow, there’s more to A Clockwork Orange than just philosophical ideas and linguistic pyrotechnics. The writing itself is unexpectedly lyrical, and not just when it deals with violence. Some of the most beautiful passages in the book deal with music. More specifically, classical music, because for all his wicked ways, Alex has a passion for classical music. He particularly adores Beethoven, an adoration I happen to share. I came away from the book thinking I might consent to becoming Alex’ devotchka (woman, wife) simply because he is capable of getting carried away by Beethoven’s Ninth and hates having it spoilt for him. He’s cultured, is Alex, and while his culturedness obviously does not equal civilisation and goodness (a point he himself is quick to make), it does put him a notch above the average hooligan. It’s the apparent dichotomy between Alex’ tastes in art and his taste for violence which makes him such an interesting protagonist and which keeps you following his exploits to their not entirely believable (but good) conclusion. In short, then, A Clockwork Orange is an excellent book –- a bit challenging at first, but gripping and interesting and full of style and ideas. Not many books can claim as much. british crime dystopia ...more 1,393 likes 1 comment Like Comment Mario the lone bookwolf 805 reviews 4,794 followers July 7, 2023 Just leave the Milk Bar to go bonkers Not as awesome as expected A classic, probably a bit overrated book, and one of the rare cases in which I would say that the movie is better than the book. The most unnecessary thing was to add an extra chapter at the end that took the flow, logic, and atmosphere out of the whole thing. Nice development of an own language, but also not as cool as other examples. The whole dystopic brainwashing idea is one of the best elements. It reminds me of many overrated classics that form 3 stages or categories of boredom. Books that for no understandable reason have to be read in school, depending on the country's culture, and are mainly focused on the bad, outdated, old, very long time dead, writers of each country, so that there are individual purgatories for young readers in each state. Nobel prize, nothing to add, the same with peace and economics, it´s just a bad joke. But many don´t seem to get it and take it seriously. Be creative without caring about conventions Clockwork Orange is in the third category: Books that use complex, not absolutely logical or even not for the author understandable, unstable plots and inconsistent ideas to be progressive, provocative, and sell more by activating the bite reflexes of conservatives, bigots, and philistines and give nothing on the thousands of years old conventions of writing for the pleasure of the reader. I´ve read much of all 3 categories and must say that it´s the same as with modern art: If there is no recognizable concept, many others could do the same, and if it´s not universally acclaimed a masterpiece, it´s probably average or completely inexplicably overhyped trash. One hit wonder if average ratings of the author´s other works aren´t that thrilling Clockwork Orange is one of the better ones, but it would be nothing without Kubricks´adaption, and looking at the general ratings and popularity of all of Burgess´other works, one can see the picture of a one hit wonder. Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph... classics 460 likes Like Comment emma 2,121 reviews 67.3k followers December 8, 2023 i've owned this book for 7 years and it wasn't even on my to read list. which gives an indication of how excited i am to read it update: even anthony burgess doesn't get the appeal of this one. this is one of those books that i can see why it'd be great to assign as school required reading, but...pretty meh in adult life! bottom line: the nicest thing i can say about this is that i'm pretty sure i would have liked it more if i was discussing it at 7:45 am with 20 miserable adolescents. 3-stars classics dystopian ...more 389 likes 2 comments Like Comment Lyn 1,919 reviews 16.9k followers January 5, 2020 "What's it going to be then, eh?" A linguistic adventure, O my brothers. I had seen the Kubrick film and so reading the novella was on the list. I very much enjoyed it, was surprised to learn that American publishers and Kubrick had omitted the crucial last chapter that provides some moral denouement to the ultra-violence. As disturbingly good as this is, one aspect that always comes back to me is Burgess' creation of and use of the Nadsat language. This provides color and mystery to the narrative and it is noteworthy that Burgess' intent was to soften the blow of the violent themes of the book. ** 2018 addendum - it is a testament to great literature that a reader recalls the work years later and this is a book about which I frequently think. This is a book that, for me at least, is connected to the Stanley Kubrick film. I don't always watch a movie after I've read the book, and when I do I usually draw a distinction between the two, but these two works remain indelibly connected in my mind and recollection. The most noteworthy contrast is the omission of the last chapter from the film. Burgess' ending provides a settling of accounts while Kubrick's vision leaves the viewer edgy and uncomfortable. 345 likes Like Comment Paul Bryant 2,293 reviews 10.8k followers May 16, 2010 In 1960 Anthony Burgess was 43 and had written 4 novels and had a proper job teaching in the British Colonial Service in Malaya and Brunei. Then he had a collapse and the story gets complicated. But I like the first cool version AB told, which was that he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour and given a year to live. Since as you know he lived a further 33 years, we may conclude the doctors were not entirely correct. However - the doctor tells you you have a year to live - what do you do?* Lapse into a major depression? Get drunk and stay drunk? Buy a Harley davidson? Not if you were Anthony Burgess. Uxorious regard for his wife's future security bade him to place his arse on a chair in the unpleasing English seaside town of Hove and type out five and a half novels in the one year left to him, which, he later pointed out, was approximately equivalent to E M Forster's entire lifetime output. And the last of these five completed novels was A Clockwork Orange. No mean feat. So, this little novel should be on everyone who hasn't read it's must read list. It's a real hoot, and it's absolutely eerie in its predictions about youth culture and recreational drug use. It's also very famous for its hilarious language, all those malenky droogs, horrorshow devotchkas and gullivers and lashings of the old in-out in-out - the reader must be warned that it's very catching and you will for sure begin boring all your friends and family about tolchocking the millicents and creeching on your platties and suchlike. They'll give you frosty looks and begin avoiding you at the breakfast table, but you won't be able to help it. In extreme cases they might smeck your grazhny yarbles and that will definately shut you up. * Reminds me of the old joke where the doctor says to the guy "I'm sorry to say you only have three minutes to live." Guy says "Isn't there anything you can do for me?" Doctor says "I could boil you an egg." novels 315 likes 3 comments Like Comment Ahmad Sharabiani 9,564 reviews 155 followers August 10, 2021 (Book 437 from 1001 books) - A Clockwork Orange – Anthony Burgess A Clockwork Orange is a dystopian novel by English writer Anthony Burgess, published in 1962. Set in a near future English society featuring a subculture of extreme youth violence, the teenage protagonist, Alex, narrates his violent exploits and his experiences with state authorities intent on reforming him. The book is partially written in a Russian-influenced argot called "Nadsat". Part 1: Alex's world Alex is a 15-year-old living in a near-future dystopian city who leads his gang on a night of opportunistic, random "ultra-violence". Alex's friends ("droogs" in the novel's Anglo-Russian slang, "Nadsat") are Dim, a slow-witted bruiser, who is the gang's muscle; Georgie, an ambitious second-in-command; and Pete, who mostly plays along as the droogs indulge their taste for ultra-violence. Characterised as a sociopath and hardened juvenile delinquent, Alex is also intelligent, quick-witted, and enjoys classical music; he is particularly fond of Beethoven, whom he calls "Lovely Ludwig Van". ... Part 2: The Ludovico Technique Alex is convicted of murder and sentenced to 14 years in Wandsworth Prison. His parents visit one day to inform him that Georgie has been killed in a botched robbery. Two years into his term, he has obtained a job in one of the prison chapels, playing music on the stereo to accompany the Sunday Christian services. The chaplain mistakes Alex's Bible studies for stirrings of faith; in reality, Alex is only reading Scripture for the violent or sexual passages. ... Part 3: After prison Alex returns to his parents' flat, only to find that they are letting his room to a lodger. Now homeless, he wanders the streets and enters a public library, hoping to learn of a painless method for committing suicide. The old scholar whom Alex had assaulted in Part 1 finds him and beats him, with the help of several friends. Two policemen come to Alex's rescue, but they turn out to be Dim and Billyboy, a former rival gang leader. They take Alex outside of town, brutalise him, and abandon him there. ... تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز یازدهم ماه اکتبر سال 2002 میلادی عنوان: پرتقال کوکی؛ نوشته: آنتونی برجس؛ مترجم: پریرخ هاشمی؛ مشخصات نشر تهران، تمندر، 1381، در 211ص، شابک 9649040633؛ موضوع: داستانهای نویسندگان بریتانیا - سده 20م عنوان: پرتقال کوکی؛ نوشته: آنتونی برجس؛ مترجم: بهنام باقری؛ مشخصات نشر تهران، میلکان، 1394، در 180ص، شابک 9786007845264؛ عنوان: پرتقال کوکی؛ نویسنده و اقتباس استنلی کوبریک؛ مترجم: محمدمهدی فیاضی کیا؛ مشخصات نشر تهران، افراز، 1389، در 135 ص، شابک 9649789642432257؛ رمانی درباره ی نافرمانی گروهکی از جوانان در برابر قانون و جامعه، در آینده‌ ی کابوس‌وار است؛ «الکس»، یک نوجوان پانزده ‌ساله، داستان خود را به گویش ابداعی به نام «ندست» بازگو می‌کند، «استنلی کوبریک» از همین کتاب، فیلمنامه ای با همین عنوان برگرفته، و بنگاشته اند، پس همین عنوان فارسی از آنِ، آن فیلمنامه، و همان اقتباس نیز هست، فیلمنامه ی «استنلی کوبریک» با ترجمه جناب آقای «محمدمهدی فیاضی کیا»، را نشر افراز، در سال 1389هجری خورشیدی منتشر کرده، جناب «فربد آذسن» هم همین کتاب را در 172ص ترجمه کرده اند؛ پرتقال کوکی کمدی سیاه هجوآمیز پادآرمان‌شهری، از «آنتونی برجس» نویسنده ی اهل «بریتانیا» است، که نخستین بار در سال 1962میلادی منتشر شد؛ داستان در آینده‌ای نزدیک رخ می‌دهد، در زمانه‌ ای که خرده‌ فرهنگ خشونت در میان نسل جوان جامعه رواج دارد؛ «الکس»، قهرمان نوجوان داستان، رفتارهای خشن خود را روایت می‌کند؛ تفریح او و داستانش آزار فیزیکی و جنسی شهروندان بی‌گناه است؛ طی یکی از این ماجراها، «الکس» دستگیر و به زندان می‌افتد؛ دولت مدعی است روش نوینی برای اصلاح مجرمان یافته که می‌تواند جایگزین زندان شود؛ «الکس» داوطلبانه تن به درمان می‌دهد اما درمی‌یابد که آن روش چیزی کمتر از شکنجه و خشونت دولتی نیست؛ کتاب تا حدی به زبان مخفی «آرگو» به نام «ندست» نگاشته شده که متأثر از زبان «روسیه» است؛ تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 08/06/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 17/05/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی Like Comment Henry Avila 497 reviews 3,279 followers November 26, 2023 In the near future in an Utopian socialist country, England where everyone has to work ( except the ill or old) whether the job makes any sense or not, a group of teenagers like to party without limits at night. Alex the leader, George 2nd in command, Pete the most sane and the big dim Dim, he's good with his boots, fun loving kids. Your humble narrator Alex, will tell this story my brothers ...First they see an ancient man leaving the library carrying books, very suspicious nobody goes there now, inspecting these filthy things and ripping them to pieces, not forgetting a few punches on the offender to stop this evil habit, next entering a shop and borrowing some needed money, the owner and wife have to be persuaded with just a little force for this honor, then teaching a scummy drunk in the street the evil of his ways, pounding some sense into his addled brain. Meeting old friends Billyboy and company, in a dark alley, they exchange love taps but boys sometimes play too hard, drops of blood fall lovingly to the ground. When so many noisy sirens go off these peaceful youths, leave this unhealthy place. Getting tired of walking the gang goes on a joy ride, after spotting the empty car not being used! The friends decide to travel to the countryside, leaving dirty London behind for fresh air, the beauty of the land, the woods, tiny critters to watch and the slow ones on the road to be put out of their misery with a merciful crunch. Viewing a mailbox with the name of Home on it how delightful, this cottage's welcoming couple lets the group in for a spot of tea, they're wearing masks to enliven the carnival atmosphere, even though the man is a creepy writer... ugh. Would you read something called A Clockwork Orange? What a silly title for the good of the world, these pages are scattered everywhere, flying high to the ceiling and floating down below to be properly trashed on the floor by the good doers. Exchanging warm greetings with the wife, Alex your humble narrator my brothers and associates, go back to the city it's getting late, school tomorrow... ultra- violent fun must end ... His frightened parents don't ask too many questions at his small , but dumpy apartment a place they share. His room full of records of classical music, Ludwig Van a favorite to inspire him, which he plays very loud and his parents don't dare to complain anymore. Later Alex is sent to prisoner for a long term murder they say, framed what rot, he is 15. His cell he shares with five other men, nasty criminals all unlike Alex, one will have to sleep on the floor, his fists will not let him be the one ...Doctors Branom and Brodsky ignorant fellows they don't understand his slang, have a new technique to cure his violent behavior, as some people call it two weeks and a free man, let the torture begin...A magnificent fable of what might be... 246 likes Like Comment Sean Barrs 1,122 reviews 46.7k followers April 28, 2018 Rebellion can take on many forms and in A Clockwork Orange it takes on the form of language: the spoken word. All societies have their constraints, though breaking through them is often difficult. What the “poor” disaffected youth do here is create their own system of communication that is so utterly theirs. Every word carries history, and by destroying such words the youngster are proposing a break from tradition: they are proposing something new. This idea is captured when they attack the “bourgeoisie” professor in the opening scene; they beat him, tear his books apart and strip him naked in the streets. It is an act of aggression and power; it is an act that is infused with jealousy and rage. The lower classes are sick of the elites, and the poor are sick of the rich. And they want to stand on their own two feet. “Is it better for a man to have chosen evil than to have good imposed upon him?” However, despite the symbolic nature of the scene, it also demonstrates the rash nature of such youths. In their actions they perpetuate such divisions and class divides. They never stop to consider that perhaps the professor could be sympathetic to their cause. They just don't care; they enjoy violence too much. Instead they just see and object of power, knowledge and wealth, so they attempt to destroy it. Having passion and a strong will are vital for social change, but using such things sensibly and at the right time is also of equal importance. I'm not an advocate of violence, but they could have used that better and more productively too. Society fears them; it fears these boys that represent dissatisfaction and anger. How far can they go? How powerful could they become? What will the future hold? Burgress shows us a speculative future, a “what if” situation that is not implausible. The novel is advisory; it suggests that something needs to be done to society in order to avoid the pitfall the gang fell into here. Like all significant literature, the work has a universal quality: it is as relevant today as it was when it was first published in the 1970s because it shows us what unbridled and misguided temper can achieve. Alex (the gang leader) is thrown into jail after committing a particularly nasty crime. The doctors then attempt to rehabilitate him through psychological treatment based on schema theory and the rules of conditioning and association. Afterwards, the thought of violence sickens him physically and he is thrown out into a world that hates him and one he can no longer survive him. He is completely failed by society, but it is near impossible to have sympathy with such a reckless anarchist. He is violent and spiteful. A Clockwork Orange is a postmodern masterpiece because of its experimental style, language and allegorical content. However, it is also an extremely difficult book to read and an even harder one to enjoy. The slang frustrated me; it was understandable but very dense at times. It’s a clever device, but an agenising one. I disliked this element for the same reason I will never attempt to read Finnegan’s Wake by James Joyce. I liked to get lost. I don’t like to have to put effort in when I read; perhaps I’m a lazy reader. Regardless though, it was a huge relief to actually finish. I’m still going to watch the film, and I do think I may enjoy it a little more than this. 3-star-reads 236 likes 1 comment Like Comment Michael Finocchiaro Author 3 books 5,858 followers June 9, 2022 Like many I suppose, I saw Kubrick's film long ago without having read the book until now. Part punk rock version of Finnegans Wake, part scalding criticism of UK society in the 50s, Burgess' dystopian Center is a real "horrorshow" (in a non-ACO interpretation of the word) of violence. Alex is a terrifying character - every bit as evil as the Joker or Anton Chigurh whose state-sponsored brainwashing is equally disturbing. The prison chaplain's pleas for free choice tend to exemplify the theme of the book. In any case, the Wakesque language that Alex employs, while not entirely opaque, takes a little getting used to, but I found it did not take away from the powerful emotions that the text invokes. I also suppose that many of us who are anti-Trump fear this kind of proto-fascist dystopian state (which in some ways is a cousin to that of Atwood's Handmaid's Tale) and this is what will make reading this book really resonate. Read at your own risk O my brothers. dystopian english-20th-c fiction ...more 272 likes Like Comment Gabrielle 1,057 reviews 1,512 followers March 9, 2017 I once had a truly lovely roommate. In my mind, I now think of her as the Yoga Bunny: yes, because she was a yoga instructor, but also because she was the kind of adorable hippy who wants to believe that deep down, everyone is nice and that if you love one another enough, the world’s problems will eventually solve themselves. She was kind, generous and polite to a fault and I do not mean to make fun of her: I really love her very much, but her world view always seemed terribly naïve and somewhat delusional to me. I may be a cynic, but it really struck me like a ton of bricks one evening, when she was looking at my bookcase after asking if she could borrow something to read. She pulled “A Clockwork Orange” off the shelf and asked me what it was about. “It’s a futuristic dystopian tale about whether it’s better to have the free will to be a bad person or to be forced to be a good person” I replied after a moment’s pause. It was really the best way I could think of summarizing Burgess’ novella. “Why would anyone want to write… or read anything so horrible?!” she cried, her big eyes suddenly filled with tears. She put the book back on the shelf, grabbed my copy of “Eat, Pray and Love” and promptly retreated to her room to read, and presumably to scrub her ears clean of the terribly offensive idea I had just uttered. Again, I don’t want to make fun of Yoga Bunny. Her wildly optimistic worldview made the entire idea of Burgess’ masterpiece disgusting. She couldn’t see why people would choose to be bad, hurtful and violent. I did not bother trying to explain that the concept of free will is about much more than just the violent acts committed by the anti-hero Alex: we use free will every day and the point of the book is to get us to think about what it would mean if that capacity to choose was taken away. And I must say, it is not as violent as some people make it sound: most horror novels contain much more disgusting violence than what is in the pages of this book. And furthermore, Burgess never condones any of the acts committed by Alex and his droogs. That being said, few horror novels manage to be as disturbing as this tiny novella; not because of the violence, but because of the ideas. Some spoilers ahead. Alex is clearly a sociopath, who doesn’t feel anything about other people. Their pain, their suffering, their feelings, none of that matters to him. He wants his thrills, whether those are sexual or from getting into a good fight. The Ludovico Technique gives him physical pain when he tries to act on his violent urges, but it doesn’t take his urges away. He still wants to hurt and rape, even if he can’t. Because goodness cannot be imposed on anyone, it always remains a choice. Conditioning him would never “fix” him: therapy and education might, but that’s not the method he is subjected to. Because ultimately, Dr. Brodsky doesn’t care about Alex any more than Alex cared about his victims. He wants to cut down crime, not make people better. When Alex is freed again, attacked and incapable of defending himself, some readers would probably cheer because he finally gets what he deserves. But I see a more subtle point being made. The point that sometimes, one has to do things that would, under other circumstances, be considered “bad”, for good reasons. Hitting someone is bad; but hitting someone to defend yourself because someone is trying to hurt or kill you isn’t. When it was originally published in the United-States, the final chapter, where Alex outgrows his sociopathy and becomes “normal”, was removed to give the book a darker tone and ending. Kubrick used that version for his brilliant adaptation (which I watch at least once a year – it’s one of my all-time favorite movies), which concludes with the realization Ludovico Technique has stopped affecting Alex: his favorite music and thoughts of violence no longer hurt him and he is… “cured”. I find both endings equally fascinating. In either case he is cured, but what exactly is he cured of? I love this ambiguity. The book’s original ending suggests that there is a possibility of redemption for everyone (see Yoga Bunny, there are some optimistic passages in this book!), it hints that maturity will eventually smooth out people’s character. I don’t know how much I believe that… but I get the point. The linguistic tour de force accomplished by Burgess – while irritating at first, until your brain begins to recognize the patterns and cadence – is impressive enough to make it worth the read, regardless of how you feel about the moral dilemma contained within the pages. Russian, Shakespearean turns of phrase and Cockney slang actually blend beautifully, and the Nadsat words are used perfunctorily enough that when you read a sentence in context, you can quickly figure out what every word means. The first 10 pages will be a struggle, and that is why in this specific case, I’d recommend watching the movie before reading the book, just to get familiar with the language. But once you get past the Nadsat hurdle, so to speak, you start understanding the genius of its use: it gives such a rich texture to the text, it puts words on images and feelings that are impossible to associate to a regular English word. “A Clockwork Orange” is disturbing, gorgeous and horrible all at once. It scares me but I also enjoy it very much. I really think it’s worth the read, unpleasant as it may be at times. And obviously, I also strongly recommend the wonderful Kubrick movie. The music and sets are haunting, and I will always picture Alex as Malcolm McDowell. I’d love to watch it with Yoga Bunny someday, and hopefully seeing this terrible person get tortured in the name of “goodness” will help her think about free will a bit differently. classics dystopian favorites ...more 181 likes 1 comment Like Comment Luís 2,097 reviews 885 followers May 24, 2024 Alex and his gang are the product of a generation where violence is habitual and trivialized. For them, it is not a question of unease or the sign of a revolt but quite simply of a simple distraction. The paradox in the story is that Alex is passionate about classical music, music meant to soften souls and not lead them to depravity. So, their favorite pastime is terrorizing poor people. Physical violence, verbal violence, nothing omitted. Alex is, in a way, the “guru” of his gang since he addresses them by qualifying them as “brothers.” Alex’s mother, ignorant at the beginning of her son’s actions, eventually surrenders to reality and accepts that a new experience has performed on her son. The doctors in charge of practicing this therapy on Alex will make him listen to classical music (the one that is, in a way, his hymn) while forcing him to watch the worst images of violence and torture on the big screen. Thus, they could sensitize him and make him realize what violence means. The book is a little tricky to access since Anthony Burgess invented a whole language Alex and his acolytes used. Still, it is undoubtedly one of the most outstanding of his time, just like the film directed by Stanley Kubrick in 1971. 2021-readings british-literature e-3 ...more 191 likes Like Comment Jonathan Ashleigh Author 1 book 130 followers November 12, 2016 This book was sweet. The way russian was used to show the distopian future was one of the coolest literary devices I have seen. Because I was so enthralled by it, I often read parts more than once to make sure I was getting the meaning right. Everyone should read this book, and then read it again to make sure they got it. favorites recent 187 likes Like Comment Guille 841 reviews 2,194 followers June 28, 2020 Tan buena como la película que es una adaptación fidelísima de la novela... si exceptuamos el famoso capítulo 21 que tan necesario le era al autor como prescindible nos parece a Kubrick y a mí. 189 likes Like Comment Anne 4,265 reviews 70k followers December 3, 2022 Hmmm. As far as an enjoyable reading experience goes, I'd say this one is the bottom of the barrel. It's hard to be inside the head of someone who is, for no apparent reason, just an absolutely evil piece of shit. Now, that's not to say this isn't a worthwhile read. However, I'm trying really hard to figure out what the point of this book was and coming up with a blank. Like, was there a moral to this story? I don't think so. The concept was an interesting one, though. A young psychopath volunteers to get rehabilitated to reduce his jail sentence, never for a moment thinking that it might work. And it doesn't. Not really. He's still a terrible person, but now when he contemplates anything violent, he gets physically ill. And the question we are left with is whether or not it would be right to force someone who enjoys raping women and brutalizing the elderly, or really anyone weaker than him, to undergo a form of torture therapy that would make him unable to commit violent acts in the future. I'm sure there are some people who will disagree with me, but I would say the answer to that is a fairly obvious duh . If you're not going to kill someone like this outright, which I am also fine with, then I see no problem with castrating their instincts to hurt other people. How is this a problem? It's not my problem for damn sure. Does it save their soul ? Doubtful. But I don't care about that sort of thing, as I feel everyone is responsible for their own soul or lack thereof. If there is an afterlife, I highly doubt there will be some sort of reckoning or punishment for evildoers. After all, they're only acting this way because of past trauma or some sort of chemical imbalance, right? So if something comes after this, it only makes sense that they'll probably get a second chance to be a decent person. And now I'm wandering into some kind of philosophical/religious territory better left alone. In the end, the powers that be feel that what they'd done to him wasn't right, as he had no free will and eventually wanted to kill himself. Everyone felt sorry for him and he was allowed to go back into society with his free will reinstated. Wow. This edition includes the controversial last chapter not published in the first edition and Burgess's introduction "A Clockwork Orange Resucked." <--was what mine said. Apparently, the US version was missing a part of the story. Burgess' originally wanted to show that people change as they get older, and that our young heathen is no different. You see in the final chapter that he doesn't find rape and murder as much fun as he used to and is now contemplating settling down with a nice girl and staying in on Friday nights. Oh. Um. What? If we're supposed to take that literally, it just makes zero sense. Most of us got into a bit of mischief when we were teenagers. But I can honestly say that I never found attacking people for the hell of it part of my good times. And I don't think most people do. Something is desperately wrong with you if that's the way you spend your Saturday afternoon, and getting older isn't magically going to fix it. Now, if this is simply a metaphor for growing up, growing older, and becoming more responsible? It's maybe the worst one I've ever heard. This was a weird-ass book, and I'm not sure it was actually very good. There's no real plot as you're just following along for a fairly graphic ride of torture, rape, and brutalization that ends with a very weak conclusion. The fact that you need to learn an entirely new set of slang to translate this book is only a small annoyance in the grand scheme of things, but it was still an epic irritation to me while I was listening to it. On the flip side, I can see why this is such a cult classic. There's a lot of shock value to almost every page that holds up even now. The gleeful way he describes drugging and raping the tween girls is something that will stick with me for a while. Tom Hollander - Narrator Publisher: HarperAudio Edition: Unabridged Awards: Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults Audie Award Nominee Listen Up Award audio classics dystopian ...more 188 likes 20 comments Like Comment Rebecca 341 reviews 410 followers March 19, 2024 ‘If he can only perform good or only perform evil, then he is a clockwork orange—meaning that he has the appearance of an organism lovely with colour and juice but is in fact only a clockwork toy to be wound up by God or the Devil.’’ Anthony Burgess's groundbreaking novel, A Clockwork Orange, is a haunting and unforgettable exploration of morality, free will, and the nature of violence. Set in a dystopian future, the story follows Alex, a charismatic but deeply disturbed young man who leads a gang of thugs in a campaign of senseless violence and chaos. Burgess's writing is both brilliant and disturbing, vividly conveying the horrors of Alex's world. The novel's unique and unsettling language, "Nadsat," adds to its unsettling atmosphere, further alienating the reader from the familiar and creating a sense of uneasy detachment. ‘Then, brothers, it came. Oh, bliss, bliss and heaven. I lay all nagoy to the ceiling, my gulliver on my rookers on the pillow, glazzies closed, rot open in bliss, slooshying the sluice of lovely sounds. Oh, it was gorgeousness and gorgeosity made flesh.’ After Alex is captured, he undergoes a controversial experimental treatment called aversion therapy, which aims to cure him of his violent impulses. However, this treatment raises profound ethical questions about whether it is right to force someone to become good. Burgess explores these themes with unflinching honesty, challenging the reader to confront the darkness that lurks within us all. Alex's journey becomes a chilling tale about the dangers of totalitarianism and the importance of preserving our own humanity, even in the most extreme of circumstances. Yes, a Clockwork Orange is a difficult read and at times deeply disturbing, but it is also an undeniable masterpiece that forces us to confront our own prejudices and fears. I Highly Recommend. 2023 dystopian horror ...more 186 likes 16 comments Like Comment Adina 1,056 reviews 4,318 followers Read May 24, 2024 Nope, sorry, I cannot go on. DNF after the 1st chapter. I read and enjoyed books in Patois and with different accents but I give up trying to understand this book. The invented words were so annoying that I wanted to through my Kindle out of the window. 1001 british classics ...more 179 likes Like Comment Jon Nakapalau 5,486 reviews 825 followers March 14, 2024 One of my favorite books of all time...but be warned that the ending is different than the ending of Stanley Kubrick's movie (also a classic). Truth be told I prefer the movie ending...but the overall message is the same: when a generation of vipers slithers free who provided the nest they were spawned in? To me this book is the perfect example of how the SA (Sturmabteilung) probably formed: groups of disassociated young men forming 'packs' to roam the city. classics crime favorites ...more 170 likes Like Comment Mark Lawrence Author 73 books 53.5k followers April 7, 2024 I read this a great deal of time ago. Before a fair number of those reading this review were born. And the book itself was written before I was born - though not by very many years. The intervening decades mean that this will be a somewhat vague accounting of the book's merits (in my eyes). It certainly made an impression on me, and the main character, Alex DeLarge, was the inspiration (at least in terms of a number of traits) for the main character in my debut novel, Prince of Thorns - both Alex and Jorg are very young, amoral, violent, and possessed of a certain degree of charm and intelligence. A Clockwork Orange is, in my estimation, an observation (rather than study) of a phenomenon that is complicated in some ways and simple in others, and mispresented in a whole variety of manners by two-dimensional takes on it. Namely the nature of teenage rebellion (at the sharpest end where it shades into what we would commonly call 'evil') and how society interacts with it, seeking both to curb and cure it, and looks at that interaction both in terms of the damage wrought (in this case violent attacks including rape), the punitive measures taken (prison), the 'treatment' (in this futuristic world (from a 1960s perspective) this comes through both religion and a rather harrowing aversion therapy), the politics, and the final outcome. The book's delivered in the first person through Alex's point of view with heavy doses of an invented street slang, an argot cobbled together with east European words IIRC. Alex is honest about his dishonesty, almost comical in his semi-tongue in cheek self-pity, and an engaging voice despite his many vile crimes. One of the book's most interesting (to me) conclusions (I'll call it a conclusion because it's the final note, it's not delivered as a sermon) - is that what mellows our Alex into someone who might eventually be a reasonable person and might live up to the promise of his obvious intelligence and verbal skills, is simply time. He grows up. He casts his wickedness as belonging to the half-child, half-man that he was. The attempts to punish him, cure him, and rehabilitate him weren't significant. And that's an interesting question at least - at what age does the stain of a person's deeds start to become permanent? We would probably not condemn a 40 year old man because when he was 2 he pushed his 1 year old brother into a fire to see what would happen. If we move that 40 down, and that 2 up ... where does it change. Is there an age at which Alex's crimes should not dog the rest of his life, and if so what is it? And by making his crimes so terrible, Burgess ups the stakes on that question. Join my Patreon Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes .. 178 likes Like Comment Zain 1,617 reviews 196 followers April 4, 2024 The Clockwork Wars! I read this book a long time ago, but I still remember the chaos and horror of the game. Being able to play the game without a script gets you out of danger of getting squashed like a bug. The problem with the script is that the characters are all very similar in their predilection for violence. Thanks for reading. Four stars. 💫💫💫💫 british classic literature 166 likes Like Comment J.L. Sutton 666 reviews 1,086 followers May 21, 2018 Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange is a fantastic, thought-provoking and immersive read! Don’t be put off by the invented slang. It comes very easily once you begin reading, and adds to the experience. Besides recommending this book, I do have a final thought concerning chapter 21, the chapter which was left out of the published American edition of the novel as well as the iconic film by Stanley Kubrick. I understand Burgess’s desire to show change in his young anti-hero, Alex; however, the transformation in this final chapter defies believability. It’s not that dramatic change is impossible. Rather, forcing this to happen in one chapter cheapens it and makes it feel like an afterthought. It also falls flat. Otherwise, though, I found A Clockwork Orange an incredibly well-crafted and engaging story. 4.5 Stars. 139 likes Like Comment Lisa 1,066 reviews 3,311 followers July 27, 2019 "It's funny how the colors of the real world only seem really real when you watch them on a screen." There are these dystopian visionary books that slowly but steadily move from speculative fiction into the field of painfully realistic portrayals of life as we know and suffer it. Huxley, Orwell and Atwood all saw our ordeal coming, and they created the mood and terror for our era long before we could follow their tracks in the daily news spit out in vicious bits and pieces. Recently a retired teacher said to me that nobody could have predicted the generation of students we have to deal with today, who float above and beyond the rules that we try to convey to them: be it orthography, vocabulary, democratic processes, newsworthiness of information, priorities for action and life planning or just fundamental rules of polite communication between human beings of equal dignity - they pick and choose what suits them and laugh in our faces if we suggest there is a common agreement on any kind of behaviour. For every example we offer, they find a counterargument within a click-second on the phone, and the question of ethical guidelines morphs into whether or not we have the right to make any choices at all for these adolescents that they don't feel like agreeing to themselves, based on their current predilections. And I heard myself replying to the older colleague that Anthony Burgess saw it coming in the 60s, and that the question was as hard to answer back then as it is now. Can we actually FORCE students to embrace democracy if they are naturally drawn to charismatic populists? Can we TEACH them critical thinking skills without the imperative and normative value system that turns them into clockwork oranges rather than human beings with a free will and a free choice? How do human beings compete with their own technological achievements, namely the universal attractiveness of instant internet gratification? How do human beings make choices in a society that offers everything at all hours? That is as difficult to handle as the complete choicelessness that is its opposite - but it is much more time-consuming! How do we deal with a generation that sets its own rules based on their idea of negotiable values, communicated in a shorthand pigeon language suitable for quick typing on small screens? How do we deal with their participation in the global online reality show that offers 24/7 opening hours for entertainment of all kinds? Just by the fact that we as teachers are representing a hierarchy we make ourselves impossible in the eyes of a youth whose only wish is to be free, to destroy in order to rise as Phoenix from the ashes. Who does not remember at some point thinking after a lecture of some kind, coming from a place of power: "And I thought to myself, Hell and blast you all, if all you bastards are on the side of Good then I'm glad I belong to the other shop." How do we deal with this on a global scale? The answer my friend, is vital to the survival of our species at this point... but blowing in the wind all the same, while the greying droogs are taking over the power in one country after the other, cheered on by a generation of new droogs who believe in the right to destroy what you see if that is what you like to do. "I like, therefore I do", the new credo for a youth that can't be bothered with philosophy. 1001-books-to-read-before-you-die 143 likes Like Comment Steven Godin 2,575 reviews 2,767 followers February 17, 2021 First time round I didn't really think that much of this. For three main reasons. 1. Despite this being something of an 'essential' read before you hit adulthood I wasn't much of a reader then. Maybe two or three books a year. What did I know? 2. I hadn't seen the film (this time around it made a massive difference having Kubrick's visionary masterpiece swirling around in my head). 3. I read a tatty old 70s copy of the novel that looked like it had crawled through a warzone before hiding in someone's underpants for the next 25 years. Discolored pages. Tiny faded text. Mucky. Smelly. Suspicious stains. Just not very nice. Yuck. Now this mint condition and ever so striking 50th anniversary edition found it's way to me - and it's the Dog's Bollocks! It really is. It's the sort of book that I want keep on my bookshelf with the cover facing outwards and not the spine. You know, like they sometimes do in the bookshops to draw your attention. The novel itself is without question a work of staggering originality. Sinister & unsettling. Provocative. Damn right addictive. I even couldn't help but read this with a glass of milk or two. And in Alex we have one of the 20th century's most memorable narrators. That slang language - a masterstoke! Basically a way to stand out from others, which creates a stark contrast between the different speech and mind-set of the adults. Not going to lie - this isn't the easiest of reads, as there is a lot of horrible and nasty goings on here, but it has to be noted that this isn't violence for just for sake of violence. If I wanted that then I'd watch the latest Rambo or something. In theory, it's not really the violence that seeps into your bones, but rather the apathetic view of Alex & co towards it, including their total lack of giving a toss for the age of their victims. Moreover, it was seriously disturbing to read of how their wickedness was simply born out of the common feelings of teenage boredom. Burgess is no fool, and he raises some very important ethical questions that didn't hit me before, such as whether it is better for a person to decide to be bad than to be forced to be good, and whether forcibly suppressing free will is acceptable. I'd say the conditioning methods (the so called 'Ludovico technique') in trying to cure Alex, was just as shocking to read as the brutal violence he and his droogs dished out. Looks like there is some great additional material included in this version, but I haven't got to it yet. For the novel alone it's got to be a five for me. Maybe the fact that I'm now fully distanced by nearly three decades from the youth here made it a better book for me? I don't know. Anyway, I'm just glad it came along again and blew me away. classic-literature dystopian favourites ...more 138 likes Like Comment Fernando 700 reviews 1,095 followers January 3, 2023 -¿Y ahora qué pasa, eh? Estábamos yo, Alex y mis tres drugos, Pete, Georgie y el Lerdo sentados en el bar lácteo Korova exprimiéndonos los rasudoques y decidiendo qué podríamos hacer esa noche, en un invierno oscuro, helado y bastardo aunque seco." El 2017 ha sido el año que dediqué en parte a leer varios clásicos y novelas contemporáneas que me faltaban, como “El guardián entre el centeno” de J.D. Salinger, “Robinson Crusoe” de Daniel Defoe, “El inspector” de Nikólai Gógol, “Crónica del pájaro que da cuerda al mundo” de Haruki Murakami, “La caída” de Albert Camus, “Resurrección” de Lev Tolstói, “Los viajes de Gulliver” de Jonathan Swift, “La piedra lunar” de Wilkie Collins y muy especialmente “Don Quijote de la Mancha” de Miguel de Cervantes y el “Finnegans Wake” de James Joyce. Ahora agrego esta icónica novela de Anthony Burgess. Debo confesar que me ha gustado mucho leerla. Ha sido un interesante viaje el de Alex por su agitados días de adolescencia. Me imagino lo que debe haber sido leer “La naranja mecánica” en 1962, un libro que anticipó el mundo violento de hoy en el 2017, de la explosión del punk nihilista que generaron bandas como “Sex Pistols” o “The Clash” en 1977 y toda la debacle de clases sociales que se vivió en Argentina a partir de finales de la década del ’70. Es que la estrella del libro no es Alex ni las andanzas con sus amigos ni el sistema contra el que quieren luchar. Es la violencia. Esa violencia que es parte inherente de todos los seres humanos, de la eterna lucha entre el bien y el mal, de los valores trastocados, perdidos, rechazados y también de aquellos individuos que no encajan en la sociedad, que son marginales, tal vez sin proponérselo y de cómo el sistema (llámese gobierno, sistema de educación o aparato jurídico) trata de convertir lo malo en bueno fallando en gran medida por no entender nunca el asunto. Pero la violencia alcanza no sólo a Alex, sino a todos los órdenes sociales y a toda escala. A sus amigos, que lo secundan en sus fechorías, a sus padres que no lo comprenden y terminan enemistándose con él, a los directivos de ese “Centro de recuperación” bastante dudoso y clandestino en el que cae y en donde desde el Estado pretenden recuperarlo y supuestamente transformarlo en un ciudadano reformado con el propósito de reinsertarlo en la sociedad. Claro que los métodos utilizados son tan violentos como los hábitos o naturaleza de Alex y los resultados llegan a ser desastrosos. El aparato de estado quiere arreglar a un individuo que según ellos está descarriado de la manera más inadecuada y cruel. Es como combatir fuego con fuego. Los capítulos en donde le proyectan las famosas películas y en el que él describe todas las palizas que le propinan, desde que lo detiene la policía y durante su paso por la cárcel me recuerda a las que sufre Winston, el personaje principal de “1984”, la mítica novela de George Orwell. Todo está impregnado de violencia. Los medios periodísticos y el accionar oportunista de ciertos políticos, que intentan utilizarlo como ejemplo para derrocar al gobierno. Todos quieren sacar rédito de Alex. Es más, las víctimas de sus ataques anteriores intentarán aplicar la misma violencia que recibieron, como buscando reparar lo que ya no pueden. Hay que destacar la manera en la que Alex (Burgess) narra lo que sucede en esta historia, pero lo que más asombra es la pasmosa naturalidad con la que describe los distintos actos de vandalismo, caos y destrucción en las calles de una semi distópica Inglaterra, donde este personaje tan especial se divierte a sus anchas con sus amigos. Están fuera de la ley, asaltan, roban, golpean, violan y matan y todo eso está dentro de la normalidad que viven; luego vuelven a sus casas e intentan hacer una vida normal. En el caso de Alex es por demás paradójico, puesto que su pasión es la música clásica. Escucha a su querido Ludwig van Beethoven o a Mozart o Bach. Esa música inmortal es su cable a tierra, conexión con el mundo real, aunque es lógico que algo no está bien. Podemos entender el estado de efervescencia que los años de adolescente producen en las personas pero en el caso de Alex eso va mucho más allá. Él es uno de esos personajes tan especiales en la literatura. Personajes que no encajan en ningún molde. Se puede citar algunos: Holden Cauldfield en “El guardián entre el centeno”, Mersault de “El extranjero” o Ignatius Reilly en “La conjura de los necios”. En Argentina podríamos incluir dos de Ernesto Sábato: Fernando Vidal Olmos, ese oscuro y lunático personaje de “Informe sobre ciegos” o Juan Pablo Castel, el asesino dostoievskiano de la novela “El túnel”. Esta novela choca también al lector desde el plano lingüístico, dado que Burgess crea el famoso vocabulario adolescente “nadsat”, una jerga o lunfardo en el que Alex y sus amigos reemplazas determinadas palabras o acciones por términos tomados del idioma ruso y aggiornados a su lenguaje. De esta manera, por dar algunos de ejemplos, "golová" significa cabeza, "tolchoco" , golpe, "litso" significa rostro y así sucesivamente para muchas otras palabras más. Confieso que al principio me costó un poco de esfuerzo retener todos estos términos (parecía un dejá-vú del Finnegans Wake cuando comencé a leer las primeras páginas), pero una vez que uno se acostumbra al vocabulario, la lectura se torna muy fluida. Desde el punto de vista del lenguaje es más que interesante, puesto que significa un desafío para el traductor llevar estos términos a su propio idioma. Para aquellos que aún no hayan leído esta novela, vaya una pequeña muestra de cómo es el lenguaje nadsat: "Tienes que comprender el tolchoco en la rota, Lerdo. Era la música. Me pongo besuño cuando un veco interfiere en el canto de una ptitsa. Ya entiendes." Cambiando los términos nadsat, la frase quedaría así: "Tienes que comprender el golpe en la boca, Lerdo. Era la música. Me pongo loco cuando un tipo interfiere en el canto de una chica. Ya entiendes." En el prólogo del libro y bajo recomendación de un lector de goodreads al cual le agradezco, porque dice que hay que leerlo al final ya que sin quererlo, Burgess genera el spoiler, el autor se queja en cierta medida en cómo le cambió cierto sentido a la lectura del libro en todo aquel que haya visto primero la película de Stanley Kubrick. Burgess nunca estuvo muy de acuerdo con eso, ya que él sostiene que escribió la novela dividiéndola exactamente en tres partes de 7 capítulos cada uno, o sea 21 (y explica que el sentido era que la suma diera 21, puesto que ese número corresponde a la mayoría de edad), pero los editores de la versión norteamericana, quitaron ese último capítulo ya que ese final es totalmente opuesto al del capítulo 6 de la edición británica. Aquí entramos en el gusto de cada lector, puesto que a unos les agradará más la primera forma y otros elegirán la segunda opción, la del famoso capítulo 21. Burgess escribió y eligió el suyo y le sobran los motivos para dicha elección. Kubrick, como era de esperar, termina la película exactamente igual a la versión americana. Yo me quedo con el capítulo 21, el de la edición original, entonces, cuando comencemos a discutir acerca de cuál es el mejor final, parodiaremos la primera frase de esta novela: "Y ahora qué pasa, ¿eh?" favorites 135 likes Like Comment Lisa of Troy 647 reviews 5,786 followers May 23, 2024 If you look up “bitter” in the dictionary, you will find a picture of Anthony Burgess. Between the US and UK, there are different versions of this book (not just a different cover). In the UK, there is an extra chapter, Chapter 21. In 1961, according to the author, he only agreed to cut the last chapter of the book in the US version because he needed money. He is still quite salty about this censoring. The UK ending is superior—the US ending is abrupt as it was never intended to be the final conclusion of the book. At the heart of this novel is a dystopia where in the future bad guy/ultra-violent criminal element Alex is reconditioned by the State to be good. This gloomy, little novel is also written in a futuristic (aka made-up language). Although the chapters are deceptively short, usually 4-6 pages, it took forever to get through because I kept looking up all of the new words. For example, in the first chapter, I wrote down 87 “made-up” words. There is an appendix on Wikipedia which is most helpful! A Clockwork Orange focuses a great deal on the idea is someone good if they are forced to be good. If you park your car at the store, when you return, do you want your car to still be there? Do you care why no one has stolen it so long as your car isn’t stolen? As interesting as this idea is, the preliminary question is do we really have choice to begin with. No. No. No. Hear me out. “Choice is an illusion.” - Blake Crouch in Summer Frost Let’s go in our way back machines to 600 years ago. Most people believed that the world was flat with the Earth at the center of the universe. Now in 2024, most people believe that the world is round and orbits the sun. Isn’t everyone A Clockwork Orange to a certain extent, a product of religion, government policies, social norms, parenting, Big Tech (algorithms), education and whittled down by economic pressures? While I enjoyed the philosophical musings, this dystopian wasn’t my favorite when compared against others from this genre ( 1984 , The Handmaid’s Tale ). The Green Light at the End of the Dock (How much I spent): Softcover Text - £8.99 at Waterstones Connect With Me! Blog Twitter BookTube Facebook Insta 149 likes 11 comments Like Comment MJ Nicholls 2,103 reviews 4,442 followers October 18, 2012 A favourite of my late teens, still a favourite now. The brutality of male blooming and the private patois of our teenhood . . . splattered across this brilliant moral satire, abundant in vibrant, bursting language and a structural perfection: Shakespearean, dammit. Goddamn Shakespearean! nadsat is second only to the language in Riddley Walker for a perfectly rendered invented language that is consistent within the novel’s own internal logic. This book is musical! This book sings, swings, cries and rages! Oh this book, this book! My first encounter with unbridled creativity, intelligence, elegance, thematic unity, this book made me weep for the future of poor sadistic Alex. Oh, he must grow up, he must ! But he doesn’t Oh Humble Skimmer, he doesn’t! His nadsat is in place up until his story ends, and all that cal , so Alex remains a perpetual teen, like the boring little shit in Salinger’s unambitious literary haemorrhage (I forget the title). This book, this book! Oh my droogies, oh my Bog . . . nothing hurts so much on your stomachs and your heads and your hearts as this book . . . except maybe having Earthly Powers dropped on your tootsies . . . !!! [collapse into gibberish] !!! novels penguin-classics sassysassenachs ...more 128 likes Like Comment Baba 3,774 reviews 1,177 followers June 26, 2022 Anthony Burgess' debatably modern classic is in my mind overshadowed by the Stanley Kubrick movie - although my recommendation is that you most definitely still read the book. Having seen the movie a number of times before reading this, the book had little impact on me and felt a bit dated, and dare I say boring at times! The speculative fiction core of this tale is pretty spot on and the issues Anthony Burgess raises are timeless. The questions in and around crime and punishment still test us all after a millennia of our existence. 4 out of 12 2006 read modernclassic spec-fi-i-guess 129 likes Like Comment Matthew 1,221 reviews 9,560 followers September 28, 2013 This book was real horrorshow, O my brothers. I suggest that all vecks should viddy it if they have a chance. 2013 at-home-reading classic ...more 120 likes 1 comment Like Comment Carol 1,370 reviews 2,270 followers August 11, 2019 Let's begin with the Penguin book cover.... Too cool for words! And the novel.... It's DARK. While slow going at first, it didn't take long to get the drift of the slang, nadsat talk ....all the teens use it, but I recommend staying with it without long interruption once you start. "It's a stinking world because it lets the young get on to the old like you done, and there's no law nor order no more. I'm not one bit scared of you, my boyos, because I'm too drunk to feel the pain if you hit me and if you kill me I'll be glad to be dead." . So they "cracked into him lovely" and went on their way. Fifteen year old Alex and his 'droogs' Georgie, Pete and Dim wreak havoc throughout this "horrorshow" of ultra-violence in this 1962 classic. To Alex, everything is a "real horrorshow" something or other....as you will see. And it's a wicked new world as the boys don their masks, light their 'cancers' and set out about stealing, maiming and gang raping....not to mention murdering without a care in the world. No one is safe....not grandma with her house full of cats (go 'pusspots') or little girls in the music store. (oh my) Even Alex's Post-Corrective Advisor has had enough and gives warning that a reckoning is due, but Alex knows he has the old baboochkas...."good old girls" as cover. And his parents, they're oblivious....don't go out much, too many hooligans on the street. Ha! "Everybody knows little Alex and his 'droogs'. Quite a famous young boy our Alex has become." But a power struggle to stay "real horrorshow" leader causes strife within the ranks forcing Alex to put BIG Dim in his place, then....O my brothers....traitorous 'droogs'. Alex suffers thru 'viddies' for over a fortnight while in lock-up treatment, but nothing was so satisfying as when we see him experience payback. What goes around, comes around, hehehe. As filthy dark and horrible as some of the actions are within these pages, believe it or not, it was almost comical because of the slang talk, even the worst of the worst, and I can't even believe I'm saying that. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. What a crazy, surprising read! Guess I need to 'viddie' the movie now too. UPDATE: August 11, 2019 - As for the movie, it follows the story as written with all the ultra-violence, but no bloody gore, the most horrid parts projected in fast-forward mode like a silent movie....and with music. The costumes of the actors are a riot especially Alex's mother....and, of course, the 'droogs'. SO CRAZY!!! classics cultural-england dark ...more 104 likes Like Comment Reading Corner 88 reviews 113 followers February 14, 2016 This is a dark, compelling read with massive amounts of violent acts and imagery that run throughout the novel. They are definitely vividly described but in one way the violence is slightly censored with the use of the nadsat language, a language teenagers use in the novel. The book doesn't promote violence but instead explores the idea of violence entwined with youth and the morality of free will. The nadsat language is a little confusing and irritating at the start but with the help of an online reference I quickly remembered what meant what and at times it was easy to decipher the word. The nadsat language quickly grew on me and enriched the narrative of Alex, an aggressive, vicious 15 year old boy who enjoys beating, raping, robbing and killing or any other criminal activity. I enjoyed his narrative as he continuously addresses the reader "O, my brothers," his narrative is interesting as he is a complex character as he is incredibly brutal but is also intellectual as he greatly appreciates classical music such as Beethoven's ninth symphony. His character takes intriguing turns especially at the end when he goes through a drastic change. This book is definitely one of my favourites as the nadsat language immerses you into the dystopian world and actually makes you think more about what is being said. The story is full of surprises and twists with riveting concepts like whether it is better to choose to live a terrible life full of heinous crimes or forced to be good and abide by the law. This book makes you question society and moral instinct and aids you in fully understanding what is being said with its unique language. classics favourites 98 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 20,998 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 289 quotes 136 discussions 31 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Buy on Amazon Rate this book Sal and Gabi #1 Sal and Gabi Break the Universe Carlos Hernandez 4.18 6,675 ratings 1,250 reviews Want to read Buy on Amazon Rate this book How did a raw chicken get inside Yasmany's locker? When Sal Vidon meets Gabi Real for the first time, it isn't under the best of circumstances. Sal is in the principal's office for the third time in three days, and it's still the first week of school. Gabi, student council president and editor of the school paper, is there to support her friend Yasmany, who just picked a fight with Sal. She is determined to prove that somehow, Sal planted a raw chicken in Yasmany's locker, even though nobody saw him do it and the bloody poultry has since mysteriously disappeared. Sal prides himself on being an excellent magician, but for this sleight of hand, he relied on a talent no one would guess . . . except maybe Gabi, whose sharp eyes never miss a trick. When Gabi learns that he's capable of conjuring things much bigger than a chicken--including his dead mother--and she takes it all in stride, Sal knows that she is someone he can work with. There's only one slight problem: their manipulation of time and space could put the entire universe at risk. A sassy entropy sweeper, a documentary about wedgies, a principal who wears a Venetian bauta mask, and heaping platefuls of Cuban food are just some of the delights that await in this mind-blowing novel gift-wrapped in love and laughter. Genres Middle Grade Fantasy Science Fiction Mythology Fiction Humor Adventure ...more 382 pages, ebook First published March 5, 2019 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Carlos Hernandez 44 books 256 followers SFF writer, English prof. and game designer/enthusiast. Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.18 6,675 ratings 1,250 reviews 5 stars 2,888 (43%) 4 stars 2,444 (36%) 3 stars 1,081 (16%) 2 stars 200 (2%) 1 star 62 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,250 reviews Rick Riordan Author 252 books 428k followers January 30, 2019 Sal and Gabi’s Excellent Universe-Destroying Adventure You know how I can tell when a book is great? When I can’t even describe it to you without ruining the marvelous surprises. I mean . . . I could try to explain why Gabi’s father is called Lightning Dad, or why Sal’s teacher Dr. Doctorpants dresses like a gumball machine, or even why Sal’s physicist father and his not-quite-human assistant Bonita are building a remembranation machine in the living room. But you’d never believe me. You’d accuse me of making up cacaseca. You definitely wouldn’t believe me if I told you how that dead chicken got in Yasmany’s locker. Was it sleight-of-hand? Was it actual magic? Was it, oh, I don’t know . . . something scarier? Something that might rip apart the universe and cause a cosmic mess so big even a super custodian like Mr. Milagros can’t clean up? You’ll just have to dive into the story and find out for yourself. You’re about to meet Sal Vidón. He’s recently moved to from Connecticut to Miami with his dad and American Stepmom because . . . well, let’s just say things got complicated when Sal’s mom, his real mom, changed from Mami Viva to Mami Muerta. It’s never easy to switch schools, even if Culeco Academy of the Arts seems much cooler than his old school. Sal gets to study for his dream job: becoming the world’s greatest magician, while his classmates are all dancers, musicians, actors, costume designers and even a film director creating a cinematic masterpiece on the history of wedgies. Unfortunately, Sal’s problems did not stop when he moved from Connecticut. He still has to monitor his diabetes with his private med kit and his emergency pack of Skittles. He’s been to the principal’s office every day for things that totally were not his fault. His classmates look at him strangely, like they’re afraid he might be a brujo. Then there’s Gabi Reál -- student council president, editor of the school paper – whom Sal either finds fascinating or wants to run away from at lightspeed. He’s not sure yet. All he does know: Gabi seems to suspect about Sal’s deepest, darkest secrets. She is determined to find out more about this strange new kid who is able to pull impossible tricks. Can Sal and Gabi trust each other? They’ll have to figure that out if they want to survive the year without, you know, ruining their reputations at school and wrecking the space-time continuum. Welcome to Culeco Academy -- a world only Carlos Hernandez could dream up! I can’t reveal all its secrets, not without ruining the fun. But one thing I can promise you: After reading about Sal and Gabi’s marvelous universe, you’re going to want to move there! 415 likes Like Comment Zoë 328 reviews 65.2k followers Read November 27, 2020 [Book #4 for my grad school YA class: a sci-fi & middle grade book] 152 likes Like Comment megs_bookrack 1,805 reviews 12.2k followers August 12, 2023 Sal Vidon is a talented magician and proud of it! Unfortunately, he also happens to be a magician who just lost his Mami, had to move to a new school and is having a hard time fitting in. Being the new kid in school can be tough and Sal quickly finds himself on the wrong side of a notorious bully, Yasmany. During a confrontation, Sal performs his trickiest of tricks yet. He makes a raw chicken appear in Yasmany's locker! Such antics end up having the opposite effect he was hoping for however, when the other kids begin accusing him of being a brujo. Now they're all afraid of him. Of him! Sal Vidon, the kindest, most gentlest human in the world. While pleading his case in the Principal's office, again, Sal meets Gabi Real for the first time. Gabi swoops in like a hurricane. Smart, determined and funny, Sal thinks, this is somebody I can work with . Over the course of the story, Sal and Gabi's relationship grows as they reveal more about themselves to each other and come to rely on one another for support. Sal is still struggling with the grief of losing his Mami and Gabi has an infant brother fighting for his life at a local NICU. I was so impressed with this book. The writing style is fantastic, very fluid and easy to read. I LOVED the characters. Sal is one of the sweetest characters in any book EVER and Gabi is a true force to be reckoned with! As a Middle Grade novel, I feel that this is an excellent introduction to the science-fiction genre, as well, exploring the idea of multiple dimensions and the travel between them. I loved that aspect of the story and thought it was really well done. There were just enough scifi elements to make it that type of story without becoming overwhelming for readers who may be new to the genre. My favorite aspect of this story however, was definitely the humor !! I was laughing out loud from the very beginning and it never let up. The characters are so witty and fun. Very well done by Hernandez. Another piece of this I really appreciated was the presence of such strong adult characters. I feel like often in YA or Middle Grade stories, the adults are either absent, or not very nice people. Not the case here. The adults were great, supportive influences in the kid's lives and that was nice to see. I think it sets a good example, not just for young readers, but for the adults reading as well. This being said, even though this is a Middle Grade book, and I am far from that age group, this has been one of my most enjoyable reads of the year. Keep in mind people, there is no age limit on fun! Everyone needs to read this. Go ahead, now... Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney Book Group and Rick Riordan Presents , for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity and was truly impressed with this one! arcs-read 120 likes Like Comment Nataliya 856 reviews 14.2k followers November 10, 2020 I think 9-year-old me would have loved this book. My 4x older self is much too old and cynical and irritable for it. “The real way to deal with a bully is to stick a raw chicken in their locker.” Because you really should read about precocious, quirky, overly energetic and enthusiastic kids when you are their age (and I read it only for completist sake in my Hugo-Nebula nominees reading project this year). As an adult, you get an annoying migraine from this hurricane of preteen precociousness and the desire to hide in a quiet room from all the overly enthusiastic and extra-witty preteen banter. (And if I never hear kids referring to everything as “sandwich this” and “sandwich that”, I’ll die happy.) “My whole family had had to move out of our house in Connecticut because of all the weird stuff that kept emerging from another universe (PS: Unicorns are real, and they are just as unhousebroken as regular horses), but like I said, it was only that one time.” Also, the sheer abundance of weird disjointed plotlines all squished together made my head hurt. Magic + parallel universes + possibly evil alternate selves + resurrection of dead mothers + baby brother in NICU + domestic violence + preteen attraction + robot parents + a girl who without proper distractions will grow up to be a terrifying dictator + diabetes + sentient AI... There are certainly more things that escape me now, and they are all stirred into a swirling mix of stuff that I can’t even bother to think about since so many of them being superficial and inconsequential and ultimately lackluster. Honestly, this book should have been half of its length with half of the plotlines (or even fewer) and it would have been more cohesive and more enjoyable. Do you see the book cover with all the super-bright neon color flashy abundance? That’s *exactly* how this book feels. Also, despite the interesting title, no universes were harmed in the making of this story. Not even a tiniest bit of the universe is broken. There may be a gentle suggestion that ripping holes in the fabric of universe may eventually be a bad idea, but there is never any danger or urgency or anything that suggests that anything besides a fun and safe kids adventure is at stake. Plus, can I vote Gabi to be one of the pushiest and the most annoying characters I’ve ever read about? I think she’s supposed to be smart and driven and self-assured, but what I got was the annoyingly disturbing image of a young wannabe dictator in the making. 2 stars from my adult self. —————— My Hugo and Nebula Awards Reading Project 2020: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... 2020-reads lodestar-and-andre-norton-awards 54 likes Like Comment Renata 2,668 reviews 419 followers November 27, 2018 I LOVED this book. So funny, clever, and moving with a hugely lovable cast of diverse characters. arc fantasy fiction ...more 31 likes Like Comment Gavin Hetherington 681 reviews 6,967 followers May 24, 2020 I absolutely loved Sal and Gabi, I just wish they, I dunno... actually broke the universe? Sal is a 'magician', he can rip a hole in the universe and pluck something out from another universe, like a dead chicken to put in his bully's locker. Gabi is a girl at school who seems to know everything about everyone, and when Sal comes into her life, she becomes intrigued that she has found someone who mystifies her. We explore these characters and their lives with some very, very interesting and surprising results. This is way more contemporary with sci-fi elements, as someone pointed out to me when I read this on an Instagram live, and I wholeheartedly agree. There were some very interesting developments with Sal's ability and what he's able to do with them, but beyond that, this is mainly set at middle school with the characters taking centre stage. Nothing wrong with that since I absolutely loved the characters. Sal is actually hilarious and so charismatic and makes for an excellent narrator. I loved his dynamic with Gabi and how they bounced off each other - she can really hold her own against him. They both have a lot of things they're going through - and have gone through - so it was beautiful to see their friendship grow throughout. But I felt the title was extremely misleading due to the fact there is no true breaking of the universe. If I'd known that going in, I wouldn't have gone through this book just waiting for when it was going to happen. There are things Sal and Gabi does that has some consequence, and there are rules for the universes to stay balanced, but there's no big breaking of it. So, maybe it happens in the sequel? I wouldn't consider this a spoiler because I would have wanted to know going in to this that the universe doesn't break. Maybe then it would have curbed my disappointment somewhat. But still, 4/5 because the characters kept me reading til the very end and I look forward to picking up the sequel. 2020-reads middle-grade 24 likes Like Comment Jessie_Book 151 reviews November 28, 2018 I've read a few of the other Rick Riordan Presents books but I never finished them. They felt like diet Rick Riordan and like they didn't stand on their own all that well. This book I think dodged that problem effortlessly. It has science instead of magic and for the most part it felt like it was doing its own thing. Sal and Gabi are such a delight to read. I think that they are the most respectful and well mannered thirteen year olds I have ever read. While I was reading it I kept wishing that I was more like them when I was that age. But alas that can never be. But at least this book can be a guide for younger readers. I honestly think that Sal and Gabi are great role models that anyone should strive to be like. This book also cracked me up. I was reading it on a long car ride with my family and I think about drove them half mad. Every few of minutes I would giggle or just burst out laughing. I'm one of those people who when the days get shorter and colder I go into a slump. I get sad and kind of moody. This book was the first thing to make me laugh in a while and I cant wait for it to come out so I can share it with more people! 14 likes Like Comment Drew's ambitious reading 778 reviews August 6, 2020 I read this book around august of 2019 last year and loved it. And now I re-read the book in august 2020 and loved it better than the first time I read it! My rating from a 4 stars to a 5 stars. I can't wait to read the sequel now!(: 2019-reads audiobook library-books ...more 23 likes Like Comment Shelby M. (Read and Find Out) 638 reviews 129 followers August 23, 2020 Trigger warnings: References to child abuse, grief related to loss of parent Overall rating: 4.5 stars Style/writing: 4.5 stars Themes: 5 stars Characters: 5 stars Plot: 4.5 stars Worldbuilding: 4 stars best-of-the-best bipoc-author booktubesff-awards-2020 ...more 14 likes Like Comment Olivia (Stories For Coffee) 652 reviews 6,297 followers Read September 8, 2019 A cute middle grade read full of quirky characters and moments. At times it dragged on, but the audiobook narrator told this story wonderfully and really brought it to life. audiobook 12 likes Like Comment jocelyn 424 reviews 241 followers November 23, 2019 This book is a perfect example of why I will be screaming about the Rick Riordan Presents imprint until the end of time. I love it when adults remember to behave themselves. They forget all the time, you know. Hard to blame them, though. They haven't been kids in so long. Hernandez has created a book that is fun, accessible, and exciting like so many other middle grade stories, but the addition of it being ownvoices for the Cuban-American representation, as well as showing (from what I can tell from diabetic reviewers) a realistic depiction of someone with type 1 diabetes, makes it fresh and necessary for its modern audience. There is so much here about family, grief and loss, and of course, the idea of multiverses, that is sure to work for middle readers. Not to mention that every character in this book is complex but most especially our main two protagonists. On the one hand you have Sal, a quick-witted, magician-in-training who can literally open the doors to other universes and swap things out. He, his father, and step mother, recently moved to Miami. And while he is still dealing with the what life looks like without his mother - who died a few years before - the relationship between him and American Stepmom was all sorts of heart warming. And on the other there's Gabi, a smart young feminist who's already thinking about law school. She's surrounded by a whole host of paternal figures and her huge family is dealing with their own difficulties with her younger brother in NICU. Throughout this story these two meet, strike up a friendship, and, well... break the universe. It turns out that Sal's opening these doors isn't as clean as he originally thought. There are these little things called calamitrons and a big portion of them are left behind after Sal accidentally (and not for the first time) brings back his mother, or as he refers to her, Mami Muerta. I liked the idea that some of Mami's particles were still floating around in our house. She wasn't all the way gone. I never wanted Mami to be all the way gone. There's a good amount of serious issues handled here, but I think it's really tempered by both the tone of the story, and also just the amount of wholesome goodness. There is so much support here - both in Sal and Gabi's families - and the love is overflowing. It's a good reminder that even though things might not always be great, you always have people you can count on. I love Sal and Gabi and their dynamic. I love what they teach each other. I love the way they have grown so much already. And I am absolutely craving book two. arcs latinx magic-witchcraft ...more 11 likes Like Comment Books on Stereo 1,371 reviews 173 followers March 15, 2019 Sal and Gabi are delightfully charming, but are, unfortunately, trapped in a lackluster plot. 11 likes Like Comment Kiera 428 reviews 115 followers April 8, 2019 not quite as expected RTC fantasy 9 likes Like Comment Sam I AMNreader 1,443 reviews 311 followers June 28, 2019 Reco for 10+ Hilarious, but with a lot of real issues. Heavens: ETA, the kids are dealing with both paranormal and real-life type issues. Characters are so lovable. 9 likes Like Comment Lata 4,118 reviews 230 followers September 1, 2020 4.5 stars . This was terrific! Full of humour, great observations and characterization, Carlos Hernandez gives us Sal and Gabi, two students. Sal is new at his school, and has to get used to his teachers and classmates. He and his family moved to Miami after he lost his mother to illness, and his father's remarriage. There's no unpleasant drama here, as everyone in the family loves and cares about each other. Sal also has Type 1 diabetes, so has to constantly monitor what he injests. After Sal is bullied by a fellow student, he meets meets Gabi, and she's both brilliant and hilarious. She's also intense, curious, has a strong sense of right and wrong, and has myriad interests, and, as Sal later finds out, an interesting family. This story made me happy; Sal is funny, and Gabi's, well, everything about her made me love her. This could just have been a story about Sal's introduction to a new school, his love of magic, and his budding friendship with Gabi. Hernandez also includes physics, multiverses, artificial intelligences, and if that weren't enough, deals with some pretty serious topics over the course of the this story: death of a parent, dealing with the ill health of a family member, type 1 diabetes, child abuse, bullying, starting over in a new town and making new relationships, unconventional familial relationships, and growing up. I love the world Carlos Hernandez has created here; Sal and Gabi are wonderful characters, and I love how they become friends, and how their families become friends. I also absolutely loved how comfortable Sal is in expressing his feelings, and in taking responsibility for his actions. And something that I really appreciated was how the adults in these two people's lives are caring, funny, loving, and how the kids and parents really love and rely on each other. By the end of the story, we have a community with Sal and Gabi at the centre, with their parents and teachers around them, caring, supporting, and helping them grow. bipoc-actor bipoc-author kids-and-ya ...more 9 likes Like Comment Cory Marie 261 reviews 102 followers April 16, 2020 I’m so ecstatic for the multitudes of kids who will get to experience stories like this. Rick Riordan Presents books are so incredibly important and fun. Sal and Gabi is not about any sort of mythology but it is chalk full of culture, and is surprisingly very deep and heartfelt. 8 likes Like Comment Alyshondra 261 reviews 7 followers November 1, 2018 THIS BOOOOOOK. I just can not even with this book. It's one of my very favorite books I've read all year. Pretty much everyone I know will be getting this as a gift as soon as it comes out, kids and adults. It was so incredibly delightful. I kept trying to savor it, to enjoy it and have it simmering in the back of my mind all day, but last night I hit the 3/4 mark and just stayed up late finishing it. I woke up my partner, laughing so hard that the bed shook. I also cried. I can NOT BELIEVE how many emotions this book made me feel. Favorite quotes: “You learn as you grow up that everybody needs help. The sooner you ask the people you love to lend you a hand, the easier life becomes. That’s the secret. Trust in the people who love you. We can all figure it out together.” "Abracadabra, chicken plucker" "Sometimes, when it's too hard, when it hurts too much, only silliness can save us." "When that day comes, it comes. Till then, rejoice in life, time and again." Featured in this book: How to deal with bullies So much amazing Cuban food that I want in my mouth One Thousand Dads A diabetic protagonist Excellent Feminist shirts and very very cool barrettes So many dad puns How To Meditate in a very useful way a knock-your-socks-off Everyman play Grownups who are trying their best and are human, and show emotions WHERE was this school when I was growing up, I want it, I'll teach or janitor or whatever now, lemme in. The Sweetest Baby A Snarky AI So much snark, all the snark. This is the trouble* with getting ARCs - I'm SO EXCITED for book two, but book one isn't even out yet!! I'm giving this to my 7yo as soon as he gets home from school, and I can't wait to talk to him about it. Carlos Hernandez has captured so much of what I love. Yes, yes, yes. More please. read-in-2018 8 likes Like Comment CW ✨ 708 reviews 1,807 followers October 13, 2020 This is, hands down, my favourite book of 2020. I had the best fun reading this book and everyone needs to read this. - Follows Sal, a Cuban-American and diabetic boy, who magically places a dead chicken in his classmate's locker. While at the principal office, in comes Gabi, a Cuban-American girl who barges in and announces herself as the bully's lawyer. From there, the two kindle a friendship - and chaos ensues. - I can't even really describe what this book is about - and I mean that in a good way. I mean, it's about friendship, it's about family, it's about grappling with grief, and it's about parallel universes. This book throws you into the deep end (or, Sal's third day in his new school) and takes you for a wild ride. - This book is just incredibly clever and witty. I laughed SO MUCH reading this book - the humour is absolutely on point and I just. I laughed so much. This is also a book where the children are absolutely smarter than the adults, and it is glorious and hilarious. - While this book is, for the most part, light-hearted and feels so homey with so much Cuban culture and Cuban mothers who want to feed you, there are also some really gut-wrenching and emotional moments too. I loved this balance. - I just didn't want to leave Sal and Gabi and their shenanigans. I was so sad that this book was over - but excited that there's a sequel!! I can't WAIT. Trigger/content warning: needle mention (for insulin), death of loved one, grief of losing loved one, acute illness of young child, hospitalisation favourites 8 likes Like Comment Ilsen 249 reviews 73 followers May 21, 2020 5 stars!! This is such a heartwarming middle grade. I would say it’s more of a contemporary with a sci-fi twist. The characters are so fleshed out. And the Latinx Cuban rep!!! *chef’s kiss* I expected more adventure but I still love this school style setting that just had sci-fi antics and plenty of character development. I’m excited to read the next one!! backlist-challenge-2020 8 likes Like Comment Claire 890 reviews 102 followers May 14, 2019 ELEVEN HUNDRED STARS. I truly, truly loved this book. I want to read it again right now. There was honestly not a single thing I did not adore. It was funny and smart and had SO MUCH HEART. I super enjoyed THE ASSIMILATED CUBAN'S GUIDE TO QUANTUM SANTERIA a few years ago -- and rec'd it on a Geek Girl Con RA panel! -- but I'd never have guessed that Carlos Hernandez could make the leap to middle grade so beautifully. I just. I don't even know where to start with a review because I'm all just flailing limbs of delight. What was my favorite thing, even? Gabi's multiple dads, who are basically Flourite from Steven Universe? Gabi, the ultimate Hermione Granger fix-it? Almost every single adult? The school?? Sal's character growth and essential goodness despite sometimes being a thoughtless jerk? I can't possibly choose. I can't wait for the second one. bipoc-author bipoc-mc disability ...more 7 likes Like Comment Jessica 1,452 reviews September 16, 2019 1.5 stars Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC! This book was odd. Every time I felt like I had a handle on it, some new twist or new quirk got thrown in. I did like Sal & Gabi. They were clever and silly. However, I just didn’t really understand the purpose of the book or the story. I guess it taught a lesson. I guess it was humorous. I guess it was a fantasy and had creative elements. It just had too much of the fantasy elements where I thought-ok why is that in there? Like why have the portable machine AND the big machine in his house? I didn’t see much purpose for the big machine, honestly. )Im sure that seems confusing, but I’m trying not to give too much away and ruin the book for anyone who wants to read it.) I also can’t imagine any middle grade kids getting into this book and this story and sticking with it. There’s even a lot of Spanish that is not defined for you, which would be problematic for young readers. I did like that the main character was diabetic, but he kind of got on my nerves with it after a while, and I’m also a type 1 juvenile diabetic, so that’s saying something if I couldn’t stomach that about him. My 11 year-old will read just about anything, but I wouldn’t give him this book; I can’t see him getting anything out of it. I had to force myself to finish it. I am sure a lot of thought and creativity went into this book; I just couldn’t get into it and can’t think of anyone I’d recommend it to. 6 likes Like Comment Enne 718 reviews 111 followers July 19, 2020 5 stars Books like Sal and Gabi are the reason why I constantly keep coming back to middle-grade stories. This novel really reminded me that this age group has so much to offer. I absolutely adored everything in this book from the characters and their relationships, to the world, to the plot, and the writing style. And truly, I just had so much fun with this book. It was an absolute joy. I adored Sal right from page one. Carlos Hernandez does a really good job of nailing down Sal's voice right in the first chapter, which definitely played a role in my quickly becoming attached to him. He's now my emotional support middle-grade protagonist. He's just,,, so pure and all he wants is to be nice to people and show off his magic tricks and I love him!! with my entire heart!! His relationship with his parents is written so well and I love it so much??? Absolutely love seeing a healthy parent/child relationship in fiction!! Also, Sal, like many other characters in this book, is bilingual and I really loved the way that was written and incorporated!! I also really loved his friendship with Gabi. I feel like Sal and Gabi might as well be the definition of the phrase "opposites attract" and I think that's what made their friendship so compelling for me. The development of it also really surprised me because I really wasn't expecting the turns that Carlos Hernandez chose to take with their friendship. But that only made me appreciate it all the more. And of course, I absolutely adored Gabi herself. She's passionate and she's driven, but also her character is just very,,, 13-year old who is determined to excel at everything and I know this because I was one of them. But Gabi also cares deeply about her friends and her family and she doesn't let them forget it. I loved her friendship with Yasmany and I loved how clear it is that she cares for her family. Also, the fact that she has like fifty dads?? Absolutely iconic. I did get them a bit confused at first, but I found that I was able to adjust quickly. Another thing that really surprised me about this book was the fact that this book made me want to go back to middle school?? And like my middle school days were Bad, but?? This book somehow made me feel nostalgic for them. Anyways, Carlos Hernandez, what magic did you use?? I wish I could have gone to Sal and Gabi's school because it just seems like such a better middle school experience than mine?? Culeco academy is a magnet arts middle school and I just think the atmosphere of it all,,, made me incredibly happy. It is also filled with adults who actually care about the kids that they have to teach. (That's how you know this is a fiction book, lmao). Specifically, I really loved the character of Principal Torres because you can really tell that she cares about her job and the kids in her care and I think that's such an important thing to see. The world set up in this novel was absolutely fascinating! It's a light sci-fi that's set two minutes in the future, where regular people can possess technology such as self-driving cars and magical people like Sal can open holes into alternate universes. I really loved the way Sal's ability was developed and explored throughout the story and I can't wait to see where Hernandez takes it in book two! Last thing I want to talk about is the plot! While I did find that the pacing of the plot was a bit disjointed, I found that I didn't really care for the most part. It didn't really impact my enjoyment of the book that much. That said, I did really enjoy the climax of the story and I really loved the way the main conflict was resolved?? Also that cliff-hanger at the end really left me impatient to go into the next book. This is one that I can see myself talking about and recommending time and time again because I truly enjoyed every second of this reading experience. Cannot recommend this one enough!! Especially for those of y'all who love middle grade. 5-star age-range-middle-grade character-must-be-protected ...more 5 likes Like Comment Rashika (is tired) 976 reviews 713 followers April 11, 2019 Rick Riordan Presents is probably the only imprint I can say I want to read EVERY SINGLE BOOK FROM. I saw the synopsis mentioned a raw chicken inside a locker and was immediately sold. I WANTED IT and I READ IT and YEAH. I am not really sure if Sal and Gabi Break the Universe has mythology vibes??? But what I can say is that it is truly a work of art. There is a good chance I’ve said that about another book or two before but I don’t know how else to describe how truly well written this book is. Carlos Hernandez knows how to pace a book, he knows how to pull at your emotions and he knows just how to crack and build tension. There were so many times when I’d be teary eyed and a well placed joke would have me laughing my butt off. I don’t think I’ve read a book in a long time that actually made me laugh out loud but this book? THIS TRULY WONDERFUL BOOK DID. Sal Vidòn is an aspiring magician. He loves the thrill of pulling off complex tricks and entertaining people. He and his family recently moved to Miami and it’s his first week at the Culeco Academy of the Arts. Unsurprisingly, it isn’t off to a great start. One thing leads to another and somehow…a raw chicken finds its way into the locker of Yasmany- the kid who has been bugging Sal. Gabi Reál is… a lot of things. She is head of student council, editor of the school paper and occasionally plays lawyer whenever her friend Yasmany gets in trouble. She knows that whatever Sal might say, that raw chicken wasn’t just a magic trick. Something fishy is going on and she is here to unearth the truth. Of course, the truth is the furthest thing from what Gabi could have imagined and soon, Sal and Gabi find themselves investigating parallel universes and figuring out how they can minimize long-term consequences of looking into other universes. So, here is the thing, I personally found that Sal and Gabi Break the Universe wasn’t super plot-driven which is sort of what I went in expecting?? There are things happening but I noticed that the characters themselves were at the front and center of the story rather than adventures and such. I AM A PLOT PERSON But I wasn’t even really disappointed that there wasn’t as much of a plot because the characters themselves are so so well-written and well rounded. Sal has diabetes and lost a parent 5 years ago. He is still grieving his mother and yet he also has a positive relationship with his stepmother and his father. Gabi’s brother is in the NICU and might not survive. She is terrified for her brother but she is surrounded by her mother, many fathers and friends who lend her support when she needs it. Yasmany is not really a main character but he deals with abuse and is still able to form meaningful relationships and also find support. These characters are all so wonderful I absolutely cannot wait to see where their adventure will take them next. I DO HOPE that now that we have an incredibly strong grasp on these characters, we get more adventures into parallel universes and explore this near-futuristic world a bit more. e-arcs good-characters humor ...more 5 likes Like Comment Kacey 1,234 reviews 5 followers May 19, 2019 The best way I can describe this book is Cuban Wrinkle in Time, except not nearly as religious. It's pretty cute but very weird and honestly hard to follow. I'm trying to imagine what a middle schooler would think reading this. They would probably be a little entertained, but also bored. Here's the thing about this book: the universe-breaking part of the plot is never explained. Sal is narrating and he never talks about when he first discovered he could do this, and his scientist papi doesn't seem to want to know how his son got this power. Or if he does know, he doesn't discuss it with his son. All it takes for Sal to reach through the multiverse is to "relax". Like I said, very Wrinkle In Time-ish. Sal is an interesting narrator. I do like that he's emotionally mature enough to admit his mistakes immediately and isn't embarrassed about his feelings. I also like he has a good relationship with his papi and stepmother. I don't really like how he was never punished for anything. "Detention" at his school seems like more of a reward than a punishment and his parents are push-overs. He even steals things from people and there's no punishment for it. Also, it's really weird how the principal would discuss personal things with him and he would be present when another student is punished. I went to public school so I can't say how things are done in more private school settings, but it still feels weird and a broach on privacy. I feel like this story would've worked fine without the universe-breaking part, and the weirdness cranked down a LOT. A kid working through the loss of his mother and meeting another kid with a family member in NICU would've been fine on its own. If the universe-breaking was meant to be a part of the story, I wish it'd been a larger part. Like show some actual consequences for Sal constantly tearing holes in reality or something. Things didn't get nearly chaotic enough. I think middle school me would've either been bored or confused by this book. I think parts of it were charming-- like when it focused on the families-- and it touched on some important things like loss and grief and abusive households a little. I liked all the insights into Cuban culture. But I think the universe-breaking should've either been left out entirely or been more prominent. 5 likes Like Comment Cassandra Author 121 books 2,151 followers April 15, 2019 I will fight anyone who doesn't think this book is worthy of being praised from the rooftops, passed between friends like a rare secret, spoken of with great love in front of parents starved for new reading material to gift their children. Because this book is good. Because this book is subtle and sincere and smart but more than anything else, it does that thing that good media does: it cracks open the universe for its readers. Let me give you examples. This is a book about a kid who can tear open the space between worlds, reaching in to alternate timelines. This is a book with a step-mother hell-bent on ensuring that her step-son is loved and knows that he is loved and that she will never replace his biological mother. This is a book with complicated families. This is a book where the author slyly hints at things for children to become fascinated by: dance-jocks, the continents before they separated, cosplay, Terry Prachett. This is a book that quietly teaches you how to apologize, how to stand up for yourself, and how phobias work and why they should never be used against someone. This is a book with Good Lessons, wrapped up in writing so vivid that I startled when the narrator's voice spoke aloud in my head. This is Doug and As Told by Ginger and Hey! Arthur visiting Charlie Jane Anders' All The Birds in the Sky. ... where was i? It doesn't matter! The point is: this is a good book and you should devour it. 5 likes Like Comment Meag McHugh 623 reviews 3 followers March 2, 2019 I liked Sal and his voice in this story (learning a little bit about diabetes through him was interesting, and I found the sections where he is unpacking the grief of losing his mother to be the strongest in the book). But otherwise, this fell flat for me. For one, it really dragged. Things happen, but they’re not all that exciting. Most of the book is Sal saying smart aleck things or Gabi being a less tolerable version of Hermione from HP. But the thing that drove me the most crazy was that all of the logistics of the multiverses and rips in the universe and calimatrons and stuff felt really fuzzy. I didn’t quite understand what was going on half the time. The world-building felt really incomplete. juv-fiction scifi-fantasy 5 likes Like Comment Darla 3,902 reviews 885 followers February 15, 2019 This book just did not come together for me. From the title I imagined Sal and Gabi cavorting about the universe getting themselves into trouble and having to make things right. What I did not expect was Sal bringing back his versions of his dead mother and Gabi having numerous dads with a baby brother just one month old and in the NICU. So, although parts were entertaining I will pass on the sequel. Sorry, Rick Riordan! Thank you to Disney and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this new middle grade novel. 3 likes Like Comment BookishStitcher 1,256 reviews 47 followers June 27, 2021 4.5 stars This Rick Riordan presents book by Carlos Hernandez was an exceeding cute, fun, and heart-warming story of found families and friendship. In a Miami school for unique gifted kids the lives of several students entwine when they realize that just maybe by breaking the universe they can save what matters most to them. 5 likes Like Comment Laura Gardner 1,730 reviews 117 followers June 21, 2019 If I could give this (especially the audiobook) a million stars, then I would. Sooooo funny and also full of love! 5 likes Like Comment Stephanie 742 reviews 93 followers September 12, 2019 First book I’ve ever read where I was like “I don’t care about the magic, just tell me what they did at school today!” rick-riordan-presents 5 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,250 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 53 quotes 3 discussions 13 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Social Media and Your Brain: Web-Based Communication Is Changing How We Think and Express Ourselves by C.G. Prado | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $49.50 Rate this book Social Media and Your Brain: Web-Based Communication Is Changing How We Think and Express Ourselves C.G. Prado ( Editor ) 3.22 9 ratings 1 review Want to read Kindle $49.50 Rate this book The ubiquitous use of the Internet and social media is changing our society--in some ways, for the worse. Use of social media, the Internet, and other purely digital and less-personal communication methods are distorting the intellectual and social maturation of teens and preteens in particular--those among us who were born into and raised with Internet technology. People's ability to read facial expressions, interpret subtle differences in spoken intonation, and perceive body language is in significant decline due to the use of social media and the Internet largely replacing direct, face-to-face contact with other human beings. This book documents how changes in our daily behavior caused by the proliferation of social media are reshaping individuals' personalities and causing an evolution of the character of our society as a whole. Readers will understand how these important changes came about and how more connectivity all too often leads to more ignorance and less comprehension, and will consider solutions that could counter the negative effects of being "too connected, too often." 176 pages, Hardcover Published November 21, 2016 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author C.G. Prado 25 books 5 followers Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.22 9 ratings 1 review 5 stars 0 (0%) 4 stars 4 (44%) 3 stars 3 (33%) 2 stars 2 (22%) 1 star 0 (0%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 of 1 review Molly 591 reviews 29 followers October 14, 2022 My oldest kid was assigned this book to read for his media studies class in college. I had some spare time tonight, saw it on the floor, and ended up reading the whole thing in a single sitting (I did slightly skim a couple of the chapters). Overall, the material was familiar, but I really enjoyed the chapter on the effect on argument/academic discourse. I noted a couple of things: the association of social media use with “the young.” I have two teenagers myself and a 12 year old and NONE of them use the social media channels that this book laments about (indeed, they would fall into the “Facebook is for old people” camp). I think it is often convenient to assume or bemoan social media use as a plague of the young, but evidence (and personal experience) would indicate that it is increasingly a middle-aged problem. In my own household, my kids definitely play computer games—a LOT of them—and spend more time than I would personally like on screens playing games, but they do little in the way of social media (some Steam chat and Reddit is all). It is ME who struggles with social media overuse and I saw myself—and my friends—in this book’s evaluation of social media’s deleterious impact on critical thought, attention span, and capacity to sustain meaningful, deep relationships (instead becoming a sort of “low calorie” relational substitute or stand in). One minor critique or odd observation, perhaps due to single sitting reading or due to the fact that I, personally, have retained my capacity to concentrate deeply/analyze the written word, I was really surprised to find a full half page of completely replicated information in two completely different essays in the book—with ostensibly completely different authors. Perhaps a failure in editing (a transposed copy and paste, perhaps) or else a super blatant occurrence of plagiarism that somehow escaped notice. Either way, it was odd. 2022-books 1 like Like Comment Displaying 1 of 1 review Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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The Mothers by Brit Bennett | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $11.99 Rate this book The Mothers Brit Bennett 3.89 120,154 ratings 11,539 reviews Want to read Kindle $11.99 Rate this book Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Debut Goodreads Author (2016) Set within a contemporary black community in Southern California, Brit Bennett's mesmerizing first novel is an emotionally perceptive story about community, love, and ambition. It begins with a secret. "All good secrets have a taste before you tell them, and if we'd taken a moment to swish this one around our mouths, we might have noticed the sourness of an unripe secret, plucked too soon, stolen and passed around before its season." It is the last season of high school life for Nadia Turner, a rebellious, grief-stricken, seventeen-year-old beauty. Mourning her own mother's recent suicide, she takes up with the local pastor's son. Luke Sheppard is twenty-one, a former football star whose injury has reduced him to waiting tables at a diner. They are young; it's not serious. But the pregnancy that results from this teen romance—and the subsequent cover-up—will have an impact that goes far beyond their youth. As Nadia hides her secret from everyone, including Aubrey, her God-fearing best friend, the years move quickly. Soon, Nadia, Luke, and Aubrey are full-fledged adults and still living in debt to the choices they made that one seaside summer, caught in a love triangle they must carefully maneuver, and dogged by the constant, nagging question: What if they had chosen differently? The possibilities of the road not taken are a relentless haunt. In entrancing, lyrical prose, The Mothers asks whether a "what if" can be more powerful than an experience itself. If, as time passes, we must always live in servitude to the decisions of our younger selves, to the communities that have parented us, and to the decisions we make that shape our lives forever. Genres Fiction Contemporary Literary Fiction Audiobook Adult Adult Fiction African American ...more 288 pages, Hardcover First published October 11, 2016 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Brit Bennett 19 books 11.2k followers Born and raised in Southern California, Brit Bennett graduated from Stanford University and later earned her MFA in fiction at the University of Michigan, where she won a Hopwood Award in Graduate Short Fiction as well as the 2014 Hurston/Wright Award for College Writers. She is a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree, and her debut novel The Mothers was a New York Times bestseller. Her second novel The Vanishing Half was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller. Her essays have been featured in The New Yorker, the New York Times Magazine, The Paris Review, and Jezebel. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.89 120,154 ratings 11,539 reviews 5 stars 28,339 (23%) 4 stars 57,035 (47%) 3 stars 29,024 (24%) 2 stars 4,715 (3%) 1 star 1,041 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 11,540 reviews Kat 268 reviews 79.9k followers June 29, 2020 hell to the yeah!! so much complexity all wrapped up in such a tiny package, and with a riveting story too. hard to believe this was a debut, tbh. 742 likes 1 comment Like Comment Roxane Author 122 books 164k followers June 27, 2016 The Mothers is an outstanding, engaging debut novel. The story follows two teenagers, Nadia and Luke, who fall in love as teenagers and how they come together and fall apart over the years. This is also a novel about a community and a church community and a friendship between Nadia and her best friend Aubrey, and the sorrows of motherless girls. I loved the voice and the storytelling and how Bennett is able to hold the story she wants to tell together over the course of a decade. The one part of the novel that didn't work for me was the collective voice, used throughout the novel, to represent "the mothers" of the Upper Room church community. I could see what the writer was going for but the conceit felt really forced most of the time, like it was a meta narrative being forced onto a story that could stand all on its own. This is going to be one of the best books published this year and is one you're going to want to read. Out in October. 552 likes Like Comment karen 3,997 reviews 171k followers February 24, 2021 looking for great books to read during black history month...and the other eleven months? i'm going to float some of my favorites throughout the month, and i hope they will find new readers! *a mother's day float!!! for mothers!!!* i saw a comment the other day on a friend's review that was both amusing and galling: Dammit! I can't trust the reviews of people who were given the item for free! Believe it or not, you're predisposed to like the product. so before i get to the review part, let me just say that - yes, i did get this book for free, but that didn't predispose me to like the product (as i shudder at the word "product" being used to describe a book). yes, i am beyond grateful that i was given the opportunity to read this, since i'd already had it on my to-read shelf, but it's been out for months - i could also have been given "the item" for free by my local library. or, since it is a hardcover, i could have borrowed it for free from work. i get free books all the time - as gifts, as review copies from authors or publishers or on the free shelves at work, as people move out of my building and leave 'em on the radiator in the foyer, and although i am always grateful for freebies, i don't love them all or feel guilted into gratitude-uprating. and i don't think many other people do, either. most true book-folk bleed integrity, and it's pretty clear when a reviewer is genuinely enthusiastic about a book. however, although i don't uprate-for-freebies, i do have a blanket tendency towards uprating because my pesky readers' advisory training has broadened my critical assessment faculties from "is this a good book to me?" to "can i identify the target audience for this book?" so a lot of books that are three-and-a-half stars for ME are shunted into four-star land because i know the book has an audience, even if it's not my particular favorite. and that's what reviews are for. my star ratings are slippery, inconsistent things, but the review space is where i can go into greater detail about what worked, what didn't, and who this book is "for." i don't get paid for my opinions or my reviews (but if someone wants to give me a job, i'm all ears!); i write them in order to help myself solidify my reaction, to have a record of my reading experience, to understand the book's appeal for others, and if my review either makes someone want to read the book or lets them know that it is not a book they would enjoy, that's all extra gravy. all of that to say that i loved this book. objectively, it's a really well-written debut novel. subjectively, it's got many plot points to which i could relate, not the least of which was, like nadia, growing up in a gossipy church-town and losing my mother to suicide at seventeen. so, yeah - there was a particular resonance for me that would have occurred even if i had shelled out the 26 bucks. i can't think of anything i didn't like about it. - the writing is confident and assured without being showy; without that self-conscious impulse first-timers often have to be impressive and "literary." there were so many perfect lines, observations, quiet truisms - i'd planned to use many pull-quotes, but it soon became impossible to even choose among them. but here, i will give you ONE: Most of the milestones in a woman's life were accompanied by pain, like her first time having sex or birthing a child. For men, it was all orgasms and champagne. - all of the characters are nuanced; mostly sympathetic, but capable of doing really selfishly shitty things the way we all are, so they come across as humans instead of plot-vehicles. - the ending showed remarkable restraint and maturity for a debut; there's no tidy authorial bow wrapping everything just so. - it's funny and smart and thoughtful and honest and sad and just … smooth. she's an excellent storyteller, and it never feels overwritten or message-laden. although it's about death and abortion and crushed dreams and betrayal and abuse and all the different ways a person can be lonely or unmoored, it's not at all bleak, which is an accomplishment unto itself. so yeah, i got a book for free. and i loved it. because it's a damn easy book to love. ********************************************* here's something awesome - i'd been seeing these book-box subscriptions around the interwebz, where you pay to get surprise boxes of books and other treats mailed to you a couple of times a year, and i thought - 'when i start making money and my cat is cured of expensive cancers, this is how i will spend my riches.' and then - LO - i was offered a free literary fiction box from pagehabit: https://pagehabit.com/quarterly/liter... and it is so freaking awesome! even maggie wants to check it out: it has books and a mug and some tea and a sticker! the "main" book is bristling with post-it notes annotated by the author: where you will learn fun facts about the book: i am super-thrilled because i wanted to read this one really badly, and i am also looking forward to reading the two titles brit bennett selected to be friends with her book, although me and sula have some bad blood between us, because of the time a copy tried to kill me. more on that later. this was indeed and maggie's glad i took everything out of the box so she could have a new bed, even though this one is a pretty tight squeeze: still reading and loving this one, but i wanted to drop my GRATITUDE! you people with money should get yourself a subscription. i love this idea so much! come to my blog! from-publisher-or-author pagehabit 410 likes Like Comment Jill 1,228 reviews 1,899 followers October 31, 2016 It’s never easy for me to be the lone dissenting voice in a chorus of much more respected reviewers who have lauded The Mothers as one of the finest books of 2016. Yet for me, this debut novel is a classic example of “the emperor has no clothes.” The book focuses on three teens: Nadia, whose mother killed herself for unknown reasons, her boyfriend Luke, and her best friend Aubrey who is pious and estranged from her own mother. The title of the book is very apt, because this book deals with all kinds of mothers: mothers who left, mothers who were left, wannabe mothers, and a Greek chorus of older church-going mothers who judgmentally comment on the goings-on in the community. The Greek chorus, using the third person “we”, has been used successfully by Jeffrey Eugenides in Virgin Suicides and in Joshua Ferris’ Then We Came to the End, among others. When used effectively – as it is here – it’s a powerful tool. And there’s no doubt that Brit Bennett can tell a good story. The premise of that story is found in a blurb on her book jacket –“must we always live in servitude to the decisions of our youngest selves, and to the communities that have parented us.” To buy into that premise, as presented by Ms. Bennett, we must believe this: that an abortion, at age 17, is so extraordinarily emotionally traumatic that it overshadows future accomplishments and relationships and causes someone to act compulsively enough to betray a sister-of-the-heart and one’s own deeply-held values. One example: here's Nadia, ruminating obsessively about the fetus she aborted. "Baby, no longer a baby, now a toddler, reaching and grabbing. Pulling at her earrings until she unhooks his chubby fingers. Baby hungry always for her face. Baby growing into a child, learning words, rhyming -at words from a car seat on the way to school..." And here's Luke, speaking to Nadia: "Dave (his counselor) says he's in heaven right now. And your mom's holding him." I didn’t buy it (for the record, my own beliefs are both pro-life and pro-choice, which are not separate). On a gut level, I did not understand Nadia’s inability to let go of Luke, despite his abominable behavior following her abortion and the many circumstances that intervened. I did not believe in Luke’s transformation and his eventual connection to Aubrey. I do not believe that we are hostage to our pasts. I have struggled with this question: did my own biases color my reading of The Mothers? It’s a fair question, but I think not. If the novel were stronger, it might have taken me out of my own belief system and put me right into the head of the main characters. (One example of this happening was Salvage the Bones. That book has, at its core, pit-bull fighting, which I thoroughly despise. Yet the writing was so strong that I could understand the characters' motivations, something I never thought I would ever be able to do). So here’s what the crux of it is for me: I did not believe the characters were quite nuanced enough nor did I buy into their motivations. I also thought that some of the plot twists were very predictable (hmmm...two best friends and a boy. Wonder if there will be a triangle relationship?) Again, I am an outlier in my reactions to The Mothers and I don’t for a minute think that my own reading experience is or should be the definitive one. 2.50 stars. coming-of-age everyone-loves-it-but-me 355 likes 2 comments Like Comment Will Byrnes 1,327 reviews 121k followers February 25, 2021 A girl nowadays has to get nice and close to tell if her man ain’t shit and by then it might be too late. We were girls once. It’s exciting, loving someone who can never love you back. Freeing, in its own way. No shame in loving an aint-shit man, long as you get it out of your system good and early. A tragic woman hooks into an aint-shit man, or worse, lets him hook into her. He will drag her until he tires. He will climb atop her shoulders and her body will sag from the weight of loving him. It does not matter where you are planted. How can you grow straight and strong if some of your deepest roots have been ripped out? If the cords that nurture are cut before completing their mission? The Mothers is a story of absence, a tale based on what is not there, and secrets about what is. Nadia Turner is a pretty seventeen-year-old, living in Oceanside, California with her father. For reasons that are never made entirely clear, her mother killed herself. Dad turned inward and to their church for solace or distraction. Nadia sought comfort elsewhere, with Luke Shepherd, the pastor’s handsome son, which led to her becoming pregnant. Brit Bennett - from her site Oceanside has a small town feel, made even more so by the Greek chorus narrators, the elder mothers of Upper Room, the church that Nadia and her father attend. Most chapters begin with “the mothers” offering observations based on their long experience. The book opens with one of the best of these: All good secrets have a taste before you tell them, and if we’d taken a moment to swish this one around our mouths, we might have noticed the sourness of an unripe secret, plucked too soon, stolen and passed around before its season. But we didn’t. We shared this sour secret, a secret that began the Spring Nadia Turner got knocked up… The mothers feel somewhat spectral, but some of them get involved in very material ways throughout the story. Bennett’s book was conceived from some of her adolescent concerns: In a lot of ways, I was writing in the direction of my fears. When I was younger, one of the worst things I could have done was to get pregnant. Another thing that really scared me was the idea of losing my mother - from the Vogue interview The core plot structure is a romantic triangle. Nadia is smitten with Luke, although he shows himself to be something less than a beacon of light. She becomes close friends with another young woman who is also working at the church. Aubrey is the darling of the pastor’s wife, a devoted Christian who wears a chastity ring. She has had a rough go of it, though, living with an older half-sister, as the latest in her mother’s seemingly endless string of loser boyfriends has made life at home intolerable. As college-bound Nadia moves on and up, Aubrey and Luke become involved. But there is still a spark between Nadia and Luke, and things get complicated. Secrets abound. Why did Elise Turner kill herself? Nadia’s abortion is known to a few, but is kept hidden from most, for diverse reasons. Affairs must, by their nature, take place out of sight. Aubrey keeps some pretty serious secrets of her own. Sometimes, when secrets are revealed, the results are extreme. And I thought the book was going to take place just in one summer. But then as I got older, I realized something obvious—that the coming-of-age process doesn’t happen so neatly. The book, I think, is about this central question of how girls grow into women when the female figures who are supposed to usher you into womanhood aren’t there. - from the Vogue interview Absence is profound. When Nadia’s mother killed herself she took a huge piece of her daughter with her. Coping with that deep loss is core to Nadia’s personality and struggles. Compounding the loss of her mother, Nadia’s father retreats into himself, becoming the most minimal sort of father. Aubrey also suffers from the loss of her mother. Although she is alive, Mom remains an absentee part of her life. Both Nadia and Luke contend with feelings about the abortion over the years, wondering what their lives might have become if they had raised a baby. While much of the what-iffing centers on the abortion, other people’s forked roads are considered as well. What if they had done this instead of that? Made that choice instead of the one they made. What might their lives look like? What might Nadia’s life have looked like if her mother had lived? What might her mother’s life had been if she had chosen to live it? Community clearly figures large here, both in a positive and a negative way. This is communicated through the church, where people can be wonderfully supportive, but also spiteful and malicious. The mothers of the title refers not just to the church elders, but to Nadia and later Aubrey, and to their mothers as well. And Luke’s mother (a mama grizzly if there ever was one) too, for that matter. The book had a multi-year gestation. I grew up with this book. I started writing it when I was about 17 or 18, so either in college or about to go to college—and then started working on it more seriously in college and then grad school. So when I started writing The Mothers , I was the same age the characters were. I grew up as the characters stayed the same. - from the Jezebel interview There is a richness of language to this book that is surprising given the tender age of the author. Yet, there is such an ear for sound and rhythm, the cadence of language, and the beauty. Many times I imagined the dialogue being spoken on a stage, and wondered if parts were born there. Bennett has a story-teller’s ability to pull readers in, as if by a campfire on a warm evening. “Gather round, come on now, in closer. That’s right. Settle. Everyone comfy? Ok? I’ve got a story here I think you’ll want to hear.” And then she begins, “We didn’t believe when we first heard, because you know how church folk can gossip…” All eyes fix on her, and thought of all else floats up into the night, competing for air space with fireflies, mosquitoes, and wafting smoke from the blaze. Bennett’s voice swaddles us in the sound of story, in her portraits of people, and we fly with her through her realm. It is a journey worth making. Published - October 11, 2016 Review posted - February 17, 2017 ============================= EXTRA STUFF Links to the author’s personal , Twitter , FB and Instagram pages I came by this book in an unusual way. I was contacted by Quarterly re their Literary Box. Each quarter they feature a new author, who curates the box contents. This would be a primary book, annotated by the author/curator. There were about (I say “about” because I have a tendency to lose things, so the number may be a touch higher) eighteen 3”x3” post-it notes in the book intended to appear to be in the author’s hand, offering bits of background on diverse elements of the novel. I was reminded of pop-up videos. This was wonderful. I wish all books had such additions. The author selects two other books to be included in the box and there is a bit of non-book extra as well. In this case a mug and some tea. Despite it being February when this review was posted, this box was sent to subscribers for October 2016. I received mine in mid-January 2017. Overall, the wonderfulness of the primary book aside, I thought this was a delightful package. If you want to check out their past literary boxes, adult and YA, or other stuff, you might try here . And no, no one asked me to make nice. Interviews -----Vogue – 9/21/16 – Brit Bennett on Her Buzzed-About Debut Novel, The Mothers - by Megan O’Grady -----Jezebel – 4/14/16 – An Interview With Brit Bennett About 'Good White People' and Her Debut Novel The Mothers - by Jia Tolentino Odetta singing Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child books-of-the-year-2016 fiction literary-fiction 314 likes Like Comment emma 2,121 reviews 67.3k followers December 10, 2023 I have never been a conductor attempting to steer a runaway train that has gone off the rails, but I HAVE read a book when I thought I knew where it was going and was pleased and comfortable with the potential journey only to be stunned and in a state of anguish when it completely abandoned that path and went somewhere I did NOT want to go. And that is probably kind of the same thing. This book has the same writing that made The Vanishing Half work so well for me, and yet... I wasn't able to care about the characters in the same way. I was ABOUT to. I could feel myself giving in. But then this book went places I hate in books, and all my progress was lost. And even though this was a well-written and definitely not a bad book, I ended it not caring about a single character. And we have so many of them. That's not good. Bottom line: It's always weird to read an author's most successful book and then follow it with their debut. You really see the growing pains. ------------- pre-review ya lost me, book. review to come / 3 stars ------------- currently-reading updates frantically adding books to my currently reading to try to pretend i'm not slumping 3-stars authors-of-color diverse ...more 232 likes 3 comments Like Comment Book Riot Community 953 reviews 215k followers Read June 20, 2017 I don’t even know what to say about this book. It made me feel all the things. It’s about three people—Nadia, Luke, and Aubrey—but mostly Nadia. It’s about how our choices affect us, and how our secrets can define us if we let them. It’s about growing up in a tight knit community, and the pressures and the judgements that can go along with that. It’s about how grief and pain mess us up and what can happen when we try to leave it behind. The Mothers is my favourite kind of book—a story about people, about life. It’s so beautiful and poignant in its exploration of humanity in the microcosm that are these characters. I absolutely devoured this book. –Beth O’Brien from The Best Books We Read In March 2017: http://bookriot.com/2017/04/04/riot-r... ____________________ I feel like I should have drawn my dangers of listening to audiobooks for the car in addition to the gym, because I found myself driving around and fighting back tears the whole time I listened to this book. (Don’t audiobook and drive if the book gives you FEELS. I cried in a grocery store parking lot listening to this book.) Bennett perfectly captured painful coming-of-age moments for people who come from screwed-up families, especially the families that seem normal on the outside and especially especially what happens when you’re a kid left with a mystery as to how things went so horribly wrong in the first place. Her prose is accessible and beautiful and rings of so much truth that it’s almost too much to take at times. I’m glad I read this. — Susie Rodarme from The Best Books We Read In January 2017: http://bookriot.com/2017/02/01/riot-r... ____________________ I resisted this book for a while because of its title: I’m not a mother, likely never will be, and I’m not a massive fan of fictional motherhood. But I went to hear Brit Bennett read and speak at Politics and Prose, my local bookstore, and I couldn’t help myself. And it turns out that, while motherhood is definitely a theme, the mothers in question are the church mothers — the older ladies who watch the unfolding drama between the Pastor’s son and his girlfriend and comment on it with a wonderfully executed voice that really drew me in. This novel dealt with the topic of abortion with nuance and empathy, which is both interesting and important. It was wonderful, too, to read about a very recognisable church community in literary fiction — especially where the members of that community are portrayed as complex and three dimensional, neither angels nor demons but, quite simply, human. Though she’s still depressingly young, Brit Bennett worked on his novel for many years, and it’s definitely paid off. This is my favourite book not just of the month but also of the year. — Claire Handscombe from The Best Books We Read In December 2016: http://bookriot.com/2017/01/03/riot-r... ____________________ I’m so obsessed with this book and so glad I read it and didn’t let it fall back on my TBR. It was quick and satisfying read, and it’s written very elegantly. Though it tackles topics that could easily be handled preachily, they never come off that way. It never feels as if judgment is being passed on anyone, which is very important to me in narratives about abortion and religion. The characters are simply living and we’re just matching them do it. –Chelsea Hensley from The Best Books We Read In October 2016: http://bookriot.com/2016/10/31/riot-r... ____________________ This book is something special: sage and sad and spectacular. Focused on a church that acts as both center and centrifuge for a black Southern California community, The Mothers follows a trio of young people as they make decisions about their future and live in the aftermath of those choices. The structure and plotting are genius, letting you dive deep into a particular character at some points and slide between them, in fragments and fractures, at others. The book is narrated by the church mothers, elderly women who see all (and have seen it all, as their periodic reports from their century of black womanhood make clear), a conceit that works so well it hurts. When I wrote a recent post on books about finding your place in the world, I hadn’t read The Mothers. If I had, it would have featured grandly among those other fantastic titles. This is a book about how the choices you make, and those made for you, shape the lovely, hopeful tragedy of your life. * — Derek Attig from The Best Books We Read In May 2016: http://bookriot.com/2016/06/01/riot-r... 160 likes Like Comment Larry H 2,645 reviews 29.6k followers December 5, 2016 I'd rate this between 4 and 4.5 stars, closer to the latter. There's an incredible sense of longing that pervades Brit Bennett's terrifically compelling debut novel, The Mothers . There's longing for love of all kinds—maternal, romantic, even the love of good friends—a longing for answers, a longing to find one's place in the world, and a longing for truth. But getting what you think you want doesn't always make things turn out right. Nadia Turner is smart, destined for a future far better than her parents had. But at the end of her senior year of high school, her mother's unexpected suicide throws everything off-kilter. Her relationship with her father was never completely stable, and now he can't look at her for fear he's reminded of what he has lost. As she tries to make sense of this loss, she begins a relationship with Luke Sheppard, the son of the pastor of her church, a once-golden star athlete whose injury ends his future dreams, leaving him waiting tables at a local restaurant. Four years her senior, Luke knows his relationship with Nadia is wrong, but he finds comfort in it. Nadia wants more from Luke than he can give, she wants him to take her home to his parents, to hold her hand in public, but instead they must keep everything secret. But when she gets pregnant, she knows the last thing she wants is to be tied to her hometown; she's planning to attend the University of Michigan and isn't going to let anything, much less a baby, hold her back. Although Nadia makes the decision how to handle things, she's unaware of who has their hands in the aftermath. She spends the summer before college dealing with the consequences of her decision, and she befriends Aubrey Evans, a girl whose mother also abandoned her, although due to estrangement, not suicide. Aubrey and Nadia develop an intensely close bond, yet there is one secret that each girl never reveals to the other, secrets that affect them at every turn. "...she too understood loss, how it drove you to imagine every possible scenario that might have prevented it." When Nadia leaves for college, she doesn't come home for several years, and when she does, all of her relationships are more complicated than they were when she left. What does she want, to relive the past or continue building a life completely devoid of connection to what she's known? Can we really outrun the secrets we try to put behind us, no matter whom they may hurt? The Mothers is showing up on a number of year-end best lists, and I certainly can see why. Bennett has created a narrative rich with emotion, secrets, and, yes, lies, and that sense of longing that I mentioned at the start of my review makes this story even richer. While the elements of the plot aren't necessarily unique, the puzzle pieces come together with great skill and beautiful storytelling. The narrative is accented by a Greek chorus of sorts comprised of the "mothers" of the local church—the elderly women who have seen it all more than once. It's funny: all I kept thinking of as I read this book was the John Mayer song, "Daughters," particularly these lines: Girls become lovers who turn into mothers So mothers be good to your daughters too I hope this book marks the start of a long and illustrious literary career for Bennett, because she certainly knows how to tell a story. The book isn't perfect, and some threads of the story are left unresolved, but it is still a rich and beautiful story worth reading. See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo... . 155 likes Like Comment Maxwell 1,254 reviews 10k followers October 16, 2016 There's no denying that Brit Bennett can craft a great sentence. She's able to evoke so much emotion in a turn of phrase. But those moments are few and far between in this story of hard decisions, lifelong consequences, and the unbreakable bonds that humans share. I felt like this book had a lot of melodrama; many scenes don't feel authentic. I can see Bennett working behind the scenes, which doesn't give me much confidence as a reader. However, when she gets it right—wow, she hits the bullseye. There were a few passages I made note of because of how expertly Bennett was able to articulate a feeling, a thought, a passing moment between two characters. For that and the fact that this is her debut novel, I am impressed. And the function of The Mothers in the story as a sort of omnipotent narrator was interesting. I hadn't read much like it before, though it sort of drew on the Greek chorus idea. I liked it, but it might have been a tad overdone. Nevertheless, a beautifully written story (though a slightly forgettable plot) with glimmering moments that show promise for Bennett's future. I will definitely read whatever she writes next. 3.5 stars black-authors owned 128 likes Like Comment Hannah Greendale (Hello, Bookworm) 691 reviews 3,780 followers August 14, 2017 Click here to watch a video review of this book on my channel, From Beginning to Bookend . Nadia Turner is introduced to unimaginable grief as a teenager. None of the vices she turns to as coping mechanisms have any real consequence, until her dalliance with the pastor's son, Luke Sheppard, forces her to make a difficult decision. The byproduct of their liaison is something Nadia keeps to herself, even withholding it from her best friend, Aubrey Evans. But the secret follows Nadia into adulthood, ultimately ensnaring Luke, Aubrey, and Nadia in a distressing game of "What if?" Nadia, Luke, and Aubrey's stories are relayed by the Mothers - a group of elderly woman who run the prayer circle at the Upper Room Church. They hover above the story like sages, imparting divine wisdom to readers while passing judgment on the characters. Their presence gives the story a personal, intimate quality, as if the reader were gossiping with old friends on a lazy Sunday afternoon. We don't think of ourselves as "prayer warriors." A man must've come up with that term - men think anything difficult is war. But prayer is more delicate than battle, especially intercessory prayer. If Nadia Turner had asked, we would've warned her to stay away from him. Wisdom is abundant in The Mothers . It sprouts like spring blossoms in rich soil throughout the entire book: [He] had seen her naked - he had slipped inside her own body - but somehow, his seeing her afraid was an intimacy she could not bear. Black boys couldn't afford to be reckless, she had tried to tell him. Reckless white boys became politicians and bankers, reckless black boys became dead. Poorness never left you, she told him. It was a hunger that embedded itself into your bones. It starved you, even when you were full. Primary characters are complex and multifaceted. New characters are introduced seamlessly and fall into easy conversation with protagonists. There's a natural, authentic flow to the dialogue, whether characters have just met or have known each other for years. Descriptions of character flaws or virtues are particularly sublime. [She] was the type of person who'd rather do something herself than show you how. (The type who would prefer to give a man a fish not only because she could catch a better one herself, but because she felt important being the only thing standing between that man and starvation.) The more time he spent around her, the more he realized how rarely he thought anybody else was actually good. Nice, maybe, but niceness was something anyone could be, whether they meant it or not. But goodness was another thing altogether. Many similarities are shared between The Mothers and Sula by Tony Morrison. Two girls who are childhood friends grow up in the same tight-knit community. Who they become as adults hinges on their family histories. And, as young women, they each make decisions that affect their position in the community - one choosing to adhere to the status quo and being met with warm acceptance; the other choosing to break with convention and suffering the ramifications for years. The Mothers questions whether decisions made in our youth must haunt us forever and asks if we can break free from the communities that parented us, tackling both questions through an engaging and poignant narrative. This book is a stunning debut novel from a promising new talent. - My deepest gratitude to Quarterly.co for providing a free Literary Box with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Quarterly.co's Literary Box comes with bookish goodies, a feature book, and two additional books selected by the author of the feature novel. What makes the Literary Box special are the notes written by the author of the feature book. These notes give readers unique insights into the book that only the author would know. adult fiction 126 likes Like Comment Diane S ☔ 4,853 reviews 14.3k followers December 20, 2016 The entwined lives of three teens in an African American community in Southern, California. Nadia, whose mother recently committed suicide and Aubrey, whose mother has chosen her boyfriend over her, and Luke, the pastor's son. Personal demons, young love, and growing up to find you still long for that which you left behind. A decision impossible to take back but that will fill Nadia with regret.. the Upper Room chapel and the Mothers, those older church ladies, who seem to see and know everything. Gossip and opinions, they and Nadia are our narrators. I belong to a subscription service called Quarterly and every three months an author curates the box. Brit Bennett was the curator for this box and she included personal notes on stickies, placed in various places in the book. Greatly added to my reading experience as she explains where she got some of her ideas, some of her thoughts when writing. She based our narrators, the mothers, on the most judgmental, people she knew. If you read the book you will see what a great job she did. I was thoroughly drawn into this story, it felt so identifiable, so realistic and so true. The mistakes we make when we are young are sometimes hard to forget, fill us with regret, a longing to go back and change things. Of course we can't, we must learn to move forward, as do the three young people in this novel. Quite a touching and memorable first novel. 124 likes Like Comment Cheri 1,901 reviews 2,759 followers April 24, 2017 The mothers are those from the Upper Room, the older women who stand over their congregation, sometimes quietly sitting back, taking note of the changes, the moods, of those whose bodies are in the pews and whose minds are not. They sit in judgment, handing out opinions, conclusions, decisions and verdicts on who should be spending less time carousing and more time serving others. They’ve seen it all in all their years, there’s no surprising them, but it doesn’t stop them from singing out a little story now and then, some tale that might begin with “now you didn’t hear it from me, but…” ”If we laid all our lives toes to heel, we were born before the Depression, the Civil War, even America itself. In all that living, we have known men. Oh girl, we have known littlebit love. That littlebit of honey left in an empty jar that traps the sweetness in your mouth long enough to mask your hunger. We have run tongues over teeth to savor that last littlebit as long as we could, and in all our living, nothing has starved us more.” Nadia Turner is seventeen the year her mother kills herself, leaving herself and her father behind with an ever-changing, never-ending list of unanswered questions which all boiled down to one: Why? ”Her father propped his sadness on a pew, but she put her sad in places no one could see.” Nadia’s plans include college, a degree, a life away from the place where her mother’s ghost is in the sympathetic eyes of everyone, in the familiar places where they walked together, all she hears now is the endless refrain of “why?” with every step. Alcohol and sex can only offer her momentary diversions, but a chance to be somewhere new, different, un-haunted by her mother’s un-presence, and she thinks maybe then, there, that she can breathe again. Live again. Think of other thoughts again. ”Since then, the girl had earned a wild reputation – she was young and scared and trying to hide her scared in her prettiness. And she was pretty, beautiful even, with amber skin, silky long hair, and eyes swirled brown and gray and gold. Like most girls, she’d already learned that pretty exposes you and pretty hides you and like most girls, she hadn’t yet learned how to navigate the difference. So we heard all about her sojourns across the border to dance clubs in Tijuana, the water bottle she carried around Oceanside High filled with vodka, the Saturdays she spent on base playing pool with Marines, nights that ended with her heels pressed against some man’s foggy window. Just tales, maybe, except for one we now know is true: she spent her senior year of high school rolling around in bed with Luke Sheppard and come springtime, his baby was growing inside her.” Decisions must be made. Nadia knows what she’s always wanted for herself, how can she possibly do that with a child? She knows that’s not possible. Through the months that follow, Nadia and Luke’s relationship changes, pulling away from each other, and Nadia finds some comfort in the friendship of a girl she only vaguely knows from church. Quiet and shy Aubrey, the girl who wears a chastity ring, their common ground being the lack of a mother in each of their lives, Aubrey’s mother having chosen her latest boyfriend over her daughter. Through Nadia, Aubrey comes out of her self-protective bubble a little, gains a little self-confidence, and relaxes enough that she finds herself smitten with Luke Sheppard. I loved this story from the very first pages. I smiled when I read the first paragraph, knowing already that I would love this. And while I would have likely read this eventually, when I was contacted by Quarterly, offering me a sample box of their latest selection, “The Mothers,” I agreed to try it out. I knew I would not be able to read it right away, but I was intrigued by how they would “add value” to the featured book. When it arrived, aside from “The Mothers,” it included Toni Morrison’s “Sula” and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “We Should All Be Feminists” in addition to a few extra goodies including a mug and some literary tea (Jane Eyre). Throughout the pages of “The Mothers” are post-it notes, handwritten by Brit Bennett, some of her thoughts, background information, musings. An appreciated touch, giving this novel that already felt so very personal an extra personal touch. It really added an extra facet for me, an idea of what was going through her mind when she wrote this. It reminded me of sitting on the porch with my aunt, or my godmother, where we would take turns reading and discussing the book we were reading – and those conversations always included how they related to these stories, how it reminded them of this or that. That personal touch, a thought that added some new insight. Brit Bennett began writing this novel when she was seventeen, herself – the same age as Nadia. Ms. Bennett, herself, grew up in Oceanside, with big plans for her future. I’d say that with this debut novel, her future looks big and bright. 2017 california fiction ...more 120 likes Like Comment Elyse Walters 4,010 reviews 11.3k followers October 18, 2016 I can see why this novel is getting 'buzz'. "All good secrets have a taste before you tell them, and if we'd taken a moment to swish this one around our mouths, we might have noticed the sourness of an unriped secret, plucked too soon, stolen and passed around before its season. But we didn't. We shared this secret, a secret that began the spring Nadia Turner got knocked up by the pastor's son and went to the abortion clinic downtown to take care of it". "She was seventeen then." She lived with her father, a Marine, and without her mother, who had killed herself six months earlier". Since then, the girl had earned a reputation--she was young and scared and trying to hide her scared in her prettiness". Nadia is a bright African American - an excellent student...heading off to Northwestern University ---far away from Oceanside, California-- Southern Calif. At the beginning of the novel-Nadia is holding in her sadness about her mother's death ....which leads to her involvement with Luke. When he pays for her abortion but then doesn't show up at the clinic to drive her home - as planned - on the day of the procedure.... I imagined the the sadness, pain, ( physical and emotional), and shame, she must have been feeling. And so alone in the world. After High School Nadia becomes friends with Aubrey Evans. The story follows Nadia, Aubrey, Luke -- each connected and each dealing with universal themes: pain, loss, shame, hopes, love, and dreams. The Church ladies - older mothers - give a narrative voice in certain chapters --giving their perspective during their prayer group about the younger generation. This novel is an interesting look into the modern African American community....in Southern California- off to College in Michigan -- back to Los Angeles to care for Nadia's sick father. Church community - education values - friendship - changes in styles of mothering, 'women's self discovery of self - and searching for understanding of one's mother. There are many types of mothers in this novel as their are women. "Anyone knows a church is only as good as it's women, and when we all passed on to glory, who would hold up this church? Serve on the auxiliaries board? Organize the Women of Worth conferences? Hand out food baskets during Christmas? We look to the future and saw long banquet tables growing dusty in the basement, the women's Bible studies emptied, assuming these girls didn't turn the meeting room into a disco hall". Congrats to Britt Bennett on her debut novel. Thanks for expanding my admiration of modern Black women in America. Like Comment Julie 4,142 reviews 38.2k followers February 16, 2017 The Mothers by Brit Bennett is a 2016 Riverhead publication. This is another one of those ‘buzz’ books I wouldn’t ordinarily read, but my curiosity got the better of me, so I checked it out of the library, just to see for myself why the book garnered such high praise. The ‘Mothers’ are the women of Upper Room Chapel who basically gossip about the members of the church and keep track of the families who attend. They narrate the story of Nadia, Luke, and Audrey, three young black people living in Southern California. Their lives interconnect during pivotal points in their young lives, forging strong emotional bonds, in the process, but the decisions made in their youth, the secrets they keep, will haunt them all through their adult lives. The story is very emotional, the characters filled with a deep longing, regret, and desire. The reader is like a spectator as the characters live through life’s ups and downs, make life altering choices, experience love, friendship, betrayal, and cope with the consequences. Life is not a fairy tale and this story demonstrates how, despite our best efforts, life throws us curve balls that upend all our good intentions, sending us off in directions we never envisioned. This is not a resolvable, wrapped up in a nice neat little bow, happily ever after type novel. It's a sad story, but one that describes life and the repercussions of our decisions. The writing is sharp, but, deep character analysis is minimal. I felt like, instead of reading, I was watching all this on television or something, or like I was on the outside looking in. The inner thoughts of the characters are not prevalent, which is something I wished for. Still, I do appreciate that this is a debut novel, and the author certainly has some writing chops. I think if the characters had been fleshed out a bit more, and if the ending hadn’t been quite so abrupt, I would have enjoyed the book a little more. But, I do see why the story, with its contemporary setting, its boldness, the contrasts of religion with difficult topics, like abortion, resonates with readers. Overall, this is an impressive debut, and I am glad I gave the book a try. Brit Bennett is definitely an author to keep an eye on. 3.5 stars contemporary-fiction e-book fiction-literature 118 likes Like Comment Susanne 1,171 reviews 38.3k followers August 16, 2020 Oh That Tangled Web We Weave: it Just Keeps on Getting More and More Tangled! Get busy livin. That’s all Nadia has been trying to do: prepare for college at the University of Michigan in the Fall. When her mother completes suicide everything changes. Life stands still and Nadia has a hard time understanding. When she hooks up with Luke Shepard, the pastor’s son, it gets complicated right quick. By complicated I mean, teenage pregnancy. For Nadia who desperately needs to get away, abortion is the only answer. Thank goodness Nadia found a friend in Aubrey, kind, sweet, loving, religious Aubrey. When a teenaged Aubrey arrived at her sister’s home in Southern California, she was looking to escape. What she found was family, both with her sister Monique and Monique’s girlfriend Kasey and with the church. In Nadia, she found a best friend. Luke Shepard always imagined that he’d be a Football player till an injury destroyed his dreams. When he met Nadia everything changed. Try as hard as he might, he can’t forget. Even after getting to know Aubrey and falling in love with her. Through the years, the lives of these three will forever be intertwined, whether they like it or not. For Nadia, Luke and Aubrey, there is no escape. Especially when it comes to “The Mothers.” As it is “The Mothers” from the Upper Room who watch over the congregation who notice, who gossip and share stories and who judge. “The Mothers” is an emotional character driven novel that blew me away with its brilliant plot. I was immediately pulled into the storylines of Nadia, Luke and Aubrey as my heart ached for each of them. What stood out to me here is that sometimes people make unintentionally poor choices and a snowball effect ensues. Right and wrong simply goes out the window and it is seemingly impossible to make the right choice. A novel about choices, right and wrong, family, friendship, love and loss, “The Mothers” is a deeply affecting novel that hits all the right notes. This was my second read by Brit Bennett who is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! Thank you to my local library for loaning me a copy of this audiobook. Published on Goodreads on 8.16.20. audiobooks library-book 111 likes Like Comment Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader 2,349 reviews 31.5k followers July 27, 2020 Five stars! I’m so grateful I finally read this beautiful book that’s been on my shelf since it released. Beth (bibliobeth) and I buddy read The Mothers and The Vanishing Half back-to-back. Both books are top notch, more than five star, literary fiction at its finest. We read The Mothers first, and what struck me most here is how tenderly Bennett draws her male characters. They are tough, but they are loving, and you feel their sensitivity (and I loved that). Luke has to be one of my favorite male characters ever. Complex, richly drawn, a heart of gold. I also adored Nadia and her journey, as well as the exploration of her relationship with her dad. In a nutshell, Brit Bennett uses precise storytelling to evoke a wealth of emotions and complex characters I absolutely loved. buddy-read-with-beth hard-soft-copy huggable-books ...more 106 likes Like Comment Shelby *trains flying monkeys* 1,674 reviews 6,357 followers March 12, 2017 Nadia Turner is a seventeen year old girl. She recently lost her mother to suicide (Not a spoiler) and is completely grief stricken. She is a beautiful, super smart girl who is fast tracked to college and a better life. Then she starts slipping and seeing the Pastor's son. You know they say those things about the preacher's kid for a reason don't you? Preacher's kid Lucas is the All-American kid. Former football star that got hurt that is now living with Mommy and Daddy working at a restaurant. He doesn't want anyone to know about their relationship. Because well you know... Things happen, they end up apart because of super secret-secrets. Nadia becomes best friends before she heads off to college with the most church-going girl in town. Then their stories all entwine. I want to say more about this book but I'm afraid of going spoilery and will tape duct tape over my mouth. (But would totally love to discuss this one in spoilers in the comment section) Sorta like the "Church Mothers" in this book discuss the goings on in these peoples lives. Now I will discuss how I felt about the book. First the bad. Since I eat dessert first. I liked Nadia when she was a teenager. That stuff wore off fast though. I didn't really like any of these characters enough to give two rats about what happened to them. I was sorta cheering for the worst. (Don't get all excited-I usually love stories about hateful, awful characters.) Then the dragging on...so much un-needed whiny stuff happening. Snooze button hit about five times. Then the good. I did like the first half of the book. I was hoping for so much more. Then it fizzled. One thing that was really pretty cool about my copy of the book was the little sticky notes stuck throughout the book giving the authors insights and reasoning at certain passages. Yes, please to this. 2.5 stars. Booksource: I was gifted this book from Quarterly Co. I have to admit that this was probably the most impressive subscription box that I have ever received. I get several because I'm also a makeup addict. Just look at the awesomeness...(There was tea also..but someone who looks like me drank it right away) read-2017 97 likes Like Comment Gabby 1,462 reviews 27.9k followers July 21, 2020 “Reckless white boys became politicians and bankers, reckless black boys became dead.” I listened to the audiobook for this one and I am so glad that I did, the audiobook is so great. This story revolves around three friends Nadia, Luke and Aubrey over many years of their lives. This book mainly revolves around the theme of motherhood, but it also touches on many things like feminism, abortion, and the challenges of being Black in contemporary America. It starts with a pregnant teenage girl having to make impossible decisions about her future, and the story really takes off from there. “Suffering pain is what made you a woman. Most of the milestones in a woman’s life were accompanied by pain, like her first time having sex or birthing a child. For men, it was all orgasms and champagne.” I love the writing in this book, it's absolutely gorgeous and thought provoking and makes you think about uncomfortable things like abortion and the struggles of motherhood. These characters were so well fleshed out I felt like I knew them. I can't wait to read more form this author, this was such a great debut. Here are some more examples of the beautiful writing: “Grief was not a line, carrying you infinitely further from loss. You never knew when you would be sling-shot backward into its grip. —” “It was strange learning the contours of another’s loneliness. You could never know it all at once; like stepping inside a dark cave, you felt along the walls, bumped into jagged edges.” “A daughter grows older and draws nearer to her mother, until she gradually overlaps her like a sewing pattern. But a son becomes some irreparably separate thing.” 4-star-books adult audiobooks-i-listened-to ...more 91 likes Like Comment Victor 314 reviews 5,023 followers Read January 29, 2021 DNF vai com Deus meu chapa abandonei read-in-2021 87 likes Like Comment Thomas 1,630 reviews 10.1k followers July 4, 2020 This book fell super flat for me, so unlike Brit Bennett’s second novel The Vanishing Half . In The Mothers , we follow Nadia Turner, whose mother dies by suicide during Nadia’s teenage years. In her grief, Nadia sleeps with Luke Sheppard, a 21-year-old former football star whose injuries have him waiting tables at a diner. When Nadia learns about her pregnancy, she decides to get an abortion, which sets into motion a series of events that will affect her life and Luke’s life well into adulthood, as well as the life of Aubrey, Nadia’s best friend who both understands Nadia like no one else does and also does not understand her at all. I liked the idea of a lot of the themes in this novel: how absent or neglectful parents affect their children’s lives even years after the absence or neglect, how one decision we make can alter the trajectory of our lives forever, and the presence of misogynoir against young Black women even within the Black community. At the beginning of The Mothers I felt drawn in by Nadia’s grief and her push and pull of people close to her. Luke reminded me a lot of the men I know in real life who kind of just suck at communicating and do not fully take accountability for their actions, so points to Bennett for getting that unfortunately accurate about him. For some reason though I just did not connect with any of these characters. I felt this distinct emotional space from Nadia after the first 50 pages or so, as well as all the other characters throughout the whole novel. On a cognitive level I could recognize the emotion playing out in certain scenes – Nadia feels abandoned by her father here, Luke feels ashamed of his actions here – yet something about the writing just did not pull me into the characters’ actual emotional experiences. By the end of the novel I had a “well, I guess all of that just happened, time to write my Goodreads review” vibe, which sucks given that the novel touches on a lot of meaningful topics, like grief, what makes relationships work or not, how we define ourselves despite our pasts and more. As you can discern from my review linked above, I liked Bennett’s second novel The Vanishing Half a lot more, so perhaps she has grown as a writer which is great. Hoping to continue seeing this upward trajectory with her writing in the future as well. adult-fiction own-electronic read-on-nook ...more 74 likes Like Comment Suzanne Leopold (Suzy Approved Book Reviews) 334 reviews 226 followers March 10, 2017 The story centers around three young adults growing up in Southern California. Nadia Turner is a seventeen year old senior in high school. She has been accepted to study at the University of Michigan. She is grieving the death of her mother who committed suicide six months ago. Nadia becomes involves with twenty-one year old Luke Sheppard. He is the son of the preacher at the local chapel. They have a secret romance, and Nadia finds herself pregnant. During employment at the local chapel, Aubrey Evans becomes Nadia’s best friend. She has moved to the area to live with her sister, leaving behind a difficult family situation. Nadia and Aubrey share a common motherless bond. We follow their relationship from the adolescent years to adulthood. This wonderful novel explores friendships, secrets, loss and shame. The book is narrated in part by the elderly women, or “mothers” of the church. These women keep track of the gossip from the Upper Room Chapel where these families congregate. The Mothers is a story about people and how life happens while we are living it. A main point that I took away from the book is that when we withhold information, feelings can get hurt and damage the relationships we cherish. Decisions or errors that we make in the formative years can creep up on us later in life. We aren’t without flaws. I did not want to put the book down, so the laundry in my house did not get folded for a few days. This is a debut novel. I am thrilled that another novel is in the works. Great news-movie development news https://www.facebook.com/suzyapproved... 79 likes Like Comment Andrew Smith 1,144 reviews 737 followers December 2, 2022 In truth, this isn’t really the type of book I’d normally pick up. Maybe I’d think it too focused on women’s issues – those that are normally conducted without recourse to their menfolk. Maybe I’d be a little scared of it, all that unfamiliar territory. Either way, I was spared the decision making as this book was sent to me as part of an excellent quarterly literary box, supplied by Quarterly .co. One of the attractive features of this package is that the book came complete with handwritten jottings from the author, placed on sticky notes throughout the text. There is, in fact, a male character who is central to the narrative here. The three main protagonists are all in their late teenage years when we meet them. Luke, the son of a pastor, was a star football player until a serious knee injury put paid to any career ambitions. Nadia is bright and destined for a big college – she’s also attractive, a fact Luke spots very early on. Aubrey is plain and active at the local church, where she comes into contact with both Luke and Nadia. Nadia and Aubrey are very different and you wouldn’t naturally place them together as close friends. But they have things in common – both have lost a mother, Nadia through suicide and Aubrey through estrangement, the result of abuse perpetrated by her mother’s boyfriend. And as events play out their lives are destined to become entwined, but before that Nadia finds herself pregnant as a result of a careless night of sex with Luke. Should she have the child and give up her hopes of college and a career or should she terminate the pregnancy and move on to the life she’s envisaged for herself? As we will see, the choice she makes will significantly impact not just her and Luke but Aubrey too. The story initially moves slowly as events unfold, relationships are built and decisions are made. This is really the meat of the book. What follows is the gradual unpicking of the impacts of those early events. At times we skip chunks of time and then revisit the threesome to catch up on where their lives have taken them. This allows us to see how decisions made earlier have played out and have impacted individuals and their various relationships – not just amongst the three of them but with their families too. It’s thought provoking stuff. I liked the way that the story ends at a point that isn’t the end – I don’t particularly like to see every loose end neatly tied up. It’s a very well written book. It caused me to ponder on choices I’ve made (not those herein, but others) and how different life might have been had I chosen a different route. As a debut novel from a young writer it’s quite a feat; I enjoyed it a good deal. My sincere thanks to Quarterly.co for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 69 likes Like Comment Jenny (Reading Envy) 3,876 reviews 3,509 followers March 8, 2017 I was not sure I wanted to read this book at all because of some negative reviews and comments in a discussion thread. I should know better by now! The novel is about mothers in a variety of ways. The central character, Nadia, gets pregnant and has an abortion not long after her mother commits suicide. There are a chorus of mothers at her church, the mother of her boyfriend, a sister-as-mother figure, and so on. I come from a fundie anti-abortion background and have grown into a non-church pro-choice person so I was prepared to be outraged at the author's supposed anti-abortion stance as mentioned some places, except that isn't what I found at all. I had the annotated version from Quarterly.co so there is one significant comment the author makes that I found useful. In one of the sections narrating the collective older "mothers," she notes that she modeled them on "every older judgmental black woman" she had ever known. So she writes them well. She knows them. And they narrate the novel, so there is some judgement here. She also shows how beliefs change depending on situation, loyalties, and expectations. It seems to me like the author is showing the hypocrisy and lack of empathy/grace/forgiveness, not condoning it. I found it to be more like Kent Haruf, with the rotation through different lives, small lives sometimes, unhappy, maybe not what they expected. I loved the different definitions and stories of mothers (the author said she had 100 more pages of Mo and her wife's story that she had to cut, I'd love to see that in another novel). I love how each mother's story effected the child, male or female. And the pressure or absence of motherhood also had an effect. So here I am, way more impressed than I expected, glad I read it, hoping some can reconsider some of their assumptions of the author's intentions. I was sent this book as part of a Quarterly.co box for review. The book was annotated by the author, and it was like she was sitting next to me pointing details out from time to time. Soon I plan to review the entire box, but I felt I should acknowledge where it came from. I ended up being happy for the chance because I had originally decided not to read this novel. around-the-usa location-usa-california read2017 ...more 64 likes Like Comment Sara 369 reviews 385 followers November 25, 2020 What a beautiful, touching story. Definitely has more of a flowery prose but i found i didn't mind it as much as i usually would. 5 stars! 51 likes Like Comment Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* 2,588 reviews 1,135 followers March 29, 2017 “The weight of what has been lost is always heavier than what remains.” A beautiful book with a real soul at its center, The Mothers is unlike anything I've read before. It starts with a teenager recovering from the loss of her mother's suicide, who then does the desperate and ends her own baby's life through an abortion. The book is surprisingly layered as it touches upon the girl's life as she grows up, the father's life as he grows and mourns for his child and his youth, and the best friend who they ultimately kept in the dark for so long. Above this its about growth and not living up to potential. Its about acceptance but grief overshadowing everything forever. Its about moving on but staying behind. I read so many dramas where cheap gimmicks are used for heartstring tugs, but this isn't it. This is realism and soul and heart. It doesn't shy away from giving the main character selfish traits that touch everything she touches. It doesn't shy away from the grim realities of her mourning father, or the underachievements of Lucas, who wished to be so much more. It doesn't save unrealistic purity for a pure-hearted friend. Really it's life, and life is unfair and unkind and doesn't discriminate. That said, it's not just a depressing ride, but a human character study. There is a degree and form of happiness in the living of their lives. They must live with the past and how it haunts but that doesn't mean the same decision wouldn't have been made again. Beautifully written and powerfully prosed, the story is unique again when it has older mothers and women of the church, the 'Upper Room' begin sections with musings and reflections. They are in a way biddy bodies who gossip and wonder, but they are also wise and kind and filled with wonder of life even though a lot of it has passed them by. The book isn't just about two teenagers kids and their choices - it's about adults and life and growth and self-reflection. I didn't care much for the main character because her selfishness in a few situations was repulsive, but I liked the author painting a picture of a realistic person. People like that exist everywhere, so it's good to see their real stories. I liked how the author later acknowledges grief men feel if their children are killed through abortion too, and it wasn't just shied over and made to be only about women power, hear me roar kind of stuff. He wasn't made to be blameless in all certainly, but he was made realistic too and nothing would work out better than that. Recommended for everyone because it makes you think, it makes you wonder, and it makes you feel - but genuinely feel, not cheesy and contrived dramas with predictable formulas that only recycle the tried and true that brings forth emotional mimicking instead of genuine emotional living. I was touched by how the author creatively tied in the mother connection to the main character. Her mother may have ended it because she could never be happy with the joys she had, but the daughter was the same in so many ways. Both were wild spirits who were constantly fleeting from one thing to the next. The mother may not have been able to go to colleges of her dreams and travel, but it shows that it was not the things that 'held her back' that kept her from ever feeling whole. An added touch of fun was I read this through a book box subscription. Literary Subscription box sent me this and two other books for review, as well as goodies inside. The author included tons of stickies explaining different names, places, and inspirations. It made it feel like I was reading the book while randomly calling up the author to chat with them about random things when I read them. 4-star dislike-protagonist drama-gen-fiction ...more 51 likes Like Comment Christy 4,133 reviews 34.7k followers September 10, 2020 3 stars "All good secrets have a taste before you tell them, and if we'd taken a moment to swish this one around our mouths, we might have noticed the sourness of an unripe secret, plucked too soon, stolen and passed around before its season." The Mothers is Brit Bennett's debut novel, and color me impressed. This was incredibly well written and I was shocked that it was the author's first book. I can't wait to read more of her works, because her writing was fantastic. This story follows Nadia Turner. Nadia's story starts when she is seventeen and her mother has recently committed suicide. She's grieving in her own way and ends up taking up with the pastor's son who is a few years older than her named Luke. Nadia finds herself pregnant and she and Luke handle it, which is a big secret in a small community. After that, she becomes best friends with a good girl named Aubrey. Later in the story, these three character's lives connect in all kinds of ways. I can tell you I was blown away by Bennett's lyrical writing and character driven story, I can't quite say that I enjoyed this story. I'm not sure if it was the subject matter, or the way some of the characters were written, or maybe the ending, but by the end I felt a bit indifferent. I wanted to love this one, but sadly the actual story was just okay for me. I am really looking forward to Bennett's newest release, because that story line seems right up my alley! 2020-new-to-me-author 51 likes Like Comment Taylor Reid Author 20 books 183k followers Read September 15, 2017 A truly original narrative voice. 2017 47 likes Like Comment luce (cry baby) 1,502 reviews 4,597 followers August 27, 2021 | | blog | tumblr | ko-fi | | “Grief was not a line, carrying you infinitely further from loss. You never knew when you would be sling-shot backward into its grip.” The first time I picked up The Mothers was back in 2017. After reading a few chapters I set aside thinking that it was not for me. And then came the advent of The Vanishing Half. To say that I like that novel would be an understatement. I've read it twice and twice I fell in love with it. After rereading it I found myself wondering whether this time around I would actually be able to appreciate The Mothers so I gave it another shot. If I only had to rate this novel in terms of its literary merits this would easily get a 5 stars. While I wasn't overly keen the mother's 'chorus', I remain in awe of Brit Bennett's luminous prose. The reason why I cannot sing this book's praises lies in its storyline, specifically in the way Nadia's abortion is handled. The book is set in a conservative and religious Black community in Southern California. 'The mothers' are an older group of church-going women and their Greek chorus is interspersed throughout the narrative. Their traditional values are reflected through the judgments they make about the rest of their community. They seem particularly disapproving of young people and their 'inhibited' ways. The actual story follows three people: Nadia Turner, who is seventeen and grieving the death of her mother (who committed suicide); the pastor's son, Luke Sheppard, who is twenty-one and working in a diner after an injury ended his promising football career came to pastor's son; Aubrey, a pious girl who is living with her older sister. Nadia and Luke begin sleeping together but their casual relationship is complicated when Nadia becomes pregnant. Nadia, who is desperate to leave her town behind and wants to college, decides to get an abortion and Luke comes up with the money for it. But, when he fails to collect from her after her appointment at the clinic Nadia is deeply hurt. The two no longer spend time together and Nadia becomes close to Aubrey. In spite of their different personalities, the two feel seemingly unmoored. Their bond at the beginning of the story is one of the highlights of the novel. Alas, all good things come to an end and Nadia goes off to college while Aubrey remains in their hometown. Over the next few years Luke and Aubrey fall in love and when Nadia returns home things get complicated. spoilers below I was not a fan of this love triangle, which was at best unimaginative. Luke was a lustreless and often cowardly character. I genuinely thought that Nadia and Aubrey had more chemistry then either Luke/Nadia or Luke/Aubrey. But I could have looked past this rather clichèd love triangle (one girl is the wild and beautiful one, the other is the quiet plainer looking one) if it hadn't been for the way both the characters and the narrative itself punish Nadia for her 'sin'. Throughout the narrative abortion is associated with being a sin, a crime, an abhorrent act. None of the majors character challenge this view. There is not one voice of reason. Nadia, years later, is haunted by the 'what if'. She ends her pregnancy early on yet she believes that she knows that the 'baby' was a boy and is wracked by guilt envisioning him growing up. I am not about to argue that abortions are not traumatic experiences or that the person who chooses to get an abortion does so lightheartedly but come on, having Nadia be haunted forever seems a tad too much. Who cares that she's gone to college or soon to be a lawyer? Her life is forever defined by her abortion. Luke is horrible about the whole thing (piling on the guilt by also going on about 'our baby boy'). And you might say that of course every person in their community is going to shame Nadia or think her sinful. But, why does the narrative reinforces this? Nadia is ostracised and by the end of the novel it is implied that by she will never be happy or content or able to settle down. Luke on the other hand is not punished. Nadia is made into the story's villain as she not only gets an abortion but she also betrays her best friend (again we have the implication that the 'type' of woman who gets an abortion has loose morals). So 'other woman' and sinful Nadia is given a miserable ending while kind god-fearing Aubrey alongside Luke are blessed with a child. Puh-lease. The thing is, I may have been more understanding if this novel had been set in the early 20th century. After all, I love Toni Morrison's Sula which shares quite a few similarities with Bennett's novel. But, Morrison never condemns Sula herself. She makes it quite clear that she becomes her community's scapegoat. The complicated friendship between Sula and Nel remains the focus of the narrative, whereas here Luke takes the centre-stage. In spite of my issues with the characters and their storylines I did find Bennett's prose to be beautiful. There are some poignant observation on grief, loneliness, and friendship. While I recognise that Bennett is a fantastic writer this novel's not to subtle anti-abortion message did not sit well with me and because of this I cannot on a good conscience recommend it. Read Sula instead. 5-so-so-reads almost-and-former-dnfs lgbtqia-side ...more 45 likes Like Comment Marilyn C. 290 reviews February 6, 2017 3.5 Stars In the Goodreads’ description of this book they use the word "dazzling," by no means was I "dazzled" by this story, but I was entertained. Brit Bennett has created a story full of lies, deep sadness and lifelong regrets which become heavy burdens for some of the characters. The book mainly focuses on three main characters ranging in age from the late teens to early twenties, which gave me the feeling, at times, that I was reading a YA novel. Don't get me wrong, there is some heavy plot lines here, such as suicide and abortion, but the ages of the characters and some of the scenarios in the story kept throwing me off. This wasn't so much a memorable story for me, as it was a memorable debut from an author who clearly has talent. read-in-2017 45 likes Like Comment Ify 169 reviews 188 followers October 16, 2016 Y'all I'm conflicted... I really liked this novel- the writing, the overall plot and its lack of a clear-cut ending. At one point, I couldn't even put the book down. But, I felt somewhat disappointed by the predictable path this novel took. There were a couple melodramatic scenes that were Tyler Perry-esque, that had me clutching my imaginary pearls or groaning in dismay. I just felt like the author could have taken this plot somewhere unexpected & killed it. Why do I feel conflicted? Because although the main thread of the plot took a predictable route, it was written so well, took on a few heavy social (& religious) issues and it ended w/o a clear resolution. Solid 4 stars. 44 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 11,540 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 260 quotes 31 discussions 14 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Deus Irae by Philip K. Dick | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $9.49 Rate this book Deus Irae Philip K. Dick , Roger Zelazny 3.45 3,390 ratings 227 reviews Want to read Kindle $9.49 Rate this book In the years following World War III, a new and powerful faith has arisen from a scorched and poisoned Earth, a faith that embraces the architect of world wide devastation. The Servants of Wrath have deified Carlton Lufteufel and re-christened him the Deus Irae. In the small community of Charlottesville, Utah, Tibor McMasters, born without arms or legs, has, through an array of prostheses, established a far-reaching reputation as an inspired painter. When the new church commissions a grand mural depicting the Deus Irae, it falls upon Tibor to make a treacherous journey to find the man, to find the god, and capture his terrible visage for posterity. Genres Science Fiction Fiction Fantasy Post Apocalyptic Dystopia Religion Novels ...more 192 pages, Paperback First published August 1, 1976 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Philip K. Dick 1,655 books 20.4k followers Philip K. Dick was born in Chicago in 1928 and lived most of his life in California. In 1952, he began writing professionally and proceeded to write numerous novels and short-story collections. He won the Hugo Award for the best novel in 1962 for The Man in the High Castle and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for best novel of the year in 1974 for Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said . Philip K. Dick died on March 2, 1982, in Santa Ana, California, of heart failure following a stroke. In addition to 44 published novels, Dick wrote approximately 121 short stories, most of which appeared in science fiction magazines during his lifetime. Although Dick spent most of his career as a writer in near-poverty, ten of his stories have been adapted into popular films since his death, including Blade Runner, Total Recall, A Scanner Darkly, Minority Report, Paycheck, Next, Screamers , and The Adjustment Bureau . In 2005, Time magazine named Ubik one of the one hundred greatest English-language novels published since 1923. In 2007, Dick became the first science fiction writer to be included in The Library of America series. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.45 3,390 ratings 227 reviews 5 stars 513 (15%) 4 stars 1,115 (32%) 3 stars 1,267 (37%) 2 stars 370 (10%) 1 star 125 (3%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews Lyn 1,919 reviews 16.9k followers February 6, 2017 Most authors would never dream of casting a limbless man, no arms and no legs, as a central character in his work – Philip K. Dick has done this at least twice. Joining Hoppy Harrington from Dr. Bloodmoney as a protagonist is Tibor McMasters, the unlikely hero of Deus Irae, a collaborative effort between Philip K. Dick and Roger Zelazney. An odd mix of A Canticle for Leibowitz , A Scanner Darkly and Dr. Bloodmoney, Deus Irae is a more serious work than many of PKD’s wild fiction. What does it mean that PKD has cast another character without arms or legs? In both cases, PKD has given the otherwise disabled hero extraordinary powers to compensate, or even over compensate for the loss of limbs. PKD has explored the concept of a post apocalyptic counter or competing religion in other works - Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? , The World Jones Made , The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch - Here, Tibor is set on a quest, almost fable-like in a PKD absurdist sci-fi kind of way, to find the God of Wrath, a man somehow responsible for the destruction of the last war (another similarity with Dr. Bloodmoney) and create a portrait of him, the man with no hands being a great and well respected artist. Along the way also is an acolyte Christian priest. Dick and Zelazney use this quest as a vehicle to explore the meanings, contradictions, and ultimately the great ironies of religion. 73 likes 2 comments Like Comment Kristijan 216 reviews 68 followers August 19, 2016 "Deus Irae" je postapokaliptična vizija dva vrsna SF pisca - Zelaznija i Dika. Obojicu sam upoznao preko malo drugačijih romana - Zelaznija preko njegovog Ambera, a Dika čitajući "Čoveka u visokom dvorcu", "Minority Report" i slična dela. Jedini Dikov roman koji se podosta razlikovao od ostalih koje sam pročitao - "Tamno skeniranje" mi je pokazao kako Dik može da bude veoma uvrnut... Međutim, ovakvo nešto nisam mogao ni da zamislim... Na prvih nekoliko strana romana sam doživeo WTF trenutak. Zamislite roman u kome je glavni lik slikar koji nema nijedan svoj ud (poseduje mehanička pomagala) i on se vozi u kolicima koja vuče jedna krava. Ne možete? E pa ovo je baš taj roman! Taj nesrećni slikar dobija zadatak - da oslika svod crkve posvećene Bogu Gneva - onome koji je izazvao apokalipsu i zbrisao većinu ljudske populacije. Slikar kreće na hodočašće koje za svoj cilj ima vizuelno upoznavanje samoga Boga Gneva - jer on ne može da naslika realnu sliku Gnevnog ukoliko ga ne vidi svojim očima. Vođen svojom kravicom, on kreće na put kroz postapokaliptičnu zemlju, usput srećući raznorazne životinjske mutante, ali i predstavnike "stare" vere - hrišćanstva, čiji Bog Milosrđa je ipak uspeo da "preživi" kataklizmu i da opstane među šačicom vernika. Zelazni i Dik u ovom romanu "pretresaju" religiju (i mitologiju), sagledavajući je na momente kao "sveti dim" (oblak koji ima svoju gustinu ali se lako može raspršiti ukoliko se vatra koja ga proizvodi ne održava) ili kao halucinaciju . Autori se kroz ceo roman pitaju da li bog može biti dobar (tj. milosrdan) zbog svega onog lošeg što se događa u ljudskim životima. Na kraju, autori ostavljaju čitaocima Gordijev čvor, nerešivu dilemu - da li čovek može spoznati Boga ili on ostaje sakriven, noseći vazda nečije tuđe lice... 54 likes Like Comment Karl 3,258 reviews 322 followers December 7, 2015 Written by Roger Zelazny and Philip K. Dick. Dick began the book but realized he did not know enough about Christianity to finish it. He asked Ted White to collaborate on it with him, but after reviewing the manuscript White never got started. Zelazny discovered the manuscript in White's home in early 1968, read it, then contacted Dick and agreed to work on it with him. Work proceeded sporadically over several years as each author forgot about it in turn (and Zelazny's cat took the opportunity to urinate on the original manuscript). But they finished it quickly in the spring of 1975 when the publisher demanded the manuscript or repayment of the advance paid to Dick. roger_zelazny-own 26 likes Like Comment Велислав Върбанов 586 reviews 81 followers April 12, 2024 „Свобода на съвестта означава също така свободата да не приемеш дадена догма, разбираш ли?“ Гневът е същинската характерна черта на организираните религии, макар и привидно да призовават към смирение и любов... Дори и в руините на света след ядрена война, оцелелите хора отново биха залитнали към зловещите църковни догми (водещи неизменно до насилие в даден момент), вместо да си подредят живота по друг начин. Такава песимистична, но и логична картина рисуват Филип Дик и Роджър Зелазни в съвместния си роман „Бог на гнева“... Двамата автори задълбочено разсъждават върху теми, свързани с християнството и религиите като цяло, на фона на много интересна постапокалиптична история! „Омразата, помисли си отец Хенди, може да възприема всевъзможни завоалирани форми на проявление. Самият той предпочиташе преките и открити демонстрации. А не това спотаено отсъствие на съчувствие, това педантично безразличие…“ „Слънчевите лъчи проблясваха като дребни рибки сред метален прибой в приливите и отливите на реалността.“ „Ако извърша престъпление или сторя грях, доктор Абернати би могъл да се отрече от него. Просто няма да знае, както са постъпвали едновремешните гангстери по повод на някое убийство. Църквите и коза ностра имат нещо общо: фалшивата порядъчност на най-висшите нива. Всички мръсни престъпления се стоварваха върху дребните риби на дъното.“ „— Пит — каза той, — съществуват неограничен брой начини да покажеш как изглеждат нещата в действителност. Всеки един от тях е правилен, защото ги показва. Но всеки художник го прави по различен начин. Зависи какво искаш да подчертаеш и как да го постигнеш.“ 21 likes Like Comment Nikola Pavlovic 301 reviews 48 followers February 7, 2017 Jako zanimljiva knjiga koja govori o postapokalipticnom svetu u kome pored hriscanske crkve koja je na margini postoji i crkva Boga Gneava. Posto je gnev sve sto su ljudi i osetili na svojoj kozi vecina prezivelih se odlucuje da pristupi religiji koja slavi Karla Luftojfela kao boga gneva. Knjiga govori o hodocascu, zovotu na postapokalipticnoj zemlji, verbalnom sukobu dveju religija. Malo filozofije i religije u SF maniru, uzivacete. 12 likes Like Comment Sandy 505 reviews 98 followers May 2, 2012 Of the 36 sci-fi novels, nine mainstream novels, one children's book and over 120 short stories that cult author Philip K. Dick produced before his premature death at age 53, in 1982, only two creations were done in collaboration with another author. The first was 1966's "The Ganymede Takeover," which Dick cowrote with budding writer Ray Nelson. An alien invasion novel that deals with the snakelike, telepathic inhabitants of the Jovian moon as well as the Terran rebels who resist them, the novel was marginally successful and remains one of the oddballs of Dick's oeuvre. In 1976, following Dick's Campbell Award-winning "Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said" and the release of his mainstream novel "Confessions of a Crap Artist," "Deus Irae" finally saw the light of day. This was a stalled novel of Phil's that had been started a good nine years before and finished with the assistance of acclaimed sci-fi/fantasy author Roger Zelazny. It is a more serious effort than Dick's first collaboration, less "pulpy" but just as psychedelic, and raises some interesting subject matter for the reader's theological bull sessions. And as in "The Ganymede Takeover," part of the fun in reading the novel is trying to discern where Dick's input leaves off and his cowriter's begins! The book takes place in yet another of Dick's postapocalyptic wastelands. Here, following a world war in 1982 that had left all but a few million folks dead, the remainder of humanity scratches out a subsistence living. Mutations (or "evolutionary entelechies," as they are called somewhere in the book) are widespread, and a new religion has arisen that rivals Christianity for dominance. The new religion worships the Deus Irae, the God of Wrath, as well as his Earth-walking incarnation Carleton Lufteufel (that's German for "air devil"), the Christ-like personage who created the bombs that destroyed mankind. Tibor McMasters--a "phocomelus" with no arms or legs, but who is a master painter, nonetheless, by dint of his mechanical limbs, and who gets around via a cow-powered cart--is tasked by the SOWs (Servants of Wrath) to go on a Pilg (pilgrimage), locate the deity Lufteufel, wherever he may be, and snap his picture, so that Tibor might then create a "murch" (church mural) of the living divinity. And so, off goes Tibor into the mutant-inhabited wilderness, closely followed by Pete Sands, a devout Christian who is seeking to find God through drug experimentation, and who has decided to somehow sabotage Tibor's mission.... As you can tell, this is a pretty way-out scenario, and Dick and Zelazny throw all sorts of crazy mishegas into their novel to keep things decidedly strange. Besides the loquacious mutant lizards and bugs that Tibor encounters, the authors give us a giant talking worm, a talking bluejay, the humanoid, ambulatory extension of a dying computer, AND a semicomical, rundown autofac (a wisecracking, underground factory). Adding to the strangeness quotient: TWO characters named Earl (one a mutant lizard, the other a mutated kangaroolike creature) and the fact that Tibor walks around 30 miles from his hometown in Utah to get to...Oregon! The book also features much in the way of humor, and is never funnier than when Tibor encounters some mutant insects rolling a large brown mass down a dusty lane, and one of the insects says, "What do you expect to find a dung beetle pushing along the road--sour lemon balls?" Potential readers of "Deus Irae" might be well advised to brush up on their Christian lore before venturing in, or at least to have their Interwebs handy; they might need it to fully understand the Mani, Albigensian Heresy and Catharists references, in addition to many others! It was Zelazny, supposedly, who supplied the novel with all these intriguing theological/historical tidbits. As to the rest of the puzzle game of who wrote what, I suspect that it is safe to say that the basic story line is Dick's, as well as the hallucinogenic drug references (Pete has a drug experience in which he sees a semidivine talking ceramic pot; ceramics had also figured prominently in earlier Dick novels such as "Galactic Pot-Healer" and "Flow My Tears..."), the fixation on German expressions and literary references (Dick had studied German at UC Berkeley in 1949), and all the humorous lines. But sentences such as "Into the world, the day: spilling: here: the queries of birds, tentative, then self-assured: here: dew like breath on glass, retreating, gone: here: bands of color that flee the east..." are all Zelazny. Dick might have written some way-out novels with mind-zapping plot twists and stunning abnegations of reality, but his sentence structure was usually straightforward and lucid. As for the take-away messages that "Deus Irae" offers, one must read in between the lines a bit. Adherents of a literal interpretation of the Bible (such as a Seventh Day Adventist buddy of mine) might come away a bit miffed, but others shouldn't be too offended by the novel's thoughts on God and modern-day religion. If I am reading the authors correctly, they are implying that the God of the Bible does indeed exist, as well as His representative here on Earth, but that our own images of God and his offspring have been garbled, telephonewise, over the centuries. God, it seems, might not even want His actual form to be known! Reincarnation and miracles can indeed happen, although drugs are an unreliable means, at best, toward attaining spiritual enlightenment. And as for the sanctification of historical individuals...well, it seems that many of them have been made saints for no good reason, despite their good intentions. These questions regarding God and religion, especially following his so-called "pink light" incident of February '74, were to plague Dick for the rest of his life, getting an especial workover in his later Valis trilogy, but "Deus Irae" provides the reader with some valuable insight into the author's thoughts at this time. The book is extremely readable, the writing styles meshing comfortably together, the characters are interesting and unique, the plot twists are surprising and the resolution is a fascinating one. Thus, I can heartily recommend the book to all fans of either of these great writing talents, both of whom are sorely missed.... 11 likes Like Comment Derek 1,297 reviews 8 followers May 31, 2015 It falls into the large category of "probably good if I understood all of it". It's dense with philosophy, with characters prone to internal discussion and digression, and each one seems versed in details of Catharism and other variations of Christian theology. As such its larger themes are buried in the details of all these characters instead of the great sweep of the book. If I'm understanding the whole of it--probably not--it is that a mortal sees the Divine through the lens of his/her/its own existence, whether a Christian, a limbless phocomelus, or a mutant talking dung beetle. post-apocalyptic 10 likes Like Comment Denis Author 1 book 29 followers April 25, 2016 The style was more like that of a fantasy novel rather than scifi: A long journey or a pilgrimage. One can't help but try and distinguish what parts are PKD and which are Zelazney's but, overall, it flowed seamlessly enough, and though some of the narrative got a bit disjointed at times, and it's not the best to start with, it was still definitely a good read. hardcover 12 likes Like Comment Иван Величков 1,004 reviews 62 followers March 12, 2022 Почитателите на Зелазни казват, че това е най-слабата му книга, почитателите на Дик твърдят същото за него. Аз, като фен и на двамата казвам, че имат и доста по-сериозни издънки. Бог на гнева има интересна история. Дик я е започнал, но не е бил сигурен в познанията си за християнството, за това я е препратил към Тед Уайт за евентуална колаборация. Там ръкописът остава забравен, докато Зелазни не го намира и не предлага на Дик да го работят заедно. От там няколко пъти е забравян и от двамата за по година, докато на края, издателят на Дик не го натиска да му върне аванса или да му даде роман. Самият ръкопис е имал нещастието да бъде ползван от котката на Зелазни вместо тоалетна, което води до доста интересен спор, понеже издателят не приема фототипно копие, а иска оригинала, според някакво там споразумение от пред компютърната ера. Както и да е, да се върна в началото. Този роман е 100% Филип К. Дик, дори доста от идеите вътре са използвани в други негови произведения, но това е нормално, като знаем с каква производителност е писал. Зелазни леко е смекчил стила на писане и е вкарал доста интересни референции към класически и апокрифни християнски текстове. Резултатът е откачена история в стила на Филип Дик написана с поетичния език на Роджър Зелазни, не съм на ясно какво точно не допада на читателите на двамата. В една пост атомоизбомбена Америка се заражда нова религия. Хората се кланят на бога на гнева, който е и действителен човек – Карл Луфттойфел, отговорен за натискането на червеното копче. Човечеството е върнато някъде около тъмните векове, като изключим някоя друга останка от цивилизацията, които не работят както трябва (имаше откачен компютър, който като бъгнат Свинкс задава загадки, но дърпа хората в киселинните си вани, за да ги разложи за енергия. Имаше побъркан съветски автоматизиран машинен комбинат, който объркваше поръчките). Отделно радиацията е докарала редица израждания и мутанти, ,а самият Луфттойфел е… няма да разбърквам религиозната яхния, която двамата са сготвили, но образът му беше превъзходно изографисан в някакъв надрусан вариант на християнската митология. Главният герой е художник без крайници, който получава задача от църквата на гнева да издири божеството им, за да му нарисува фреска в новият им храм. Това го отправя на пътешествие с каручката му, теглена от крава, из опустошените пейзажи на Америка. Един млад свещеник (християнски – който се друсаше експериментално, за да открие бог, поредното сравнение между религиозния и наркотичния екстаз в произведенията на Дик, този път доста по-директен) решава да го спре, защото усеща заплаха за клатещата се вече негова религия, но от друга страна е морално обременен да не го прави. А резултатът е… Филип К. Дик Заслужава си. зелазни постапокалиптични 8 likes Like Comment Silver Keeper 132 reviews July 6, 2022 Può uno dei libri "minori" di Dick, scritto anche a quattro mani con Zelazny, colpirmi così tanto? A quanto pare sì. Deus Irae narra le allucinate vicende di un inc (incompleto, un uomo con protesi meccaniche al posto di braccia e gambe) che, su un carretto guidato da una mucca, intraprende un viaggio senza una meta geografica precisa in cerca dell'incarnazione mortale del Dio dell'Ira, figura folle e ambigua che, da possibile maniaco che ha scatenato l'olocausto nucleare, è diventato nel nuovo mondo il simbolo in carne e ossa del volere divino. Tutto questo per immortalarlo in una foto e poi raffigurarlo in un dipinto, per consegnare il suo vero aspetto ai fedeli di questa nuova, e forse incoerente, Chiesa. Il romanzo è confuso, con incontri stralunati (uccelli parlanti, ur-vermi, robot impazziti, ecc), popolato da uomini che cercano la verità (e quindi il proprio scopo) attraverso la droga, l'arte o la morte. Un romanzo che affronta diversi temi, dal se possa esistere un dio punitivo come quello del Vecchio Testamento al ruolo delle arti figurative nella religione, passando per disquisizioni interiori sul quando sia giusto peccare. Non so dire cosa mi abbia colpito di più di questo romanzo, se il finale ironicamente beffardo, il sense of wonder degli incontri nella landa post-apocalittica o i tanti temi filosofici che in circa 200 pagine son riusciti a toccare i due autori, senza dare ovviamente risposte, ma riempendomi di domande. Sicuramente mi ha fatto un'ottima impressione, e son contento di averlo recuperato a scatola chiusa. maybe-underrated-sci-fi 5 likes Like Comment Olethros 2,680 reviews 498 followers May 13, 2015 -Con sangre de horchata.- Género. Ciencia-Ficción. Lo que nos cuenta. La religión de los Siervos de la Ira, basada en la existencia de un dios feroz, colérico y furioso, se ha impuesto en una Norteamérica devastada por la Tercera Guerra Mundial mientras que la de los cristianos se va diluyendo. La nueva religión adora al Dios de la Ira, Carleton Lufteufel, secretario de la Administración de Investigación y Desarrollo de la Energía de los USA en los años ochenta y responsable de la destrucción casi completa de la civilización. Tibor McMasters es un inc (en su caso un focomélico con implantes cibernéticos) que tiene un don para la pintura y al que se le encarga un mural con la cara del Dios de la Ira, pero una fotografía no es suficiente para su art, por lo que deberá emprender una pere (viaje) para encontrar al Deus Irae y poder ofrecer una verdadera muestra de su habilidad pictórica. ¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite: http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/... 4 likes Like Comment Steve Cooper 90 reviews 14 followers March 12, 2015 Critics of Dick often cite paper-thin characters and weak plot to justify their criticism, but if you focus on these things you miss the attraction of his books. For me, the real payoff is that they open possibilities we never suspected: possibilities that are purposefully designed to engage and often undermine our core beliefs. Yes, seemingly obscure bits of exegesis sound strange coming from his characters mouths, and they may not always help move the plot along, but it's a train of thought that Dick is developing - one he's launched to make sense of the ideas and experiences he's had. As such, Deus Irae fits comfortably with the rest of the PKD canon, and Zelazny's contribution smooths some of Dick's rough edges. Even so, the decision to insert Dick's palm tree garden vision must have stood out as a non sequitor to anyone unfamiliar with his personal life and obsessions. I guess it's things lile this that explain the low score this book has received. 6 likes Like Comment Teck Wu 328 reviews 15 followers Shelved as 'dnf' September 18, 2021 I had high hopes based on the synopsis, but seriously it was unnecessarily complicated: at times trying to be too intellectual it read like vomit, at times using really odd grammar (not wrong, just odd e.g. sudden adverbs) 5 likes Like Comment David Agranoff Author 24 books 167 followers November 16, 2021 Episode of Dickheads coming soon. dystopia end-of-the-world-epic old-school-sci-fi ...more 5 likes Like Comment Oriente 371 reviews 50 followers October 3, 2023 Azt hiszem, már említettem a ganümédeszi kötetnél, hogy Dicknek nagyon jól áll a társszerzős írás. Ez a történet elképesztően vicces, egy posztapokaliptikus szatíra, amit különösen tudok értékelni a műfaj felfutásának fényében. Nem tudom, hogy jött ki ez a 70-es években, most zseniálisnak hat. Ragacsos vallásfilozófiai felhő burkolja be a szereplőket, bár nevezhetnénk sűrű ködnek inkább, amiben egy tehénke vontatta kocsi bukdácsol egyik kopár dombról a másikig, a nagy világégető, a Harag Istene nyomában. A kocsi utasának, egy kéz- és lábnélküli festőnek pedig különös mutánsok és kiszuperált robotok keresztezik az útját, akik hol elragadnák hősünket sötét odújukba, hol jóindulatukkal kényeztetik és segédkezet nyújtanak - mint egy klasszikus népmesében. Igen, ez egy posztapokaliptikus meseparódia. Nagyon élveztem. sci-fi sffvektor2023 4 likes Like Comment Tomislav 1,075 reviews 75 followers November 30, 2020 Philip K. Dick worked on this, on and off, without finishing. Then Roger Zelazny offered to help. The result was one of PKD's few collaborations, with basically a PKD plot. I read it in the fall of 1977, and I remember thinking it was a little weird. I was reminded, because my son is now reading it. science-fiction 4 likes Like Comment Nick Tankard 397 reviews 32 followers May 17, 2022 8/10 3 likes Like Comment Nick 693 reviews 181 followers July 14, 2016 One of the more mystical or theological books of Phillip K. Dick that I've read. Don't know if thats Zelazny's influence or not, but I enjoyed it. Strays mostly away from PDK concepts like questioning identity, parallel universes, etc. Theres some drugs and hallucinatory episodes though. Theologically, it is a conflict between the God of Light of Christianity, and the Demiurge/God of Evil/Deus Irae/Carlton Lufteufel of Gnosticism/Cathatism/The Servants of Wrath. I mean, after a nuclear holocaust is a pretty good time to start worshipping an evil god amirite? The portrayal of post-apocolyptia was pretty great with the mutants and cults, and malfunctioning machines, and sparse, disconnected population centers. I also loved that he included The Big C (a malevolent supercomputer which is breaking down and needs organic nutrients IE flesh to survive) from his earlier short story, that is a great element. The whole thing basically has the aire of a bronze age pilgrim's tale AKA a wandering religious nut is encountering supernatural forces and monsters and God. But its all scifi. Well, maybe not *all* since some of the divine elements in the story seem to have real world consequences. Its true that the plot and pacing was strained a bit at times, but with such awesome foundational ideas and interesting writing I didn't really care. 1970s philosophy sci-fi 3 likes Like Comment Gregg Wingo 161 reviews 19 followers June 8, 2017 "Deus Irae" is in many ways a revisitation of Dick's earlier novel "Dr. Bloodmoney" with the addition of the societal control themes of religion favored by Roger Zelazny. It is not the best work of either gentlemen but it is a good read. Philip K. Dick illustrates his use of post-apocalyptic settings as social criticism to good effect here along with his ever questing questions of "What is real?" and "What is human?" while Zelazny ponders the role of myth and religion in society building. The collaboration works very successfully, but each writer is better on their own - the possibility of a creative synthesis fails to deliver a grandeur product. What it does deliver is a massive level of philosophical thought in only 182 entertaining pages something few writers - much less two - are normally capable of achieving. They cover the nature of art, the relationship of God and Man, the psychology of artificial intelligence, and the wisdom of the mutual assured destruction doctrine. They also look at the meaning of friendship and truth in individuals and society at large. And in a world recovering from a nuclear holocaust the meaning of death and survival. If you have exhausted the supply of PKD and/or Roger Zelazny you definitely want to read this novel. If you find either of them alone tedious this book may be your access point for their creativity. 3 likes Like Comment Sara Elice 64 reviews 8 followers December 2, 2009 I'm honestly not sure why I keep reading Philip K. Dick. I think it's because so many ideas of his became kernels for good, or at least entertaining, movies. But I would highly doubt that this one will ever spurn off an inspired work. Conceptually it's interesting - the town we begin in is split between Christians and those who follow the man who essentially caused armageddon during the last war. A painter is sent to find this man, the Deus Irae, to paint his true likeness. But the painter has no limbs because of the war or a birth defect due to the fallout (not sure) and so the journey is going to be perilous. What happens along the way is Dick's brand of weirdness, and some of it is understood and makes its point, but some of it is just too out there and is distracting because you don't understand what it is he's really trying to create with these chapters. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review 3 likes Like Comment Zach 285 reviews 308 followers May 19, 2009 I think I would give this one 4.5 stars if I could. It's a great vision of a post-apocalyptic future with mutants (the encounters with which are set forth in a very fairy-tale-esque manner) and a man-god who set off the bomb and what have you, but it was kind of disjointed (clearly the result of a collaboration) and could have used some more thorough editing. I swear at one point they said the bomb was 16 years ago and at another that it was 90+... neither of which would really fit with the story. ha. post-apocalyptic science-fiction 3 likes Like Comment Josh 214 reviews 42 followers November 9, 2011 A 4-star book with one star extra for sympathy. Seriously, 3.37!? This is pretty much Dr. Bloodmoney + the theology of the VALIS trilogy. AND THERE IS NOTHING NOT-AMAZING ABOUT THAT. It's still funny and quirky, too. I'm sure this is thanks to Zelazny, but this is one of the better written PKD books too (well, I'm sure any PKD book would feel that way after reading Clans of the Alphane Moon, but hey), and I actually would recommend this book to someone who just started reading PKD. library read-2011 3 likes Like Comment Jeffrey 169 reviews 10 followers October 16, 2021 TLDR Review: 2.5 out of 5 Stars. Worth reading if you are a fan of either author for academic reasons and some lovely prose here and there, but quite a mess as a whole. I stumbled on "Deus Irae" (Latin for "God of Wrath") for the first time a few months ago, and it kind of shocked me that I hadn't heard of it until then. First because it's from one of my favorite science fiction authors, Philip K. Dick, *AND* from probably my MOST LOVED sci-fi & fantasy author, Roger Zelazny. Apparently this book was one of only two times PKD collaborated with another author on a novel. Probably part of the reason it is so little-known is the book is a rather strangely conceived, forgotten, remembered, stalled, shared, peed-on, forgotten, and finally completed quickly in a cool & funny "behind the scenes" back story that is nearly as strange as its narrative. Note that I snagged this "back story" from wikipedia, (& that they got from the editor of a collection of Zelazny's stories): "Dick started the novel in 1967, then realized he did not know enough about Christianity to finish it. He asked science fiction editor and author Ted White to collaborate on the manuscript with him, but after reviewing the manuscript, White never began the work. Zelazny found the manuscript in White's home in early 1968, read it, then contacted Dick about working on the project. Work proceeded sporadically over several years as each author, in turn, forgot about the book. At one stage, Zelazny's cat took the opportunity to urinate on the original manuscript. The novel was completed quickly, though, in the spring of 1975 after the publisher, Doubleday, demanded either the manuscript or a repayment of the advance paid to Dick. The editor discovered that Zelazny had sent photocopies of a number of the manuscript pages and demanded the originals as per Doubleday's policy; much to Zelazny's chagrin, he had to send in pages stained with cat urine. Zelazny said later that he always wondered what the editor made of them." Discovering this, I quickly found a copy of the book and started to read this strange post-apocalyptic tale set in the western United States something like 15-20 years after all out nuclear war has devastated the world. The land is full of craters, rusting and rotting ruins, radiation, and mutant humans, animals & plants. A new religious faith has risen from the ashes, The Servants of Wrath (SOWs), whose new Messiah is kind of the antithesis of the Christian "god of love". They believe that the War proved that the God of Wrath is the only true faith and that Man's lot is to suffer until He brings them peace in Death. The SOW church has modeled their Messiah after an actual man Carleton Lufteufel (from the German words "Luft," meaning "air," and "Teufel," meaning "Devil"), who decades ago created and launched the ultimate doomsday weapon that ended the war by wiping out nearly all mankind worldwide, instantly (Dick's version of Doctor Strangelove?), leaving mere millions alive on the planet. The rulers of the Church of SOW in Charlottesville, Utah have commissioned the area's best artist to paint a "murch" (church mural) of their Savior as the living deliverer and sufferer of Wrath truly looks now. There are some old pre-war photos, but they want to be as true to what he looks after he ascended as an Avatar of Wrath. Only no one really knows if Lufteufel is still alive or what he looks like, just that he was known to live in Los Angeles before he pushed the button that destroyed the world. The great artist in question is Tibor McMasters, a twisted dwarf of a man, an “inc” (incomplete), the world's term for a human who is handicapped by his mutations. Tibor has no arms or legs, having been born as a phocomelus with vestigial hands at his shoulders, and feet at his hips. He controls crude robotic arm implants to paint, and gets around riding in a jury-rigged cart pulled by a cow. It is this sad yet talented artist who is given the "Pilg" (Pilgrimage) to find Lufteufel, take a photo of him as he is now, and use that to inform his painting of the SOW Messiah. Meanwhile, Pete Sands, a member of the town's somewhat failing old Christian church, has been experimenting with mixtures of drugs and narcotics to have visions and better commune with God ( yes, this IS clearly a PKD story ), despite his Priest berating him that drugs are not the Way. Sands, his girlfriend and the Pastor are visited by the inc McMasters before he leaves on his pilgrimage, and debate religion over a game of poker. McMasters admits his quest terrifies him and wonders if he ought to convert to Christianity. Strangely the pastor convinces him he must carry on as being afraid of his task isn't a valid conversion. The priest later sends Sands after McMasters to keep an eye (spy) on him. Sands is given a radio so he can keep in contact with his priest, and Sands believes (accurately or not) that the Priest's plan is for him to somehow sabotage McMasters quest so that the Christian church can reclaim some of the ground they've lost to the Church of SOW. Meanwhile, meanwhile, we meet who we quickly realize is Carleton Lufteufel who is living as a very down and out Rat Catcher in some ruins and suffering from shrapnel wounds in his head and side ( not unlike those of the crucified Christ ) and seems to be quite mad. An adult mentally handicapped woman with the mind of child follows him around calling him Daddy because Lufteufel was once kind to her and gave her a doll. Passing out after an attempt to remove some of the shrapnel from his head, Alice tries to clean his face of blood with a shirt and captures a near perfect image of his face on the cloth. She stores it with her keepsakes as a relic ( Shroud of Turin anyone? ). And so after the several scenes setting all this up, the quests begin, drawing these characters towards each other. And it is here where the story quickly becomes almost maddening. Maddening because it keeps heading off into what would be great post-apocalyptic road trip material but continuously derails itself. Many of the things described don't make a ton of sense. Sentient animal creatures have evolved in a mere 15 years for example?! A number of encounters seem to serve no purpose other than possibly a symbolic one I failed to catch despite some attempt to decode them. Every character seems to have PKD's obscure fascination with German poetry. There *ARE* some good bits, however briefly and bizarrely touched on: * The "Great C": the ruins of an underground pre-war facility run by old artificial intelligence computer that now sends out mechanical minions to ask passer-by questions like some kind of Sphynx. Only the Great C has gone mad as the world around it and often doesn't really know the answers to its own questions and tries to drag those it questions into it lair to feed its power cells with their body's constituents. * An "autofac": the ruins a prewar automated-factory that made or repaired items and made me think a little of mad AI run Amazon.com warehouse. It steals Sands perfectly good bicycle to "repair" it at one point, and then instead of returning a repaired bicycle, regurgitates a geyser of pogo sticks. But just when each one of these scenes begin to really engage you and go somewhere narratively, it's derailed again. The story keeps repeating itself (McMasters & then Sands following him meet the same conflicts along the road), everyone makes obvious repetitive comments, or goes off into philosophical & religious debates, or a scene will abruptly end to suddenly go off into another scene that seems to add little to the narrative. I got so frustrated with this at around half way through I had to put the book down for awhile and move onto something else. I will say that things get a LITTLE better in that last part, at least for me, especially in the climatic scene which I found quite moving. But even that I felt had a LOT of *potential* but was somewhat fumbled and not set up to its full advantage (details on this bit in the spoiler below. * Sands is saved by an injured man on his confrontation with the Big C, who claims to be a "hunter" (bounty hunter/assassin) named Jack Schuld (Schuld being German for "guilt"). Schuld tells Sands a number of tall tales and agrees to help Sands manipulate McMaster's quest so he doesn't actually find and take an image of Lufteufel. Later Schuld has baited and mocked Sands for his religion in front of McMasters a number of times, and when confronted in private Schuld admits to Sand that he (Schuld) *is* none other than Lufteufel himself who doesn't want his image spread, and they refine how they are going to trick McMasters to believe someone else to Lufteufel. But later when they are back with McMasters Schuld/Lufteufel arrogantly kills McMasters' dog. In a rage McMasters (still not knowing Schuld's real identity) strangles Lufteufel with his robotic arms. Watching as the would-be mad Messiah hangs suspended and bleeding in McMasters' arms like a Christ on the Cross, Sands somehow realizes from a look Lufteufel gives him that Lufteufel had been goading Sands and playing him, hoping that Sands would be the one to kill him in anger over the dog; that Lufteufel had hoped to reveal himself as he died so that McMasters could witness and capture the perfect image for his painting of a God of Wrath dying at the hands of another's wrath. ( Why Lufteufel would expect Sands to murder him over someone else's dog I guess we're just supposed to put down to Lufteufel's madness. And why the authors didn't mention Lufteufel trying to reveal his identity while he was being choked, or other clues to make this sudden realization of Sands make a little more sense I also haven't a clue. ) I quite liked the intention of, and some of the prose of the climax, and enjoyed the ending that implied as screwed up and skewed the facts of some of our religions and myths have become in their history, that there was still a kind of power behind it all. And the beautiful ending scene with Alice I thought was perfect. I wonder if that bit was Zelazny (which is my guess) or Dick. Still the more narratively clean climax and ending doesn't do much to save this novel, as I barely made it there after that muddled and frustrating middle. Let's say the ending pushed this from a 1.5 or 2 to a 2.5 out of 5 stars. I do wonder if the two authors hadn't been so rushed to finally finish something they had each played with so rarely over a long delayed period of time, what MIGHT have been, as the story really does have a TON of potential it never delivered on. Or if they had shortened it into more of a short story parable or myth told by (or framed by) someone many more years after the apocalypse going back and recounting the tale of the rise of the SOW church who knew the details (maybe being told by Sand or the Christian Priest) how a lot of the frustrating issues I have with the novel could have been pared away, or become part of the distortions of myth over time instead of glaring issues that broke your ability to suspend belief. read_in_2021 2 likes Like Comment ALbi 94 reviews 2 followers February 9, 2021 Che scoperta incredibile questo racconto! Il mio consiglio è di non leggere la descrizione del libro in quanto è pieno di spoiler e iniziare la lettura senza sapere nulla e senza indugio. Non capisco come sia possibile che non ci sia una trasposizione cinematografica di questo libro, un film d'animazione con disegni fatti a mano da una mano giapponese sarebbe perfetto! Questo libro scritto in dieci anni da due dei miei autori sci-fi preferiti è un opera filosofica, un discorso sulla religione cristiana, un libro sul valore della "missione" della propria esistenza, un viaggio fantastico pieno di creature inaspettate, un viaggio in un mondo post-apocalittico dal forte sapore sci-fi/steampunk, contiene un messaggio di grande valore per l'uomo e l'umanità. Da leggere assolutamente! 2 likes Like Comment Gio Albutashvili 31 reviews 6 followers April 2, 2020 ფილოსოფიური და რელიგიური ლაითმოტივით გაჟღენთილი პოსტაპოკალიპტიკა, სტალკეროვშინის და რეიდერების გარეშე. სამი ვარსკვლავი ამ ხალხთან ცოტა უხერხულია. დიდი არაფერი ფანტასტიკის ორი მეტრისგან. 2 likes Like Comment Paulo "paper books only" Carvalho 1,262 reviews 65 followers February 15, 2015 It was an intriguing reading but not all that good. What did I like? The general rambling about Christianity and the new church dedicated of the God of Wrath. It was interesting to see the character development but the plot itself was not that good. The chapters in the middle were boring and in my opinion didn't brought anything new besides the physical and psycological trials. And the story? The story begins some time after the fallout of a nuclear war. There were outspreaded mutations both to animals and humans. This incident led to new messianic religion (Servants of Wrath) who worship the creator of the war's ultimate weapon. This man was called Carleton Lufteufel. In a town, charlotteville, the servants enlisted Tibor McMasters to paint a mural of the god of wrath. (this town is the example of others towns where the God of Wrath is surpassing the Christians survivors. (In my opinion this reference to the God of Wrath makes me thing of the early mentions of God, where he would punish the unbelivers. An anger-driven religion. As Tibor is going to search for Carleton he has some doubts and recured to the christians but after some arguing he makes himself do what he has being paint to do. Did I mention tibor war an armless, legless cyborg phocomelus artist? Then he went about and meet some meaningless beings like lizards, birds, insencts (all sentient beings) and even some artificial inteligence. Meanwhile we get in two or three chapters another point of view of Alice, the intellectually challenged adopted daughter. Alice as she is trying to help Lufteufel to remove a shrapnel (akin to the crown of spines of christ) she gets blood on her shirt. Alice keeps the shirt as it is because it is the only likeness of her father face (akin to Shroud of Turin and Saint Veronica). Alice in the end is visited by Lufteufel spirit after his death but she things he is at peace. In return he removes her disability. Before helping her the "God of Wrath" also helps two persons. First Tibor giving him arms and legs and after removing them and another survivor the palm tree garden (akin to the Garden of Eden). In this we learn that he was an evil earthbound deity. Meanwhile McMasters is not aware of "His" death and is tricked by Pete Sands (a christian) to take a picture of a dying alcholic homeless person. He then draws the picture and it's in many murals on the Wrath of God churches. The end was quite fine with a christian priest thinking of that major event and with a critic image about the religious belief is ofted based on mythological accretions, which may not be valid interpretations of decisive events in the history of faith. There are some interesting moments with characters thinking what this pilg means to each one. First to the servants of Wrath, then to the catholic priest, to the painter and the one who tricked the painter. This was pretty good. There are some good sentences in the book. I transcribed some of the later ones. A good novel and to anyone who loves a religion/character centerbased novel it should look this way and pick this book. Excelent. "I wanted to depict that which may not be shown, that which cannot be understood. It is an impossible job. Pride. There is nothing else to me other than my skill. I know that I am good. It is all that I have, though, and I have made too much of it. I had felt, somehow, that it was more that sufficient, not just to make me the equal of a whole man, but to surpass other men, to surpass even the human. I wanted all the future generations of worshippers to look at that work and to see this. It was not the God of Wrath I wanted to look upon with awe, but the skil of Tibor McMasters. I wanted that awe, their wonder, their admiration - their worship. I wanted deification through my art, I see that now." (Tibor McMasters) "As Milton wrote once, "out of evil comes good". Notice, he said to himself, the relative disparity of the two terms; evil is the most powerful term for what is bad, and good - it barely surpasses the opposite. The Fall of Satan, The fall of Man, the cruxifixion of Christ... out of those dreadful, evil acts came good; out of the Fall of Man and the expulsion from the Garden; man learned love. From a trinity of Evil emerged at last Trinity of Good! It is a balanced thing. (The Catholic Priest) This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review 03-stars 2006_to_2010_read genre_apoc-post-apocalyptic ...more 2 likes Like Comment paper0r0ss0 648 reviews 50 followers August 6, 2021 Ecco un altro libro per dickiani convinti, solo loro, noi, forse possiamo trovare e apprezzare il grano tra il molto loglio disseminato. Un romanzo di una imperfezione assoluta e deliziosa. Discontinuo, non particolarmente avvincente ma che, non si capisce bene il perche', ti rimane appiccicato addosso. La terza guerra mondiale ha lasciato il pianeta in rovina e l'umanita' ridotta al lumicino, poche persone e in gran parte ammalate o terribilmente mutate. La penosa lotta per la sopravvivenza e', se possibile, complicata dalla sovrastruttura religioso-superstiziosa. E' uno dei temi piu' amati da Dick: la divinita', il soprannaturale, la giustificazione della presenza del male sulla terra. Parrebbe che piu' le sofferenze aumentano e piu' l'umanita' sia disposta a farsi schiava di dei esosi, crudeli e capricciosi, per cercare di farsene una ragione. fantascienza 2 likes Like Comment Giuseppe 218 reviews July 7, 2013 I due più grandi misteri dell'Universo sono il Big Bang, al quale, per quanto gli scienziati possano sbatterci la testa, è impossibile dare una risposta esaustiva ed un altro ben più misterioso e inestricabile. Ovvero: cosa vi era nella scatola cranica di Dick? Questa volta gli scienziati della parola (critici, lettarati e chi più ne ha, più ne metta) sono quelli che brancolano un po' nel buio. Appartenente alla tarda produzione di Dick, quella più metafisica/religiosa, quando l'autore aveva cominciato a sentire le voci ed avere esperienze mistiche (credeva di essere l'alter ego di un cristiano perseguitato dai romani nel I sec. d.c.), Deus Irae è la storia di un personaggio metà uomo, metà carretto, eccezionale pittore che deve fare il ritratto del Dio dell'Ira, nuovo culto (praticamente una chiesa gnostica) che va per la maggiore dopo che il mondo è stato un po' ripulito dall'ennesima caterva di bombe e che si contrappone alla ormai priva di fascino Chiesa cristiana. Il nostro cyborg si sottoporrà ad un pellegrinaggio, incontrando le creature più strane (mutanti, robot mangia-uomini) e così via, per ritrarre la personificazione in terra del Dio dell'Ira (il tale che ha dato l'ordine di lanciare le bombe). Ci riuscirà? Chi lo sa? Io non ve lo dico, leggetevelo. Certo è che rispetto ai libri precedenti, il finale è più netto e meno aperto. Rimane però, nel lettore, come nelle precedenti produzioni quella sensazione di avere una nebulosa di pensieri inestricabili, costellati da una serie di grandi interrogativi, il più grande di tutti "Come ha fatto l'autore a farne un sistema coerente (cioè un romanzo)?". Il fine o il messaggio possono essere chiari (Dick prende di mira la religione, il suo essere falso e vero allo stesso tempo e la sua relazione/contrapposizione con la tecnologia), quello che rimane poco chiaro è il "salto" dai singoli concetti alla concatenazione ed alla sublimazione narrativa degli stessi. Non per niente, qualsiasi analisi (usate la postfazione presente nel libro o anche quelle ottime di Pagetti, sparse in rete) riuscirà, per quanto brillante, incompleta, lasciandovi sempre un angolo scoperto dello scritto. E sicuramente ciò non si può imputare alla collaborazione con Zelazny, che invece sembra aver suggerito alla sciatta scrittura di Dick dove mettere correttamente le virgole. Quindi un Dick più chiaro nella scrittura, ma sempre acuto e cervellotico. Non vi preoccupate, il piacevole mal di testa post-lettura fa sempre parte del pacchetto. 1970-s genre-philosophical genre-science-fiction ...more 2 likes Like Comment Jan vanTilburg 287 reviews 2 followers November 10, 2021 With Philip K. Dick and to a lesser extend with Zelazny, it’s never only about the story. There is always more to it and that’s why I like especially PKD. This one is full of political satire and religious sarcasm. Dialogs are witty. Will definitely be more fun for readers with some christian (bible) background. It starts with Tibor (the limbless man) and Father Handy, bantering. Full of religious references. It’s then that Tibor is send on a quest, a ‘pilg’, to find the Deus Irae, the God of Wrath, who is held responsible for the all destructive war. So he can ‘faithfully’ use his image for a mural in the church. The story is set in a postapocalyptic landscape. It is populated with strange creatures, supposedly caused by the fallout of radiation during the all devastating war. All this gives it a surreal feeling. Almost fantasy like. With very interesting characters: Main characters: Tibor McMasters, painter (moves around in a bicycle cart, propelled by a cow), a servant of Wrath: “the limbless trunk with knobbed head lolling as if in trip-fantastic to a slow jig as the Holstein cow wallowed forward.” Pete Sands: Acolyte of Jim Abernathy, the local Christian priest. “The bald young man with acne.” Experiments with hallucinogens because he “wants to go as far toward Him, to meet Him, as I can.” Supporting characters: Father Handy - priest of the Servants of Wrath. Followers of the Deus Irea. Ely, the priests wife - “dry, dutiful, small and withered, as if wetless personally” Dominus McComas, superior of Father Handy: “large and tepid, with strangely cruel teeth, as if he tore things, not necessarily living, in fact much harder - as if he did a job, a profession, teethwise.” Lurine Rae (lover of Pete Sands): “red-haired and so small-boned that he always imagined that she could fly...” and “slight freckled, pale, red-haired, horse-riding girl of twenty.” Dr. Abernathy - “...short, roosterlike, red-faced, round little old (christian) priest..” Superior of Pete Sands. dystopian sci-fi 2 likes Like Comment Erik 322 reviews 18 followers August 3, 2017 Deus Irae is the second PKD book i read featuring a main character with no arms and no legs. This is probably the least strange aspect of this novel. This book combines Dr. Bloodmoney with the religious stuff of the valis trilogy, but sharpened into a more cohesive novel. A very christian novel i might say. A bit like a canticle for leibowitz but with some hallucinogenic experiences, talking bugs, talking worms, talking factories but with more religion. I never fault i needed some religious background to read canticle, with Deus Irae i did in parts.. But that heavy religious stuff is counterbalanced with a lot of humor and fantastic situations. Its a really fun read, most of the time. I usually cringe at the thought of dual authors, but this book mostly works out well. Dick is prevented from going to overboard on his religious theories. I liked how the ending wrapped up all the bits, but i wasnt a huge fan of super super strong christian tones - this is basically CS Lewis meets trippedout canticle for leibowitz. But again, it works very well. The book's plot was structured very well, particularly for its scope. 2 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 3 quotes 1 discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? 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The Rich Don't Always Win: The Forgotten Triumph over Plutocracy that Created the American Middle Class, 1900-1970 by Sam Pizzigati | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $14.99 Rate this book The Rich Don't Always Win: The Forgotten Triumph over Plutocracy that Created the American Middle Class, 1900-1970 Sam Pizzigati 4.49 76 ratings 10 reviews Want to read Kindle $14.99 Rate this book The Occupy Wall Street protests have captured America's political imagination. Polls show that two-thirds of the nation now believe that America's enormous wealth ought to be "distributed more evenly." However, almost as many Americans — well over half — feel the protests will ultimately have "little impact" on inequality in America. What explains this disconnect? Most Americans have resigned themselves to believing that the rich simply always get their way. Except they don't. A century ago, the United States hosted a super-rich even more domineering than ours today. Yet fifty years later, that super-rich had almost entirely disappeared. Their majestic mansions and estates had become museums and college campuses, and America had become a vibrant, mass middle class nation, the first and finest the world had ever seen. Americans today ought to be taking no small inspiration from this stunning change. After all, if our forbears successfully beat back grand fortune, why can't we? But this transformation is inspiring virtually no one. Why?  Because the story behind it has remained almost totally unknown, until now. This lively popular history will speak directly to the political hopelessness so many Americans feel. By tracing how average Americans took down plutocracy over the first half of the 20th Century, and how plutocracy came back, The Rich Don't Always Win will outfit Occupy Wall Street America with a deeper understanding of what we need to do to get the United States back on track to the American dream. Genres History Economics Nonfiction Politics 384 pages, Paperback First published January 1, 2012 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Sam Pizzigati 8 books 19 followers Sam Pizzigati, an Institute for Policy Studies associate fellow, has been writing about inequality in America since the early 1990s. A veteran labor journalist, Pizzigati has edited national publications for four different U.S. trade unions. He currently writes for the OtherWords media service and co-edits Inequality.org , the Institute for Policy Studies weekly on maldistributed income and wealth and its companion website. His articles and op-eds on inequality have appeared in publications ranging from the New York Times and USA Today to Le Monde Diplomatique and the Guardian. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.49 76 ratings 10 reviews 5 stars 46 (60%) 4 stars 22 (28%) 3 stars 7 (9%) 2 stars 1 (1%) 1 star 0 (0%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews David Jedeikin Author 1 book 4 followers August 30, 2013 Excellent analysis of how America went from a plutocracy to a more egalitarian society and back again. Definitely slanted, but nevertheless an important counterweight to all the free-market fundamentalism that's been de rigueur in this country for more than 30 years. 2 likes Like Comment Catherine Phung 4 reviews 27 followers December 10, 2012 There are some truth that many don't know in this book! 1 like Like Comment Corbin 47 reviews March 12, 2013 A must read: chronicles the (successful and doomed) fight of the 99% of Americans struggling against the tyranny of wealthy plutocrats controlling the country from 1900 to today. on-history 1 like Like Comment Randy Peters 2 reviews January 28, 2022 Great historical account of how we moved from inequality to creation of the middle class and then back to plutocracy. It seems we have now been lulled to sleep for the past 50 years while the plutocrats gain back all the wealth and power. They are killing the middle class with slow strangulation. This book outlines what could be done, but there are no details as to strategy and tactics that need to be implemented now. The limit on CEO compensation is a good idea and could be tied to taxation once more. But we are dealing with plutocratic psychopaths. The second problem is psychopathy in the workplace. Read and compare "Snakes in Suits" by Paul Babiak and Robert Hare, or visit hare.org The lack of character and outright psychopathy is undermining and demoralizing the country! Like Comment Justin Podur Author 9 books 47 followers July 12, 2013 Great and timely. This book focuses on two things: the right to organize in unions and taxation (specifically, the progressiveness of taxes). We can track the power of plutocracy based on the status of these two metrics. And based on these two metrics, plutocracy is doing better now than it has in a very long time. Which is why Pizzigati's book about how victories were won against plutocracy in the last century is so important. One thing that this book shares with Radicals in Power is the sense that radical ideas have to be congruent with the country's traditions. American progressive politics has plenty of room for egalitarian ideas, but not a lot of support if these ideas are phrased in the language of european marxism and philosophy - according to these books, anyway. There are some gaps in explanation that were left in this book. For example, the socialist party lost ground during WWI, and in one section Pizzigati suggests it is because the party opposed the war; in another section, he argues that the socialist newspaper that was forced to accept the war, lost all credibility and became a shadow of its former self. If opposing the war was certain doom and supporting it was a loss of credibility, how might socialists have survived the war? I suppose history is about what was, and not what wasn't, but for today's egalitarians who might not want to be crushed like previous movements, it's an important question. Regardless, these mostly invisible histories are incredibly important and inspiring. A great book. Also well written, nice narrative style. international-politics Like Comment Robert 30 reviews 6 followers May 13, 2016 This book should be required reading for anyone who is confused and upset about why the United States today seems to be rigged against the middle class, and who feels like things used to be better. Pizzigati documents how the US was in the exact same place in the early 20th century as it is today: corrupt politicians, massive inequality, stagnating wages. But by the 1950s, all of this had reversed, and the US had created the first mass middle class in the world. That didn't happen by magic: Pizzigati shows how it was the product of many years of political and labor organizing that culminated in government policies and institutions devoted to reducing inequality and benefiting working Americans. The two most important of these were the 90% marginal tax rate on the highest incomes, which reduced the incentive for executives to cut corners and cheat, and widespread union membership, which boosted wages even in non-unionized industries. For people like me who are concerned about the US today, it's inspiring to know that we've been here before, and we've gotten ourselves out of this spot in the past. Like Comment Randall Snyder 7 reviews 14 followers March 13, 2013 My sister told me I'm trying too hard to save the world in too many different ways. She's probably right. But when you learn something is bad and you don't try to do something about it, at least share the information, you become an accomplice. I finished reading "The Rich Don't Always Win" a few days ago. If you've followed my posts on G+ and FB you'll recognize my enthusiasm from the number of times I've posted about it as I was reading it. This collection of historical records should be taught to every American citizen. I'd love to see this end up as a documentary. If even a large minority of Americans were aware of how things really worked to create the socioeconomic climate we live with today, we wouldn't be living with it for more than a few more election cycles. Like Comment Mike 75 reviews 3 followers January 4, 2015 Those of whom I would really like to see read this book would probably denounce every fact that Sam Pizzigati carefully references in the history of inequality and the labor forces that have tried to eliminate it and have imposed push backs over time. There is no denial of a link between inequality of wealth and economic peril, and Mr. Perrigati tells us why. Every conservative red herring is tossed aside as tax rates, organized labor, and plutocratic control are wrestled with and pinned to the floor with a full Nelson of collective effort. Just the journalism alone in this book that exposes the history of our US economy in an honest straightforward manner make this book worth a read. Like Comment John 28 reviews 5 followers January 5, 2015 Read this book. Our American predecessors fought the same fights we are fighting today about banana-republic-style wealth trends and what should be done about it. Fascinating stuff, well told. Like Comment Abby S. 250 reviews 8 followers December 17, 2020 Get radicalized fam Like Comment Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews Join the discussion Add a quote 1 discussion 1 question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. 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Evernight (Evernight, #1) by Claudia Gray | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Evernight #1 Evernight Claudia Gray 3.65 80,714 ratings 3,497 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Bianca wants to escape. She's been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in. Then she meets Lucas. He's not the "Evernight type" either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him. "I couldn't stand it if they took it out on you," he tells Bianca, "and eventually they would." But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed. Genres Young Adult Vampires Fantasy Paranormal Romance Paranormal Romance Supernatural ...more 327 pages, Hardcover First published May 27, 2008 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Claudia Gray 82 books 13.6k followers Claudia Gray is not my real name. I didn't choose a pseudonym because my real name is unpleasant (it isn't), because I'd always dreamed of calling myself this (I haven't) or even because I'm hiding from the remnants of that international diamond-smuggling cartel I smashed in 2003 (Interpol has taken care of them). In short, I took a pseudonym for no real reason whatsoever. Sometimes this is actually the best reason to do things. I live in New Orleans. So far, in life, I've been a disc jockey, a lawyer, a journalist and an extremely bad waitress, just to name a few. I especially like to spend time traveling, hiking, reading and listening to music. More than anything else, I enjoy writing. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.65 80,714 ratings 3,497 reviews 5 stars 22,992 (28%) 4 stars 23,221 (28%) 3 stars 21,673 (26%) 2 stars 8,673 (10%) 1 star 4,155 (5%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,496 reviews Roohdaar 165 reviews 1,916 followers August 11, 2016 Sorry, guys. I deleted this review because I basically explained the WHOLE damn story in it. It was back when I was a shit reviewer. But thank you for all those who read and like it! I love you beautiful beings! cheese hate just-begging-for-snark ...more 94 likes Like Comment Kim 733 reviews 1,866 followers May 1, 2010 Okay, so how shall I put this... I have a few... issues with this book. Kim is bothered. First of all: I like subtlety. I like surprises. But altering your writing to deliberately hide something very important, never even hinting towards it even once and then suddenly go SURPRIIIIIISE! is not my idea of writing a good story. It would be the same thing if we suddenly find out Bianca has a penis. Vampires are mentioned once during an English lit class. Bianca bites Lucas and suddenly we learn: - Everybody is a vampire - Bianca has always been a vampire - Bianca was born that way And from then on the word 'vampire' is mentioned practically every other sentence. Also, what's up with the humans? They are supposed to be there to 'help the vamps adjust to the new world'. Which brings me to my next issue: The vamps act like they lived under a rock for most of their long lives. Yes the world changes, new inventions pop up left and right. But it doesn't happen overnight. If you need classes to learn how to use a microwave then I'm seriously doubting the intelligence of the average vampire. Yet they all act like they were zapped into this century. Gee, I'm 'only' 27 and I wonder how on earth I managed to learn how to 'operate' my iPod (that has no wireless connection because that's EXACTLY what I'd want to do on my tiny screen, check my email *eyeroll*) in such a short amount of time. My other problem with the humans is why anybody would think it's a good idea to put a few walking and talking blood banks in the middle of a horde of hungry vamps. I know it's mandatory in this kind of books, Bianca and Lucas have to be complete opposites, but the only reason for them going to the same school is because the mix of vampires, schools and forbidden love is hot right now. Of course later we find out Bianca and Lucas are supposed to be archenemies, which makes it even more difficult for them to stay out of each other's pants. What really bothered me is the explanation how Bianca can become a full vampire instead of a half-baked version of one. 'Oh you just slip into some old folks home and snack on the first sucker who looks nearly dead enough'. I'm sorry what? You'd still be taking a life, I'm sorry if being a vampire automatically comes with a god complex but it's still wrong to murder somebody. And last but not least: There are 2 ways to become a vampire. You are born one or you are made. If a vampire bites you 'enough times' you become a vampire yourself. How many times is that exactly? 4 times? 10 times? 50 times? And does every time count or does this wear off like say if a vampire bites you 5 times in a short amount of time, does that effect a person in the same way as if it was done during a one year period? And how come Lucas suddenly learned a few vampire tricks himself? How are Bianca's powers transferred into him exactly? And for a vampire slayer you'd think he would be able do the math himself after she bit him so why did he get upset with Bianca when he found out what she was? He could have been playing dumb but he seemed genuinely surprised when she came out of the coffin. I'm reading the sequel to this because I hope it gets better or at least better thought through. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review ebook read-in-2010 young-adult 93 likes Like Comment Steph (Reviewer X) 90 reviews 128 followers February 25, 2009 Rant: Every professional review of this book somehow mentions Stephenie Meyer and/or the Twilight series. Is it just me, or does that annoy anyone else seven ways to Sunday? I get that people want to allude to some of the bestselling series of vampire books ever, but saying "enjoyable (...) for fans of that other vampire series who need something to read while they wait for Breaking Dawn (Meyer, 2008)" (Kirkus) is downright insulting, as it implies that Evernight is no better than a placeholder. This angers me. But hey, I'm one to talk, huh, seeing as I'm about to do the same: The only comparison between the two books I think is appropriate to be made (and the only one I'll ever make) is that while it is Twilight's tagline that says "deeply seductive and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight is a love story with bite", Evernight is the book that fits that bill. I enjoyed Twilight, don't get me wrong, but let's call a spade a spade: Twilight is marketable fluff with a suspense subplot (and that's all it really is -- a subplot). And even so, the suspense is predestined to end in Happily-Ever-After Ville, so, without ever having a doubt of where it's headed, can we really call it suspense? Evernight, methinks, has real suspense "in equal parts" with romance. Moving on, as this rant is getting too long-winded and distracting attention from the review itself. Don't let the beginning of this novel get to you. This review (click -- beware of spoilers!) had a spot-on analysis of what was wrong with the first half; it channels my thoughts exactly. Basically, I felt like the beginning went one direction and then when the twist came, it veered another direction completely, and the two parts, together, were incomprehensible. When I discovered midway through the novel that Bianca already knew and accepted that she was a vampire, I was ready to hurl the book across the room. For one, it made no sense in synch with everything I'd learned up to the that point. If you were amidst an alien nation and you were one of the few humans in existence, wouldn't you think to yourself every once in a while, "Hey, I'm human. I live with aliens, but I'm still human. I know this because I don't look like an oversized zygote"? How could she not even think about her diet differences with humans? And for another thing, it was deceitful of Bianca to earn my sympathy through her lonely-girl gripes about not fitting in at Evernight when she was in the majority, species-wise. Added to this is the dragging narrative found in this first portion -- some of which, by this time, I didn't see the point in. Now, judging by the fact this is earning four stars, something inside the book must've worked, correct?! Right you are. When I hit page 200-something and the catalyst finally appeared, I literally sat up on my bed and my eyes bulged out so much, I thought they'd pop out of my head. From there on out, a dozen little plot developments happened that changed the novel's progression in a way I didn't for a second see coming. For every boring moment in the first half, the second half offered an complex setup, quick pacing, and really, really great discoveries. I won't go too much in detail because I don't want to spoil anyone's reading experience, but I can guarantee you this: The plot? Brilliant. Enigmatic, but balanced, and very well thought-out. Remember in my criticizing paragraph that I said some of the stuff in the first portion didn't make much sense to me? I meant Lucas's character (he seemed to me like a gratuitous lover-boy type), the sometimes over-the-top romance between Bianca and him, and a lot of details that made no sense whatsoever. It was all a set up. Nearly everything gets explained later on, and you can see the sheer genius behind this carefully strung story. I mean, I still don't get why Bianca knew she was a vampire all along when it would've been a much more groundbreaking move in the overall scheme of things to have her find out along with the reader the reality of the situation, and that's what robbed this book of an A-rating, but everything else? FREAKING AWESOME. This book is perfect for people sick of the tried-and-tortured vampires-are-oh-so-sexy books that seem to dominate the YA vamp-lit genre nowadays. I am not kidding when I say the ideas Claudia Gray introduced here are very original and engaging. I'm bashing my head in at the re-scheduling of Stargazer's release because I am desperately in the need to know what happens from here. Get. This. Book. Ignore the first part, revel in the second part, and then come join the line of people awaiting Stargazer's launch, which is, of course, led by me. I'll bite anyone who tries to cut ahead and I can't guarantee I won't drain you while I'm at it. blog-already-read 78 likes Like Comment Kat Kennedy 475 reviews 16.2k followers October 10, 2010 Pretty much, I think this rating is going to come as a massive shock to... well, anyone who's ever read a review from me before. The thing is, Evernight really isn't that bad. In fact, as far as sappy YA paranormal books go, it's not THAT bad. I don't actually know what to do with myself. I kind of expected a REALLY painful and agonizing reading experience before I came on GR and vomitted vitriol into everyone's faces. I guess you're all spared of that... for now! *Cue evil laugh* Evernight is the bastard child of Twilight and Harry Potter. If you can imagine that Harry Potter is the dignified, lovable parent and Twilight is the alcoholic but not-abusive-enough-to-warrant-removal parent then Evernight comes out somewhere in between. It aims, but ultimately falls short of being as dignified, full of solid characterization and whimsical as Harry Potter but neither is it angrily raiding the fridge for baloney and shouting at the cat to get a day job while dressed in a moomoo. It even tries for an M. Night Shaymalan twist twice in the novel but neither one was actually of any great surprise. I will add in here, as Anila pointed out, that there is withholding of information from the first person narrative. Authors, don't do this - it's really annoying and crappy. Still, the book is not entirely archtypical of a genre so polluted with hastily spat out gibberish. Bianca is actually intelligent. I don't mean the Wuthering Heights reading kind of intelligence although Wuthering Heights does warrant a mention in this book. Aside from actually being a geek and doing her homework, she speaks intelligently and forms opinions and makes comments that actually convinces me that this character IS intelligent. Unlike Luce from Fallen who is supposedly a straight A student who never cracks open a book and often has trouble forming a complete sentence let alone a complete thought. Lucas as the love interest is okay. He's antagonistic and defensive yet also vulnerable and sweet. The lovey dovey aspect of this novel was actually what bored me the most. I just didn't actually believe that their love was anything more than "calf love". It was an incredibly childish and silly romance. Which is to be expected because Bianca and Lucas are childish and silly. Still, the only time I ever felt the chemistry was in their first meeting and after that, I felt like Gray was simply forcing them together because her plotline required it. The writing was okay, the secondary characters were okay and the plot and pacing was alright. Over all, it was a thoroughly average novel but I felt that the characterization of Bianca was what actually saved it from being a complete rip off of The Covenant or some other book like that. I've been told the series does not improve with more books so I won't be reading the rest of this series but I do feel that as a novel, over all, I would rather a teenager read this than say Fallen or Evermore or Hush Hush. And now there's nothing more to say other than the fact that I feel like I should go into hiding or something lest the GR police show up to arrest me and beat me because they keep saying that I'm resisting arresst even though I'm curled up on the ground sobbing while they play hackysack with my kidneys. should-have-been-bad 57 likes Like Comment Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ 1,880 reviews 23k followers December 7, 2016 Kindle freebie 12/7/16 Evernight is a YA paranormal romance. Just understand that going in. If you dislike that genre, it's unlikely that this'll be the book to change your mind. If you do enjoy PNRs, I think this is one of the better novels I've read of its sort. My reasons for liking this one better than most are extremely spoilerish. Really, I enjoyed it much more going into it blind than I would have if I'd known there was a twist coming. I wasn't expecting a twist so it totally cold-cocked me. I thought my world had been turned upside-down for a few pages. Yes, the twist was a bit of a cheat--the author was certainly hiding the ball--but I enjoyed it so much that I forgive her. Seriously, if you're interested in this book, don't read more Evernight reviews, and really don't go reading the synopses or any reviews for the later books. Just go into this one cold and enjoy it for what it is. Just a word of warning: even though this book wasn't quite the usual run of the mill PNR, you've still got to deal with a YA romance in the oh-he's-so-hot-and-wonderful-and-if-I-can't-be-with-him-I-think-I'm-going-to-die sort of vein. I didn't mind it too much here, but it gets old fast. Also: Balthazar? Way better choice. I'm just sayin'. Even though the idea that he would seriously have been interested in our young and callow MC was a little too much disbelief for me to swallow. Since I pretty regularly fail to take my own advice, I went and dug through the blurbs and reviews for the rest of the books in this series (at least I did finish this book first), and I think I'm just going to quit with this book, even though this book's ending does kind of leave you hanging. I'll just have to imagine my own ending for the series. brain-candy cliffhanger-boo-hiss fantasy ...more 56 likes Like Comment Chelsea ✨Arielle’s Nebular Ally and Team Acrux✨ 739 reviews 888 followers October 7, 2016 Lucas only hesitated for a second. "Bianca, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." "Lucas?" His eyes met mine. "I love you." HA. That moment when you realize you love a TOTALLY cliche book that almost all your friends (And most of the community) hates. I literally am laughing right now because, really, what are the odds that everyone hates a book I love. It's crazy. But, frankly, I don't care. And, ya know, I'm almost done with the second and I don't QUITE get what everyone's bitching about. Okay, so, it's unbelievable? Lmao, one word: Vampire . Is that word believable? No. So why is unbelievability a problem? Oh, it's cliche? Wait, I have the answer to that one, too! What's that word again? VAMPIRE . Oh, there is a wonderful guy who likes the quirky girl on top of the main boy she will clearly end up with....I'm sorry, but plenty of YA books use this little formula and I don't see near as much hate . OH, and lastly, people said it's boring. To which I say: FUCK YOU. Yeah, sorry not sorry. This book is no less boring than a million books on my feed people are rating 5 stars. And all the 5 star beauties I see being criticized and rated one and two just make my blood boil. So, when it comes down to it, this book made me happy in this difficult time for me , and that's all I could ever ask for. Plus, HELLOOOO atmosphere. Totally Halloween around here and this book pulled me deeper into the fall season. I'll take it. With my autumn wreath candle burning and the crisp air outside (all I'm missing are my red leaves), this book pulled me into the best mood I've been in since Nugget's impending birth announcement. It's been tough, FOR REAL, so a book that makes me happy is like a light shining at the end of a dark tunnel (or, if you want to be really bleak, as I have been, for months-a cave) and I am holding onto it with all I have. Yes, Crooked Kingdom made me VERY happy-but, as for something lighter, this is hitting the spot. "I couldn't stand it if they took it out on you. And eventually they would." He was protecting me? That would have been endearing, if it hadn't been crazy. "You know, I don't think I have any social cred for you to damage." "Don't be so sure." "Don't be so stubborn." From the first moment Bianca stumbled into the woods to find the quirky and sly Lucas, I was hooked. This book wasn't perfect by any means, but there is just something so....fun....about going through your oldest TBR books and finding a gem no one is talking about. No fandoms are attacking each other like the Leigh Bardugo crowd (me, I love this crowd personally hehe), the Sarah J. Maas assassins (this one? Not so much), and the V.E. Schwabbies (again, can I give a shout out to my homies?). My point is this: Yes, I'm sure if I'd have done extensive research (cough, Pea, cough) I'd have known all the twists and each new turn. But I chose not to do that, choosing to blindly jump into an older book with low expectations. I knew vampires were mentioned, but I had no idea who was one. I didn't know what each character represented or what the outcome would be. For once, the feed was as silent as a mouse and I enjoyed my book-in a world of a solitude. I gasped twice, people-TWICE. And it's so funny, because, this book was obviously a little silly. And I should have caught on quicker than I did-I kept telling people, man this bitch is obsessed lol But as it turns out? Not so shocking. So, needless to say, would this have made me AS happy had I known the two things that made this the most interesting? Perhaps not. But that's the beauty of an older book-it's like a ghost, people don't care anymore. I can see why, I GUESS, people said this was boring. It was just a school, they just attended class, and they went about every day mundane activities. But, actually, some of my favorite books center around mundane high school activities -in fact, they are even better in the end. The reveals are more shocking, the fight scenes perhaps more breathtaking, and the betrayals more stark. For some, this book is a nightmare. For me, I would categorize it under my favorites. Not since Twilight have vampires excited me so much. Lucas should've run out of there that instant. Instead he stared at me through the glass and slowly unfolded his hand opposite mine so that our hands were pressed againts the pane of glass, fingers to fingers, palm to palm. We each move closer, so that our faces were only inches apart. Even with the stained glass, window between us, it felt as intimate as any kiss we'd shared. So, you know, I could keep bashing the butthole GR police, but instead I'll end it here. Some people liked Lucas very little and thought Balthazar was the one for Bianca- I am inclined to disagree . I loved B, I really did, but Lucas had my heart, and forbidden love will always be my favorite , And, frankly, I loved that this wasn't a love triangle. How could people NOT find this refreshing? And Lucas? He ADORES Bianca...and I just found the 'first love' aspect so sweet. Sue me, I'm a hopeless moronic romantic. I am already basically done with book two, and while I don't know what will happen over four books, I am grateful this is an easy, fun read to embark on during the week. I will likely have it all done by Saturday. It's just so great to be back. :) For more of my reviews, please visit: could-read-over-and-over-again don-t-be-fooled-by-the-cover favorites ...more 51 likes Like Comment Maria Clara 1,092 reviews 608 followers September 15, 2018 ¿Sabéis esa sensación cuando termináis de leer un libro de sí pero no? Pues eso. En general la historia me ha gustado, así como los personajes, perooooo la relación entre Bianca y Lucas me ha parecido 'ajena'; lejana, con unos sentimientos entre ellos que no he logrado sentir. Es más, voy a leer el segundo sólo por Raquel y Baltasar.... 55 likes Like Comment Clare D' Lune 105 reviews 41 followers December 13, 2008 I didn't like this book for a few reasons, but the biggest one is probably that it was so...weird. In a bad way. I mean, like they go through half the book and they make her out like she doesn't know anything about what’s happening at the school, and then BANG, all of a sudden, well she knows everything , and had all the time... its just weird. Plus I thought her character was poorly made. First she's all shy and stuff, but then she's like not, and then she is, and so on. And she meets Lucas ONCE, and I don't know if you all believe in love at first sight, but seriously! She's like dreaming about how much she loves him, and she's suppoed to be shy ?? It seemed so forced, like the author knew what she wanted in the end, and in the begining, and a few places in the middle, but she couldn't think of anything to go between the places she had planned out. Anyway, I didn't even finish it because I decided I had better things to do... It was boring and unreal, even for a fantasy book. Hope other people can enjoy it more than I did... books-i-didn-t-really-like 47 likes Like Comment Jane 8 reviews 1 follower November 25, 2008 Evernight, by Claudia Gray, pseudonym of Amy Vincent, starts out with an okay plot, but the choppy writing and barf-y love story make it seem like the worst Twilight rip off possible. The gothy setting combined with the suspicion and eerie-ness of the students are lost on the reader when they realize that the main character, somehow "failed to mention" the minor detail of BEING A VAMPIRE. Of course, this is merely an easy way for Miss Gray to reveal in the middle the detail that keeps the story moving, despite the fact that it's lazy to try to patch together a story that way. Claudia Gray does little justice to a plot with potential. She navigates her way through the story with all the deftness and skill of a drunk sea captain steering a flooded ship through a hurricane. And that makes for one huge disappointment. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review 47 likes Like Comment Cassie 47 reviews 27 followers October 16, 2008 I had to stop this book halfway through. Why? Because I feel like it broke a basic agreement with the reader. When I'm reading a first person narrative, I trust that I'm seeing the world through the character's eyes. In this case, part way through, we find out that the author has pretty heavily been editing the character's words to keep us from seeing that...(start spoilers)... she's a vampire. Now, it seemed that the character wasn't editing her own words, because being a vampire is just a way of life for her. She doesn't really care. But the author is editing her words, limiting what we see, to trick the reader into thinking she's not a vampire. I'd say it was definitely intentional, not just badly written, that the author wanted to surprise the reader with a shocking revelation. Now, from the beginning, I knew the main character was going to become a vampire. It's obvious, it follows the conventions of the genre, etc. But I thought she was going to discover it, not that she'd known all along. No, part way through she kisses a boy and then drinks his blood, and then she's like "Huh, mom and dad always told me drinking human blood was different than cow blood." That angered me. This could have been an interesting book about a girl who knows she's a vampire, one of the few children born to vampires. But instead the author thought she needed to trick us and hid this from us at the beginning. I just couldn't read it past that point. I tried, but my anger was too strong to get through many more pages. I would have enjoyed a book about a girl trying to figure out where she exists in the world of vampires, who's in love with a human boy. That could have been fascinating. Or if the author had moved out of first person and into third where she could reasonably hide the fact that the main girl is a vampire from us, I could have accepted that. But the way it played out? Nope, does not work for me. I was willing to overlook some of the stereotypical elements, the things that didn't quite make sense (Huh, so we're suddenly inviting humans to go to school at a vampire academy? Okay.....), because I was still enjoying the ride and enjoying like I do most high school dramas. But no. Then she broke my trust and what I consider the rules. And I just can't pick up this book again. Anyone else read it? I'd love to know what you thought. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review books-not-to-read bookwyrm_chrysalis_reviews 36 likes Like Comment Mizuki 3,119 reviews 1,300 followers March 3, 2016 Evernight, book one of Claudia Gray's supernatural YA romance series, provides worthy entertainment to its readers. I enjoyed the book but I also can't overlook its flaws. First I want to address how utterly overused the plot and setting are. I will write a simple 'Oh I have seen these settings before!' check list: (1) Gothic, gloomy private school. Check. (2) A heroine who was shy, socially awkward and had zero self-confidence. Check. (3) Two hot boys who wanted the heroine's affection. Check. (4) One mean-spirited Queen Bee in school. Check. (5) One nice, popular guy who is liked by everyone. Check...okay, can we stop having popular guy who's liked by everyone in YA books!? (6) Dramas at Prom Night. Check. Okay, can we just stop having dramas at prom nights? (7) New girl in a new school setting. OH! It seems like there can't be a YA book without this 'new student in a new school' setting! Okay, I know wise authors can create extraordinary books with the most overused settings, still Miss Gray's creation has left many things to be desired. Our 'heroine', Bianca is a lame, immature character, at the beginning she ran away from her parents in a halfhearted attempt to protest against being forced to go to Evernight Academy. Her attempt to flee doesn't even last longer than a few hours. I admit it's one of the most immature actions I've ever seen from a YA character. Come on! Is she a five years old kid or something!? Bianca also fell in love with Lucas after meeting him and chatting with him for just once, and then she is obsessed about him, moaning and mooning over him when Lucas didn't talk to her. My reaction to that is "Okay, girl. He isn't talking to you, Get .Over. It! Get .A. Life!" I mean, the whole drama with Lucas makes Bianca look like a five years old instead of a teenager. I know. I'm 10 years older than the targeted audience of this book, still I'm damn sure a lot of teenage girls out there will also find Bianca's behaviors immature and silly. Then we follow Bianca through a series of school dramas, meeting her new roommate and making friends among students. We are also told that there was a group of 'Evernight type' gorgeous, rich students who look down at the ordinary kids. Bianca was torn between staying on the Evernight type's good side and making friends with those ordinary kids. The stern, forbidding headmistress, Mrs. Bethany is also being introduced to us. It's also hinted by Bianca and one of the ordinary students that something isn't right with the school and the Evernight type students, but the secret would only be revealed latter. I have to admit I know what this secret is even before I read Evernight (I stumbled upon book 2 of the series first so I know what's going on in book 1), so the 'surprise' isn't really as surprising to me as it should have been. And it probably maims my enjoyment of reading a little. I think, if I read this book without knowing anything about it beforehand, I would have truly been surprised by the major plot twist because I could hardly see it coming, still after the surprise washed over, then I would have felt so utterly cheated. *major plot spoiler warning* So here is the major plot twist, in the middle of the book, we are informed that many students and all of the teachers in Evernight were in fact vampires, which included Bianca herself and her parents. Okay, that's when I'm truly unable to suppress my disbelief. The entire book is narrated by Bianca's first person viewpoint but at the first half of the book, the word 'vampire' is never in her thoughts and she never mentioned her parents were drinking blood at dinners. How come? I understand Miss Gray wants to give us a surprise, but it doesn't work when she used first person perspective to narrate her book! What kind of vampire/half-vampire goes through an entire day, a whole week and even months with no thoughts concerning her own true identity and her parents' vampiric behaviors ever crossing her mind? Did she have a filter in her brain to filtrate every thought about vampire? Instead I feel such plot device is stupid and I feel cheated. And after the secret is revealed, all of a sudden the words 'vampire' and 'blood' popped up from Bianca's thoughts all the time without any break, it only confirmed my suspicion that the absence of those words in Bianca's thoughts in the first-half of the book is a pure plot device, plain and simple. Here's a humble suggestion: if Miss Gray wants to hide the true identity of her main character, next time would she please write her book with a third person viewpoint. Plus we also get the 'vampires going to highschool for eternity' BS. It's reasoned that young-looking vampires can choose to go to Evernight Academy in order to learn how to deal with the modern time and pretend to be ordinary humans. I admit that it is a good idea to let vampires deal with the issue of adjusting to the modern society (Anne Rice had addressed this issue before) still I hate the idea of immortals going to freaking highschool in order to learn how to deal with the change of time. This idea sucks. Why would immortals endue living in dorm. always wearing uniform and taking orders from headmistress and teachers for eternity!? Plus, I want to point out that I can't think of a bigger advertisement to tell vampire hunters that "VAMPIRES HERE! COME AND GET US!" than naming your vampires school "Evernight Academy". Secondly, in the Vampire Academy series, at least the vampires who go to school are actual teenagers, adult vampires got jobs and had a life instead of staying in school forever, for crying out loud! Eventually Lucas found out Bianca's true identity, but after spending his holiday going back to meet the other Black Cross (vampire hunters group) members and Bianca sending an email to plead her case during the holiday, Lucas just came around, accepting his girlfriend was a vamp and then proclaimed his unchanging love to Bianca after he went back to Evernight!? What the hell!? So we are supposed to believe Lucas, a vampire hunter who had been taught to hate vampires for his whole life, would suddenly realize vampires aren't all bad and evil so easily? Just for one email? Unbelievable. *end of plot spoiler* To sum up, I'm okay with this book but I don't think there's any special or unique about it. It keeps you reading no matter what, and it can serve well as a guilty pleasure. The parts about Lucas' true identity being revealed and the ending are pretty nice, too. If you could overlook the flaws in characters, the romance and setting, and if you were willing to overlook some eye-popping cliches and plot devices, you can enjoy the book just fine. disappointment i-hate-love-triangle mary-sue-warning ...more 27 likes Like Comment J.D. Stroube Author 14 books 446 followers July 7, 2009 I was surpised to realize that I completely enjoyed myself with this book. It is somewhat of a Romeo & Juliet story of star-crossed lovers whose families are enemies, but with vampires. The characters are sweet, secretive, and charming at the same time. I loved Lucas throughout the entirety of the book, while it took me a little while to adjust to Bianca. However, once I did I felt that the pairing of these two characters was meant to be! I ended up being surprised twice during this book, which is exceedingly difficult for authors to do with me. It is very rare for me to be truly surprised. The fact that this author managed what very few authors do...just enhanced the book for me. I fully recommend reading this book. I read it in one day, because I simply could not put it down. I intend to begin the second book in the series tomorrow! favorites own-ebook series ...more 26 likes Like Comment Mel 84 reviews 245 followers February 21, 2011 Evernight is set in a very Vampire Knight setting, and is about a girl who is secretly a vampire (yeah right) who falls in love with a boring, uninteresting, controlling Romeo-wannabe and that's it. Yes, that's it. There is no plot other than that. This book managed to meet all of my expectations: It blew. Now some of you may ask me why I bothered reading a book that I knew I wouldn’t like, right? Well the answer is simple: I’m a masochist. I’m somebody who faps over how terrible books are, and who enjoys bitching about them later on and warning people about how terrible this book really is. The so called romance was of course once again bland, not to mention disgusting. Bianca has ONE conversation with Lucas about running away and changing her mind and soon after begins to gush over him because he’s so handsome and pretty and bla bla fucking bla. Bianca and Lucas have nothing in common, neither of them have personalities (Oh wait, they are both clichéd and love old movies and books because the author tried to make her teens unique just like any other YA author these days. You’re not fooling anybody, kids!), and both have no reason to love each other than the fact that Bianca is pretty and Lucas is hot. Lucas is a lame asshole who apparently thinks he has the right to decide what’s good and what isn’t for Bianca. You do not stalk a girl because you think she can’t realize when she is in danger and when she isn’t, and you don’t treat her like she’s your property. You do not think you know better than her and the people who raised her, and you don't insult her family when you don't know squat about them. You do not 'protect' her from her own friends, and when she tells you she's okay, she's not too stupid to realize she isn't. Because believe it or not, she's actually right for once. And the funny thing is, Bianca actually manages to realize that he is doing said things. She actually tells him ‘Look, don’t be so protective, just be there.’ which was a surprise. I didn’t expect that much brains from Bianca. But her whole lust for Lucas made no sense. And of course like all good YA romances we have the third love interest hunk guy who is just there to be the other love interest, and his name is BALTHAZAR. And guess what? He's another surfer dude. But, like Jacob from Twilight and Tony from Infinite days, he was a nice guy. Annoying sometimes and devoid of unique characteristics, but nice. He was someone who deserved to be the main love interest. He was kind, treated Bianca with nothing but respect, and was never cruel to her. But Bianca for some reason doesn’t deem him worthy enough to make out with. But Bianca just uses him as a rebound for Lucas when she and Lucas have a sort of falling out, which was disgusting of her. Also he kinda disappeared for a long time. I don't remember why. I guess Claudia Gray lost interest in him. Now Bianca wasn't the worst YA heroine I have ever had to be in the mind of. Yes, she is stupid and needy and whiny and judgmental. But she doesn't find the controlling things that Lucas does romantic at all. She also doesn't view sex as sinful or terrible, which was also a surprise. But even those pros about her character aren't enough to make her likable or even a good character. She's still just a one dimensional silly little girl. In fact, a box of tissues has more complexity than any of these characters. A lot of the book felt as though the author didn't bother thinking through any of her characters, or even the story itself. It was as though she just went 'Okay, uh... shit, uhm... Bianca is like... oh Lucas! She's gonna be in love with Lucas. He's gonna be nice and... uh oh, they fight later on! Yes they do! Okay, uhm... more drama. Oh, random surfer guy! I just loved Evermore's surfer guy character! Alright, in he goes! Uhm... so like, Bianca is in love with Lucas... uh... conflict! Bianca is, like a vampire... and... uh... Lucas.... doesn't like that... but everything is okay later!' and it just tends to continue like that. The plot is only focused on the drama of the so called 'love' story. Everything else is sort of thrown in randomly to the point that I just couldn't care anymore. As for the plot twists, they blew harder. They were so ridiculous. Maybe it would have helped if the vampires were ACTUALLY VAMPIRES. But like every other YA vampire book, this author didn't bother doing anything with vampires or even doing the slightest bit of research. Bianca is a vampire. Ooooh dramatic. And don't bitch at me for not censoring spoilers. You know why I didn't? Well, let me tell you something about the series. The publishers of Evernight and the sequels are not the brightest bulbs when it comes to marketing strategies. What am I talking about, you say? I'll tell you: EVERY BLURB OF EVERY EVERNIGHT BOOK REVEALS WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PREVIOUS BOOK. ALL THE PLOT TWISTS ARE ALREADY REVEALED ON THE BLURB OF THE NEXT BOOK. I already knew Bianca was a vampire and that Lucas was a vampire hunter before I read this because I heard of the blurb of the second book. Yeah, not very clever of the author or the publishers. But even without that the plot twists would have been ineffective. They were just so silly and not at all developed. Drama because of the revelation doesn't count as development. Evernight, despite the fact that it didn't suffer from as many flaws as so many other YA books out there, is still just a tacky, overly-dramatic teen angst story thrown into a school of vampire pussies that glorifies stupid teen lust as being true wuv. There is nothing original about the concept. It's pretty much a Twilighted version of Vampire Knight, which is basically about the same thing, except done by an author who knew how to research and actually develop her characters and vampires. And yes, I do unfortunately own a copy of the book. But it was only 2 dollars down at a local Vinnies store, and I hate reading books online. But Evernight wont get a spot in my bookshelf. Ever. It doesn't even deserve a spot in my bookshelf. But it does make a good coaster for my drink. 1-books bad-romance books-i-own ...more 21 likes Like Comment Aeron Trahaearn 501 reviews 39 followers December 2, 2016 (This book is 3 1/2 stars worth) Okaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay...WTF WAS THIS?? I will try to sum up my reaction in Gif:- FIRST 10 % I'm patiently waiting for there to be a point in all this... ...25%... ...35%... I cant believe this IS A LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT STORY!! ...40%... I have better things to do... ...50%.... "what...wha..what was THAT??!! she was..she...she was IT all along??" ...65%... TELL HIM ALREADY!! ...80%... ....Love is in the air!! ...95%... HE HAS SKELETONS IN HIS CLOSET??? 100% AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW FUCK NOW I JUST HAVE TO BUY THE NEXT BOOK RIGHT?? books-i-own cover-gasm favourites ...more 18 likes Like Comment Deborah Markus Author 6 books 663 followers September 6, 2015 Holy. Freakin'. COW. I've been enjoying the reading I'm doing as research for the agents I'd like to query about my own novel. I liked this book more than most from the beginning. It hooked me right in. But it was just a pleasant read, one I was going to give a resounding thumbs-up on Goodreads and then get on with my life. And then I got about halfway through. I've read good YA novels. I've read fun paranormal works. And I've read some great surprise endings (the twist in the last Hunger Games novel blew me right out of the water). What I haven't encountered in as long as I can remember is a stunning surprise MIDDLE. I literally jaw-dropped. Had to run down the hall and tell my husband (since I knew he wouldn't be reading it, so it's not like I was ruining it for him) what this writer had pulled off. I'm not telling you any more. I stayed up late to finish this book and then checked my library's online catalogue to make sure that there were sequels. (There are three -- woohoo!) So I'm tired. Just read it. I don't care how old you are, or if you're a boy or a girl. Read it and see if the middle trips you the way it did me. Claudia Gray is so good, I'm almost not even jealous. library-find young-adult-fiction 14 likes Like Comment Beatrice 1,161 reviews 1,711 followers December 10, 2016 A newly transferred student, Bianca Olivier, doesn't want to be in Evernight Academy. She feels like an outcast and finds other students brilliant, competitive and intimidating. When she tries to escape, a mysterious and attractive guy, Lucas Ross, stumbled her way. They easily get along with each other but he warned her not to get close with him. Despite his warnings, she's drawn to him and nothing can stop her for being with him. As their secrets unfold, the connection between them might set apart and loyalties are going to be tested. Unfortunately, I didn't like this book. I wasn't hooked with the story and the heroine is very annoying. Bianca is an immature, reckless, clingy and whiny heroine. I can't stand her obsession on Lucas as she keeps talking about him. I think she needs to more important things than love life. Most of the characters in this book are bland except Balthazar More. I'll give this series a chance and pick up the sequel when I'm in the mood. Crossing my fingers there will be an improvement. owned young-adult 14 likes Like Comment Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell Author 56 books 19.9k followers Shelved as 'wishlist' July 25, 2021 Coming up next on the Nenia Throwback YA Roster! I bought this from a thrift store because of a negative review LOL. What can I say? Rant reviews make me want to click buy buttons, real and virtual. 13 likes Like Comment Jo ★The Book Sloth★ 485 reviews 436 followers August 8, 2014 Damn but I hated this series. I found it completely ridiculous! I couldn't even finish the second book! For god's sake the plot is boring, the characters idiotic and the heroine... I want to kill the heroine! Bianca is actually a baby, and I don't mean the fact that she is 16, I mean that she is a naive, whiny, scared little girl who makes one bad decision after another! We also have the "admirers". Bachelor No1, "Lucas"... Lucas thinks himself a protector! Oh, but he is gorgeous! My cousin is gorgeous too, that does not a hero make!A brainwashed teenager, as ignorant as he is boring! Bachelor No 2 "Balthazar". The guy is centuries old and he still wants a teenage girl with insecurity issues! The fact that in the second book both of them run from friends and family in order to be together instead of standing their ground kind of tells us what kind of personalities we are reading about! Sure all heroes can't be perfect but these ones are as far from it as they come! insta-love-lust paranormal time-waste ...more 11 likes Like Comment Joyzi 340 reviews 426 followers October 25, 2010 What I like: >The book has vampires and vampire hunters in it. >The book has an interesting love triangle. >I love Lucas. >It wasn't boring and a nice quick read. >Truth is it's hard to put the book down. >I love that the story has twists in it. What I don't like: >Lacks originality, the plot is a mix of Twilight (average girl goes to new school, falls for hot, mysterious guy) and Vampire Knight (love story between a vampire and a vampire hunter). >Cheesy dialogues that made me want to puke. >I hate Bianca sometimes but at least she's more tolerable than Bella Swan. >I think the story could have been better if it has good dialogues. I could have rated it higher if I haven't watch Vampire Knight yet. Note: Vampire Knight is an anime okay, if you haven't watch this and you like Evernight, you better watch the anime/read the manga because it was way better than this one!!! author-american book-series e-book ...more 11 likes Like Comment Dana Al-Basha | دانة الباشا 2,270 reviews 908 followers March 28, 2018 OK!! I am shocked!! I was reading and reading! I reached chapter 7 and then BOOM!! The story was leading to some point but I am not sure I get what is going on! How could Bianca not know that she was a vampire? Ok! She knows but she is confusing me! Another shocker is Chapter 15!! Lucas is a Vampire Hunter!!! I knew something was wrong when he said to Bianca:"Don't ask me to do this. Don't give me that chance." But this I wasn't expecting! Great Book! I liked that there is a character named Dana just like me ;) own 9 likes Like Comment Buggy 524 reviews 688 followers May 25, 2014 Opening Line: “It was the first day of school, which meant it was my last chance to escape.” This had been sitting on my bookshelf for a couple of years. I guess I bought it during the whole Twilight/vampire craze, I don’t remember. Anyways I finally got around to reading it and it took me ages to get through although I can’t quite put my finger on why? Could be that I’m just done with this type of story, you know teens and angst and high school drama with a side of vampires, plus this was just missing… something. It also has a couple of huge twists, like game changing twists so that you have to rethink everything and that kind of annoyed me. The first half of this is also fairly slow going, while our heroine adjusts to her new school; it did pick up later on but with yet another major twist. Claudia Gray sure likes to shake things up and keep you guessing. By the second surprise revelation however I was ready for just about anything. I did like the ending, a little heartbreaking but with hope, leaving a great opening for the next instalment. In all honesty I probably would have enjoyed this more if I’d read it back when I bought it. Bianca Oliver doesn’t fit it in, finding herself enrolled in the eerie and elite Evernight boarding Academy. I mean all the students are beautiful here; rich and polished and well-travelled, just about everything she is not. Bianca is a self-confessed homebody, awkward in her own skin and much happier with her books and parents then the outside world. When her parents both take teaching positions at Evernight (as if she didn’t already have enough reason to be singled out by the other students) she is reluctantly forced into the world, stuck at this strange gothic academy. There is a definite “in” crowd at Evernight with her gorgeous, perfect (and kinda bitchy) roommate being one of “them” On her first day (as she contemplates running away) Bianca meets another outcast, Lucas. He is a total mystery and hot in that RPatz sort of way. Lucas is also suspicious of everyone at school and weirdly concerned for Bianca’s safety. Of course no Vampiric YA romance is complete without a love triangle so enter Balthazar (I love that name) he is the safe one, the sure one, the one that Bianca should be with but of course the one she tosses over for bad boy Lucas. Wow I can’t really say much else here because of all the shocks, surprises and downright twistiness involved in this plotline. I will say that Evernight is not what it seems but for that matter neither are any of its students. I can tell you that I enjoyed the romance, ill-fated lovers and all that and Bianca didn’t annoy me, as some teen heroines tend to do. She was actually relatable (for a while) I also really enjoyed some of the Vampire lore and specific world rules created here. Head mistress Mrs. Bethany also became one of my surprise favourite characters; she is super scary and kinda awesome all in one. Cheers 349jb3 paranormal-rom shelf-13 vampalicious ...more 8 likes Like Comment ~Tina~ 1,092 reviews 158 followers January 3, 2010 ::SPOILER ALERT:: Before anything else, I'm just going to get this part out of the way... So I'm reading this book, and for awhile there I was wondering why it had so many bad reviews? I was having a lot of fun with the world, the characters and the charming love story. Then...chapter 8 happened! Seven chapters into this story, we view Bianca as a shy 16 year old kid. She's mad at her parents for bring her to Evernight , a bordering school that her parents will be teaching at. She doesn't think she belongs in a school that is rich with people who see them selves better then everyone else. In fact, she knows she doesn't belong. Never the less, she's got good parents who only want the very best, and Evernight is the best. Bianca is your typical loner, but she was just like your average everyday gal... I always knew this was a vampire book, but the way it was delivered was just...wrong! Chapter Eight? Bianca just bit into Lucas? So I'm expecting her to just Freak-The-Hell-Out! But no, no, we find a Bianca who knew that she was a Vampire, All.A.Long!! In fact, she new her parents, the same snotty kids that went to Evernight and even the teachers were all, indeed, Vampires?!? No clues, hints, nothing mentioned in the previous 7 chapters before? Just nothing! The entire tone of the book was completely different. It was so misleading, it felt like doing a U-turn on on-coming traffic! To say that I was baffled is an understatement. I had to put the book down to mentally prepare myself to read it in a completely different way. I have no idea what the author was trying to accomplish my confusing readers this way, but now I understand where a lot of bad reviews come in. But with that said, I still really just liked this book. A lot. I liked the storyline. It almost has an underline sameness to my favorite manga/anime Vampire Knight (but VK was way better). The pace was a bit slow, but I liked it cause I was already invested in the story anyways. The writing was well done, it pulled me into the world (both times) and I just couldn't help loving Bianca and Lucas. And all that they stood for. What would you do if you were in love with someone who was suppose to be your sworn enemy? Call me a sucker, but this is my kind of paranormal happy! Looking forward to Stargazer, and hoping that there isn't another loop that will mess me up:P bite-me favorites own-copy 8 likes Like Comment Carla C Author 2 books 304 followers April 30, 2019 English I thought that I would not like this kind of books, in addition to the bad reviews it has, but luckily I read it to realize that I was wrong. It is a book that reads quickly because it is very entertaining, it does not bore at any time. I highlight the wonderful twists of plot that left me speechless and the incredible ending that kept me in tension at all times and I loved it because I did not expect it at all. It is a very unpredictable book. Of course I will continue with the saga. Español Pensaba que no me iba a gustar este tipo de libros, además de las malas críticas que tiene, pero menos mal que lo leí para darme cuenta de que me equivocaba. Es un libro que se lee rápido porque es muy entretenido, no aburre en ningún momento. Destaco de él los maravillosos giros de trama que me dejaban boquiabierta y el increíble final que me mantuvo en tensión en todo momento y me encantó porque no me lo esperaba para nada. Es un libro muy impredecible. Desde luego voy a continuar con la saga. series-finalizadas 8 likes Like Comment Margaret Stohl Author 98 books 6,033 followers July 30, 2009 Compulsively readable. Like, went to go buy the next book that night but they didn't have it at Dolly's...Will drive into SLC tomorrow for the sequel. Is that so wrong? 7 likes Like Comment ☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ 1,630 reviews 157 followers February 27, 2020 Entertaining Rating 3.5 stars. Right from the start this story takes off. When everything kicked off it was quite entertaining. Well now that lots of secrets are out in the open, I'm curious as to how this story will continue. So I'll definitely will continue because I need to know. LOL paranormal paranormal-romance paranormal-vampires ...more 7 likes Like Comment Alyson Walton 753 reviews 15 followers March 21, 2023 3.5⭐️ Well, I didn't know what to expect from this book? It's a very easy read (must be noted that I'm not the target audience) and doesn't require too much concentration to read. The characters are solidly written, and the setting of the world was really well thought out. But. . . . . This book/series isn't going to leave a lasting impression on me, I don't think. 7 likes Like Comment Yani 418 reviews 182 followers August 19, 2016 Aviso : la reseña tiene un spoiler (no es grave, pero es spoiler al fin) que oculté debidamente. Encontré pocas cosas que me gustaron de este libro, pero son lo suficientemente buenas (desde mi perspectiva, claro está) como para que no pasara a integrar mi lista negra de una sola estrella. Es un 2.5 que no quise redondear hacia arriba porque he leído inicios de series mejores. Una equiparación hubiera sido algo injusta. Bianca es una chica de dieciséis años a la que se le ocurre fugarse de la escuela en donde sus padres (que además son profesores en el mismo lugar) la anotaron por su bien, porque ya no sabe en qué idioma decirles que no quiere asistir allí. A tres o cuatro páginas de haberse escapado, se produce el primer encuentro con Lucas Ross. Como se imaginarán, la muchacha se obsesiona con él después de sólo haber conversado durante cinco minutos. Además, tiene pelo broncíneo. Imposible no enamorarse de él, ¿no? Así que terminan volviendo a la escuela y después los capítulos giran en torno a tres temas: 1) Lucas, 2) la marginación de los alumnos nuevos y diferentes y 3) Lucas. Cuando uno empieza a leer Medianoche se pregunta si no se equivocó de género. Las shelves (incluso la mía) son una especie de spoiler en sí, porque la naturaleza de los alumnos de la academia que le da el título al libro no se revela hasta la página ciento y pico. Pero por más que la palabra "vampiro" no se mencione durante un buen rato, uno ya lo intuye. No hay sorpresas, y ese es uno de los puntos débiles. El giro que da la trama cuando sucede lo que sucede para que todo se revele es forzado y, por ende, brusco. Algunas cuestiones que se presentan como agujeros en el argumento después terminan siendo claves de un segundo a otro, algo que hizo que pensara si eso estaba calculado por Gray desde el primer momento o si ella misma se dio cuenta de sus incoherencias e intentó salvarlas como pudo. Me inclino a lo segundo porque soy desconfiada. La narración en primera persona la lleva Bianca. Para poder dar una idea de las consecuencias que esto tiene en el libro, podría decir que es igual a leer la perspectiva de una Bella Swan un poco más irritante. Las frases repetitivas, sobre todo las relacionadas con el aroma de Lucas y las sensaciones que él le produce, cansan. No es un buen recurso para un libro que casi carece de momentos entretenidos y tiene demasiadas escenas cliché. La escritura no me pareció muy buena (hay una exageración en el uso de palabras que supuestamente usan los más jóvenes), pero tampoco fue un desastre. Lo que me gustó tiene relación con dos personajes que mencioné mucho en mis status: Balthazar y Raquel. Balthazar no tiene muchas vueltas, porque desde que aparece uno capta que es el tercero en discordia. Pero no molesta, tiene las mejores frases de la novela (si es que hay algunas) y lee a Henry James. Raquel, por otro lado, despertó mi curiosidad desde el minuto uno. No es la típica amiga enérgica de la protagonista, ni siquiera genera un balance con ella. Raquel es la verdadera rara de la escuela y tiene más matices que Bianca, así que espero que en la continuación de este libro tenga más protagonismo. Hay muchos personajes que deambulan y que pueden “levantar” el libro, pero necesitan que la autora los desarrolle. Porque, siendo sincera, Bianca y Lucas son insoportables y planos. Muy planos. En conclusión, Medianoche es un libro que acumula muchas fallas en los lugares en donde se podría haber diferenciado de otras historias de este género. Es predecible, los personajes principales no aportan ninguna originalidad y la trama cobra interés cuando aparecen personajes periféricos. A pesar de todo esto, quise darle una oportunidad a Adicción con la esperanza de una mejoría. Veremos. inicio-de-serie vampiros-y-no-tanto 7 likes Like Comment Sarah (sarahandherbookshelves) 406 reviews 23 followers February 8, 2017 I enjoyed this! I have seen this around the book store a couple times, but didnt really think anything of it. Then one day my mom saw the newest one in the series, and said "Sarah this one look good". Of course I knew that there where three more ahead of that one so I went and picked it up. Glad I did. For me there where 3 twists in this book. The two that happened at once, the third later on. I was pretty shocked actually. I did suspect the vampire thing though. Bianca is likeable, I didn't mind being in her head. Lucas was more interesting to me, he was mysterious like you never knew what was going on in his head. Bianca and Lucas' relationship seemed believable to me and I liked that even though they shouldnt be together because of what they are that wouldn't stop them. As for the secondary characters I liked Balthazar the best. He was kind to Bianca from the beginning and stayed her friend even after she choose Lucas. (not that she was ever going to pick Balthazar). I want to know more about him and his past so I'm quite interested in the book Claudia Grey is writing about him!! donated read-own young-adult 7 likes Like Comment kari 851 reviews June 2, 2010 Surprisingly, I really enoyed this book. It was almost on the edge of eyerolling, but was rescued just in time. Bianca, an awkward, shy young teenage girl, begins the year at a new school where she meets Lucas, a mysterious boy with bronze hair that warns her away from him while yet another dark haired and muscular boy, Balthazar, whom she thinks of as only a friend, is also interested in her. Sound vaguely familiar? Bianca spends too much time thinking about Lucas, almost to where I was starting to think is this all there is to this book and then, close to halfway through, the story completely changes direction and from that point on, it takes off and the story is different and exciting. The characters are interesting and intriguing and the twists in the second half of the book are great. Looking forward to the next book in the series. 2010 ya 7 likes Like Comment Anne 4,265 reviews 70k followers October 14, 2009 I'm stunned. I was expecting something along the lines of the House of Night series, but this was much different. I haven't read a book that had such a good twist in it in a long time. I thought I had a pretty good grip on what was happening in the story, but midway through the author pulled the rug out from underneath me! Excellent! Can't wait to read the next one. paranormal read-in-2009 7 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,496 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 35 quotes 26 discussions 11 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution by Steven Levy | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $12.99 Rate this book Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution Steven Levy 4.16 8,267 ratings 596 reviews Want to read Kindle $12.99 Rate this book A mere fifteen years ago, computer nerds were seen as marginal weirdos, outsiders whose world would never resonate with the mainstream. That was before one pioneering work documented the underground computer revolution that was about to change our world forever. With groundbreaking profiles of Bill Gates, Steve Wozniak, MIT's Tech Model Railroad Club, and more, Steven Levy's Hackers brilliantly captured a seminal moment when the risk-takers and explorers were poised to conquer twentieth-century America's last great frontier. And in the Internet age, the hacker ethic-first espoused here-is alive and well. Genres Nonfiction History Technology Computer Science Computers Science Programming ...more 464 pages, Paperback First published January 1, 1984 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Steven Levy 48 books 658 followers Steven Levy is editor at large at Wired, and author of eight books, including the new Facebook: the Inside Story, the definitive history of that controversial company. His previous works include the legendary computer history Hackers, Artificial Life, the Unicorn 's Secret, In the Plex (the story of Google, chose as Amazon and Audible's best business book of 2011), and Crypto, which won the Frankfurt E-book Award for the best non-fiction book of 2001. He was previously the chief technology correspondent for Newsweek. He lives in New York City. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.16 8,267 ratings 596 reviews 5 stars 3,682 (44%) 4 stars 2,887 (34%) 3 stars 1,242 (15%) 2 stars 272 (3%) 1 star 184 (2%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 594 reviews Kevin D. 26 reviews Read March 27, 2024 CYBER WEB PRO1@GMAIL.COM +1(503)877-4273 Relationship are complicated. They are built on one key parameter which is trust but sometimes people tend to take advantage of the ones they were suppose to love and nothing else. There is no room for cheating in a relationship that's being said YES. Its quite subjective. Nevertheless, hurting your significant other feelings can be a heartbreaking thing for any person. Spying on someone without the knowledge is unethical unless you are sure the person is up to something which might hurt you physically or emotionally. In this modern age were everything is either smart or going to be, the means of communication is always very smart which means that you can keep a track of someone's conversation. 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All the status updates I posted are notes I wrote on paper while I was reading, alas I ran out of scraps while sick in bed, somewhere around pg 350. (the goodreads entry says this has more pages than the copy I have, btw.) Note: this is a really long and somewhat rambling review. A few themes stick out, notably West coast vs East coast. No, seriously. The first section is all MIT hackers, the other two are west coast focused (hippie hackers and the gaming biz). Shockingly, the hippie hacker community actually manage to get more shit done. My pet theory is that it relates to engagement with the rest of the world. Those MIT guys really got to lock themselves away from everything, and they really liked it that way. (There's some interesting moments of cognitive dissonance of the radical openness within the lab vs the military funding for the lab.) Which meant they were doing fascinating crazy stuff, but it didn't necessarily have any effect on the masses. Whereas the hippies -- or at least some of the influential folks in that scene -- actually cared about the rest of the world. And of course the gamers were out to make money. So they were the ones who got computing and the hacker ethos out into the world. Another thing that I kept running into: I'd be excited about the hackers' excitement, totally understanding that sense of flow...and then: ugh, thoroughly unpleasant people. Not just unpleasant individuals, but a repellent culture. I found that most true of the MIT hackers and the gamers, FWIW. Possibly related: the overwhelming maleness of the hacker culture throughout the entire book. A lack of balance? Also possibly related: a quote about Stallman (p 438) - "He recognized that his personality was unyielding to the give-and-take of common human interaction." (That line? Made me bust up laughing.) Another somewhat random observation: baby boomers. Didn't occur to me until reading the last afterword, and the conversation between Levy & Gates, that all these hackers were boomers. I'd never really thought about the hacker ethos/community as also being a creation of that generation. Huh. What does all this mean to the things I've ranted about on my blog? (I had that in the back of my head while I was reading, based on an email conversation with the person who sent me the book.) I'm still not sure. It does make the underlying ethos of Facebook make more sense, although not any less repellent. In fact, maybe it's more so, because there's a historical thread connecting it to guys crawling through the ceiling to steal keys out of desks. (WTF? That still blows my mind.) And thus, a lack of learning how the rest of the world perceives reality. And for the gender thing? I see it even more, and I keep wondering how much of our current situation is "inevitable" given the history, what would have happened if the history had been different, etc. It also contexualizes the history of sexism in computing against the history of sexism in general (wait, did that sentence make any sense?) - the whole damn world was sexist then. My mother was one of three women in her high school trig class, and IIRC she was the only one who finished. Whereas when I took higher math in high school, I'd say the class was split more like 50/50. So the idea of the MIT hackers that there's some biological difference that kept women out of their world is nuts. Their world -- despite its lack of football -- was hyper-masculine, disconnected from anything that wasn't the guys and the machines. The story of the woman whose program got screwed up because of an unauthorized upgrade by hackers -- and she was doing something "real" -- made a impression on me as far as that's concerned. But that impression of hackerdom being a male province only fed on itself, so that women who were interested in computers were an oddity. (For example, what happened to the "housewives" who disappeared into the community center computer? Why weren't they able to become part of the hacker community?) As I said, I'm still processing. And that said, it was a well-written book; fantastic story-telling. The follow-ups were interesting as well, given that the book ends basically with a reference to the movie Wargames. Good stuff, overall, and definitely recommended. biography history non-fiction ...more 29 likes 2 comments Like Comment Justin P. 26 reviews Read March 27, 2024 Encouraged by these review, I contacted the expert Henry (Cyber Web Pro1@ Gmail.Com/+1(503)877-4273 📩📩📞) based off many reviews i got from here and he gave me applications and login details to access my partner’s phone, it was like a dream come true because i never expected his service to be so top notch with every details i needed. This allowed me to view text messages, calls, WhatsApp conversations, and her location . With the evidence I gathered, I was able to make necessary changes in my life. If you need to access your partner phone for spying purpose, I highly recommend this expert. it’s 100% possible to hack someone WhatsApp using a phone number with the support of a professional ethics expert 28 likes Like Comment Elizabeth J. 26 reviews Read March 27, 2024 You must carry out a smart action to links and divert calls and messages together to get others calls and text messages. You will need to engaged the service of a professional intelligence hacker to gain access to your spouses phones and social media account without account without their awareness , and the service of the below expert ethical hacker will ensure that’s it’s done flawlessly. Email: Cyber-Web-Pro1@Gmail.Com / +1 (503) 877-4273 28 likes Like Comment Larry 71 reviews 16 followers March 25, 2012 This book, the original version, changed my life when I read it in high school. It, along with "The Cuckoo's Egg", put me on the road to computer science in college. 28 likes 2 comments Like Comment Max Lybbert 208 reviews 46 followers August 6, 2014 Why didn't O'Reilly bother to edit out the unneeded phrases like "known to man" ("the best computer in the world known to man")? A decent editor could have cut 20% out of this book, and made it much better in the process. Additionally, there are enough cases of deep confusion about technical terms and famous events that I had to research any stories I was not already familiar with to see if the details were correct. The writing is terrible, punctuated with ridiculous narrative commentary. For instance, while discussing a chess program that avoided a loss via an illegal move, Levy asks if the program was finding a new solution to chess. No; it had a bug that caused it to consider illegal moves, and it took one. It's hard to imagine confusing one (bug that causes program to take illegal moves) with the other (sentient program that changes the rules of chess for increased enjoyment). It's also hard to imagine a good editor failing to flag such an ignorant statement. I have the 25th-anniversary edition and, to be fair, the portions of the book added later (when Levy was older and more experienced) are better written. But that only shows how poor a job the original editor did! I can understand Dennis Ritchie's anti-foreword to the UNIX Hater's Handbook ( http://simson.net/ref/ugh.pdf ): "Like excrement, it contains enough undigested nuggets of nutrition to sustain life for some. But it is not a tasty pie. ... Bon appetit!" 20 likes 2 comments Like Comment Elin 264 reviews 6 followers August 3, 2014 I don't usually review before finishing but I'm not sure I'll get through this one so might as well. It's a bloated and repetitive book that focuses on a very specific area and drags it out as far as you can conceivably take it. The author seems to think the people in the book are extraordinarily interesting, with their petty neuroses and self-centred immaturity, but unfortunately, they are ...not. Do yourself a favour and watch the excellent films Pirates of Silicon Valley and Micromen instead, if you want to know about this particular era of computing. There are lots of very interesting parts of Computer Science History, but this book isn't one of them. I'm more intrigued by Hero of Alexandria's first forays into Robotics; Ada Lovelace and the start of programming; the incredibly fascinating Bletchley Park and enigma code breakers... when you are used to genuinely absorbing computer science history, this book just doesn't cut the mustard. It also only cares about a particular era of young, obnoxious male Americans and acts casually as though their contribution to computer science is the only one that counts for anything. It doesn't even include young Female Americans who contributed, like Grace Hopper, Klara dan Von Neumann, Margaret Fox, Katherine Johnson etc. ... preferring to buy into the idea that "women just don't do computer science...strange isn't it?" No, the strange thing is how this ignorance still gets perpetuated as a "fact" in an information book about computer science, in this century. Give me a break. My main complaint though is that...it's just boring. It doesn't have to be, but it is. As another commenter mentioned - you could cut out a heck of a lot of this book with some decent editing. 16 likes 1 comment Like Comment Noah 436 reviews 15 followers March 17, 2013 This book is divided into three basic sections. The first, about MIT hackers in the 1950's and 1960's, is outstanding. The second, about homebrew hardware culture in the Bay Area in the 1960's and 1970's, is decent but bloated. The third, about game hackers and Sierra On-Line, is mostly worthless. I'd recommend reading the MIT section and then readily giving up on the book after that. 12 likes 1 comment Like Comment Willian Molinari Author 4 books 121 followers April 21, 2021 I'm migrating all my reviews to my blog. I'm keeping the old version here (because it makes sense to do it) but you can read the latest one on my blog: https://pothix.com/hackerscomputerrev... Great book. John Carmack said it was the most inspiring book for him and I can understand why. The word Hackers is not the same these days, but the Hacker Ethics still lives in some of the programmers out there. Those guys that keep hacking (and/or programming) for hours and hours just for the joy of create and modify things still exists. It made me think about the old times when I used to use part of my “sleep time” to work on some C++/SDL code just to understand how could I bring 2D game to life with these tools. This book (and these old hackers) motivated me to bring my hacker lifestyle again. It’s time to get back. :) audio computers 8 likes 1 comment Like Comment Margaret R. 26 reviews Read March 27, 2024 You must carry out a smart action to links and divert calls and messages together to get others calls and text messages. You will need to engaged the service of a professional intelligence hacker to gain access to your spouses phones and social media account without account without their awareness , and the service of the below expert ethical hacker will ensure that’s it’s done flawlessly. Email: Cyber-Web-Pro1@Gmail.Com / +1 (503) 877-4273 This hacker has been around for a while , but I know you’ve been looking for an actual response to this query. As someone who as experienced similar to what you are going through, I will suggest that you seek for help from a fast and reliable hacker with the details below,he can help you spy into your husband or wife’s phone remotely without any traces. I got all the information i needed from my partner phone in 5-6 hours max i guess Gmail: Cyber Web Pro1@GMAIL.COM / +1 (503) 877-4273 (Text/Whatsapp) Thanks me later. 7 likes Like Comment Ricky 274 reviews 12 followers August 2, 2017 I can overlook some sexism. Especially if a narrative just "forgets" to mention people who aren't men. This book goes a step further to imply that women aren't as good at hacking/math/computers as men which is bullshit. As if the first programmer wasn't a woman (Ada Lovelace). As if the first compiler wasn't written by a woman (Grace Hopper). As if there aren't a million kickass women and non binary folks who are hackers today. I'm frankly astonished that the author thought to almost exclusively interview and feature men in the first edition, make incredibly sexist remarks about it, and then never return to apologize or correct himself in the following editions. I would give this 1 star except for the fact that I truly enjoy learning about the history of computers, which is the only thing that kept me reading. book-challenge-2017 5 likes 1 comment Like Comment Brenna K. 19 reviews Read May 9, 2024 Catch you partner easily and be smart with it; I want to share my experience with you guys. ( Cyber Web Pro1@ GMAIL. COM ) Hello there, am recommending everyone to a very trusted, reliable and gifted hacker WhatsApp only via +1(503)8774273. He is competent, and provides excellent services. 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His charges are affordable and reliable, This is my way of showing appreciation for a job well done. contact him for help via address above.. 4 likes Like Comment Ji 168 reviews 47 followers November 25, 2021 This book got me excited quite a few times. It's less about the history of hackers, or the culture of hacker ethic. It's more about a sort of emergence - when technology and people crossed their paths, and boom!! a new way of thinking emerges. Humans, after all, are thinking machines. It's more than exciting to find a new way to think. That'd lead to new ways of living. It's what humans created together that's changing the world we live in. But then, what do I know? When I was luckily selected to be the few who could access Apple II computers with BASIC language in the 1986 of China, I had little appreciation of this privilege. After college, I met a friend who's a computer programming enthusiastic. He taught himself a good amount of English just in order to join those online forums. He told me he taught himself how to turn music into notes. Thinking back, that friend might have been the first hacker I've ever met in life. Thinking back, if I was able to see the amount of creativity in programming, I could have been hooked. Which never happened. Therefore, I'm a hacker that's never going to become one. non-fiction 4 likes 1 comment Like Comment Marc 34 reviews 6 followers November 22, 2008 I loved this book. It is a documentary about various aspects of computing. The first part is utterly excellent. It is about the birth of the "hacker ethic" around the DEC PDP machine in the MIT AI Lab. It is very funny and very inspiring. Some of the people in that section of the book have disappeared into obscurity, so the book is amazing for capturing this lost part of tech history. The second part is about the personal computer revolution. It covers the Altair machine, the Apple I / II and other microcomputers of its class. This part made me realise for the first time how much of a key player Apple were at the beginning. They pretty much created the home computer. The third part is about games, and the programmers and companies that created them for the early computers. It focuses on a few key developers and companies, mostly Sierra. This was quite interesting since I played a lot of Sierra games back in the day and didn't know any of these background stories until now. Anyone really into programming should get a kick out of the first section, it is worth buying just for this. 4 likes 1 comment Like Comment Steven Deobald 57 reviews 21 followers May 10, 2020 I really, really enjoyed this book. Levy tells the story in a way that flows from one brief era of the early computer age to the next. There is still so much of those early days which defines how we build and use computers in the 21st century. This book should be required reading for any programmer but I honestly think anyone would enjoy it. Philosophically, there is so much bound up in the Hacker Ethic that I have never heard a hacker (of any sort) express it coherently. When RMS presents it, it's some sort of Ultra-Liberal flavour of Americana-Soaked Super Freedom. ESR is probably worse. Modern hackers miss the gossamer nature of the ideal and stomp straight into implementations. Old hackers conflate a Hands-On Imperative with DIY. Somehow, Levy captures everything I have ever wanted to express about the Hacker Ethic the way that Harari expresses the concept of Collective Imagination/Hallucination. These ideas do not subscribe the ephemeral political spectra and they don't fit cleanly into the ideas the reader holds before reading the first page. Neither author is arguing for or against these ideas -- they're just presenting them. The execution is so brilliant I can't believe friends and colleagues haven't been shoving this book down my throat for decades. 3 likes 1 comment Like Comment Ryan Author 0 books 39 followers May 21, 2010 This was a really interesting look at the history of computers as a DIY technology, stretching from the 1950s to the 1980s, when the first edition of it was published. I find a lot of computer users look at the things like they're magic boxes, likely run by black magic and/or hamsters running in wheels; I confess to having moments where I've felt that way myself, but I'm trying to educate myself a bit more on how computers actually think and operate, and this book helped cement that understanding a bit more. Additionally, this book reinforced two of the truisms I've repeatedly encountered when studying subcultures. The market will replace your values with its own. It seems to me that subcultural movements tend to have certain values to them that make them popular with certain segments of the public. As they gain more popularity, the mainstream starts to notice them, and tries to find ways to monetize them, even if the movement was one that was based originally around non-commercial values. This is how we end up with Iggy Pop songs being used to sell Disney Cruise tours, and fashion that exploits women and their sexuality being marketed as "girl power" feminism. It's also how we end up with a generation of computer hackers who can't understand why anyone would want to buy a pre-assembled computer with the software already loaded on it. History never ends. One of the main recurring conflicts in Hackers relates to who has access to computer information - we see this with the MIT gurus in the 50s trying to limit access to their computers, and again with the tales of early software users wanting to freely share programs vs. the companies wanting to use copy-prevention to increase their profits. And we see the same conflict now with the open source movement vs. proprietary software, and DRM media files vs. the Creative Commons. It's one that will probably continue as long as people are recording information by the bit, which should ensure that Hackers remains somewhat relevant for generations to come. non-fiction 3 likes Like Comment Craig Cecil Author 6 books 10 followers September 8, 2016 Let's get this out of the way up front—the term "hackers" here refers to the original ideology of the word from the earlier days of computing, when hackers blazed the trail of our modern hardware and software systems. These are not the modern day denizen hackers of destructive, malicious infamy. Based on this understanding, this book should be required reading for anyone connected with the computing profession. It serves as a rich history of the genesis of modern day computing, from the earliest days at MIT, the birth of languages such as Lisp and BASIC, the origins of modern video games from Space War and Colossal Cave, to the natural evolution of microcomputing. Steven Levy shows us how a historical book about an industry should be written. It contains an unfolding, interrelated emotional story of people and technology. There are moments of wonder, awe, tenacity, pain, suffering, hope, idealism, and eventually, money, capitalism, and greed. Even at 450+ pages, this is one book you'll read through quickly. After reading this, you'll want to fire up Emacs, dust off Space War, and find out just how powerful this Lisp language from 1959 still really is ;-) computers favorites 3 likes Like Comment Brett Stevens Author 5 books 41 followers March 4, 2014 This is a book about the early age of hacking before computers controlled so much of our world that "hacking" became a science of exploitation. This is the original meaning of hacking, which is to squeeze extra performance out of equipment by bending the "proper" rules, which often have to do more with administrative control than technological limitations. I find this encouraging as an outlook as it is what all of us should always do to whatever limitations we find in life: work around the unreasonable ones by understanding the raw reality (science/logic/common sense) of a situation more than its human-imposed administrative, social and political -- these words seem to mean the same thing in this context -- controls. Levy takes us through the early days of East Coast university hacking, then looks at the hippie days and the garage shops of the West Coast, before giving us a brief glimpse into the world to come as computers became more powerful, were networked, and moved out of the corporate/government/academic world and into daily life. 3 likes Like Comment Vasil Kolev 1,076 reviews 198 followers November 19, 2011 This was somewhat mediocre. The book started ok, with the AI lab in MIT and the hackers there, but then got into some stuff which has nothing to do with hacking in any form, and the focus on Sierra On-line is unjustified. All things considered, not a useful book beyond the first 100-150 pages. history tech 3 likes Like Comment Nick Black Author 2 books 820 followers March 23, 2008 F'n awesome, obviously. Everyone should have read this by now, or by several years ago rather. 3 likes Like Comment Jim 141 reviews August 14, 2013 OK. It's too long, and, in places, too long-winded, even semi-religious in its fervour. e-book technical 3 likes Like Comment Catherine Troop 22 reviews May 8, 2024 CYBER WEB PRO1@GMAIL.COM Relationship are complicated. They are built on one key parameter which is trust but sometimes people tend to take advantage of the ones they were suppose to love and nothing else. There is no room for cheating in a relationship that's being said YES. Its quite subjective. Nevertheless, hurting your significant other feelings can be a heartbreaking thing for any person. Spying on someone without the knowledge is unethical unless you are sure the person is up to something which might hurt you physically or emotionally. In this modern age were everything is either smart or going to be, the means of communication is always very smart which means that you can keep a track of someone's conversation. If you are in a relationship and you want to keep track on your spouse messages, they are lots of way to do that with the help of Ghostpeep and you get to peep all you want on your partner’s phone activities Contact him on Gmail. 2 likes Like Comment Kate P. 20 reviews Read May 8, 2024 You must carry out a smart action to links and divert calls and messages together to get others calls and text messages. You will need to engaged the service of a professional intelligence hacker to gain access to your spouses phones and social media account without account without their awareness , and the service of the below expert ethical hacker will ensure that’s it’s done flawlessly. Email: Cyber-Web-Pro1@Gmail.Com / +1 (503) 877-4273 This hacker has been around for a while , but I know you’ve been looking for an actual response to this query. As someone who as experienced similar to what you are going through, I will suggest that you seek for help from a fast and reliable hacker with the details below,he can help you spy into your husband or wife’s phone remotely without any traces. I got all the information i needed from my partner phone in 5-6 hours max i guess Gmail: Cyber Web Pro1@GMAIL.COM / +1 (503) 877-4273 (Text/Whatsapp) Thanks me later. 2 likes Like Comment Vlad 5 reviews October 28, 2017 Great insight on the birth and evolution of the hacker mentality and its effects on the computer revolution. Following the achievements and contributions in the field made by people such as Marvin Minsky (the father of AI), Peter Samson (developer of the Harmony Compiler and "Spacewar!"), Richard Greenblatt and Bill Gosper (considered to be the founders of the first hacker community), Steve Wozniak (co-founder of Apple), Ken and Roberta Williams (founders of Sierra On-line, one of the first computer gaming companies), and John Draper (legendary figure in the programing, hacking and security communities) among many others. My only gripe while reading this book was that I haven't stumbled upon it a few years earlier. 2 likes Like Comment Jim 242 reviews 15 followers February 2, 2021 I loved this book. I loved this book back in 1985 when I first read it. But I really loved reading it again in 2021. This 25th-anniversary edition has an appendix where Levy tells us what his hackers are doing today, something I wondered all the while rereading the original story. Get that edition. Most people today can't remember a time before computers dominated the world. I can. This book is about a handful of people who envisioned the potential of computers back in the late 1950s through the early 1980s. Their tiny subculture took over the world. 2023-inventory audible computers 2 likes Like Comment Laci 349 reviews 9 followers October 14, 2018 The first of the three parts is a very enjoyable account of the eldest generation of hackers - their breathless enthusiasm and absolute dedication shines through to the reader as if one was there. I liked the second part the least, the third one was good again. It's also very interesting to read a book that maps the relatively obscure hacker culture (back in 1983, when it was first published). The book got popular in the following years, made its own impact on the very culture it described. And then it got updates. There was an afterword with an update from 1993 (that is, ten years later) and then another one from 2010, so the author had an opportunity to update the book with some comments on its own role within the community. I'd wanted to read this book for a long time; even more so after I'd read in Masters of Doom that it was instrumental to John Carmack in the formation of some of his views. And finding that Carmack got a mention in the 2010 update was quite satisfying. history mudre technology 2 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 594 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 50 quotes 1 discussion 3 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Claiming Her Heart (Under His Command, #3) by Lili Valente | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Under His Command #3 Claiming Her Heart Lili Valente 4.04 699 ratings 50 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Blake has what he thought he wanted--Erin's submission, her trust, and the woman he loves back in his bed. But with her submission comes protection of her secrets. Erin is in trouble and an innocent life hangs in the balance. Blake knows he can help her break free of the past, but he doesn't know if a man like himself belongs in her future. How can he swear to protect her from danger when he has a dark side of his own? Warning: Dominant alpha hero Blake Roberts will own your nights and forever ruin you for lesser men. Genres BDSM Romance Erotica Contemporary Romance Contemporary Erotic Romance Adult 249 pages, Kindle Edition First published March 16, 2015 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Lili Valente 133 books 3,895 followers Visit Lili at www.lilivalente.com Author of over forty novels, USA Today Bestseller Lili Valente writes everything from steamy suspense to laugh-out-loud romantic comedies. She can't resist a story where love wins big. Because love should always win. She lives in Vermont with her two big-hearted boy children and a dog named Pippa Jane. *Lili rarely visits this site as it is a site intended for readers, not authors. If you have questions, the best way to reach Lili is through her website contact form. Happy reading! Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.04 699 ratings 50 reviews 5 stars 261 (37%) 4 stars 257 (36%) 3 stars 138 (19%) 2 stars 34 (4%) 1 star 9 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews Susan (susayq ~) 2,272 reviews 129 followers April 12, 2015 This is the final part of this trilogy and it was by far the best. I don't think Blake apologized appropriately enough for breaking her trust by looking into her past. But, Erin seemed fine with what he did tell her. I do like how this got to the end with Blake leaving Erin and then her finally going to him a couple months later . The ending was perfect for them :) 2015books contemporary-romance ebooks ...more 3 likes Like Comment April ♥"LOS" ♥ 2,825 reviews 59 followers May 6, 2021 Blake and Erin have finally started being truthful with each other and putting their past behind them. To Erin's surprise Blake is willing to accept the mistakes she's made and offers to help her get her daughter back. But as the possibility of a future together becomes a reality, Blake realizes he can't be the man for Erin. This book is a great ending to this couple's story. I would definitely recommend this series. dhasg-2016-challenge 2 likes Like Comment Tami Talbert 449 reviews 17 followers February 19, 2015 Claiming Her Heart is the fantastic conclusion to Lili Valente’s amazing Under His Command series. After reading the first two novels and experiencing the hot eroticism shared between Blake and Erin, the thought crossed my mind of whether Ms. Valente would ever be able to surpass them. But as I flipped the final page I am left with such a feeling of contentment it’s almost hard to describe. Don’t get me wrong, the hot erotic scenes shared between these two characters was absolutely amazing at times leaving my heart pumping as fast as I am sure theirs were. But the incredible connection between Blake and Erin was, well, incredible going far beyond the dom/sub relationship they shared in the bedroom!! Claiming Her Heart basically picks up where the author left us albeit now back at Blake’s cabin where he is experiencing feelings of anger at the betrayal of Erin running away from him, again. But when Erin begins to display the intensity of emotion and upset she is feeling over everything that has happened in her life, Blake’s anger starts to wane and their love for each other once again boils over as they lay entwined together. When Erin begins to finally open up about her failed marriage and concern for her daughter, Blake starts to convince himself that because of the decisions he has made, he is no good for her either. But despite the roadblocks that seem to arise, both Blake and Erin’s hearts have always remained connected. As they work together to formulate a plan to get her daughter back, the questions continue to linger of whether Erin will ever again hold her baby in her arms, and will Blake be able to let go of his self-doubt and admit that their lives and hearts will always remain entangled? This is one of the more difficult reviews I have written. I enjoyed this series so much and writing each of my reviews was a struggle because of the overwhelming need I felt to express how exceptional I feel the Under His Command books to be without divulging anything that would spoil the discovery of the story by those reading it for the first time. Blake and Erin were such extraordinary characters who each grew up in lives of disharmony and strife but had always found comfort in each other. Now as their paths cross again eight years later, the love and connection their souls had always known for one another remains as strong as it ever was. However, they both must learn to look beyond and into the future to hopefully find the life together they had always hoped they would share. Lili Valente has written two spectacular characters and the hot, sensual and erotic scenes were fantastic. She has definitely earned her place on my must read author list. Claiming Her Heart and the Under His Command series have given us amazing characters and an entertaining and captivating story!! 1 like Like Comment Tracey 929 reviews 19 followers March 16, 2015 And, 5+ scorching hot stars for the finish! Claiming Her Heart is the final book in Lili's Under His Command trilogy, and it is great. The emotion that has been building since Blake and Erin reconnected in the first book has gotten more intense, and is at a peak here. Blake is in full Dom mode, and Erin is ready to submit to him in every way, knowing that he truly is worthy of her trust. But having done the things that he has to bring Erin back into his life makes Blake feel that she would be better off without him, and what he perceives as the dark side of himself. Blake loves Erin absolutely, and truly wants nothing but the best for her, vowing to help her in her plan to regain custody of her daughter even while planning to set her free afterwards. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this read. This whole series is a roller coaster of emotion and pure raw hotness. Blake and Erin are completely in tune with each other; their time apart has done nothing to lessen their feelings for each other, and their new-found roles in the bedroom are the perfect fit. Lili does a fabulous job of showing the human side of her characters, and drew me into the story so that I felt totally invested in the outcome. I flew through this book (and the others), wishing that I could savor each page to make it last longer, but unable to slow down because I was dying to see what happened next. Lili is a strong new voice in the erotic literature genre, and I can’t wait to read more from her in the very near future. 1 like Like Comment Sandra Shipman ~ Two Book Pushers 2,005 reviews 49 followers February 18, 2015 This picks up right where Commanding Her Trust left off...Blake angry and hurt at the same time. He was now not under the illusion that Erin cared about him like she pretended to be. He was going to do what he planned and never look back. Well...that was his plan anyway and plans don't always work out. Was she really pretending to still love him?! Blake wants her trust and Erin wants his just the same. Secrets that she was keeping hidden need to surface if that is going to happen. She was ready to lay it all out on the line and see how Blake responds to what her past has really been like for the last few years. Blake doesn't think he is good enough for Erin and her future but he wants to help her present. Does Erin feel the same way towards Blake? Is she good enough for him and his needs? Will Blake leave after she everything is complete and they can move forward? I think Blake and Erin's "relationship" is very special. He would always protect her but at the same time he feels he is hurting her. He will always love her and she will always love him but is that enough? I loved this whole novella series. It was sexy, unique and had its twists. If there is more to the series...I have an idea about who I want to read about next! Quotes: No matter what she’d said in the diner or on the road up to the cabin, Erin hadn’t been faking her physical responses to his touch. So she was pissed as well as turned on. Good. That made two of them. He was the only man who had ever been able to turn her on and calm her down at the same time. 1 like Like Comment Diane 1,858 reviews 8 followers February 27, 2015 The only bad part… is that it is over! This is the final installment in the three-part serial and it just ticked every box for me! After another cliffhanger ending that had me on the edge of my seat the finale was everything I’d hoped it would be. Blake and Erin have been working their way through their feelings of mistrust and uncertainty even as they realize that the sexual dynamic between them is as explosive as ever. The sex scenes were intense but the love and caring the two have for each other made those encounters so much more. With a dom/sub dynamic the trust level must be high and in those moments you could feel what they truly meant to each other. Blake was determined to help Erin resolve the problems with her soon-to-be ex husband despite the fact that he didn’t see a permanent place for him in her future. The struggles continued, the drama was amped up but everything came together in an HEA that just made sigh happily. And of course now I want more because I do not want to leave these characters! I hope the author has more in store – is there a story for Rafe, perhaps? I really hope so as I’m looking forward to a lot more from this author who is now on my “must have” list! Thank you to the author who provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 1 like Like Comment Kara Hildebrand (Two Book Pushers) 1,710 reviews 145 followers February 24, 2015 Claiming her Heart is the conclusion to the Under His Command Trilogy, and it was worth the wait! This is the hottest and the most emotional of the series. Blake proved to Erin that he can dominate and pleasure her. He finally proved that she can trust him, but now Erin needs him more than ever. Blake vows to protect Erin and her secrets but he believes that he's not worthy of her. This is the ultimate second chance love story with a side of kink and suspense. I can't wait for more from Lili Valente! Blake made every part of her feel beautiful, desired—inside and out. When he looked at her with such obvious adoration, she felt like she could do anything, would do anything he asked to make sure the light in his eyes never faded. Kissing Erin was like coming home and being transported to another world all at the same time. She was all he'd ever dreamed of and so much more. He was one lucky bastard, and so grateful he hadn't lost her. "I was going to use one of the paddles, but I think my hand is better, don't you think?" he asked, punctuating his words with stinging slaps to both mounds of her ass. 1 like Like Comment Sofia Almiroudis 374 reviews 8 followers March 16, 2015 Claiming Her Heart is the final book in the Under His Command trilogy. At the end of Commanding Her Trust, we were left wondering what was going to happen between Blake and Erin? Blake was angry for allowing himself to fall once again for Erin, and Erin was pissed off that she allowed herself to think that Blake was her future. Upon returning to Blake's cabin, after taking her again against her will, emotions and truths are finally exposed. Erin reveals her troubled marriage and her fears for the safety of her daughter. It is then that Blake realizes that he needs to and will help Erin get her daughter back. Their love and bond has and still is very strong. Together they come up with a plan to get Erin's daughter back. Blake has time to reflect and comes to the conclusion that he is not any better than Erin's ex and that he and Erin do not have a future together. Will they get Erin's daughter back? Can Blake put his doubts about himself aside and be with Erin? This book was an emotional roller coaster. I loved it from the minute I read the first word to the very last one. Lili Valente did a phenomenal job. I look forward to reading many more of her books. 1 like Like Comment Julianne Redmon 267 reviews 2 followers February 25, 2015 A beautiful ending to Blake and Erin's story. Honestly I wasn't quite sure how it was all going to end so it was definitely a page turner! I could not wait to find out. Pros: Hands down THE HOTTEST scene from the series is in the club. I really like to finally be introduced to Erin's ex and getting to know Rafe a little more. If you weren't really emotionally invested in Erin's character before this, you will be by the end of this book. Cons: ummmmm...uhhhhhh...yeah really are none! Now Lili, can we please please PLEASE have Rafe's story?? (I know I know I'm relentless...but only because I need more from my favorite new author!) 1 like Like Comment Crystal Yawn 601 reviews 2 followers February 15, 2015 how to write this review with out spoiling the end or the end of the other books, I will try my best but apologize if I can't . Love all three books! Blake is such a strong Dom that remains that way through the 3 stories. I love that, I get tired of books that turn the Dom some what candy a#$ towards the end. Erin is a natural submissive with loads of baggage, she needs a strong Dom to help her straighten things out. the series is full of power plays, secrets and passion. lots of hot steamy BDSM passion a great read and great introduction to a new author. Awaiting more from Lili! 1 like Like Comment Noel 213 reviews 3 followers May 27, 2019 I enjoyed this book n series and loved Blake as a tender, loving Dom. 1 like Like Comment ❤️ Nanda ❤️ 741 reviews 399 followers January 6, 2019 Ok so I'm gonna make one review for the entire Trilogy (yes, I'm on the team that finish all books, no matter what). This Trilogy is so confuse, that the reading rating match with it. Half of readers from book one, didn't come back for the rest of the Trilogy. It's TMI in so short story. We have second chance romance, highschool sweetheart, BDSM (with a Dom who allowed to be cuffed, WTF?), psico ex husband, child from another mister, stepbrother romance... Anyway... With all that, the heroin had only 24 years old! I mean... What? She didn't see the hero in 8 years! And in this short Trilogy, you can enjoy a lot of sex scenes, almost in every chapter! At the beginning, was hot... But than I was like: OMG, again? Not to mention the sperm that smells just like green apple! Gross! Like Comment Kelly Greer 276 reviews 5 followers May 12, 2021 Love this finale to the Under His Command series! Our hero empowers the heroine, and then succumbs to his own broken past. Helping Erin get her happily ever after is truly a delight. There’s revenge and closure and ….confusion. But an unlikely friend helps set things to rights. Highly recommend this fun, super sexy series of novellas. There is a bit of a dark history, some bdsm, insta-love, suspense, and an HEA. Like Comment Trish- Late Knight Luna Reads 1,703 reviews 9 followers May 6, 2021 What a great conclusion to this series! Blake and Erin are an amazing couple who went through hell to be together. Their Dom/Sun relationship is perfection and I enjoyed this book so much. It’s a great look into the BDSM world. The narrators were absolutely wonderful and I look forward to listening to more books narrated by them. Like Comment K G Wakeley 786 reviews 3 followers October 4, 2019 Blake and Erin Absolutely love this story about Blake and Erin. Story of heartbreak and redemption. With a happy ever after X x Like Comment ck8 850 reviews 7 followers October 1, 2022 4* fun-read intriguing light-hearted-read ...more Like Comment Cris 771 reviews 8 followers March 13, 2017 El final de la historia y el que más me ha gustado. Like Comment Angela Bee Bee 716 reviews 135 followers Shelved as 'buzz-books' April 7, 2015 Free on Amazon! Controlling Her Pleasure (Under His Command Book 1) Commanding Her Trust (Under His Command Book 2) Claiming Her Heart (Under His Command Book 3) het-romance Like Comment Lisa 2,288 reviews 72 followers December 4, 2015 Claiming Her Heart by Lili Valente is the third and final book in her debut series Under His Command . **WARNING** This review may contain spoilers for previous books in the series! You have been warned! So we pick up where the cliffhanger from the last book left off... Blake has had enough - he wants that tattoo changed and he'll do with or without Erin's consent. Man what an opener to this conclusion to the series. His dominance is turning her on but also ticking her off. She will never submit to him again. When he has her tied down and the tattoo needle ready to go things change and drastically... This series was a fantastic ride - the horrible past that was Erin's marriage is a nightmare that no one deserves. Blake's alpha control AND protectiveness is endearing - even when he maddeningly takes it too far. Once again - this whole serial has been well-paced with nail chomping cliff-hangers and a beautiful happily ever after. I definitely will be reading more from this author! arcs Like Comment Bloggers From Down Under 797 reviews 37 followers March 20, 2015 ** Provided on behalf of the author for an honest review ** This is the final instalment of the Under His Command series by Lili Valente. Once Blake finds out the truth about Erin’s past he wants to help her in every way he can. The goal? To get Erin’s daughter Abby back into her arms. But Erin questions if they are doing the right thing. Will Abby be safe? Will her ex-husband hurt her yet again? Will Blake stay around to be a father to someone else’s child? Blake is also fearful that he will soon turn out like Erin’s ex-husband. Is Blake any good for Erin? Can Blake give her the life both her and Abby deserve? Will Blake and Erin finally be able to get have and share the love and life they both want? Again another great read by Lili Valente. Full of many twists and turns, you simply cannot put it down until the very end. We fell in love with both Blake and Erin and their story. A story about love finding a way. A definite 4 star read. Like Comment Heather Carver 589 reviews 7 followers January 8, 2016 If you haven't read the first two books in this trilogy don't read ahead. SPOILERS ahead for the first two books. I really enjoyed this book. I've found myself highly disappointed with a lot of third books in trilogies lately, but this book did not disappoint. It answered all my questions and gave me what I wanted!! Erin has a lot to deal with. She wants her daughter, but doesn't know how she can get her back. She wants to believe that Blake can help her, but she knows how Scott is. Can she finally have love, have her baby girl and be free of her ex? Blake wants Erin, always has. He wants to help her get her daughter away from her ex. He knows he can do it, but what he doesn't know is if he can be the man for Erin. What he did to her was no worse than what her ex husband did. Or so he thinks. Can they find a way to be together? This is a great series. A fast read for all three books. I read them all three in a twenty-four hour period. Like Comment Renee Entress 5,285 reviews 75 followers March 22, 2015 4 star The story has laughs, secrets, and heartbreak. I was pulled right into this short story. The story flowed well. If you have not read the below I would recommend reading those books(s) first Controlling Her Pleasure (Under His Command, #1) Commanding Her Trust (Under His Command, #2) This is final part of Erin and Blake’s story. After capturing her again they finally open up with all the secrets. Blake knows they he will help Erin any way he can so she can get her daughter back. But is he any better than her ex? Can he walk away if that is what needs to happen? Or will he and Erin fight for the life they thought they might never get? Will his love finally set her free? I felt I was able to connect with the characters and the story was a fast read. I recommend this book and this series. read-2015 Like Comment Brianna at Renee Entress's Blog 3,816 reviews 116 followers March 22, 2015 4.5 Stars! This is the final piece to the puzzle of Erin and Blake's story. This is not a standalone and these books should be read in order. This book was absolutely amazing and totally worth the wait. It was hot, sexy, edgy, sizzling, and totally breathtaking. This book had me on the edge of my seat until the very end. All of your questions will be answered. All of the secrets will be revealed. Will all of the struggle and strife be worth it in the end? Is a happy ending possible for Blake and Erin? Find out in this amazing conclusion! Review Post---> http://reneeentress.blogspot.com/2015... Like Comment Kelly Brock 1,180 reviews 8 followers April 17, 2015 Blake and Erin I waited to do a review until I read all 3 books because they were very quick reads. Yes they were shorter but also all quick page turners. I will start off by saying there is a lot of sex in these books. I don't mind this but sometimes it's hard to find a book with substance and depth to characters when the book is full of steamy scenes. Not the case here. I was surprised how much background you got of these characters and their history together. Even though there was a lot of sex you could still feel the pure love between them. I really liked this series and will be looking for more from this author in the future. Like Comment Aimz 240 reviews February 14, 2015 WOW! Claiming Her Heart is the last book in this trilogy, and it was so worth waiting to see how things would end between Blake and Erin. These two have a chemistry that is off the charts and a love that has endured heartbreak and a long separation, but Blake wonders if he is just as bad as her ex. He is willing to help try to get her baby Abby back but how much more is he willing to give or is he willing to walk away to save her from himself. I couldn't put this book down once I started. Loved it Lili Valente!!! Like Comment Emily (Mrs B's Books) 1,608 reviews 84 followers February 19, 2015 **My thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review** This is the last book in the trilogy and it certainly delivered. There are some seriously hot scenes as both Blake and Erin cannot help how they react to each other, both realise just how much the other has always meant to them, and we finally get to meet the nasty man that is Scott. Being an erotic romance we do get a HEA and it's one I was certainly more than happy with and the series certainly made me want to read all further books by this author. adult contemporary novella ...more Like Comment Lauren Lascola-Lesczynski 1,044 reviews 31 followers August 23, 2015 Well I must say that was a great conclusion to Blake and Erin's story.......I was sad at first that they would not find there way back to each other, but they did. I love the give and take in the relationship that they have.....I love the dirtiness along with the romance that they share as well. This was a great series and if you read it you will not be disappointed. This was my first Lili Valente series and I can not wait to read the next one. Her books are erotic but not to erotic and they are sexy and dirty but in a very believable way. Like Comment KS 1,263 reviews 3 followers March 3, 2015 This book is even hotter than the previous two. Great ending to the Under His Command series. Blake and Erin turn up the heat, but there's still a sweet story and hope for a HEA. Erin's daughter is a great addition to the book. This series keeps you guessing until the end. Lili Valente is a great writer of hot romance and some suspense turns. It keeps you page turning to the end. Don't miss out! Like Comment Saunders 2,042 reviews 24 followers May 31, 2015 When you see these book covers its kinda like judging the book by its cover. They are hot and tasteful and that is what you expect from the storyline. These are not BDSM books - the kinda "discuss" it and bring in a Alphha who becomes a Dom who becomes a "sir" without the full on BDSM action. The story is discombobulated from book 1-3. Again this is another one that would have been much better as a complete book instead of being stripped into three stories. 2015 not-bdsm-per-se predictable ...more Like Comment Melissa 813 reviews January 6, 2016 This was a super fast and steamy erotica novella. I was thrilled there was a bit of a backstory and there is a possibility of another series spinning off from this series. I thought the characters were pretty well developed and interesting. I liked how the author wrapped up Erin and Blake's story ... no loose ends. I loved that she threw a bit of a curve ball with Rafe too. This series was certainly a page turner. Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote Start a discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Bulldozer (Hard to Love, #3) by P. Dangelico | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book Hard to Love #3 Bulldozer P. Dangelico 4.05 5,098 ratings 571 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book What happens when a single mother is forced to live with a grumpy, ailing football star? The smolder turns red hot of course. Amanda Shaw has pulled it together. It’s taken a couple of years, a boatload of hard work, and a ton of self-discipline, but she finally has her problems in a headlock. Her yoga studio in the city has become so successful she’s opening one near the beach, and her relationship with her ten year old son is improving every day. The last thing she needs is a monkey wrench thrown into her smoothly running life. Grant Hendricks is one big monkey wrench. The four time Defensive Player of the Year, three time NFL sack leader, and all around football god has officially hit rock bottom. A devastating back injury means he may have to retire and that scares him more than doctors telling him the next hit could leave him paralyzed. All he needs is a quiet place to think and his teammate’s beach house sounds like just the place. Problem is, the woman already living there. You know the drill, folks. This book is chock full of naughty words and steamy moments. Not for delicate sensibilities and anyone under 18. Genres Romance Sports Sports Romance Contemporary Romance Contemporary Football Humor ...more 320 pages, Kindle Edition First published November 12, 2018 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author P. Dangelico 25 books 3,584 followers "If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.” ― Elmore Leonard Visit my website: http://www.pdangelico.com Get to know me at my Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/p.dangelico/ Join my Facebook reading Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PDang... Visit my Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/pdangelicoa... Get free goodies and sale alerts by joining my Mailing List: https://www.pdangelico.com/contact Or find me on Goodreads. USA Today Bestselling author P. Dangelico loves romance in all forms, furry creatures, the NY Jets (although she’s reconsidering after this season), and to while away the day at the barn (apparently she does her best thinking shoveling horse poop). What she’s not enamored with is referring to herself in the third person and social media. Although she was born in Milan Italy, she’s been Jersey Strong since she turned six. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.05 5,098 ratings 571 reviews 5 stars 1,777 (34%) 4 stars 2,067 (40%) 3 stars 1,019 (19%) 2 stars 181 (3%) 1 star 54 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 571 reviews Pavlina Read more sleep less blog 2,434 reviews 5,108 followers November 12, 2018 Live Amazon : https://amzn.to/2OfMExp ❤5 amazing stars ❤ I don't know where to start my review with this one, it's simply amazing!P. Dangelico delivers a heartwarming , sweet story with the great amount of humor and a slow burn romance that will keep your interest till the end! "Nudity is obviously a lifestyle choice for him.There isn't even a faded tan line cutting across his cheeks." I fall in love with Amanda and Grant!Amanda is a strong heroine, I liked her she is so realistic.She is protective and she cares a lot for Sam.She tries to be better for him.Grant is exactly what Camilla said! "He's usually a big teddy bear." The first time Camilla and Grant met was hilarious.I laughed so much! "He reminds me of that blond guy in Sex in the City" "You know the one- the cute guy Samantha dates.What's his name?" "Smith Jarrod.Only bigger." "Who cares. He's a douchebag ." I love the build up, it's slow and felt so realistic.I like the slow burn, there was some intense moments between them.Also the secondary characters brought a lot to the story. Overall, it was an amazing story.I can't choose which boy is my favorite in this series! Each one have something to give you! But I can say Grant is so salon worthy!! arc best-cover favorite-boys ...more 192 likes Like Comment Christy 4,133 reviews 34.7k followers December 17, 2018 4.5 stars!! Bulldozer is my first book by P. Dangelico but it certainly won’t be my last! This book was wonderful. It gave me all the happy feels and I’m always looking for more authors that can do slow burn well. This author definitely can! Amanda Shaw and her son Sam are staying at her brother’s house for the summer. Her brother, a former NFL player, has a nice place where she can work and get some time with her kid. It’s all planned out. Until she shows up and finds Grant there. Grant is her brother’s former teammate who was injured. Grant is also naked. It’s an interesting start for these two. I loved their back and forth and banter. It made me laugh out loud more than once. Despite the way this man has turned my life upside down and inside out, a silly smile stretches across my face. Time to face the undeniable truth that Grant Hendricks is really hard to hate. Deep down, Grant is a real sweetheart. He starts to grow on Amanda and is amazing with her son. Amanda hasn’t had the easiest life but she’s a great mom and is turning it around. She doesn’t trust easy, and she’s a tough nut to crack, but Grant just may be the guy that can do it. Grant was legit my perfect hero. Sure he was a bit of jerk at the start, but not in a bad way. But OMG he more than made up for it later. I adored him so much! I liked Amanda, too, but she had moments, towards the end especially, that even though I understood to an extent, frustrated me beyond belief. Both of these two deserved a love like this so much and I rooted for them both so hard! Together they were so swoony! I mean, just read this quote *sigh* “You’re everything a girl could wish for.” “Did you wish for me?” He looks a little lost and a lot anxious. How can he not know his value? How can he not know he’s the best thing since the invention of fire, and Krispy Kreme donuts and drive-thru Starbucks and e-readers? How can he not know that I love him completely and entirely? I place a chaste kiss on his lips. “No. But only because I stopped believing men as good as you existed.” This book was most definitely a win for me. I loved the slow burn romance, the enemies to friends to lovers storyline and I always love when one of the MC’s is a single parent. It was a fantastic read. I can’t wait to read more of the books from Dangelico’s ‘Hard to Love’ series, but I’ve got to say- these characters were so easy for me to love!! If you’re looking for a swoon-worthy here and a sweet, sexy, emotional, and laugh out loud funny romance, check this book out! You won’t be disappointed. “This is the best summer I’ve ever had,” he says so softly it’s barely above a whisper. “You’re the best time I’ve ever had.” 109 likes Like Comment P. Dangelico Author 25 books 3,584 followers February 5, 2019 ➜Amazon US : https://amzn.to/2OfMExp ➜Amazon UK : https://amzn.to/2Oi79da ➜Amazon DE : https://amzn.to/2N7mK2w ➜Amazon CA : https://amzn.to/2p3cTMQ ➜Amazon AU : https://amzn.to/2NEZBUz ➜iBooks: https://apple.co/2CNZ8eC ➜Kobo: http://bit.ly/2SZaW1x ➜B&N: http://bit.ly/2JU1cSe 108 likes Like Comment Jenny••Steamy Reads Blog•• 987 reviews 1,926 followers November 11, 2018 I've been dying to read this author, and I finally did..... Kicking myself it wasn't sooner!!!! This is a bulldozer of a story. It totally rolls over you and you slowly burn burn burn until the end when finally, finally your smile will light up the entire room. And the cover to this book, ummm hello hotness I totally enjoyed this story. Amanda and Grant are such complex characters that worm their way into your heart. They love hard, they love with their whole hearts and it isn’t love that is so freely handed out. Oh heck no. It’s guarded, it’s sheltered, it’s love that is waiting for exactly the right person. To go on the journey with these two characters, along with Sam and Roxy, was simply breathtaking at times. I was swept away with this story, couldn’t wait to get to the end to finally put out the burning in my heart. Hands down a book I recommend to you romance readers that love a good frenemies to lovers book with a super sweet HEA. arc-to-review 97 likes Like Comment A. 1,162 reviews 4,874 followers August 2, 2020 4.5 Stars One for the heroine , who I grew to love for her strength, warmth and humour. One for the nude, sexy giant with a heart bigger than his body. No, seriously, how on earth does a heart this big fit into a human body? *drools* One for Sam , such a sweetheart. And one for the story , which, let's be honest, I read gazillion times in the past. But the author managed to put it together in such a way it was still awesome and refreshing. Oh, and half a star more for my Roxy... #pitbulllover #mansbestfriend #ilovedogs #stopcruelty Confession: I had no expectations whatsoever before I started this book. No, I did have expectations. I was about 80% sure I would DNF it. Just like it happened with dozens of romance books before this one. I've become a very difficult reader to please. So difficult that I stopped reading plain romance a few months ago. Too shallow, too repetitive, too eye-roll inducing... I hope I'm cured of this horrible reader's disease now. If not, at least now I know P. Dangelico is an author to go to when I'm in a mood for fun romance. a-bit-of-a-jerk-aren-t-ya athletes-fighters-n-such cabin-or-vacation-home ...more 88 likes Like Comment Alison 3,371 reviews 128 followers November 12, 2018 It's rare that I don't have anything to say about a book, good or bad but this was just so fabulous that I can't find the words. This has everything you could ever want in a P. Dangelico novel, a cute kid called Sam, a daft dog called Roxy a former model, former alcoholic, single mom called Amanda and a huge, beautiful, grumpy, permanently naked, injured football player called Grant. Amanda and her best friend own a yoga studio in New York which is a raging success with the wealthy elite, they want to capitalise on their success by opening a second studio in the Hamptons during the summer, when all their customers move out to their summer homes. Amanda and Sam have moved into her big brother Calvin's (from Wrecking Ball) home in the Hamptons while she supervises the construction work and opens the studio. What Amanda doesn't know is that Cal has let his team mate Grant Hendricks stay at his home in the Hamptons while he recovers from spinal surgery. Sharing a 10 bedroom house shouldn't be a problem, right? If only Grant could remember to wear clothes - Amanda reckons she's seem more of his body than anyone other than,maybe, his proctologist and she doesn't want her 10 year old son to be exposed (pun intended) to random male nudity, even if it is one of the most luscious bodies she has ever seen. This had everything you could ever want from a romance, it's funny, it's sweet, it's full of sexy guys (well one incredibly sexy guy - so sexy there's no room for any more), it has a cute kid and a cute dog, there's action, drama and a little bit of angst. I loved it. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Bumped for release. 2018-read annoying-siblings best-friend-s-little-sister ...more 76 likes Like Comment Malene 1,261 reviews 707 followers November 1, 2018 I’ve fallen in love all over again with P. Dangelico and her writing. She has a knack for brooding and grumpy men and let me tell ya all that Grant is just that. To begin with. Amanda slowly strips of his armor with her good heart and spunky personality and reveals that Grant also embodies a heart. He’s an amazing and gentle soul with so much heart and goodness but he doubts himself because of his rough childhood. Amanda and her son Sam was introduced in Wrecking Ball and it was good to be back with the Shaw family. Amanda is a fabulous heroine. She’s made mistakes in the past in particular with her son and now she’s trying to rectify that. It doesn’t start of the best way thanks to Grant. Their first meeting is quite memorable. The humor is right up my alley. The author knows the right balance between awkward and hilarious. So many awesome quotes and laugh out loud scenes. Grant wooed me properly despite his grumpy ass. Man, he’s got a way with words and how he chose to show it melted my heart. Bulldozer is a slow burn but what wonderful slow burn was because I was constantly intrigued and invested in Amanda and Grant. What started as enemies slowly and beautifully evolved to friendship and then more. At the perfect pace. Calvin and Camilla appears and of course I was smiling like crazy. Cal still a man of few words but oh so infatuated with his woman. They’re the perfect support for Amanda and shows up no matter what. What can I say? Bulldozer bulldozed into my heart as did a certain dog named Roxy. 4 Klutzy Knight Stars I received an ARC arc enemies-dislike-hate-to-lovers single-mother 58 likes Like Comment Bookgasms Book Blog 2,844 reviews 1,456 followers October 29, 2018 P. Dangelico had me at “ grumpy, ailing football star… ” I mean, it is completely out of character for me to pick up the third book in a series by an author I’ve never read before. I couldn’t resist that blurb, though. And, if you’ve been paying attention, you know that football romance is my kryptonite. If I’m ever going to take a chance? It’s going to be on a football playing hero. Extra points for being surly and wounded. So, I took the chance. And? It was so good! GAHH! So, yes – this is the third book in a series, but I had no problem jumping right in and Ms. Dangelico had no problem hooking me immediately, grabbing hold of my heart and not letting go until the very last page. This delicious slow burn was snappy and smart and wonderfully emotional. Grant and Amanda were all charged chemistry and compelling dialogue. I adored her acerbic wit, and his soft underbelly under all that prickly outer shell. Add in a precocious ten year old and an adorable rescue dog and this thing was basically the whole package for me. I was completely smitten. This book was such a happy surprise for me. I was glued to the pages – giggling, sniffling, and swooning like crazy. As far as sports romances go? Bulldozer was tops – and I will absolutely be back for more from this author! ~ Shelly, 4.5 Stars shelly 57 likes Like Comment Wendy'sThoughts 2,668 reviews 3,278 followers March 10, 2021 5 Everything You Could Want Stars * * * * * Spoiler Free I first fell Hard for P. Dangelico when I read Wrecking Ball (Hard to Love.#1) in January 2017. It was my 3rd review of the year and it knocked me out. Then she gave us Sledgehammer (Hard to Love, #2) And now we are gifted, yes, I say gifted with Bulldozer (Hard to Love #3). This book had EVERYTHING you could want with a slow burn. I mean, look at that cover for Heaven's Sake. Picture That roaming around in the Altogether! Know there is strong character development for both people and child. Know you will lose sleep if you are still reading when the sun goes down. Know you will want to have your own Grant Hendricks 24/7. Know you will be thrilled to meet a woman as capable as Amanda Shaw. And know for sure, this is storytelling at its best. The kind which stays with you. The kind where moments happen and you think about Real Life and how this tale has shown how to handle issues that have meaning for everyday people. For Me, P. Dangelico and this series are on a roll. I am just thrilled I get to have a taste of it. Wrecking Ball (Hard To Love #1) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Sledgehammer (Hard To Love #2) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Bulldozer (Hard To Love #3) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~ How can P. Dangelico top any of the wonders she has produced... Well, all I can say is... From the first meeting of these characters... We are off and running... Running straight into a Sexy, Fun and Fast Paced Read... Kinda like lovingly run over by a... Bulldozer (Hard to Love #3)-November 12th 2018 A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review. For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways 52 likes Like Comment Emma 122 reviews 110 followers November 20, 2018 It's what you've come to expect from P. Dangelico. Some kind of misanderstanding at the beginning, friendship after the characters got to know each other, then love with the sweetness and angst that comes with it. It's a good formula if it played, let's say... naturally. For me, Nothing felt natural about this book. I felt no chemistry between the MCs, so, I skipped the sex scenes. Their other interactions too, didn't feel natural, the emotions were forced. like yeah, this passage needs emotions, let's throw some deep speach about fears and insecurities. Also, a few things didn't make sense. They didn't even have a decent conversation yet and he is telling her 'he trust her' and 'he would do anything for her', we need some character development to believe that. His rudeness at the beginning didn't make sense either. Nor her giving him an advise about his life when they just met. There's personal boundaries decent people should respect, even in fiction. Her reaction to a secret he was keeping made her sound so self-centered. It's not about you woman, it's about him. Where's your love if the first thing you thought about is yourself. His putting everything at stake, for a game he didn't even try enough to recover properly so he can come back to it, was also strange. Anyway, the book was ok. I can see that even with the issues I had and my lack of connection with the MCs. 45 likes Like Comment Megan✦❋Steamy Reads Blog❋✦ 293 reviews 484 followers November 12, 2018 “I’ve made mistakes, more than my share. But Grant? He’s the right to all my wrongs.” Bulldozer is my second book by P. Dangelico and I am absolutely loving her writing and the characters she creates. I have to go back and read some of her back catalogue because if they are half as good as Bulldozer, then I know I am in for a treat. This story was just the perfect amount of fun, sexy feels and slow burning romance to keep me captivated throughout. The first meeting between Amanda and Grant was probably one of the most memorable and hilarious first meetings I can recall reading in recent times. It was just written impeccably with the perfect combination of awkwardness and laugh out loud humor. Amanda is such a sweetheart and cares a lot for her son Sam. She has made some mistakes in her life, but she owned up to them and is making an effort to better her life for her son. She has no idea what is install for her when she meets grumpy NFL star Grant Hendricks. A career ending injury has wounded Grant deeper than anything else in his life. The thought of not playing football again scares him to death and as a result, has become super grumpy and has built up a massive metaphorical fortress to shield himself from the world. Little does he know Amanda is the one woman who can break down those walls he’s built up and reveal the beautiful man inside. One of the things I loved most about Bulldozer was the slow build up and development of Amanda and Grant and the anticipation of their fiery relationship turning into something quite remarkable and intense. I tend to love my enemies to lovers stories to be jam packed full of angst which adds to the anticipation and I love nothing more than the push and pull that comes along with this trope. Even though Bulldozer was low on the angst, I still enjoyed it all the same and highly recommend. 2018-4-stars arc enermy_to_lovers 36 likes Like Comment Arini 857 reviews 2,022 followers May 4, 2023 #1 Wrecking Ball — 3.25 stars #2 Sledgehammer — 2.5 stars #3 Bulldozer — 2.75 stars girls, tell me if you dont agree: - sexy is the ripple and the V you see when hes shirtless and wears only sweatpants. 🤤 - sexy is the bulge and the 🤪ass globes🤪 you see when hes only in his boxer briefs. - NOT sexy is him prancing around the house naked 24/7 like cavemen... even cavemen wear cloth to cover their bits. i cant remember any details about the story to name what else i liked and didnt like about this book. thats how much the Hs nakedness grated on my nerves. like dude, dont conceal but also dont reveal too much. im all for the naked positivity, but some parts should remain a mystery is all im sayin. 🖐 (Note : Originally Read as an Audiobook in November 2022, but Shelved on the “2018 Reading Challenge”) 36 likes Like Comment Jen 804 reviews 602 followers June 28, 2019 5 Stars Amanda Shaw’s had a rough couple of years. Hell, make that a rough couple of decades. As the second oldest of eight and the only daughter to two alcoholics, from a very early age Mandy and her older brother Calvin (from Wrecking Ball fame) were tasked with making sure their younger brothers were taken care of, fed and clothed. You know, all the important stuff parents usually do for their children. The decision to leave home at the age of seventeen to model full time seemed like a no brainer, but fifteen years later, with an addiction kicked and a ten year old son to raise, Amanda finds herself working hard to establish herself as a business owner and as a mom. Who needs romance when you’re working your butt off just to stay afloat, amirite? That moon is a badass bitch. It doesn’t think it’s not deserving. It doesn’t second-guess every decision it’s ever made. Mistakes? No sweat. It struts its stuff without a care, knowing its rightful place in the world. Must be nice. I wonder what that fucking feels like. Grant Hendricks life is focused on one thing and one thing only: football. His past has taught him it’s safer for everyone if the star NFL defensive back uses his power for the good of his team rather than letting his aggressions get the best of him off the field. After a nasty injury leaves him unable to play and in need of a quiet place to recoup, Grant’s grateful for his teammate Calvin’s offer to use his beach house for as long as he needs. Better for everyone involved if Grants stays as far away as possible from the population at large. When Grant’s quiet beach retreat suddenly and without warning also turns into Amanda’s only available summer housing option, it’s safe to say the shit does indeed hit the fan. It’s my big reveal, moment of truth time, folks. As much as I was looking forward to reading Grant and Amanda’s story, I went into it with some lowered expectations. I’ve loved literally everything I’ve read from Ms. Dangelico, but after first being introduced to her in Wrecking Ball , I wasn’t sure I’d like Amanda’s character enough to read a book devoted to her. I’m so freaking glad I got over myself and dove headfirst into this book because Bulldozer ended up being my very favorite book by this author to date. “All I’ve done since I was seven years old is football. I don’t know how to do anything else. I don’t know much about other stuff.” And then he unleashes a toothy grin that takes up half his face. It’s like witnessing a miracle. Even the two chicks hanging on him looked stunned. He just cured cancer with that smile, stopped the ice caps from melting, and reunited R.E.M. On first introduction, Grant came off as a bit of an unfeeling, uncaring prick. But the more Amanda and Grant spent time together, the more Grant…kept being a prick. Yes, the jerk gene runs deep with this one but as the story moves on, Grant’s insecurities start to make an appearance and we begin to see the damaged man beneath the brawn and attitude. Though Bulldozer is told first person via Amanda, absolutely no one is better at letting the reader in on the hero’s side things than P. Dangelico. Seriously, we never get Grant’s side of the story but I felt him falling harder for both Amanda and Sam with every page. His eventual sweetness and strength of character still has me swooning. As for Mandy? I’m thrilled I gave her a chance to work her magic. What I first felt might be a self-centered and hard to like heroine turned into a strong in the very best way, single mom just trying to give her son and herself the life they both deserve. As always, the snarky humor and sheer awesomeness I’ve come to expect from every P. Dangelico book was front and center. Bulldozer is the third book of the Hard to Love series but can most definitely be read as a standalone. ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest, voluntary review arc-from-author contemporary-romance frienemies ...more 47 likes Like Comment Dilek VT 1,545 reviews 1,523 followers January 18, 2019 My initial reaction to the book: Covergasm.... Does anyone know the name of the hottie on the cover? The answer is in the comments section :)))))) ********************************************* My opinions after reading the book: Some parts of this book were fun and sweet but there were too many problems for me to enjoy it more. When the book begins, we see that the heroine comes to stay at her brother’s beach house with her 10-year-old son and finds out that she has to share the house with his teammate for a while. They will practically be roommates till the end of the summer. That was something she wasn’t informed about beforehand and as he has a tendency to walk around naked and he is all grumpy and mean, she is not happy about it at all. *** The hero is too rude and mean towards her at the beginning of the book. He walks around bare-as*naked, not answering her questions, ignoring her all the time. He is just an unbearable as*! When they met, there was one moment when he asked her if she didn’t remember him and she didn’t. And I thought he was pissed about it and there was some story behind it. However, it takes a long long time until we learn the answer to that question. The answer comes at the very end of the book when I have already lost my interest in it any more. Timing is everything, you know… *** Whatever… The biggest problem about this book for me was how bad an “enemies-to-lovers” story it was! You don’t ever experience the build-up to the enemies-to-lovers. I mean there is no good banter when they are enemies, no sexual tension other than her thinking he has the biggest penis on the planet ( Aren’t we sick of that yet?? Apparently not! ) and there is definitely no good transition from hatred to love. One moment, they seem to hate each other, then you turn the page over and she is lusting for him and she thinks he is a good guy that needs her affection. Then, all of a sudden, after she yells at him about something, he feels sorry and he is all sweet and tender from then on. Oh, and of course, he is full-on protective of her. Out of the blue, they develop a deep connection – I am sorry but I don’t believe it if I don’t feel it and I didn’t. Again all of a sudden, he starts to tell her his secrets, saying he trusts her and that she is a good person. Then, in the blink of an eye, they become lovers. No real angst, no juicy banter, no chemistry, no sexual tension, no heart-ache. I felt like 10-20 pages of my book were missing. If I had a paperback, I would definitely check for missing pages to see if some fell into my handbag or something! As I didn’t feel the transition of their feelings, I couldn’t relate to the characters. I was so bored that I thought if I should DNF it or not. But here I am, proudly saying I was able to finish it ( Shh, between you and me, I might have skimmed and scanned some bits of it… ) ********************************************* In my opinion, this book fails to achieve its purpose. Some childish behavior from an adult is not enough to make it an “enemies-to-lovers” book and it was just that. Him walking around naked, her being pissed at it, him ignoring her comments/questions etc, her trying to communicate, him not answering her… And when she acts all crazy about it saying that it is enough and he is having a bad influence on her son, he suddenly understands his fault, changes all his bad behavior and transforms into this sweet guy. Well, that was boring and annoying at the same time! ( For a good "enemies-to-lovers" book, please refer to The Hating Game ) ********************************************* There are too many important issues in the book and because there are a lot of them, none of them are dealt with the delicacy they require. Why so many, I wonder? Alcoholism, domestic violence, illness recovery, custody fight etc… Each of them can be the major issue in a book but here all of them are thrown into our way. - There is an ex-boyfriend, the father of the heroine’s child, who decides to be in his son’s life. I wonder why the superficial drama he causes was in the book and I really don’t know what it served. He didn’t cause jealousy between the hero and the heroine, so why was he in the picture doing all that? - The heroine is an alcoholic. A recovered one but an alcoholic, nonetheless. Well, neither the reasons of it nor how she tries to deal with it at present were explained in a satisfactory way, in my opinion. Again, it just felt like it was there to add some drama to her past and I was uncomfortable with how lightly it was dealt with. - Also, there was the domestic abuse issue in the hero’s past but again it felt like a detail to make the hero look like a good-hearted guy, donating huge sums of money to foundations that help domestic violence victims, rather than adding depth to his character. I don’t know… Everything felt superficial to me in this book, I guess! And maybe, it’s me, not the book, I don’t know. ********************************************* Writing & Safety : 1st person point of view ( I don't like it in general, I prefer dual point of view ). No cheating. No OW/OM drama, really... ********************************************* Recommendation : Well, to be honest, the book has some really fun and sweet moments that will put a big smile on your face. The dog is a cutie-pie. ( I hated the writer for writing an Epilogue so far into the future and killing the dog, though. ) All in all, it wasn’t an awful book – it was just not good enough for me. If you do not stop and think about all the details that make it a superficial book, then you may have your fun with it and then, forget about it. enemies-to-lovers single-mum 26 likes Like Comment MELISSA *Mel Reader* 1,400 reviews 1,468 followers November 30, 2018 4.5 ”You’re my one” Stars! (ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley) -Sometimes all it takes is someone that knows and loves you to shine a light on the truth, to make you see that you’re capable of more than you think you are. -Love isn’t finite. There’s no measure to it. It stretches time and space, loops back around, and expands again. Real love, the selfless kind, transcends our own needs but doesn’t leave us poorer, with less, it enriches is in ways we can’t even quantify... beyond our wildest dreams. Amanda Shaw is a single mom living in New York. She was the poster child for bad choices in her 20’s, and now all she wants to do is focus on her son and be a great mom. They are headed to her brother Cal’s beach house in the Hamptons for the summer while she gets her newest yoga studio up and running. She has everything planned out, and then she arrives at the house to find what she believes to be an intruder. There is a gorgeous mountain of a man she thinks is trespassing, but is actually her brother’s teammate. Grant Hendricks is one of the most well known defensive players in the NFL. He plays for the NY team, the Titans, but he’s injured and facing possible retirement. He’s hit rock bottom and is wanting some time alone to think and get himself together out of the public eye. He’s recovering from surgery and his teammate is letting him stay at his beach house for as long as he needs to. Then unexpected guests arrive and ruin his peace and quiet. Grant and Mandy quickly realize they are going to be roommates for the summer. They figure the house has enough space so hopefully they can just avoid each other, but that’s easier said than done. Even though the very large, big blond man in their house is ornery, he’s the sexiest guy Mandy has ever seen. The ill mannered giant looks like a Nordic God, but his sparkling personality could use some work. She needs to spend her time focusing on opening her studio on time, but with all the hot man on display she can’t seem to focus on anything but Grant. He’s become the shining star of all her filthy dreams. Then she begins to see a different side of him. There’s more to him than what’s on the surface. As a friendship forms they begin to both hunger for more. Their love/hate relationship transforms but they both have demons from their past to overcome. Mandy had long ago stopped believing men like Grant really existed, but could he be her happy ending? -You know that ah-ha moment you get when two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle snap together? When you know you’ve finally aced something. That’s what kissing Grant feels like. I’ve made mistakes, more than my share. But Grant? He’s the right to all my wrongs. -I don’t know what I did to deserve him- what stars got crossed for Life to lead me here- but I’m not gong to second guess it this time. -“I want you,” I say breathless. “You’re all I want. I never let myself want anything. But I want you.” -I know this man. I know the fabric his soul is made of. -I never knew romantic love could feel like this. He’s essential to my joy. And so much more dangerous to my welfare than I had originally thought. Bulldozer is book three in the Hard to Love series, and can be read as a stand-alone. This was my first book by P. Dangelico, and I absolutely love her writing, and can’t wait to read more of her books! This story was hilarious and I adored this sweet football star. His beautiful heart will completely slay you. He’s dreamy book boyfriend perfection!!! ❤️ ***NOW AVAILABLE*** https://amzn.to/2PR8SKv arcs 29 likes Like Comment Maddy's Reading 437 reviews 2 followers October 20, 2018 Oh my god this author...I am in love with her and one of her biggest fans. She writes the most amazing characters you guys... Amanda was such a mom...the abundance of love, protectiveness, guilt, anxiety for her son. I loved her struggles...as a mom of a new 5 month old, i felt it. She was real. Grant Hendricks was a conundrum...Amanda describes him as such in the book and I agree. But he was also the kindest and sexiest of men. This slow burn love story had all the feels especially with Amanda’s son n dog involved. In the end when Grant reveals his secret, I literally swooned. I cannot express how heartwarming this book was. I think I might need a couple of days for my emotions to settle. ARC generously provided by the author in exchange of an honest review arcs top-fav-2018 27 likes Like Comment Jennifer Kyle 2,482 reviews 5,320 followers November 15, 2018 4 Stars ⭐️ 25 likes Like Comment Carol 1,347 reviews 249 followers March 31, 2019 4.5 stars. 🏈🏈🏈🏈 Slow burn romance with some comedic elements and witty banter that had me all smiles. 😁 This one checked all my boxes✔ It was also nice to revisit Cal and Cam from book 1 in this "Hard to Love" series (another fabulous read). Loved this heroine.❤ Amanda had so many amazing qualities and I felt so much respect for her. She really was a good mom as well as a truly decent human being. Grant was simply delicious, he was a real sweetheart once you got to know the "real" man hiding behind the facade. Another winner from the highly talented Ms. Dangelico. 👏 2019-four-stars kindle-books-owned r-contemporary-romance ...more 23 likes Like Comment ~♡AB♡~ 974 reviews 689 followers November 9, 2018 ★★★★ 4 Stars ★★★★ A very uplifting and gratifying read, I enjoyed catching up with characters Sam and Amanda from a previous book, Wrecking Ball, where I first fell in love with author P Dangelico. Ex-Alcoholic Amanda and her son Sam are off to spend the summer in the Hamptons, but an unexpected and naked roommate takes them by surprise. Grumpy Grant, an NFL giant who doesn't realise he is, in fact, a gentle giant, is the hero of our story who tries very hard to avoid the feelings Amanda brings out of him. Both are incapable of accepting love, they don't feel like they deserve it - but it was lovely to watch the walls break down and see them finally accept that they were two broken people who had hearts of gold and lots of love to give each other. This story felt very different from the rest of Dangelico's backlist, but I enjoyed it all the same. The lack of angst and drama was a welcome change, but I would like to see some of that back in force again in the future. ARC gratefully received 4-star-reads-really-really-good arc-s arsehole-heroes-we-love ...more 21 likes Like Comment Olga therebelreader 890 reviews 742 followers January 16, 2019 I so loved this book so much. It was the funniest, enjoyable romance ever. The characters were very easy to get to know and fall for. Amanda and Grant’s banter from the beginning added to the sexual tension and felt like verbal foreplay between these two. Bulldozer was really cute! It's the kind of book you're reading and realize you've been smiling like an idiot the whole while. My first P. Dangelico read, but certainly NOT my last! In short: Hero 4/5 | Heroine 5/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 5/5 | Writing Style 4/5 | Steam 4/5 | Romance 4/5 | Angst-Suspense 4/5 | Darkness 1/5 | Humor 4/5 | Secondary Characters 4/5 | Drama-Conflict 4/5 | Mystery 0/5 | Twists 4/5 | Pacing Fast | Action 3/5 contemporary-romance erotica-xxx funny ...more 21 likes Like Comment jenny 141 reviews 16 followers January 16, 2019 “You take what you want now. That way, when the bad happens, you have the good to see you through it.” YES! Another winner by P. Dangelico! I loved Bulldozer, such a delicious slow burn it drove me crazy but I couldn’t get enough. I guess that’s the perfect mix. Bulldozer is the story of Amanda, a 33 year old mother. We already met her and her son Sam in the first book of the series. She finally has her life together and is opening a yoga studio in the Hamptons. Therefore, they are temporarily staying at her brother’s beach house. What she doesn’t know is that her brother also allowed his former teammate Grant to stay there while he’s recovering from an injury. Their first encounter is quite memorable. ”The guy is a beast. He has the personality of an electro-shocked gorilla, hung like one, too––since you asked.” I really love P. Dangelico’s writing style. It’s so much fun but also heart-warming. I marked so many passages that I loved - some because I had to laugh out loud and some because they were just so beautiful. ”On the car ride to the restaurant, Steven and I had a riveting conversation on the weather. We both agreed it was going to be sunny with a chance of late showers tomorrow. We’re practically soul mates.“ 'Sometimes all it takes is someone that knows and loves you to shine a light on the truth, to make you see that you’re capable of more than you think you are. I guess that’s what love is at its best.' And it was really great to ‘catch up’ with Sam. He’s such a sweetheart. “Where’s sin? Is it near the beach?” If you’re into slow burn romances, I highly recommend this series. BTW, I just saw that there will be forth book, Steamroller . I wonder who it will be about. But let’s be honest: it doesn’t really matter, I will read it anyway, lol. meet-greet-31 21 likes Like Comment Snow 2,249 reviews 692 followers November 13, 2018 This was really good. the "enemies to lovers" towards "friends to lover" while the main characters fight the initial assumptions of one another... Not everything is how it appears at first sight... boy, don't we know it... So, the main heroine is in her thirties (I loved that) with a 10 year old kid (who is absolutely hilariously sweet) meets a broody, injured NHL linebacker on his route of recovery with some major issues in deciding whether to play or retire...the fact that they share her brother and his teammate's house is an enemy turf like no other... and they really keep it going... until, well, the chemistry prevails and the constant push and pull tips the final barrier of denial... Definitely match made in hell. He's as good at the denial game as I am. BUT then the real emotions come out to play and things aren't that easy any more... You take what you want now. That way, when bad happens, you have the good to see you through. *sigh* what i want to emphisize is the witty humor through out the book...and let me show you just the little segment that made me piss my panties from laughter... (the conversation is between the kid and his mom, while he's telling her his new discovery from a boy nextdoor) Kid: Did you know that some people eat cats? Mom: Did Jeremy tell you that? Kid: He said that his dad's ex-girlfriend yelled at him because he doesn't eat pussy. Mom: You are never ever going to play with Jeremy ever again. Kid: But I like Jeremy. Mom. Never again. Those of you who loved The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata, will also appreciate this story. :) 20 likes Like Comment ❤️Emma Book Lover ❤️ 496 reviews 287 followers April 17, 2020 4 Stars “I walked into the kitchen to find him naked as a jaybird with the worrisome exception of the kiddie sunglasses he was wearing. Little girl glasses, Camilla. Little hearts. His ding-dong was hanging practically to his knees and he had little pink hearts over his eyes! Does this sound okay to you?” Loved it!! Fun, slow burn, enemies to lovers romance. Amanda moves with her son , on her brothers's beach house for the summer.When she arrives there shehas a huge surprise thought, and that is Grand Hendricks , who spends the summer there as well. They start on the wrong foot, so the first couple of weeks a war is going on between these two, which is hilarious. Slowly , Grant makes friends with Mandy's son, Sam, and they become close, and start to onpen up to eachother. "You know that ah-ha moment you get when two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle snap together? When you know you’ve finally aced something. That’s what kissing Grant feels like. I’ve made mistakes, more than my share. But Grant? He’s the right to all my wrongs." In order to make it work,both have to work thru their problem and fight personal demons, so it takes them a little bit to get there, but the result is a sweet love story. “I want you,” I say breathless. “You’re all I want. I never let myself want anything. But I want you.” He blinks, his gaze sharpening. “Baby––” He shakes his head. “You had me from the get-go. I was yours the minute you bulldozed your way into my life.” funny-reads-rom-com romance 20 likes Like Comment Julia 623 reviews 606 followers November 12, 2018 Dammit, P. Dangelico does it again. I'm still salty over her last book with the cheating, but even that cant stop me from LOVING this one. Everything was perfect; the hero, heroine, and even the handling of the ex. This was very similar to Wrecking Ball, in that it had a grumpy hero that slowy becomes a cuddly teddy bear that will do anything for his heroine. Theres not much more to say other than this book was a breathe of fresh air. With a long line of 2018 disappointments (with her previous book, Tiebreaker, being part of said line), I can gladly say that this met and exceeded my exceptions. college-sports epic-love favorite-5-star ...more 20 likes Like Comment Heather❀Kiss The Pages❀ 711 reviews 298 followers November 9, 2018 4.5 stars!! I loved this one so much! This was the perfect blend of sexy, funny and swoon worthy feels! This is the 3rd book in the Hard to Love series but can be read as a complete standalone. This is Amanda's story. She is the sister of Cal from Wrecking Ball . Let me just start off by saying this is probably the funniest book I've read from P. Dangelico. She really stepped up the humor element in this one. The scene where our hero and heroine first meet is seriously LOL epic and it justs gets better and better as the book goes on. I could not get enough! So what can I say about Grant? Let's just say he definitely has issues and his first impression is that of a silent, brooding hero with a serious jerk complex. However, we'll excuse all that because WOW is he sexy! The sex appeal of this man leaps off the pages in every way and yes, drooling while reading is a thing. You will be happy to know our hero has an aversion to wearing clothes and as a well honed football player, he was quite comfortable in his skin. This man as it turns out is also kind, romantic and compassionate. Watching him interact with Amanda's son totally pulled on my heartstrings and seeing this giant of a man turn sweet and loving with Amanda just about melted my poor heart. Amanda is a woman who has come a long way. She's made some mistakes in her past but she's turned her life around to make a better life for her son. I loved her sarcastic, witty humor! She was a kickass heroine with a fiery personality who would take nothing less than the best for herself or her son. She demanded that if Grant wanted to be in their lives, he would have to step it up and be all in or not at all. Grant and Amanda have to work through some issues before they find their HEA but this is very low angst. If you're looking for a sexy, hilarious read with all around good feels then this one is for you! 4.5 Stars Contemporary Sports Romance Heat Level: Moderate POV: Heroine HEA Follow me for your next comfort read! arc-2018 contemporary-romance humor ...more 18 likes Like Comment SamJ ★Needs a HEA★ 609 reviews 898 followers December 2, 2018 Check out this and my other reviews at My Blog , Facebook , Google+ , Twitter and Pinterest Copy received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review ★Book Basics★ Genre : - Cont. Romance Series : - Third in the series. Love triangle? - No Cheating? - No HEA? - Yes Would I read more by this author/or in this series? - Yes Rating - 4.5 stars ★Review★ I have to be honest, I was nervous about Amanda being the heroine after book 1 (She is the hero from book 1 sister) But I really liked her. She owned up to her previous issues and was trying her best. Grant I really disliked as did Amanda to start with, and I was at the point of "seriously just ring your brother and get him chucked out of the house" when Bam, you are all of a sudden rooting for him. Your opinion of him begins to change as you realise how vulnerable and damaged he is. I adore an enemies to lovers story, and a slow build too, and this was pure perfection, with two troubled characters, with hard pasts, who come to realise they don't hate each other and infact need each other. And Grant with Sam!!! Swoon..... However, I felt like I wanted to get to know Grant a bit more than we did. It felt like we barely scratched the surface with the grumpy, vulnerable complicated lovely ass hole man he is! All in a great 4.5 stars. Almost a 5, i just wanted to know more of Grant. book-challenge-2018 copy-received-for-honest-review hero-injured-damaged-ill-wounded ...more 19 likes Like Comment Paula White 587 reviews 33 followers October 27, 2018 I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Loved Mandy, Grant and Sam! Grant was initially a closed book, being quite aggravating and walking around in the nude! Mandy has been through a lot but had turned her life around and was doing all she could for her and her son. She couldn’t deny her attraction to Grant and eventually they get it together, not without a few tribulations along the way. This was another slow burn romance with great heart and humour. Loved the epilogue! netgalley 18 likes Like Comment Antonella 3,771 reviews 518 followers November 28, 2018 Let's start this off with I LOVE THIS BOOK so there is no confusion because honestly I will ramble SO be prepared and warned! This slow burn enemies to lovers troupe is my kryptonite. But when is this deliciously well written with captivating characters you just have to love it. And when I do that than I read it oh so slowly to soak it all up. Mandy is amazing heroine. And don't take this too lightly. I am very choosy and judgy when comes to female characters in books. Hey that is my prerogative. It takes a lot to charm me. I like my woman to be strong. And that usually comes from past mistakes they learned from, from falling but still getting up, for fighting against all odds and she is all that. Flawed and bruised but you can bet your ass she is still determined more than ever to keep on going. She is a workoholic. She is amazing mother, caring friend and good sister. She is real. She is my kind of person. Oh Grant you perfectly imperfect you....you had me since the first naked moment. It is like Paola wrote this guy just for me ( except his blond hair, only blond guys I really fancy are Tom Hardy & Charlie Hunnam but that is different type of conversation) back to the subject....He is a hero I love to read about. That rough around edges that hides all the goodness inside. That guy who doesn't give affection easily but once you have his love he gives you the world. Guy who pays attention to the little things. Huge heart. Oh well abs and muscles and hmmmm everything else doesn't hurt either. Both of them think they don't deserve love. That makes this so much more joyful read when they get their happy end. And also a hopeful one. "I've made mistakes more than my share. But Grant? He's the right to all my wrongs." Side note: Please check out Paola Dangelico Spotify playlist for this book. It is great. This is very heart warming book with a lot of moments that seem so effortlessly well written. And all that mother-son moments make my heart melt. There is also a lot of laugh out loud moments. Like that dance scene. There is also that smack me in the head scene where I along with Sam learned what felching is? Thanks Paola. Thanks very very much. I could live without knowing that. My Google search history too. Whatever you do DO NOT LOOK IT UP. You are welcome. Orrrrrr you already know it...in that case you dirty dirty you..... Anywho...there is a lot of wit in this book, a lot of steam, a lot of comfort. But above all that I find a lot of hope. There is something that touched me very deeply. Made me cry and laugh at the same time. That part when Mandy realizes that life is lived in the now. That tomorrow for some never comes and all you best laid plans are not safe, no they are just convenient. Something just resonated with me with all that...you know that regret is a bitch who is better not provoked. It felt personal and it felt real. Sure we all know that no one is living in the fairy tale but it is nice to be inspired. "Love isn’t finite. There’s no measure to it. It stretches time and space, loops back around, and expands again. Real love, the selfless kind, transcends our own needs but doesn’t leave us poorer, with less, it enriches us in ways we can’t even quantify…beyond our wildest dreams." Another thing is that marking words that Mandy does in her Kindle. I do that too. Because English is not my first language I do it to learn...and because I love words. See..this is my book...written just for me...just let me pretend and if you care about my opinion at all and you still are reading this review GO AND READ THIS BOOK!!!!! I will annoy you to read it....you are warned... "Emotional roller coasters are not an indication of how much someone loves you. Real love is steady. It’s supposed to make you feel safe. Not like you’re constantly dangling off a cliff, on a perpetual high from the spike of adrenaline." Note to self ; I need this book in paperback 2018-front-runner all-the-feels fav-characters ...more 17 likes Like Comment Rachael*Caribbean*girl*bibliophile 1,799 reviews 409 followers December 22, 2019 Spoilers ahead, 4.5* My reviews are really lazy in the last few days 😂 maybe it's because I'm counting down to the holidays but anywho This was my favorite in the series Single parent h who is a recovering alcoholic Football player H who's recovering from surgery Enemies to friends to lovers I'd have preferred he quit before being injured again but at least he'd planned to stop playing h's ex returned but he caused drama with her custody of her son and not the relationship Both have been celibate for years H didn't appear to be a manwhore h is a recovering alcoholic No cheating OW from women who hung on to the h and one he went to a show with but he wasn't interested h went on date with OM but nothing happened favourite h-s-i-love 17 likes Like Comment Ira 1,102 reviews 112 followers November 18, 2018 Let me tell you something, I read about Amanda’s life little bit in Wrecking Ball and I wasn’t her fan at all! So, when I found out she will get her own book, I wasn’t very enthusiastic, and I didn’t even ask P for an ARC, because I’m not sure if I want to read this book. But after so many fantastic reviews on my timeline, hah! Look at me now, I couldn’t even make myself stop until I finished Amanda and Grant and Sam and Roxy’s story 😊. What a lovely lovely read! 🥰 ❤️❤️❤️ contemporary cover-to-die-for kids-in-the-story ...more 17 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 571 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 3 quotes 1 discussion 6 questions Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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On Every Street (The Artists Trilogy, #0.5) by Karina Halle | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $0.99 Rate this book The Artists Trilogy #0.5 On Every Street Karina Halle 4.25 11,265 ratings 1,310 reviews Want to read Kindle $0.99 Rate this book When young con artist Ellie Watt decides to call herself Eden White and go after the drug lord who ruined her as a child, she never expects to fall for one of his henchmen. But Javier Bernal is no ordinary man. Subtly dangerous and overwhelmingly seductive, Eden finds herself passionately in love with Javier, the very person she's set-up to betray. With her body and heart in a heated battle against her deep need for revenge, no one will walk away from this con a winner. Takes place six years before Sins & Needles. It can be read before or after Sins & Needles and may also be read as a standalone. Genres Romance Contemporary New Adult Contemporary Romance Dark Novella Adult ...more 263 pages, Kindle Edition First published March 9, 2013 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Karina Halle 114 books 17.3k followers Karina Halle is a screenwriter, a former music & travel journalist, and the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling author of River of Shadows, The Royals Next Door, and Black Sunshine, as well as 70 other wild and romantic reads, ranging from light & sexy rom coms to horror/paranormal romance and dark fantasy. Needless to say, whatever genre you're into, she's probably written a romance for it. When she's not traveling, she and her husband split their time between a possibly haunted 120 year-old house in Victoria, BC, their sailboat the Norfinn, and their condo in Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.authorkarinahalle.com Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.25 11,265 ratings 1,310 reviews 5 stars 5,578 (49%) 4 stars 3,703 (32%) 3 stars 1,380 (12%) 2 stars 410 (3%) 1 star 194 (1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,310 reviews Karina Halle Author 114 books 17.3k followers Read March 5, 2013 Why do people like reading books that rip your heart out? Writing this HURT. Hurt so BAD. Uuuuuugh. Anyway, I wrote this and it's Javier and Ellie's story when they were young bucks, and if you enjoy this, you're a masochist. PS Javier's a sexy mofo PPS damn right i-wrote-this-shit 261 likes Like Comment Dd 88 reviews 1,118 followers August 10, 2016 “Come, my angel. Dance with me.” NOT FAIR!!! “You know ,” he began, voice low and full, “if you were to ever leave me, I’d come looking for you, on every street.” SO NOT FAIR!!! “I want to rub it in you, like this, until it’s a part of your skin.I want to stain you, Eden.I want myself embedded in your skin, in your heart, in your soul.” SO BLOODY NOT FAIR!!! First he steals my heart. And then he shatters it. I'm telling you,there should be a law against it!! Javier. and Ellie. Readers,this story of theirs..... He lied. I lied. Any love that starts out under a lie is bound to kill you. .....is not a normal one. ------------------------------------------------------------- In Sins and Needles we were introduced to the enigmatic character Javier.In Sins and Needles we saw Ellie Watt....the grifter,the con artist. Here we come to know how and why she turns into one. Revenge is a dish best served cold. Here,in her quest for vengeance,Ellie Watt turns into Eden White. Her plan is a simple one.To ruin the person who ruined her.To make him face everything she had to. But,that person is a drug lord.So to go near him she needs to seduce one of his henchmen. And so she selects her mark.A man compelling, arresting,and dangerous. But everything changes when she meets with him. She is drawn to him like a moth to a flame.... "You brought out the sunshine, I'm glad." How can she not when he says things like this.... "You've gotten under my skin," he said. "I don't think I'll ever be able to shed you." When he can make her burn like this.... "The sounds you make as you come," he explained,voice low and guttural. "Better than any symphony." And yes,that infamous promise.... "I promise to kill anyone who hurts you." But...can it survive? Love? Lust? Obsession? Whatever they have,can it survive? Or is it all.... LIES!!! Those who have read Sins and Needles,already know the answer.But trust me when I say...it still hurts!! And those who haven't....find it out!! ----------------------------------------------------------- “I told you I’d follow you.” Was that sweet? Or was that creepy? Or was that just Javier? “Why?” I whispered. “Because of this,” he said, stroking the tattoo on my arm. “Because you belong to me. You’re my angel. You could change your hair color, your eye color, everything about you. But the tattoo will always remain. I will always remain. I am the ink in your blood.” Last but not the least, Karina Halle has done an amazing job.Even though I knew the outcome, she sucked me right in and didn't let go.It's filled with twists and turns which will keep you on the edge.Readers, this is one wild ride. Can be read as a sequel,prequel or standalone. That's all for now,Readers. Enjoy!! 128 likes Like Comment Georgia ♥ 420 reviews 1,171 followers August 20, 2013 5 I'm-Destroyed STARS ♪♫ A three-chord symphony crashes into space The moon is hanging upside down I don't know why it is I'm still on the case It's a ravenous town And you still refuse to be traced Seems to me such a waste And every victory has a taste that's bittersweet And it's your face I'm looking for on every street ♪♫ He lied. I lied. Any love that starts out under a lie is bound to kill you. To love someone is to reveal your deepest and innermost thoughts. To lay yourself bare in front the other and let your souls recognize each other. Love has no room for lies, deceit, despair and vengeance because then it's not love. It's an obsession doomed to consume you. Ellie Watt is a broken young woman, set on repeating her parents' mistakes. She becomes the con artist she accused them of being, to take vengeance for an horrible act of violence against her as a child. But one wrong can't right another. "You want revenge. You want vindication. And I hope you get those things. But the relief will be fleeting. Because you can never right the external wrongs until you fix what’s wrong inside you.” She becomes Eden White and she takes a chance. "I never became the person I was meant to be. Instead I had to become someone else. And I didn’t know who she was yet." A chance to forget, to live and love. But betrayal follows betrayal, obsession and possession are easily mistaken for love in the eyes of an innocent, the scars are hidden but always there, lurking in the background. She makes a mistake. A rookie one at that. She falls for her mark. She found a keeper, a lover, a tormentor, at last. Javier Bernal is a dangerous man. A criminal involved with the drug cartels, ruthless and seductive, sweeps Ellie of her feet and for the first time in her life, he shows her care and passion. "I want to stain you, Eden. I want myself imbedded in your skin, in your heart, in your soul." Is everything a facade or did she finally find her home? Has finally life repaid her a little? Can love redeem you or did your heart trick you into the worst mistake of your life? This is an amazing book in it's own right. Forget the Artists Trilogy, Sins & Needles , everything you think you know. THIS BOOK STANDS ALONE! If you didn't care for Sins & Needles (I don't know how..:D) , it doesn't mean you should skip this book too. It's a dark and twisted story of passion and despair, sex and torment. It grabs you and never lets you go, leaving you feeling raw and wondering of your own emotions, falling for a smooth talking bastard. Now, if you are like me, a Karina Halle fan, this the story you were waiting for and don't want to miss. The story that sheds a whole new light on Sins & Needles , that will make you crushing not on Javier or Camden, but on Ellie and understand all the injustice she faced in her short life. It's the backstory that gives a whole new meaning in what exactly did Ellie sacrifice in the end of Sins & Needles . Not only herself and her future but her soul, her sanity, her identity. Because: And witnessing the dark side and the million shades of grey in between, you will crave for more purity, love and sanctuary. THERE IS NO EXCUSE! READ THIS BOOK! You will love it... Karina Halle 's unique ability to make realistic characters who screw up and are left to pick up their lives piece by piece, her attention to detail and style will suck you right in and win you over! *ARC courtesy of the author, Karina Halle , in exchange for an honest review* My initial reaction to the news: I won't like Javier.... I won't like Javier.... I won't like Javier.... This review can be found on my blog: infinity-of-time.blogspot.com also known as... 2013 abused-hero-or-and-heroine arc-copy-to-review ...more 104 likes Like Comment Debra 474 reviews 2,448 followers March 17, 2013 Lies. Passion. Deceit. Love. Heartbreak. Revenge. "Do you believe in fate, Eden?" "Sometimes I do," I managed to say, trying to keep the breeziness in my voice. "I think it was fate that brought you to me today," he said. Ellie Watt/Eden White -- Javier Bernal -- Was it really fate that brought Ellie and Javier together? Actually it was not. It was a single girl's need for revenge that made these two people meet... As a young girl, Ellie Watt's life was destroyed by a powerful man with no mercy. He hurt her both mentally and physically and drove her away from her parents. After that, the man moved on with his life like nothing ever happened, while Ellie was left broken and shattered, she was left by herself to pick up the pieces and try to put them back together. Now, as a twenty-year old woman, Ellie decides it is time for her to take matters into her own hands and to take revenge on the man who got away with destroying her. "I want to hurt the man who hurt me. I want to destroy him for destroying me. And I won't be happy, I won't be free, until I do so." Consumed with the need for vengeance, Ellie Watt decides to turn her world around and to become Eden White . With her new identity, she chooses Javier as her mark, the person she will try to get close to and who will eventually lead her to her the man who destroyed her life. But what she didn't expect was that she would fall for her mark... "It's just when I chose Javier as my mark, I never thought that my mark would choose me. Because that's what Javier had just done. I wanted to win over his heart so I could get what I wanted. But I had a feeling he was about to get to my heart first." And how could she not fall for him? The way he acted, the things he said... Somewhere along the line, the need for vengeance starts to fade into the background as the urge to love begins to take its place... "It's funny what love can do to a person. It strips them of everything, even their instincts. It creates a new reality for you to adhere to, a new world where you break the rules just to keep the love intact." "Are you ready to give me everything?" he asked. I said yes before I had a chance to take it back. And so, she decides to move on and maybe she'll even be able to trust this man... This man who can be so charming and sweet... "Why am I good to you?" he repeated, his lips brushing against mine as he spoke. "Because I can see you are broken. And I want nothing more than to put you back together." This man who can be so persuasive... "Please, angel. Make me your home." This man who can be so possessive... "I want to rub it in you, like this, until it's a part of your skin. I want to stain you, Eden. I want myself embedded in your skin, in your heart, in your soul." "You are all mine, even if you run. I will find you because a soul needs its other half to truly live. "You can scream, angel. I love the sound of my name coming form your lips, especially while I'm occupied with these ones." "You know," he began, voice low and full, "if you were to ever leave me, I'd come looking for you on every street." "You promise?" "Always." And I knew he kept his promises. But all this time, she had to remember that their love was based on lies... "He lied. I lied. Any love that starts out under a lie is bound do kill you." Or isn't it? ... Admittedly, I tried not to fall for Javier, because I knew he would be bad news... But, around page 7 I already gave up that premise. It's basically impossible not to feel the least bit attracted to the smooth talking, suave bastard (and yes I say bastard, because he did some things that made me hate him too). So throughout, the entire book, as Eden was slowly but surely being seduced by him, so was I. And then he had to go and break poor Eden's heart(and mine too!). So, as sexy and irresistible as he may be; in the end I'm still Team Camden!!! This novella was enticing, gripping, fact-paced and very hard to put down! From the moment I started reading it, I was immediately sucked in to the exciting and at times terrifying world of Ellie/Eden, that Karina Halle has so masterfully created. Personally, I liked Ellie's character better in Sins Needles because she's much more mature and sure of herself and what she wanted. But it was very interesting and captivating to read her entire journey in On Every Street . This is her story and it gave us a very clear insight on how and why she became the person she is today. Needless to say, I'm already looking forward to Shooting Scars , the next part of this captivating and intriguing series! And if you haven't read Sins & Needles, yet, you can either read that one first or after On Every Street, but I would highly recommend reading this series...it's a must read ! ***** "Your pain is beautiful, Eden," he said. "Because it will fade." 2013-release favorite-series romance 83 likes Like Comment Fatima 708 reviews 343 followers March 14, 2013 5+++ I-cant-breathe-need-a-CPR-right-now-just-call-Javier-or-Camden stars !!!!! “I’m going to teach you how to fuck me, Eden,” he said, his voice hoarse. He shuffled back until he was sitting just behind my ass. “But first I’m going to show you what it’s like to be fucked.” Cue music : Angel - Massive Attack ... I think my obsession with Karina Halle has just reached an all time high ... Can this woman get any better ? Apparently , yes ! Every time I ask myself that question I find myself giving me the same answer ! She just keeps getting better and better ! Its like she writes on a paper made out of platinum with a gold pen or something .. Oh wait , where did that come from ! Apologies , I'm just going gaga over this saga , that has my heart bleeding , my eyes tearing (up) and my panties soaking (wet) .. Sorry too much info there , but I cant help it ! On Every street is suppose to be a prequel but can be read as a stand alone as well . You know what that means don't you ??? All those skeptics out there , who have been thinking about reading Sins and Needles , but actually haven't , yeah you guys need to check out On Every Street .. It'll probably give you a whole lot of reasons to finally get your hands on S&N !! Eden White has a mission on her mind . Make the man who made her life miserable pay for his sins . But getting what she wants isn't easy . So her plan is to seduce somebody real close to her target , and get to that target through him . Sounds pretty easy right ? Especially when she's counting on her conning abilities . But what she doesn't count on is her heart and her body which is already falling and sizzling out for the man who is just suppose to be a means to an end . The ... The ..... The ... Jesus , why is it soo hot all of a sudden .... The ... Javier Bernal ... What will be Eden's final step ? Will she carry out her original plan and get what she wants ? Or will love and lust take over and make Eden rethink her decisions pf revenge and hate ? Well , grab your copy and find out !!!! “You have the face and the body of a twenty-one-year-old, I can see that very well. But your eyes. No, you have a story in your eyes. You lived in this world a hundred times over. You’ve seen some things that no one else should see.” Oh dear god , reading this book leaves you feeling like a junkie with a hiked up adrenaline rush .. At the end of it , I couldn't figure out if I was sad , happy or distraught ! But one thing that was sure as fuck was I felt connected to Eden and her emotions .. I felt her feels , like I was the fucking one who went through it all ..... * Sigh * .. Why must you do that to us Karina ..... Now lets talk about the guy who turned me into a conflicting mess . I wasn't sure of my feelings for him . One moment I was all hot and panting , the next I just wanted to throttle him .. Now , you must be wondering why . I'll explain . Karina Halle has created a very rare and a sexy as hell specimen , a devil in a snakes clothing if I may add . Cool , calm and collected are masks he wears with great confidence ! People don't really get to see his dangerous crazy side , unless and until ... well , unless and until that side is directed at you . Oh and did I mention he is sexy as hell .. “I won’t hurt you,” he said, reading my thoughts. “But you can’t just hand over your virginity to me, Eden. I have to take it from you. I have to make you surrender to me, to everything, in every way possible. I want your heart, your soul, and your body. I want the you that you’re hiding deep inside. I must have her.” * excuse me while I restart my heart * ... But , do I like him ??? See , conflicting mess !! Eden , according to me , was the real star of On Every Street ... Had I not been a absolute book boyfriend slut , I'd totally would've gone bi for her !!! She is sooo much stronger than she thinks ! Her sense of humor ... out of this world .. She's not intentionally funny .. but more of a the-occasion-calls-for-it funny ... "I always thought I’d lose my virginity and there would be blood splattered all over the walls like an episode of Dexter, but I guess years of tampon use and masturbation took some of the edge off. And its just that whatever she's been through in life has taught her to be the kind of person she is ... There is a saying that goes , ' The apple doesn't fall too far from its tree ' , right .. Well Eden is sort of a fine example for that . She may not have planned her life that way , you know to be a con artist and all , but her struggles and the truth of what she's been through make decisions for her .. But she changes she really does .. What starts off as a lie , soon becomes a whole lot of other things .. And that was just the beginning of my downhill journey of emotions ... And the ending , oh my god , couple that up with the ending of Sins & Needles .... Damn I need to meditate , thinking about what's in store for her fucked up heroes ( yes , that includes Ellie as well ) is giving me anxiety attacks ! Karina , hurry up will you !!! Till then my fellow peeps , enjoy this book ! And heart the fuck out of these characters that the Her Awesomeness Karina Halle has created !! Peace and love my peeps , peace and love ...... A huge thank you to Karina Halle for the ARC ! arc-for-review books-to-die-for cant-wait ...more 75 likes Like Comment xrysa 143 reviews 990 followers March 23, 2013 “Please, angel. Make me your home.” I have so many feelings . Eden In this book Ellie is seeking revenge . She wants to destroy that man who ruined her life so she asks help from an old good friend. Gus helps her become one of the greatests cons and then she has to put her plan on work by approaching someone who will lead her to Travis. I've never believed in love at first sight . Javier (I'm swooning so badly.) Well , Javier has no idea the Eden is only approaching him in order to seduce him and he is simply falling in love with her. “So, what would you like to drink?” “Aside from you?” I laughed anxiously. “You can’t drink me.” He leaned forward, his eyes running up and down my body, causing my skin to heat. “Yes, I believe I can. And I believe I will. But for now, I’ll just have a Bombay and tonic.” He has secrets that isnt willing to reveal but Eden is one step ahead. She know everything. When he is ready he tells her the truth and yet he is surprised that she is not leaving him. I don’t deserve your love, Eden. You have my heart, but yours should remain in your chest. Save it for a better man. Save it for someone who’s worth it.” His eyes shimmered as tears threatened to spill over. “You need to leave me.” “No,” I told him, grabbing his face. “I need to love you.” However Eden has to face the real Javier. The man that cant stand to be cheated. The man who lives for vengeance . She doesnt like that version of him and she decides to run away. But Javier will always find you my dear Eden . “You know,” he began, voice low and full, “if you were to ever leave me, I’d come looking for you, on every street.” “You promise?” “Always.” And I knew he kept his promises.” In the hotel room he begs for forgiveness. He loves her so much. “Eden, angel. Please. Please forgive me. Please give me another chance. Please give me a reason to keep fighting, to be a better man. Redeem me. Only you can.” He cries and begs her to come back. Isnt that adorable??That means that truly loves her. Eden loves him more and more that she has almost forgotten her purpose. They live together... They love each other... “Why am I good to you?” he repeated, his lips brushing against mine as he spoke. “Because I can see you are broken. And I want nothing more than to put you back together.” Why I loved Eden : Ellie , Eden she is the same person. She is a unique book character and that the main reason that I like her.She seems strong but she is not.However , no matter what happens to her she manages to stand again on her feet.In this book is younger but not immature.It's really nice to read about the first time that she was happy. Why I loved Javier : Javier is the exotic and dangerous man with the haunting eyes . The fact that he has a Mexican accent makes me love him more. He is a man that loves passionately and obsessivelly.He doesnt want Eden to be in danger and he always caring and sweet. “I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone. More than I thought I was capable of. Eden, you’ve taken my heart by surprise from the day I first saw you. It hasn’t been my heart since.” *******************SPOILERS************************** Ok I'll admit it , I ship Javier. I know she will end up with Camden ,who I also really love but Javier captured me at a hello. He cheated on her. D***move , huh? And you might be wondering why I still ship him , right? I have a theory. Javier during the whole book is caring and adorable and all of a sudden (actually when he learned that she was not pregnant) he becomes a different person and he seems so indefferent towards her. My theory is that Javier may have discovered something about her real identity and because he loves her and he doesnt want to kill her he decides to cheat on her. Well, that's what I think but still this is one theory which I hope is true.I really dont want to read that Javier cheated on her because he wanted to. **************END OF SPOILERS***************** All in all this book was perfect and I really enjoyed it. The second book of the series is going to be very intense for all the readers and I cant wait to see what will happen. I'm yours angel and you are mine. My angel is mine . contemporary favorites 70 likes Like Comment Lucia 737 reviews 897 followers February 10, 2017 My Javier: I couldn't get past all the wrongs in my life, I couldn't accept them. To accept it, to live it, peacufully, that was like saying it was all okay." - Ellie In this novella, Ellie is 20 years old, young, naive, unexperienced and stubborn. She is completely different person than Ellie I got to know in Sins & Needles and more importantly, she deals with completely different issues. She wants to truly start living her life, but firstly she needs to get even with person who scarred her mentally and physically. She has a plan. Plan for reveange. She is willing to do anything to get her reveange but one thing she did not include in her plan was falling in love with her mark, with Javier. " It's funny what love can do to a person. It strips them of everything, even their instincts. It creates a new world for you to adhere to, a new world where you break the rules just to keep the love intact." Javier is charismatic, smooth talker, "Latino heartthrob" and real charmer. But on the top of that he is ruthless criminal, rough, controlling and very dangerous man. I admit, there is much more to him than I thought, he almost fooled me into liking him and he definitely makes very intriguing character but he takes term bad boy to completely different level and I just cannot like him. He reminds me of pretty cover with rotten inside... "I was naïve and young and caught in the spark that would create the flames." - Ellie For me, this is story about Ellie/Eden and her turmoil of raw emotions and difficult lifechanging decisions. Yes, she was driving me crazy with her ignorance of facts and making excuses for her actions but I felt so much compassion for her! This is story about vengeance and about first love. So of course it was doomed to be emotional and heartbreaking. The style of writing in this novella will make you feel all emotions our young heroine was experiencing. You will be nervous, excited, lustful, happy, angry, devasted, heartbroken together with Ellie. It takes really talented author to be able to make readers feel everything that is happening in the book like it was real. That is exactly what Karina achieved in this novella. On Every Street affirms the saying that love is blind. This story will emotionally drain you but it will help you to understand Ellie so much better. * I received ARC by author as an exchange for honest review. * MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG 60 likes Like Comment • Lisa • 559 reviews 1,567 followers October 10, 2013 5 JAVIER STARS. "I wanted to win over his heart so I could get what I wanted. But I had a feeling he was able to get to my heart first." So here it is, I've finally read this novella after collecting dust on my must read shelf and I can honestly say that it has left me with all kinds of mixed up emotions. Since reading 'Sins and needles' I knew this author could put together a seriously well written and suspenseful story. I thought I had all my good guys, bad guys, i'm in love with you guys all in an orderly line, I thought I had all my feelings for these characters figured out and now that I've finished this mind blowing novella I'm not sure that I had it figured out after all. What a ride, every page and exchange was heart stopping and utterly engaging and here are my thoughts ... What's it all about? Ellie Watt is a damaged lonely twenty year old with nothing to keep her company but the taste for revenge, this scarred beauty has only one aim; go after the man who ruined her life. But along the way this impressionable girl learns more about love then she could ever have imagined and just when she believes she can let go of the past the man who holds the key to her heart fails her, but what happens when this man can't let her go? Javier Bernal is dangerously in love, nothing will keep him from his angel but there are secrets to unravel and this man will stop at nothing to keep the love of his life by his side. 'On Every Street' explores the beginning of a relationship that may or may not be the forever kind of love. "Any love that starts under a lie is bound to kill you." What did I love? Well it goes without saying that this author is a talented writer but she is also a very clever one, her books scream originality and this novella is not exempt from that special touch. The book is so intreaging I couldn't help but fall for a character I had previously grown to dislike. I loved this further insight into the life of Ellie Watt I felt I was able to connect more and sympathise with this character. Some of the more intimate dialogue between the characters set my heart racing and questioning all I felt I had learned from the first book of the series. Any book that can invoke all the different kinds of emotions that this novella does most certainly deserves a high rating. Karina Hall delivers a fast paced wonderfully written story that is filled to the brim with love, possession, suspense, murder, regret, lies, secrets and a true mind mess of a relationship that is cunningly addictive and I loved it all. Final thoughts ... Why oh why has it taken me this long to pick up this story. This series is truly epic the author has obviously well thought out and treasured her story line, only question I'm left to ask myself is I am team Camden or team Javier? Don't miss out on this series you will be entertained and hanging on to your kindle for dear life. Go grab it readers, enjoy ... Kisses. "I want myself embedded in your skin, in your heart, in your soul." favourite-series 44 likes Like Comment Farah 362 reviews 499 followers March 10, 2013 ***** 10 HEART AND SOUL BREAKING STARS!!! ***** "I want to hurt the man who hurt me. I want to destroy him for destroying me. And I won’t be happy, I won’t be free, until I do so.” Ellie... This was the plan... this is what Ellie had thought about all her life... Revenge.. Travis.. the man who hurt her when she was just a child. "When the man found me trying to rob him, he retaliated by throwing acid on my leg. He scarred my leg for life, scarred me for life. He took away all the good in my past and he robbed me of a future. I never became the person I was meant to be. Instead I had to become someone else. And I didn’t know who she was yet." She was now Eden... A new name.. To start the new Con, the Ultimate con of her life... "I couldn’t get past all the wrongs in my life, I couldn’t accept them. To accept it, to live with it, peacefully, that was like saying it was all okay. And what was done to me…that can never be okay" Eden gets a job at a local bar, rents a small apartment.. She needs to have a stable life to make the con more real. Eden started watching Travis, staking out the front of his house. Looking out who was close to him... she would get close to that person, possibly seduce them... This would get her closer to Travis... closer to Revenge After a few says she saw him... the man with the haunting eyes.. Eden knew he was the one. This man has such sex appeal, class and elegance... And breathtaking eyes... One day she goes into his favorite coffee shop while he was there.. Doing herself up, wearing ass tight jeans, she knew she was Hot.. She wanted his attention.. Because he definitely had hers! Siting across the room his presence was electrifying... Eden knew this was a problem for her.. "I’ve never believed in love at first sight. I barely believed in lust at first sight. I didn’t believe in anything except righting all the wrongs in my life. But at that moment, this man saw me. The real me underneath the bombshell mask. I felt like he must have seen everything." He comes to talk to her... Javier..... the beautiful man's name.. "Do you believe in fate, Eden?”" "I think it was fate that brought you to me today,” "You do?" "I think you’ll look back at this in a few years and you’ll know what I know.” Javier ask's Eden out... and this is where it all begins.... They go out, have a good time, he kisses her with such passion.. On the beach standing on the sand... Eden feels things she cannot comprehend... She tells him she's a Virgin. He thinks she is pure and perfect. She stays with him.. He asks about the scars.. And she tells the lie... Javier will take her virginity... "I won’t hurt you,” he said, reading my thoughts. “But you can’t just hand over your virginity to me, Eden. I have to take it from you. I have to make you surrender to me, to everything, in every way possible. I want your heart, your soul, and your body. I want the you that you’re hiding deep inside. I must have her.”" Before Eden knows it she's living with Javier... Slowly the lines are fading... What exactly is she doing? What is she feeling? All she wants is him... SHe is consumed... Drowning.... Drowning..... Gasping... Drowning... Eden is drowning.... Drowning in her heart, Gasping for breath... She.Must.Not.Forget why she is here... So many thoughts ...Questions... "Had I actually been falling for Javier? Did I really love him or did I love the lust? Did I love the deception? Did I love the idea that I was getting closer to my goal, as much as I pretended it no longer existed?" Love is a funny thing.. It makes you forget! And I DON'T blame Eden for forgetting! Accepting the very same things that hurt you ...to be okay... "It's funny what love can do to a person. It strips them of everything, even their instincts. It creates a new world for you to adhere to, a new world where you break the rules just to keep the love intact" "Because you belong to me. You’re my angel. You could change your hair color, your eye color, everything about you. But the tattoo will always remain. I will always remain. I am the ink in your blood." On every street there's gotta be a record of you some place you gotta be on somebody's books the low-down- a picture of your face your injured looks the sacred and profane the pleasure and the pain somewhere your fingerprints remain concrete and its your face I'm looking for on every street... "You are mine and will always be mine. I am going to fuck you so deeply you won’t be able to look at me without thinking of this, of the way I own you, of the way I’ll keep you.” "He lied. I lied. Any love that starts out under a lie is bound to kill you" WHY WHY WHY??? This book will consume you right to your soul, to such a point where you start questing which is the love Ellie/Eden deserves.....? And Javier this is for you... Thank you very much to Karina Halle for sending me an ARC of this book! I will be COUNTING down the days till the 3rd book! favorites 44 likes Like Comment Megan • Reading Books Like a Boss (book blog) 500 reviews 687 followers April 18, 2015 See more reviews like this at Reading Books Like a Boss I need a cigarette. I don't even smoke, but I feel like I need a cigarette after finishing this book. My mind feels sated after being thoroughly screwed. I couldn't sleep after I finished this because my mind was overloaded with emotions, feelings, and unadulterated awesomeness. Before I even started reading, I knew that I would end up liking Javier, despite my firm allegiance to Camden McQueen. Karina Halle is a word ninja and has ways of sneaking up on you with throwing stars of confusion. After reading all of her books, I should know this by now. You will not fool me next time, Karina! Six years before Ellie Watt decided she wanted to leave grifting behind and before she reunited with Camden, there was Javier, her first love, her first obsession, her first everything. Under the alias, Eden White, she set out to get revenge on the man who ruined her life, Travis. She chose Javier, Travis's right hand man, as her pawn in her plot for revenge. Naive, inexperienced, and completely captivated by Javier, Eden gets in way over head. She loses focus and, in the process, she loses her heart to this complicated man. "It’s funny how quickly I had turned into someone that wanted to spend every minute with a guy. That had never happened to me before. I guess I could blame it on working the long con, but deep down, I knew that wasn’t it." "Some days I felt like Eden White. Other days I felt like Ellie Watt. But most days, I only knew one thing: I was a horrible con artist. And, against my better judgement, I was making peace with that." Javier, oh my Javier. I wanted to hate him. I tried, I really did, but he slithered his way into my heart and gradually took it over. A week later, I can't stop thinking about the book and good ole Javier. I can't pinpoint exactly when my hate switch turned off and the like switch turned on, but it happened. *shouts to the heavens* Damn you, Javier! Javier is a broken man. Despite his high rank in the world of drug trafficking, he is surprisingly vulnerable and open with Eden. He lets down his guard and shows her a softer and sensual side. It's this gentle side that melted my and Eden's heart. "You can’t just hand over your virginity to me, Eden. I have to take it from you. I have to make you surrender to me, to everything, in every way possible. I want your heart, your soul, and your body. I want the you that you’re hiding deep inside. I must have her." “Why am I good to you? Because I can see you are broken. And I want nothing more than to put you back together.” I was blown away with how much Halle could pack into a small novella. On Every Street begins with Eden and Javier's first meeting and ends with the demise of their relationship. Their two-year love affair was intense and full of...love? obsession? I don't know which! What I do know is this novella came with a one-way ticket to Crazytown. I had to get a few drinks in me before I could finish this. I went from feeling sad to "awwwhh" to "whoa, man that's hot" in the span of a few pages. Halle has a gift when it comes to writing the steamy scenes. When I think back on the "moisturizer" scene, I am thankful no one can read my mind. Even though I was completely frustrated with Eden's decision-making skills, I can understand how she got wrapped in her emotions and lost sight of her endgame. Every book Karina Halle writes, I feel like I am right there in that moment with the character, whether it be extreme heartbreak or complete happiness. In this novella, I felt the gamut of emotions Eden went through from the beginning until the brutal end. At the end when Eden walks into their home and realizes what Javier is doing, I felt like I had been duped and cheated on. I wanted to throw something and punch Javier in his peas and carrots. Javier, man, what the hell?!? Now, I'm torn between two psychopaths (okay, maybe psychopaths is a bit harsh. Oh well, I'm going to go with it). Picture Javier and Camden in a boxing ring about to fight for Ellie's love. In one corner, we have the safe choice, Camden. Though he isn't perfect, he seems to be the lesser of two evils. He has loved/obsessed over Ellie since high school, and wants her to be herself. In the other corner, there's Javier, Ellie's first love/obsession. He is more dangerous, but the chemistry and passion between these two is off the charts. Who will win Ellie's heart? I suppose we'll find out in the next two installments. Now the wait begins... *I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. _________________________ Find more of my reviews and other bookish things here: ✥ My blog R eading Books Like a Boss ✥ Like on Facebook ✥ Follow on Twitter 42 likes Like Comment Alex is The Romance Fox 1,461 reviews 1,183 followers March 14, 2017 A prequel to Sins and Needles, Karina Halle’s The Artist’s Trilogy, which gives you an insight into Ellie Watt’s life as a con artist living under the name of Eden White and how she met the gorgeous and dangerous Javier Bernal. Wow, I loved this story!! Can’t wait to start book 1!! adventure-mystery-crime-thriller authors-a-h erotic-romance ...more 38 likes Like Comment Emily May 2,059 reviews 312k followers March 12, 2013 "This little angel was definitely going to get her wings dirty." I just can't get enough of these characters and this series. Ms Halle, what have you done to me? This little prequel of approximately a hundred pages packs a punch that I didn't think was possible. I'm trying to decide which tone was strongest in this story: the sexy or the sad. Because it is definitely both. This is an erotic, heart-breaking novella about first loves and first betrayals. And I highly recommend you do not read this prequel until you have read Sins & Needles - I personally think this is important because On Every Street makes you view things very differently. This book takes us back to a time when Ellie Watt was Eden White - a name she had picked for herself as part of an undercover operation to get revenge on the drug lord who had stolen her self-confidence, who had given her the scars she constantly tried to hide. But to get to him, she must seduce one of his henchmen and worm her way into his circle. What she never expected was to fall for Javier Bernal. He was supposed to be the tool she used to get close to Travis, she was supposed to cast him aside without a thought when she was done. Looks like life never turns out the way you expected and sometimes you find things along the way that are stronger than hate and the desire for revenge. When I read Sins & Needles , I loved Camden McQueen and Javier was the villain who attempted to come between Camden and Ellie, but reading this made me look at the story in an entirely different way and I'm no longer sure who I want Ellie to be with. How odd it is that I have often bitched and moaned about love triangles only to find myself right in the middle, torn between Camden and Javier. Ms Halle has stated that she doesn't believe you can be in love with more than one person at once and I'm glad to hear this - it means Ellie should make her decision and there won't be any of the usual angsting all over the place. Not from her, anyway. Me? Well, that's a whole different situation. I'm likely to be angsting about this right until the end. This prequel is an absolute must for those who enjoyed Sins & Needles . It's very sexy, a little kinky and really quite sad. People tend to say that whatever happens, wherever you end up, whoever you end up with, you never forget your first love and they always hold a piece of your heart. I don't know if this is true but Ms Halle makes a very convincing case for it here. 2013 contemporary romance 38 likes Like Comment Lise *friends don't flag* 430 reviews 172 followers March 12, 2013 5++++ mind blowing stars!!!! Karina Halle simply blows my mind with her writing. I become obsessed and perhaps possessed by her insanely amazing skills. She creates characters and weaves a story like no other; she truly is in a class of her own. Long story short- I have been a fan-girl since Experiment in Terror book one-Darkhouse. I read the series book after book without stopping except she had not written the novellas or book 5 and 6, so I had to wait. FYI…. For all you lucky ducks just reading the series now, you get it all! Well… there is still more to the Dex and Perry saga (Thankfully) Anyhoo… moving on. I fell in KH book love (once again) with Ellie and Camden’s story in Sins and Needles. I was like ‘Yay’ Ellie and Camden deserve each other, where’s their HEA, Boo hiss I sort of hate mean bad boy reptilian eyed Javier. Hmmm… then comes On Every Street; Ellie (Eden) and Javier’s story six years prior to S&N. I freaking could not put the book down, read it straight through, was messaging other fortunate arc readers as I could not comprehend what I had just experienced and then I did something I never do and I messaged the author and begged for a proverbial pat on the head to let me know everything was going to be okay so I could go to sleep. Well… I did receive some consolation (Bless you Karina) but I only sleep for a few hours, as I could not clear Javier and Eden from my brain and heart. Their story is raw, dangerous, beautiful, incredibly sensual , and also so devastating. Going in I had my doubts, I was Team Camden for goodness sakes so how could I stomach this story, Eden and Javier’s- based on lies, deceit and seeking revenge. But damn if I didn’t fall hook line and sinker for that oh-so-sexy Mexican dude and when I read Ellie’s quick reference of Camden as “some weirdo boy I knew back in high school” I thought, ‘oh him’ okay… let me read more about Javier. Javier knew he wanted Eden the minute he saw her “Because I don’t believe in accidents,” he said, licking his lips. “But I do believe you’ll say yes.” But will this foil Eden’s plan for the revenge she has been plotting for ten years? “It’s just when I choose Javier as my mark, I never thought my mark would choose me.” Okay folks.. I must stop here as I do not want to piss off Karina by going on and on with scene after scene. Just know that this book is brilliant, it will mark you and you will be stained, the characters will be imbedded in your skin, your heart and perhaps even your soul…. “My angel will always come before me.” “This little angel was definitely going to get her wings dirty.” Ready to hit On Every Street and hang with Javier for the evening! Got an ARC, baby!!! 2013-faves all-nighter arc ...more 37 likes Like Comment destini 239 reviews 496 followers August 18, 2013 I tiptoed down the hall toward the bedroom door. And heard him moan. ... came to a halt when I heard the sound following it. I hate you, Javier. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you. I love you. I knew that was coming and it still tore my heart out. Despite all his flaws, I loved him and he’s done the unforgivable… Revenge. That’s what is fueling Ellie Watt. She needs to exact revenge on the drug lord who ruined her before she will be able to live a normal life. With her plan all thought out, she becomes Eden White and sets her sights on seducing Javier Bernal, one of the henchman. What she doesn’t expect is to fall in love with him. So, she has a chose to make… choose revenge or choose love. I swore to myself that I would not fall for Javier, said that there was no way I’d fall for him… and now I’m a liar. Javier was so sexy and romantic! It was hard no to like him. Sometimes he could be strong, and sometimes incredibly vulnerable and it all melted my heart. He always new what to do and what were the right things to say. “Isn’t that tiring? To hide it? To pretend?” “Yes, it is.” “Then how about you don’t pretend with me?” I loved seeing this younger Ellie. She was much more inexperienced and less rough. There was a sweet innocence to her. The one thing I recognized was her determination. She needed that revenge to be able to let the past go, but as time went on, love began feed the fire that was once fed by vengeance. I wanted to win over his heart so I could get what I wanted. But I had a feeling he was about to get to my heart first. All the sex was a nice bonus too. We were both insatiable, our physical need for each other overpowering everything we did. It was the catalyst for our thoughts, for our actions. We gave each other our bodies as if we’d die otherwise. In Sins & Needles , Javier was mentioned and even came up in a few scenes, but we really weren’t able to feel the history he and Ellie shared. Here, you get the full story and now you can better relate and understand Ellie’s feelings of pain and betrayal in book one. You really got to connect with him. I still believe that Ellie and Camden are meant for each other, but if Camden was out of the picture, I could see myself on Javier’s side. I never felt like Javier’s feelings were anything less than genuine. You could feel his adoration through the pages. “I want your heart, your soul, and your body. I want the you that you’re hiding deep inside.” And how could the armor around my heart not crack at this? “Please, angel. Make me your home.” “You know,” he began, voice low and full, “if you were to ever leave me, I’d come looking for you, on every street.” “You promise?” “Always.” And I knew he kept his promises. The ending was painful . I knew it was coming. I saw the signs. That did not stop it from ripping my heart out and throwing it off a cliff. I was so emotionally invested, that I felt that betrayal like I was right there. It broke Ellie and it broke me. I could sort of, maybe (not really) understand why it happened. At first I was really hurt and angry. I just wanted to rip Javier’s balls of and throw ‘em in his face, but now I’m just hurt. One thing I'm really happy about is that Ellie didn't stick around afterwards. She didn't make excuses for him or pretend it never happened. She packed her stuff up and got herself out of there. Overall, I loved On Every Street and do recommend reading it. It helped me better understand Sins & Needles . I usually skip novellas but with this one, I say go for it! ____________________________________ More of my Artist Trilogy reviews: Sins & Needles (The Artist Trilogy, #1) ________________________________ favorites 35 likes Like Comment Jennifer Kyle 2,482 reviews 5,320 followers March 12, 2013 Damn you Javier! I kept repeating to myself the whole book that I will not fall for your swag and charm but you made it impossible! Did I mention that this guy is hotter than Haatis? "Submissive? I'm sorry to disappoint you my angel, but I don't run with that crowd. Perhaps you'll submit to me tonight, but after that, I'll be the one submitting to you."~ Javier Ellie Watt has one thing in mind when she makes this heart throb her mark...revenge against Travis. Travis is Javier's boss the head of a drug cartel. Ellie changes her name to Eden White and sets her plan of getting close to one of Travis' men to gain access and retribution in motion. Ellie had no idea what she was in store for when she put her con into action. Javier swept her off her feet and believe me I was right along for the ride. He is tough, protective, tender and definitely in love with Eden White. I even had to remind myself of Cam...yeah remember him. I knew what was coming in the end because of Sins and Needles but it didn't lessen the blow or my heart break. My only complaint would be that I wanted a chapter of Javier's pov at the end. Maybe the wonderful Karina Halle will indulge me!! I am so anxious to get my hands on Shooting Scars and at this point may the best man win!! 35 likes Like Comment Christy 4,133 reviews 34.7k followers March 14, 2013 5 STARS!!! Ellie Watts is on a mission. She is out for revenge. She wants the man who gave her the scars on her legs to pay. To do this, she will have to be someone else, Eden White. After being near Travis’s place for about a month, she knows what she has to do. She will get close to him by seducing one of his right hand men... It’s just when I chose Javier as my mark, I never thought my mark would chose me. She meets Javier, and it doesn’t take long to get his attention. He asks her out immediately. Shit. I was supposed to be seducing him, wasn’t I? Not the other way around. After spending time with Javier, and giving him all of herself- Eden runs into a problem... My body was his and it was just a matter of time before he had my heart. I wanted to hate Javier... I did. But most of the book, I couldn’t resist his charms. I really don’t think he is as bad of a guy as I originally thought. He eventually tells Eden of his work, and warns her away. “I don’t deserve your love, Eden. You have my heart, but yours should remain in your chest. Save it for a better man. Save it for someone who’s worth it.” his eyes shimmered as tears spilled over. “You need to leave me.” And Javier was really smooth, and so sweet most of the time.... “Why am I good to you?” he repeated, his lips brushing against mine as he spoke. “Because I can see you are broken. And I want nothing more than to put you back together.” “Care to dance?” “On the dock?” I asked. “Right now?” He cocked his head. “Come, my angel. Dance with me.” “I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone. More that I thought I was capable of. Eden, you’ve taken my heart by surprise from the day I first saw you. It hasn’t been my heart since.” “I am yours, angel.” he said determinedly. “And you are mine.” Plus he was HOT!!! Eden had a huge decison to make- I knew I’d have to make a choice. Did I want Javier? Or did I want revenge? I feel like she made the right choice at the time for her. I was really rooting for Javier. Then- it happened. What we all knew was going to happen... and I found my self shouting I mean- seriously I really felt like Javier loved Eden... WTF was he screwing around on her??? Ugh! So frustrating!!!!! Left us with so many unanswered questions!!! At the end we realize... Now that I’ve read this... I really need to read book 2 in the Sins and Needles series! This one was just so good! I had mixed feelings about Ellie in the first book, now I love her! Javier made me love him, then he broke my heart. :( Oh boy... This one was just fantastic! Amazing!!! If you haven’t read these books, you are really missing out!!!! My favorite line... “You are all mine, even if you run. I will find you because a soul needs its other half to truly live.” I will leave you with this..... 33 likes Like Comment Brittni 208 reviews 124 followers April 1, 2013 5 Soul Shattering Stars!!!! I’m officially gutted and heartbroken, but on the other hand, I’m so head over heels in love with Javier.... But then in the next moment, I want to cut off his nuts for all the pain I feel right now… Hmmmmmmm Decisions Decisions.... Just kidding….. I would never hurt my Javier! Well not in a bad way at least “wink wink” favorites 30 likes Like Comment Airah ♔ 58 reviews 46 followers March 12, 2013 Once upon a time, there was a con artist named Ellie Watts . But this isn't her story. Here in this standalone book, we will meet Eden White . I believe I had nothing to fear. I believe I only had something to lose . And this, ladies and gentlemen, is her revenge story . But in her disguise, she fell in love. HARD. With a Mexican drug lord named Javier Bernal . " How does he look at me ?" -Ellie/Eden " Like he's been searching for you his whole life ." This book is their story . Unfortunately... Any love that starts out under a lie is bound to kill you. And so, even as she run far away from him, he'll always find her. Why? " I need you my angel. And I'll do anything and everything to keep you ." OKAY. Let me start first by saying that..well, that kind of obsession normally turns me off. I usually steer clear from this type of male leads. But in this case, I can't help it. I was hooked. I know it's wrong to cheer for an obviously evil person but Javier's two extreme personas are really effective. I don't know exactly how KH made me fall for the bad guy from the very start, but I did. He may frighten me sometimes; but he was also able to charm me and sweep me off my feet. Because of that, I've stayed on his side ever since. BUT I should have listen to the warning signs too. That guy undid me. My goodness, for a while, I thought I died. I knew what was coming but to say I was heartbroken was a major understatement. Javier gutted me open. I'd rooted for him since the very beginning of the series but this just killed me. I needed an explanation. Not since Caleb from The Opportunist have I felt so betrayed by a fictional character. (And that's saying a lot about this book since TO was an earlier GR favorite of mine.) When I reached that part of OES , I wanted to throw my reader across the room. I wanted to throw a fit and just cry. This book touched me and never let go. I am seriously in awe of Karina Halle's writing. It goes without saying that even already published and all, KH deserves more fanbase. I'll not rest until people read this series. So far, I've read just two books from her, and she already made a lifelong fan in me. " You are all mine, even if you run. I will find you because a soul needs its other half to truly live ." -Javier * Quotes taken from ARC, subject to change. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UPDATE 3/11/2013: On Every Street is LIVE on Amazon and Smashwords! **Release week sale! 0.99 cents until March 18th!** Prepare to be charmed by our very own Mexican drug cartel hottie, Javier. Review to come. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UPDATE 3/6/2013: Who can say no to this Javier? SQUEEEEEE!!! :)) ~ ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. 2013-favorites absolute-favorites arc ...more 30 likes Like Comment Jasmine 269 reviews 687 followers August 13, 2016 So apparently I was supposed to read this AFTER Sins and Needles but call me a rebel. Just finished this quick one and my emotions ran from one end of the scale to the other end once I was done. Me for the most portion of the read: My feelings for Javier for 90%: My feelings for Javier in the last 10%: THE AMOUNT OF RAGE I HAVE RIGHT NOW!!! There better be some good explanation for this!! *rage airfist* Moving onwards with my Karina Halle binge-reading! Onto Sins and Needles now :D buddy-recs cheat-my-feelings dark-deadly-dangerous ...more 30 likes Like Comment Lucinda - I JUST LOVE TO READ 444 reviews March 12, 2013 5 MILLION STARS This is my second book by Karina Halle and OMG I love this author!!!!! I think I broke Goodreads with all my status updates haha. Damn GR, I wanted to make another million updates of this book. KARINA HALLE: 1. Please give Ellie / Eden / Elaine and Javier a HEA!!! Please…. 2. I choose Javier over Cam. I believe E (That is just much easier) needs to be with Javier 3. Cam needs a second chance with is ex wife and child. How can you take a child from his parent a second time bwahahaha! I’m going straight to hell I know. 4. I hope Cam never finds ELLIE bwahaha! (See hell STRAIGHT to hell) LOL. 5. Damn you for making me fall in LOVE with Javier! I rarely do casting but this was my Javier, isn’t he just a hottie!!!! I’ve read Sins and Needles and loved the book. Since then I kinda liked Javier more than Cam. Don’t get me wrong I loved Cam as well but Javier in this book just confirmed it. I LOVE JAVIER more than Cam. Cam and Javier are both screwed up, but I think Javier is a bit better off than Cam bwahahaha! I went into this book and I knew how this was going to end… didn’t exactly know HOW it was going to down but I knew WHY she left. Well if you’ve read Sins and Needles you will know why LOL. I fell inlove with Javier in this book and I cannot believe he broke her heart. She gave up everything for him her revenge , yes she still had her lies but he told him some of his secrets. And I really thought he loved her. I felt he didn’t do right with the Miguel situation, why did he have to bring it into their home??? She knew what he did for a living but to bring it home. NOT ON Javier… Do I forgive Javier… I still love him but I think we need a one on one chat to find out why he broke my *(&%^&% heart into millions of little pieces. And then we can maybe talk about a reconciliation hahahahahaha. I really do want a HEA for Javier and E but I’m starting to think that will NOT be possible. Because of what happened in this book, E running away (6 years ago), and what he did to her uncle…. I freaking cannot wait for the second book, is it MAY yet. Karina if you want to forward me a copy before the time I’m all for it hahahaha! Ok a girl can dream Thank you very much Karina Halle for an awesome book. It was really really awesome. Never stop writing please. Over and out. xxx ************************************************* OUT EARLY!!!!!! ************************************************* Is it the 12th of March yet?? I cannot WAIT for this book! march-2013 29 likes Like Comment Brenna 578 reviews 458 followers September 21, 2013 On Every Street is a prequel novella to Sins & Needles (book #1 in the series), which came out in January. What is awesome about On Every Street , is that you DO NOT have to read Sins & Needles first. According to the author, “It can be read before or after Sins & Needles and may also be read as a standalone.” That being said, I DID read Sins & Needles first and I can confidently say that you could read them in either order and no matter what, you will love them and they will no doubt completely wreck you! In the best way possible way, of course… If you DID read S&N beforehand, you were probably all swoony-pants over Camden McQueen the hot, tattooed, “hulking nerd” just like I was. But, there is also another man in the mix. We learn a little bit about Javier, the very bad, criminal, (maybe crazy?) ex from Ellie’s past. I don’t know about you, but despite the crazy things we learned about him, I was beyond intrigued by him, so going into this novella, I couldn’t be more psyched to learn about their history and backstory. This book takes place six years prior to Sins & Needles and it follows a young, inexperienced Ellie Watt (or Eden White as she comes to be known) through her attempt at her first major con. She is determined to get revenge against Travis, a drug lord and the man you scarred her in so many ways as a child. ”I was twenty years old and waiting to live my life. Until I got my revenge, until justice was served for what was done to me, I’d have to keep waiting. I couldn’t get past all the wrongs in my life, I couldn’t accept them. To accept it, to live with it, peacefully, that was like saying it was all okay. And what was done to me…that can never be okay." On her quest for revenge, she decides that her best option is to get in good with one of Travis’s men. Eden sets her sights on Javier Bernal. This guy... *deep breath* The description of him in the beginning is so vivid. Every look, every expression, every movement is so purposeful that you cannot help but be immediately intrigued by him. I have never been so completely, confusingly taken over by a character as I was by him. I wanted so badly to hate him for the things we learn, but I just couldn't. And even after everything I know now, I still don't. I kinda love him... *hides face* “Again I was struck by how gorgeous Javier was. Not in that conventional, hunky way, but mesmerizing all the same. He was very bad and very, very beautiful." The tension, the chemistry, the connection between these two characters is palpable and I could feel it in my bones. Immediately I was sucked into this intense, whirlwind, disaster-waiting-to-happen romance. Javier completely enamors Eden and by extension, I felt the same way. The things he would do and say, even in the very beginning, completely shocked the hell out of me. “So, what would you like to drink?” “Aside from you?” I laughed anxiously. “You can’t drink me.” He leaned forward, his eyes running up and down my body, causing my skin to heat. “Yes, I believe I can. And I believe I will. But for now, I’ll just have a Bombay and tonic.” Be forewarned, there are some seriously HOT scenes in this because Javier is ”a kinky motherfucker.” You may need to stop and take a cold shower (or have your man on hand... ehh just saying). There were more moments than I can count where my jaw would drop, I would blush, get chills, and think, “Did that really just happen?” Even though this book is a novella, it took me a while to read it. I found myself reading parts, then re-reading them over and over. I could not get enough of it. "I want your heart, your soul, and your body. I want the you that you’re hiding deep inside. I must have her.” … “Why am I good to you?” he repeated, his lips brushing against mine as he spoke. “Because I can see you are broken. And I want nothing more than to put you back together.” What really reached out and grabbed me, was how much I connected to Ellie/Eden. She is really struggling throughout the book with her growing love for Javier and her deep need for vengeance. She knows exactly what she needs to do and what kind of a man Javier is, but that doesn’t make her decisions any easier. I could feel her pain and desperation and how hard she was fighting within herself. "Did I want Javier? Or did I want revenge?" Even though this is a novella, it is definitely one of my favorite books. The length by no means lessens the worth of this magnificent work. I am in such awe of the amount of emotion I felt and the reaction that this got out of me. When every logical part of my brain was saying I should be feeling one way, I felt the opposite. I was caught in this intoxicating, mesmerizing, heart wrenching story and I loved every second of the love, pain, anger, shock, fear and confusion that I felt along the way. arc favorites 28 likes Like Comment Jennifer 374 reviews 612 followers August 24, 2013 5 MILLION TEAM JAVIER STARS!!! I am FEELING so much right now. Beautiful. Perfection. Grief. Broken. This…this is how I feel right now. The story begins with Ellie. She is a con artist, seeking revenge, which is a central theme to this book. She is seeking revenge on a man who ruined her as a child. Ellie is determined to get close to this man by conning his second in command, Javier. To Ellie’s surprise, Javier ends up pursuing her. There is attraction (the coffee house scene in the prologue was so yum! I was grinning from ear to ear before the first chapter!). I could never forget your voice. You sound like an angel who’s gotten her wings dirty. My Javier: I have to make you surrender to me, to everything, in every way possible. I want your heart, your soul, and your body. I want the you that you’re hiding keep inside. I must have her. Javier. My love . My heart. This man is climbing the charts on my Master’s Thesis of Book Boyfriends, and it’s pretty difficult to knock one of those guys down (if you want to see this list, go to my profile). I don’t have much to say about him except…. I love him. My Eden: My Ellie: Eden/Ellie. She is so... real. Which is ironic because she is a con artist. She has been hurt and broken and is out for blood, literally. I had to choose two pictures for her because I felt like there were two sides of her, and Ms. Halle executed those two sides with perfection. Javier completely takes Eden by surprise, and I was with her every step of the way. I grinned when she grinned. I cried when she cried. I hurt when she hurt. I was broken when she broke. There is chemistry. There is hot, steamy, bossy, sex. The sounds you make as you come….Better than any symphony. There is love. …as if he were unzipping my heart. There is action, blood, betrayal. There are tears. The love between Javier and Eden is out of this universe, in the stars. They have rocked me, wrecked me. It’s so real...even though it was under false pretenses. “I want to come on every inch of your body,” he whispered, and somehow it didn’t sound dirty at all. It sounded clean, pure, like rainwater. “I want to rub it in you, like this, until it’s a part of your skin. I want to stain you, Eden. I want myself embedded in your skin, in your heart, in your soul.” I am the ink in your blood. Any love that starts under a lie is bound to kill you. This book left me with so many questions, and I cannot/will not stop until I have more Javier. Note to the author: Ms. Halle, you writing is beautiful and brilliant. Can I have your babies Ms. Halle? Too weird? This is my first book of yours. I am in love. You have a fan for life. Thanks for the buddy read, Rae (bestie)! favorites lol mafia ...more 28 likes Like Comment Pavlina Read more sleep less blog 2,434 reviews 5,108 followers April 26, 2013 Karina Halle simply blows my mind with her writing!!I could not put the book down!! I absolutely loved On Every Street.It sucked me in completely! This is the story of how young Ellie goes back to Mississippi for revenge, but falls in love instead. Before heading to her revenge mission, she goes to Gus first.He's an ex-LAPD and a family friend and he trains her in becoming a good con artist. He teaches her everything he knows. You can tell that he loves her like his own daughter. I loved that Ellie had a father figure she could always count on apart from Uncle Jim. Gus gave her the best advises and I loved the scenes where she would turn to him. After her training with Gus, young Ellie sets out to con in the real world. She's very inexperienced and young, but vengeance is a great motivator. To take revenge, she decides to seduce a man who can get her close to the person she's after and this quy is Javier.. Javier and Ellie have this insta-lust/insta-love thing going on. Javier immediately feels possessive over Ellie and claims her as his woman the second time they go on a date. At first I like Javier a lot...he was sexy and very nice...but in the middle of the book I find him obsessed and I think he is psycho... I didnt like him... best-cover favorites hot-male ...more 28 likes Like Comment ~ Becs ~ 708 reviews 2,214 followers April 9, 2013 I completely loved Sins & Needles and, before embarking on this one, I hated Javier. We know that Ellie has ran from him and there’s no way on earth I’m going to end up with any affection for Javier. Right? WRONG!! Javier and Ellie are birds of a feather – they’re both lying and cheating and they’re both hellbent on revenge. Javier is Ellie’s ticket to vengeance – she chooses him as her mark to get close to Travis, his boss and the man that so viciously scarred her legs when she was just a child. BUT, the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray and there is no way that Ellie could have forseen falling in love with Javier. In any other circumstances, in any other novel, without that knowledge that is to come in Sins & Needles, Javier would totally have been a new book boyfriend but I was constantly on edge, constantly waiting for him to fuck up and fuck up he truly does. What I still don’t get is why – why he did what he did and why his behaviour changed. I guess that’s all yet to come in Shooting Scars. This is a great prequel to Sins & Needles, really fills in the gaps well and is a great novella to tide you over. Before I read this I was Team Camden, all the way – now I’m undecided and have a foot in both camps. No one in these books is behaving well = at the end of the day, is our hero going to end up being the one that is the lesser of two evils. Time will tell. 4 stars For more reviews, please visit Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews or visit us on Facebook . novella 26 likes Like Comment Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell Author 56 books 19.9k followers January 1, 2019 Instagram || Twitter || Facebook || Amazon || Pinterest Sometimes I look at my Kindle and wonder if it's an e-reader or a trash can because of all the garbage I put on there. I will literally read anything if it shows up for free or ninety-nine cents, and if you don't believe me, yes I was one of those fools who read the promotional romance novel Kentucky Fried Chicken put out into the world as a publicity stunt that was in fact a real thing . Why? Because it was a romance novel, and because it was free.* *P.S. It was called TENDER WINGS OF DESIRE. And before you ask, no, not a single golden crispy pun to be had. I'm still sore about that. Talk about your missed opportunities. Karina Halle is one of those authors with a cultish fanbase whose works I never really got into while they were still at critical mass. I read and enjoyed the first two books in The Artists trilogy years ago - in fact, I got them both as ARCs - and I've read DARKHOUSE , which I did not enjoy at all. I've also tried one of her contemporary new adult novels, I think it was THE PACT (also received as an ARC) and that was a DNF. That is the extent of my experience with Halle's work, but I've read enough to know she's one of those hit-or-miss authors for me. But man, when she gets it right, she gets it right, in a fun, trashy way that makes her works a perfect addition to the bottomless garbage can that is my Kindle. #LiveLongAndTrashper* *Trashper is a new word I have just made up. It means to prosper trashily. To trashper. As in, Nenia is trashpering happily, thanks to the books she has just obtained as part of today's Kindle Daily Deal.** **True story Halle has a lot of good ideas, and sometimes they work. The Artists works because it came out at a time when most new adult books were mostly just copying each other and playing at being edgy, whereas The Artists was actually edgy and raw. The problem is her style, which is very distinctive and resembles, I imagine, the way Halle herself talks. Meg Cabot has the same issue, where all of her characters sound kind of the same (I'm assuming that they all sound like Meg Cabot). I've only read three different samples of her current franchises, but the narrative voices were all pretty similar. Her characters also like to go on weird tangents, which is more problematic in the Darkhouse series than it is in The Artists series, which results in weird statements like Eden saying that she felt like she was "offering up my vagina on a wooden platter" to Javier during sex, or Javier cooking a truly strange and eclectic meal for Eden consisting of the traditional Mexican dish of taquitos and "verde salsa" which his mother taught him how to make in Mexico, lol. There are also some typos in here, which pulled me out of the story, including an unfortunately placed interrobang . ON EVERY STREET has been recommended to me as a standout among Halle's current backlist because it's a romance in which the villain gets the girl (although unfortunately, he doesn't keep her). I'm a huge sucker for villain romances, and Javier is smooth AF. I also liked the contrasts between his passionate, romantic side and the cold-blooded killer scenes that make Eden realize (very, very slowly, stupid girl) how toxic their relationship is. That was something hard for me to come to terms with, Eden's poor choices. I get that she's damaged, and that the nefarious part of abusive relationships is that sometimes you don't even realize that they're toxic until you're out, but it was really hard to read about someone who was on such a destructive warpath, and so filled with anger. On the other hand, that anger and toxicity is part of what makes The Artists such a compelling read. Even if Halle sometimes doesn't tell a story as adequately as she could , she gets human emotion and portrays it in an interesting and unflattering way that reflects a reality many of us would rather not confront, said reality being, "Sometimes the world is an ugly place." I'm glad I picked this up because it provides insight into Eden's actions in the two latter books, which I plan on picking up for a reread soon. I seem to remember them being more polished than this was, probably because they were picked up by a major publishing house whereas this, I believe, was a self-published expansion. Anyway, The Artists is a fun, edgy series and I did enjoy the wild, reckless ride of it. If you enjoy Tarryn Fisher's work, especially her Love Me With Lies series, you will probably enjoy this. Traspher, and rejoice. 3 stars kissing-books new-adult villain-gets-the-girl-or-boy 23 likes Like Comment Giselle 990 reviews 6,654 followers March 14, 2013 Note that this novella can easily be read as a stand-alone, and you do not need to have read Sins & Needles first (more on this below). Having already met Ellie in Sins & Needles, I was excited to get the before : What happened to make her run away, and how she fell in love with Javier to begin with. I must say, I feel very torn after this. In Sins & Needles, Ellie meets Camden with whom she develops a very chemistry filled, eccentric relationship that takes the reader by storm. Then she makes Javier out to be someone she fears, someone she must stay away from at all costs. He's the villain no one wants to see swoop in. In On Every Street, however, we see what made her fall in love with Javier. Knowing their unfortunate downfall doesn't make their romance, nor Javier himself, any less enticing, either. I didn't think I would like him at all no matter what I read in this book, but Karina worked her magic and proved me oh so very wrong! He's a very… fascinating character. He's got infinite charm that would sweep anyone off their feet, and even after all is set and done, Javier is a really sweet guy--which makes the ending all the worst. I don't blame Ellie one minute for the choices she made in this book, even when they weren't always the smartest ones. Although it's essentially a novella, it's on the long side with just as much character and story development as any full-sized prequel. We get to know Ellie before she becomes the Ellie we know; when she was young and gullible, when her only goal was to get revenge from the man who ruined her life. As much as her character is one of the best developed I've read already, she becomes even more substantial when we get to understand yet another side of her. For those who haven't read Sins & Needles, this is the Ellie you'll be introduced to, and then you'll get to see her in a new light when you do read S&N. It will also make you read S&N with a different angle. Having gone through her relationship with Javier, having felt the amount of love she has for this man prior to reading it will make for a different reading experience that's for sure. I wonder which one I'd actually prefer! On Every Street is very romantic, more about the love story than anything else, it's also quite hot and steamy which I expected from having read Sins & Needles, though it surpasses that one easily. While this novella is not necessary to enjoy the series, I find it to be a considerably valuable installment as we get to know a very real and very important character in Ellie's life--someone who plays a big part in carving her into the person she becomes. Additionally, having an idea where the sequel is going, this novella opens up many doors in our hearts and minds for us to be able to go into that sequel full of already set emotion towards the events and characters involved. Instead of being one sided, all for Camden, her and Javier's romance becomes just as inviting. It definitely makes for an extensive and well rounded story. It makes you fall in love, only to crush you to pieces, (which is all your fault, really, if you read S&N. *hangs head in shame*) On Every Street is for every romantic at heart who doesn't mind a little dangerous twist to their love stories! -- An advance copy was provided by the author for review. For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads arc ebook 25 likes Like Comment Ash Wednesday 441 reviews 541 followers March 11, 2013 “You know,” he began, voice low and full, “if you were to ever leave me, I’d come looking for you, on every street.” “You promise?” “Always.” And I knew he kept his promises.” Remember The Police's eternal anthem for creepy stalkers everywhere, "Every Breath You Take" ? When taken with enough alcohol proof, that song will start to sound romantic. I kid you not, I once went to a wedding, and that was the couple's first dance. So this book maybe a tragedy for some, but i'm choosing to see it for the hopeful love story that it is (I am so in the minority, I know) in my Javier-buzzed brain. This is the story of con artist Ellie Watt's state of prolonged inebriation, as Eden White, and her drug of choice, Sexican extraordinaire, Javier Bernal. Set six years prior to the events of Sins & Needles, this was Ellie and Javier's Lost Weekend of All-Consuming Love and Revenge, told through a near-frenetic pace of passion, love and obsession. If you've read Sins & Needles, you know this is going to hurt, but you also just have to see how good it was to know how much it will destroy you after. Then what's left of you will try to string words together and write a review. And it was REALLY good. And now here we are. This book hurts like a mother, mostly because I loved Javier in S&N and maybe a small part of me wants to see him get the girl. Almost as much as I want a crocodile Birkin. Oh but why is it always the insanely impossible things that we yearn for? A smooth almost reptilian charmer of a bad guy that was also all grit and sexy intensity, Javier was mostly the invisible ghost haunting Ellie in S&N but here, we get to see a snippet of their time together... And it's still not enough. I'm probably the only one who was a wee bit too happy with how things ended in S&N. I'm so taken by this character, I fully empathize with Eden's blind state. “The boat was on autopilot but he still liked to look like he was steering.” That little nuance, that small detail and my mind goes haywire speculating if that was a small look into Javier's psyche (yes, I'm crossing over to crazy woman territory). At this point, I don't think I can ever get enough of Javier. There's enough crazed, kinetic energy in the character to keep me interested for a completely different series where he's just intensely making taquitos . Okay maybe make taquitos and bang someone. Or two. Because lord knows that boy has talent! The sex talk went a bit too far to riduculous-ville towards the latter parts but I'm not really complaining. Especially since this short novella packed depth, plot and character-wise, more than some full-length books I've had to power through in the past few weeks. I even thought for sure this book would answer all my questions about Ellie and Javier, but it just left me wanting for more. I think a part of me wishes to see Javier redeemed but a greater part just refuses to take him as he is, no questions asked, because the bigger picture, supposedly, doesn't need it. After Ellie's conversation with Marda towards the end, my heart broke a little more than when Eden/Ellie witnessed his infidelity . Then I remember this is a trilogy, and a weed of hope persists in me that maybe it's still okay to want the impossible. ARC provided by the author for an honest review arc awesome-heroines contemporary-romance ...more 24 likes Like Comment Duchess Nicole 1,268 reviews 1,526 followers October 11, 2013 "Any love that starts under a lie is bound to kill you." I just feel...shattered and broken and so confused. Why, Javier? What is happening? I'm not sure in what universe any reader could read this as a stand alone...that was the biggest cliffie ever aside from the one on Sins and Needles. And oh, boy, did this affect me waaaay more than I thought it would. I read Sins and Needles first, just fyi, so I had a vague idea of Javier and Ellie's (errr, Eden's) past. I expected Javier to have some more than redeeming qualities, and now that it's over, I'm more confused than ever. I think putting this down, I just have this super sad feeling, sort of hopeless. I know that I really do understand where Ellie's lack of bonding and emotion comes from...so if there's one thing for me to pick as the major focal point of On Every Street, that would be it for me. "You know," he began, voice low and full, " if you were to ever leave me, I'd come looking for you, on every street." First off, what the hell was the whole losing her virginity thing? Like, who THINKS that would be a good way to do it? Doggy style, tied up, blindfolded, and FUCKED. No slow and sensual, no trying to ease the pain. That was madness, and it wasn't sexy, and it was a huge turn off in the Javier department. Ellie was bleeding and trying not to scream...I'd cry rape but the stupid girl never said no! It was just weird. Honestly, Javier and Ellie are just so messed up together. Javier is nothing short of psycho obsessed with Ellie...the man is crazy! And Ellie seems to LOVE it...she lives for this unhealthy possessiveness that he feels for her, and in fact their "love" seems to thrive on it. And what really got to me is how much he really, really seemed to care about her, despite his weirdness. He sees her as his savior, his one chance at goodness: "I'm a very bad man who has done too many bad things to deserve a pardon. I shouldn't be waling this earth as I do, I shouldn't have the money I have, I shouldn't have the love of a woman who is so far above me she should have wings." A huge, massive cloud hanging over this Javier obsession: I assumed that the cheating thing had some kind of explanation. I don't have any idea what, but the way it was laid out made it seem like Javier just lost interest. I will never be team Javi if that's the case...I don't do infidelity, but ESPECIALLY because he was so convincing as to how devoted he was to Ellie, how he branded her and broke her and adored her...only to fuck another woman in their bed? Nope. No effing WAY can I forgive that. EVER. "You want revenge. You want vindication. And I hope you get those things. But the relief will be fleeting. Because you can never right the external wrongs until you fix what's wrong inside you." This is my thing: I don't have any idea how to categorize this hot mess of a story. But I CAN say that for every single second of this book, I was completely and utterly captivated...in a train wreck kind of way. I mean, it was AWESOME. So...no, I'm not team Javier...I'm not team Camden. I'm team No One. Still. No! I take that back. I'm Team Dex Foray, baby. 4-star-read angsty big-thinker-book ...more 24 likes Like Comment Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ 2,748 reviews March 16, 2013 Having read Sins & Needles when it first came out, well, it left me prejudice against Javier. That didn't mean I wasn't curious about how Ellie and Javier met and how she could actually fall for him. And most importantly....W-H-Y he did what he did! I definitely am Team Camden....all the way baby! But I do have to say that I did soften for Javier even though he's a "tad" possessive and plain ol' loco! Here's My Javier. **WARNING...only click on this if you really, really want to see him! You've been warned!!** Okay...well maybe not exactly but all the suave stuff had me singing that the whole time I was reading the book. I do have to say that Javier was very romantic...and very suave . I almost wished that I would have read this book first just so I could appreciate him more. It still wouldn't matter because of what he did. But...I am going to withhold judgment until I hear W-H-Y. (I actually went back through Sins & Needles just to reread all the Javier parts!) I enjoyed seeing Ellie's vulnerable side. I never would've gotten that from the first book. What a difference six years can make! It really killed me to read more of the details of what happened..." And heard him moan. " I think that was one of the worse...and best scenes I've ever read! So emotional and heart breaking! But I think she made the right choice! Like Marda said, " Would you be able to forgive him even with the best excuses?” No Way Jose...oops, I mean Javier! ;) I Can. Not. Wait. Till. May!! and Okay...one last peek! Favorite quotes: ♥ "He was a kinky motherf*cker, that’s for sure." (amen sista!) ♦ “Mistaking obsession for love is one of the greatest mistakes you’ll ever make.” ♥ “You are all mine, even if you run. I will find you because a soul needs its other half to truly live.” emotional-angsty-books read-in-2013 24 likes Like Comment Nina 841 reviews 319 followers July 2, 2018 I really liked this book but overall, I just didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed "Sins & Needles". I've seen many people say that this book changed their opinion on Javier and that they began liking him after reading this but it just didn't do anything about my opinion. I still can't stand that guy and I think that also highly influenced my reading experience. Something that I thought was really interesting to see though was the development of Ellie Watt/Eden White (I don't know if the names are spelled correctly but I'm just way too lazy to get up to grab the books now.). Y0u really got to see how different and how innocent she was before all those things with Javier happened and that she's pretty much a different woman in Sins & Needles. Soo overall, "On Every Street" was a great book but it couldn't compete with the actual first book in the trilogy which is why I decided to give it three out of five stars. instagram || my blog read-in-2018 24 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,310 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 49 quotes 6 discussions 1 question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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The Price of Peace: Money, Democracy, and the Life of John Maynard Keynes by Zachary D. Carter | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $14.99 Rate this book The Price of Peace: Money, Democracy, and the Life of John Maynard Keynes Zachary D. Carter 4.43 2,750 ratings 396 reviews Want to read Kindle $14.99 Rate this book A page-turning biography of world-changing economist John Maynard Keynes and the big ideas that outlived him. In the spring of 1934, Virginia Woolf sketched an affectionate biographical portrait of her great friend John Maynard Keynes. Writing a full two years before Keynes would revolutionize the economics world with the publication of The General Theory , Woolf nevertheless found herself unable to condense her friend's already-extraordinary life into anything less than twenty-five themes, which she jotted down at the opening of her homage: "Politics. Art. Dancing. Letters. Economics. Youth. The Future. Glands. Genealogies. Atlantis. Mortality. Religion. Cambridge. Eton. The Drama. Society. Truth. Pigs. Sussex. The History of England. America. Optimism. Stammer. Old Books. Hume." Keynes was not only an economist, as he is remembered today, but the preeminent anti-authoritarian thinker of the twentieth century, a man who devoted his life to the belief that art and ideas could conquer war and deprivation. A moral philosopher, political theorist, and statesman, Keynes immersed himself in a creative milieu filled with ballerinas and literary icons as he developed his own innovative and at times radical thought, reinventing Enlightenment liberalism for the harrowing crises of his day--which included two world wars and an economic collapse that challenged the legitimacy of democratic government itself. The Price of Peace follows Keynes from intimate turn-of-the-century parties in London's riotous Bloomsbury art scene to the fevered negotiations in Paris that shaped the Treaty of Versailles, through stock market crashes and currency crises to diplomatic breakthroughs in the mountains of New Hampshire and wartime ballet openings at Covent Garden. In this riveting biography, veteran journalist Zachary D. Carter unearths the lost legacy of one of history's most important minds. John Maynard Keynes's vibrant, deeply human vision of democracy, art, and the good life has been obscured by technical debates, but in The Price of Peace , Carter revives a forgotten set of ideas with the power to reinvent national government and reframe the principles of international diplomacy in our own time. Genres Economics Biography History Nonfiction Politics Philosophy Biography Memoir ...more 656 pages, Hardcover First published May 19, 2020 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Zachary D. Carter 1 book 66 followers Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 4.43 2,750 ratings 396 reviews 5 stars 1,577 (57%) 4 stars 842 (30%) 3 stars 268 (9%) 2 stars 49 (1%) 1 star 14 (<1%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 396 reviews Mehrsa 2,235 reviews 3,630 followers May 30, 2020 This book is not just about Keynes. It is, as the author notes, an exploration about whether you can make changes through policy or through revolution. It gets at one of the greatest fissures in modern thought right now across the world--do you need to burn the system to the ground and start over and can you make technical fixes that improve people's lives, avoid inter- and intra-societal conflicts, and equality. Keynes was an optimist and a technocrat even though his ideas were debunked when his name became a byword for "radical communist." This is ironic because the neoliberal movement that swept away Keynesian was much more radical than the Keynesians. Hayek, Friedman, and Goldwater conducted a revolution in the name of incrementalism, conservatism, and technical-ism (sic). Where Keynes was the incrementalist. Anyway, this is a must-read. So well-written. 100 likes Like Comment Jason Furman 1,261 reviews 923 followers December 28, 2020 The first two-thirds of this book is an extraordinary biography of John Maynard Keynes that is the basis of my five star review. It is well written, nuanced, comprehensive, and does an excellent job explaining the complicated international finance of the period in which he lived. Zachary Carter makes compelling links between the many phases and facets of Keynes’ life: someone helping the Treasury finance to the Great War vs. returning the critical roots of the Bloomsbury group; a truth teller who wants to shout his views from the rooftops vs. a man who wants to be engaged at the highest levels; a columnist writing for the moment vs. a timeless theoretician; an avid speculator in markets who was generally hostile to speculation; etc. The life and the work fit together, which for a life and work this extraordinary is a challenge. Carter places Keynes squarely in the tradition of a broader political philosophy, situating his work as a commentary on social and political power and the ways in which the market can only exist as a function of the state, pulling him out of the technocratic economic interpretation. He argues that Keynes’ masterwork, “The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money is one of the great works of Western letters, a masterpiece of social and political thought that belongs with the monuments left by Aristotle, Thomas Hobbes, Edmund Burke, and Karl Marx. It is a theory of democracy and power, of psychology and historical change, a love letter to the power of ideas.” But Carter also argues, in some tension with this claim, that Keynes had pretty much worked out his ideas before the General Theory and was just using it as a rhetorical device to persuade in the present and influence posterity. My only quibble about the first two-thirds of the book is that it overplays Keynes as columnist a bit and underplays Keynes as intellectual. His relationships with Frank Ramsey, Bertrand Russell, Ludwig Wittgenstein and his early writing on probability are all mentioned but not emphasized as much as I might have liked. But then Keynes dies on page 367 and the next 166 pages at times read like they were written by someone who had never read or absorbed the first 367 pages. These pages are a partial and polemical account of economic ideas and economic policy in the postwar United States, basically a long indictment of how Keynes was mathematicalized and marginalized within economics and how policymaking abandoned his ideas too. This part makes some interesting points and I learned from it, but the closer it got the present the more tendentious and polemical it got. Let me list a few concerns: SHOULD WE CARE WHAT KEYNES WOULD HAVE THOUGHT? The justification for including the last third was a biography of the afterlife of Keynes ideas. Carter is constantly telling us what Keynes would have thought of, say, various compromises made by Bill Clinton in the 1990s. For some reason biographers of Charles Dickens rarely feel compelled to provide his reviews of 20th century literature, biographers of Isaac Newton don’t speculate about what he would have thought of quasars, and I don’t find myself seeking out articles about what Charles Darwin would have thought of COVID. Maybe a philosopher is aspiring to timeless truths so it might make sense to ask what Kant or Mill would think of an ethical question, but the Keynes portrayed in the first two-thirds of this book is a man of the moment, someone whose ideas are pragmatic, and constantly changing. If someone changes their mind once a decade—and often holds contradictory opinions at the same time—how exactly can we extrapolate their views into the future? Carter thinks Keynes would have been opposed to the WTO and Long-term Capital Management, I would have bet he would have been pro the former and on both sides of the later, but who cares. THE NARROW FOCUS ON THE UNITED STATES IS OVERLY PAROCHIAL. Carter’s story shifts entirely to the United States after World War II. This makes the story very specific to US debates and miss out on broader themes. For example, the divergence of German and US thought on fiscal policy is large and important in putting some perspective on where Keynes’ legacy has persisted and where it has been absent. And Carter does a lot of criticism of NAFTA, the WTO and China’s accession to the WTO as evidence of the ascent of neoliberalism and the betrayal of Keynes (see previous point for why I do’t know where Keynes would have stood on those, especially when he held multiple positions on tariffs over the course of his career). But if Carter had looked at the attitudes of social democratic countries in Europe towards trade, including trade with China, it would have seen less of an exemplar of neoliberalism. “NEOLIBERALISM” AS AN OVERLY BROAD EPITHET FOR EVERYTHING CARTER DOES NOT LIKE. Carter is critical of Kennedy for cutting the top tax rate from 91 to 70 percent and Carter for his deregulation. You can think the top rate should be much higher than it is or that environmental regulation should be much tougher while also thinking those were moves in the right direction. And then there is my least favorite sentence in the book: "Improving education, for instance, probably helped at the margins by creating more jobs for teachers. But the ultimate result was a better-educated underclass just as poor as the one that preceded it." A ONE-SIDED NEGATIVE VIEW OF ECONOMIC HISTORY AND PROGRESS. In “Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren” Keynes famously predicted that productivity increases would enable future generations to work fifteen hour weeks while maintaining a good standard of living. Carter explains the failure of this prediction: “The tremendous expansion of output and productivity over the past ninety years has been harvested for the most part by a very small section of society. For everyone else, economic prospects are roughly where they were in the mid-1920s.” The problems with this explanation: (1) hours have stayed high and risen more for the highest-income workers; (2) inequality has not increased since Keynes wrote it in 1930 and moreover you see people working 40+ hour weeks in countries with much lower inequality; and (3) economic prospects are vastly better than where they were in the 1930s. The same argumentation shows up again in multiple places (e.g., misleadingly missing the *percentage* decline in absolute poverty in the 1990s because he focuses on the level and then belittling the subsequent decline because many are still living in near poverty). OVERLY ATTRIBUTES THE DEVELOPMENT OF IDEAS TO MATERIAL INTERESTS AND FUNDING. There is no doubt that funding of ideas, organized groups like the Mont Pelerin society, and the like, have had an impact. But a lot of the development of ideas over the last 70 years has been based on what could explain more, what had evidence, what theories failed. Milton Friedman’s expectations-augmented Philips curve came out of a failure of the traditional Philips curve. Paul Samuelson’s textbook was successful in large part because it effectively unified a set of ideas. Not all math is obfuscation and, in fact, as Carter himself acknowledges, “Without those luminaries [Samuelson et al], The General Theory would today be an intellectual curiosity, the brilliant and confusing work of an influential Englishman that had briefly animated the Roosevelt administration.” A NARROW VIEW OF ECONOMICS. In Carter's telling Keynesianism was largely dead when Jimmy Carter embraced deregulation. He writes, "Without a patron in Washington, up-and-coming economists pursued other ideas. The dwindling few who continued to hold out against the storm—Paul Krugman, Joseph Stiglitz—were Samuelson disciples from MIT who treated Galbraith with professional disdain." A few of the issues: (1) Krugman and Stiglitz, at the time, were primarily microeconomists and not overly engaged in the macroeconomic debate around Keynes; (2) much of the trajectory of economic research has nothing to do with patrons in Washington (see the previous point); and (3) there was a huge growth in the economics of imperfect information, behavioral economics, the shift to empirical study of issues like the impact of the minimum wage on employment, all of which were moving much of economics in a direction with a richer understanding of market failures, human behavior, and in many cases a greater agnosticism on these issues as empirical research replaced theory. But in Carter's version of economics there are only a few celebrity economists and the notion of market failures and behavior is highly limited. This is a partial list of my concerns with the last third of the book. Even in that part I learned a lot, especially the debates with John Kenneth Galbraith, Joan Robinson, the intersection of Macarthyism and economics, and more. I just wish it had ended up being a standalone book that had the sensitivity, nuance and thoughtfulness that pervaded every page of their spectacular biography of John Maynard Keynes. biography nonfiction 60 likes Like Comment Sherrie 565 reviews 2 followers February 15, 2020 ***I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway*** So, for the first 350 pages or so this was going to be a strong 4 stars. A little bit biography, a little bit economics and philosophy history. Combined, this made for a very interesting read. John Maynard Keynes was not what we think of nowadays when we think of economists (sorry, friends, not an insult!) He was quirky and let his personal experiences and beliefs color his views on economic systems. And in many situations...he was right. I thoroughly enjoyed how the author explained various financial systems and economic theories and how the different variables play against one another. I felt like I learned a lot. But then, Keynes died with like 150 pages left in the book...which is weird, but could have been OK. Instead, the book lost all semblance of direction. While the first 350 pages had dealt primarily with Great Britain and the issues that Keynes worked on directly, the latter 150 pages dealt entirely with America. Everything from the Cold War through Obama's presidency. It's too much, everything was disconnected and it just sort of fell apart. Instead of working through specific cases slowly and methodically, the author went through 50+ years in a blitz, only saying things that have been said in many other books/articles already, and only loosely connecting these back to Keynes (because, realistically, very little of American politics has been driven by Keynes ideas). The book would have been improved by cutting out that whole latter section to be replaced with something more consistent with the Keynes life and philosophy. I do recommend the first ~350 pages to readers who are curious about Keynes ideas. It was a fun and informative read. My only caveat is to keep the author's bias in mind...he's a senior reporter for HuffPost and is clearly a big fan of Keynes. He came across a little defensive at times. first-reads-winners owned-books 25 likes Like Comment Louise 1,714 reviews 334 followers December 23, 2020 This is a biography of Keynesian economics which the author shows to be a breakthrough in economic thought and effective when used. The personal portrait of John Maynard Keynes is merely sketched. What stands out about him is ability to challenge the application of classical economics to modern times and his passion for using monetary policy for not only peace (as in the title) but also for the overall quality of life. Zachary Carter gives a chronological presentation of the concepts and theories which he explains in easy to understand terms. He covers the issues, the papers, books, appointments, conferences, recognition and the economists who support (and those who attack) Keynes’s theories. He shows how Keynesian policies on taxes, tariffs, international finance and public works run counter to policies that preserve wealth by extracting from workers (layoffs, pay cuts, deflation). As a British treasury official he guided Brittan through its WWI finance after which he was among the youngest participants at Versailles, where in 1919, the world powers met to divvy up the earth. He was aghast at how the war’s victors saddled Germany with unrealistic reparations/debt. He predicted an economic depression which would lead to despair and despair to revolt. He left the conference upset and depressed. Unfortunately the rise of Hitler proved him to be correct . The most interesting parts for me were the presentation of Keynes’s writings and the application of his theories in the 1930’s and 40’s. The British coal strike, failure of Austrian banks, the severed relationship of currencies and gold reserves, British financing of WWII and the events and negotiations leading to the lend lease program. Carter feels the closest the world has come to implementing Keynesian theories was Roosevelt’s New Deal. He presents data to show its widespread improvement in people’s lives. He shows how McCarthy and his supporters brutally and effectively attacked Keynesian New Deal policy makers. Conservative activists went so far as to ban textbooks with a Keynesian orientation. Carter notes how all presidents after Roosevelt, (exception: Bush 41 who is not covered) distanced themselves from the name of this (liberal) economic theory, but implemented it in their policies, particularly just before an election. For Carter, Clinton, Bush 43, Obama and Trump there is a good bit on the economic issues of the day, but after Johnson (who is shown as the last New Dealer) there is little commentary on Keynesian influence or lack thereof on their policies. For instance, the new investment vehicles, more complex banking issues, NAFTA and other trade issues are covered… but it there is little commentary relating these to Keynes. Keynes’s personal life there is sketched. There is description of his role and status in the Bloomsbury set. After years of active homosexuality he married a woman for love. He bought a magazine to promote not only his theories but to expand arts and culture. He hired Bloomsbury friend Leonard Woolf to edit the literary section (after negotiations with T.S. Eliot went nowhere). He had a series of heart attacks, and died at home in England following one he (typically) had at a conference negotiating on behalf of his country. I learned a lot and came to understand more through this book, than through anything I have read in some time. Here are some things I learned: • The historical difference in coinage and money: Money was the provenance of government and p. 169 was “an inherently political tool… the state created money and had always regulated its value… four thousand years at least.” • How WWI was a public relations coup for Woodrow Wilson: Carter shows how the many loans to Britain by American banks forced the country into war. Being neither exhausted nor broke, the US provided the force to end it. Wilson elevated this war which was over the assassination of an archduke to a “War for Democracy” and articulated principles to give the war meaning. This enabled its perpetrators to skirt responsibility. The US, led by Wilson at Versailles, offended no one, and signed off on the settlement full of future problems. • More about the role of modern economists and their relationship to the Keynesian theory: John Kenneth Galbraith is well covered, and now I understand his role as a free lance celebrity economist, who, because he followed the McCarthy era, had career difficulties and could not fully credit the basis of his ideas to Keynes. Paul Samuelson made math models of Keynesian ideas. One of the few remaining Keynes influenced economists is Paul Krugman. Milton Friedman is all over the place, perhaps trying to cover his Keynesian bent. There are women in this field who never achieved the name recognition of those above, most interesting Joan Robinson. • why in my 1980’s MBA program, encompassing classes in micro, macro and labor economics, finance and banking, there was no mention of John Maynard Keynes. This was an impressive book about an impressive person. I highly recommend this for anyone interested in economics and public policy. biography economics 24 likes Like Comment Bob H 457 reviews 37 followers April 12, 2020 A magisterial and detailed (530 pp.) account of the work and legacy of John Maynard Keynes, the legendary economist whose writing and diplomacy -- public and private -- would influence economies and world policy in his time and beyond. Although it's a biography of sorts, it follows his adult life and career starting in the years before WWI and traces his influence beyond his death in 1946 -- indeed, the book's final pages concern the 2008 financial collapse and its aftermath. We learn of his personal life, his time as a young man with the Bloomsbury Group, an almost communal group of intellectuals in pre-WWI London who traded soirées and love affairs as their varied careers and fame would grow (Keynes would shock his friends, after the war, by marrying a woman). Keynes' reputation as an economist in his early 30s would be enough for him to solve a currency crisis in London just as WWI was starting. He would remain in various important Treasury posts and serve an important role with the UK delegation at the 1919 Paris peace talks. Keynes witnessed considerable history and economic damage at war's end, and, out of government, would write of his disillusionment, and later his gathered theories on economics and government. Ignored at first, he would, we see, become more and more vindicated as Britain, and later the US, would see considerable economic calamity. Keynes would become an influence, both philosophical and personal, with FDR's administration after the Crash, and, through correspondence, with FDR himself. Keynes would be a key part of the economic response to the Depression and, later, in the Allied economic mobilization in WWII. His final act would be his crucial work at the Bretton Woods economic conference, an event that would be one of the decisive outcomes after the war. Much of the book traces his legacy. Keynes would inspire or influence generations of policy economists, particularly in the US, starting with John Kenneth Galbraith and ending up with the likes of Paul Krugman and Joseph Stiglitz. In one way or another, Keynesian economics would affect policy in the administrations of JFK, LBJ and Richard Nixon. We also see a rival, conservative school of conservative economics originating with a contemporary of Keynes, Friedrich Hayek, whose later disciples, starting with Milton Friedman, would be antagonists, even nemeses, to the Keynesians. The book traces the decline of Keynesianism in the Clinton years, a second gilded age that would seemingly retire Keynes' notions as quaint and outdated. The book does argue that all that changed under the demands of the 2008 crash and the new economic problems. It's no spoiler to say the book pretty much concludes toward the end of the Obama years. However, given the covid-19 pandemic and the sudden new Depression it has caused, this book may explain at least some of the economic ideologies shaping official policy now -- whether or not the officials have even heard of Hayek or Keynes, the dynamics are still at hand, and this book is a timely background to this day. In the long run, Keynes famously said, we're all dead; he also wrote that in the short run, we're alive. Highest recommendation. Read in advance copy from Amazon Vine. biography economics history ...more 19 likes Like Comment Jamie Smith 501 reviews 82 followers April 29, 2022 I took an Economics class in college, and hated it. The textbook was confusing and dry as dust, and the professor was as bored as the students, never speaking above a monotone except to get irritated when someone asked a question. I always resented the fact that I had squandered one of my electives on a course I got so little out of, and from then on I steered clear of anything that included Economics. But here I am with a biography of John Maynard Keynes, which I picked up in one of my periodic efforts to broaden my reading interests. To my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, not only for its examination of Keynes’s life and impact, but for its clear explanations of economic theories and how they can be used to implement and direct social and political goals. I learned more about the fundamentals of Economics from this book than I ever did in that class. For instance, it is intriguing to think that Hitler’s rise to power could, perhaps, have been halted if the United States had continued providing loans to German banks, which invested them in businesses, spurring additional investments, rebuilding, and employment. But with the stock market crash in 1929 American banks were hemorrhaging cash, and the Hoover administration’s only solution was increased austerity, which further reduced the banks’ ability to make loans. The German financial system collapsed, and when it did, the way was set for angry and disillusioned people to bring Hitler to power on a platform of racism, populism, and the promise to make them pay , whoever they were. It all sounds much, too much, like many current United States politicians. This book tracks the life and writings of John Maynard Keynes from role as an economic advisor to the British government during the First World War, through his development as a public intellectual, his influence on policy, and his conflicts with other economists. It is well researched and well written, and is full of interesting facts that add context to the situations being described. Pre-war London was without question the greatest financial center in the world, and the pound sterling was the benchmark against which all other currencies were measured. The outbreak of World War One would permanently shift that power overseas to the United States, which became essential to Britain’s war effort and, “as the war dragged on, it became clear that the British were ceding not only economic power but political influence to their American rescuers. Keynes foresaw a postwar international realignment in which Americans and Wall Street financial power would dominate the future course of Western affairs, with France and Great Britain fading into history as client states of the New World.” The funds kept coming, but they were loans, not gifts, and repaying them would strain the economies of Europe. By the end of the war, the European allies owed the U.S. government more than $7 billion and another $3.5 billion to American banks. The United States’s greatest contribution to the Allied war effort was as a financier. “The 116,708 soldiers the United States had lost seemed staggering on the American home front, but they constituted just 2 percent of Allied military deaths—less than half the fatalities suffered by Romanian forces alone.” And it should be noted that more than half of those deaths were not combat related, but from influenza, and most of those occurred stateside. The book does a good job explaining one of the great mysteries of the post-war peace negotiations. Germany had asked for an armistice based on Wilson’s Fourteen Points, which were humane and progressive, but the peace treaty they were forced to sign was harsh and punitive. The question, then, was why the French insisted on such terms; after all, the terms imposed by the Germany after the Franco-Prussian war did not cause France to turn away from war, but rather filled its people with a burning desire for revanche – revenge. Why would the French have thought the the Germans would react any differently, especially when they were required to pay reparations even greater than what had been imposed on France in 1871? The answer is that, “To Clemenceau, there was no use trying to strike balances or prevent future conflicts at the peace conference. Europe would eventually come to blows again over some pretext or other, and when the moment came, he wanted France to be strong and its enemies to be weak.” Keynes grew disgusted with the way the peace talks were being conducted, writing to a friend, “I work for a government I despise for ends I think criminal.” He eventually resigned his position as an economic advisor wrote a scathing book describing the inept and short-sighted way the proceedings were being conducted. While the politicians were working for short-term advantages, Keynes was able to envision the long term consequences. “All over Europe—but particularly in the defeated German Empire—conditions were ripe for the rise of a strongman. Without food, jobs, a sense of purpose, and confidence in a better tomorrow, Europe was already on the path to another war.” During the 1920s and 30s he developed the economic theories he is famous for today. His theories were radical at the time, but they seem much less so today. “For the most part, he believed, laissez-faire economics worked. Supply and demand did bring society to a prosperous equilibrium. They just needed a few pieces of basic economic architecture to work: property rights, the rule of law, and price stability.” Through the 1920s a precarious system of payments came into place. “The United States, through J.P. Morgan, loaned money to Germany, which turned it over to France and Great Britain in the form of reparations, which sent it back to the United States in payments on war debts, enabling the cycle to begin again. It was a fragile system, but it worked—as long as Germany could keep getting foreign loans.” Then the Great Depression hit, the system collapsed, and Germany was ripe for a populist strongman to take over. In discussing these events, the author makes a comment describing he United States’s inability to address its structural economic problems in the 1930s, and it is just as true about the country today, as seen in the debates over universal healthcare: “’The great trouble with Keynes was that he was an idealist,’” his colleague and collaborator Joan Robinson once wrote. His faith that “’an intelligent theory would prevail over a stupid one’” was hard to square with a world in which ‘vested interests’ often rejected reforms that carried broad benefits for all, preferring even a dysfunctional status quo as long as it maintained their place at the top of the social pecking order.” With his remarkable ability to see behind surface appearances and into the root causes of complex situations, he noted that inflation, ultimately, was a roundabout way of cutting everyone’s pay. Rising prices reduced the purchasing power of workers’ paychecks. With pay reduced, employers would then be able to hire more people. A policy of deliberate inflation was not only politically easier than an attack on organized labor, it ensured that particular industries would not be unfairly singled out. His fame and influence were at their zenith during World War Two, and he had a major role in shaping post-war economic policy, but his triumph was short-lived. With the Red Scares of the late 40s and early 50s, and the rise of McCarthyism, he came under suspicion, and many of his ideas were discredited. Once again, he saw clearly the dangers which lay ahead, which are just as significant today, “The danger exists that businessmen, obsessed with a devil theory of government, will attempt to use their economic power to suppress democracy and place in its stead a dictatorship supposedly dedicated to their desires.” I suppose it can be a relief to know that the economic dumbassery of our times is nothing new, and that there have always been those whose concern is only for their own narrow self interests. “When Harry Truman called to raise the minimum wage, establish a national health care program, and begin a new federal commitment to civil rights for black America in his 1948 State of the Union address, [the National Association of Manufacturer’s] weekly newsletter suggested this cocktail would “ultimately destroy the American business system.” The last decades of Keynes’s life were a struggle against other economists, such as Friedrich Hayek, Paul Samuelson, John Kenneth Galbraith, and Milton Friedman. Hayek was the apostle of unfettered sink-or-swim capitalism which is much in favor with right-wing politicians today, and was unalterably opposed to ideas such as a progressive income taxation, retirement pensions, and state-provided medical care. I highlighted 131 passages from this book. It is not just biography, but a clear and insightful explanation of complex economic ideas and systems. I learned a great deal, and highly recommend it. biography history 16 likes Like Comment Kevin Lopez (on sabbatical) 85 reviews 22 followers November 15, 2020 “ No European mind since Newton has impressed himself so profoundly on both the political and intellectual development of the world. When the Times wrote Keynes’ obituary, it declared him ‘the greatest economist since Adam Smith.’ But even praise so high as this sold Keynes short, for Keynes was to Smith as Copernicus was to Ptolemy—a thinker who replaced one paradigm with another. In his economic work he fused psychology, history, political theory, and observed financial experience like no economist before or since. ” “ For Keynes, economics was the critical realm that had to unite the drive for stability with the drive for social justice. ” For the past few days I’ve been wrestling with how to write a review that might actually do some justice to the value of Zachary D. Carter’s The Price of Peace: Money, Democracy, and the Life of John Maynard Keynes . Having finished reading it within a day or so of Robert Silverberg’s New Wave sci-fi classic Dying Inside , and finding the the latter to be a profoundly poetic, funny, and poignantly-drawn novel (and thus another I’ve been struggling to review!), The Price of Peace is a truly rare book indeed; the sort one only stumbles upon every so often, and after reading it almost inevitably feels the need to evangelize and convince others to read, too. And if this weren’t enough to humble one’s pretensions as a reviewer, it’s a positively massive book, to boot. Not in terms of its length (although it does clock in at a respectable 656 pages, the deftness of Carter’s writing makes it feel far shorter than that), but massive in the sense that it contains a truly massive amount of valuable information and documentation, suffused by the intellect of a first-rate academic historian. So while I try to wrap my head around it, and maybe compose a review which is worthy of the book being reviewed, I left a few quotes above for anyone who may be interested to further their knowledge on the subject. biography-autobiography-memoir favorites-nonfiction history ...more 14 likes Like Comment sarah 67 reviews 1 follower April 5, 2021 Easily the best thing I've read all year. I literally cried at the end, which is an embarrassing reaction to have in a public place to a book about a 20th century British economist 10 likes 1 comment Like Comment Andrew 54 reviews February 16, 2021 A great read. This book came out at the perfect time. It highlights many transformative moments throughout the 20th century that Keynes was part of. It is especially telling today as we go into a new transformative moment for what the world will look like after the coronavirus. Keynes was a marvelous intellect and Carter tells a gripping tale of his life. He was there for it all, the Treaty of Versailles, the abandonment of the gold standard, the formation of the New Deal, and many other significant events. Interestingly, Keynes dies half way through this book. From there on, Carter does a fascinating take of how Keynesian thinking persisted and evolved from Keynes's death to the present. John Kenneth Galbraith becomes a "main character" and his evolution of Keynesianism into an American version is especially interesting. All in all, this is a most wonderful history that goes beyond the life of one man. Keynes was a persistent optimist, and my favorite quote of his was "Down with those who declare we are dumped and damned!" (533), referring to pessimists. He is spot on! 8 likes Like Comment Alan D'Souza 142 reviews 3 followers August 20, 2021 Superlative biography on one of the world's most influential economists. Very timely given Keynes' renewed popularity among central bankers and policy economists and the rise of the clout of modern monetary theory and deficit spending. At 650 pages, this thing is an absolute tome. 7 likes Like Comment Marks54 1,437 reviews 1,181 followers July 19, 2020 The most fascinating aspects of a critical biography, at least to me, show how the person influenced the world around him/her and continues to do so. For an intellectual biography, you have the added requirement of guiding the reader through what the subject has written and explaining how it fits into the broader story. When all of this fits together, and the author of the biography is himself a superb writer, the result is magic. I just finished Zachary Carter’s book on Keynes and it is nothing short of amazing. I have encountered Keynes in one form or another since my sophomore year in college and I never expected to find him exciting. Keynes lived an amazing life. He was influential apparently from the day he entered government service to the end of his life. He was raised in a well connected family and hung around with perhaps the toughest intellectual crowd imaginable - seriously. ...and then there is the economics and politics. As a very young man he was a critical advisor to the Paris Peace Conference and wrote “The Economic Consequences of the Peace”, one of the most influential books of the times that defined the reparations problem that would plague Europe in the next twenty years and lead to WW2. He lost a bit of official influence in the process but lived to fight again. Read the book now and see what you think. It is still gripping. Then there is the economics - leading to the Great Depression and the General Theory. This story is well told by Carter who weaves Keynes’ writings into the flow along with the dynamics of his colleagues and opponents, such as Hayek. This story is well known but the details of people like Joan Robinson are well done. His work on the Bretton Woods accord was also hugely important but just added to an already amazing career. The continuation of Keynes’ influence after his death shows the continuing importance of his ideas both in terms of their own influence and in terms of the vitriol of his opponents as the Cold War and its various morality plays developed. The story of academic politics and general nastiness regarding Keynesian devotees in the postwar period is well known but still sad. Recent histories of the “Austrian” economists tell the same story from a different perspective. One of Mr. Carter’s major punchlines appears to be that Keynes remains viable as a source of policy insights today - not surprising for someone whose work arguably stimulated the invention of the entire area of “macroeconomics”. More important than that is the position that Keynesian ideas are neither good nor bad in themselves but tools that can be used for a variety of policy objectives. In today’s terms, Keynes is the source of policy options for putting a progressive social and economic policy agenda into practice. Given issues of widespread inequality as well as the bankruptcy of the neoliberal policy consensus for handling crises since 2007-2008, this is a reassuring takeaway from the book as makes Carter’s biography of crucial importance today - and well worth reading. 7 likes Like Comment David Dayen Author 5 books 194 followers July 27, 2020 Took me entirely too long to get through this but well worth the wait. A dazzling portrait of Keynes, his importance, and by the end his erasure, with his ideas sort of enduring but his spirit extinguished. The story of Keynes is the story of a century of economics, and by the end we see a profession adrift. But along the way we get a portrait of Keynes, who comes out of the Bloomsbury art and literature collective in London and really kept that perspective. The good life was Keynes' lifelong goal, not for him but for all citizens. He brimmed with optimism and possibility, perhaps to the detriment of realism. But in the end Carter lays out how we need people like Keynes, confident that he can solve problems, rather than a world of cynics. 7 likes Like Comment Hadrian 438 reviews 250 followers January 9, 2022 I've wanted to read a biography of John Maynard Keynes for a long time. I've told myself that I might get to the 1700 page multivolume book by The Lord Robert Skidelsky , but that might be wishful thinking. But I've been recommended this one strongly, I found a copy, and its lived up to the recommendations on the life of Keynes himself. The book's main idea is in the title. Carter asserts that the man John Maynard Keynes had reinvented himself multiple times in his life, but one of the most fundamental was after the publication of his 1919 tract, The Economic Consequences of the Peace . His criticism of the Treaty of Versailles and the end of the First World War, his resignation from the British government, and his loud denouncement of the peace negotiations had exiled him from high politics for many years. But in the years after the First World War, from his marriage to the Russian ballerina Lydia Lopokova after so many romances with men, his turn from policy to academia, and his renewed examination of works of Enlightenment philosophers encouraged him to recast his ideas. He was not ever a Marxist, as was often misunderstood. He may have been both a conservative like Edmund Burke, and a liberal democrat like Jean-Jacques Rousseau. He feared what violent revolution might do to a society, but he later spoke on the reduction of societal inequality. That was the price of peace - a kind of economic policy that would be aimed at preventing 'militarism' (Carter's word) and ensuring international peace. Keynes worked himself to death, and he passes away of overexertion in 1946, a few months after the end of the Second World War and the orchestration of a new international order at the Bretton Woods conference of 1944. I was deeply impressed by the first 12 chapters - which incorporate so many aspects of Keynes' life, and incorporated his work in philosophy and association with the aesthetes of the Bloomsbury Group. Carter tells this story entertainingly, eschewing some of the technical details for an able summary, and he incorporates much from Keynes' own archives and primary sources. It is in the last chapters that I feel more concerned. That still leaves five chapters of the book, which discuss the strands of Keynes' legacy, primarily in the United States. Carter asserts that after the death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1945, and a resurgent anti-Communism in the Cold War, Keynesian economics grew more sidelined. For examples, he cites the authors Lorie Tarshis, John Kenneth Galbraith, and that a distorted view of Keynesian economics was able to hold on, championed by ... Paul Samuelson, who in Carter's view, presents an obscurantist, mathematical view of economics to avoid right-wing scrutiny. That Paul Samuelson? Who was also under serious attack by the anti-Communist right? Who was not only a major textbook writer, but also one who wrote in those textbooks on gender inequality, racial inequality, etc.? His contrast between Samuelson and Galbraith seems too artificial and even to my layman view seems suspicious. Additionally, there was a minor detail in the narrative, but its more of a sign in terms of basic facts that caught my attention. Carter cites Lawrence Klein, a Nobel prize winner founder of computer modeling in the field of econometrics, as an economic 'historian'. This causes me to doubt if Carter's assessment of economic history post-Keynes is on the mark. Finally, this story of Keynesianism in the mid-20th century seems under doubt. Given the relative influence of Keynes on so many successive economists, it would be easy to find those who were war-hawks in foreign policy and those who were not. Recasting a 'good' and 'bad' set of Keynesians may work for a popular history, but given how many conservative and liberal administrations borrowed from his policies, that's a harder sell. But for Keynes' life himself, I had the impression that I was shown some of the complexity and competing influences in that story. The book reads well and there was a lot of substance in it. I'm glad to have read it. biography economics nonfiction 8 likes Like Comment Jakub Dovcik 169 reviews 26 followers June 10, 2023 About 2/3rds of the book is a fascinating intellectual biography of John Meynard Keynes, considering his intellectual developments, and achievements, but also the values he was grounded in. It presents a complex portrait of Keynes - a public intellectual explaining complex theoretical ideas to the masses and an academic economist, developing complex ideas comprehensible for the very few; a mover-and-shaker within the halls of Whitehall, influencing the levers of power, but also a truthteller, not shying away from attacking people he closely worked with for years. While Taylor to a large extent skips Keynes’ childhood and early adulthood (the book really begins with the outbreak of the First World War)- his university days, friendships with Bertrand Russel and Ludwig Wittgenstein and work for the India Office are briefly mentioned, but not really explored - Taylor shows the importance of the Apostles and Bloomsbury circles to Keynes and his lifelong values. Artistic expression and appreciation for its various forms was a cornerstone for his worldview and economics was only among the means to securing “the good life” of virtues. Keynes that Taylor presents is much more than an economist - a philosopher, political thinker and social theorist and critic, but also a financial speculator and businessman (he was bold in actions like self-publishing the Economic Consequences of the Peace on which he made a lot of money which together with his speculation allowed him to buy the magazine The Nation , which not just influenced the Liberal discourse, but also bankrolled much of the Bloomsbury group). He was pragmatic, intellectually agile and able to develop his opinions - like for instance about tariffs and free trade - during his career in response to the changing circumstances of the global order. But, Taylor argues, a key aspect of Keynesianism was always his Burkean belief in the necessity to preserve social stability and order - that, more than radicalism attempting to upset orthodoxy, informed his books and ideas from the Economic Consequences of the Peace to the end of his life. One of the best aspects of the books is the analysis of Keynes’ major books, which put them in intellectual, political, but also interpersonal contexts. Like for instance that the Economic Consequences of the Peace was not just a rant out of desperation, written after the disappointments of the negotiations at Versailles, but also an attempt to gain recognition in the Bloomsbury group as a writer, where among all the artists (like Virginia Woolf, Keynes was merely a lowly economist and diplomat. A Treatise on Probability and A Tract on Monetary Reform show the early versions of ideas that influenced his later thinking, departing from the classical economics of his mentor Alfred Marshall (who again, is only briefly mentioned, largely in relation to his misogyny). Beginning with The End of Lasses-Faire and later Treatise on Money , Taylor shows how Keynes began to truly break the grip of the classical orthodoxy. Especially Keynes’ work on economic history in The Treatise on Money shows that money was always a product of the state, which was revolutionary in his time and is still often misinterpreted in today’s popular economic discourse. And while The Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren is often remembered for its prediction about a 15-hour workweek, it is more convoluted - it shows the possibilities for a future not just post-scarcity, but also after satisfying the investment needs of 1930s Britain (Keynes argued for the government doing 2/3 of all investments in the economy), which formed an important part of his argumentation for massive programs of public works, to get Britain out of the Depression. All across the book are references to Keynes’ memorable quotes, like his reference to the need to build .“a form of society which shall be ethically tolerable and economically not intolerable.” , or this amazing quote from The Treatise on Money: “The important thing for government is not to do things which individuals are doing already, and to do them a little better or a little worse; but to do those things which at present are not done at all." It is also great to read about the influence of economists around Keynes like most of all, Joan Robinson (and her intellectual journey sketched across the book is itself fascinating, as she is probably the most undervalued of modern economists - like few people really stress that she created the theory of monopsony), but also lesser-known figures, like Richard Kahn, Keynes’ academic right-hand man. In the whole book, it is fascinating to read how Keynes was able to think both within and outside of his time. To move his thinking beyond the 19th-century tenets of scarcity and efficiency, to the problems of allocation and inequality, with the ultimate focus on their political effects. ——————————————————————— The last 166 pages of the book, however, somewhat feel like a different book - focusing solely on the interpretation of post-war economics and economic developments in the United States - and to a lesser extent within the economic profession in general. How, in the author’s words ‘Keynes the philosopher of war has given way to Keynes the fiscal therapist.’ It shows how Keynesianism moved and transformed in its political effects from Burkean conservatism (Keynes) through 1930s radicalism (Robinson, but also Lauchlin Currie) to, what Taylor argues, was an adaptation to the political mood and environment in the United States (Samuelson hiding Keynes behind econometrics, Galbraith embracing corporate America with his theory of the equilibrium of power/countervailing power). Large parts of the latter part of the book feel like an intellectual biography of John Kenneth Galbraith. Taylor does not idealise Galbraith (he is described as arrogant and self-important) but believes his ideas to be truer to Keynesian values than those of Heller, Samuelson or Solow. Especially the discussion of the Affluent Society is interesting and insightful, also in relation to the discussion of what really is Keynesianism, economics and economic policy in the post-Keynes era - a toolbox of solutions for crises, or a more complex (and philosophical/value-driven) approach to a better state and society? As Galbraith has to a large extent faded into history in recent decades, it is nevertheless fascinating to read about his influence on the public debates in the 1950s and 1960s, the experiences with taming inflation and price controls in the US (which are more than relevant now) and generally his critiques that established today’s common phrases like “conventional wisdom” - “the class of ideas considered acceptable to right-thinking people in government. Those ideas were not necessarily directly related to the financial interests of the ruling class, but they were the ideas that elites found most comfortable and enjoyed reading about in newspapers or hearing repeated in speeches or represented in art. Such thinking was not necessarily wrong, but it was inevitably behind the times; the conventional wisdom had always been developed in response to a particular set of circumstances and was always vulnerable to political and social change.” This part also has some incredible quotes by Joan Robinson that should be more present in contemporary discourse, like “Normality is a fiction of economic textbooks.” or “The point of the General Theory was to restore human agency to economic theory.” (which she argues was eliminated by Samuelson, Hicks and Solow); or “economic production could not be understood as a self-sustaining set of processes independent from social norms and political realities.” Some other bits of the latter part are also fascinating - like the story about the first Keynesian textbook in the US, written by by Lorie Tarshis was cancelled after a letter-writing campaign by Merwin Hart, a pre-cursor to the neoliberal activists of the political Right in the US, utilizing the power of donor funding to influence the mainstream economic narrative, that is, as is shown even in Kenyes’ own exchanges with Hayek, inherently political. (Generally interesting are also discussions about the antisemitism across the book, latent in the Bloomsbury circle and by Kenyes himself, and relatively frequent by the circle around Luhnow that funded Hayek and Friedman). But there are also annoying bits, like constant references to what the author thinks would Keynes think at one junction or another (which is difficult to say, not least because of Keynes’ pragmatism in questions of policy), over-use of neoliberalism for most of what the author disagrees with or excessive use of Norman Angell without reference to his book as a shibboleth for false belief in the pacifying influence of international trade. ——————————————————————— Overall, the book is well worth a read - it just should be rather labelled for what it is - a composite of an excellent intellectual biography of a complex man and thinker and author’s narrative about the post-war economy and economics in the United States. biographies economics finance ...more 4 likes Like Comment Peter 1,159 reviews 40 followers June 19, 2020 In spite of his one-time prominence, John Maynard Keynes ("Cains") isn't a household name today. So Zachary Carter's The Price of Peace: Money, Democracy, and the Life of John Maynard Keynes (2020) is a timely effort to fill that gap. Keynes's Personal Life: A Thumbnail Sketch It's well known that Keynes was homosexual. This was not unusual in his generation on Britain among prep school and university students. For Carter it is an up-front issue in Keynes's life, and Carter marvels at Keynes's successful marriage to an internationally-acclaimed Russian ballerina named Lydia Lopokova. Carter does write well, as in this beautifully phrased snapshot capturing the complexity of his subject: Keynes was a tangle of paradoxes: a bureaucrat who marries a dancer; a gay man whose greatest love was a woman; a loyal servant of the British Empire who railed against imperialism; a pacifist who helped finance two world wars; an internationalist who assembled the intellectual architecture for the modern nation-state; an economist who challenged the foundation of economics. But embedded in all of these seeming contradictions is a coherent vision of human freedom and political salvation. Keynes Before WWI John Maynard Keynes ("Maynard") was born in 1883, the son of Ada Keynes, a social reformer, and John Neville Keynes ("Neville"), an economist at King's College, Cambridge University. He attended Eton College and graduated from King's college in 1908 with a first in mathematics—Bertrand Russell extolled his brilliance. In the same year he took a civil service position at the India Office, where he worked on financial matters in India. Though his education was in mathematics, Maynard's primary interests were in political philosophy and economics. He was a liberal of his day, believing that that government could be the solution for many social and economic problems. He was also a problem-solving optimist, an outlook that shaped his career and his work. His impact on economics began in 1909 when he was given a minor academic position as a lecturer at King's College, where his father was a noted economist. In 1911 he published Indian Currency and Finance , a result of a brief attachment to the India Office. In that treatise he argued that India should have a different monetary system for international and domestic transactions: the British pound—a gold standard currency—for international finance; a paper standard, the rupiah for domestic finance. This idea would eventually inform hos proposals for a new international monetary system after WWII. In 1911 Keynes was appointed editor of The Economic Journal , a position from which he could help shape the field by selecting papers worthy of publication. His particular expertise was in finance and monetary theory, and he would soon be tested. At the outbreak of the war in August 1914 Keynes was called to assist in managing the financial crisis facing Britain: speculative runs against the pound, both internal and external, were draining Britain's coffers of gold and of currencies convertible into gold. The result was "tight money" with high interest rates and a declining domestic money supply. A recession was in the headlights when in 1915 Keynes was appointed to an official position in the Treasury to manage the problem. This began a lifelong career with one foot in the academy and one foot in government, a career that continued until his death in 1946. The standard prescription for resolution of a financial crisis under the gold standard was to either devalue the pound (raise the price of gold in terms of pounds) or to suspend convertibility entirely (simply end the requirement that the Treasury buy or sell gold), thus letting the pound "float." In the absence of those steps, the only solution was price deflation to reduce the domestic price level relative to price levels for trading partners. Bankers, the Treasury, and the Bank of England objected to devaluation or suspension of convertibility because London's position as a financial center would be compromised. Instead they proposed a plan to end the sale of gold to foreigners—a suspension of external convertibility but a continuation of internal convertibility: British citizens could trade pounds for dollars, but foreigners could not. This would reserve the British gold stock for internal use. Keynes opposed that idea and made a counter-proposal based on his work in India: end sales of gold to the public (suspend internal convertibility) but maintain external convertibility. This turned the proposal by the bankers and their fellow travelers on its head: the gold specie (coins) used in domestic transactions would be replaced by new Treasury notes not convertible into gold. The risk was that the public would reject the new and inconvertible currency, in which case they’d want to get rid of the bad currency and inflation would emerge, exacerbating a foreign run on gold. To almost everyone's surprise, Keynes's proposal was adopted, and it worked: the new paper currency was accepted and the external drain of gold stopped because foreigners now believed there was sufficient gold at the British Treasury to maintain convertibility. Keynes Between the Wars In 1919 Keynes attended the Paris Peace Conference that hashed out the Versailles Treaty finalizing WWI. From this vantage point he wrote The Economic Consequences of the Peace (1919), a book assessing the Treaty and predicting that the massive reparations in gold and resources (like German rolling stock, Ruhr coal production) levied by the Triple Entente (France, Britain, the U. S. and Russia) to reimburse them for the costs of the war would impoverish the Central Powers (Germany and Austria-Hungary) and set the foundations for another European war. He was, of course, correct: WWII would pop up twenty years later. The next serious crisis occurred in 1925 when Winston Churchill, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, decided to return Britain to the international gold standard. Once again, this was driven by a desire to enhance London's position as a financial center. The return to gold at prewar parity ($4.86) was a disaster—during the war the British price level had risen sharply relative to U. S. prices. At the pre-war parity the pound was greatly overvalued—the price to foreigners of British goods was much higher than before the war and, as a corollary, the prices of foreign goods were much lower. The return to pre-war parity created a sharp decline British exports and a correspondingly sharp increase in imports to Britain. The result was sizable net imports of goods, an imbalance that was financed by an outflow of Britain's scarce post-war gold supply to other countries. The only way to stem the gold outflow was to deflate the economy via high interest rates. The result was severe unemployment that lasted until external gold convertibility was suspended in 1931. The domestic economy's troubles from this self-inflicted wound left the British with over a decade of social unrest and unemployment, and left it ill-equipped for the arrival of WWII. In addition, U. S. attempts to help by maintaining low interest rates helped to create an economic boom that would end with the 1929 stock market crash. The Great Depression The Great Depression that took the world by storm in 1930 changed the direction of Keynes's thinking. He set out to explain why the world stayed in such a prolonged economic slump when the received economic doctrine—now called “neoclassical economics”—held that business cycles were self-correcting: a slump (or a boom) would initiate adjustments of relative prices, of the national price level, and of interest rates that would return the economy to a stable position of full employment. This would take time, but the common assumption was that any intervention by government would only slow the adjustment process. So, for example, during a recession the neoclassical course for economic policy was government spending austerity and tax increases to balance the budget. True, these steps might make things worse in the short-run but they would hasten the return to full employment. This idea shaped FDR's unfortunate tax increases in 1936, and it is still in vogue—consider the austerity adopted by the British government after the 2008 financial collapse, or the European Economic Community 's reaction to the financial collapse of weak Euro-region countries ("the southern tier"), particularly Greece! For a variety of reasons, Keynes thought that reliance on self-correction was dangerous. He argued that the process of natural adjustment could be very long, famously quipping that “in the long run we're all dead." And he had the Great Depression as an immediate example. His analysis of the basis of the Great Depression was published in two books— A Treatise on Money (1930) and The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money (1936). The second was by far the most influential: it would kick-start the field of Macroeconomics and upend our understanding of the role of government in responding to a business cycle. Regrettably, The General Theory was anything but general, and the book was almost unreadable, even among economists, so it has taken many decades to flesh out its finer points. But they can be reduced to a few observations. 1. Capitalist economies suffer from high unemployment when aggregate demand is insufficient. 2. Capitalist economies are is not homeostatic : there is no automatic adjustment mechanism that returns an economy to full employment within a reasonable time. Thus, an economy can get stuck at an "underemployment equilibrium." 3. Economies stuck at an underemployment equilibrium require active government policies to promote spending and get on the path to full employment. 4. In an underemployment equilibrium, monetary policies are likely to be ineffective. Monetary policies rely on an increase in money supply or, equivalently, a decrease in interest rates. But when interest rates are very low, as is common in depressions, monetary policy is toothless because of a "liquidity trap" in which additional money is willingly held and not spent or loaned. 5. The only effective action is a depression is fiscal policy in the form of direct government spending or tax cuts designed to increase private spending. The Bretton Woods Conference, 1944 Keynes's last major appearance was at the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference in New Hampshire 1944. The international financial system was in a shambles: all countries were off of the gold standard and foreign exchange rates “floated” according to demand and supply. The notion of a world of floating exchange rates was abhorrent at the time, and some way of getting the advantage of fixed exchange rates without the burden of a gold link was sought. The Bretton Woods Conference was devoted to redesigning the international monetary system. Prior to the war that system had been a “gold standard” in which each participating nation fixed the price of gold in terms of its own currency. This, of course, established a fixed price of one currency in terms of another. For example, in 1925 the U. S. Mint bought and sold gold at $20.64 per ounce and the British Treasury bought and sold gold at £4.25 per ounce, resulting in $4.86 as the dollar price of a British pound sterling. That system had always been problematic because at any time the world’s stock of gold was both (largely) fixed in amount and unequally distributed among nations: after WWI the bulk of the world’s gold supply was in American and French hands; after WWII it was almost all in American vaults. This left the deficit-ridden European nations with little ability to buy the goods needed to restore their economies. Furthermore, the fixity of the world’s gold stock meant that an increasing volume of international trade would induce a general deflation in prices. Using his work on Indian finance and the ideas expressed in his Treatise on Money , Keynes shaped the British Treasury’s proposal for a post-war international monetary system. An international organization, to be called the International Clearing Union, would be created to make loans to deficit countries in the form of a new international currency called the Bancor; surplus countries would accumulate the Bancors used by deficit countries to finance their international trade. Thus, the surplus countries would effectively finance the net imports of the deficit countries. Bancors would become what we now call “international reserve assets,” displacing gold and avoiding the deflationary tendency of the gold standard that had plagued international finance and trade. In addition, each nation would fix the value of its national currency in terms of the Bancor, just as it had once been fixed relative to gold. The result would be a fixed exchange rate system like the gold standard, but with a flexible monetary base (Bancors) that could grow with the “needs of trade.” Keynes’s design became the foundation of the new international monetary system, though other countries (particularly the U. S.) put their stamp on the final product: the name of the new international financial institution became the International Monetary Fund (a benign change) and, because the American delegation was loath to give the power of the printing press to an international organization, and wanted to maintain its financial hegemony, the U. S. dollar was specified as the new international reserve asset. In effect, Keynes’s proposal was adopted but the British lost the battle of nomenclature and had to accept a national currency as the international reserve asset. Even so, Keynes and the British delegation had won the war of monetary redesign. Was Keynes "right"? Well, he was certainly right enough! The last few years have been a laboratory test for Keynes's macroeconomic ideas, and they have been generally supported. Keynes is as relevant now as he was then—his interpretation of the 1930s fits the 2010s well. The U.S. economy is now in the midst of its closest approach to the features defining the Great Depression that we've seen in eighty years—very low interest rates, toothless monetary policy, and U.S. government budget deficits that are out-of-sight as the government attempts to maintain full employment. Keynes died in 1946 at the very-young age of 63. If I had ten votes to select the Nobel Prize in Economics for best 20th century economist, all ten would go to Keynes. A pox on the naysaying troglodytes that lumber through the internet. biography economics 3 likes Like Comment Milind Hegde 20 reviews 93 followers July 17, 2021 John Maynard Keynes is now famous as the economist who taught the world how to get out of the throes of the Great Depression. In some ways he did do this, but he also did so much more. He was an economist, philosopher, mathematician, popular journalist, international diplomat, a patron of high art. His ideas and life directly influenced the world in the 20th century like no other intellectual, and continue to be relevant today. This is my attempt to form a short coherent picture of some of his important ideas based on my reading of this wonderfully written book, The Price of Peace . The thematic thread connecting Keynes' economic work is the recognition of the central roles politics and society play in economics. Classical economics held that markets operate rationally and according to essentially natural laws; so, the interventions of governments to guide economies to a desired state inevitably end in disaster, in the same way that meddling in a biological ecosystem will upset its natural cycles and equilibria. In fact, the idea that markets operate according to laws independent of society, politics, and culture is a central part of the broader political philosophy of liberalism , and is also closely associated to its 20th century version, neo-liberalism. While Keynes saw himself firmly in the liberal tradition for his entire life, much of his work was dismantling the idea that markets are natural and the assumptions that that idea relies on. First, there was the common analytic simplification of the economy being at equilibrium. For example, introductory economics textbooks state that the price of a good is fixed at the point at which its supply and demand curves intersect: if the supply is greater than what is demanded at the current price, the price will fall (as suppliers struggle to sell all their goods) till demand meets supply, and vice versa if the supply is too low. This is a dynamic that brings the price to the supply-demand intersection point, the equilibrium situation. But it is only in this final equilibrium that the characterization of the price is true---it's not true during the dynamic itself, when the suppliers and customers are witnessing price fluctuations. Keynes realized the enormous importance of this basic distinction between equilibrium and non-equilibrium: since non-equilibrium is the typical scenario, there was a need for a theory which worked under general, non-equilibrium conditions. This is the meaning of "general" in his monumental work The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money . Second, he noted that theories which rely on the wisdom of the market only make sense if people are assumed to be rational agents acting in their self-interest. Keynes emphasized the enormous role that the simple phenomenon of uncertainty played in the decisions of people, individually and collectively---a truth that was plain for him to see in the financial crisis that beset London at the beginning of World War I. In times of deep uncertainty, people do not act in any mathematical sense of self-interest, because it is completely unclear what exactly the efficient self-interested action is: if, say, the world economy looks like it will be shut down for months, hoarding money will be the choice made by many, for it is impossible to determine whether more long-term investments have any value at all. This point holds even when the degree of uncertainty is milder: at the end of the day, nobody truly knows the value of investing in, say, a tech company for ten years. People make such investments on the basis not of a calculation of expected payoff, but because of an optimistic belief that the investment will be sound; this belief is supported by many things, including an intrinsic confidence in long-term political stability. (Of interest to me was Keynes origins as a mathematician/philosopher studying the philosophy of probability, and how the ideas he first came upon there developed into his insights into the functioning of markets later.) These two observations tie back to the deeper underlying truth of economics central to Keynes' thinking: if people act in the face of uncertainty and situations that are in constant flux, both of which are caused by political forces, then it is impossible to extricate society and politics from economics . This goes hand in hand with another basic observation: the issue facing the economies Keynes was considering then, and many economies today, was not one of scarcity. There was more than enough resources to go around. And so the role of government is not to determine what can be afforded, but how the people would like to live---an unavoidably political problem. A society of general prosperity, equality, and peace was not forbidden by any economic "law", and was achievable given sufficient political will. What guided Keynes' views was his conception of the good life. He placed enormous importance on aspects of life only available to aristocrats and the upper-most classes of British society, of which he was undoubtedly a part. But these aspects still hold a great deal of appeal today: an appreciation of art, good conversation, leisure, nature and the countryside (a major complaint he had about America was insufficient birdlife). Things which were then luxuries, but did not have to be. Keynes' goal, and in some sense his view of the role of government, was to bring the good life to the larger population. But to make this possible, a certain amount of stability is needed, both in domestic and international affairs. Keynes evolved in his views on what this precisely meant. As a younger man, he held a starry-eyed view that the British empire essentially secured this stability, but this idea fell apart under the pressure of the reality of World War I and his first-hand perspective of the subsequent imperialist-driven negotiations at Versailles. In response to the collapse of the idealizations of his youth, Keynes initiated the intellectual project of developing an international and domestic system that could sustain the good life. At this point in his mid-30s, fleshing it out in theory and attempting to bring it about in practice occupied him for essentially the rest of his life. On the domestic side of things, the basic questions were how to ensure economic stability (in terms of indicators like employment and inflation), and how to pay for the public services he wished to call for. One of his important insights was, crudely, that the services would pay for themselves and provide economic stability. His view was that the economy functioned because of demand: in the presence of demand, there was both money to make investments (in technology, infrastructure, and so on) and the confidence that it was worth it. But because of economic cycles, demand would inevitably sometimes falter, such as during depressions or recessions, and the economy would stumble, in spite of the basic physical resources (labour, capital, infrastructure) being plentiful; then, the government has to prop up demand through public spending. (This last prescription is what Keynes is today most associated with, what is commonly called Keynesian economics.) By spending money (for example through public works projects), the government provides employment and puts money into the hands of the people; the people then spend the money, creating demand, confidence, and stability. The money also has a multiplier effect as it passes from one hand to the next, in that one dollar in the government's ledger generates more than one dollar of economic activity as it moves along. Keynes observed that this last dynamic operates no matter what the government pays people to do. As he said, the government could put money into bottles, bury them in the sand, and have people dig them up, and the effect would be the same. But what Keynes wanted was for the spending to be on services which would support, directly or not, his conception of the good life. It was in this sense that building the good life would itself generate the resources needed to do so. (Notice the importance of the observation that the economy was not in a state of scarcity in terms of physical resources.) Keynes also believed that from domestic stability could flow international peace. He believed that the siren call of fascism that was heard across Europe in his time only held any appeal because of the economic destitution and unemployment people found themselves in. Of course, these economic difficulties weren't simply domestic matters: a major part was driven by international debts (related to creditors, who ran trade surpluses with debtors, who ran deficits), which he believed may sometimes need to be simply cancelled. And sometimes, he believed, weak nations may need to use protectionist measures---the dreaded enemy of free trade---to give themselves some leeway in their domestic policies. But determining how to handle debt (cancel it, or bring trade into balance), and when protectionist measures were fair and not predatory was a difficult problem of international relations. A short description of his proposal for this, delivered near the end of his life at the time of the Bretton Woods conference which determined the post-war world economic order, is this: establish an international bank with which all nations hold an account, and give the bank the power to both create its currency at will and to enforce a commitment to balanced trade. With balanced trade, countries would be free to focus on domestic policies for local prosperity, and peace would prevail. If adopted, the proposal would have taken power out of the hands of powerful countries, and so it was promptly rejected by the US at Bretton Woods. In its place, we got the IMF and World Bank, which are very much not the institutions Keynes proposed. Much of what Keynes was advocating for seems to fit quite easily with leftist positions today. But Keynes considered himself a classical liberal and had an uncertain view on socialism. For example, he was a staunch supporter of Britain's Liberal party in the face of a young and insurgent Labour party. On the other hand, by the end of his life he viewed it as almost necessary that large parts of the economy be socialised, and he was a fierce champion of the National Health Service as its proposal was being developed by the economist William Beveridge. This is in keeping with the difficulty of boxing Keynes into any particular category. For in spite of the definiteness that I've ascribed to Keynes' economic beliefs, what is striking is the flexibility and originality he had in modifying them and his preferred methods in the face of new circumstances, while staying true to his ultimate goal of peace, prosperity, and the good life. He overcame established orthodoxies and defined new ways of thinking many times over. In this way, he is inspiring. favorites non-fiction reviewed 3 likes Like Comment Andrew Morin 41 reviews 3 followers May 23, 2022 Overall very enjoyable, especially surrounding the relationship between Keynes' political philosophy and economic theory which is very compelling. The book gives a really interesting perspective on the transition from Victorian Europe to the Wars through Bloomsbury, with the social setting and economic theory both well covered. I do think it would benefit from a tighter focus; the initial adoption through Samuelson and Robinson was great, Galbraith was long and the Clinton/Great Recession coverage was too divorced from the core subject for me. 3 likes Like Comment Glenn Author 6 books 112 followers September 12, 2022 Because it's about an economist and his theories, and economic practices, it can be a little stiff for the layman, and I have to admit that as cogently and coherently as Carter explains things, I'm not sure I could now convey that to you if you cornered me at a party and demanded an account. That said, this is an engaging and ultimately rather depressing story about an idealist and the numbers that proved his idealism wasn't a delusion. And of how the world got into the mess that it's in, or at least one critical aspect of that "how." 3 likes Like Comment Jessica Dai 145 reviews 60 followers December 29, 2021 actually the first real great-man biography I've ever read and def worth the while; good to book club v cool to read about: - keynes' ~youth~ (with the bloomsbury group - oh to be buddies with the woolf sisters), how it shaped his perception of "the good life," and ultimately his politics; - the economic dimension of the world wars; - the birth of an academic discipline & its ideological development in the US 3 likes Like Comment Unnati Bose 23 reviews 187 followers November 11, 2020 Excellent- a well-written and spectacularly detailed account of economic history since the first world war to now, through the lens of Keynesianism. Zachery Carter mindfully knits together Keynes personal life - his friends, affairs and internal conflicts with his professional experience - his aspirations, failings, mistakes, and everything in between. This book is more than just Keynes and you realize that halfway through when Zachery (sometimes frustratingly) continues to detail how keynes' ideas were deployed long after his death - often contemptuously and always insincerely. Th book can serve as a primer for all econ undergrads so they understand the inevitable and obvious political project of the discipline. However, it can do with a greater inspection of how these ideals when poorly executed affected the developing world. 3 likes Like Comment Dave 833 reviews 29 followers May 30, 2020 I had no idea that John Maynard Keynes was such an amazing guy. I vaguely knew him as an economist whose theories influenced FDR during the Depression. I had no idea that he was a journalist, philosopher, member of the Bloomsbury group of authors and artists among other things. And his economic ideas stemmed from a desire to halt war and help the little guys. Unfortunately, he wasn't always listened to. This isn't a traditional biography in two ways. First, we don't get the cradle-to-grave treatment. Carter begins the bio in 1914 at the start of The Great War, when Keynes is called from his post at university to advise the British government on how to finance the war effort. That begins his lifelong goal to develop economic principles that would help make war less likely and fueled his frustration with the Versailles Treaty that he was convinced would lead to another war with Germany. Unfortunately he was right. The other way that this is not a typical biography is that roughly the last third of the book follows events after Keynes's death. Carter follows economists like Paul Samuelson, John Kenneth Galbraith and others who took Keynes's work and built on it - or evolved it into something quite different from what Keynes intended. Between the first half of the century when Keynes was alive and the second half, we get an economic history of the 20th century (and the opening years of the 21st - including economic decisions that led to the Great Recession). And Carter manages to make some of the complex theories downright readable. NOTE - I received an Advanced copy of this book from the publisher through a Goodreads giveaway. biography-memoir history world-history 3 likes Like Comment V. 128 reviews 3 followers January 24, 2022 The first two-thirds of this book are an entertaining biography of John Maynard Keynes. This works because Keynes was a fascinating person - a brilliant intellectual who even apart from being a key policymaker in two world wars was also a close personal friend of Virginia Woolf and a protege of Bertrand Russell. Keynes invented the whole modern field of economics, and mingled with virtually every significant figure of the early 20th century. He secured the safe transport of the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus out of an Italian prison camp; his wife was a star ballerina and former paramour of Igor Stravinsky; his personal influence haunts the shape of today's world from the modern understanding of Hitler's rise to Bretton Woods. Keynes's life is a window that seems to be able to look in on virtually everything that mattered culturally and politically in the West from 1920 to 1947, so much so that major figures with whom he was associated (like the mathematician Frank Ramsey) don't even make it into these pages. So, the biography section is good, largely because there's so much great material to work with. Then, two thirds of the way into the book, Keynes dies. The book then mumbles through some unconvincing apologia for various economists in the Roosevelt administration who betrayed their country to spy for Joseph Stalin (why even bring it up?) and after some generic complaints about McCarthyism settles for a while into a narrative of the life of John Kenneth Galbraith, which is not especially gripping. Then the author gets distracted again and just offers up generic leftish punditry on major economic events since the 1980s for the rest of the book. This punditry is weak and often contradictory: Was letting China into the WTO a great economic bounty lavished on an undeserving autocracy, or was it a pointless act which did nothing but impoverish Michigan auto workers, since 50% of those who moved out of extreme poverty in China are still relatively poor? This book inanely takes both positions, and then has the gall to implicitly attribute these weak critiques to the late Lord Keynes, whose free-trade convictions the narrator had been sniffing at through the whole biographical narrative. There were some interesting elements to the latter part of the book - I hadn't known much about Kennedy's or Nixon's tax policies, and the critique of the Great Society for prizing education and nutrition funding over cash transfers was well taken (although its inclusion in this largely tedious section suggests the critique is probably conventional). Anyway, read it for the biography and stop when Keynes dies. That's where the book should've ended anyway. The rest could've been syndicated as a NYT opinion column or something. 3 likes Like Comment Sheri 1,263 reviews August 22, 2020 I am doing policy reading this semester; political and economic theories and frameworks are relevant and last week I noticed a link to an interview with Carter on Ezra Klein's podcast and so I peeked at this book. It was advertised as one of the best books of the year and seemed like an approachable background read to supplement the policy stuff. It was very educational, but less entertaining than I had hoped. I would hesitate to call it a biography as only about the first 2/3rds is devoted to Keynes and his life. Mostly it is a history of Keynesian thought and the effects it has had on the British and American economies from the end of WWI through the Clinton years. Carter does a great job, though of putting it all into historical context and explaining how economics and economic thinking has changed over time. He is also very clearly a supporter of Keynes and Keynesian thought. My take away is that Keynes believes that there is no such thing as a free market and that the role of government is regulation of the economy. He was also a humanitarian that believed in democracy and a more equitable distribution of resources. Throughout the last century, economic policy has followed Keynes upon occasion, but for the most part policy has been directed towards aiding business interest which has fueled the development of our inequality. Overall I would not call in an entertaining read, but it was certainly educational. nonfiction poverty-class-issues 3 likes Like Comment Barry 1,003 reviews 40 followers December 30, 2020 3.5 stars Ostensibly a biography of Keynes, this book functions more as a history and defense of Keynesian economics. Indeed, the death of Keynes occurs about 2/3 of the way in, and the final third then follows how closely his theories have been adhered to over the past 70-plus years. Carter contends that when economies flourished it was because they followed Keynesian principles, and when economies languished it was because these ideas were either abandoned or not followed closely enough. The book has a decidedly political slant which makes me a little more skeptical about its economic interpretations and pronouncements, but at minimum, it does demonstrate the critical importance of proper monetary policies and financial regulation, and thus serves as an effective takedown of laissez faire economics. But then again, nobody these days really argues that government should have no role to play in making sure that a free market functions as it should... 2020 MGM BAB Challenge: 1. The Fellowship (656 p) 2. Lonesome Dove (964 p) 3. These Truths (960 p) 4. Wind-up Bird Chronicle (607 p) 5. Parting the Waters (1120 p) 6. Gone with the Wind (1037 p) Bonus round: 7. The Count of Monte Cristo (1138 p) 8. Pillar of Fire (746 p) 9. Dominion (612 p) 10. Les Miserables (1456 p) 11. Price of Peace (656 p) CBNC The Splendid and the Vile (585) biography-memoir economics 3 likes Like Comment Ellison 766 reviews 3 followers November 10, 2020 A very readable and entertaining biography of Keynes and a concise history of the 20th century from an economic perspective. ‘But in his role as an economic theorist, uncertainty became the central psychological insight of his work. Uncertainty couldn’t be measured statistically. People had different levels of confidence about the future, but nobody could calculate it.’ ‘…the market prices of stocks, bonds, and other assets created an illusory sense of mathematical certainty about prospective investments.’ ‘Uncertainty about the future - not irrationality or stupidity - makes crowds prone to calamity in both finance and politics, particularly under conditions of significant anxiety. Markets are no more self-correcting than a mob hailing a demagogue.’ ‘The importance of money essentially flows from its being a link between the present and the future.’ ‘In the long run we are all dead. Economists set themselves too easy, too useless a task if in tempestuous seasons they can only tell us that when the storm is long past the ocean is flat again.’ The last two quotes are from Keynes. 3 likes Like Comment Frederick Gault 888 reviews 11 followers April 8, 2021 One of the finest things I have ever read! I felt as though I had come home when I learned what the brilliant mind of John Maynard Keynes had given to the world. This genius bequeathed us no less than ways to provide prosperity and social justice to us all. Alas, if only we would listen. A few times throughout history JMK's theories were put to the test. The evidence is clear, it works. FDR's end to the Great Depression, the post WW II boom in the USA and many other examples, show that he was right. What did he say? Basically, government has a duty to provide that which Capitalism can not or will not do. Prosperity means the populace won't turn to Fascist leadership in desperation. Spend money on infrastructure, use deficit financing when necessary, don't rely on deflation, and allow sufficient wealth to your citizens so they can be customers. Also, that money given directly to folks who put it right back into the economy is a force multiplier - unlike money given to the wealthy where it sits useless in a bank. I sincerely hope this book reignites trust in JMK's brilliant work. biography history military ...more 3 likes Like Comment Arjun Ramani 8 reviews 8 followers April 12, 2023 - One of my all-time favourite books - A fascinating biography of one the world's preeminent public intellectuals, an economic history of 20th century Europe, and an intellectual history of economic thought. All in one. - Loved the tidbits on Keynes's social/love life e.g. the Bloomsbury Group. What is most interesting is he placed his friends' aesthetic pursuits above his material/political ones. Art was the end of history to Keynes. This idea naturally fits with his famous essay: "Economic Possibilities for our Grandchildren", which predicts an almost post-scarcity society of 15hr work weeks and absolute freedom to pursue the arts. - Keynes viewed economics as a combination of philosophy, politics, and what is now considered classical empirical economics. Yet the way economics is done today, highly mathematical and descriptive, is far cry from that. The book argues this development was historically contingent on factors like 1960s libertarian campaigns in schools, and the popularity of Paul Samuelson's "Principles of Economics" textbook. The point was not developed in depth but I wish it were. 3 likes Like Comment Agnes 381 reviews 190 followers Currently reading April 21, 2023 Edizione in italiano: Neri Pozza economia saggi 3 likes Like Comment Jon 35 reviews 1 follower June 27, 2020 Perhaps you’ve heard the term “Keynesian Economics” used before by politicians or economic talking heads, particularly during times of economic upheaval, and have always wondered what it exactly means or where it came from? The Price of Peace follows the life of the man who the term was derived, John Maynard Keynes. Keynes is perhaps the most distinguished and influential economist of the 20th Century and his ideas on modern economics is still utilized today. Keynesianism can be described as a demand driven economic philosophy of public deficit spending on employment generators such as public works, usually during times of economic recession. The thinking is that when the private sector is in a recessionary period and unemployment is high, the government should fill the void with spending to spur economic activity. The increase in economic activity creates a multiplier effect rippling throughout the economy as more goods and services are required from the creation of public works. Keynes’s ideas were summarized in his 1936 opus “The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money”. While not a full-fledged cradle to the grave biography of the renowned economist, the book begins during Keynes’s formative years at Cambridge as part of the eclectic Bloomsbury Group, a group of artists, intellectuals, and writers. Keynes went to work for the British Treasury during WWI, playing an indispensable role in designing the terms of credit to pay for the War. After the War was over and the Treaty of Versailles signed between the Allies defining the terms of the peace, Keynes was aghast at the Treaty’s outcome, believing the terms would cripple the Germany economy so brutally, that the outcome would only lead to more war. He was right. The Price of Peace is much more than a biography of Keynes but an examination of how his radical ideas changed economic thought and were essential to tackling the challenges after a ravaging world war. Keynes challenged the gold standard and its strict control of the money supply as an outdated vestige to 19th century laisse fair economic theory, and its inability to handle the new world’s challenges. After the death of Franklin Roosevelt, whose New Deal programs espoused and adopted the Keynes’s ideas through government spending on public works and jobs programs, and the death of Keynes in 1948, a massive whole in the force of his ideas were created. The ascendancy of McCarthyism in the 1950s began to portray this economic philosophy as socialist or even communist, which continue to resonate with conservative ideologies today. While Keynesian economics would be the reigning economic policy and throughout JFK’s New Frontier, LBJ’s Great Society, and the Nixon administration, where he famously stated “we are all Keynesians now”, Keynesian economics began to fall out of esteem, with the ascendancy of Reaganism. The monetarist policies (control of the money supply and interest rates, as opposed to the fiscal approach of Keynes) of economists like Milton Friedman (an acolyte of Keynes’s chief rival Friedrich von Hayek) began to take hold reaching its nadir in the Clinton Administration. While American administrations continued to utilized a form of Keynesianism through deficit inducing tax cuts and military spending, Keynes would have a resurgence during the Obama administration’s stimulus program to combat the financial systems collapse in 2008. The Price of Peace is a phenomenal work, not only of Keynes the man, but how his ideas shaped economic thought and the modern world. While the death of Keynes occurs about ¾’s of the way through, the remaining section of the book portrays how his ideas began to wane and recently re-surge. Readers looking for a biography only of Keynes may begin to lose interest from there. However, couple this reading with Binyamin Appelbaum’s recently released “The Economists' Hour: False Prophets, Free Markets, and the Fracture of Society”, and you will have a very commanding understanding of the economic ideas and philosophies of the 20th Century though today. historical-biography 2 likes Like Comment Matt Author 13 books 45 followers February 28, 2022 Framed as a biography of Keynes, this book actually tries to do much more - tracing the impact of Keynes well beyond the end of his life, all the way up through the Great Recession of 2008. Indeed, almost half the book is about the life of Keynesianism *after* Keynes - the work of John Kenneth Galbraith and his long running intellectual dispute with Paul Samuelson, the neoliberalism of Milton Friedman, and the varieties of "radical," "reactionary" and "centrist" versions of Keynesianism in the latter half of the 20th century. At times the book borders on the hagiographic. Here, for instance, is how Carter sums up Keynes' impact midway through the book: “No European mind since Newton had impressed himself so profoundly on both the political and intellectual development of the world. When the Times wrote Keynes’ obituary, it declared him “the greatest economist since Adam Smith.” But even praise so high as this sold Keynes short, for Keynes was to Smith as Copernicus was to Ptolemy—a thinker who replaced one paradigm with another. In his economic work he fused psychology, history, political theory, and observed financial experience like no economist before or since.” But while the author certainly finds much to admire in Keynes, one gets the distinct sense that his true sympathies lie with the more radical ideas of Joan Robinson. If Keynesianism faced problems in the 20th century, according to Carter, it's because it betrayed Keynes radical and utopian foundations, and erred in conceding too much to mathematization and the demands of the political right. Readers with Austrian sympathies will find much to sympathize with in Robinson's critique of the path Keynesianism took. The problem with the Neo-Keynesians, according to Robinson, was essentially that they ignored the role human action in economics. More specifically, that they ignored the role of agency, uncertainty, irrationality, and time. These are all factors that Austrians have also identified as lacking in mainstream economic analysis, so that even as their prescriptions go in quite a different direction than Robinson's, they find a shared target of reproach in much of the dominant Keynesian orthodoxy of the 20th century. An enjoyable and informative read! 2 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 396 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 28 quotes 1 discussion 1 question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. 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Lucky Everyday by Bapsy Jain | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $5.99 Rate this book Lucky Everyday Bapsy Jain 3.37 164 ratings 38 reviews Want to read Kindle $5.99 Rate this book An inspiring novel about a women named Lucky who is anything but . . . Forced to flee Bombay when her wealthy and charming husband divorces her and squashes her career, Lucky Boyce feels defeated and desperate for respite. Fortunately, old friends welcome her to New York where life begins with promise. Determined and trying to make a difference, she volunteers to teach yoga to prison inmates. But with her confidence in question and love starting to surface, a series of bizarre events leave Lucky searching once again for answers. Is her journey through life destined to be marred by duplicity and betrayal? Or does she simply need to overcome her fears and look within for the strength to break free? A stunning novel about one woman's struggle toward enlightenment, Lucky Everyday blends the principles of yoga with a thoroughly modern take on the quest for a fulfilled life. Genres Fiction 309 pages, Paperback First published January 1, 2009 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author Bapsy Jain 4 books 6 followers Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.37 164 ratings 38 reviews 5 stars 27 (16%) 4 stars 46 (28%) 3 stars 61 (37%) 2 stars 21 (12%) 1 star 9 (5%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews Ellen 932 reviews 9 followers August 12, 2009 I just don't know about this one. I get what the author was going for, the whole spiritual journey--letting go--enlightenment shebang, but wow what a disjointed downer. And for some odd reason this book kept reminding me of Good in Bed and I've decided there should be a sub-class of books, "REALLY? fiction." Not to be confused with "Mom Fiction," "REALLY? fiction" are books where the plot just keeps spiralling down until you find yourself saying, "Really, (insert author's name here), was that necessary?" fiction 1 like Like Comment Nancy Brady Author 6 books 42 followers July 8, 2015 Lucky Boyce is anything but lucky in this debut novel. As the story opens, she has returned from India after a nasty divorce from Vikram. Once back in New York, she takes on volunteering to teach yoga in the state prison as well as turning another company around. It is through yoga and her mentor's continued voice (in her head) that she overcomes obstacles. Lucky is resilient, and she discovers that friends are one of her strengths, no matter who they may appear. Chocolate mousse is not necessarily a friend though. library-book 1 like Like Comment Ivy 46 reviews 4 followers March 4, 2009 The character is well-written and her plight sympathetic but the bizarre series of events that makes up the plot is one big pile of WTF. 1 like Like Comment Munsif Husami 23 reviews 1 follower September 13, 2018 Typical chick-lit, moves from one inexplicable yet imminent twist to another. Got tiresome after a point. Read only if you need drama and entertainment written in half decent fashion. Good for little else Like Comment Smita Beohar 109 reviews 35 followers July 10, 2009 When a lady commented to Lucky Boyce, “You are lucky today, you escaped miraculously.” Lucky simply said “I am Lucky Everyday”. Can a name make you luckier than others?? What we get to see of Lucky’s life can never be called a lucky existence. As an outcome of her bitter divorce she was forced to flee from Mumbai to New York leaving behind a trail of bitter memories & a business which she had nurtured with her sweat & blood. She tries to start afresh in New York and starts teaching Yoga to prison inmates but the lure & passion for high adrenaline life pulls her back into a business with some old associate. It is then that her life takes a u- turn. Life which was turning look up starts throwing unpleasant surprises on her. From getting mugged, to getting into an affair with a much married man, to being falsely implicated for a crime; she sees it all. All the while her lone strength is the learning’s from her friend Shanti. Besides the friendship of some prison inmates it is the art of seeing things in perspective and of letting go which keeps Lucky afloat. But how long can she survive? How will she fight her enemies when she doesn’t even know that her enemies exist? The book moves from Calcutta to New York to Bombay and back to New York. It begins on a note of déjà vu. Falling in love, resistance at home, a workaholic couple, cheating husband, deceit & divorce but in the later part of the book the author springs a surprise on us. It isn’t a simple book of fighting for your dreams but it is a little bit more than that. If we talk about negatives of the book there were places where I was bored especially at places where there was spiritual talk. Though the principal characters though are well etched but there are small characters which are mere caricatures & their actions unexplained. Even the ending leaves a lot for your imagination but I guess the author is looking out for a sequel. However as a whole the writing is taut and by the time the book ends you will feel so much is encompassed in so less pages. Slowly the book catches upon you and the twist n turns make the book unputdownable. Your heart goes out for Lucky who has been anything but lucky in her life and she still shows a strength which only a woman is capable of. As is written somewhere in the book "One does not choose this kind of life. This kind of life chooses you." So true na?? We are mere puppets in the hand of God & destiny. To sum it up I will consider it to be an above average book and a nice read for Time pass. chick-lits contemporary-indian-authors review-copy Like Comment Wendi WDM 236 reviews 9 followers July 26, 2010 Book Synopsis: Lately, Lucky Boyce has been anything but lucky. Forced to flee Bombay when her wealthy and charming husband divorces her and squashes her successful entrepreneurial career, Lucky feels defeated and desperate for respite. Fortunately, old friends welcome her to New York, where her life begins to breathe promise once again. Determined, and trying to make a difference, she volunteers to teach yoga to prison inmates. But just when self-esteem and love start to surface, a series of bizarre events leave Lucky wondering if her journey through life is marred by duplicity and betrayal. Or does she simply need to overcome her fears and look within to find the strength to break free? My review: Well, this book pretty much sucked. I thought it might be interesting because it deals a bit with spirituality and yoga. I was hoping it would be another "Breakfast with Buddha" or " Eat Pray Love " but it was really more "Oh my gosh, what else can go wrong in this chick's life?" soap opera. I hate soap operas. At first, when things go bad the first time, you think, "man, that does suck." Then as the fifth, sixth and seventh thing go bad, I just thought, wow, is this the whole book? One bad thing happens to Lucky over and over and over again. The moral of the story gets lost in the crap that surrounds it. ****SPOILER ALERT**** The end REALLY sucks. She goes back to the prison and there's a riot and some guys try to kill her and she just starts fading away and is okay with it. WHAT?! After all that - the misleading, the lies, the betrayal, the physically pain and now just when things might get better she gets killed? Screw this book. Supposedly, Bapsy Jain was writing it's sequel but I am soooo not even interested in picking it up especially if it's more of the author throwing as much bad stuff as possible at her character. And for no real reason either. There's not a whole lot of redemption or lessons being learned. Or if there is I lost it because I got stuck thinking, why in the world am I reading this annoying book! As one reviewer put it: The character is well-written and her plight sympathetic but the bizarre series of events that makes up the plot is one big pile of WTF. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Show full review Like Comment Angela Author 19 books 126 followers February 23, 2010 Lucky Everyday is a philosophical novel about the crooked path toward spiritual enlightenment. The novel begins with Lucky volunteering to teach yoga at a men's prison. In a swift move backward in time, the reader learns about Lucky's previous relationship with a pseudo-boyfriend, Amay, whom she wishes she had married and her disastrous marriage to Viki, the glamorous businessman who wanted a more traditional wife that Lucky ever would be. In a series of seemingly random yet intricately interwoven events, Lucky proceeds to learn the spiritual teachings her friend, Shanti, had embodied: those of right thoughts, relinquishing one's position, one's possessions, and one's perception, to become one with the universe. An excellent modern day philosophical novel on par with the classics such as The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand and The Stranger by Camus. literature philosophy Like Comment Amanda 1,424 reviews 33 followers July 15, 2009 What was it? Chick lit about divorcee who rebuilds her life after her crappy marriage falls apart. Sort of, only in this case Viki got India and Lucky was exiled to the US. I've heard of custody battles but this is ridiculous. Or maybe it was a book about finding enlightenment through yoga and a lot of misery. There was mystery. Mystery and suspense, also some courtroom drama. Lucky Everyday hit all these genres. I DID like it, but every once in a while I got whiplash when the plot/style changed direction quickquick like. Like Comment Carmen 5 reviews 2 followers December 11, 2010 Enjoyed the book very much. I liked reading about the Indian culture (Asia) and how the women there have the same ambitions, wants and needs as we do in the US. One of my favorite parts was reading how the main charachter dealt with her emotions around abortion. She was asked at the end of the book if she was worried about what people would say adding that the character had an abortion and she said that in India society does not make it their business, it is unspoken that what is chosen for themselves is dealt with their personal God. favorites Like Comment Erin 33 reviews February 5, 2010 I enjoyed the story, but I'm guessing the author's first language isn't English because while the story/plot/ideas/thoughts were great the writing lacked depth and creativity and it read like the first draft of what with better writing and more flushed out scenes could have been more exciting, even gripping. But instead it didn't make much of an impact. But while the writing style annoyed me, the story held my interest. Like Comment Kathy 1,266 reviews 21 followers September 16, 2014 Maybe I'm just in the wrong mood to read this book, but I saw nothing new or insightful about it. I actually gave up after about 50 pages (life is way too short to read books that don't capture my attention by then). I didn't care about Lucky, or her yoga class, or her failed marriage. So much of this is subject matter that has been written about over and over again that to make it worth reading, it has to be fresh and add something. I just didn't get that from this book. avoid-this-book Like Comment Freny 1 review July 13, 2009 Really was entertained and read to finish upto 3 am. I also enjoyed the yoga bits and since I do yoga it is so motivating to read the effects! Lucky could not have been so successful without a strong body that yoga provided her with!!! Overall I am so impressed at the way my attention was rapt and such an unusual book!!! Like Comment Sherenaz Mazda 1 review July 22, 2009 This is an amazing insight into looking beyond the controlling circumstances to see the view from the mountaintop and change directions. Spirituality has many faces but its effect is the same - a liberation from the bindings, release of energy and potential. The story here is intriguing and I just could not put the book down but the lessons hit home Like Comment Alistair 820 reviews 6 followers December 19, 2014 Wow, this book will give chartered accountants a whole new profile. Competently written, the most interesting parts of the novel examine the culture clash between india and America. Alas, the author seems more keen to burden her heroine, Lucky, with as many calamities as possible, coming up trumps pretty well all the time....I wonder how difficult it is to get into an accountancy course... fiction Like Comment Christian 19 reviews 1 follower January 6, 2010 I never would have picked up this book if I had not seen it recommended on the Bikramyoga website. Initially I thought it was a marketing scam, but the book was actually very good. I particularly enjoyed the ending :-) Like Comment Tiffony 26 reviews April 11, 2011 Truly worth the 99 cents I paid for this book on clearance. I was surprised how easily I was able to get into this story of a women whose life has been been through the wringer and back again. Her strength was inspiring. I would def suggest it to friends! Like Comment Margie Sanders 23 reviews 1 follower October 27, 2012 I liked it. Having worked with D.O.C. and a yoga enthusiast the references were sometimes off but it was still enjoyable. I didn't care for the affair and I'm really confused by the ending. Did she live? Did she die? I can't tell. Like Comment Audrey Norton 8 reviews November 3, 2012 This was a very good, light reading kind of book. I have been studying world religions this semester, and Lucky is Buddhist, so it was nice to read about her meditation and beliefs. The ending was a little dry, but supposedly there's a sequel coming. Like Comment Stacey Neve 41 reviews 2 followers July 30, 2015 I have really mixed feelings about this book. The writing is nice and I like the characters, but at a certain point the amount of awful crap happening to this intelligent, hardworking, kind woman starts to feel too unrealistic, yet it's still utterly depressing. Like Comment Vivian 9 reviews July 28, 2021 At first I was so intrigue but it go boring at first so I had to force myself to read. I really liked the whole spiritual thing going on but the ups and downs were not it. One good thing, then a bad, and it kinda went like that for a while Like Comment Jojo 1 review June 6, 2009 INSPIRING and AMAZING A novel not to be missed! Like Comment Sunita Rajwade 34 reviews 2 followers June 7, 2009 This is a not to be missed novel. I enjoyed the characterization and the plot that kept me up late in the nigh till I turned the last page. One of those books I will refer too always!!!! Like Comment Katy 1 review July 5, 2009 I was gripped by the journey that Lucky endured. I loved the ending which made me contemplate. As a student of yoga this book was inspiring. I look forward to more readings by this author. Like Comment Preeya Phadnis 2 reviews 2 followers July 8, 2009 This was a great book! I especially loved the ending -- it really allowed me to use my imagination about what happened to the main character. Great read! Like Comment Evelyn M 70 reviews 1 follower April 6, 2013 I really enjoyed this. She definitely is not the Luckiest of people but that is life. Which is part of the point. Very good read favorites Like Comment Anil Jaiswal 28 reviews Read July 30, 2011 interesting view from an Indian born English writer, with cultural twists. nice plot and easy read Like Comment Becca Wyper 8 reviews 1 follower May 19, 2013 Fabulous read. Really inspires the female spirit and the need to never give up, no matter what life throws your way!! Like Comment Annie Malinosky 59 reviews 5 followers October 24, 2013 I read this book when I was taking a lot of yoga classes. It was a good book but kind of hard to get into and a tad far fetched. Like Comment Donna Ciccarelli 259 reviews November 30, 2014 Not my cup of tea at all. The situations the main character was put in were completely unbelievable, almost laughable. Like Comment Karen Kuciel kozlowski 12 reviews March 8, 2015 Surprised at the ending and lesson Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion Add a quote 1 discussion Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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Every Love Story Is a Ghost Story: A Life of David Foster Wallace by D.T. Max | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $9.99 Rate this book Every Love Story Is a Ghost Story: A Life of David Foster Wallace D.T. Max , Eva Kemper ( Translator ) 3.75 9,395 ratings 981 reviews Want to read Kindle $9.99 Rate this book Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best History & Biography (2012) The first biography of the most influential writer of his generation, David Foster Wallace David Foster Wallace was the leading literary light of his era, a man who not only captivated readers with his prose but also mesmerized them with his brilliant mind. In this, the first biography of the writer, D. T. Max sets out to chart Wallace’s tormented, anguished and often triumphant battle to succeed as a novelist as he fights off depression and addiction to emerge with his masterpiece, Infinite Jest. Since his untimely death by suicide at the age of forty-six in 2008, Wallace has become more than the quintessential writer for his time—he has become a symbol of sincerity and honesty in an inauthentic age.  In the end, as Max shows us, what is most interesting about Wallace is not just what he wrote but how he taught us all to live. Written with the cooperation of Wallace’s family and friends and with access to hundreds of his unpublished letters, manuscripts, and audio tapes, this portrait of an extraordinarily gifted writer is as fresh as news, as intimate as a love note, as painful as a goodbye. Genres Biography Nonfiction Biography Memoir Literature Memoir American Writing ...more 356 pages, Hardcover First published August 30, 2012 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author D.T. Max 7 books 102 followers D.T. Max is a staff writer for the New Yorker. He lives outside of New York with his wife, two teenaged children and a rescued pomeranian-cocker named Nemo. He is the author of The Family That Couldn't Sleep: A Medical Mystery (Random House). His biography Every Love Story Is a Ghost Story: A Life of David Foster Wallace (Viking), was a New York Times bestseller. His latest book, Finale: Late Conversations with Stephen Sondheim was published in November 2022 by Harper. Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.75 9,395 ratings 981 reviews 5 stars 2,269 (24%) 4 stars 3,881 (41%) 3 stars 2,252 (23%) 2 stars 631 (6%) 1 star 362 (3%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 30 of 981 reviews Nathan "N.R." Gaddis 1,342 reviews 1,482 followers Read August 21, 2016 Every Love Story is a Ghost Story is the book we did not want written or published in 2012, no more than we wanted “An Unfinished Novel” in 2011. No one should be happy that we have a biography of David Foster Wallace. But its publication was inevitable. And some of us are compelled to purchase it, read it, and object to its existence. For those of us who have followed Wallace these past two decades, D.T. Max’s book is one part refresher of what we already know from Wallace’s books and interviews, essays and reviews about him and his works; and one part voyeuristic we-don’t-need-to-know prying into the private and personal, hashing through the life of a fucked up human being. It is an outline for a biography which will one day be written when a biography might serve the purpose of shedding light on the works of a master of his art. Today, the book is simply unnecessary, no matter the inevitability of its existence. Could a different biography have been written in 2012? I very much doubt it. And for those who would, may they apply their talents to reading, interpreting, and understanding Wallace’s works, his books, and not drudging through the life of “the real person behind the books.” Most disturbing about Max’s biography is the audience implied by the text. No prior familiarity with Wallace’s books is assumed. This is perhaps most offensive. No one, having not experienced Wallace’s voice as expressed in his novels, stories, and essays, is entitled to read his biography. The book is written for those folks who might say something such as, “I’ve heard so much about this David Foster Wallace guy. I’ve not read any of his books, but I’ve heard he did a lot of drugs and really fucked up and some people really worship him so I’m going to read this biography to find out what all the fuss is about.” Again, the situation is inevitable, deplorable as it is. As with any biography, Wallace is not its subject but its object. Anyone hoping to find “the real Dave,” thinking they might “get inside his head,” should know that the real Dave is in his own books; he is his own voice, his subjectivity expressed in his prose. What it’s like to be David Foster Wallace cannot be found in Max’s biography where Wallace is must needs reduced to an object of psycho-social study (inept, but even so). Again, this is necessarily so. But in 2012, we need Wallace’s voice and subjectivity; in 2062 we will welcome DFW, object of scholarship. Love Story is not a literary biography. It is merely a biography and I cannot anticipate it functioning as an introduction to Wallace’s books. This is unfortunate because it is in the books the we encounter Saint Dave. The personal and voyeuristic information we possess about Wallace--that he was depressed, addicted, an asshole, a womanizer, got angry, was generally fucked up--will be from here to eternity used to object to our attributing sainthood to Dave. But sainthood is not a matter of moral athleticism; “saint” is not to be set over against “human being.” Rather, a saint is what emerges out of the experience of the despair of being human. A saint is one who refuses to succumb to the seduction of the merely human morass and endeavors to extract himself therefrom and return thereto. This is the stuff of which Wallace’s lifework consists. We insist upon retaining our notion of Saint Dave because his major effort was to make being human respectable again, and the drudging up of moral failures will not sully those efforts. D.T. Max’s book is, then, to be read only by completists, those who have read everything Wallace has written and read everything available written about him. This book should clearly not be read by those for whom it was written, those unwashed masses and curiosity seekers, those grubbers and titillation seekers. In other words, the very people who haven’t, but must, read the words of Dave’s gospel. __________ Alternative reading: DT Max's long thing from The New Yorker , 2009. The Lipsky Roundtable from New York Books , 2010. auto-bio-graphy david-foster-wallace 124 likes Like Comment Moira 512 reviews 25 followers September 3, 2012 Yeah, this was just. Terrible. I don't even really have any smartassed thing left to say here after the inchoate spew of status updates - it was just sort of depressing to read the last anemic thirty pages or so. It's a little heartbreaking how very terrible this was. The NYorker article was great (its Q&A wasn't: a possible warning?). His participation in the Lipsky round table was great. I was really looking forward to this book. I was disappointed by the excerpt but thought, maybe that was a result of condensation/editing? No, it wasn't. I wasn't expecting anything like Ellmann's Joyce or Middlebrook's Sexton. Maybe something a little more like Turnbull's Fitzgerald. This just isn't even really a book - it's a mess. I d'know what happened, if it got edited to pieces or the hundred monkeys in the marketing department rewrote it or what. Stunningly bad. Probably the worst book I'll read all year - it's so shallow and disappointing and confused, even at a sentence-by-sentence level. Why did it have to be so awful? Or, as someone once wrote: ....know that an unshot discus's movement against the vast lapis lazuli dome of the open ocean's sky is sun-like -- i.e., orange and parabolic and right-to-left -- and that its disappearance into the sea is edge-first and splashless and sad. 2012-50-new-books-challenge 71 likes Like Comment piperitapitta 994 reviews 391 followers September 11, 2018 Non sapevo proprio niente di DFW. Non sapevo che Foster fosse il cognome della madre, che amava, ma con la quale aveva un rapporto conflittuale ed emotivamente violento, al punto che per lunghi periodi della sua vita decise di non avere contatti con lei, nonostante fosse il suo punto di riferimento per tutto quello che riguardava la conoscenza della lingua Inglese. (Dal padre, invece, professore di Filosofia, imparò l'amore per la Logica) Non sapevo che David, sin dalla pubertà, soffrì non solo di depressione, ma anche di dipendenza nella più ampia accezione possibile - droghe, alcol, televisione (!) e sesso - cui fecero seguito ricoveri ed elettroshock, il che mi spiega, a posteriori, come abbia fatto a essere tanto capace nel descriverle in ogni minuziosa sfaccettatura, come potesse conoscere tanto bene tutte le sfumature di chi si sente diverso, troppo amato, rifiutato, messo su di un piedistallo come un statua (la Statua che a un certo punto ebbe paura di essere diventato agli occhi del mondo) e al tempo stesso non all'altezza, mai in grado di essere quello che egli stesso desiderava essere o che gli altri si aspettavano che fosse. Non sapevo che l'insegnamento nei college, così importante per la sua carriera (anche di scrittore, anche postuma se si pensa al successo del discorso "Questa è l'acqua" rivolto a ai giovani laureati del Kenyon College nel 2005), riunisse in sé una dicotomia: insegnava perché aveva bisogno di lavorare per scrivere, quando insegnava (spesso) scriveva meglio di quando non lo faceva), non sopportava di dover insegnare per poter scrivere, ma quando non insegnava (spesso) aveva difficoltà a farlo e si augurava di poter tornare presto a insegnare. Non sapevo che, per tutta la vita, frequentò e fu sponsor di gruppi di mutuo autoaiuto e di sostegno che, per tutta la vita, unitamente a pochi amici, alla famiglia e ad alcune delle donne della sua vita, furono la sua famiglia, i suoi amici, le sue donne. Non sapevo che non solo intrattenne rapporti epistolari con Jonathan Franzen (la loro amicizia, e il loro essere amici rivali nel migliore dei modi possibili, soprattutto dopo il suicidio di DFW diventò di dominio pubblico), ma che per tutta la vita (ahimè troppo breve) scrisse moltissime lettere (che pagherei per vederle pubblicate e per poterle leggere - senza ombra di voyerismo alcuno, solo per l'aspetto letterario delle stesse), molte delle quali a scrittori, come Don DeLillo e Dave Eggers, con i quali mantenne i rapporti nel tempo. Quello che temevo, era che questa biografia potesse rivelarsi morbosa, indiscreta, che potesse indugiare o scegliere di posare lo sguardo solo sull'aspetto più sensazionalista della vita dell'autore, mentre invece è vero il contrario: l'autore sceglie, progressivamente, di allontanarsi proprio da quello che tutti abbiamo saputo dai giornali il giorno dopo il suicidio di DFW, di mostrarci sempre più l'autore e sempre meno l'uomo. Per quanto possibile, perché qui, più che mai, l'uomo e l'autore sono quasi la stessa persona, ma mentre l'autore possiamo ancora leggerlo, studiarlo, goderlo e rimpiangerlo, l'uomo ha invece portato via con sé il suo mistero e il perché del suo dolore e dei suoi fantasmi. Tutto quello che non sapevo, quasi tutto, è in questa bella biografia scritta da D.T. Max, imperdibile per chi ami la scrittura di DFW, per chi lo ha letto e per chi vorrà, invece, leggerla affiancando la lettura delle sue opere e scoprirne un po' alla volta la loro genesi. Troppe citazioni, troppi passaggi da riportare, troppo di tutto per riuscire a scegliere qualcosa che dia il senso di questa biografia. Quindi solo due cose, e in entrambi i casi le parole sono le sue, di David Foster Wallace. «Scegli con cura. Si è ciò che si ama. No?» «Poteva fare la stessa cosa con il dolore destrorso: Resistere. Nessun singolo istante di quel dolore era insopportabile. Eccolo qua un secondo: lo aveva sopportato. Insopportabile era il pensiero di tutti gli istanti in fila, uno dietro l'altro, splendenti. E la proiezione della paura futura [...]. È troppo. Non riesce a Resistere. Ma niente ditutto questo è vero, ora. [...] Poteva accovacciarsi nello spazio tra due battiti del cuore e fare di ogni battito un muro e vivere là dentro. Non permettere alla sua testa di guardare sopra il muro. La cosa isopportabile è cosa ne penserebbe la sua testa. [...] Ma potrebbe scegliere di non ascoltarla.» [Infinite Jest] biografico letteratura-usa 55 likes Like Comment switterbug (Betsey) 881 reviews 1,037 followers September 13, 2012 All my adult reading life, I waited for a young contemporary writer to transport me to the prose-rich playgrounds of Nabokov and Pynchon. ADA and GRAVITY'S RAINBOW were my torches, but they were, arguably, emotionally sterile. When I read INFINITE JEST ten years ago, I knew I had finally found an author who, besides giving words an elastic, carbonated buoyancy, was a vigorously palpable storyteller, altogether tragic and heartbreaking. I remember the exact moment when I heard that Wallace took his life (as I suspect did everyone who is reading this book, who read DFW before his death). It was like a brother or best friend had died. He was my rock star--my John Lennon, Peter Gabriel, and Bob Dylan all rolled up into literature. He wasn't yesterday's insurgent Kurt Cobain, he was today's voice--the insurrectionist of the insurrection, the anti-ironist and seeker of exigent summits. D.T. Max evinces respect, compassion, and objectivity toward this now lionized author he has never met, in his biography assembled from the contributions of friends, family, lovers, AA comrades, colleagues, fellow writers, and epistolary confidants. "Fiction is what it's like to be a fucking human being," Wallace said, and Max shows us the utter turbulence of this writer's life, a man who lived inveterately with the howling fantods (a phrase from his mother, the grammarian, used potently in INFINITE JEST). David was a depressed, addicted, chaotic genius, a man who felt that he never lived up to his lofty ambitions as a writer or a person. He was both fascinated and repulsed by the TV culture and how media hijacks and propagandizes public and private minds--his constant themes in his essays, short stories, and of course, IJ. As many know, he was hospitalized several times for breakdowns and overdoses, and struggled with pervasive suicidal ideation. Max does a virtuous job of giving the reader a candid view of the complex nature of DFW; the generously endowed writer was often a captious, violent, and tormented soul. He was also a passionate, outstanding teacher, and a patron to his companions in AA. Moreover, he was an enthusiastic dog lover, especially drawn to dogs with an abusive past. The parts of the book that describe Wallace's years writing INFINITE JEST were not just revealing, but like a fourth wall nakedly exposed. Max captures the line between author and material with authenticity and revelation. It is almost surreal, as Max brought me back to the narrative of IJ while manifesting Wallace's actual art and pain of writing it. I don't want to spoil it for readers by dropping tidbits of information--reading about it is thrilling and gripping, the most page-turning part of the book. The letters Wallace wrote to Franzen, DeLillo, Costello, and his editor, Michael Pietsch, at Little, Brown, and Company, (and many others), will prickle the skin of any DFW aficionado. He was self-conscious, and self-conscious about being self-conscious, and communicated that in his letters. "I go through a loop in which I notice all the ways I am...self-centered and careerist and not true to standards and values that transcend my own petty interests...but then I countenance the fact here at least here I am worrying about it; so then I feel better about myself...but this soon becomes a vehicle for feeling superior to imagined Others...I think I'm very honest and candid, but I'm also proud of how honest and candid I am--so where does that put me." This book is a valuable companion to David Lipsky's journalistic book, ALTHOUGH OF COURSE YOU END UP BECOMING YOURSELF, a biography of Lipsky's five days spent with Wallace on his IJ book tour. It is hard to compare them, as Lipsky's is an echo and interpretation of his actual time with DFW, and this book is compiled from sources outside of the biographer. Both have poignant insight into the ephemeral but perennial figure of Wallace. I award four stars, rather than five, although the quality of writing and extensive research is first-rate (despite being almost devoid of familial testimony, and despite errors that I think are typesetting errors, not copy-editing, errors). It's personal. Something is missing, some essence that cannot be filled by a biographer, or hasn't yet-- the unnameable, soulful reflectiveness that I ache for. The closest way to that is through the Harry Ransom Center, which is fortunately only a few miles from my home, which houses David Foster Wallace's entire archive at hand. You can feel the pages while you read what he wrote, with just a slip of a glove separating you from his words. There is something about Wallace fans--it is as if we are all in the same karass, isn't it? But Wallace wanted to relate to us on a cosmic scale, not like an exclusive club, yet he appeals to only select (not elite, but select) readers. If you become a lover of Wallace's work, you feel almost mystically connected to all other lovers of his oeuvre, and however fantastical a presumption, we also feel connected to Wallace, the person. It is apparent that D.T. Max understands this, and that he is bonded to Wallace, also. That is why (I think) he wrote this bio, about the ghost of David, who keeps on penetrating our literary dreams. 49 likes Like Comment Darwin8u 1,638 reviews 8,814 followers June 26, 2016 "That was it exactly—irony was defeatist, timid, the telltale of a generation too afraid to say what it meant, and so in danger of forgetting it had anything to say." -- D.T. Max, Every Love Story Is a Ghost Story A good solid biography of David Foster Wallace. For a writer who was so hyped, celebrated and written about, it was a nearly impossible task to bring anything large or significant to the table with Wallace. D.T. Max did a good job. He didn't write a hagiography or sycophant's biography, but also avoided sinking into a loop of cheap theatrics that might have tempted another biographer. It wasn't a revolution as far as DFW was concerned or as far as biographies of writers either. For me, it was like seeing a favorite movie star on a large HD television. You are suddenly aware of many flaws that either the author or his life had obscured or kept hidden before. You see things that seemed glossed over, or at least not obvious before. It doesn't alter one's perception of DFW too much, just zooms in and holds the historical camera still at the emotional cracks and the insecure little crevices. In Every Love Story is a Ghost Story , Max shows a DFW that is more insecure and conflicted than a superficial glance might portray. Wallace's self-conscious tendencies to enthusiastically bend the truth with friends, coworkers and family and to claim achievements (perfect SATs, etc) that were not his, but to second guess and be discomforted by those achievements that WERE his (Guggenheim Genius grant) was a valuable shading to the DFW myth. D.T. Max neither polished or defaced the statue of DFW life and achievements. He simply turned the statue and revealed another dimension to the man and his infinite genius and infinite sadness. 2013 46 likes Like Comment Christopher 678 reviews 260 followers November 1, 2012 Outline for review of D.T. Max's Every Love Story is a Ghost Story: A Life of David Foster Wallace I . Introduction A. Witty opening line. Grab everyone's attention. B. Thesis statement: There is no reason to read this book. II . Body ¶1: My thoughts on/knowledge of DFW pre-this book. A. He was a tortured genius, suffering from major depression. i) Among other personality maladies - crippling anxiety. B. His brilliant novel Infinite Jest has influenced everything I've read since I read it six months ago. III . Body ¶2: What I learned from Love Story . A. Not much. i) Love Story spends most of its pages reviewing the same concepts: DFW was a brilliant thinker and writer and theorist, but he had these demons inside of him that made it hard to get his brilliant ideas and writings out of his head and onto the page. B. DFW was a womanizer. i) It's hard to keep track of his girlfriends, much less his one-night stands. ii) "Audience pussy". C. Various details of the publishing business I did not need to know. IV . Body ¶3: Disillusionment! A. The wisdom present in DFW's novels is not present in his own life. He is no Dalai Lama. i) Does this affect my reading of his novels? B. The characters and events in his novels are very present in his own life. i) Does finding out that there's a real person who closely resembles Don Gately make Don Gately less magical? V . Body ¶4: The structure of this biography is frustrating. A. The entire book assumes and points toward DFW's suicide. i) This effectively takes the joy out of the author's life. The book's main focus seems not to be DFW's genius, but his foreshadowed death. B. The book ends suddenly with DFW's suicide. There is no discussion of his legacy or the later publishing of his unfinished novel The Pale King , etc. i) See (V.A.i) above. VI . Body ¶5: But it's not all bad, really. A. This makes me more excited to read The Pale King . i) Where Infinite Jest investigates entertainment in the modern age, The Pale King investigates its inverse, boredom. B. But that's mostly all the good stuff. VII . Conclusion A. Again, there's really no need to read this. i) It will possibly disillusion you. ii) It's unsatisfying content- and structure-wise. END. 21st-century american non-fiction 39 likes Like Comment Lee Klein 838 reviews 918 followers August 19, 2016 A complicated chap, this DFW: capable of extreme selfishness and more than semi-noxious competitiveness, an explicitly excellent writer who posits concern for readers yet nevertheless once dropped from a great height "Mr. Squishy" upon our poor heads, an arch-grammarian thanks to his mom capable of making usage stuff look like calculations intended to trap infinity in a jar, maybe sort of a wonky weany despite his size and high-protein breakfast vomit, apparently helpless around the house beyond changing bulbs in his many lamps, a mama's boy who liked the ladies and the ganja when young, no apparent deep interest in fine art or music or food (beyond blondies and poptarts) or footwear (beyond untied workboots), psychopathically obsessive about Mary Carr in an unambiguously creepy way, worried about media's affect on American morality in what amounts to unattractive moralizing at this point maybe -- his intelligence and humor and perception and sentences are undisputed champs of the world but the overarching media-saturation sadness stuff and his obsessive insistence on sadness/suffering/darkness etc only seem to fight half the thematic battle (ie, what Milton called "light and darkness in perpetual round"). But I'm not here to judge the dude -- this is an impression of a biography that lays the foundation for better ones to come but which is very readable and steady and an excellent start. I admired how it mutes for the most part its judgments, how it presents the facts, the quotations, the timeline, the memories of friends etc and always lets us see the lies as much as the kindness. Typos and misused words (passify, skein) didn't overly distract me but I did find recaps of all work other than Infinite Jest not so fun. Would've LOVED 25+ glossy insert pages of photos (at least the obligatory elementary school class portrait with young DFW, top left, eyes bright but mercurially averting direct contact with camera) and facsimiles of handwritten manuscript/journal pages and college transcripts and samples of his teaching syllabi! Generally, a serviceable bio studded with Franzen and DeLillo correspondence, with juicy bits about his total insanity for Mary Carr, plus details w/r/t his obsessive showering . . . Loved that he could write 22K words in a day. Loved that he brushed his teeth for 45 minutes every morning and night in college. Loved that the opening college interview freakout in IJ was based on real events at my (and Lenore Beadsman's) alma mater. Loved that he turned down inexpensive Iowa on financial grounds as though he couldn't get loans and teaching jobs -- or have his parents pay his way through his MFA. Mentions unrepentantly parochial books I'd heard he'd loved like (the unfinishably slow for me) Catholics by Brian Moore and The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. After a point I couldn't put this down and it was a fine companion while cooped up sick as Superstorm Sandy devastated everything -- there's something asssociable about reading a long-awaited bio about the recently deceased DFW (a man known for his overwhelming intelligence and outsized novel) and the recent Frankenstorm that churned slowly up the coast. There's maybe something alternately devastating and underwhelming about both, too, depending on where you live (literally/figuratively). Ultimately, this more than sufficiently suggests what it felt like to be the FHB (fucking human being) known as DFW -- and it answered lingering WTFs w/r/t his life and superfucking heartbreaking death (surprised there wasn't a post-death chapter about reactions and a lot more about his final days than first appeared in the New Yorker article). Worth it if you've ever wondered about the guy's story, his high school history, his grades in the second semester of his sophomore year in college (spoiler: A+ across the board), how much action he got after IJ came out, how many students he slept with, etc, how many friends from recovery groups he helped out financially, etc, and have read the interviews and Lipsky thing and want to live in DFW World awhile more. It's a charismatic, virulent, thought-colonizing place but, again, thematically, I feel like it's maybe partially pathological and reliant on therapy/recovery-related simplicities restated in overeducated serpentine slipstreams of high/low language -- not all of it, just some of it, I'd say. What I mean is: what once was a literary marriage between author and reader built on unabashed love has changed its status to "it's complicated." Anyway, RIP DFW, although through IJ and your essays you'll live forever. After Both Flesh and Not: Essays is published next week, let's hope for a bit of silence -- at least until the collected letters, emails, responses to student stories come out. 36 likes Like Comment Stephen M 138 reviews 615 followers December 4, 2013 An excerpt from one of DFW's first undergraduate stories entitled "The Sabrina Brothers in the Case of the Hung Hamster", a post-modern spoof on a Hardy Boys-type novel: "Suddenly a sinister, twin-engined airplane came into view, sputtering and back-firing. It lost power and began spinning in toward the hill. It was heading right for the brothers! Luckily at the last minute the plane ceased to exist. 'Crikey!' exclaimed Joe. 'It's a good thing we're characters in a highly implausible children's book or we'd be goners!" I remember the first time that I was exposed to DFW was through a creative writing class in which we read “Incarnations of Burning Children” and it piqued my interest enough to search for his name on youtube. There I found his interview with Charlie Rose that I’ve, as of today, watched some seven times all the way through. I was struck, first of all, by his complete discomfort and what seemed to be, total aversion to social interaction. More importantly, I left the interview in complete awe of his intellect. I couldn’t believe that a person could be as intelligent, articulate, and well-spoken as he was. The combination of intelligence and emotional damage seems to be the entire focus this biography, and the focus that many take towards him. Although there much more to DFW than just that, no Bio could be a complete compendium of a person’s life, and when I’m honest with myself, these two traits are what has made me feel so close to him—the combination of deep genuine emotion and mind-bending intelligence. No author has made my “head throb heart-like” to quote DFW himself. It was these two things that I noticed when I first saw him through the screen of my computer and it was these two things toward which I felt an immediate pull. I vowed, at the time I first discovered his work, that I would some day, far off in my maturation as a reader, conquer the mammoth beast that Charlie Rose flipped through and referenced in their interview. Flashforward nine months later, to when I gave the book a first go. I set out the goal of reading thirty pages a day, and with that rate, I figured I would finish the book in about a month. Oh, how naive I was then. I found the book to be not so much challenging and overly-difficult as it was time-consuming. The thirty pages a day challenge seemed modest (I’d surely read more than that on most days), but I soon realized it was too many pages. And each day I dreaded having to dive back into all those disparate plot-lines, hundreds of different characters, and page-dominating prose blocks. It was something of a mental workout routine to get through some of the sections. In desperation I reached out to online resources which provided full length descriptions of each character and plot line (I ended up spoiling some of the “reveals” later on in the novel in the process), but even this was not enough to keep me motivated. I soon gave up and moved on to other books with the promise that I’d return to the book some day. Leap forward another six months, and I had found myself, once again, feeling the call of the Jest . A friend of mine had begun reading the book and singing its praises, mostly of the sections just beyond where I had left off (beyond the 200 page mark). I read chapter summaries of the sections that I had read in my first go-around, and started the book again from about page 140. With this new resolve I charged forward through doubt and occasional incomprehension. It took me about a month and half to get through it this time, but I actually finished it. The book had hit me like no other had—with the full-immersion experience, brought about by the intense concentration that I had to have in order to really get into its pulse. That, coupled with a new-found ability in my own reading, turned it into quite a powerful experience. Every time I sank into the book, I felt as if I had completely lost myself in another world, even if only to glean a small sense of what DFW was after with his fractured, broken story about addiction and entertainment. It also helped that I had recently found myself in the throws of a severely debilitating mental condition that I had thought was far behind me. I grew extremely attached to the book as it seemed to totally get everything that I was going through, had gone through and what I would go through. There’s something about the mere fact that another human being has experienced what you have that makes everything that you’ve gone through so much less terrifying and abstract; it made the whole thing feel so more human. And that’s what the book did for me, anyway. I read Infinite Jest at the exact time I needed to and that was essential for making the experience what it was. And even though the timing of IJ was perfect—as far as who I was as a person and as a reader—I, of course, discovered DFW long after he had given up the ghost. There was no real reason for me to ever grieve over his loss—the knowledge of his death underlay my coming to be a fan of his work. But there was always a vague sense of disappointment and sadness that I hadn’t known about him while he was alive and thus, would never have the chance to meet him. But upon reading the final four pages of this biography, the reality of his suicide, what it must have meant for those close to him, what it must have meant for his fans, and what it meant to me as such a devotee to his work, hit me then and I became a huge mess, wailing into my shirt sleeve; it was pretty ugly. I apologize that this isn’t really a review of the book itself, but I’m not very good at those kinds of reviews. You can take the star I docked from the otherwise five-star rating and file it under the part of the review labeled “D.T. Max’s clunky writing/numerous typos/bad transitions and other things that I don’t really give a shit about”. I hope I’ve written enough now. 3-cheers-4-complex-characters diet-dfw idiot-heart ...more 33 likes Like Comment Tom Quinn 587 reviews 193 followers December 14, 2021 I didn't set out to analyze the varying levels of dirt to be found amidst Wallace's laundry, but here we are. This isn't a necessary book. This is a mix of tabloid sensationalism and outright fanboying that degrades the biography form, and if I might indulge in some fun misquoting of song lyrics for a moment: There's a whole lotta speculatin' goin' on... 2.5 stars. Wallace was no saint but this book exposes more than it might need to and therefore is primarily of interest to the voyeuristic and morbidly curious. His poor (and, uh, possibly criminal?) behavior is not ignored but neither is it ever condemned. See things like DFW's college aged quote-unquote courtship rituals, summed up neatly by page 147's too-casual observation: "Wallace did not hear subtle variations in no..." Awful things are mentioned but not pressed. It's a real missed opportunity, glossing over controversy in such fashion, but then again what is a biographer to do but simply report the facts? Except DT Max doesn't just stick to the facts elsewhere and he never shies from showering praise on Wallace for the things he did well. So he's not an impartial juror. The book does help to draw together a unified view of Wallace's writing, linking major themes and concerns across his career. For that it's quite interesting to the heavily invested fan but practically useless for anyone not already drawn to Wallace. 33 likes Like Comment Ubik 2.0 977 reviews 269 followers May 9, 2023 Storia d’amore e di fantasmi Lettura dolorosa ma doverosa, al termine del lungo viaggio attraverso l’intera straordinaria avventura letteraria di un mito (e perdonatemi l’enfasi); la spinta ad accostarsi a questa corposa biografia si può interpretare come un omaggio, come un desiderio di approfondimento o la sete di non voler chiudere definitivamente un contatto intellettuale che tante meraviglie e tanti stimoli ha regalato alla cultura di un ventennio e di riflesso ai suoi fans. Mi ha molto colpito il fatto, che non conoscevo né immaginavo, che David Foster Wallace e D.T.Max non si siano mai conosciuti né incontrati: il lavoro alle spalle di “Ogni storia d’amore…” non è frutto di alcun colloquio, intervista, scambio di lettere fra autore e oggetto della biografia, ma è il prodotto del colossale e postumo impegno di ricerca documentale effettuato da Max presso biblioteche, archivi universitari, amici, parenti e conoscenti dello scrittore, riordinando le testimonianze per affrontare e ricomporre un enorme puzzle privo di margini e confini. Pur essendo tratto da una frase di David, il titolo è significativo anche nel senso che soltanto un immenso ed esclusivo atto d’amore può giustificare un’operazione di tale portata, volta a ricostruire un rapporto con qualcuno che purtroppo non è più che un fantasma che abita il cervello e l’inconscio di tutti coloro che ha lasciato sulla terra a coltivare e propagarne il ricordo. Non ho particolare esperienza di biografie, se non quelle di Stefan Zweig molto godibili, romanzate e non troppo affidabili, ma ritengo che non ci sia nulla da eccepire nel lavoro di D.T. Max, perché il libro, nei suoi alti e bassi, segue in parallelo la parabola dell’esistenza e della carriera di Wallace, con capitoli esaltanti e stimolanti (cap.5,6) che corrispondono all’ideazione, creazione, faticosa gestazione e pubblicazione del titanico capolavoro dell’autore, e capitoli deprimenti, a tratti anche noiosi e ripetitivi (cap.4,7) che rispecchiano le crisi ed i periodi profondamente bui della vita di un uomo troppo sensibile e fragile. Impossibile entrare nel merito degli innumerevoli stimoli che il lavoro di Max ha riportato a galla, le motivazioni del meccanismo delle note esorbitanti, le corrispondenze fra i personaggi creati da Wallace e le persone reali che ne hanno ispirato la genesi, il tarlo della “dipendenza” (che non è solo quella ovvia dalle droghe e dai farmaci, ma profondamente innestata nel carattere di Wallace, dalla dipendenza dalla tv a quella dalla scrittura, dai rituali all’alcool e addirittura, in un certo periodo della sua vita, al sesso). Ritengo infine che si dovrebbe erigere un simbolico altare anche all’editor Michael Pietsch, perché non oso immaginare cosa ne sarebbe stato dell’opera di un Wallace alle prese con un interlocutore meno colto, paziente, comprensivo, disposto a sacrificare perfino le regole ed i princìpi economici dell’editor di successo all’intuizione di avere fra le mani l’irripetibile creazione di un Genio. 19 likes Like Comment MJ Nicholls 2,103 reviews 4,442 followers May 12, 2014 Workmanlike as predicted. Spits out the facts at warp speed nine. Main problem is it fails to render the aliveness of DFW or communicate the charisma of the man and his works. His life is depicted in terms of its struggles and suggests DFW inhabited a gloom-filled realm even in the moments when success and sex and productivity came his way, all of which were more abundant than the depressions and drug abuse. A bio of this superhuman writer should be grandiose and as abundant in ambition and scope as a DFW novel. Something in the Roger Lewis line. A bio like this is appropriate so soon after the author’s passing—some time needs to elapse before we have a 1,000pp exegesis of the man and his works, however . . . terribly lightweight. Two stars because the book gallops to a climax and doesn’t offer a whiff of insight into his last days. (And fails to even mention the publication of Consider the Lobster —heinous!). This purple cover also offends my delicate eyes. bifographies merkins non-fiction 21 likes Like Comment Geoff 444 reviews 1,341 followers November 27, 2012 DT Max has provided us with a chronological, journalistic, utilitarian, somewhat slight but ultimately satisfying biography-lens through which we can peer at a certain David Foster Wallace. The other lenses through which we can observe our refracted fellow are his own writings, his interviews, the many pieces and remembrances to emerge about the man himself since his death. Each one will give us a different Wallace; if Citizen Kane taught us nothing else it was that those speaking of others can never reveal but a fragment of a truth, so an untruth, or an approaching-truth. Ladies and gentlemen, let us be kind to Mr. Max- he saw to a rather unpleasant task, being the first to venture into the world of DFW biography. It had to be daunting, and he had to treat it with delicacy and distance, and it is obvious that was what he did. The trouble with writing about DFW is that the most interesting things about him were his work and his problems. Wallace even quipped to one of his college friends, around the time he was finishing Broom , that a future biographer would have to write, “Wallace sat in the library smoking a cigarette, and looked pensively at his paper as he attempted the next sentence- and who wants to read that?” It’s true. He didn’t travel. He didn’t hobnob with other famous folks (except through correspondence), he was private and troubled and anxious and depressed and found writing to be the only way through all that. So to write of the man himself is to write of his work and his problems. And DT Max is much more a journalist than literary critic. Much about the work itself is passed over in Wittgensteinian silence- so it had to be. I don’t fault Max for not being a Brian Boyd, whose biographical work on Nabokov comes packaged with mind-rattling analysis of the texts. Not many people are capable of telling a life as well as enlightening an oeuvre. So Max stuck to the former. Just the facts, ma'am. Or the facts as they are discernible through this certain focus. Let’s consider this the first tiptoes into the waters of DFW biography, a tentative step into a deep and strong-running current. Let’s use Every Love Story Is A Ghost Story as a reminder that Wallace himself embodied much of the potential as well as the turmoil of the millennial generation, that he attempted to express this in his writing, that he truly believed writing was a way out and through, and that we will be grappling with him and his body of work for a long time to come. Not that Max was without his insights. I particularly like the idea he put forth that the real narrator of Infinite Jest is an immense, sympathetic intelligence that has our better interests in mind. But I had a strange experience reading this biography, which might be attributed to the fact that I read the majority of it over a two day span as I was simultaneously suffering from a mid-grade fever- I could not escape the feeling that Wallace was actually reanimated and forced to go through his tortures and achievements, his highs and lows, all over again. That he was forced to live again, to suffer through his struggles and fame again, to approach his fate again, simply because I had chosen to read this book! It was so odd and I couldn’t shake it and it made me feel guilty and sad. I suppose that is the risk of writing a very early biography of Wallace- those who knew him are living, those to whom his work was a salvation and a guidebook through dark times are still devoted to reading and passionately discussing him, his antagonizers and supporters and friends and enemies and lovers and family are all here to read what Max wrote, to experience again in the abstraction of words what was for them an actual breathing human. We’re still sorting out what he was and will be to us. He is still alive. So maybe it might have been better not to write this book just yet. But Max did a fine job of reminding us that what Wallace lived through is something we all share in varying degrees, the traumas and triumphs of this man are also of us and are exemplary of something we the living are all still dealing with. Putting that across seems like something of a success for this book. While I was finishing Every Love Story Is A Ghost Story last night, by coincidence a friend of mine who I gave as a gift A Supposedly Fun Thing... emailed me to tell me he was finally getting around to reading it, and that “E Unibus Pluram” was affecting him greatly, and asked about Wallace in general but also asked whether there were other people writing about these issues as gracefully was Wallace did. As a closing to this “review” I’ll append part of what I wrote back to him: “I am glad you are reading Wallace. I think his piece on television culture and fiction and perception is essential. It also gets to the heart of a lot of what he was intending to do with his own fiction, and I think it is a rather brilliant kind of cultural inventory of where things were at in the mid-90's, and it can be extrapolated beyond today. That the various levels of remove of actual experience increase as representation takes on more importance and presence. How substitutes for reality eventually supplant reality to degrees and depths from which we cannot return. How does one concerned with living a moral and valid life approach reality in such a fragmented, distorted world? This is the whole thrust behind Infinite Jest, but it is all over, super-saturating the essays in "A Supposedly Fun Thing..." and "Consider The Lobster". Why are Americans so obsessed with pleasure and entertainment, as if they are ends and results and not distractions along the way. Why do we feel entitled to vast pleasure? Why is so much advertising geared toward a product being the solution to anxieties? What is the source of the anxieties the products promise to alleviate? Why is our language so immersed in experiences we really have nothing to do with ("water-cooler talk" about TV shows and sports, things that happen at great distances, geographic and experiential, from ourselves), what is the self in a world where it is claimed that through media we can be "everywhere instantly", when in fact we are nowhere, always. What happens to our bodies when they are becoming ever more only filters for data or reproductions, imitations of images we see in media? This was his forte. His goal was to show ways to surpass this. What comes next? How do we recover attention and sincerity and control of our bodies in a world where all the tools for battling dispersion and inauthenticity have been subsumed by the forces of dispersion and inauthenticity? Of course Wallace was not the only person thinking about this. Philosophers like Baudrillard, Derrida, Foucault, Barthes, Zizek, Deleuze and Guattari, are all about this. Wittgenstein’s language investigations are the key to everything. Writers like Pynchon, DeLillo, William T Vollmann, Franzen, many others, all deal with this in their fiction. It goes back through Marshal McLuhan and "the medium is the message" and on before that. What Wallace does so well is speak about it in the terms of the new millennium, he speaks the language of our epoch. He was that writer, the fabled one that wings down from some indefinite place and captures exactly the zeitgeist, the weltanschauung of what it is to be alive in our times. That's why he was such a big loss. The philosophers I mentioned speak in really high-level, dense, uninviting, academic prose. Wallace wrote how people speak, found a way to get these important, deep ideas across a broader spectrum. He was a link between the academic post-Wittgensteinian world of "world as word and representation" and us common mortals who didn't graduate double summa from Amherst. So yeah, read Wallace, essays and fiction. He is attempting to get to the core and reason of what is going on around us all the time.” 20 likes Like Comment Chris Via 470 reviews 1,663 followers Read April 8, 2023 Very mixed personal feelings--but, as the only Wallace biography out there it is definitely the trove of information expected (and more). Eye-opening to see the extent of Wallace's mental demons; saddening to see the effects of those troubles manifested and exacerbated by substance abuse. Still astounding to see how such troubled/tortured/unsavory people can produce such sublime art. The prose is clunky, sure, but that wasn't a goal of a book like this so I disregard the style and consider the data. The research and effort here are extraordinary. 2020 biography dfw 18 likes Like Comment Juan Author 7 books 34 followers October 19, 2012 This biography, useful as it is in providing some needed context, feels flimsy. The most obvious missing piece in this bio is an exploration of David Wallace's relationship to his mother. It is quite clear even from Max's work that this relationship was central both to who David Wallace was and to the stylistic and thematic choices in his work. The difficulty of such an endeavor is clear. In unveiling whatever that relationship might have been like, Max risked offending Wallace's family, a risk that can derail a biography. The qualms of writers of biographical material, both tactical and borne out of common courtesy and compassion, are well exemplified in the first piece that actually touched on the matter of Wallace's relationship with his mother. In Maria Bustillo's Inside David Foster Wallace's Private Self-Help Library , comment after comment on the self-help books he owned point to the crippling influence of his mother on Wallace's life. After this article was published, revealing something that reader's might have been gleaning from pieces like Suicide as a sort of present, Present Tense... and character's such as Avril Incandenza, a total of 21 out 320 books from the library of DFW on display at the Harry Ramson Center in Austin were removed from public access by Wallace's Estate. There is no question that family members should be spared the grief of seeing their intrafamilial relationships dissected in public in a biography. Also, arguably, no biography of David Foster Wallace can be complete without an extensive exploration of this relationship. This conundrum probably means that we will have to wait for a definitive biography of Wallace for a few years. Further, there is extensive research done up until after the publishing of Infinite Jest in 1996, at which point Max makes a mad dash for the finish line as if the main objective of the bio had already been accomplished. It takes Max until page 220 to get to the publication of IJ and he then proceeds to wrap up the next 6 books, Wallace's final crisis and all material and analysis of Pale King in 80 pages. This approach left me with the feeling that Max unspoken conclusion for the biography was that Wallace is a failed writer, that published an astounding but essentially unfollowable book in IJ. This would be a massive underestimation of Wallace's work. It is also, however, possible that Max simply ran out of time. This was widely expected book and there must have been a lot of pressure to put it out fast. One would assume that if heavy research was put in at the early stages, it would have had to be sparse at the end with the deadline approaching. Max's style provides evidence to support the rush theory. There are, for example, sentences that must originate in transfer from subject to biographer and that patient editing might have weeded out, such as in the inadvertently funny: "He knew that he had to write for himself and not think about the reader, but that was easier to enunciate than to enact." One is reminded of Wallace's video about "puffed up words", as well as his penchant for renovating clichés with smart word play; in this case, however, "easier to enunciate than to enact" is not an improvement on the equally lame cliché "easier said than done". The book is not badly written, but there are a few of these little surprises lying around in it. The biography also fails to transmit what Wallace aptly called his "psychic pain". In Max's bio Wallace will be feeling depressed in one sentence and then hospitalized in the next and out of the hospital by the next paragraph. There is a feeling that Max felt that dwelling on unsavory topics such as what it actually feels to be severely, clinically depressed was somehow offensive to his subject, or that his journalistic principles kept him from approaching the more subjective aspects of "how it felt" for Wallace. This, of course, can all be found on Wallace's work, but one would think it necessary in a book that is supposed to provide context for his own life decisions. Is this DFW first bio worthy of your attention, then? Yes, despite its shortcomings. It provides much needed information and context. There are no incredible insights from Max himself, it feels rushed and skips important topics, but it is in all a worthwhile read. 15 likes Like Comment Julie Ehlers 1,115 reviews 1,515 followers February 4, 2017 This is a serviceable biography of David Foster Wallace. It's not one of the best-written books I've ever read, and it will surely be hated by those who feel DFW should be spoken of only in tones of hushed reverence, but it got the job done. I'll share some pertinent facts from Every Love Story Is a Ghost Story in my upcoming review of Infinite Jest . biography books-about-books books-about-creativity 17 likes Like Comment Marcello S 568 reviews 250 followers January 11, 2017 Se siete dei fanatici di DFW buttatevi a capofitto su questo libro. E’ scritto apposta per voi. Se come me volete solo sapere qualcosa in più su un tizio con bandana, stivali Timberland slacciati e camicia a quadri probabilmente ci troverete dentro fin troppe informazioni, date, note. Ma vale ugualmente la pena. Ci sono molte cose: scoprire come sono nati i libri, l’influenza di Pynchon. I periodi di malessere, smarrimento senso di colpa. I ricoveri nei reparti psichiatrici e i riconoscimenti accademici. Tv, alcol, droghe, solitudine. L’amicizia con Franzen e le lettere con Delillo. I tour di presentazione dei libri e l’insegnamento. Infinite Jest che diventa un cult. La fine. Gran lavoro di ricerca e ricostruzione dei fatti. Consigliato. [75/100] 14 likes Like Comment Grace Liew Author 8 books 11 followers September 30, 2012 Best parts of the book by far are the flurries of DFW's quotes copied wholesale, albeit they still suffer from DT Max's flimsy attempts to give context. The book wades only in shallow waters and rickety theories, with no cutting insights whatsoever. Why did DT Max even write this, then? Another reviewer already said very succinctly my overall impression of this book: it reads like a long wikipedia article. Personally, I'm a huge wiki fan. I wiki all sorts of shit. I glean biographies of my favorite famous people on wiki. The main reason wikipedia entries work so well for my procrastinatory casual research purposes is that wikis are non-emotive—you can read the blurbs of factoids any time of the day or night and you are never changed for the better or worse, just heavier with whatever information you came for, meh, and life goes on. Sounds like DFW's biggest nightmare? But then again, I'm just projecting. Did DT Max take DFW's later fascination with boredom (and its perceived zen-like benefits) as an endorsement of it? Read the book for more than 30 pages in one sitting and you can feel the effects of the marked lack of direction. A gander at the chapter titles tells you nothing...which goes back to the directionlessness of this whole thing. Don't get me wrong, I bought the book the day it came out, full sticker price, read it diligently and delighted at the bits of facts and DFW's witticisms, and, I suspect like many others, I bought the book because I couldn't not buy it. There were things about DFW's life that I wanted to know, felt I had to know. But I'm not about to conflate my love for DFW with my feelings about his biography—the weakest link here is DT Max. His formula seems to be: throw in what I know about what DFW did and then construct concepts around them, however vague. The result is a lot of mundane info (some of which I did love), but each mundane tidbit follows the pattern of trailing...off...into...a dead end, a great void unconnected with anything, then another tidbit surfaces out of nowhere, before trailing off again...then another...and another... Somewhere in the middle of the book it is intimated that DFW fell out with his mother. No further exposition is given, which is incredibly unsatisfying, since the book opens with plenty details about how close the two once were. Finally, the way the book ends shocked my socks off. Not that I was expecting a final bow to tie it all up, but this hurricane that terrorized the final 5 pages of the book? In a few pages DFW goes abruptly from a content/stabilized person struggling with his novel (as he's perpetually doing all his life) to someone who goes off his regular medication, attempts suicide, vows to never do it again, returns to shock therapy, and finally ends his life? It made me cry. I know DT Max mentioned before that he vowed not to write a "sad" book, but the paltriness of this text is like a meta-sad, sadder than sad because your original desire to not be sad tried too hard to be not-sad. :( 10 likes Like Comment Hannah Garden 1,014 reviews 175 followers October 8, 2013 I'd like to write a very long and thoughtful review of this but honestly when would I have time. I have nine minutes till I need to get dressed and head to Penn so wanna hear it here it go. 1. This book is not perfect. If that surprises you you are a moron. Some of the reviews I've glanced at so far have been written by morons. If you expected to pick this up and by its virtues have the absence of his death filled, to have the absence of his life in your life (because you didn't know him, he was just some guy somewhere else in the world, he didn't know you) filled, you are a moron. Go somewhere else. I have wounds to lick and I will be busy for some time. 2. D.T. Max never met Wallace. This is just a biography it is not a memoir. 3. I didn't think I was going to read this, I don't generally care for biographies and in addition I have an extremely raw hole in me that is DFW-shaped because he is in some senses THE holy blissful martyr (non-canonical) of the very stuff that permits for my very BEING in the world, he is the sacrificed lamb for some of us and for some of us we would have preferred our sons our wombs our hearts our bodies whatthefuckever to be engulfed in flame to be sunk in tar rather than bear this sacrifice, rather than string this lamb, I mean it is just a very very very very essential and fundamental and NECESSARY place, this little small tattered clothbound space some of us are carrying around, poring over it in bathroom stalls between cigarettes shivering and drenched and all of it pouring, hot waves of it pouring, fainting on the couch beneath the afghan, returning to its little words and breaths and bread, waiting here, waiting to finish it waiting for it to consume us, waiting But then a friend, whose opinion I at least generally kind of agree with, referred to him, in the worst place on the internet, as a "misogynist asshole" and a hot fury piss-white and boundless burned through me and I had to duck back under the cloak of text, you know how you have to duck back under the cloak of text sometimes when your shit gets all knocked around, and so. And but so. And but so this seemed a safe little place to go. And it was. His life was silly and perfect and stupid and clumsy and an accident and a striving and here is the thing: If anyone anywhere ever tried harder to better the self that he was, I don't know. I don't even know what that effort would look like. I don't even know that I'd want to know it existed, that effort. Because the failure of this one is enough every time I think of it to make me question the sense of the project in general, which is as close I think I safely can come without throwing all the towels in. All the towels covering all your chairs, all the towels drenched in all your sweat, a thousand years of solitude, you try you tried you tried so fucking hard. 11 likes Like Comment Lori 266 reviews 24 followers September 2, 2012 I am a huge fan of David Foster Wallace -- the person who tried, so hard. His books were not necessarily my favorites, but something about him pulled at me. I've read everything I can find about him, every interview, every article, including the New Yorker article by D. T. Max. I bought this book as soon as I heard about it, pre-ordered it, and was thrilled the morning it was automatically delivered to my kindle. Couldn't wait. And this was the most shallow, trivial biography I could imagine. I gave it three stars because it was about David Foster Wallace, who means a lot to me. But the book itself? I'd give it one star. I have to say that I’m extremely disappointed with the biography; it’s really just a book-length Wikipedia article. It goes into arbitrary and uninteresting detail (like what movie and which restaurant DFW went to on a date with a woman who wasn’t an important figure, just someone he dated, or that Franzen recalled that Wallace used a lot of wiper fluid on a car trip), but then glosses very quickly over what are clearly important events. There is little to no psychological interpretation, and in fact it seems like Max simply did not want to go there. I hope Blake Bailey (author of the fantastic biography of John Cheever, and another of Richard Yates) decides to write about Wallace. Now that would be a book to buy in hardback. In the acknowledgements, he says that all the important people in Wallace's life were open and generous with him, but the book surely doesn't read that way. At every turn, he takes the gloss. At every turn, he gives the shallowest description of what happens. It's like he refuses to step beyond the "then this happened, then that happened" to offer a substantive, integrative comment on what happened. In fact, I knew more about Wallace already than I learned in this book. This happened, then that happened, then he hung himself, then that's it. SHALLOW. Like Wallace's death, this book left me feeling cheated. I just wanted more of him. It's the only bio there is right now so I'll take it, but it's a pretty pitiful biography. 11 likes Like Comment Richard 134 reviews 31 followers September 22, 2012 I guess I was hoping for something more rigorous. Facts and life changes are just sort of thrown out there. There's no real analysis or thoughtfulness of the kind you get out of a good biography. It reads like a decent enough, well researched, magazine profile that's been squished under a rolling pin to stretch out to three hundred pages. There were elements that felt sort of trashy and airporty, as no random hookup or binge goes unreported. There's a "...and then guess what...and then guess what..." quality to it that dampens a lot of the poignancy and struggle of Wallace's life and creative efforts. In all honesty though, being a fan of Infinite Jest, and a lot of Wallace's other writing, and being curious to know more about the life of the author, I couldn't put it down. Still, it definitely wasn't a meal. Afterward, I got the same feeling you get after devouring a haul of halloween candy - a little guilty, a little sick, and not any wiser. 11 likes Like Comment Laurent De Maertelaer 756 reviews 151 followers April 9, 2021 Boeiende, prettig geschreven biografie, die ik met plezier heb gelezen, maar die naar mijn gevoel te veel ruimte laat voor verdere speculatie over de 'mythe' DFW. Ik bedoel hier mee dat de biograaf zijn onderwerp te veel karikaturiseert, wellicht en hopelijk tegen wil en dank. Liever had ik de man achter de mythe leren kennen, hoewel het de vraag is of dat hoe dan ook mogelijk is bij een dergelijk complex onderwerp en wel binnen het bestek van wat uiteindelijk een vrij korte levensbeschrijving is. Zo krijgt de lezer tot vervelens nogal pueriele beschrijvingen van DFW's look of het aanzicht van zijn kamer voorgeschoteld. De analyses die Max biedt van de werken zijn niet altijd even raak of interessant. Bovendien staan in deze bio niet alleen een aantal onbegrijpelijke inconsequenties (nadruk op moeilijke relatie met ouders en vooral moeder maar zonder dit verder uit te diepen; promiscuïteit van DFW: dan weer wel dan weer niet; vriendinnen die uit het niets opduiken en zelfs geen naam krijgen; stoppen met nemen van Nardil dat tot suïcide leidt, etc.) maar ook fouten (onder meer beweren dat Avril in IJ met de broer van James een koppel vormt, terwijl iedereen weet dat Tavis haar adoptie/halfbroer is). De vele citaten uit brieven aan Franzen, DeLillo en Costello zijn heerlijk, alsook enkele anekdotes en levendige beschrijvingen van publieke optredens van DFW. Een boek voor de fans. 12 likes Like Comment Leo Robertson Author 37 books 476 followers September 2, 2015 William Wallace was 7ft tall and shot fireballs out his ass. Thanks to D. T. Max, David Foster Wallace no longer does this. Whether or not Wallace agreed this book was necessary for him to stop doing shooting fireballs out his ass, it was for me. Intent delivered. I’ve been recommending the film Another Earth to many people. I can’t remember much about it now, to be honest. But I remember this other Earth in the background of shots where the protagonist considers her regrets: her problems carry the weight of the world. “Sometimes I can hear my bones straining under the weight of all the lives I'm not living.” Or when I travelled to the other end of the Earth to visit some friends who still could not stop acting like their needs were not fully met, our love remaining unproved, yet there was no further distance that exists that we could have travelled to see them. We do carry problems in our head that, to us, feel as if they carry an infinite mass. Problems of the imagination are the biggest and most severe that exist because they can invisibly carry infinite properties and magnitudes. A book with the finite density and finite mass of Infinite Jest did not cure Wallace’s continual (as in on-and-off always) feelings of inadequacy, of not mattering. This to me is a very reassuring lesson because it is a reminder that the jury is out on every one of us while we’re still around: age, background, fame, wealth, success- no one is free from this truth. And while I may profess to the infinite neediness of friends of mine or a character in a film, it’s quite telling of my own neediness that I couldn’t allow Wallace his freak of genius and had to reveal him as human to myself. But that I did, and feel all the better for it. It was quite funny that despite some of Wallace’s hemming and hawing captured in his letters to surrogate writer-dad Don DeLillo, his books just seemed to appear in the narrative. “Wallace was thinking about rehab so he sent a 750,000 word manuscript to Little, Brown.” (not a real example lol.) It doesn’t quite capture the tenacity and persistence required to write something of that length that remains readable and does not significantly repeat words, themes, speech, story arcs and balances the chat accordingly across all 100+ characters? And yet the tenacity and persistence I refer to were far from Wallace’s alone, as his friends and lovers- each as enchanted by his company as infuriated by it- bore much of the brunt of his flailings. I have to deduct a star for the occasionally strong assertions when it came to Wallace’s work, for example that The Depressed Person was “revenge fiction” against Elizabeth Wurtzel for not sleeping with him, when Max himself later points out that Wallace told his wife Karen Green it was about him. This no more clears up the matter, as Wallace did try to create obscurity when it came to the personalization of his writing, but The Depressed Person remains nameless and essentially genderless for a reason. And also because I know that with this new context, I will read Infinite Jest for a third time- not that two readings cleared that fucker up, to be sure. This was not in fact my idea but the idea of a G GR friend of mine, but I’d like to open the floor: through his obsessions, bouts of rage and confusion at his partners, penchant for cerebral and conceptual analysis of problems of the heart: was Wallace autistic? (Holiday read I am making time to review despite being ball-deep in editing :D) 9 likes Like Comment Adam Floridia 590 reviews 30 followers September 5, 2012 How can you write a true biography, a biography that really captures a human's whole life, or even just "the important" parts of it, and still moves smoothly from one important event to another? Rhetorical question. I don't have the answer. D.T. Max certainly doesn't have the answer either. DFW once wrote about how impossible it would be to even accurately capture the infinite stimuli of a fleeting moment, so I don't envy the charge that a biographer takes on. Here are a few things I really didn't like about this particular biography . Many of the transitions (or lack there of) between sentences, between paragraphs, and between "important" parts of the subject's life are just awful (due to their afore-parenthetically-mentioned non-existence). Next, Max's use of endnotes. There were many pieces of interesting/personal DFW details for which I wanted to know Max's source. Instead of clearly (and in my opinion properly) documenting them by using endnotes, Max devotes his endnotes to little "asides," making them seem like space to dump stuff he couldn't fit into the body of the book. (Similar to how he describes DFW's use of endnotes in IJ .) Since this is a biography, I feel that it needs to make a point of clearly documenting its sources--see Charles Shields's Vonnegut Biography . Unfortunately, dumping narrative tidbits in the back doesn't stop Max from also peppering in the most random and unnecessary facts every now and again in the biography proper. Finally, there are many parts of DFW's life about which I would have liked more detail, parts brought up by Max but not sufficiently delved into. Perhaps he could have devoted more space to adding depth here by limiting the amount of space given to summaries of DFW's work. Here are a few things I liked about this particular biography . It was about David Foster Wallace, a writer and person I admire. It gave me a fair enough overview of Wallace's life. The writing did move along well-enough and there was a spare great sentence here or there. Even though I knew how it would end, I couldn't arrest a few tears on the last page. No expert on Wallace, I oddly can't come away from this 300 pages saying I've learned a great deal of new information about his life; nevertheless, I enjoyed reading about his life. Here are my excuses for not supporting the above claims with textual evidence. It's late. I'm tired. I'm lending the book to someone tomorrow. Oh, and I've got to throw this in here. I lied, the opening isn't exactly a rhetorical question. The correct answer is "Ask Brian Boyd." (I can't review a biography without mentioning the gold standard.) 9 likes Like Comment Jason Coleman 148 reviews 46 followers September 6, 2015 DT Max breezes through the childhood, does a thorough job on the rise and fall and rise of the Broom to Infinite Jest stretch, and gets a little lost during a whirlwind tour of the final decade. Though it wasn't Max's intention—this bio is most def sympathetic toward its subject—he manages to make DFW rather insufferable. I blame this on an inability to find a foothold in the 21st-century leg of the story and his over-reliance on letters (the "biographer's oxygen" he calls them) in which Wallace frets endlessly over his writer's block and where he fits into the cosmos of American literature. The careerism becomes positively stifling. By the time I was done, I fled to A Month in the Country just to remind myself what a self-effacing, simply told story looked like. One suspects there was a nobler artist, not to mention a somewhat less single-minded guy, than what comes through in the final chapters. But the hot streak is very well done. You really feel the gears grinding as Wallace creates his masterpiece. That peculiar Amhurst-Tucson-Cambridge-Bloomington-Pamona trajectory (and the depression-wellness-relapse trajectory that ran alongside it) is vividly evoked, and there are beautiful distillations of Wallace's thoughts and predicament along the way. Max writes of "the mistaken American belief that pleasure can do anything other than stoke the need for more pleasure," notes how the grunge sensibility "flew in the face of [DFW's] recovery theology," and that Wallace "knew only way one way to seduce: to overwhelm." He also makes it clear what a bitch of confrontation the unfinished Pale King was for Wallace. And his portrait of a charmingly bourgeois genius who was a regular Joe in most regards and whose imagination torturously stopped revealing itself at one point rings true. Tragically, the post- Jest years would be largely a dead end. He came to feel time was passing him by. The book's a quick 300 pages and, for better or worse, reads something like an extended New Yorker article. No doubt a fuller biography will come out eventually. And a Selected Letters, just you watch. (I wish my old friend George Garrett was still around so I could ask him about how he hid Wallace's socks and shoes one night in Yaddo when he [Wallace] was having it off with Alice Turner in one of the bedrooms. George held out on us with that story.) greatest-hits 7 likes Like Comment Marika_reads 390 reviews 388 followers October 7, 2022 Przyznaję, że zaczęłam czytać Wallace’a dopiero w tym roku, ale o nim samym i o jego twórczości słyszałam od lat i od lat obiecywałam sobie, że po niego sięgnę bo jego książki (i on sam) wydawały mi się być w moim stylu (Pynchon vibe). I nie pomyliłam się, ale po przeczytaniu jego biografii lubię go trochę mniej, i choć bezsprzecznie był postacią genialną to dla mnie przede wszystkim jako człowiek był postacią tragiczną. Biografię zaczęłam czytać będąc w trakcie jego największego dzieła „Niewyczerpany żart”, który dopiero co po raz pierwszy ukazał się po polsku. I wbrew pozorom ten ruch był bardzo trafny, bo powieść zajmuje sporo miejsca w historii o DFW, dzieki czemu mam wrażenie wyciągnę z NŻ jeszcze więcej (tak, nadal jestem w trakcie bo to tomiszcze ma ponad 1000 stron). I nie, nie jestem spoilerową maniaczką, zresztą to nie jest tego typu książka, którą w ogóle można zaspoilerować. Co do samej historii, któtkiego bo 46-letniego życia kultowego pisarza, to tak jak wspomniałam wyżej była ona tragiczna. Zmagał się z niedopasowaniem, uzależnieniem i ciężką depresją. W mojej teorii świat po prostu nie był na DFW gotowy, on wszystkich znacznie wyprzedzał czy to w bystrości i geniuszu czy we wrażliwości. Kochał psy, fascynował rapem i pornografią, zakochiwał się na zabój i potrafił się pobić z sąsiadem o książkę. A książki czytał stosami i to od dziecka. Zdradzać więcej nie będę, ale autor D.T.Max wykonał kawał roboty, i w kwestii doszukiwania informacji o DFW, ale i w kwestii językowej bo czyta się to znakomicie (oczywiście również dzięki tłumaczeniu Jolanty Kozak). Polecam bardzo, nawet jeśli nie znacie Wallace’a 9 likes Like Comment nostalgebraist Author 4 books 546 followers October 16, 2012 This is a good source of info about David Foster Wallace, if you're into that sort of thing (and I am). But it's not a very good book. Wallace was a confusing figure, full of apparent contradictions. You might expect a Wallace biography to open with a set of questions, with some description of how it intends to investigate Wallace's life and what it hopes to get out of that investigation. Instead, Max's book begins with the strangely clunky sentence Every story has a beginning and this is David Wallace's. That sentence exemplifies the book. It's framed not as an investigation but as a story, told in entirely chronological fashion from Wallace's birth on page 1 to his death on page 301. In addition to providing facts, Max gives us his own interpretations of Wallace's work and ideas, but those interpretations are woven into the narrative and stated in declarative fashion, as though they were just as factual as the names-and-dates-and-quotes material that surrounds them. Max never acknowledges his own interpretive leaps and inferences; he simply writes that "Wallace thought this" and "Wallace thought that" rather than explaining how he reconstructed Wallace's mental state from interviews and letters, and what alternative reconstructions might be defensible. (Whenever Max does offer an alternative explanation, it's always confined to an endnote, as if Max thinks that including it in the main text would break the narrative illusion.) In short, it's written in the least Wallace-like manner imaginable. Is that a bad thing? If you just treat the book as a delivery mechanism for DFW facts (he voted for Reagan! he tried to convince his mom that Avril Incandenza wasn't based on her! the original draft of Infinite Jest was 750,000 words long!) then no, it's not a problem. And there's plenty of interesting stuff in there, even if you're mostly looking for insight into his work rather than his life. But everything that isn't solely grounded in facts here is pretty much useless. Because Max doesn't tell us how he came up with his interpretations, it's impossible for us to independently evaluate them. And when we're talking about a confusing subject like David Foster Wallace, an interpretation without a backing argument is worthless. Here's one big example of what I'm talking about. Max's book spends a lot of time telling us about how difficult it was for Wallace to write, even before his later struggles with The Pale King. After a very productive start (he wrote a 480-page novel as just one of his two senior theses in college), he began to find writing a perpetual struggle. Teaching distracted him from writing, but he needed to teach to make money; his addictions to alcohol and marijuana made it hard to write, but when he quit, the experience of recovery also made it hard to write; and so forth. But after hammering this point into our heads for something like 100 pages, Max suddenly starts telling us about this new, long novel Wallace was writing. In Max's telling, Infinite Jest seems to come out of nowhere -- a long description of writer's block and drug/alcohol recovery is suddenly followed by Wallace having 250 finished pages of his new novel, which are so good that they make his new editor say he wanted to publish the book "more than I wanted to breathe." Whence this astonishing productivity? In Max's telling, Infinite Jest was the product of a sort of conversion experience. Recovery made Wallace decide that he didn't like "irony" anymore and that he wanted to write something with a moral purpose, and this newfound sense of direction opened the floodgates of Wallace's creativity. But there's nothing like this sharp "ironic / non-ironic" division in the work itself. Max tells us that Wallace was trying to become more "conventional." But Infinite Jest is just as weird as anything he'd written before, except on a much larger scale. I also have a hard time seeing it as an "unironic" book, though I confess I don't really know what "irony" means, exactly, in this context. (I suspect Max isn't sure, either, but of course he never bothers to define or investigate the term -- that's not his style.) How did the depressed, moralistic recovering addict of Max's story write hundreds of pages of manic, blackly comic prose about increasingly grotesque episodes of familial trauma? Max tells us that Wallace was no longer interested in alienating and confusing the reader, the way he was in his earlier work; the real Wallace composed a book that takes months to read, leaves no reader-expectation unviolated, and actively strains to avoid becoming too entertaining. How do these pieces fit together? It's not that what Max says is wrong, just that it's one part of the apparent contradiction. A good biography would takes steps toward resolving that contradiction. This one doesn't even acknowledge it. (Also, Max's book is really badly written on a sentence-by-sentence level, even by pop biography standards. Again, not a problem if you're just looking for info, but a bit disappointing if you're looking for a good, respectable discussion/appreciation of the subject matter.) dfw nonfic-misc reviewed 7 likes Like Comment Mircalla 649 reviews 91 followers June 3, 2015 la sua storia è diventata una storia di fantasmi "Devo accettare il fatto che potrei essere incapace per costituzione di reggere un legame intimo con una ragazza, il che significa che sono o terribilmente vuoto, o malato di mente, o entrambe le cose" (corrispondenza privata) "Succedono cose davvero terribili. L'esistenza e la vita spezzano continuamente le persone in tutti i cazzo di modi possibili e immaginabili." (da Brevi interviste con uomini schifosi) "L'idea che tutti siano come te. Che tu sia il mondo. La malattia del capitalismo consumista. Il solipsismo compiaciuto." (da Il Re pallido) biografia accurata di uno scrittore non convenzionale quindi anche la bio segue più che altro un ordine cronologico, ma emotivamente parlando ci sono dei salti e delle ricadute che indicano il percorso sbilenco della vita di David, una vita fatta di incontri e di fughe, di lavoro e di dedizione, di libri scritti e cesellati, libri mai amati, semmai odiati appena dati alle stampe, di dipendenza e di noia, di corrispondenza con DeLillo e amicizia/competizione con Franzen, una vita dolorosamente poco vissuta, più che altro pensata, lui pensava troppo e viveva pochissimo, aveva sempre paura e questo si evince da ogni parola che ha scritto nel corso della sua carriera di scrittore e saggista e per via della sua paura alla fine ha mollato tutto a metà, come fosse un suo romanzo... "puoi fidarti di me, sono un uomo di..." (da La Scopa del sistema) 7 likes Like Comment Derek McDow 11 reviews 40 followers January 30, 2013 ELS-isa-GS haunted me but not because it tells of DFW, a brilliant literary titan, who suffered deep psychic trauma and depression but because of the phantoms shadowing the presence of this caricatured history. Everyone is mysteriously absent, hovering just beyond the periphery--his parents, his sister, his many gfs (Mary Karr) and his wife Karen Green, his literary peers (Delillo, Franzen, Costello, editors, agents like Bonnie Nadell), his students, his AA mentors, sponsors & therapists. D.T. Max's weak treatment of DFW's literary work and vapid check-list style chronicle profoundly reeks of opportunism--that is, the old habit of the Hack riding the wave of a genius's legacy. Max's Acknowledgments hint at a greater interest in making the rounds--to mingle, schmooze, grip & grin--among the published/ing privileged than genuinely composing a worthy dimensional book-length bio on Wallace. Any well-attuned reader of Wallace could derive more from reading a couple pieces of his (non)fiction than from reading this 300+ page pablum. 7 likes Like Comment D.T. Max Author 7 books 102 followers September 15, 2012 Well I really liked this book but, um, it's not really fair 'cause I wrote it. Thanks to everyone who has read it too and thanks especially for all the feedback. It's how we all learn! 7 likes Like Comment Paul Gleason Author 6 books 84 followers October 26, 2012 I began reading Infinite Jest for the first time when my ex-wife and I were flying over the Atlantic Ocean on our way to Rome. This reading was my first experience of DFW, and I remember howling with laughter as perplexed Italians perplexedly looked at the nerdy guy with glasses who couldn't control his hysterical relationship with what appeared to be a copy of what appeared to be . . . a dictionary??!!! I wasn't laughing at the tremendous material in DFW's very funny mega-novel but laughing with the joy of recognition. Never before had I read a writer whom I felt thought the way I thought. It was like DFW's thoughts were my thoughts, right down to the syntax, sense of humor, and moral and ethical concerns. It seemed like my fellow midwesterner was my best friend - and that we were going to have a long relationship hanging out together, through the medium of his books and, perhaps, through the medium of my books and articles. Who knows? We both loved the same writers. Maybe he'd pick up something I'd published on DeLillo or Vollmann . . . The previous and somewhat self-indulgent two paragraphs are key to my reading of Every Love Story Is a Ghost Story because this is the first biography of a person whom I consider to be somewhat of a contemporary (DFW would be roughly ten-years my senior, if he were still breathing). And, since his suicide two days before my 36th birthday, on September 12, 2009, I've felt a gaping hole in my soul. And I don't mean to exaggerate this feeling of emptiness at all. It's as if a section of my being was removed from me on that day in September - and I know that I've never gotten it back. I remember telling someone that DFW's suicide would send me into a tailspin. And it did. Shortly after it happened, I was experiencing severe symptoms from cardiomyopathy (a form of heart disease that will eventually result in a heart transplant and/or premature death). I lost my job and my marriage fell apart. I, seemingly, lost everything. I also began to experience a flair up in the mental-health problems that have plagued me for my entire life. Multiple medications were tried - and multiple medications didn't work. I was - and still am, to a certain extent - suicidal. Now, I'm not completely attributing DFW's fate to what I've gone through. I know that other factors were at work. But what fascinates me is the way in which my story relates to his. I'm not claiming his brilliance for myself, and I realize that Max has constructed DFW as a character in this bio just as any subject of any bio is a character. It only came out after DFW died that he - like me (I'm also a childhood cancer survivor) - suffered from serious health problems throughout his life. Mine were mental and physical, and his were mental, true, but I think that we both realized the fragility of life and the importance of life as a moral quest. We were both good students. I had the drive to get a Ph.D. from a major institution by my mid-twenties, just as DFW did well in academia and published his first novel - The Broom of the System - when he was a wunderkind in his mid-twenties. We also both used academic success and our intelligence as a way of dealing with the chaos and insecurities that bedevil contemporary US life. Knowing more stuff was a way of keeping the monsters of chaos at bay. We both read a lot, valued Dostoevsky as the greatest novelist who ever lived, raged against irony, and deeply believed, to quote Patti Smith, that compassion has a human face. Consumerist America was our Hell. DFW tried to find ways out of it and the ironic stances it produced in his fiction and essays, while I tried to teach and write on books that sustained an ethical commitment to others while advancing the craft of fiction. Of course, DFW influenced me in all this. But I was having similar feelings before I encountered his writing. I remember one drunken night at a Joyce conference in South Carolina, where I realized the inauthentic, ironic bullshit of the whole situation. That night I even realized that Finnegans Wake was the biggest exercise in literary masturbation of all time - and I loved Joyce, as any ironic grad student at a top-flight program would. I realize that none of what I've written here constitutes a book review - and I don't care. It's just that out of all the writers I admire, DFW IS THE ONLY ONE who seems to occupy a fraction of the stuff I think about every day. Max's book is incredible because it prompts these thoughts. It's also scary because it prompts these thoughts. DFW was a piece of me - and that piece of me is dead. 6 likes Like Comment Displaying 1 - 30 of 981 reviews More reviews and ratings Join the discussion 21 quotes 7 discussions Ask a question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. Help center Company About us Careers Terms Privacy Interest Based Ads Ad Preferences Help Work With Us Authors Advertise Authors & ads blog API Connect © 2024 Goodreads, Inc.

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So What Do I Do? A Crime Thriller from the High School by G.J. Griffiths | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book So What Do I Do? A Crime Thriller from the High School G.J. Griffiths 3.72 29 ratings 27 reviews Want to read Shop this series Rate this book An alternate cover edition can be found here . This is a thriller of the “Why’d they do it?” category and the book stands alone with its intriguing trail of catch-up between the police and the criminals. A crime that goes badly wrong in its execution, and goes on to tragically affect the local school community, produces a trail of chaos. It’s a winding trail that the reader must try to follow and which two ex-pupils from the school, one a detective and the other his violent quarry, take around Britain only to end at its shocking conclusion. In So What Do I Do?, the third novel in the So What! series, we see the return of a few of readers' favourite characters from the previous books. Constable Nigel Shantra returns as a detective, determined to bring to justice Kyle Crabbe, the psychotic adversary of his from the first So What! novel. And just what does a class of cheeky chimps, and a large black spider monkey, have to do with the traumatic events surrounding Hodgson's Hide - the legacy of retired Technology teacher Gil Hodgson? Molly is back also, now as an experienced teacher and a new mum. She's trying to come to terms with the major changes planned for Birch Green High School, while she and Oliver have dramatic plans of their own that could seriously affect both their careers. Still anxious to save the natural environment and its wildlife, Molly is also troubled by the plight of the neglected children of the world and climate change. Is she ever going to settle down to a blissful life of domesticity with her family when so many problems insist on grabbing her attention? When a conspiracy to defraud the local populace, devised by two apparently respectable but unscrupulous pillars of the community, goes disastrously wrong it results in an intriguing case for detective constable Shantra to solve. The traumatic events that ensue will prove to affect the haplessly incompetent pair of criminal perpetrators, hired by the swindling conspirators, as well as the teachers and pupils of Birch Green High School. Recently promoted Molly discovers that the pressures of helping newly qualified teachers, like James Gibborn, to cope with unruly classes bear no comparison to the eventual strain that she and her colleagues experience when an ex-pupil of the school decides it’s time for payback. This bullying past enemy of Nigel Shantra and his brother, Adam, will prove to be far more ruthless and cruel than anyone could have imagined in order to achieve his criminal ambitions. But he is just as likely to turn his attention towards anyone who upsets his plans, with terrifying consequences for those who won’t comply with his wishes. 265 pages, Paperback First published June 17, 2015 Book details & editions Loading interface... Loading interface... About the author G.J. Griffiths 13 books 82 followers G.J. Griffiths is a retired science teacher with some early working experience of the photographic industry. Born in the UK he enjoys reading most genres of fiction such as sci-fi, crime/detective thrillers, historical and wildlife stories. Non-fiction reading mainly includes scientific or historical books. Walking in the English, Scottish or Welsh countryside with binoculars ready for bird-watching or other wildlife is a particular pleasure. His first novel was Fallen Hero and the So What! series of three books followed. All three are focussed on the fictitious Birch Green High School. More recent works include poetry: Dizzyrambic Imaginings, two illustrated children’s sci-fi stories about ant-size aliens and historical novels based upon real characters from the Industrial Revolution period: The Quarry Bank Tales., Mules; Masters & Mud, The Mule Spinners' Daughters. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... Ratings & Reviews What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review Friends & Following Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews 3.72 29 ratings 27 reviews 5 stars 4 (13%) 4 stars 14 (48%) 3 stars 10 (34%) 2 stars 1 (3%) 1 star 0 (0%) Search review text Filters Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews Lisa Reads & Reviews 450 reviews 125 followers August 19, 2015 I felt as though I was sitting in front of a TV set, only I did not have control of the remote and the person who did was flipping through a hundred channels. Just when I became interested in a character, like the senior birdwatchers where the wife is struggling with a disability, the channel would change and I had to endure watching a selfish, chocolate-eating, fat, and rich woman play kissy face with her spoiled pug (too cliche for my taste). All details about a crime, one involving several characters with their flaws and variety of motivations, are known up front. The only question is how the arsonists will be caught and whether the real culprits will escape punishment. The novel jumps inside the heads of small town folks, which, while the totality paints an accurate picture of how crimes of a few can affect, and be thwarted by, a cast of many, can simply become a chore to wade through. The result of having no protagonist is that the cast of 100s are underdeveloped, making it difficult for me to be thrilled or chilled when one is in danger (I'm thinking, now who is Carol, or was that Molly who....???). Since I could not immerse myself in this story, I found myself reading just to answer the question how and if the criminals would be caught whereas I would have preferred to have enjoyed the journey. The many roadside attractions could become novels in themselves....Molly who chooses to work part time so she can adopt a child, and perhaps become an activist in the bird hide cause...and Jean who must survive disability, and the loss of her husband while the school in which he taught considers not rebuilding the bird hide. Just those two threads could become a novel--yet they are lost in the crowd. The writing delivered the story, but nothing more. However, I must praise the authors for all the work they must have put into weaving a tapestry of this size together in a way that made sense. Perhaps if I had read other novels in the So What! series, some of the characters would have been familiar and I would not have felt so underwhelmed. 3 likes Like Comment Susanne Leist Author 5 books 578 followers July 23, 2015 The story begins in a sweet way with a pair of bird watchers. But it soon turns deadly with a bombing and a dead body. The author delves into the characters of Birch Green High School and their feelings about the horrific event. We also learn about their feelings about the environment and about each other. The poor Hodgson Hide, a bird sanctuary, is destroyed once again. The beautiful bird paradise is ruined by a conspiracy theory and criminals. The author slowly unfolds the story in his unique way. I liked the characters and the book was fun to read. 3 likes Like Comment Hock Tjoa Author 8 books 90 followers July 27, 2015 The author is to be congratulated on persevering and completing his announced trilogy of the So What books. With nearly forty named characters and a "shaggy-dog" style, the book appears to this reviewer to be a leave taking by the author of characters he has conjured in his imagination and from whom he is loath to part. The many topics seem to meander: birding, teaching, the politics of school administration, larceny on the part of a councilman and a member of the gentry, juvenile delinquents and not so juvenile criminals, investigative reporting into genetically modified food and pesticides, a glancing reference to "fracking," an incident with a male spider monkey, the noisome but darling children, the prospect of adoption--this reader's attention was sent to wander. The writing is mostly correct and occasionally witty, as with a character's "designer-stubbled chin." It appears to be strained at times as another character is described with an expression that "always looked as though he'd swallowed a poisonous toad when he issued the words your mother." The author demonstrates by his brave attempts how really difficult it is to write well about tender or hilarious moments. Cliches creep in: "male chauvinist pig" does not strike me appropriate for use in a jocular manner and "think globally, act locally"is almost cringe-worthy. "Do you need, Omar?" must surely be an error as is "you're" for your. The point of view or voice of this narrative is shakier than the focus of many a cinema verite documentary. Once the voice even changes from the first to the third person within a sentence or two. What, indeed, should we do? 2 likes Like Comment J.E. Rowney Author 26 books 517 followers March 2, 2021 I probably suffered by not reading the earlier books in the series before this one. There are a lot of characters and it was quite difficult to grasp what was happening, to who, and, for the most part, why. It’s very much a surface story (or should that be surface stories) with not too much depth, but that’s probably related to the large cast of characters. I didn’t love this book, but there was plenty of action going on. If you’ve enjoyed the earlier books maybe you’ll like this one. The writing itself, with the aforementioned note on lack of depth aside, is fine. 1 like Like Comment Anne 529 reviews 13 followers September 12, 2015 First off I want to point out that I do not like the cover of this book and if I'd seen it in a book shop I would not have been drawn to it and that would have been a shame. However, I read this story on my Kindle having been offered a free copy by the author in return for an honest review and that's what you'll get. I have read other books by GJ Griffiths and my first impression was just how much his writing has matured and of course I say that as a mere reader, I am no writer myself so I have no intention of sounding patronising when I make this observation. The story is laid out in a style reminiscent to me of old Columbo episodes in that we witness the crime and then get caught up in the progress, or otherwise, made by the police and other characters in solving the crime. The scene is set with yet another case of arson in the nature area of Birch Green High School and my initial thoughts were 'Oh no, not again' but the author successfully moves this story on in a more original manner than I anticipated. I have previously noted that Kindle copies by a number of authors can suffer from an apparent lack of proofreading but, in the main Mr Griffiths has dealt with this issue. He has also overcome the problems I have encountered previously in using language and punctuation that appeal to an adult audience as well as the the young adults I feel he is trying to attract. However, in my part of the world the terms 'smeghead' and 'plonker' are so last century as to be laughable when used by a villain who does not hesitate to use torture and even murder as a means to his own ends.Overall though the characters in this book are rather more authentic than I have found in others in this series. Oh I forgot to mention that it's one of several books based in this High School but it also works just as well as a stand alone novel. GJ Griffiths is very keen on the environment and indeed gives a percentage of the sale of his books to relevant charities but I do feel that there are two tones to this book; the one following the narrative and then the one where the character Molly gets on her soapbox and delivers a lecture about a subject she feels strongly about when the whole tone becomes more like that of a newspaper article in perhaps The Guardian and may therefore lose a proportion of it's younger readers, but I may be wrong. Whilst on the subject of Molly Shrimpton I do still find her to be a bit of a twee Miss Goody Two Shoes but I am glad that she now has her husband Oliver to balance the scales somewhat. Overall a great read that I would recommend to anyone who likes a good crime novel and I look forward to the next book by this author. crime 1 like Like Comment Hazel 548 reviews 32 followers August 27, 2015 This eBook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review A crime thriller from the high school: So What Do I Do? is the third book in the So What! series by British author G. J. Griffiths. Despite being part of a series it works as a stand-alone story meaning that anyone can read it regardless of whether they are familiar with the previous books. So What Do I Do? is set in the north of England and centers around Birch Green High School. Do not be put off by the mention of school however, as the key characters are all adults. The story begins with the destruction of a bird hide on the school’s land. The hide was named after the well-loved ex-teacher, Gil Hodgson, who was there with his disabled wife at the time that arsonists targeted the area. Due to the harm caused to the elderly couple, the police are on the trail of the thugs that were responsible for this terrible act, and they are also determined to discover their motive. This is not a mystery story in the traditional sense; there is no ‘whodunit?’ theme for us to work out. Due to the multiple character perspectives, the readers know straight away who the culprits are and why they commit such a horrific act. In fact, there are so many characters that any suspense is completely eradicated. To be perfectly honest there appeared to be far more characters than were actually needed in order to tell the story. Having not read any other books in the series it is difficult to determine whether these extras were actually key persons within the general history of Birch Green High School – if that is the case, then that solves their presence within So What Do I Do? Griffiths has differentiated between the intelligent and the dimwitted through use of dialect. Whilst this attempts to make things more realistic, it does take a while to get used to this type of language, thus slowing the pace of the overall novel. Occasionally the author has attempted to be humorous, for instance a scene involving spider monkeys, however one would not go as far as to say it was ‘laugh-out-loud’ funny. It is also not much of a thriller; nevertheless the ending does become more exciting as we wait to find out whether the police force will capture the criminals before they can commit any more crime. Overall, So What Do I Do? is a unique novel with some interesting characters who you will definitely wish you knew more about - an incentive to read the rest of the series, perhaps? reviewed 1 like Like Comment J.C. Wing Author 25 books 218 followers July 7, 2015 The third book in the So What series starts off with Gil Hodgson, whom readers were introduced to in Griffiths’ previous novel. This time, we are offered a closer peek at his personal life when we are introduced to his wife, Jean. It’s been five years since Hodgson’s Hide was built, and as the story opens, it is here we find the couple as they take part in a bit of bird watching. They aren’t alone, however. They are unknowingly in the company of some troublemakers, and Griffiths has shown a bright spark of storytelling brilliance with this introduction. He starts the story off with more than a little intrigue, and succeeds in keeping the pages turning from the beginning all the way through to the end. Hodgson’s Hide, a once beloved nature corner, and Birch Green High School, which is interested in becoming an academy school, both seem to be in danger at the hands of some rather unscrupulous partners; half of which are interested in exacting personal revenge, and the other looking for financial gain. The plan goes awry, setting off a domino effect of one crime committed after another. Griffiths uses some of the most entertaining phrases such as; “In contrast to his brother-in-law Sherwin’s lack of tallness had more of the Dumpty about it. But this “egg” was of the hard-boiled type, with a shell that cracked easily, having no time for fools.” These creative gems are sprinkled throughout his engaging prose, delighting the reader while giving an already imaginative story even more color. This tale holds a bit more mystery than those before it, and shows Griffiths’ talent for intrigue. It’s an interesting puzzle, one that is not so much a ‘whodunnit’, but ‘how’dtheydoit’. The pieces are created incredibly well and fall into place nicely. This story rolls along at a very pleasant pace with many surprises along the way…including possibly one of the best bad guy confessions ever written, and a very satisfying ending. 1 like Like Comment Ronesa Aveela Author 52 books 93 followers July 3, 2015 So what do I write? I’m torn with my review of this book. I really liked certain parts, but others felt out of place. On the positive side, I loved the humor in the story, from the woes of a new teaching acclimating himself to his class, to a spider monkey saving the day. I found myself relating to the characters, the good and the bad. They make you laugh and cry. The author describes some characters in colorful, poetic detail, for example: “His stringy stature had something of a heron about it, the way he appeared to withdraw his neck and often stand poised, thinking, weighing up things, his beady eyes staring, waiting for a catch of some sort.” Now on to the negatives. By telling us who engineered the fire and the reasons behind it, and showing us who carried it out, the author took the “thrill” out of thriller. I would have liked to have been kept in the dark, and discovered clues along with the detective. Not only in the beginning does this happen, but in various places throughout the story, the author gives away what is about to happen before the scene unfolds, taking away its suspense. This got better near the end, when there were a few surprises that happened real-time. Throughout the story the author also promotes multiple causes for the preservation of nature and wildlife, for the wellbeing of children, adoption, care for the elderly, and more. I applaud him for his efforts, but they were isolated bits of conversation that were not tied in well with the main story. Does this mean I didn’t like this story? Not at all. If you like stories about law enforcement tracking criminals, this may be the book for you. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 1 like Like Comment Scott Spotson Author 16 books 109 followers July 2, 2015 So What Do I Do?... is a book written with an ensemble cast, with no lead characters or protagonists. As such, it is necessary to explore this intricately woven plot through the points of views of several characters. To be fair, the author does pick certain characters to carry the story, such as the school teacher, his wife, the two detectives, and the two ruffians. The author delves into many of the characters with details as to their desires, their ambitions, and their perceptions of the world as he tells the story. Ultimately, though, while a book with an ensemble cast of characters could work, the subject matter (the bombing of the bird-watching hut, the resulting delayed death of the school teacher, and the web of deceit that unfolds when the two ne'er-do-well villains attempt to escape the long arm of the law) wasn't interesting enough for me to remain seized by the plot of this book, if it were to be told from several perspectives and also include other personal stories unrelated to the bombing. I applaud the author for trying something different, for making the lives of those in the book as normal as possible, while dealing with the rapidly unfolding series of events that span out from a tragic event that takes but a few seconds, and making sure everyone has their say. The characters feel, act, and stay authentic, in a British setting. However, as a mystery, it just wasn't taut or unnerving enough for me to stay invested. 1 like Like Comment Cathy 399 reviews 1 follower July 15, 2015 I read the first two books so was happy to see what was going on with the people from those books. This book talks about Birch Green High School in England and a nature corner on the school property called a bird hide. They named it Hodgson's Hide in honor of a retired teacher everyone liked. It had been burned down twice before and funds had been gotten together from fund raisers in the community to rebuild. It is educational for the children and Gil Hodgson and his wife Jean love to come there to do bird watching. I did run into some terms I was not familiar with as this takes place in the UK and I live in the US. Fly tipping I thought, what in the world is that?? So thankfully the good old internet helped me out and told me that it is : Illegal dumping, also called fly dumping or fly tipping, or refers to dumping waste illegally instead of using an authorised method such as relying on kerbside collection or using an authorised rubbish dump. I loved how the author had the slang down when the low life criminals were speaking. It made me feel I was watching tv and I could almost hear them talking. There is a lot going on in this book find out how a large black spider monkey helps to capture one of the bad guys! Funny! Good job Mr Griffiths 1 like Like Comment Ben Hammott 20 reviews December 23, 2015 When I was sent this book free for an honest review, I doubted it would be to my taste and not one I would not have normally chosen to read, which may have had something to do with the cover. However, after reading a few pages I was sucked into the story and from that moment on there was no going back. As other reviewers have mentioned, this thriller has a lot of characters stories to follow, but as each story line is written distinctly enough to avoid confusion, you soon slip into their different lives as they gradually join together. The plot revolves around the Birch Green High School and an incident that happens on the grounds, which goes disastrously wrong and throughout the book the reader gradually learns the motive and the repercussions until the shocking finale is reached. Now I have finished the book I am pleased that I received a copy for review as I think my life has been slightly enriched by the experience. If you are undecided in your choice, take a LOOK INSIDE and I am sure you will follow through with a purchase. A well written thriller that I can honestly recommend. 1 like Like Comment Samuel Author 4 books 14 followers September 2, 2015 This book didn't immediately engage me, but as the plot thickened I found a lot to enjoy. The language itself was a little plain for my tastes, but it was also clear, concise and fit for purpose. I also enjoyed the thoroughly British accents and nicknames. In fact, the book is littered with British reference points, but I'm sure the story itself has a broad appeal. The book gives a closer look at the Gil Hodgson, and we see different facets of his life and personality here. I found the plot of this book more engaging than an earlier book in the series, although I did have to labour somewhat through the early chapters. As the plot began to roll, I found it well-paced throughout and found the setting and characters grounded and authentic. There was a strong sense that the author knows the setting and the characters intimately, and the book benefits as a result. Although not all the elements of the story, setting and genre appealed to me specifically, I admire the author's execution and I'm sure the book will appeal to a broad range of readers. 1 like Like Comment A.E. Albert Author 6 books 43 followers June 25, 2015 So What Do I Do? is another novel by G.J. Griffiths and the third installment of the So What? series. However, this time something more sinister is afoot as English police race to unmask those responsible for the death of a beloved teacher at the local high school. The story contains numerous characters. Some have small parts to play, while others a more significant role. Regardless, the author breathes life into each and everyone of these real and believable characters. He masterfully sculpts them with the written word, shaping personalities that could step off the page. So What Do I Do? is an exceptionally well written book. The author once again demonstrates his ability to create multi-faceted characters within a multi-faceted plot line. His writing once again draws a myriad of emotions form the reader, enabling us to not only believe in his characters but also relate to them. 1 like Like Comment Anna Fantabulous 65 reviews 6 followers October 13, 2015 The story begins five years after the events detailed in ‘So What's Next! (So What! Stories, #2)’. Molly Pearson is now the mother of two boys and is dissatisfied with her job as a teacher. A tragedy - a criminal act of arson that converts to attempted murder and manslaughter - propels her to make the change that gives more meaning and substance to her life. It does not end so well for Gil Hodgson, the renowned retired teacher whose nature corner ‘Hodgson’s Hide’ Molly restored in ‘So What's Next!’. A nefarious scheme to grab land and make money off it leads to his death and an investigation ensues. The motivation of the villains is petty materialism and the lesson of the story is to reach for something beyond one’s self. Griffiths’ novel will best appeal to nature lovers, wild life activists, teachers and people who have fond memories of school. I received a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair, unbiased and non-reciprocal review. 1 like Like Comment C.A. Pack Author 14 books 27 followers December 4, 2015 "So What Do I Do" is a crime thriller about a greedy businessman and a similarly greedy magistrate who allow their desire for huge profits to cloud their judgment. The action involves the death of a beloved schoolteacher who needlessly dies trying to save his wife from a burning building and the resulting investigation of the fire. The plot of this story is complex and the characters are many. It took me a while to really get involved in the storyline because there were so many characters to keep track of. And while the details are well researched, the author incorporated some environmental/scientific information that, while interesting, does not move the plot forward and could have been left out. I must say, once I got past the beginning of this novel, I became fully engaged, and I’m glad I had an opportunity to read it. The main characters are well developed; the description of the locations is nicely done; and the outcome is rewarding. 1 like Like Comment P.M.F. Johnson Author 21 books 19 followers December 30, 2015 I received a copy of "So What Do I Do" in exchange for an honest review. I thought the main plotline of this book proceeded in an interesting and engaging fashion. The crime committed, the unforeseen complications, and the unfolding of the consequences were believably written. The characters all seemed quite real, especially the bad guys. I did have some quibbles with the author's occasional pause for an info dump. For instance, I didn't feel the need for a full page explanation of neonicotinoids and their effects on the environment. But such lapses were rare enough, and easily skipped. My favorite part of the book might have been the various blunders that characters made, and the playing out of subsequent consequences. It made everyone so human to see them messing up. Very believable. However, I do think the book could have used another editing pass. Also, some technical details could have used a review. Overall, it was an enjoyable read. 1 like Like Comment Patricia 337 reviews 48 followers August 5, 2015 This is a brilliant follow on from the first two books in the So What! series. It is a very much darker story than the other books but the same characters are there with us throughout. The reader is plunged into some very difficult times and throughout we laugh rarely and cry often as the story unfolds. The characters are even more rounded in this third in the series which, in my opinion, is even better than the first two. The story line throughout holds together well and we get to know the characters more as we explore their individual places in the book and in the picture as a whole. My only gripe would be that the ending doesn't really fulfill the darkness the story holds and is somehow lacking given the depth we gain of the main protagonists throughout. That said I still heartily recommend this to everyone 1 like Like Comment Benjamin Hebert Author 3 books 11 followers January 23, 2016 So What Do I Do? Was an interesting read. Overall I think the lack of a 'main character'/ characters hurt the story a lot. It contains a big cast that the author moves between and though some have a bigger focus than others, I didn't really have the chance to relate or learn to care about any of them. The story was decent, and I continued through to follow it till it's conclusion but I think the presentation could have been much much better. I'm curious if the rest of the series is done in this manner and if the characters show up in them. Having received this in exchange for an honest review I did not read the previous volumes and cannot attest to them as a whole. If you like thrillers you'd probably enjoy this book. Just don't expect to find your favorite character of all time within it's pages. 1 like Like Comment Joannes Rhino Author 10 books 49 followers May 17, 2016 "So What Do I Do?" is a brilliant piece of work. I love the idea of how the author tries to describe an event from a multiple point of views. Having no main character in a story sometimes can be difficult for readers to follow (by difficult, I mean boring), but that seems not to be the case in this book. The author keeps the mystery going until a certain stage where the dots start to linking one and another. I wish if the author gives the explanation at the few last chapters of the book, that would be better. However, I was fully entertained reading this book. 1 like Like Comment Ica Iova Author 17 books 111 followers September 1, 2015 Although we are introduced to a lot of characters (too many for my liking with no protagonist,) the author did a good job separating each voice; the dialogue is believable, the plot line is interesting. A very fun to read book. I recommend it. 1 like Like Comment Bruce Perrin Author 13 books 94 followers April 6, 2016 When Backstory Intrudes on Plot So What Do I Do is a tale of two apparently upstanding citizens who turn greedy. They then hire a ruthless enforcer to manage the actions of two hapless, petty criminals in their get-rich-quick scheme. The caper goes awry, providing a series of twists as the story unfolds. The book is well written. The prose is descriptive and the characters and settings were generally well developed. Initially, the dialog concerned me, as several of the characters use slang and pronunciations that are a bit tricky for a Midwestern American. But I understood most of it and I got to the point where I enjoyed the conversations more than I expected. (I do admit, however, that even by the end of the book, I am not positive I know what “innit” means...maybe, isn’t it? But given the modern marvels of the eBook, I can tell you that this word occurs 61 times.) Because the criminals and their motivation are known from the outset, the story revolves around the chase and the continuous degeneration of the criminals’ plans. As the police work is mostly routine (fingerprints, interviews, footwork), my attention was mostly drawn to the downward spiral of the criminal element. ‘Honor among thieves’ was not a phrase they knew, resulting in some interesting twists as the story moves forward. For me, perhaps the biggest drawback of the book was that the backstory and the background tended to intrude on the plot. All of the detail about climate change, the pros and cons of chemical use in agriculture, moral and practical issues related to neglected and abused children, commercialization of education, and so on, made me wonder how it was all going to be tied back to the crime. And the answer is, it wasn’t tied in. From reading the synopsis, I understand that this book is part of a series, and at least some of this material may be to continue an ongoing backstory. But for the reader picking up just this book, this material tends to dilute the rest of the plot. Overall, So What Do I Do is something like a cozy thriller. There are a number of folksy, solid citizens, concerned about a range of societal ills, who get caught in the crossfire as a criminal conspiracy self-destructs. I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 1 like Like Comment Jon Author 2 books 43 followers January 30, 2016 In So What Do I Do? , British author G.J. Griffiths demonstrates an incredible talent for telling a compelling, realistic crime story from the perspective of the criminals. Griffiths’ tale takes the reader into a world of crime that operates under the same class distinctions that are at work in every day, legitimate life. The story shows how ugly, brutal crimes that, on the surface, appear to percolate up from the lowest rungs of society may actually originate in the greed and corruption of the wealthy, powerful and privileged. Chock-full of action and dramatic tension, the book excels in portraying the psyche of the wrongdoers and, to a lesser extent, the world of law enforcement. Unfortunately, the detectives are among some of the most one-dimensional characters in the book. Griffiths presents a varied and intriguing caste of villains, victims and what I’ll call observers (family and friends of the victims, with deep connections to the local high school). The crime side of the book is extremely absorbing and entertaining, but its everyday depiction of high school life receives far too much attention, in my opinion, because most of those scenes involve character studies that have only limited relevance to advancing the central plot. A glowing exception to this is how the book uses student-teacher interactions to effect the recovery of a vital piece of evidence. The book would benefit greatly from having its protagonist’s personal journey/evolution tied far more directly to the central plot line. Still, the depictions of the criminal element and the slowly tightening, inevitable closing in of law enforcement make the book well worth reading and provides some truly original and surprising twists. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Like Comment B.A. Spicer Author 14 books 74 followers April 7, 2016 Don't be put off by the cover! This is the second book I have read by this author. I had already met the majority of the characters in ‘So What Do I Do Next?’ and I was interested to know how their stories would continue. Although the book opens with yet another arson attack at Birch Green High School, the plot is definitely intriguing from the start. There is also the same variety of colourful characters from different walks of life, from petty criminals to murderers to school teachers and their dysfunctional students. Unlike the previous book, which was largely based around a school and its community, so that the plot was secondary to the characters and their environment, ‘So What Do I Do?’ is a thriller. As such, the story does sometimes lose direction due to the ‘mini-lectures’ the author likes to give on various subjects that I presume are close to his heart (he used to be a science teacher). The themes discussed range from GM farming to classroom etiquette. The destruction of the environment is also dealt with in detail. And this is where my concentration faltered. ‘So What Do I Do?’ became a crime/thriller story I really wanted to read, interrupted by bouts of political and ethical views and analyses delivered mainly by Molly (who is rather twee) and her husband (who is a more believable as a character). The writing is skilful and engaging. There is tension, drama and pace. Characters are well drawn and dialogue is ambitious, tackling the vernacular of the criminal underworld to add colour and humour. I just would have preferred less in the way of commentary. All in all, an enjoyable read. I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 1 like Like Comment Jennifer 15 reviews December 16, 2015 Overall, I enjoyed this book. Greed doesn’t pay. The plot was interesting, following two clumsy criminals as their crime unravels, becomes worse than they could ever imagine and they suffer the consequences. There were quite a few side stories happening simultaneously, these could have been pared down to make the plot flow better. The author does an excellent job of creating flawed characters, and they are interesting to follow as the story develops. Descriptions of the characters make them come alive, though there are a few too many characters to keep them all straight all the time. If I had set the book down for a couple of weeks and then picked it back up again, I might not have remembered the role of each character. Some of the side stories were a little on the preachy side—save the planet, save the orphans, save the nature reserve. I appreciate the themes, but they detract from the main storyline. As a biologist that has lived in the UK, I appreciated the authentic language and accurate descriptions. I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Like Comment G.J. Griffiths Author 13 books 82 followers February 13, 2023 In the So What! series of books I have tried to carefully craft each novel to present my readers with an enjoyable stand-alone story. However, there are with links between each book to favourite characters from Birch Green High School. Here is my summary to date: Readers laughed and they cried at So What! Stories or Whatever! Readers gasped and they sighed at So What's Next! So prepare to be fooled and defied at So What Do I Do? the latest stand-alone novel in the So What! series from G J Griffiths. It's a crime thriller from the High School that has Detective Nigel Shantra chasing a ruthless criminal from his past - with surprising contributions from a class of cheeky chimps and a large black spider monkey! crime-thriller Like Comment Dermot Davis Author 13 books 49 followers April 10, 2016 Even though I have not yet read the first two books in the series, I had no problem following the plot or understanding the characters of this delightful tale. More of a why did they do it than a whodunnit, I enjoyed the slow pace as it built up steam towards a rewarding climax that left me in thought for longer than most best-selling thrillers. The fact that the setting was local (at least in the UK) and involved local people and community education and politics was a very nice change from international espionage and the like. I also liked that the author didn't pander to youth and have the lead characters be good-looking, young kids with a penchant for romance; spending time with Gil and Jean Hodgson was far more real and rewarding. 2 likes Like Comment Annabelle Costa Author 30 books 325 followers November 5, 2016 I don't read a lot of crime thrillers and I thought this was written in a very interesting way. It was an ensemble cast with a lot of different storylines going on, but all of them were very interesting. Not all the characters were entirely likable, but I actually like flawed characters. It's not a whodunnit, but more like Columbo in that you know the crime up front and it's all about whether the criminals will come to justice. More of a "how they dunnit." In general, I thought it was a great, unique story. 1 like Like Comment Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews Join the discussion Add a quote 2 discussions 1 question Can't find what you're looking for? Get help and learn more about the design. 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