Ketutar
I wish one could rewrite history, and it would be so. On the other hand, all our choices have led us to what we have today. I often think about what I would do if I could wake up back in 1984, having all I know now in my head, all my memories, all my knowledge. There are things I wish I had done differently. I am still pretty pleased with what I have right now.
Now, would Robbie and Cecilia's life have been much different? Robbie would still have gone to war, being young and able-bodied. Now, he would have had a higher rank, and he might have been a medic, and maybe survived, but - maybe his fate was to die. Cecilia might still have been a nurse and died the way she died. Though I wish Ian had given them a child.
But - a good book. Quick read. I'm glad I've read it.
BTW, the green dress... Did you know it has a Wikipedia page :-D
I love Isaac Asimov's books. This is another re-read. I'm trying to follow C.S.Lewis' recommendation of rereading books more often :-DThis is one of my favorite books, and I have reread it several times :-DIt is a collection of short stories, bound together through Susan Calvin, the robopsychologist. A brilliant woman. One of my literary heroes :-) The frame story is an interview with her about her career and life, and she tells these short stories - or they are somehow connected to what she talks about. Now, they aren't told as if someone tells them, they are true short stories. It's so interesting, how Asimov created the three laws of robotics, and then spend a lot of time trying to break them :-D Anyway, it shouldn't have been called “I, Robot”, the honor should go to [b:I, Robot 30525004 I, Robot (Adam Link, #0.1) Eando Binder https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1465707411l/30525004.SX50.jpg 51047598], which Isaac Asimov was inspired by. And the movie “I, Robot” shouldn't be called that at all, because it has very little if anything to do with Asimov's book :-D
I liked it a lot. Of course. Why would I have given it five stars otherwise?
I think it's great how Cinda manages to wind the people's lives together without taking the obvious route. I'm looking forward for the next book.
This is a fantasy novel about a matriarchal queendom. Wizards are the villains here.
I was thinking of giving it four stars, but then - I f-ing love it! Why not 5 :-D
The next book is supposed to be published this year. sigh
Well... now I have time to read other books :-D
When I had only 100 pages left, I yelled at my husband: “But... but... he is going to kill him, and what about her, is she a jinn, is he a jinn, is he even his son? How can she tie up all the threads in just 100 pages?” She tied up the threads in the last 30 pages. Except... it's a cliffhanger. :-D I HAVE to read the next book!
The stories based on Middle-Eastern folklore have become quite popular lately. Chelsea Abdullah at least comes from the right background and knows what she talks about.
The beginning was absolutely horrible.
We have a sassy 12 years old girl who wasn't allowed to do the only thing she wanted to do, but she didn't do anything similar on a small scale, she wasn't training to become an explorer or anything like that.
We have the horrible aunt who tries to force the girl into a mold.
We have a wonderful dad who goes against everything to make his little girl happy.
Her best friend is this boy who is a bit Autistic (or behaves like one), and she is the only one who understands him, appreciates him, and likes him.
And then we get the Draco Malfoy copy enemy.
It doesn't get any better until about 1/3 of the book when the circumstances lead to the kids to be forced to take care of themselves. Then they manage to clear up most of the cliches, tropes and caricatures, and it ends in a rather OK note.
For some reason, they use wolves as sled dogs. Not actual dogs.
And they have unicorns. Not horses.
This book started as a retelling of Christina Rossetti's Goblin Market. It was set in the author's East European Jewish roots, and the story was woven into several Slavic and East European tales, legends, myths, and folklore. We get a sort of magical realist story of two sisters, whose father is a bear and whose mother is a swan. One of the daughters, the oldest, inherits the father's shape, and the youngest inherits the mother's shape. The parents must leave their daughters alone for some time, which in itself wouldn't be a problem, as they are almost 18 and 16, and they have friends and allies in the village close by. The problem arises when mysterious fruit sellers arrive at the village, and things start happening. The setting and how the author deals with it reminds me very much of [b:Small Favors 55835986 Small Favors Erin A. Craig https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1604853261l/55835986.SY75.jpg 76987783], but in this book, the siblings aren't warring. It is very much a coming-of-age story, and very much a story of love. One could take it as a YA romance novel, but I see it as much more than that. It is about families, the importance of love between spouses, siblings, generations, neighbors, and strangers, and of all kinds of love, not just erotic, romantic love. That is there, sure, but it's not the main focus. It is also a story of being oneself and loving oneself. The power of truth and openness. They also talk about the nasty things that happened in Europe to Jewish people. And... still happen in some form. Antisemitism and blood libel is alive and well even in today's world.
Well... there were a couple of witty, funny bits, but all in all, it was pretty boring and rather prejudiced.
The idea that afterlife is inhabited by both actual people and imaginary characters is fascinating.
I am surprised to hear that he was married twice. But, August Strindberg was also married, three times.
I love Eva Ibbotson's books.
This is one of her romance novels. It's not soppy, not purple, and there is practically no sex, and almost no kissing either, but it is lovely. :-)
Her love of Austria comes forth strongly in this one as well as in the others. I would really love to go there and see these places she talks so highly about. I wonder how much of her Austria still exists. :-)
I love the ending. :-D It was to be expected, but also clicked in place so perfectly and timely. I'm just sorry that the house burned, and Marek was being an idiot for a while, there, but I suppose things like that happen.
Warning for animal abuse!
Umberto did it again... :-)
I wouldn't mark this as magical realism, because the only magic in it is what is in reality, the beauty of the world and universe and everything.
It is a story of a young man who got shipwrecked to rescue himself on another ship without a crew but filled with natural samples, like plants and birds. Umberto toys with the idea of that on the 180th latitude, an island just 10 meters away, is still in yesterday, while we are already in tomorrow.
It is a fascinating story filled with ideas, but also an adventure story reminding me of Alexandre Dumas' stories, with spies and Richelieu.
Fascinating idea.
Bianca's family women have a secret. A man's skin the women can wear and become a man.
Bianca experiences living like a young man, Lorenzo. She gets to know her future husband better, and, unfortunately, they get to know each other too well. They fall in love, Bianca with him, he with Lorenzo. Bianca/Lorenzo causes a revolution, in the life of the town and in her own life.
I would like to have seen the serious issues dealt with a little more, but this is a nice, light endeavor into the serious issues, and one can choose to think about them as much as one wishes to.
Well... I don't know if I should put up a warning for animal abuse or not... it's not that obvious.
But they do treat the poor parrot abominably. Parrots are very intelligent and social animals, and shouldn't be left alone for a long time. It also felt that the poor thing had nothing to do but sit in its cage, and also I believe its wings were amputated. Not just feathers clipped, but her arms were cut so that she couldn't fly.
Also, the adder living in a box... er... uh.
Anyway, it's a good book about the adventures of children in the 20s and 30s. I especially appreciate equality. John is not the best captain because he's a boy. Nancy is just as good, and in some aspects better. Susan is a “good housewife”, but also an apt shipmate. The gender of people never comes up as an issue.
I also love the fact that all adults are good people. There is no “stranger danger” here. Everyone is friendly, generous, and kind to the kids.
And, it's not ageist. The children are not belittled or not listened to just because they are younger. Everyone is treated with respect.
Some of the best writing I've ever read.
The love scenes were absolutely lovely.
The explosion's aftermath was amazing.
BUT - I wish I'd known this is just part I. This is not the first book of a series, this is just the beginning of the story.
Also, there are some bits that I find very unsatisfying.
And the beginning was quite unnecessary.
Also, how could they not have figured out what Minya would do? It was obvious.
Satu Koskimies wrote a continuation to the story of [b:Emily of New Moon 3562 Emily of New Moon (Emily, #1) L.M. Montgomery https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563899327l/3562.SY75.jpg 1223124]. It's the first year of Emily and Ted's marriage, and Emily is having difficulties combining marriage, her own home, and work. Ted keeps painting and travels, and Emily is a little housewife at home. She can't write, and she keeps thinking about things she shouldn't. Like whether Ted really loves her, or if she should have married Dean instead, or what happens with the New Moon aunts. I found a lot of it did not agree with my idea of Emily, but the overall mood was very fitting. Every now and then it felt like reading Montgomery. I'm pretty sure that Satu Koskimies wrote very much about her own life as an author as well, and I'm also convinced that her life isn't much like Lucy's, and therefore Emily's. So it didn't feel really like Emily's life. But all in all, a very good effort. Worth reading.
Ok... so... when I was little, like 10-11, my 4 years older sister started reading Harlequin novels. And, of course, I read them, too. They have a special place in my heart. But... they are awful! If you ever wonder why E.L. James writes the way she does, THIS is the reason why. She also grew up reading these dastardly little pieces of crap. But, she never grew out of them. She still believes this is romantic, sexy, hot, and a love story.
No.
OK, spoilers ahead, if you care about that stuff.
The story begins with our heroine finding out that “Max” is getting married. Then we find out that Max is the hero. So, we know Max is definitely not getting married. But that is what Amy (heroine) thinks. So when Max is “flirting” (sexually harassing) Amy, she is really bothered thinking that he is cheating on his fiancée with her, that she is cheating on another woman with her fiance, hates herself for wanting it, hates him for not caring about his future wife, and her. And the bastard says nothing, even though he is well aware that Amy thinks and feels this way.
Anyway. We find out that Max and Amy met the first time when Amy was 11, and Max, 11 years older to her, wanted to make a sculpture of her, so he took photos of her.
We find out that Amy has been living with Max's family and has seen Max as a big brother her whole life. Until she was 17 and he kissed her. In a very unbrotherly way.
She was not sure now what it was that Max had done for her that had prompted her to give him a great hug and a kiss on the cheek, although she could remember doing it. She could remember rushing into the studio to thank him, running across to him and flinging her arms around his neck, standing on her toes to reach his great height. She could even remember her words.
‘Max, you're so wonderful! Oh, thank you, Max!'
It was his reaction to that small and uncomplicated kiss that had been the beginning of the end of her time here.
‘If. you're going to thank me, thank me properly,' he had said softly, his arms locking round her and refusing to let go.
‘I did!' She had looked startled, even then not at all aware of what was coming.
‘Not really,' he had assured her with one of his slow smiles. ‘I think that if you're going to kiss someone, especially me, you should do it wholeheartedly, like this!'
Now he was holding her with only one arm, a strong arm like iron, that held her to him with no offer of escape — not that she thought of escaping, not then. His other hand came to her long, black hair, his fingers spearing through it, capturing her head as his lips covered hers for the first time in a kiss that took her breath away and set her heart hammering wildly. When he reluctantly lifted his head, she could not utter a sound. Her eyes were brilliantly blue in her pale face as she stared up at him in a shocked silence.
‘Max?' she managed to say, as he simply looked down at her, watching her reaction. At her questioning and shaken look he smiled and stroked her face, still not freeing her from his tight embrace.
‘Amy?' His eyes were slightly derisive, a look she had never seen before on him, and it confused her even more.
‘Why — why did you — you kiss me?'
‘Why not ?' he countered. ‘Maybe I wanted bigger and better thanks, or maybe I'm no longer sure that I want to be such a comfortable figure in your airy life.'
‘But — but I've always loved you, Max! I look forward to seeing you. I — I need you like ...‘
‘Like an old well-known dog, like a security blanket?' he asked wryly. ‘Step one in growing up, poppet: don't take anyone at their face value.'
And she couldn't after that. The kiss had awakened something in her that she could not control. Other kisses had left her with no feeling at all, but they had been kisses given to her briefly by boys she knew, and few of them at that. This was different. It was a kiss from a man to a woman, and she wanted more.
‘But — but I don't understand! You're going to marry her! That house ...‘
‘Did I ever say I was going to marry Glenys?' he asked, his eyes holding hers.
‘No, no, I don't think so, but you let me believe ...‘
‘You weren't paying enough attention to me,' he said softly.
“I have this awful feeling I should always have my own way, especially with you. It comes from having fashioned you in permanent materials, I expect. I just have this odd feeling that I've created you.'
‘That's a pretty scary thing to say!' gasped Amy, swinging to face him.
‘Oh, I don't know,' mused Max, his eyes on her startled face. ‘I'm quite prepared to take the responsibility.'
‘But you know I do,' he said with a certainty in his deep voice. ‘You've known it all your life.'
It's not bad, just a bit boring. After all, it's an encyclopedia. I was expecting a bit more personal entries. Like 1001 essays on why people love SPAM, 80s music and mindless, meaningless entertainment.
I have to say “Who's on first?” is one of the best comedy routines ever. It makes me laugh every time. :-D
Well... the idea is wonderful. The execution not as much. I don't think the characters were that well done. I really didn't get an idea of any of them. And to me characters are very important. I would like to get a better idea of who these people are.It felt a little bit... I don't know how to say it... hmm... not fully thought through. A bit fragmented. It reminds me a lot of [b:Over Sea, Under Stone 11312 Over Sea, Under Stone (The Dark is Rising, #1) Susan Cooper https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1443993959l/11312.SY75.jpg 742] and [b:A Wrinkle in Time 33574273 A Wrinkle in Time (Time Quintet, #1) Madeleine L'Engle https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507963312l/33574273.SX50.jpg 948387], but it isn't even close as good. It's a good enough surrogate to fill the void at least for some time, and I think I'll finish the series, because they aren't that long, and it's not bad, even when it's not great.
This was a rather nice adventure, though the historical details didn't sound too true to me. (Like, according to Mackenzi, it takes two weeks to sail from Barcelona to Genoa. It doesn't.) It was a bit bothersome. Not enough to disturb the reading experience, Mackenzi Lee is a good author, I think. (Well, yeah, 4 stars).
I like the solution of the book and look forward to reading the continuation.
