Wulf C. Krueger

I just wanted a nice little romance to reset my brain. What I got was a weird mix of hippie crap (self-coupling my arse), commitment issues (Susie, Cleo, the kids, Mack; all suffer, none win).Cleo, a writer for “Women Today”, writes a column about finding what she calls her “flamingo”, meaning her “soul mate”, “forever love”, you name it.In an act of defiance - orchestrated by her editor, though - because she keeps finding (and promptly losing) sparrows instead of flamingos, Cleo goes on a trip to (brace yourselves!) “Salvation Island” to “self-couple” for a while in isolation and to ultimately “marry herself”.By chance, fate or, more realistically, a careless mistake by the owner of the “Otter Lodge” which her magazine rented for her, hectic Londoner Cleo meets “inconvenient American” Mack who intended to recover from a painful separation from his wife in the loneliness of his ancestral island home: Mack's grandmother used to live on Salvation Island.Thus set up, the two first make a truce (including a chalk demarcation line and a DMZ!) and, this is a romance after all, decide to have a holiday romance, a “micro-love” as they're going to call it.Integrated into the “Salvation Island” society by means of knitting (Cleo) and generally being manly and drinking (Mack), both try to make peace with their lives. They're just not very good at it, sadly.Mack is still strongly hung up on his wife Susie. Just like Mack on “Salvation Island” with Cleo, Susie has an affair. An office affair. With her boss, Robert. Separated from Mack for a year, Susie has been with Robert for months but pretty much the minute Mack tells her about Cleo, she wants him back. Cliché? No, not at all! Mack himself barely resists the urge to kiss Susie under a convenient mistletoe and when Susie kisses him (on Christmas Eve, of course!) the focus conveniently moves away just in time...Complicating matters, the two have two kids to whom Mack's entire life is devoted and for whom he's willing to sacrifice everything - even his own happiness. I've kept wanting to slap Mack, telling him that if he's so unhappy, he can try as he might; he won't be able to fool his kids and simply won't be able to be the father he wants to be for them.All the while, Cleo stays on the island, sitting in the sand (on a cushion, we don't want an inconvenient wet arse!), marries herself (which gives her feelings of being deeply profound for reasons entirely escaping me), cries a lot, pines after Mack and talks a lot about “micro-love”.Tragedy strikes the island, one life ending, one life beginning, Cleo finds her new self and, ultimately, during the big finale, Mack returns to suggest a thousand holiday romances for the two of them to which Cleo meltingly and enthusiastically agrees. Thus, conveniently never fully committing to each other, they're implied to have a thousand happily-ever-afters.I thought I had signed up for a “romantic comedy” but what I got was a bland, half-arsed story about shallow people with commitment issues. Is this something you'd like to read? Me neither.Two out of five stars because... it's not total garbage (just mostly).Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam

I was looking for a quick, easy, purely entertaining read and that's what I got with “[b:The Bodyguard 58724801 The Bodyguard Katherine Center https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1637059607l/58724801.SY75.jpg 92420729]” by [a:Katherine Center 409113 Katherine Center https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1507831194p2/409113.jpg] - mostly.Pretty much for the entire first quarter of the novel, Hannah is supposed to be a tough, no-nonsense, bristly and business-like woman who is used to being in control. In fact, I read her more as a wooden, cliched character who seemed to have few redeeming qualities: She's not tough but basically always on the run from herself and her emotions. She's not bristly and business-like but acts rashly and impulsively...»And that's when, despite everything I had just decided about how getting myself to London would be the answer to all my problems, I said, “You know what? I quit.”«... while at the same time allows her boss to just walk over her...»I'm not sure anybody even heard me—except for Glenn, who brushed that declaration off with a glance, like I was an annoying insect. “You're never quitting. Like I already said.”«Even when meeting Jack, she's behaving like a bodyguard from kindergarten:»And that was before he shocked the hell out of me by opening the door.Shirtless.Just opened up the front door. To a total stranger. Utterly naked from the waist up. What kind of a power move was that?“Jesus Christ!” I said, spinning around and covering my eyes. “Put some clothes on!”«At this point, I pretty much expected to DNF this book and move on. I couldn't help but like Jack, though, and the way he carefully and sensitively disarmed Hannah with kindness and charm - and the slow, hesitant way she started to respond to it.Hannah starts off as a closed-off and guarded person, but she slowly starts to open up to Jack and his family. She becomes more vulnerable and more trusting, and she eventually learns to let herself love and be loved. To me, Hannah's character development is one of the strengths of the book.Hannah's journey to self-discovery, the beginning of Jack's healing process and the ways they helped each other basically is what made me finish this novel in one long evening. Despite its decidedly mediocre beginning, “The Bodyguard” turned into a funny, emotional, heartwarming, and ultimately uplifting story about love, loss, and finding your way back to yourself. Four out of five stars.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

“Don't think about it, dear,” Aunt Pol said quietly as they left the village and rode south along the highway. “It's nothing to worry about. I'll explain it all later.” This second instalment of “The Belgariad” had a lot of dialogue like the above. Our young hero, Garion, is still on the road, travelling south in pursuit of the thief of an ancient artefact with his Aunt Pol, Mister Wolf and the others. Unfortunately, Pol tries to keep Garion ignorant for reasons partly eluding me and - for reasons completely eluding me - Garion sulks and pouts a bit about it but instead of simply refusing to move another inch till they finally tell him what's going on, he pretty much accepts being kept in the dark. Very annoying and, at least in my experience as a father of three kids (and having been one myself!), not very truthful either. Plus: It's simply annoying to me as a reader because I do have a pretty good idea about what Pol and Mister Wolf are hiding from Garion but Eddings should probably have made them loosen up a bit. The “still being on the road” part is somewhat annoying, too. It's getting a bit formulaic at this point – the group is travelling, they're being hunted/followed/apprehended or something similar in some city/town/village/whatever and, of course, they master it pretty much without skipping a single step... Sometimes they quickly and heroically solve a local issue while being at it anyway.While this book is still suspenseful, at times I found myself in the position of any kid ever travelling longer than five seconds minutes and, thus, asking: Are we there yet? And the answer to this question dreaded by every parent (because it will most likely be repeated ad infinitum!) with respect to this book? No, it's a little longer yet – because not even at the end of “Queen of Sorcery” are we there. Another small gripe of mine is that nobody really ever changes: I might expect and be more tolerant about this if it only applied to the older members of the party but, alas, Garion himself doesn't change much either. Very slightly, maybe. Only at the very end of the book do we get a glance at a somewhat more reflective Garion. (Even though his childish petulance keeps coming up: ““I don't need any instruction,” he protested, his tone growing sullen.”) The worst issue, though, comes up when Garion finally grows a pair and rightly tells Aunt Pol off (I cheered!): “Well, I'm tired of being manipulated. You and I are finished!” Pol's answer to that made me fume with rage: “We will never be finished. You owe me too much for that!” Eh, what? No, Pol, our children don't owe us anything. We may have carried them as babies, pampered them – whatever. All of that was our very own decision. We decide to become parents in the first place (in this day and age) and we know (to some degree at least) what that means long before it actually happened. Whatever we might sacrifice as parents, it's our decision and does not create any kind of debt or obligation our children might have to repay. (Oh, and just in case you wondered: the best answer to the above statement is: “Ok, shall I explain the washing machine, the oven, [etc. etc.] to you then?”)In this case this is even more obvious since Pol actively keeps Garion in the dark about certain things about which she owes Garion a proper explanation. Nevertheless, the richness of the story-telling and attention to amusing details (“Right now he's telling me about the day he learned to fly,” Aunt Pol said. “That's a very important day for a bird.”) still made me want to keep reading and ultimately kept things interesting enough. Let's see what [b:Magician's Gambit 44688 Magician's Gambit (The Belgariad, #3) David Eddings https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1315276590i/44688.SY75.jpg 938086] brings... Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram

»“You came for me first,” she said. “Not the pizza.”«I'm exclusively referring to [a:Jim Butcher's 10746 Jim Butcher https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1400640324p2/10746.jpg] short story “Little Things” from the “[b:Heroic Hearts 58734999 Heroic Hearts Jim Butcher https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1636747653l/58734999.SY75.jpg 85291724]” anthology. This is simply because I only got it to read that one story - and it was worth it.Told from the viewpoint of “Major General Toot-Toot Minimus, sprite in service to Sir Harry Dresden [...] and captain of his personal guard”, this is set pretty much immediately after the events of “[b:Battle Ground 23106013 Battle Ground (The Dresden Files, #17) Jim Butcher https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1587778549l/23106013.SY75.jpg 42654036]”...An attempt on Harry's life is made and Toot-Toot valiantly takes charge! I've like the little folk from the very beginning and now they finally and very much deservedly get their very own story.Five out of five stars for a highly amusing short story from the Dresden universe.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam

Some books are confusing and “[b:Book Lovers 58690308 Book Lovers Emily Henry https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1638867089l/58690308.SY75.jpg 92341790]” by [a:Emily Henry 13905555 Emily Henry https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1573928938p2/13905555.jpg] is definitely one of those: Literary agent Nora, a big city shark, meets big city editor Charlie and inevitably falls in love with him. In a rural small town of all places to which she retreated with her sister Libby to try and fix their strained relationship. For a romance, a rom-com, this is a good premise.Sadly, the execution was of varying quality: First of all, the characters are so-so at best. Nora, characterised as a workaholic and a “shark” dominated by bloodlust in favour of her authors, doesn't ever feel like a shark. From very early on we get to know that she's always trying to “fix” things around Libby. Everything Nora does is dominated by her almost obsessive and possessive behaviour towards Libby: Nora didn't pursue her dream career to make more money for Libby (and herself). Nora never goes beyond the first date because she's only interested in acquiring food for herself and Libby.So, while I did like Nora, this compulsive obsessive behaviour was way too much. »“My sister's the sweet one. If she pees outside, flower gardens burst up from it.”«Libby in turn feels like an “extra” (if this was a film): She married very young, has two children with a third on the way. She lets herself be “mom”-ed up by her domineering sister and quite likely fled into marriage just to get away from the overpowering influence Nora exerts over her.Libby is also entirely forgettable - if it wasn't for a late “twist” in the book, she would have been completely superfluous.Then there's Charlie. He seems like a good enough guy but his character mostly remains in the dark. He simply doesn't make enough of an impression to really get who he is.The story itself is also a mixed bag: Much drama in the past, some more in the present, a failing bookstore in a quaint little town, very few truly interesting characters and the overall “literary world” setting is hardly used at all: Nora and Charlie cooperatively edit the book of Nora's favourite client - why don't we get to know and read more about that book which actually has an impact on Nora's and Charlie's relationship?There's not much in terms of “book lovers” in there either: Yes, Nora and Charlie use the “same subtle gender-neutral cologne” very unsubtly called “BOOK” (yes, spelled in caps).Yes, they both enjoy the old-fashioned book store but their “love” for anything (but each other, thankfully) seems rather generic and superficial. This book works (or fails) regardless of either the protagonist's professions or their passions.All of this doesn't mean this is a bad book; it isn't. The writing is fine, there's humour and the way Nora's and Charlie's journey to each other begins did amuse me a lot...»Another message comes in. A page from the Bigfoot Christmas book, featuring a particularly egregious use of decking the halls, as well as a reference to a sex move called the Voracious Yeti, which doesn't sound remotely anatomically possible.«... especially since a Goodreads friend recently read and hilariously reviewed something like that! Also on the plus side: Nora and (albeit to a lesser degree) Charlie actually communicate and talk about the challenges for their relationship which is all too rare in romance:»“Maybe, for whatever reason, you just don't want to date right now,” I say, “and that's fine. People feel that way all the time. But if it's something else—if you're afraid you're too rigid, or whatever your exes might've thought about you—none of that's true. Maybe every day with you would be more or less the same, but so what? That actually sounds kind of great. “And maybe I'm misreading all of this, but I don't think I am, because I've never met anyone so much like me. And—if any part of all this is that you think, in the end, I'll want a golden retriever instead of a mean little cat, you're wrong.” “Everyone wants a golden retriever,” he says in a low voice. As ridiculous a statement as it is, he looks serious, concerned. I shake my head. “I don't.” Charlie's hands settle on the edge of the desk on either side of me, his gaze melting back into honey, caramel, maple. “Nora.” My heart trips at his rough, halting tone: the voice of a man letting someone down easy.«And, last but not least, there are some truths hidden in this book, the most important of which is put into a toddler's mouth:»Tala regales us with a tale that is either the nonsense ramblings of a toddler or a faithful retelling of a Kafka novel.«All in all, this garners three out of five stars from me.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam

After landing her car in the ditch, Alexis Montgomery is “rescued” by Daniel Grant and introduced to the small rural town of Wakan. Alexis, 37, is a hot-shot emergency room physician from a dynasty of physicians who have traditionally been closely linked to the hospital at which Alexis herself works. Daniel, 28, on the other hand is from a founding family of Wakan and his family has always lived there and has risen to very local prominence. He runs a B&B in his ancestral home and lives in and above the mansion's garage with his dog and the carpentry pieces he works on as a hobby.Of course, after meeting each other, both Alexis and Daniel fall in love with each other and what follows is a nice ride through a plethora of large and small problems before the inevitable happy end. So far, so good...Sadly, there are a few issues: From the very beginning, Alexis finds issue after issue with actually having a real committed relationship with Daniel - the distance (he's a two-hour ride from where she lives), the age gap (nine years... Pfft!), the end of her previous relationship three months earlier and, worst of all, the economic difference between them which she turns into a “caste system”...»Only this time I'd been born too soon and into a different level of a caste system that he couldn't scale. It made me a little sad.«A caste system? That Daniel couldn't scale? That's the mindset of someone I'd really strongly dislike. This is reinforced by two of Alexis' girlfriends who are even worse than that.I do get [a:Abby Jimenez 18446724 Abby Jimenez https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1651706989p2/18446724.jpg] does this to be able to show a changed and rehabilitated Alexis in the great finale but I found myself strongly annoyed and put off by Alexis constantly making excuses why her relationship with Daniel is doomed anyway.My second major gripe is Alexis behaving like she's in her early twenties at best instead of being 37: »I'd get invited to holidays and celebrations with parents who wouldn't have him, so he couldn't come.«So because her retired parents from whom she's economically completely independent disapprove of having a relationship with someone “below” their “social sphere” Alexis actually wants to break things off with Daniel?Right now, I'm 46. I've been married for pretty much exactly half my life to the woman I love. Of whom my parents didn't approve for a decade or so. Who happened to live in another country. I married her regardless, we have three adult children now.I was infuriated by what my parents thought but, ultimately, I didn't care. I was prepared to cut them out of my life if I had to. Maybe you feel like Alexis does...»Or if my dad thinks I'm a complete waste of his DNA? I'm already the weakest link in Montgomery history. I have to give a fuck. I have no choice.”«You do not have to give a fuck. You do have a choice. You can decide to lead a happy life with whomever you love - regardless of age, gender, social “standing”, etc.. Yes, you can.»They made me feel like crap, actually.«If someone makes you feel like that, cut them out. Regardless of who they are. Even if they are your parents. It's not worth it and toxic people rarely change enough...These issues somewhat impaired my enjoyment of “[b:Part of Your World 58684524 Part of Your World Abby Jimenez https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1634649284l/58684524.SX50.jpg 90170665]” but all in all it was still a good, entertaining romance.Rounded-up four out of five stars.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

»In the most surprising ways, the victims continued to live, because that is what nature did to death, it transformed abrupt endings into a thousand new beginnings.«I've absolutely no idea now “[b:The Island of Missing Trees 56587382 The Island of Missing Trees Elif Shafak https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1620048257l/56587382.SY75.jpg 88381372]” by [a:Elif Shafak 6542440 Elif Shafak https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1395322919p2/6542440.jpg] made it on my to-be-read list but, wow, am I glad it did! I wanted to embrace it.I was, of course, aware of the conflict about the Mediterranean island of Cyprus but, like so many other conflicts, I had a basic intellectual understanding of it. What this novel added is the perspective of two young lovers: Defne is a Turkish Cypriot and Kostas a Greek Cypriot. Both grow up in the capital, Nicosia, where they meet and, ultimately, deeply fall in love with each other.»‘I missed you,' she said.In that moment Kostas Kazantzakis knew the island had pulled him into its orbit with a force greater than he could resist and he would not return to England any time soon, not without her by his side.«This is not a romance, though; it is far from it although including elements of one. Most of all we get a close look at the fate of one family, Defne, Kostas and their child, Ada. Also playing an important role is a fig tree that once flourished in a bar on Cyprus which served as Defne's and Kostas' safe haven in an environment that would condemn their love for each other purely because of their respective nationality and religion - despite primarily being islanders.»Christian cannot marry a Muslim, it offends the eyes of Our Lord.«(There is no god but this - and much worse - is what you get for believing in one.)We accompany our cast from Cyprus in 1974 to London in the late 2010s. The novel opens in London and we get to know that Defne has died, Kostas has retreated into his work, his memories and himself. Ada, their child, is struggling at school and with life in general - where does she come from? What are her roots and what about her extended family - because there was no one around for Defne's funeral. »[Ada] knew in her gut that she was the child of the type of love that rose from the bottom of the ocean, from a blue so dark it was almost black.«From this premise, we switch between the past (mostly 1974 in Cyprus), the present (the late 2010s in London) and the early 2000s in Cyprus. The narration is broken up by the unlikely interjections of the fig tree mentioned earlier. These parts often connect (and sometimes reconcile) the past with the present and add important additional aspects from an uncommon but entirely sensible perspective.»'I disagree,' said Defne into her wine glass. ‘There are moments in life when everyone has to become a warrior of some kind. If you are a poet, you fight with your words; if you are an artist, you fight with your paintings ... But you can't say, “Sorry, I'm a poet, I'll pass.” You don't say that when there's so much suffering, inequality, injustice.'«I have to admit, I was irritated by the fig tree's appearances at first but after intentionally suspending judgement on this issue, I was quickly and completely gripped by this wonderful story. In fact, this was the first book in a long time that made me read deep into the night. Whereas I was, at first, hesitant to pick this book up again, the more I read the more hesitant I became to put it down.I also very much enjoyed the way Shafak weaved together the personal and the political. She shows how the conflicts that have ravaged Cyprus over the years have had a profound impact on the lives of its people, and how the wounds of the past continue to shape the present. At the same time, she also shows how individuals can make a difference, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.What sets this book apart is the tenderness of its narration. While I read it, I also felt the joy, the pain and so many other emotions that were not even told but pretty much triggered. And while there's a lot of sadness to be felt here (I'm actually crying right now), the primary subject here is love and it permeates the book.I especially liked sharp-tongued, quick-witted and struggling Ada who begins healing by interacting with her aunt Meryem. Her obvious intelligence coupled with her deep empathy made her struggles all the more challenging to read.»Ada stopped asking questions then, not because she agreed with anything her aunt said but because she had sensed, once again, underneath all the spirited talk and assertive personality, how timid and vulnerable the woman really was.«Everyone from our protagonists to their friends Yiorgos and Yusuf, the gay couple owning the bar in which so many important incidents happen, down to their parrot Chico, feels like a believable, plausible being. Another aspect of the book that I particularly appreciated was the way Shafak used nature as a metaphor for the human experience: The island itself, with its beautiful landscapes and diverse ecosystems, is a character in its own right, and serves as a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all things.Or, as Shafak puts it: »I also wanted to honour local folklore and oral traditions. But everything here is fiction – a mixture of wonder, dreams, love, sorrow and imagination.«At that, she utterly, completely succeeded.These are the easiest five out of five stars I've awarded this year so far!Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

I always look back on the previous year of reading at the start of the new one. 2022 turned out to be a rather mediocre reading year - whereas I usually get to an average rating of 3.5, 2022 only made it to 3.3 - and that also feels about right.I like to start a new year on a positive note, though, so I will concentrate on my reading highlights of 2022.Early in the year, I read the final instalment “[b:The Untold Story 57593991 The Untold Story (The Invisible Library, #8) Genevieve Cogman https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1631274967l/57593991.SY75.jpg 90197391]” of [a:Genevieve Cogman's 119888 Genevieve Cogman https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1402702877p2/119888.jpg] “Invisible Library” series. It is a brilliant finale to a series about Irene, secret agent of the Invisible Library, permanently caught between the Dragons (Order) and the Fae (Chaos)... A wonderful blend of spy thrillers, fantasy, high stakes adventure with great characters, I've loved this series from start to end.»And here in the Library, even if our outer layer is order, we have an inner heart of chaos. We read too much for it to be anything else.«Another highlight came in February by way of the most misunderstood book of the year: [a:Heather Havrilesky's 397284 Heather Havrilesky https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1535559576p2/397284.jpg] “[b:Foreverland: On the Divine Tedium of Marriage 61152428 Foreverland On the Divine Tedium of Marriage Heather Havrilesky https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1669082796l/61152428.SY75.jpg 91022043]”. Untypically for me, this is not fiction but a kind of memoir - the memoir of Havrilesky's marriage of 15 years at the time.The appeal to me was that Havrilesky is completely honest: There is no “happily ever after”.»Forever is two immortal elves, sipping pink champagne by a burbling stream, then exploring the wild, gorgeous woods around them in everlasting harmony. Forever is set in New Zealand, not New Jersey.«There will be issues and that - not the illusion of eternal happiness - is real. Acknowledging that along with the wonderful aspects of long-term relationships can really help.»I wrote this book to explore that tedium, along with everything else that marriage brings: the feeling of safety, the creeping darkness, the raw fear and suspense of growing older together, the tiny repeating irritations, the rushes of love, the satisfactions of companionship, the unexpected rage of recognizing that your partner will probably never change. And in writing this book, I discovered new layers within my marriage and myself, haunting and chaotic, wretched and unlovable.«I usually add only five-star reads to my review of the year but I'm going to make an exception for [a:Taylor Jenkins Reid's 6572605 Taylor Jenkins Reid https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1645653842p2/6572605.jpg] “[b:The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo 32620332 The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Taylor Jenkins Reid https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1664458703l/32620332.SY75.jpg 46885151]” which got “only” four stars from me.It gets the honorary star for the LGBTQ* representation as well as doubling as a memorial to Elizabeth Taylor, one of the first and most extraordinary allies, unwavering to the end.»I'm OK with the fact that sometimes doing the right thing gets ugly. And also, I have compassion for myself. I trust myself.«I also didn't expect “[b:The Kaiju Preservation Society 57693406 The Kaiju Preservation Society John Scalzi https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1624897234l/57693406.SY75.jpg 90049719]” by [a:John Scalzi 4763 John Scalzi https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1562613145p2/4763.jpg] to end up on this review but when I read it at the end of March, it was the perfect light read. But Scalzi himself said it best:»It's a pop song. It's meant to be light and catchy, with three minutes of hooks and choruses for you to sing along with, and then you're done and you go on with your day, hopefully with a smile on your face. I had fun writing this, and I needed to have fun writing this. We all need a pop song from time to time, particularly after a stretch of darkness.«Mission accomplished, John!Another wonderful surprise came up in April: “[b:Call Us What We Carry 56805404 Call Us What We Carry Amanda Gorman https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1627672473l/56805404.SX50.jpg 88721681]” by [a:Amanda Gorman 17342520 Amanda Gorman https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1640521263p2/17342520.jpg]. I'll just lazily quote myself from my review because it's still true:“I'm not sure what to say or write about this collection of Amanda Gorman's poetry. Any words I could find would still fall short to describe how amazing and emotionally moving, intellectually brilliant, witty and intelligent this is.”It was June when I met my next great read (which might not yet have been translated into English): “[b:Bretonische Nächte 59902596 Bretonische Nächte (Kommissar Dupin, #11) Jean-Luc Bannalec https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1640089119l/59902596.SY75.jpg 94321103]” (“Breton Nights”) by [a:Jean-Luc Bannalec 5763576 Jean-Luc Bannalec https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] which is part of Bannalec's “Kommissar Dupin” series. This series by German author [a:Jörg Bong 5717 Jörg Bong https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] is basically a “cozy” (I hate that term!) mystery about murder, secret gardens, rare birds and coffee!I'm also not sure if and when [a:Dörte Hansen's 13513496 Dörte Hansen https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1593346684p2/13513496.jpg] “[b:Zur See 61073953 Zur See Dörte Hansen https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1652273837l/61073953.SY75.jpg 96257659]” will be translated from its native German but it so much brightened an otherwise unattractive October and it made it to my favourite books of all time so it just must be mentioned here!Nothing else in my books of 2022 really demands being mentioned even though there were a few other really good reads! And just like that I've written myself into a good mood for 2023. :-)I wish you and yours all the best for 2023 and may there always be great books in your path! Happy new year!Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrEnglish version: Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendamGerman version: Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam

“[b:Sea of Tranquility 58446227 Sea of Tranquility Emily St. John Mandel https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1626710416l/58446227.SX50.jpg 92408226]” by [a:Emily St. John Mandel 2786093 Emily St. John Mandel https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1576606299p2/2786093.jpg] was my first book by this author so I was completely in the dark about what to expect. What I definitely didn't expect was the author taking a generous helping of common science fiction tropes and mixing them all up.First of all, there's time travel which leads to thoughts of reality actually being a simulation and for good measure Mandel unoriginally throws in a pandemic...With several timelines and narrative threads, jumping back and forth, the story became convoluted and hard to follow at times. I found it difficult to fully engage with the characters or their predicaments; especially since some were never fully developed (e. g. Edwin or, even worse, Thalia). There are moments where the characters seem to exist purely as vehicles for the story, rather than as fully-realised individuals.Mandel's writing was fine but, mostly, nothing out of the ordinary. There were moments - for example when describing the Canadian wilderness or, late in the book, our lonesome protagonist watching the sky - when the writing soars high above its previous “serviceable” quality. Those are rare occasions, though.The story itself was lacklustre to me: The anomaly was mildly interesting but never exciting and the resolution as predictable as anti-climactic. The pandemic part, well, we've just emerged from one and the descriptions of empty streets, lockdowns, etc. are nothing special. The time travel concept never goes beyond the most basic problems (“Don't modify the timeline or things might happen!”) and, lastly, the non-issue of the “reality as a simulation” theme is easily deconstructed by the book itself:»this is what the Time Institute never understood: if definitive proof emerges that we're living in a simulation, the correct response to that news will be So what. A life lived in a simulation is still a life.«So, here's to living and reading better books! Three out of five stars for this mediocre one.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

In this final instalment of the Alex Verus series, we accompany Alex on his “farewell tour” and the final siege that will decide the fate of all mages - Dark and White - in Great Britain.Over the run of the previous 11 (!) books Alex has had a formidable run: From a former Dark apprentice and shop owner he has risen to become a major force among mages in Britain. He has made a few friends (most of whom we encounter in this book) as well as many enemies (most of whom we also encounter in this book).His girlfriend Anne has been possessed by a Djinn and needs rescuing, his former master, Richard Drakh, wants to use him for purposes unclear so far and, last but not least, Alex - who bonded with Fateweaver by making it a replacement hand - finds himself being “overtaken” by his artificial hand.So, a lot of issues and unless you've read the previous few books at least, this won't be a book for you. Furthermore, it has to be said that “Risen” can be divided into two major parts: In the first one Alex revisits people and places important to him in the past.In the second part, we witness a prolonged siege inside a shadow realm; a battle, one might say, necessary for “ascension”: Not only Alex' abilities have greatly expanded but also his methods have changed - shop owner Alex never would have resorted to what Richard rightly calls an assassination. The Alex we see in “Risen”, though, has truly risen in many regards but he knows full well that he's on a dangerous path...Thus, the way things are resolved and the ending make sense for this series which I enjoyed greatly and would whole-heartedly recommend to anyone enjoying urban fantasy.While neither this book nor the series were perfect, Jacka found and refined his voice, his story telling rhythm and has grown along with his creation. I'm curious to see (and sure to read!) what he's going to come up with next.Four out of five stars.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram

Die deutschsprachige Wikipedia definiert Glosse folgendermaßen: »Unter einer Glosse (von altgriechisch γλῶσσα glóssa, „Zunge, Sprache“, über lateinisch glossa) wird ein meist kurzer und pointierter, oft satirischer oder polemischer, journalistischer Meinungsbeitrag in einer Zeitung, einer Zeitschrift oder im Fernsehen verstanden.«(Quelle in der Fußnote)Mit “[b:Die Anomalie 58515679 Die Anomalie Hervé Le Tellier https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1625753756l/58515679.SY75.jpg 84339980]” liefert [a:Hervé Le Tellier 4622980 Hervé Le Tellier https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1373842895p2/4622980.jpg] ein Werk ab, das mich über weite Teile an eine Glosse erinnerte, aber vom Umfang her dieses Genre “sprengt”. Nun könnte dies ja auch etwas Gutes sein; ein Novum oder, Entschuldigung!, eine Anomalie.Leider aber ist dem hier nicht so, denn “Die Anomalie” ist nur quantitativ eine solche - aber eben keinesfalls qualitativ.Die Prämisse ist interessant: Ein Flugzeug mit über zweihundert Personen an Bord gerät in eine Notlage, übersteht diese, wird aber jedoch durch die titelgebende Anomalie dupliziert. Fortan gibt es alle Menschen an Bord also mehrfach.Was der Autor zu erzählen hat, könnte als Essay, als Kurzgeschichte, als Gedankenspiel anhand beispielsweise einer Person interessant sein. Auch eine längere Erzählform wäre vorstellbar, böte dies doch die Gelegenheit, die philosophischen und ethischen Aspekte der erzählten Geschichte näher zu untersuchen.Angesichts der vielen Personen, die wir aber im vorliegenden Roman begleiten, verliert sich die jeweilige Geschichte einzelner (z. B. das des krebskranken Piloten oder des mißbrauchten Kindes) in der Beliebigkeit der Vielfalt. Eine wirkliche Nähe auch nur zu einer der Personen kann auf diese Weise gar nicht erst aufkommen.Gleichzeitig aber wirkt diese Mannigfaltigkeit aber auch umgekehrt: Durch die Zerfaserung der Gesamterzählung in viele kleine Teilbereiche, gibt es nur eine minimale “Rahmenhandlung”; die verschiedenen Theorien zum Ursprung der Anomalie werden nicht “zu Ende gedacht” und obschon mit dem buchstäblich letzten Satz eine (unbefriedigende) Auflösung gelingt, bleibt diese Auflösung hohl und ohne wirklichen Erkenntnisgewinn.Meines Erachtens wäre ein offenes Ende - ohne Gewolltheit und mit Brachialgewalt herbeigeführten “Knalleffekt” - hier interessanter gewesen. Das letzte Viertel, in dem dann endlich doch etwas spürbare Emotionen sichtbar werden, in dem es Le Tellier tatsächlich gelingt, sprachlich wie inhaltlich noch etwas Echtheit in seinen ansonsten eher “gekünstelt” wirkenden Roman zu bringen, versöhnt ein wenig mit dem Rest des Buches, jedoch wird dies zunächst durch einen radikalen Akt einer Figur und kurz darauf durch einen ebensolchen des Autors wieder zunichte gemacht - schade!“Die Anomalie” ist für mich sozusagen ein “Denkmal der verschenkten Möglichkeiten” - aus einem guten Ansatz weiß der Autor nicht wirklich etwas zu erschaffen. Seine Figuren bleiben blaß und - in vielerlei Hinsicht - unwirklich und holzschnittartig. Einige Figuren gar, z. B. der US-amerikanische Präsident, werden als Karikaturen ihrer selbst dargestellt und erinnern somit weniger an ihre realen Vorbilder (im vorgenannten Beispiel ist es ein überaus plump “kaschierter” Trump), sondern vielmehr an simpelsten Slapstick.Am Ende bleibe ich enttäuscht zurück: Im Persönlichen der Charaktere überzeugt der Autor mich nicht und “das große Ganze” versinkt in der Beliebigkeit der Möglichkeiten.Zwei von fünf Sternen.Quelleangabe zum Wikipedia-Zitat:Seite „Glosse“. In: Wikipedia – Die freie Enzyklopädie. Bearbeitungsstand: 14. August 2021, 02:43 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Glosse&oldid=214747640 (Abgerufen: 25. Januar 2022, 16:24 UTC)Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram

This is a short story told from Sonder's perspective, primarily featuring him and Caldera. Alex is only mentioned in passing.Nevertheless, this short story definitely makes you feel right at home back in the Verus universe.I never really liked either Sonder or Caldera and both their behaviours here just firmly cement this antipathy. Sonder is opportunistic and primarily worries about his future, whereas Caldera takes out her frustration on both Sonder and Anne whom the former pressures into service.Knowing the events in ”[b:Risen 58522969 Risen (Alex Verus #12) Benedict Jacka https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1635443888l/58522969.SY75.jpg 87821781]” I was able to mentally lean back and enjoy the show.Four out of five stars for a surprisingly good story.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram

»“If I am so damaged that I would need to be reset, I would rather be decommissioned and my parts used to repair others.”«(Highly relatable; I'm an organ donor - what about you?)“[b:Bots of the Lost Ark 60791147 Bots of the Lost Ark Suzanne Palmer https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1649659279l/60791147.SY75.jpg 95860954]” by [a:Suzanne Palmer 5105382 Suzanne Palmer https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1533054488p2/5105382.jpg] was a fun read! In this sequel short story to the earlier “[b:The Secret Life of Bots 48764297 The Secret Life of Bots Suzanne Palmer https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1587570930l/48764297.SY75.jpg 74139779]” which took place 68 years earlier, the bots on the damaged spaceship “Ship” have gone haywire and Bot-9 returns to save the day.Some old acquaintances are back in new roles, the story is nice and amusing and the writing is good. Four stars out of five.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendamMerged review:»“If I am so damaged that I would need to be reset, I would rather be decommissioned and my parts used to repair others.”«(Highly relatable; I'm an organ donor - what about you?)“[b:Bots of the Lost Ark 60791147 Bots of the Lost Ark Suzanne Palmer https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1649659279l/60791147.SY75.jpg 95860954]” by [a:Suzanne Palmer 5105382 Suzanne Palmer https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1533054488p2/5105382.jpg] was a fun read! In this sequel short story to the earlier “[b:The Secret Life of Bots 48764297 The Secret Life of Bots Suzanne Palmer https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1587570930l/48764297.SY75.jpg 74139779]” which took place 68 years earlier, the bots on the damaged spaceship “Ship” have gone haywire and Bot-9 returns to save the day.Some old acquaintances are back in new roles, the story is nice and amusing and the writing is good. Four stars out of five.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

»Fortunately I have learned that there is no justice, aside from what we make for ourselves. There is only survival, and the victor tells the story.«My wife and I lay in bed, reading. When I noticed I had read the same paragraph for a third time, I decided to call it a night. Two hours later, I woke up. My wife was still reading.Another two hours later, she was still reading. When I woke up at 05:00 (a.m.), she was asleep.The next morning I asked her which book she had read because, obviously, I wanted that, too! Turns out, it was “[b:Stranded 57793313 Stranded Sarah Goodwin https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1624439476l/57793313.SX50.jpg 90526642]” by [a:Sarah Goodwin 5156023 Sarah Goodwin https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1430160537p2/5156023.jpg]. I immediately got started.“Stranded” tells the story of a group of eight people who get shipped to an uninhabited island to live there for a year. They only have what they brought, can sometimes find caches of supplies but are mostly on their own. Everything they do gets recorded by cameras in the trees around them and by body cameras.With them on the island are two camera people in their portacabin and, according to local legend, a witch. This was a premise that I found pretty appealing. Especially, as it would turn out, since the mix of characters is quite good and they're all believable in their motives and actions. The dynamics of the group are interesting and engaging as well and make sense - not always in a good way.»They'd described Zoe as ‘flighty and insubstantial', Duncan as ‘bull-headedly competitive' and Frank as ‘the perfect balance of racist, sexist and old soak for the Brexit demographic'. I felt it like a slap when they got to me. ‘Madeline Holinstead – mousy, stuck-up and awkward. Clearly maladjusted lone wolf trying to fit in. Perfect love-to-hate character.'«The afore-mentioned Madeline “Maddy” Holinstead is both the primary protagonist and the narrator. From the very beginning, she tries hard to fit in, blames mostly herself every time she doesn't succeed and is soon made into the scapegoat for everything that goes wrong.Lots of things keep going wrong and so we quickly find ourselves confronted with very difficult situations and conflicts that reminded me a bit of [a:William Golding's 306 William Golding https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1636107810p2/306.jpg] “[b:Lord of the Flies 7624 Lord of the Flies William Golding https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327869409l/7624.SY75.jpg 2766512]”.Ultimately, though, my very high expectations from my wife's nightly reading marathon were not completely fulfilled: There are a few loose ends, the metaphysical/supernatural parts (which I have to admit, though, mostly remained rationally explicable) about the witch and some few other minor niggles almost led me to a three-star rating. Almost... because the ending and the epilogue made up for most of that. Thus: Four out of five stars. Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

Josie whines about her dead granny.Josie finds a body.Josie whines again about her dead granny.People vanish. Joise: “My poor dead granny!”Josie is in the morgue, sees a body and, yes, you guessed it...And so forth till the very end.(Don't get me wrong: Practically everyone from previous generations of my extended family are dead. Four during the last three years alone. I know grief but I've never wallowed in it like Josie does.)This book is a mess... - Murder by carbon monoxide poisoning which occured in about 3 ‰ (per mille!) of homicides during the 20th century according to a quick research. (I couldn't find data for the 21st century that did NOT include murder-suicides...)- A bus driver who might or might not have been tricked- Organised crime killing small-town fences for not coughing up money- An abundance of hardly-believable characters- Even harder-to-believe what-ifs - and not only hinted at but constantly repeated literal “if only, if only”s- Drugs, sex - just no rock'n'roll- Lots of plot holes and loose ends- A Josie Quinn who basically permeates between bemoaning the death of her granny and somewhat accurately working on the actual caseTwo stars out of five because despite all that I finished this turd. Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram

This was great escapist fun! This book read like the happy child of [a:Douglas Adams 4 Douglas Adams https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1616277702p2/4.jpg]' “[b:Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 386162 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1) Douglas Adams https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1559986152l/386162.SX50.jpg 3078186]” and [a:Martha Wells 87305 Martha Wells https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1397566224p2/87305.jpg]' “Murderbot” (in tone more than in spirit!) with a bit of [a:Ernest Cline 31712 Ernest Cline https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1310753539p2/31712.jpg]'s “[b:Ready Player One 9969571 Ready Player One (Ready Player One, #1) Ernest Cline https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1500930947l/9969571.SY75.jpg 14863741]” mixed in for good measure!After so many “mixed reading results” so far this year, this was a much needed blast of fresh, contemporary air that expertly blew away any residue of blues. This is a fun, feel-good book, a book like a really good popcorn movie.This book is, in Scalzi's own words:»It's a pop song. It's meant to be light and catchy, with three minutes of hooks and choruses for you to sing along with, and then you're done and you go on with your day, hopefully with a smile on your face. I had fun writing this, and I needed to have fun writing this. We all need a pop song from time to time, particularly after a stretch of darkness.«I so enjoyed Jamie Gray, the lead character, who feels like an immensely nice person... Diversity comes naturally into play as well and, thus, a lively, colourful, powerful range of characters takes the stage that I'm sure I'm sorely going to miss.For now, I'm smiling and happy to have read this book right now.For all it is, I cannot help myself but award five out of five stars.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam

From whatever point of view: This is a disgrace of a book. Let's look at the story itself first: Molly, usually referred to and sometimes self-referring as “Molly the Maid” (as if that's all she is), works as a maid in the Regency Grand Hotel. One day, when she's cleaning a suite she finds the body of Mr. Black, a rich “power magnate”, who stays at the hotel with his second wife, Giselle.While it becomes clear to the reader very quickly that something sinister beyond the murder is afoot, Molly doesn't recognise it and, thus, quickly becomes the prime suspect in the murder case.Trying to prove Molly's innocence Molly and a bunch of coworkers-cum-friends come up with a plan to entrap the true culprit...So, there's basically nothing new plot-wise. It is unoriginal and rather boring.What about the character's, though? We get to “meet” about 20 people - which is quite a lot but, thankfully, it's manageable.The problem here is, though: Most of them are stereotypes and never get a chance to evolve into something real. There's Mr. Preston, the fatherly good-natured doorman and his sharp lawyer daughter, Charlotte, who doesn't even know Molly but doesn't hesitate to post a $800,000 bail for her...Mr. Black, the corpse, we basically only get to know in passing from descriptions by Molly and his wife no. 2, Giselle Black. Giselle is depicted as a typical trophy wife - thirty-five years her husband's junior, not only is she neglected (and, of course, having an affair) but also being physically abused. Oh, and, of course, she's also taking drugs.Rodney, Giselle's illicit lover, is pretty much a diabolical enforcer. He's written so simplistically that we know immediately that he's going to be one of the “bad guys” when we first encounter him.There's also Juan Manuel, a Mexican dishwasher in the kitchen, involved in both the mystery and its resolution. There wasn't much character description left in Prose's severely limited repertoire so he has to be content with basically being a male version of Molly. In a world of latent racism, it's easy to match the Mexican with Molly...Speaking of whom: Molly... Now, that's where Prose really “shines”. As becomes obvious very quickly, Molly is neuroatypical/neurodivergent/on the autism spectrum - whatever you want to call it. Prose doesn't mention anything about that even once, though. Instead, she has Molly being called “weird”, “weirdo”, “freak”, “awkward”, “standoffish” by “friend” and “foe” alike.Molly's “weirdness” is mostly info-dumped on us but never called what it is - probably to avoid criticism for having written about something the author doesn't really know anything about. In her “Acknowledgments” Prose thanks everyone and their dogs and lists their respective roles - but, curiously, none of them seem to have any kind of professional experience with neuroatypical persons.Prose's characterisation of Molly reads a lot like plain old guesswork. She seems to have read up on Wikipedia on autism, assembled a list of possible issues and wrote a Molly who's exhibiting most of them at the same time. »My truth highlights and prioritizes my lens on the world; it focuses on what I see best and obscures what I fail to understand—or what I choose not to examine too closely.«That's still not all, though: Molly isn't even acting consistently with the way she's being characterised. She keeps acting out of character completely. From the ultimate innocent “noble savage”, at times she becomes a cunning conspirator, willfully lying by omission, smuggling a gun and even resorting to vigilantism.»“In my experience, there are times when a good person must do something that's not quite right, but it's still the right thing to do.”«Also, Molly doesn't even seem to know anything about her condition. She knows full well she's “different” but she cannot name it. While this might have rung true some decades ago, in this day and age, Molly would know why she is “weird”.Prose simply avoids identifying Molly's issues as neuroatypical in order to avoid being held responsible for an accurate, consistent and fair depiction. As it stands, Prose can always try and wiggle her way out of it by simply disavowing that she ever meant anything beyond what she calls Molly - “socially awkward”.Maybe she did some shallow “research” because - judging by her LinkedIn profile - Prose (or rather: Pronovost) has no prior professional experience with neuroatypical people.While obviously not applying it to herself, Prose knows full well what she's doing:»“Sometimes life isn't fair,” Charlotte adds. “And if there's one thing I've learned over years of practice, it's that there's no shortage of criminals out there who will prey on a person's difference for their personal gain.”«I consider that shameful and despicable.Last and, in fact, least: This book is full of “calendar wisdom” of questionable truthfulness:»The longer you live, the more you learn. People are a mystery that can never be solved. Life has a way of sorting itself out. Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.«One out of five stars and an especially strong recommendation to stay away from this if you're on the spectrum yourself.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram

“[b:Lessons in Chemistry 58065033 Lessons in Chemistry Bonnie Garmus https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1634748496l/58065033.SY75.jpg 90356333]” by [a:Bonnie Garmus 21370624 Bonnie Garmus https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1634023482p2/21370624.jpg] was one of those rare reading delights that kept me glued to my Kindle for “just one more chapter”. Go read the blurb if you want to know what this novel is actually about. Meanwhile, maybe on the sixth attempt, I'll find a way to express my joy about having read this book which hit all the right notes for me: As the father of a daughter with a razor-sharp mind, I was infuriated about the despicable treatment Elizabeth receives.»“We can learn more, we can go further, but to accomplish this, we must throw open the doors. Too many brilliant minds are kept from scientific research thanks to ignorant biases like gender and race. It infuriates me and it should infuriate you. Science has big problems to solve: famine, disease, extinction. And those who purposefully close the door to others using self-serving, outdated cultural notions are not only dishonest, they're knowingly lazy.”«We've come a long way since the 60ties but we still suffer from all that Elizabeth mentions and more and yet we still discriminate based on gender, race, sexual orientation, etc.Many companies out there still pay their female employees less than their male counterparts for the same work! Even today many companies out there wouldn't even consider hiring a transgender person; regardless of their qualification! Yes, that does infuriate me a lot!In my country, Germany, the churches are actually allowed to fire people who leave organised faith. They are also allowed to reject applicants based on their faith - while simultaneously complaining about lack of applicants!That also infuriates me!Yes, when it comes to such topics I'm a really angry man.And along comes Bonnie Garmus and writes an easily-readable novel that no intellectually honest person could read and refute its core message: We're all humans and we should receive the same fair treatment.Garmus, though, doesn't need a soapbox to step on and shout out her anger: With lots of warmth, humour, empathy and understanding she shows us how absurdly unfair the times of Elizabeth Zott must have been...»“Sex discrimination,” she answered, taking the number-two pencil she always wore either behind her ear or in her hair and tapping it with emphasis on the table. “But also, politics, favoritism, inequality, and general unfairness.”«... how far we've come...»“Excuse me, Father,” Calvin said, leafing through his copy, “but there's a problem with mine. Some of the pages are missing.”- “They're not missing, Calvin,” the priest said. “They've been removed.”“Why?”- “Because they're wrong, that's why. Now open your books to page one hundred nineteen, boys. We'll start with—”“Evolution's missing,” Calvin persisted, riffling through the pages.- “That's enough, Calvin.”“But—”The ruler cracked down hard against his knuckles.«... but also how far we've yet to go...»“Specifically, I wanted to ask: Don't you think it's possible to believe in both God and science?”- “Sure,” Calvin had written back. “It's called intellectual dishonesty.”«By far not everything was fun and light - at times I could almost feel the pain experienced by Elizabeth. And yet she never gives up - sometimes even against her own wishes because she refuses to give in to what people expect of her.Elizabeth Zott refuses to be kept down, she refuses to be held back and be told what she can or cannot do. She doesn't cater to the expectations of a male-dominated society. Yes, she harbours doubt - like we all do at times - but in contrast to many of us, she struggles on.It all boils down to this:»“Whenever you start doubting yourself,” she said, turning back to the audience, “whenever you feel afraid, just remember. Courage is the root of change—and change is what we're chemically designed to do. So when you wake up tomorrow, make this pledge. No more holding yourself back. No more subscribing to others' opinions of what you can and cannot achieve. And no more allowing anyone to pigeonhole you into useless categories of sex, race, economic status, and religion. Do not allow your talents to lie dormant, ladies. Design your own future. When you go home today, ask yourself what you will change. And then get started.”«Five stars out of five!: Seventh attempt post scriptum: No, I'm still not entirely happy with this review but I don't think I can do any better - so go and read this great novel yourself!Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

[a:Heather Gudenkauf's 2875124 Heather Gudenkauf https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1694175158p2/2875124.jpg] “[b:The Overnight Guest 60164470 The Overnight Guest Heather Gudenkauf https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1642636788l/60164470.SY75.jpg 90048636]” presented a complex and engaging narrative that captured my interest from the outset. The novel interlaces two timelines and a “separate” point of view with a deft hand, and while at times the shifts between past and present required a bit of effort to stay aligned with the storyline, the overall effect added a rich texture to the reading experience.Wylie Lark, the protagonist, is a true-crime writer who finds herself trapped in a farmhouse, the location of a brutal event she's researching, during a snowstorm. The farmhouse setting in itself is one of the book's strengths: The author does an admirable job of painting a picture of the stark, wintry, partly desolate landscape. The house itself, with its history of horror, is so well depicted that it felt almost like another character – silent yet expressive. The atmosphere was sometimes as chilling as the narrative itself.Incorporating a parallel story of a mysterious young boy, the eponymous “Overnight Guest”, Gudenkauf adds an emotional dimension that intertwines with the main plot in unexpected ways. This element of the story was both compelling and occasionally heart-wrenching.It's important to mention that Gudenkauf handles the transitions between the timelines and points of view with care. As I progressed through the book, what initially seemed a challenging structure began to feel more intuitive, revealing its purpose in the broader tapestry of the narrative. All in all, “The Overnight Guest” was a thrilling, quick (albeit forgettable) read I enjoyed a lot - the farther I got, the less notes and highlights I took because I wanted to read, not prepare for this review!Four stars out of five.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

This short story primarily focuses on Mensah (irritatingly called by her first name Ayda here) is nice enough but doesn't live up to the standards of the rest of the series.

Most disappointingly, Murderbot itself is hardly ever present and just at the moment when it got interesting, the story was at its end.

»And here in the Library, even if our outer layer is order, we have an inner heart of chaos. We read too much for it to be anything else.«When I first encountered “[b:The Invisible Library 21416690 The Invisible Library (The Invisible Library, #1) Genevieve Cogman https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1416823893l/21416690.SY75.jpg 40717845]” I was intrigued: A library beyond space and time; an autonomous realm that sends out its spies to “acquire” unique books in order to safeguard the balance between chaos and order not in just one world but all worlds!Dragons, Fae, Librarians - what a premise! Adventures abound! As someone who loves every single “ingredient” here, I simply had no chance but to read the first book - and, ultimately, the entire series.Don't get me wrong: The premise is perfect whereas the actual execution isn't always. Nevertheless, I loved reading every single instalment and it was with eagerness and a dose of sadness that I went on reading this “season finale” as Cogman calls it.And what a finale this was! Sent out on a seemingly impossible assignment, undercover and under the guise of having gone rogue, Irene - supported by Kai (of course!), Vale (the local manifestation of Sherlock Holmes), and her apprentice Catherine, a Fae, goes on to try and get rid of Alberich for good, to solve the mystery of entire worlds disappearing and one that lies at the heart of the Library itself...Since this time the stakes are so high, Irene not only reluctantly accepts but embraces the help of her friends. That pays off not only in terms of the eponymous “Untold Story” (now, paradoxically, told!) but also in allowing us to get even more insight into Kai, Vale and Catherine and each of them gets their respective chance to shine bright which was a delight to read.»‘All right,' Irene said, accepting [Catherine's] decision. And may God have mercy on my soul for dragging her and Kai and Vale into this.«Many characters from previous books make an appearance and - in the light of the threat of annihilation - actually cooperate. Cogman expertly plays with archetypes, the resistance to work together and how each character overcomes their inhibitions towards the “other side”.The entire book is fast-paced but intrinsically plausible. No plotholes occur, all the loose ends are picked up and brought together in a furious, brilliant, dramatic and astonishing final showdown.Personally, I could go on reading about Irene's exploits for many more books but I think it's a smart choice of Cogman to - at least temporarily - leave her beloved characters to their own devices. Many authors' heroes overstay their welcome to the point that we don't even want to read about them anymore.Some authors (cf. [a:Elizabeth George 1402383 Elizabeth George https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1235518043p2/1402383.jpg]) milk their literary “cows” to the bitter end, others wisely and sensitively dispose of them entirely (cf. [a:Henning Mankell 22339 Henning Mankell https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1336761478p2/22339.jpg]'s Wallander).Just leaving them at the top of their game is, in my (rarely humble) opinion, a great choice: No need to complicatedly “resurrect” the hero (cf. [a:Arthur Conan Doyle 2448 Arthur Conan Doyle https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1495008883p2/2448.jpg]'s Sherlock Holmes) or kill them.Just let them enjoy prolonged (or possibly even infinite) holidays!»Stories are like that. They'll wait for you until you can come back to them.«I've loved every minute I've spent with being told the “Untold Story” - it was like revisiting a beloved place. Its ending provides much needed closure but opens up new opportunities and, thus, I'm definitely looking very much forward to reading whatever else [a:Genevieve Cogman 119888 Genevieve Cogman https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1402702877p2/119888.jpg] is coming up with.I rarely know how to actually rate a book in terms of stars before I write its review but after having finished this book late last night in an almost desperate attempt to know how it ends (and in a race against sleep!), there was no doubt about it (and writing this review only reinforced it):Five out of five stars.»‘There are no limits to self-sacrifice when we're doing our jobs,' Irene said wearily.« Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram

Not really sure why but this one simply didn't work for me. No star rating.

»We are who we are not because of our birthright, but because of what we choose to do in this life. It cannot be boiled down to black and white. Not when there is so much in between. You cannot say something is moral or immoral without understanding the nuances behind it.”«From a world obviously different from ours (magic and magical beings exist there!) but closely related to ours, in [a:T.J. Klune 5073330 T.J. Klune https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1546275989p2/5073330.jpg]'s “[b:The House in the Cerulean Sea 45047384 The House in the Cerulean Sea T.J. Klune https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1569514209l/45047384.SY75.jpg 62945242]” we are told a modern fairy tale about an orphanage and its inhabitants.Linus Baker, a caseworker of the “Department in Charge Of Magical Youth” is charged to investigate an orphanage under the wings of Arthur Parnassus who is overseeing the well-being of six especially dangerous orphaned children - one of them being the devil's child!What Linus discovers, though, is completely different from what he expected...First and foremost this is a book about kindness and love. There isn't much “action” because this is a book that lives from the loves it exudes: There is the “master” of the house, Arthur, who is much more of a teacher, a confessor, a father figure to his young charges. There is also the benevolent island sprite who is protecting the orphanage and all inhabitants of the island. An island that is lovingly depicted as a mixture of dense forest, blooming meadows and gardens (tended to by Thalia the gnome, one of the orphans).In stark contrast to that is “Mr. Baker” who is suspicious of the freedoms granted to the kids, who relies on his voluminous “Rules and Regulations” and a form of self-isolation that leads to a warped kind of objectivity.Mr. Baker, who is always formally dressed, is distant to the kids in the beginning because in contrast to the colourful sun-shiny island, he comes from the city which seems to be always grey (or even: black and white), rainy and adversarial.Mr. Baker's transformation into Linus the adventurer - that is what we're witnessing and the way Linus “heals” and finds a new life for himself while not forgetting about the children (and Arthur!) is the destination - just like in travel!»“Severed heads?” Linus asked in a strangled voice. Lucy sighed. “Just representations of my enemies. The Pope. Evangelicals who attend megachurches. You know, like normal people have.”«The way those children - who mostly have suffered terribly before - open up to Linus and slowly but inevitably grow on him and the way he, Linus, grows and allows himself to grow close to them, that is why this lovely “quiet” little book is indeed a gem.As a bonus, there's also some very nice and sweet LGBT* representation.Linus' interactions with “Extremely Upper Management” and the paths he chooses for his personal life as well as his calling are further helping the “message” of this book and, at the same time, disprove those zealous and self-righteous reviewers thinking this book robs anyone of their stories.Yes, Klune states this book was influenced by the horrible “residential school” system in Canada - but in a way that makes it very clear that he actually researched those schools and the atrocities committed in them (unsurprisingly administered by the Christian churches).Klune neither condones nor excuses this system that was wrong to its core. In contrast to it he writes of an orphanage that's more of a loving home than anything else.He does not take away anyone's own voice to describe or write about that system. He creates a different system (though one which is also wrong at its core!) in a different world and alludes at overcoming that inhumane system.When all is said and done, this is a wonderful, wholesome book about all kinds of love and that garners five out of five stars from me.“Thank you.” “For what?” “This. Everything. All this color.”Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam

In a post-apocalyptic time and space, mankind is practically extinct due to a time war. At the end of time a sole survivor - a former soldier - sits and gleefully murders any stragglers. In order to remain alone and to prevent another rise of humanity and, thus, another war, he also travels back in time and happily commits genocide or whatever it takes to eradicate the survivors' communities as well.Yes, murder and genocide for good fun. And as if that wasn't enough in itself: I didn't find it funny in the least. When this novella wasn't about (mass) murder, it was about the cheapest kind of trolling.One disgusted star out of five.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

It has been a very long time since I've had this much fun with comics! The story follows Alana and Marko, two former soldiers, now deserters from their opposing armies, who got married and went on to found a family. We see their daughter, Hazel, growing up on the run with her parents in a (mostly) hostile universe in which they encounter new friends and enemies alike.

And this is where Saga shines beyond any other comic I've ever encountered: Our fugitives meet a broad range of people who more often than not want to either capture or kill them. Unless there's no other way, Alana, Marko...



... and their very diverse rag tag group of friends...



...and great sidekicks...



...will treat people with respect...



...kindness and the kind of simple decency I wish all of us would apply...



There are certainly very adult topics and scenes but they're very obviously not included to “disturb” or “provoke” but they're sensible parts of the story. This might not be something you want your kids to see but it's part of our adult lives so why exclude it?

The story deals with issues such as war, racism, and sexuality in a thoughtful and nuanced way. It never feels preachy or heavy-handed, but rather adds another layer of depth to an already complex narrative.

The world-building (or rather: universe-building!) in general is brilliant: Vaughan has created a rich and complex universe, filled with different species, cultures, and technologies. The attention to detail is impressive, and I found myself fully immersed in this fantastical world.

The characters are also incredibly well-developed. Alana and Marko are complex and flawed, but ultimately relatable and likeable. Their love story is at the heart of the narrative, but the supporting characters are just as important. From the ghost(ly) babysitter Izabel to the bounty hunter The Will, each character has their own distinct personality and backstory.

The artwork by Fiona Staples is stunning. Her style is unique and dynamic, and she brings Vaughan's imaginative world to life with vivid colours and intricate details. The character designs are also impressive, with each species having their own distinct look and feel.

At times, the artwork feels slightly psychedelic, adding immensely to the overall enjoyment.

I only regret that I managed to get started on yet another unfinished series - and that cliffhanger at the end of “Compendium One” is just plain cruel!

If you have even the slightest interest in comics, graphical novels, epic space operas and/or science fiction, read this!

Five out of five stars!