Wulf C. Krueger

I felt thoroughly bored for most of “[b:Remarkably Bright Creatures 58733693 Remarkably Bright Creatures Shelby Van Pelt https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1651600548l/58733693.SY75.jpg 90375164]” by [a:Shelby Van Pelt 21374195 Shelby Van Pelt https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1655745759p2/21374195.jpg] and at no point does it really get any better. Everything is extremely predictable, stories like these have been told a gazillion times, everyone (down to their cat) is annoying and things are so unbelievable, only pure stubbornness made me finish this one.If you want the details, read on but beware of the huge spoilers ahead!Cameron, whiny man-child of 30 years, cannot hold a job for more than a few days, gets thrown out by his girlfriend Katie (whom he will later despise for moving on - which is exactly what he did, too), gets a loan by his aunt and goes on a wild goose chase for his father whom Cameron believes is a hot-shot millionaire and whom he intends to “milk” thoroughly for years of “abandonment”...But wait for it, it gets better yet... Once Cameron arrives in Sowell Bay (the author seems to have refrained from more aptly calling it “Sobwell Bay”) he meets Ethan, proprietor of the local supermarket, creatively named “Shop-Way”. Ethan is the local gossip mill and sends our hapless hero to the local aquarium to try to get a temporary job as a cleaner there.At the aquarium, Cameron meets Tova who doubles as Ethan's love-interest upon whom Ethan would never make an active move. Tova ultimately goes on to triple-star as Cameron's long-lost grandmother whose long-lost son Erik (drowned in the eponymous bay!) rests with the eels. Whereto Marcellus is going as well in order to rest as Tova's “adopted child” with her biological child...Then there's Avery, Cameron's love interest, who once talked Cameron's mother out of suicide and potentially enabling Cameron to meet Avery in the first place... In the “supporting cast” we find the “Knit wits” (aptly named!), Terry, the ever-distracted head honcho of the aquarium and, of course, Marcellus, the Giant Pacific Octopus, who can't resist meddling in human affairs: Marcellus is so smart (he can read English!) and self-aware he'd proudly blubber “Cogito, ergo sum!” if only Descartes's book was water-resistant!Two out of five stars!Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

»A tale of demons and witches, hidden rooms and unexpected saviors.Of Fate both cruel and kind.«“[b:A World of Curiosities 60899502 A World of Curiosities (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #18) Louise Penny https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1660936424l/60899502.SY75.jpg 96053091]” by [a:Louise Penny 194243 Louise Penny https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1591027995p2/194243.jpg] is another brilliant entry into a series that has long ensnared me with its curious mixture of crime, mystery and thriller in combination with true emotional depth. The almost mystic village of Three Pines and its cracked and sometimes broken inhabitants also plays a central role in this instalment.Gamache no. 18 grants us insights into the past of Armand Gamache and how he came to join the homicide department of the Sûreté in the first place. Even more importantly to the story, though, we finally learn how both Armand and Jean-Guy Beauvoir first met each other which is enticing on its own. Around this old case of murder and corruption, the story in this book evolves as the victims of the past re-emerge in Three Pines. A secret room, an old grimoire, a spellbook, a curious painting “The Paston Treasure” (nicknamed “A World of Curiosities”), a witch of old (and Ruth), an old nemesis - they all play a central role in this suspenseful novel.»Jean-Guy Beauvoir, lashed to the mast, would sink or swim with this man. Their fates were bound together, as the winds howled, and the storm descended, and they traveled deeper into Hell.«Not only are the old friends and foes back, though, but new friends take the stage as well: Myrna's niece, Harriett, as well as Agent Amelia Choquet. The latter proves not only to be an indispensable part of the team but also a true friend... The only person conspicuously absent was, sadly, Isabelle Lacoste who's on vacation and only cursorily helps towards the end...This novel has a strong focus on the mystery and is, at times, very, very suspenseful. I read at almost every possible moment, chasing pages and chapters! Every night I was sad to go to sleep but also looking forward to resume reading this excellent novel again. It is very slightly less focussed on moral, emotional or intellectual aspects than some of the other novels in this series but this in no way diminishes its literary value.And it still touches upon important topics...»They didn't need proof. All a woman had to be was alive. Just being a woman was, in the church's eyes, evil.”“But there must've been a reason,” said Gabri.“Is there a reason gay, lesbian, and transgender people are attacked?” asked Ruth. “Is there a reason Black men are shot? Is there a reason women are raped, abused, refused abortions, groomed and sold as sex slaves?”“Murdered,” said Myrna, looking at the bouquet of white roses on the kitchen island.«Since “A World of Curiosities” explores all the background and the past to the extent needed to enjoy the novel, it could even be read on its own or serve as an introduction to Armand Gamache.As is the case with most of Penny's novels this one also has a central idea which permeates everything. As always, though, this is rather subtly done by Penny so I won't mention it here but maybe you'd like to find out for yourself? Because just like our world, this novel is, indeed, in the best sense “A World of Curiosities”...Five out of five stars!»I honestly don't feel I can take full credit for the books. There is, finally, an element of magic, of inspiration that seems to come out of nowhere. I have my own theories about where it comes from. I wanted, at the end of this, the eighteenth novel, to make it clear that in writing the Gamache books there is more than meets the eye. And always has been.«Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

In stark contrast to Keegan's “[b:Foster 8143909 Foster Claire Keegan https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328146652l/8143909.SY75.jpg 12942254]” I couldn't connect as much with this novella, “[b:Small Things Like These 58662236 Small Things Like These Claire Keegan https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1627655660l/58662236.SX50.jpg 86476810]” by [a:Claire Keegan 274817 Claire Keegan https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1309920304p2/274817.jpg]. This may very well be because - as often - I went into this novella not knowing what it was about.Once more we're in Ireland in 1985 and we're following Bill Furlong, our protagonist, around doing his deliveries, preparing for Christmas with his family, etc.. It felt slow and, sadly, not very interesting.Only when he accidentally meets a desperate girl at the local convent do things get somewhat interesting. I sympathised with Furlong's courage to help the girl at the end and finished the book somewhat disappointed.The author's note on the text first introduced me to the “Magdalene asylum” (read: child abuse) system (instituted, of course, by the Christian churches) that existed into the late 20th century.Hundreds of girls and women died while being abused, forced to do hard labour and generally mistreated without payment. And people seem to have known because Furlong is being warned not to get on the wrong side of the nuns... Furlong's uneasy feeling, his inability to share the truth about it even with his wife and his initial reluctance to help which he overcomes - probably at no small cost to himself, his wife and his girls - as a completely ordinary bloke somewhat reconciled me with this novella.Still, for pure literary merit, I would have awarded two stars; having learned about yet another atrocity committed by the churches, the safe haven for paedophiles and other (child) abusers, I add another star.Thus, three stars out of five.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

»Die Muminfamilie, die ich zu beschreiben versuche, ist schlichtweg glücklich, ohne sich dessen bewusst zu sein. Sie haben es gemütlich miteinander, und sie gewähren sich gegenseitig volle Freiheit: Freiheit, allein zu sein, die Freiheit auf eigene Art zu denken und zu fühlen und eigene Geheimnisse zu haben, bis zu dem Moment, wo sie bereit sind, sie zu teilen. Keiner verursacht je einem anderen ein schlechtes Gewissen.«- Tove JanssonDie Mumins. Das ist ein bißchen wie “nach Hause kommen” - vertraut, voll Wärme und Liebe, Geborgenheit und Sicherheit, bestenfalls erfüllt von den Menschen, die wir lieben. Ich erinnere mich an die alten, etwas betulichen, Übersetzungen aus den 50'ern und 60'ern von Kurt und Vivica Bandler schon aus frühester Kindheit, als meine Eltern mir diese Ausgaben vorlasen.Ich habe die Mumins damals geliebt und das ist nie vergangen. Über die Jahre habe ich die Bücher immer mal wieder gelesen, wenn ich etwas lesen wollte, auf dessen Qualität und Wirkung ich mich unbedingt verlassen kann.Erst spät kam ich auf den Gedanken, mich mit [a:Tove Jansson 45230 Tove Jansson https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1419249529p2/45230.jpg] als Autorin auseinanderzusetzen und stellte fest, daß Jansson ein faszinierender Mensch gewesen sein muß: Schulabbrecherin mit 16, dann als junge Frau Studium an einer technischen Schule und Arbeit als Illustratorin und Malerin.In einer Zeit als dies noch wirklich gefährlich war, hatte Jansson eine Affäre mit einer Frau - mit der eingangs erwähnten Vivica Bandler, der sie in “[b:Eine drollige Gesellschaft 8482089 Eine drollige Gesellschaft Tove Jansson https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1338656377l/8482089.SY75.jpg 85702]” (gemeinsam mit sich selbst) in den Figuren Tofslan und Vifslan ein buchstäblich kleines Denkmal setzte. Selbst nach der Trennung verband beide eine lebenslange Freundschaft.1956 traf Jansson dann auf Tuulikki “Tooti” Pietilä, mit der sie den Rest ihres Lebens verbrachte - 45 Jahre, in denen sie sich intensiv den Künsten widmete.So entstanden letztlich eben auch die Mumin-Bücher, so auch “[b:Mumins lange Reise 2544668 Mumins lange Reise Tove Jansson https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1338657110l/2544668.SX50.jpg 3336834]”, in der Mumin und seine Mutter zunächst allein, im Verlauf dann aber mit weiteren Gefährten, den verschollenen Muminvater suchen. Es ist eine kurze, aber dafür buchstäblich wegweisende Erzählung, die den Weg für die anderen Mumin-Werke (Bücher, Bilderbücher, Comics, Theaterstücke, etc. etc.) ebnet.Es ist, wie üblich, gespickt mit fantasievollen, liebevoll gestalteten IllustrationenWer die Mumins mag oder sie kennenlernen möchte, dem sei dieser kurze Band als Einstieg empfohlen (oder alternativ auch mein Favorit: “Eine drollige Gesellschaft”).Für alle, die vielleicht etwas mehr über das gesamte “Mumiversum” erfahren möchten, denen sei Christian “Zepe” Panses, Deutschlands führendem “Muminologen”, wundervolles “Vir­tu­el­les Mumin­for­schungs­zen­trum” wärmstens empfohlen. Fünf von fünf Sternen.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

“Hurz!” oder “Willkommen im sowjetischen Absurdistan!”Vielleicht erinnert sich ja noch jemand an “Hurz!” aus dem Jahre 1991 von und mit [a:Hape Kerkeling 467630 Hape Kerkeling https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1424377263p2/467630.jpg], der einem Bildungspublikum eine absurde Oper vortrug und versuchte, dieses Publikum aufs Glatteis zu führen. Was ihm allerdings nur bedingt gelang.So etwa wie jenes Publikum sich gefühlt haben dürfte - irritiert, verwirrt, leicht genervt - so fühlte ich mich bei der Lektüre dieser dankenswert kurzen Novelle.War Kerkelings medialer Streich in seiner Einfachheit letztlich absurd und doch in sich clever, so war “[b:Zukunftsmusik 60094952 Zukunftsmusik Katerina Poladjan https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1641830669l/60094952.SY75.jpg 94755553]” von [a:Katerina Poladjan 5166358 Katerina Poladjan https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] leider eher uninteressant und über weite Teile ganz schlicht banal.Es ist 1985 und Tschernenko ist just am Tage vor Beginn der Handlung gestorben; sein Nachfolger wird Michail Gorbatschow, der sich anschickt, die Welt zu verändern. Aber soweit sind wir noch nicht: Noch leben in einer Kommunalka (eine Art sowjetische Wohngemeinschaft) vier Generationen Frauen/Mädchen einer Familie und ein paar Statisten, die auch schon einmal das Fenster öffnen und davon fliegen, zusammen.Leider lies mich das alles völlig kalt: 1985 war für mich ein ganz normales Jahr Kindheit. Die Sowjetunion war mir damals vollkommen egal. Allenfalls nahm ich sie im “Spiegel” oder James-Bond-Filmen wahr.Für mich besteht diese Novelle aus einer Mischung von gähnender Langeweile...»Creme roch pudrig. Ippolit bevorzugte blumige Düfte. Die Natur hatte ihm keine bemerkenswerten Züge verliehen, und doch hielt er sich nach wie vor für einen schönen Mann. Wenn er das Kinn hob und seine Unterlippe leicht nach vorne schob, sah er aus wie der Schauspieler Lembit Peterson aus dem Film Hotel zum verunglückten Alpinisten.«... gekünstelter Pseudo-Intellektualität...»Vielleicht haben all diese Gegenstände und Objekte den Menschen erst zum Menschen gemacht, sagte Maria, weil der Mensch anhand der Objekte die Welt bewältigte.«(Selbst wenn man sich darauf einlassen möchte: Nein, der Mensch hat diese Objekte überhaupt erst geschaffen und sein Menschsein resultiert nicht aus sich selbst heraus.)... sowie merkwürdig kontextloser Ideen: »Gab es einen Zusammenhang zwischen Wohlstand und einem Antonow-Apfel?«(Auch hier wiederum: Sollte Poladjan sich auf die Kurzgeschichte “[b:Antonäpfel. Erzählungen 1892-1911 57318751 Antonäpfel. Erzählungen 1892-1911 Ivan Bunin https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1614963381l/57318751.SY75.jpg 89701277]” von [a:Ivan Bunin 14167341 Ivan Bunin https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1442221897p2/14167341.jpg] beziehen wollen, so fände ich es doch sehr gewagt, Kenntnis einer Kurzgeschichte von 1900 vorauszusetzen...)Am Ende bleibt alles vage und offen: Was war wirklich, was Fantasie? Ich weiß es nicht und ich habe, offen gestanden, auch gar kein Interesse es herauszufinden.Ja, die im Klappentext angesprochene Frage „Was tun?“ stellen sich unsere uninteressanten Protagonisten, aber der langatmigen Nicht-Antwort ist es nie gelungen, mein Interesse zu wecken. Zwei Sterne für den Versuch. Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

“[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

“[b:Foster 8143909 Foster Claire Keegan https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328146652l/8143909.SY75.jpg 12942254]” by [a:Claire Keegan 274817 Claire Keegan https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1309920304p2/274817.jpg] is a short story about (parental) love. A girl from an economically-challenged family is sent to relatives, Mrs. and Mr. Kinsella (who have lost their only child), to be temporarily cared for. The Kinsellas seem to be slightly better off than the girl's parents but certainly not much.The strength of this short story lies in what's implied: From the very beginning the unnamed girl is treated with kindness. When she wets her bed, her foster mother scolds herself (and the mattress!) for putting the girl on an old “weeping” mattress and simply goes on to clean it with the girl's help.The girl's foster father takes her on a walk and while talking to her, gives her all the room to respond or to remain silent (and explicitly tells her so) - whatever the girl needs. He simply takes her hand and guides her along her way. Letting her go and return, letting himself be carried by the girl's quiet joy...During her stay over the summer, the girl lives through completely ordinary situations but the Kinsellas do not just give her food and lodging but share their lives and love. They completely open up to the girl and allow themselves to feel for her and treat her like the girl was their own child.The girl herself realises her own incipient tender feelings only at the very end of this story.The writing is immaculate, the pacing is great and the length of less than 15.000 words is perfect. This is probably the most emotional, tender, and kind short story I've read so far.Five out of five stars for the shortest masterpiece I've read. Highly recommended!Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

Well, “[b:The Cabin in the Woods 60370617 The Cabin in the Woods Sarah Alderson https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1650841926l/60370617.SY75.jpg 94816806]” by [a:Sarah Alderson 4573983 Sarah Alderson https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1375235339p2/4573983.jpg] was definitely a good read: Rose is on the run, currently hiding in the eponymous cabin in the woods. The book tells her story in (mostly) alternating chapters, jumping back into her past and again into Rose's present in and around the cabin.“Cabin” is a suspenseful read during which you'll keep guessing what's going to happen (until a certain point...), you'll have to suspend your disbelief a bit and the ending comes rather abruptly but it's an entertaining read.And, at least for me, it had the wonderful “just one more chapter effect” which carries this book to a slightly generous four stars out of five.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

I'm grateful to have read “[b:Flawless 60755618 Flawless (Chestnut Springs, #1) Elsie Silver https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1653054148l/60755618.SY75.jpg 95796965]” by [a:Elsie Silver 21312387 Elsie Silver https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1617459113p2/21312387.jpg] because now I know which kind of book does not really appeal to me: Rich daddy's princess meets bull-riding cowboy in this steamy (borderline pornographic) rural romance and that's pretty much it for the story.It's all just a bit too much over the top for: Summer is our princess, whose sister is called Winter. Summer is nice and warm and a people-pleaser whereas Winter is cold as ice. Not to mention Summer's evil step-mother!Lots of manly cowboys, sports legends, and ranchers are around, every man is tough, every woman is swooning. Summer desires to be - brace yourself! - “marked” by her cowboy Rhett...Rhett in turn obligingly is of the possessive variety... »She better be naked. Naked and ready.«... and the resulting smut is, uh, verbose. (Even, though, that is, admittedly, the least of my complaints.)The entire picture that Silver paints of people is approaching painful levels of machismo and it depicts a rather simplistic view of the world as a whole.I do not expect much of a romance but I do expect more than just horny cowboys, willing women and a bit of drama.Still: Three out of five stars because among all the eye-roll-inducing stuff lurk some ideas and observations that I can relate to...»“When you have a kid, everyone warns you about the sleepless nights. The explosive diaper changes. How they grow so fast that you hemorrhage money on clothing them. What they don't tell you is that you'll never spend another day of your life without worrying about another person. You'll never completely relax again because that person you created will always, always be on your mind. You'll wonder where they are, what they're doing, and if they're okay.”«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

Stellt Euch doch mal ein zartes, luftiges Zitronen-Mousse vor. Ihr nehmt einen Löffel davon und es ist die perfekte Mischung aus feiner Süße und milder Säure. Die Mousse zergeht Euch förmlich auf der Zunge und viel zu schnell seht Ihr betroffen, das Schälchen leer und viel Genuß noch offen... »Sonjas Vater hatte in seiner Rede zu ihrer Hochzeit gesagt, er kenne niemanden, der so schwer Abschied nehmen könne wie Sonja – als Kind, erzählte er, habe sich Sonja manchmal sogar von Leergut nur unter Tränen trennen können.«So zumindest erging es mir bei der Lektüre von [a:Mariana Lekys 1132461 Mariana Leky https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1570044821p2/1132461.jpg] “[b:Kummer aller Art 60892171 Kummer aller Art Mariana Leky https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1651065605l/60892171.SY75.jpg 96040688]”. Es handelt sich um eine Sammlung von Kolumnen der Autorin, die im Gegensatz zum Titel zwar auch voller großer und kleiner Kümmernisse stecken, häufig aber auch von Alltagsszenen berichten, die gar nicht notwendigerweise den Kummer in den Vordergrund rücken.»Zu unser aller Bestürzung hat sich Ulrich die Haare gefärbt. Er sieht jetzt aus wie ein sehr, sehr alter Howard Carpendale.«In jedem Fall aber erzählt Leky intelligent und warmherzig von und über ihre Protagonist_innen; Frau Wiese, Herrn Pohl, Paten- und andere Kinder, Schlafstörungen, Badezimmertüren und vielem mehr. Geprägt sind alle Beiträge von einem menschenfreundlichen, zuweilen trockenen Humor und ausnahmslos habe ich mich von jeder Kolumne sehr gut unterhalten gefühlt.»Die Entscheidung ist so groß geworden, dass der Anlass dahinter verschwunden ist.«Ein wenig Wehmut kam bei mir auf, als ich bei ca. 85 Prozent des Buches an dessen unerwartet frühes Ende kam - danach folgte die Werbung. Angesichts des Preises von rund EUR 12 für die Kindle-Version und stolzen EUR 22 für das Hardcover, finde ich 15 Prozent Werbung schon etwas viel. Daher gibt es auch einen “Punktabzug”.»Angst gibt vor, sich mit allem auszukennen, alles studiert zu haben, aber ihre ganzen Abschlusszeugnisse sind gefälscht.«Dennoch: Vier von fünf Sternen für das Buch in seiner Gesamtheit - die Kolumnen hätten volle fünf Sterne verdient. Empfehlens- und lesenswert!Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

I hoped to love “[b:The Winners 60318890 The Winners (Beartown, #3) Fredrik Backman https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1645483248l/60318890.SY75.jpg 76192150]” by [a:Fredrik Backman 6485178 Fredrik Backman https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1493098924p2/6485178.jpg] as much as I love the original “[b:Beartown 33413128 Beartown (Beartown, #1) Fredrik Backman https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1482108618l/33413128.SY75.jpg 54171514]”. The latter is the one book that I recommend to anyone who has time for just one more book. It was the book I gave my mother as a present for what would be her final birthday. She never got to read it.I already thought the second book wasn't as good as the first one but, sadly, this third instalment is the weakest. It started out so well and felt a lot like “Beartown”...»To you who talk too much and sing too loud and cry too often and love something in life more than you should.«“The Winners” continues the story of Beartown, its rival Hed and both towns' inhabitants. Backman takes time to paint a literary picture of life in those parts of the world but also writes very convincingly about the conditio humana in general.»There's an immensity of love that bursts from your chest the first time you hear your child cry, every emotion you've ever felt is amplified to the point of absurdity, children open floodgates inside us, upward as well as down. You've never felt so happy, and never felt so scared. Don't say “don't worry” to someone in that position. You can't love someone like this without worrying about everything, forever.«We're back in Beartown two years after the events of the previous book and people and things have moved on from what had happened. Nevertheless, Maya, Benji, Amat, Leo and all the others are around and some new characters like Lev add a new layer to the story.»Ana thought Maya was stupid, and Maya thought Ana was an idiot, and they became best friends instantly.«Unhurriedly, Backman explores not only Beartown and its people but also concepts like home, how we fall in love and much more. I took a lot of notes and highlighted generously on almost every page because while Backman rarely presents entirely new ideas, he has a very “organic” and convincing way to express these days in a way that speaks (not only) to me.It's not like everything is philosophic, though. Backman isn't your old-age wizened philosopher preaching to us; he uses hockey to write fluently and easily readable about his topics - and employs a kind and gentle humour to drive his point home...»They live in the same house but his parents barely see him, he's fourteen now, meaning that they no longer have a child but a lodger.«The problem is: However wise you are, however good your ideas are, however well you can tell a story - your readers will be sated at some point. Keep on extending your story past that point and you run a high risk of losing your readers.This is exactly what happened to me. After, let's say, 60 chapters (!) full of good ideas, foreshadowing, promises of things to come, Backman oversteps the mark. His endless descriptions on almost 700 pages are just too long. He promises world-shattering drama but actually delivers too little in way too many words.“The Winners” becomes the elderly guest at your table who tells a charming tale in the beginning, keeps on talking and ultimately overstays his welcome and needs to be shooed kindly out of the door late in the evening.Backman has become a victim of his own success: “The Winners” would have needed a bold editor, unafraid to suggest liberal “cuts” from the surplus “fat”. There's a very decent story that many won't get to know about just because it takes too long to be told.One minor issue is the “epilogue”: It details what becomes of most of the people, including Kevin from the first novel. “The Winners”, thus, answers questions that should better have remained unanswered - we probably had our own ideas about that already and there's simply no need to interfere with those.All in all, this was sadly a tiresome read and I have to say I'm glad it's over. It probably would have been best if “Beartown” had remained a unique and solitary masterpiece.Rounded generously up, three out of five stars.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

A breath of fresh non-young-adult romance air! A great premise, brilliant writing. Loved it!After a string of less-than-desirable reading experiences, I opted to go for a fun, light read - a romance!I expected the usual: Some trope, like enemies-to-lovers, banter, quick lovey-dovey, some conflict, reconciliation and a happily ever after. Mostly, romance novels feel like they're addressing a rather young audience - which I don't exactly belong to anymore.In “[b:The Flatshare 36478784 The Flatshare (The Flatshare, #1) Beth O'Leary https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1552471375l/36478784.SY75.jpg 58189559]” by [a:Beth O'Leary 13038484 Beth O'Leary https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1546818419p2/13038484.jpg] I got banter, on post-it notes. In a shared flat. Written by two adults; Leon, a male nurse with his own mental burdens, with a brother, Richie, who's in jail, with a mother who has a long history of abusive men in her life. Leon also is a work-a-holic whose girlfriend has demands which Leon needs to meet as well. Last but not least, Leon is on a “humanitarian mission”.Tiffy on the other hand is broke, looking for somewhere to live after the umpteenth separation from her abusive boyfriend. Said abuse has left deep mental scars. Her job at a small DIY publisher is... challenging in its own ways (“Crochet Your Way” is the latest book she's working on...), with difficult colleagues.“So much for a light and fluffy read.”, were my immediate thoughts. I read on, and on, and on. I pretty much swallowed it hook, line and sinker. This novel, it turned out, was certainly a very nice romance but also a much-needed breath of fresh air - those people feel real: Tiffy and Leon have lives. They have very real burdens to carry and there's no quick-and-easy love but a fledgling friendship that “organically” develops...I felt those people were actually thinking, responsible, highly relatable and likeable adults who also act like adults. The conflicts were there and they were very real but Leon, Tiffy and their friends dealt with them in a believable and intelligent manner. Like Tiffy actively going to get counselling. (Let me quickly tell you that YOU should never hesitate for a second to get professional help if things get overwhelming. There's no shame in asking for and getting help. Thrice in my life I've gone to a psychotherapist myself and it was a life-changing, relieving, freeing experience. Should you live in Germany, it's free and way easier to get than you think. Just ask your local doc about it!)»You know what? I am extremely proud of myself.«(Tiffy after a counselling session.)O'Leary didn't write a dead-serious complicated novel, though, but manages to artistically walk a very fine line that's also rich on (mostly) good-natured humour.»What's the bedroom going to look like?Venture in, intrepid. Let out a strangled wail. It looks like someone vomited rainbows and calico in here, covering every surface in colors that do not belong together in nature. Horrific, moth-eaten blanket over bed. Enormous beige sewing machine taking up most of desk. And clothes ... clothes everywhere.«The author also manages to write a very convincing Leon: Initially, I was slightly put off by his short, concise sentences; a very pronounced style of communication...»I wonder if Leon will talk the way he writes, all short sentences and no pronouns.«... only to find out that this short, abbreviated style actually gives the novel a more authentic feel and I came to actually appreciate it.The dialogues - both on post-its and face-to-face - are also highly enjoyable...»“Twilight?”Leon blinks at me, putting the book down in his lap. “You went from unconscious to judgmental very quickly there.”«That's still not all, though: O'Leary also manages to write so empathically about her characters I actually felt for everyone (sans certain people whom we're meant to despise).I'm immensely happy to have found and read this book and I can't recommend it enough - even to those of you who usually don't read romance. This one's different.A very happy, very wow'ed five stars out of five!Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

I was immensely looking forward to reading [a:Celeste Ng 164692 Celeste Ng https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1663691487p2/164692.jpg]'s new novel “[b:Our Missing Hearts 60149573 Our Missing Hearts Celeste Ng https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1664802258l/60149573.SY75.jpg 94900794]”. I really enjoyed both Ng's “[b:Everything I Never Told You 18693763 Everything I Never Told You Celeste Ng https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386795198l/18693763.SY75.jpg 26542311]” and “[b:Little Fires Everywhere 34273236 Little Fires Everywhere Celeste Ng https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1522684533l/34273236.SY75.jpg 94930152]” for their highly interesting stories, the unusual style of Ng's storytelling and her sheer eloquence.Sadly, I found none of this in “Our Missing Hearts”: Bird, the boy we're immediately introduced to and who dominates the first half of the book, remains bland and indistinct. Beyond general empathy for him having lost his mother and living under difficult circumstances with his father, I never really felt for him or got emotionally engaged.For a dystopia, there's also nothing new or special in this novel: Hatred against what seems to be “foreign”, xenophobia. Books aren't burned in this society but removed and made into pulp. Children are taken from their parents if the latter don't intend to raise them by the doctrines of the regime. There's nothing new here and no original thought seems to have occurred to Ng. She also abandoned her unique onion-like narrative style and her prose is just adequate but absolutely nothing special anymore.I'm giving up on this book while being around half-way through because going on feels like a waste of precious reading time. Even more so since trusted “book friends” tell me it's getting even worse later on.I hope Celeste Ng finds her way back to the heights of her earlier works.A very sad and disappointed one star out of five.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

Travel disaster stories were promised but the only disaster were the stories...DNF at 72%.Ever since I stumbled upon “[b:Kamikaze Kangaroos!: A trip around Oz in a van called Rusty 20823475 Kamikaze Kangaroos! A trip around Oz in a van called Rusty Tony James Slater https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1429106622l/20823475.SX50.jpg 40169568]” by [a:Tony James Slater 5005420 Tony James Slater https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1326400289p2/5005420.jpg] several years ago, I sometimes like to read travel memoirs - especially when there's disaster involved! By now, I've read all of Tony's books (and those of many other travellers!) and it seemed a logical next step to take a famous travel guide's collection of supposedly funny travel stories...Sadly, the promised “disaster stories” here are mostly of the following variety...“Look, I did this and this is why: (long-winded explanations)”“I could have died from that long walk, the road traffic, my inability to overcome inertia, (blah blah)!”“And, lo and behold, I dangerously sprained my ankle!”This is neither very entertaining nor does it make for a good read which is why I'm abandoning this for good.One star out of five.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

»Nur stimmte es nicht, wir müssen immer bezahlen. Jede unserer Handlungen beruht auf längst schon getroffenen Entscheidungen, wir entkommen uns nicht, ganz gleich, was wir tun.«“Was für ein Glück, es ist ein Schirach!”, dachte ich, als ich “[b:Nachmittage 62063339 Nachmittage Ferdinand von Schirach https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1661271952l/62063339.SY75.jpg 97833977]” zufrieden zu Ende gelesen hatte. Es kommt allerdings leider weder qualitativ noch quantitativ ganz an seinen großartigen Vorgänger “[b:Kaffee und Zigaretten 44128391 Kaffee und Zigaretten Ferdinand von Schirach https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1551092142l/44128391.SY75.jpg 68620284]” heran, aber es sind wieder sehr interessante Geschichten dabei und es ist wiederum ein sehr persönliches Buch, daß [a:Ferdinand von Schirach 3048443 Ferdinand von Schirach https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1340958280p2/3048443.jpg] abgeliefert hat.Er erzählt ruhig, in seinem typischen lakonischen Stil, von (seinen) Erlebnissen mit den verschiedensten Menschen in unterschiedlichsten Situationen.Es ist ein bißchen, als habe Ferdinand von Schirach es sich in einem Sessel bequem gemacht und erzähle seinen Lesern nun (mehr oder minder wahre) Anekdoten aus seinem Leben. Allein bei zwei Geschichten (Allison und Mero) habe ich mich gefragt, ob das nun wirklich an ihm war, sie zu erzählen...“[b:Kaffee und Zigaretten 44128391 Kaffee und Zigaretten Ferdinand von Schirach https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1551092142l/44128391.SY75.jpg 68620284]” konnte ich voll tiefster Überzeugung fünf Sterne verleihen; bei “[b:Nachmittage 62063339 Nachmittage Ferdinand von Schirach https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1661271952l/62063339.SY75.jpg 97833977]” muß ich daher folgerichtig bei vier von fünf Sternen bleiben.Wer mehr über Schirach erfahren möchte, lese eher “[b:Kaffee und Zigaretten 44128391 Kaffee und Zigaretten Ferdinand von Schirach https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1551092142l/44128391.SY75.jpg 68620284]”; wer mehr aus Schirachs Tätigkeit als Anwalt wissen möchte, dem sei “[b:Verbrechen 6783729 Verbrechen Ferdinand von Schirach https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327935124l/6783729.SY75.jpg 6986071]” sehr empfohlen und wer das ganze Können dieses Menschen in Romanform kennenlernen möchte, der lese “[b:Der Fall Collini 12431313 Der Fall Collini Ferdinand von Schirach https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327258026l/12431313.SY75.jpg 17413762]”.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

This was a singularly weak book. In short, there's not just death but Death personified (so far not too unusual) - and there's a whole corporation of them. All called Death which leads to oh-so-funny encounters with the “Help Death” towards whom another Death insists on calling “Help Desk” and so on...Trying way too hard to be funny but having no discernible talent for writing (and humour) seems to be the primary issue here.Two examples so you can decide for yourself:»Tattered Black Telephone™ and a Tattered Black Notepad™. On the Tattered Black Notepad™, Death found an old Tattered Black Message™ scrawled a millennia ago, on the last shift change.The Tattered Black Message™ read:«The continued use of “TM” does not excuse the repetitiveness of the whole “Tattered Black something” stuff. It is just annoying and pretty much everything is tattered black...»move? To Acapulco?”“Acapulco? What? No. They say he's got his staff setting up Mr. Death for the fall.”“Lovely weather in the fall. Good idea. Well, I've got to be going now,” Schlub said, becoming uneasy with the conversation.«This knee-slapping kind of humour belongs to nine-year olds. As often the case with authors of questionable talent, the humour almost universally resorts to the faecal sort:»If King Minos was bored, he wiped his shit on the walls. If King Minos was hungry, he wiped his shit on the walls. If King Minos didn't get what he wanted, he wiped his shit on the walls. If King Minos woke up in the morning, he wiped his shit on the walls.«Edler obviously smeared his faeces all over a poor innocent text editor...Also, typos and grammatical issues on a meagre 34 pages are highly annoying. Last but not least, some sentences remain ominous...»So, the Founder & CEO Eternal of The League of Deaths created Limbo, a place where Death went if it couldn't Death.«Sorry, what?Even for the 50 cent I paid for this, it's a complete, utter, irredeemable disgrace. One star out of five because I cannot award none.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

»Man glaubt, wenn man auf einer Insel aufgewachsen ist, an die Gezeiten und den Fahrplan einer Fähre.«[a:Dörte Hansen 13513496 Dörte Hansen https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1593346684p2/13513496.jpg] hat eine Gabe: Sie setzt nicht nur verschwindenden Kulturen ein literarisches Denkmal, sondern schreibt - zumindest mir - auch direkt in die Seele.In “[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]” schreibt sie ganz schlicht über das Leben auf einer Nordseeinsel und deren Bewohner - sowohl die Alteingesessenen, die oft schon ihr ganzes Leben auf, an und mit der Insel gelebt - und an ihr gelitten - haben. Von den Badegästen zu den Kurz- und Tages-Trippern, die immer mehr “einfallen” bis hin zu jenen, die sich ihren “Inseltraum” verwirklichen wollen und dann merken, daß es vielleicht auf Dauer eben doch nicht nur “schön” auf der Insel ist...»Sie halten es nie lange aus in ihren Inselhäusern. Nach ein paar Tagen fühlen sie sich wie bei ihren alten Eltern zu Besuch: bloß weg, bei aller Liebe, denn die Alten haben Macken, werden eigen und erzählen immer nur von alten Zeiten.«Hansen tappt aber nie in die Falle romantischer Verklärung: Weder war “früher alles besser”, noch ist “alles im Lot”: In Herrn Pastors Ehe kriselt es, Eske Sander betreut die sterbenden Alten und versucht sich ihre “kleine Liebe” mit Freya zu erhalten.»Mit ihren Haaren, ihren Piercings, ihrem lauten Lachen fiel sie noch mehr auf als Eske. Nach zwei, drei Wochen kannte sie die halbe Insel, und die ganze Insel kannte sie.«Was und wie Hansen schreibt, ist geradezu berauschend; sprachlich, stilistisch, inhaltlich. Sie erzählt durchweg unaufgeregt und ruhig, dabei kraftvoll, sprachfertig und sehr persönlich. Sie erzählt von einem Leben, dem Hansen offensichtlich mit tiefer Empathie nachgespürt hat. Sie erzählt von der Vergangenheit, der Gegenwart und deutet die Zukunft der Insel und ihrer Bewohner an. Gerade diesen aber gehört Hansens Sympathie und das macht ihre wundervollen Romane aus: So komplex und vielfältig Hansens Sujet auch sein mag: Sie erzählt mit traumwandlerischer Sicherheit, großer Empathie und trotzdem leicht und überaus lesbar. Auch in “Zur See” lässt sie die Worte tanzen und die Sätze feiern ein Fest. Großartig sind auch Hansens sprachliche Bilder:»Die kühlen, leicht bewölkten Sommertage sind die besten. Seelenhungertage.«Selbst wenn man jene Sommertage vielleicht so selbst noch nicht erlebt hat: Seelenhunger kennen wir alle.»Wind. Oft brist er abends auf, streicht brummend um das Fenster, macht sich an der Tür zu schaffen oder wirft sich brüllend an die Holzwand, bis das Haus auf seinen hohen Pfählen schwankt.«Einmal mehr wird Dörte Hansen nach “[b:Altes Land 24951372 Altes Land Dörte Hansen https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441835824l/24951372.SY75.jpg 48249367]” und “[b:Mittagsstunde 40655908 Mittagsstunde Dörte Hansen https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1531728405l/40655908.SY75.jpg 63186630]” in “Zur See” zur Chronistin einer verschwindenden Welt, ohne diese dabei jedoch zu glorifizieren. Im Gegenteil: Durch die Gegensätze, die sie aufzeigt, aber nicht beurteilt, versöhnt sie ein Stück weit Gegenwart und Vergangenheit miteinander.Das Leben jedenfalls versteht Dörte Hansen abzubilden, wie - meiner Überzeugung nach - derzeit nur wenige deutsche Schriftsteller_innen. In seiner gesamten Breite mit Humor, Trauer, Leben und Tod.Das ist Kunst, das ist Literatur, das ist (auch), warum ich lese. Fünf von fünf Sternen.»Und Hanne hängt an diesem Brocken Land, sie weiß nur manchmal nicht, ob dies noch ihre Insel ist.«Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

A mystery and police procedural derailed by the author's stumbling (repeated) attempt at conveying an important messageI used to be a huge fan of the Inspector Lynley mysteries by [a:Elizabeth George 1402383 Elizabeth George https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1235518043p2/1402383.jpg] as they were always suspenseful, exciting, interesting, serious and, sometimes, unobtrusively presented ideas about social issues as well. The mystery always came first, though.This worked very well for the first 12 books in this series. In book 13, though, George killed off an important character and used book 14 to explore what led to this murder - and derailed the entire series. Since that book, most of George's “mysteries” are actually prolonged social commentaries with the actual mystery and police procedural parts playing a “supporting role” only.Social commentary is fine and can actually add to and even improve a mystery. However, it takes a special sensitivity and caution in order to integrate it “seamlessly” into the story. This is where greater authors than Elizabeth George may succeed whereas she, almost tragically, keeps trying and failing to convey her “message”.This is also the case in “[b:Something to Hide 57841179 Something to Hide (Inspector Lynley, #21) Elizabeth George https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1620779405l/57841179.SY75.jpg 82387728]” in which Lynley and his colleagues are first mentioned in part two of the book - when one fifth of the book is already gone. Which is all the more sad as they would have had the potential to actually “save” this book: Winston Nkata is the same unpretentious good cop with a big heart and a good sense of humour as ever. Barbara Havers is... Barbara - in the best and worst possible sense.Once more, Deborah St. James and her husband, Simon, are part of the story but they, too, have been relegated to the background mostly. Deborah is a bit more present as she's creating a book with photos of victims of female genital mutilation (FGM).Which is, in fact, the primary topic of this book: Lynley investigates the murder of a colleague who was both mutilated herself and was working on a task force to combat FGM in London. Now, to put things straight before I proceed: Female genital mutilation is a horrible, disgusting procedure with no other purpose than to oppress and keep down the women so abused. It is rightfully outlawed in many countries and should be outlawed universally as it is in direct violation of basic human rights. Sadly, this book does nothing to further that cause: Elizabeth George is just not good enough an author to actually make a difference. And, in fact, towards the end of the book she makes Lynley say the following:»“It's easier, isn't it, to see things as Teo Bontempi did: in black and white. If there's no grey area to think about, a decision appears simple.”«This is meant as a criticism of the murder victim, Teo, the cop who worked against FGM. There simply is no “grey area” with respect to FGM - neither in the book nor in the world is there anything but a moral imperative to oppose FGM. That George actively and wilfully sabotages this disgusts me.As for the book, it was mostly boring: For the first ten percent of it, simply nothing happens apart from setting the stage for FGM and adding the other “prerequisites” for a “Georgian” mystery-gone-social commentary: domestic violence, (at least) two dysfunctional marriages, a child with severe disabilities and other major and minor conflicts which add only to the page count but not the story.The story about the murder of Teo Bontempi is lacklustre at best and, to me at least, not convincing at all. It's also taken ransom by all the other narrated conflicts and there's no chance for actual suspense to build.Lynley's complicated relationship with Dairdre takes some room as well and, almost as a side note, Barbara's love interest from an earlier book, Salvatore Lo Bianco, makes a short appearance, too. Last and least, I was disappointed with the writing: George used to write in clear, razor-sharp prose with intricate sentence structure and great style. At least during part one of this book, nothing of that is left. There were actually some sentences which made me wonder if that's actually correct English (I'm not a native speaker).All in all, I was constantly considering simply quitting this book and only soldiered on to get to the end of what is probably going to be my last Lynley novel...Two out of five stars.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

If only they could talk. Oh, wait... How non- and intentional miscommunication not only derails a decent story but an entire novel.“[b:For Butter or Worse 59040889 For Butter or Worse Erin La Rosa https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1648414406l/59040889.SX50.jpg 93007167]”? This amusingly cheesy title (and [a:Helen Hoang 17147855 Helen Hoang https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1505925131p2/17147855.jpg]'s prominent endorsement on the cover) made me read this. Sadly, it was mostly a waste of my reading time.Chef Nina and restaurant chain owner Leo co-host a cooking show and don't get along. Once she drops out of the show, Nina discovers she's losing even more business than before and agrees to fake-date her “enemy” Leo. Leo is in a pretty similar situation and, thus, agrees to this charade as well.At this point, I should have stopped. Fake-dating and enemies-to-lovers in one book? That's a recipe for disaster but [a:Erin La Rosa 15071204 Erin La Rosa https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1638849502p2/15071204.jpg] had to add a lot more ingredients to her novel and as its sole cook, she creates a hotchpotch of topics that are each highly relevant - and thoroughly neglected.There's, of course, the subject of sexism in the food industry. To be honest, I have next to no clue about the food industry but judging by the number of famous male chefs I know versus that of famous female ones, this seems fairly obvious.It doesn't really get explored in any meaningful way, though.Let's add anxiety and panic attacks to the mix - pretty much the only thing the novel has to say on the topic is that “the symptoms of a heart attack [are] virtually indistinguishable from those of a panic attack”.We're still not done yet because next to be added is “extreme burnout”. Thankfully, the author refrains from making any big assumptions on that one - apart from it being dealt with conclusively in a mere six therapy sessions... Social media toxicity also had to be added, right next to toxic masculinity represented by the transgressive stereotypical ex-boyfriend. Stress eating and lots of other miscellaneous issues serve to further enrich this mess.I could look past all that if the remainder of the story made up for it but, alas, there just isn't enough of a story in this: They fake-date, they discover they harbour feelings for each other - and decide to keep silent about those feelings, sometimes actually expressing the exact opposite of what they feel and want from each other. I kept thinking “TALK TO EACH OTHER!” (Yes, in all-caps.)It is so unbelievably annoying to me when authors resort to such simplistic devices: Both Nina and Leo can't be teenagers anymore. They've each actually accomplished a lot. And, yet, they don't talk. Two out of five stars.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

Cinderella meets [b:Piranesi 50202953 Piranesi Susanna Clarke https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1609095173l/50202953.SY75.jpg 73586702] in a pink wish-fulfilment children's fantasy bubble“[b:The Inheritance Games 52439531 The Inheritance Games (The Inheritance Games, #1) Jennifer Lynn Barnes https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1587396413l/52439531.SY75.jpg 71767646]” by [a:Jennifer Lynn Barnes 164187 Jennifer Lynn Barnes https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1243935916p2/164187.jpg] was a major disappointment. For all practical purposes orphaned 17-year-old Avery inherits a gazillion dollars, has to move into her late benefactor's huge mansion for a year where his toxic and dysfunctional family makes her life difficult...This was such an interesting premise but Barnes' simply can't deliver: Avery herself “feels” a lot younger than 17. She is self-centred, insecure, naïve and while she is supposed to look clever, the “riddles” in this book are mostly either trivial or so obscure that she has to be helped by her male love interests between two of which she simply doesn't decide.Jameson, Grayson - afore-mentioned love interests - aren't even graced with any kind of discernible character. Both young men are just walking stereotypes: Jameson is the young prankster clown and Grayson is the dark, brooding, elegant gentleman. Their siblings, Nash the motor-cycling “lonesome cowboy”, and Xander, basically a clone of Jameson, are as interesting to read about as a brick wall.All the other characters are similarly shallow and just, barely serve their respective purpose but nothing more. No, the head of security doesn't have any secret, he doesn't have to dramatically save his charge (driving a car doesn't count!), he just lurks in the background, probably hoping (in vain) to grow a personality.There are tons of loose ends: Why did the would-be assassin do what they did? What was their accomplice's motivation? I cannot ask any other questions to avoid spoilers but there were so many possibilities and so saddeningly few were actually realised.The very, very short chapters feel like lightly-connected thoughts that butterfly-like sailed through Barnes' mind. Light and pretty - and devoid of substance. This novel is so fast-paced, it doesn't allow for a single moment of reflection. We're just pulled into a wild ride that I always felt invested in enough to see its conclusion but I was thoroughly disappointed at pretty much every step of my reading journey.Especially, since up to about 80% of the book, nothing much actually happens - mostly Avery settling in, Libby, her inconsequential sister, behaving weirdly and inconsistently, the deceased's family acting like caricatures of rich people and some minor riddles - only afterwards some more interesting things happen.Last but not least, this book feels extremely young adult - yes, I'm not part of the target audience but from time to time I do enjoy a good young adult book but this one felt more than that: It felt just plain immature. Two out of five stars.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

[a:Robert Galbraith 383606 Robert Galbraith https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s “[b:The Ink Black Heart 59756995 The Ink Black Heart (Cormoran Strike, #6) Robert Galbraith https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1658273692l/59756995.SX50.jpg 94115574]”, the sixth instalment of this fantastic series, consisted of 1644 pages based upon my Kindle's settings. When I started reading it and saw that, I was somewhat awed. I liked where Galbraith went with this series and, thankfully, decided to go on this ride... And, wow, what a ride it was! Over the time it took me to read this, I felt drawn to this book almost non-stop. I had gotten caught in this ever-moving literary maelstrom...Robin and Strike investigate the identity of a toxic online persona, Anomie, and the brutal murder of a young cartoonist, Edie Ledwell, and her co-creator, Josh Blay, the latter barely surviving the same attack. Anomie who has in turn co-created a fan-made game to the eponymous cartoon “The Inkblack Heart” with his friend Morehouse - another pseudonym - is central to this mystery and eerily reminded me of some real people online...Strike and Robin feel what they feel for each other and the energy and tension coming from this adds greatly to the atmosphere of this brilliant book. Each part of the book is lead-in by a fitting quotation from the famous “Gray's Anatomy” and each chapter in turn starts with a short excerpt of the works of several authors, e. g. [a:Emily Dickinson 7440 Emily Dickinson https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1626025785p2/7440.jpg].As in previous books, not only do we get to see how Robin and Strike (and, to some extent, their subcontractors) go about the different cases their detective agency works but also about both their private lives. This, too, helps build up the irresistible narrative strength of the novel. If only Strike and Robin talked a little more to each other...I hated some of Strike's decisions (especially the “consolation prize” he claims... Yes, I actually shouted at my Kindle.) but couldn't help but sympathise because Strike - as always - is written exceptionally well. The same applies to Robin and pretty much every other character - I felt drawn into their world and sometimes really struggled to distance myself from it. Even my mood at times reflected that of Strike or Robin. The only small downside (at least in the ebook) were the chat logs that present highly important information but are formatted rather badly and sometimes get mixed up so that I had to concentrate strongly on mentally keeping them apart. This is the publisher's fault, though, and doesn't diminish the amazing story in the least.So, this novel is clearly a total winner for me - the best in the Strike series so far. It is a piece of art and bears witness to the narrative genius of its author, Robert Galbraith.Sadly, Robert Galbraith - as we all know - is none other than Joanne K. Rowling who is very openly transphobic. Here's an excellent breakdown of the issue: https://www.glamour.com/story/a-complete-breakdown-of-the-jk-rowling-transgender-comments-controversyRoman Polanski, Woody Allen, Bill Cosby and now Joanne K. Rowling are people whose works I've loved. Richard Wagner, a horrible anti-semitist, is another prominent example of a person whom I despise but whose music is wonderful. They are different kinds of monsters and yet monsters they all are.I cannot “unlove” those works based upon what they did beyond said works.I would certainly love it if the creators of the art I love were morally upright and as loveable as their creations. I recoil whenever I'm confronted with their depravity. And, yet, I cannot break from their art.I can only speak out openly and loudly what I think: Transwomen are Women. Joanne K. Rowling should be ashamed of herself. Or, as she puts it herself:»So-called ‘cancel culture' is really no more than holding people accountable for the views they are intentionally putting out into the public sphere.«Five out of five stars for a literary masterpiece.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

Well, “[b:Finlay Donovan Is Killing It 53138099 Finlay Donovan Is Killing It (Finlay Donovan, #1) Elle Cosimano https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1659447956l/53138099.SY75.jpg 79311104]” by [a:Elle Cosimano 5444060 Elle Cosimano https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1432140791p2/5444060.jpg] has certainly and clearly managed to kill any link to reality early on...Finlay Donovan, desparate housewife, mother of two, divorced from her serial-cheating husband and in a custody battle with him over their kids, who has probably swatted a fly or two at worst, accidentally murders a person, tries to hide that together with her children's nanny and goes on to stumble from one mess into the next.Ok, I knew I would likely have to suspend my disbelief a little more forcefully with this one than with other books but the premise didn't prepare me for the utter nonsense that this book consists of. Not only is Finlay an uncoordinated mess, massively behind at writing her book, drowning in bills and debt, no, she doesn't really get anything done but hopes things will magically resolve themselves somehow.And, in fact, in this book they actually simply do: Her nanny keeps pushing her in the right direction, the cops are stupid, the witnesses are blind and ruthless, hardened mobsters make rookie mistakes...Finlay herself is unbelievably and annoyingly naïve. Right when she realises she's in deep and the mafia is involved she has a brilliant idea...»Then I would do the most adult thing of all. I would throw the backpack full of cash at her and run before she had a chance to stop me. Possession was nine-tenths of the law. I wasn't sure whose law, or if the mafia even cared about the law. But math was math, no matter who was holding the calculator.«All of this could maybe have been funny or at least interesting but, basically, the story is moving slowly and sedately. At no point is there any real danger or even a feeling of real urgency. It's just meandering along without any real highlights nor any great lowlights.I was never completely bored but the “just one more chapter” (or even sentence!) drive was completely missing for me. Never did I feel engaged, worried for Finlay (whom I remained indifferent towards) or even Vero (the nanny, whom I actually liked better than Finlay). At every single stage of this “mystery” I knew that nothing truly bad would ever happen.Also, mystery? There simply is nothing mysterious here! (Apart, maybe, from the daftness of every single character!) The “twists” were mostly predictable and so strongly foreshadowed I found myself completely unsurprised.Pretty much the only redeeming quality of this book is that its story as a whole is just barely interesting enough to want to know how it ends - and even that is messed up because the publisher for reasons unknown obviously contracted the author for two books...Three out of five stars.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

»Annie used to have a funny theory: we all have a Year Zero around which the calendars of our lives pivot. At some point you meet someone, and they become so important, so metamorphic, that ten, twenty, sixty-five years down the line you look back and realize that you could split your existence in two. Before they showed (BCE), and your Common Era. Your very own Gregorian calendar.«“[b:Love on the Brain 59571699 Love on the Brain Ali Hazelwood https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1657897729l/59571699.SY75.jpg 93021199]” by [a:Ali Hazelwood 21098177 Ali Hazelwood https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1611084228p2/21098177.jpg] is - for the time being - my gold standard for romance. It's the lovechild of romance and nerdiness; it's The Ultimate Nerdy Romance! Almost every sentence was pure joy to read!»I will slay a murder of dragons for you.”- “I looked it up,” Levi says from the doorjamb. “It's a thunder of dragons.”«Bee Königswasser meets her arch-nemesis from graduate school, Levi Ward, again when she's taking up a position as a co-lead with him on a NASA project. She has a lot of good reasons to believe Levi hates her but...Bee is obsessed with Marie Curie, he's a guy with a cat named Schrödinger. What could possibly go wrong?»Wouldn't you tell yourself that there's a reason this cluster of shit came about? Saturn ascending to the house of Sagittarius. Not enough lambs sacrificed to the Spaghetti Monster. Bad things come in threes. We're only humans. We're full of “whys,” drowning in “whys.” Every once in a while, we need a bit of “because,” and if it's not readily available, we make it up.«The answer is simple: Nothing - from the chapter names, e. g. “Raphe nuclei: Happiness” (Raphe nuclei quite literally make you happy!), to the scribble-inspired picture of dots, crosses and circles that lead into every chapter and made me happy on their own, to the intelligent writing, to the opinions expressed (“Anyway, Harry Potter is tainted forever [...]”). Ali Hazelwood gets it right on every single level.She makes liberal use of amusing pop culture references and Hazelwood's proverbial feather tickles not only my diaphragm but easily surpasses many other books.»Science, I tell myself in my inner Jeff Goldblum voice, finds a way.«On the other hand, I felt ashamed for my fellow men when Hazelwood so aptly wrote about women not only in STEM but in my profession, IT (Information Technology), as well:»As I wait for the crowd to disperse, I take stock of the room. Levi's team appears to be WurstFest™ material. The well-known Meatwave. A Dicksplosion in the Testosteroven. The good old Brodeo.«Many, if not, sadly, even most of us, are just like that and I'd like to apologise to every non-male co-worker whom I've not supported as I should have in such a situation. I know I could have done better and I promise I've been working on improving for years now and will keep trying.Apart from that, I couldn't help but relate to Bee in so many aspects... From her fear of spiders...»“It's just . . . animals are so cute. Except for spiders. But spiders are not really animals.”«... to actually thinking about appropriate collective nouns for the most majestic fictitious animals...»a murder of dragons.”- “Is that their collective noun?”“It should be.”«Hazelwood doesn't just achieve greatness by appealing to my inner nerd, though, but she has a whole lot of pretty good ideas like the “Year Zero” I quoted at the very beginning. She is deeply sympathetic to both Bee and Levi in all their respective glorious imperfections - from Bee's annoying assumptions born out of her past experiences to Levi's inability to actually declare his feelings. I love how natural those two feel.»“Oh.” I flush as vermillion as a cardinal male at the peak of mating season. My heart thrashes in my chest—also like a cardinal male at the peak of mating season. “Right.”«It's not just the primary characters Hazelwood gets right, though: Rocío, Bee's research assistant, a grumpy goth who falls hard for a blond, bubbly, pink-loving woman, coming fresh from a relationship with a guy and Bee not even blinking an eye...Annie, her former best friend, Guy... They all feel like real people. It's just plain great to read about them all.Even the smallest details...»Levi and I aren't going to have a ceremony until this summer. July 26, to be precise.«... are just plain perfect! (If you're reading this on Amazon, google “marie curie july 26”, if you're elsewhere just click here)This entire book is smart, clever, warm-hearted, intelligent, inclusive, liberal, progressive and all-around brilliant! If you're even the tiniest bit of a nerd, read it. If you're into romance, read it. Easiest and happiest five out five stars this year so far!Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

DNF at 58%... I really hoped I would like “[b:A Soldier's Quartet 59082674 A Soldier's Quartet Colin Baldwin https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1632761971l/59082674.SY75.jpg 93170965]” by [a:Colin Baldwin 21837511 Colin Baldwin https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1654332865p2/21837511.jpg] but it was not to be for a lot of reasons.First of all, we're jumping around in time as if we were Doctor Who's new companion - from 1918 to 2018 to 1914 and so on and on... This is not only confusing and exhausting, it actually wastes the chance to actually make us care about the German soldier Wolf who first dies and only later do we get insight into some of his life before. Also, the narration about Conrad's contemporary research into the letter doesn't really work for me: It's a thinly veiled memoir of Colin's endeavours and it feels entirely authentic (including some “classic” German habits and traditions) - but, to me, it's just not very interesting. A lot of it would totally work and amaze me if told briefly and anecdotally in person. Not so much as a book, though.There's also at least one instance in which a lot of story is told - only to be summarised immediately afterwards in a dialogue between Conrad and his neighbour Wally. This made no sense at all story-wise and intrinsically felt weird - would you make your neighbour summarise what you've told them over the fence for the last few weeks?At least part of the writing was (sometimes literally) extremely flowery and over the top:»Suddenly, the flowers reverted to the colours of war. He was infuriated by their trickery. They turned and took aim, delivering a crushing blow. He felt powerless to defend himself.«Last but not least, I really disagree with some fundamental assumptions, ideas and wording: Chapter ten is called “1914. Germany Enters The Great War”. No, Germany didn't enter it, Germany caused World War 1. They most likely didn't want the war but they knowingly accepted the risk of a global war and fought it as long as they possibly could.»It is my belief, the young men mentioned in this letter, and all soldiers who died in the war, have no voice in history. I now wish to give them a chance to speak.«And that's the second issue: No, I strongly disagree with that statement. Twice my country has tumbled the world into the horrors of global wars. Twice its young men fought for their respective leader and their country. They were proud to fight, in very many cases they volunteered to fight. In both world wars they fought, committed war crimes and so on.I'm saying: No, the German soldiers deserve no voice. They do not deserve the many memorials all over Germany either. What they did needs to be remembered, who they were may be forgotten. I'm stating this as one whose own grandfather died as a soldier in World War 2. His name shall be forgotten.There are some truths about Europe that I'd like to highlight, though:»When it's the language, culture and friendship that bind us, borders and walls become irrelevant.«That is absolutely true and with the Schengen Area, (most of) Europe has grown together like never before. For the purpose of travelling the borders are practically gone. I've travelled in Europe before the treaty of Schengen of 1995 and it was a dream come true when the borders peacefully fell away...»One blink of an eye and you wouldn't even know you've crossed a border!«Even after all these years whenever I cross the border into my beloved France, I cry because there's nothing that prevents me from visiting the country in friendship that my own Germany has fought against not even 80 years ago...(At least I cry if I even notice I crossed the border because in the border regions between the German state of Rhineland-Palate and French Alsace, there often simply is no discernible border!)So, all in all, I cannot help but rate this book at two out of five stars. I still encourage you to read this book if you're interested in World War 1 - my conviction is, of course, highly subjective and your mileage may differ.Nichts für ungut, Colin, and I hope we can stay friends!Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam