Wulf C. Krueger

[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: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

Truly just a “moment” but a nice, kind and amusing one. Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Ceterum 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

Finally! I'm free of this book! I used to really like this world and its rather unique inhabitants as well as the stories [a:Ben Aaronovitch 363130 Ben Aaronovitch https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1647526446p2/363130.jpg] so expertly told us.This time around, though, I was bored by the lacklustre story at the centre of “[b:Amongst Our Weapons 59628021 Amongst Our Weapons (Rivers of London, #9) Ben Aaronovitch https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1644713327l/59628021.SY75.jpg 93908917]”: An “Angel of Death” is killing the owners of some obscure rings with Lesley being on the hunt for said rings. Peter does his best to prevent further deaths.Through 80% of this instalment in the series, I only read it in bed because it served as a perfect sleeping drug. The abysmal pacing, being told about Beverly's pregnancy (mostly referred to as “the bulge” which felt derogatory even though it most certainly wasn't meant like that), quite a few encounters with the culprit but hardly any progress until the very end - it all made for a veritable snoozefest.Nightingale is mostly around and yet feels strangely absent - he doesn't have much of a role at all. Fortunately, there were a few redeeming moments: Peter refuses to lay a trap to just plain kill the culprit but looks for a better solution. Lesley plays a much better role than previously and - very importantly - the foxes are back. Not as prominently as they deserve but at least they're there and hilarious as ever.And, of course, Beverly's and Peter's twins are finally born! Still, “Amongst Our Weapons” read like Aaronovitch has lost any real intrinsic motivation to write these novels. He routinely wrote another entry which will, undoubtedly, sell well but his heart doesn't seem to be in it anymore.A sad two stars out of five.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam

After two extremely bad novels, I needed a winner to overcome a severe reading slump - and this one served very well. Amusingly, the one genre I never used to read - romance - led me straight back to reading.Noelle, going on 30, has lost her beloved grandmother Kathleen, her job and her flat; the latter, adding insult to injury, leading to her moving back into her childhood bedroom at her parents'... At that point, still deeply grieving, Noelle finds out that Kathleen had a great love before her eventual husband. Her curiosity piqued and in continuation of an old secret-trading game Noelle and granny played, she finds Paul, her grandmother's old lover, and his grandson - her college “nemesis” Theo.Theo has become a hotshot entrepreneur, a Forbes' 30 Under 30 - you get the gist. There's something rotten in the state of Denmark, though... Together, our three protagonists go on a roadtrip to the core of their respective relationships.This is the basic story and, of course, Noelle and Theo fall for each other in a enemies/rivals-to-lovers situation. What made me basically plough through this novel over the course of two days was the sensitivity with which all three protagonists are portrayed: Scarce are the “cheap shots” and yet “You” exudes an atmosphere of kind, sensible and sensitive lightness without being without substance.The banter between Noelle and Theo is entertaining and funny and their more serious interactions feel heartfelt and honest. Throughout the entire novel, the story and its protagonists never leave the realm of plausibility.Both Theo and Noelle have serious issues in their lives but Noelle slowly opens up to Theo and their mutual trust grows while they get to know each other again. There's attraction early on but no “instant love” but personal growth in vibrantly and lively depicted environments.There's also no third-act breakup: Yes, there's a conflict but it arises completely naturally and believably. It's also dealt with by the author in a very sensible and sensitive manner - I could very much relate to Theo's unfortunate behaviour and in the 25th year of our marriage (haha, C.!) I'm very happy to have found a person who acted (and still sometimes has to act) just like Noelle does at a certain point.Paul is also a well-used asset and I really think the overarching backstory of his relationship with Kathleen really added to the mix. I really, really liked the epilogue as well. A brilliant and very fitting idea that I've actually never read before.Even among its countless siblings in the romance genre, “You” stands strong and tall.The missing fifth star is due to some choices of the author I don't fully approve of but which only marginally diminished my enthusiastic reading of a very nice, charming, and refreshing romance novel.Thus, very easy, very deserved four stars out of five.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

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

Mara inherits half of a house from her late mentor. When she visits said house, she meets Liam with whom she proceeds to live “[b:Under One Roof 59651557 Under One Roof (The STEMinist Novellas, #1) Ali Hazelwood https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1637311353l/59651557.SY75.jpg 93935907]”. They have great first impressions of each other, then enmity ensues, the inevitable mutual crushes come up - and then both Mara and Liam who eat, play and talk together entirely forget to talk about said crushes...That alone would have been annoying enough but additionally, the story isn't very interestingly told either: Everything that happens beyond the interactions between Mara and Liam is boring and sometimes even their interactions are.Two out of five stars.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam

“I would love to read more about Jazz!”, were my immediate thoughts after finishing Riley's novel. After a string of novels which mostly were readable at best, I couldn't really find fault with this one and, in fact, found it actually hard to put down.Detective Inspector Jazmine “Jazz” Hunter, our protagonist, was - to me - a highly likeable person. Jazz is recovering from a difficult marriage and having retreated from London to the Salthouse Marshes of North Norfolk is asked to (at least temporarily) come back to investigate the death of a pupil at his boarding school.This premise is already pretty much exactly a setting I've loved for decades - a harsh landscape, a boarding school and murders. This is certainly not new but it somehow managed to feel fresh. The cast was large but due to Riley's great job at creating not only a vibrant backdrop but also very likeable and plausible characters (although, yes, some may lean a bit to stereotypes), it was easy to understand the relationships between them and what made them “tick”.Especially the dynamics between the investigators (apart from the intruding ex-husband) were highly enjoyable. Jazz and Miles were a bit like Lynley and Havers or Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James (before they became an item!). As for the story itself, I very much enjoyed how cleverly Riley managed to intertwine past events with the crimes in the present. From early on, I felt like just reading on and on. At one point, I actually managed to read till falling asleep while stubbornly trying to read just one more page...And I really, truly loved the hopeful, happy ending. For what it is and within its genre, this murder mystery in the best tradition of British crime fiction garners five out of five stars from me!Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

STEM Ph.D. candidate Olive meets Adam Carlsen, Ph.D., fake-dates him, inevitably falls in love, almost loses herself in the web of lies she spins - until she finally gets a grip and starts telling the truth. Happily ever after begins.Sounds familiar? Of course. The fake-dating trope is a road very often taken. And, yet, I've rarely - if ever - enjoyed the story this much.Not much is new in this story - even the primary conflict is something you might have read about before and, sadly, it's not uncommon in either academia or industry.Olive is nerdy, insecure, impostor syndrome-prone and, looking back, very, very relatable in many ways. She's also intelligent, witty, a tease and always trying to treat people fairly.Adam - our dark, brooding hero - has been pining for Olive since he first met her years ago and, thus, quickly agrees to help both Olive and himself by taking part in their fake-dating charade. Meanwhile, he makes his students cry and is widely considered “an ass”.So, it's all in the execution; the way Hazelwood tells her story and that is where this book takes flight: The writing is engaging - I really didn't want to put this down. The characters, mostly Olive and Adam but also her friend Malcolm and Adam's friend Holden are hilarious and the “chemistry” between all of them is great.Also, the night Olive and Adam spend together at the conference... Very nicely written, sensitive and forthright... Ah, well, perfect smut!At times, of course, as with pretty much any romance, I rolled my eyes at the inability to actually talk to each other and just plainly state the truth which would have spared Olive and Adam a lot of crap.When I found myself whisper-shouting at my Kindle “Finally go tell him, stupid!” I knew, though, I really enjoyed this book.Recommended to anyone reading romance and five out of five stars for the enjoyment this novel brought me!Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram

In some aspects, “[b:Listen To Me 58885794 Listen To Me (Rizzoli & Isles, #13) Tess Gerritsen https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1634656796l/58885794.SY75.jpg 90963080]” is a departure from earlier books in the series: The story is told (mostly) alternatingly from the perspectives of the main characters: There's, of course, Jane Rizzoli, cop, married to Gabriel, mother to their daughter Regina. Another but rather disappointingly short and inconsequential major character is Maura Isles, Medical Examiner, but she's playing second fiddle to Angela Rizzoli, Jane's mother, who is also the local neighbourhood spy...»Yes, I've come to know them all a little better and they've come to know me, and even though we don't always see eye-to-eye, and we sometimes stop talking to one another and occasionally even try to kill one another, this is my neighborhood. Someone has to keep an eye on it.It might as well be me.«Finally, there's Amy's point of view which becomes increasingly important. Apart from those familiar faces, things seem to have changed over the past five years since the previous instalment. At least to me, all characters feel more like the great-but-different TV series: Everyone is more quirky and things are much less gritty than usual.Don't get me wrong: This isn't bad because I like both the TV series as well as these books, I've come to expect darker, grittier stories whereas this one does have a thrill at the end, it does feel more tame and there's more comic relief.Sadly, Kossack is mostly away to help his sister and, thus, most of the secondary characters like Frankie (Jane's brother) and others are mostly or completely missing. Only Frost is allowed to help.Still, it's a good, thrilling, suspenseful read which garners four out of five stars from me.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

My expectations were naturally high as I ventured back alongside [a:Michael Connelly's 12470 Michael Connelly https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1539114448p2/12470.jpg] Harry Bosch as he re-joins the force in “[b:The Closers 32505 The Closers (Harry Bosch, #11; Harry Bosch Universe, #15) Michael Connelly https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388262627l/32505.SY75.jpg 590167]”. This novel does bring a different tempo, quite unlike the whirlwind of suspense we often associate with Bosch's live-wire cases. Instead, he delves into a cold case, bringing a slower, perhaps more methodical, feel to this venture. Initially, my excitement ebbed slightly as the urgency I'm familiar with in Bosch novels was subdued due to the nature of a cold case. However, as Bosch's intricate world unfurled, the story's pace began to pick up, rendering my initial reservations (mostly) moot. Detours from urgency can indeed provide new spaces for character exploration and narrative depth. This novel proved that slow-burning embers could have the potential to ignite an inferno.The inclusion, perhaps reintroduction, of Irvin Irving added a nuanced blend to the storyline. Though I found Irving's character portrayal to be somewhat dissonant with previous depictions, it provided a refreshing dimension. It's these unexpected character arcs that might polarise views but undeniably stir the plot's dynamic.Also, Kizmin “Kiz” Rider's return from administrative duties to being Harry's partner on “sixth floor” made for a welcome addition. Sadly, she remains somewhat bland and underused but at least she's back.Lastly, the narrative's gradual acceleration led to a climax that, while not as adrenaline-pumped as some of Connelly's others, was satisfyingly appropriate given the plot's trajectory.Connelly proves with “The Closers” that revisiting cold cases need not be a cold affair; rather, it can kindle new respect for nuances in crime-solving that fresher cases rarely provide the space to explore. While the novel initially felt like a quiet murmur compared to the thunderous exploits of Bosch, it evolved nicely into a rhythmic soliloquy, deserving a solid four-star rating.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

[b:Lost Light 126507 Lost Light (Harry Bosch, #9; Harry Bosch Universe, #13) Michael Connelly https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388241213l/126507.SY75.jpg 1805500], the ninth entry in [a:Michael Connelly's 12470 Michael Connelly https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1539114448p2/12470.jpg] Harry Bosch series, carries the familiar grittiness and deep introspection that long-time readers have come to expect. Bosch, now retired, finds himself entangled in another case, this time a cold one that starts just as the reader expects: with a murder shrouded in mystery and Bosch's relentless determination pushing it forward. However, like in [b:Angels Flight 32502 Angels Flight (Harry Bosch, #6; Harry Bosch Universe, #8) Michael Connelly https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1440615586l/32502.SY75.jpg 2449470], what makes “Lost Light” stand out isn't just the mystery itself, but Bosch's internal journey as he grapples with his own complex emotions. »I'm a believer in the single-bullet theory... What I do know is that Eleanor Wish had been my bullet. She had pierced me through and through... I was still bleeding and I knew I would always bleed for her. That was just the way it had to be. There is no end of things in the heart.« This passage encapsulates the essence of Bosch's emotional state in “Lost Light”. In some ways, it felt like meeting an old friend again, much in the way Connelly revisits familiar themes—justice, love, and loss—with renewed vigour. Yet, Bosch seems older here, more hardened by both his career and his personal relationships. Comparatively, “Lost Light” offers a more personal look at Bosch than other works like [b:The Black Echo 32508 The Black Echo (Harry Bosch, #1; Harry Bosch Universe, #1) Michael Connelly https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1344265342l/32508.SY75.jpg 48262], where duty often took centre stage.»And that was the hardest part of the surveillance to watch. That was the part that made me feel the most like an intruder... “Turn it off now,” I finally said.«It's fascinating how Connelly blends high tension with moments of emotional rawness. The human side of the man beneath the gruff exterior is both riveting and haunting, making “Lost Light” stand out in the otherwise crowded genre of detective fiction. Five stars out of five.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

»“Still the same old Bosch. Your way or the highway.”«In this instalment, Bosch is back from his involuntary leave and investigates a case of the eponymous “trunk music” - a murdered man in the trunk of his own car. Bosch himself is pretty much as he always was but around him, things changed: His lieutenant, Pounds, is on another kind of involuntary and permanent “leave” and was replaced by Grace Billets.Bosch: »I'd heard that you didn't have any actual time on a homicide table while you were coming up,” he said to her.Billets: “That's true. My only job as an actual detective was working sexual crimes in Valley Bureau.”Bosch: “Well, for what it's worth, I would have assigned things just the way you just did.”Billets: “But did it annoy you that I did it instead of you?”Bosch thought a moment.Bosch: “I'll get over it.”«I liked this exchange - which is indicative of their entire relationship in this book - because, yes, he's still “same old Bosch”: Direct, confrontational, but honest, and willing to move beyond his prejudice.Billets recognises the old-fashioned cop and is equally direct, sparing him no challenges. She also stands up for him repeatedly. I very quickly took to Billets and greatly enjoyed her character. »“It's Bosch.”“Well, the Michelangelo of murder, the Rodin of homicide.”«Alas, not everything is as good as usual: There's a major twist after more than two thirds of the novel that the reader long sees coming. I was impatient with Bosch and colleagues to realise it and that somewhat marred my enjoyment.Nevertheless, the writing is still very good and there are some very suspenseful parts of the narration. I also enjoyed the reappearance of Eleanor Wish and “that one stop” in Vegas...3.5 stars out of five, rounded up to 4 stars.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

»Bosch leaned back against the tree and watched the driver open the door for her. Then he lit a cigarette and watched as the sleek black machine carried her out through the gate and left him alone with the dead.«This is the second Harry Bosch novel I read and it surpasses its already strong predecessor in many aspects.The story begins on Christmas night, when Harry discovers that a fellow officer, Calexico Moore, has apparently committed suicide in a seedy motel. Harry is suspicious of the circumstances and decides to investigate on his own, despite the orders from his superiors to stay away. He soon uncovers a web of corruption, drug trafficking, and murder that involves not only Moore, but also a mysterious drug lord, who is behind a new and deadly drug called Black Ice.The writing is much improved compared to the first Bosch novel: Connelly has refined his style and skill, and has created a more polished and engaging narrative. The writing is more rounded and even and also more vivid and descriptive. Connelly uses a variety of techniques, such as dialogue, action, flashback, and foreshadowing, to create a dynamic and suspenseful story. He also uses rich and realistic details to bring the setting and the characters to life.The pacing has also greatly improved: Gone are any unnecessary or boring parts; instead, there's a consistent and smooth flow of the story. The pacing is fast enough to keep the reader interested and excited, but not too fast to lose the coherence, cohesion, and logic of the plot. The pacing also balances well between the two levels of the story: the private and the professional. Connelly gives enough relevant context and background information to explain Harry's thoughts and actions, and to show how his personal life affects his work, and vice versa. The private and the professional levels are nicely intertwined and work brilliantly together, creating a more complex and realistic character for Harry, and a more satisfying and rewarding reading experience for the reader.I still love Bosch's integrity and loyalty: When his investigation makes him visit Mexico, he's warned of the local corruption and told not to trust any cop. And yet, Harry is cautious but trusts his instincts which, ultimately, lets him overcome his institution's inherent racism and xenophobia.»“Right,” Bosch said. “I get it. No matter what goes wrong, it's my ass. I got it. I also have a vest in my trunk. He can use yours. I like my own.”«One might criticise some of Harry's decisions, of course. Most importantly a certain a bold and brave choice at the very end of the novel but thinking about it, that decision was not only fully within Harry's character (which, in itself, would be insufficient to justify it) but it ultimately serves everyone involved and sees true justice done. It was a realistic and fitting conclusion to the story, as it reflected the complexity and ambiguity of the situation. Harry did not take the easy or conventional way out, but he followed his instincts and his conscience, even if it meant losing his reputation and his friends. I think that this decision made Harry a more interesting and admirable character, and also a more human one. Harry is not a perfect hero, but he is a true one.»Irving finally turned around to face him again.“You are right, Bosch. I really don't understand you. Why risk everything for nothing? You see? It raises my concerns about you all over again. You don't play for the team. You play for yourself.”Bosch looked steadily at Irving and didn't smile, though he wanted to. Irving had paid him a fine compliment, though the assistant chief would never realize it.«“The Black Ice” is a very clever and complex story which is told elegantly by Connelly. Once again, a small drawback is the age of this novel: Written in the 90s, there still are no mobile phones, typewriters are still in use, etc..Due to the dense and extremely coherent atmosphere, the wonderfully designed tension arc, and the balanced pacing, I was able to simply overlook it.Five out of five stars.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

The moment you find out the perfect review, down to the actual notes and highlights, has actually already been written...Go on, read this review, there's nothing I could add: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5141765060I was at three stars originally but I simply didn't see things as clearly as Kristina. Two stars, it is.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon 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

Big drama, little substance, no suspense.[a:Seraphina Nova Glass' 8061717 Seraphina Nova Glass https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1698280601p2/8061717.jpg] “[b:On a Quiet Street 58977601 On a Quiet Street Seraphina Nova Glass https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1639154572l/58977601.SY75.jpg 88799696]” was, frankly, not for me. I gave it a genuine attempt, making it to 33%, but ultimately, I had to DNF. The novel starts with a mix of intrigue and melodrama, but it quickly veers into territory that felt clichéd and overly contrived – more akin to a soap opera than a compelling thriller.The premise had potential: a gated community told about through multiple points of view, revolving around Paige and her devastation over the hit-and-run death of her son, Caleb. Yet, rather than diving deep into authentic, layered characters or gripping tension, the book becomes bogged down by outlandish twists and unconvincing developments. For instance, Paige's emotional descent pivots to her seduction of Finn – her best friend Cora's husband – in a toilet at a ball no less. That moment was more cringe-worthy than dramatic. Meanwhile, Cora eyes Paige's estranged husband, Grant, and Georgia, supposedly agoraphobic, turns out to be a prisoner of her controlling judge husband. It's all a bit much.The writing was mostly mediocre at best, and the pacing felt like a dying snail on a steeply ascending slope. With four perspectives that sound strikingly alike, none of the characters felt distinctive or gripping either. At 33%, still mired in shallow drama and soap operatic antics, I decided to cut my losses. One star out of five.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

»(Vielleicht wirkt diese Beschreibung irritierend oder abstoßend, oder sie mag als geschmacklos empfunden werden. Etwas erlebt zu haben, egal, was es ist, verleiht einem das unveräußerliche Recht, darüber zu schreiben. Es gibt keine minderwertige Wahrheit. Wenn ich diese Erfahrung nicht im Detail erzähle, trage ich dazu bei, die Lebenswirklichkeit von Frauen zu verschleiern, und mache mich zur Komplizin der männlichen Herrschaft über die Welt.)«[a:Annie Ernaux 56176 Annie Ernaux https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1227023667p2/56176.jpg], seinerzeit 23-jährige Studentin, wurde 1963 im damals erzkonservativen, katholischen Frankreich ungewollt schwanger und vom Vater des ungeborenen Kindes de facto im Stich gelassen. Keiner der Ärzte, die sie aufsuchte, half ihr in nennenswerter Weise und so bleibt ihr nichts übrig, als sich in die Hände einer sogenannten “Engelmacherin” zu begeben. »Beim Schreiben muss ich manchmal dem Drang widerstehen, in einen wütenden oder schmerzerfüllen Lyrismus zu verfallen. Ich will in diesem Text nicht tun, was ich im echten Leben nicht getan habe oder nur ganz selten, schreien und weinen.«Das gelingt Ernaux mit Bravour: Sachlich und nüchtern, ohne zu dramatisieren, zu beschönigen oder mit etwas “hinter dem Berg zu halten”, erzählt sie von dem fürchterlichen Spießrutenlauf, den sie hinter sich bringen mußte, um einen - damals illegalen - Schwangerschaftsabbruch in Frankreich an sich durchführen zu lassen.Dabei ist sie so schonungslos offen, daß ich hier keine entsprechende Zitate aufführen möchte. Durch aber genau diese Offenheit, so werden z. B. die Initialen der wichtigsten Personen genutzt, wirkt der Text vollkommen ehrlich und hat mich stellenweise tief berührt.»Mit dem Auftreten des Bereitschaftsarztes beginnt der zweite Teil der Nacht. An die Stelle einer reinen Erfahrung von Leben und Tod treten Zurschaustellung und Verurteilung. Er setzte sich aufs Bett und packte mein Kinn: »Warum hast du das getan? Wie hast du das getan? Antworte!««Es ist vollkommen anmassend, widerwärtig und geradezu pervers, Menschen durch Kriminalisierung bzw. Stigmatisierung von Schwangerschaftsabbrüchen in eine derartige Notlage zu bringen. Damals wie heute.Denn bis heute ist in Deutschland der Schwangerschaftsabbruch nach den §§ 218 ff. des Strafgesetzbuches strafbar und sowohl Schwangere als auch Ärzte werden mit Freiheits- oder Geldstrafen bedroht. Dies ist ein Skandal, den wir den Kirchen und den konservativen alten Männern zu “verdanken” haben, die noch im 21. Jahrhundert meinen, selbst Aufklärung zum Schwangerschaftsabbruch sei als “Werbung” dafür zu ahnden.1999 geschrieben und erst in diesem Jahr (2021) in deutscher Sprache veröffentlicht, hallt das Grauen, das in diesem Buch so unemotional beschrieben wird, auch fast 60 (!) Jahre später noch nach und weckt, zumindest bei mir, um so stärkere Emotionen. Daß wir noch immer über Schwangerschaftsabbruch diskutieren müssen, daß dieser immer noch in unserem Land unter Strafe gestellt ist, ist eigentlich unerträglich.»Ich bin nun damit fertig, das in Worte zu fassen, was mir eine allumfassende menschliche Erfahrung zu sein scheint, eine Erfahrung von Leben und Tod, von Zeit, von Moral und Tabu, von Gesetz, eine ganz und gar körperliche Erfahrung.«Fünf von fünf Sternen (ein Urteil, das mir beinahe anmaßend vorkommt) und eine dringende Leseempfehlung (es ist ein sehr kurzes Buch) für alle. Insbesondere für Männer, ganz besonders für Politiker... Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram

I definitely did not enjoy reading “[b:Winterset Hollow 58934632 Winterset Hollow Jonathan Edward Durham https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630955865l/58934632.SX50.jpg 92874648]”. [a:Jonathan Edward Durham 21791156 Jonathan Edward Durham https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1631055667p2/21791156.jpg] tells the story of a group of admirer's of a children's novel about anthropomorphised animals with a dark horror twist... The protagonists “damaged” Eamon, “dumb but kind” Mark and “smart and comforting” Caroline visit their idol's lonely island - and that is where the cookie already starts crumbling: Lots of people visit said island every single year, lots of people vanish without a trace - and there are no investigations, no tabloids reporting on it; nothing...Ok, so let's suspend some disbelief - and meet an anthropomorphised rabbit, frog, fox, and bear. Who all speak English (apart from the bear). And throw parties and a lot more...Disbelief is wearing thinner... When those animals start murdering the “guests” and a hunt for our three heroes embarks, things get rough: There's lots of violence, brutality and a casual cruelty to it all that made me feel deeply uncomfortable. From outright gore (unquotable...) to pure horror which the author seems to subscribe to enthusiastically:»His death was nothing like it was supposed to be ... nothing like anything they'd ever watched on the silver screen or seen scratched out in big, bright colors in a comic book. It was anything but immediate and [he] fought it the whole way, his limbs flailing and his throat pumping out the most horrid, confused moans that any of them had ever heard. It was all so ghastly that [it] proved to be the most palatable part of his last moments. Even the scent of him soiling himself as his life wriggled from his clutch was far more bitter. It was all so incorrect ... and each of them knew they would never be able to wash away its stain.«Describing the death of a human being like that - to me - is exceptionally disgusting and only justifiable in very few cases. A fictional novel is not one of them.Denis Scheck, a German literary critic, has coined a very fitting word for large parts of what this book consists of: “Gewaltpornographie” (violence porn).Even if all of this was an allegory on colonisation (which does make some sense) it would only make limited sense because those suffering under the yoke of their oppressors are by no means better than them. I felt no sympathy for any of the characters; I just despised them to different degrees.Sadly, the writing is very heavy-handed, flowery and stilted as well. The author seems to be trying to emulate older (outdated) literary styles (the Brothers Grimm come to mind) in a modern setting which simply doesn't work very well.Durham also takes generous helpings from cheap thrillers: The murderer always comes back at least once, sometimes even twice or thrice! At this point, my disbelief was entirely gone and my eyes started hurting from all the rolling they did...Towards the end the madness at least grows some method and while still completely icky, the book comes to a somewhat satisfying conclusion.Three stars out of five because there are some redeeming aspects for this book. Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

I decided to put in another festive romance reading “sprint” and, regrettably, I settled on [a:Tessa Bailey's 6953499 Tessa Bailey https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1634304355p2/6953499.jpg] “[b:Window Shopping 58943206 Window Shopping Tessa Bailey https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1631093429l/58943206.SY75.jpg 92892064]”. It endeavours to offer a festive romance wrapped in themes of redemption and self-discovery but, for me, falls short of expectations. While I anticipated a heartwarming holiday tale filled with charm, I instead found a collection of hurried resolutions, clichéd characterisations, and strained dynamics.Stella's characterisation was one of the main frustrations. She veers wildly between crippling insecurity and unconvincing strength, making her emotional journey feel inconsistent and unrelatable. Her conflict with her parents, which could have provided a rich emotional arc, is resolved almost instantly and without any meaningful dialogue or exploration. This lack of depth extended to Aiden as well. While he's positioned as the quintessential romantic hero, his internal monologues hint at self-satisfaction that does not endear him. His protectiveness and confidence border on the caveman trope, which made certain interactions feel clumsy rather than endearing.The chemistry between Stella and Aiden is another mixed bag. Aiden's cavalier intensity might work in other contexts, but here it veered into cringe territory, especially with lines like:»up and down the rigid stalk of his arousal«Such phrasing, rather than adding to the tension, made the scenes unintentionally comedic.Worse still, the subplots and secondary characters were thinly developed. Stella's friend Nicole, for instance, transitions from toxic to reformed in the blink of an eye after a short, unconvincing conversation. This superficiality pervades much of the narrative, undermining its emotional beats.Yet another letdown was the lack of authentic Christmas spirit. While the premise suggested a cosy holiday backdrop, the festive vibes felt more like an afterthought. Instead of immersing readers in seasonal charm, the story felt rushed and mechanical, missing the emotional resonance that holiday romances often deliver.While I appreciated Stella's stance on “no favouritism,” there was little else for me to connect with.Two stars out of five.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

This is one of the very few books I'm not finishing. Let me explain why: The problem with this one is that [a:Benjamín Labatut 5343297 Benjamín Labatut https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1601105305p2/5343297.jpg] introduces the history of an invention to us. Let's take the first story on “Prussian Blue” as an example:Labatut starts by shortly describing the invention itself and what lead to it. He then proceeds to tell us about the inventor(s) and how they relate to each other and the world. Labatut does this, and that's my first issue, at break-neck speed. He drops name after name after name and forms connections between them in rarely more than a single sentence. It's exhausting and not very illuminating.Much worse, though, whenever there's insufficient historical evidence Labatut chooses the most lurid and raciest possible explanation. For example Fritz Haber's (Haber played a most prominent role in chemical warfare) wife, Clara Immerwahr, did commit suicide - but the reasons are unclear. Immerwahr's marriage to Haber was unhappy on many levels and she may or may not have been against World War I - there are conflicting accounts.Labatut, though, decides to paint her as condemning Haber for perverting chemistry and killing herself about that.If there are two possible conclusions, it's always the sensationalist one Labatut chooses. Even in that first story, in which the author claims is only one fictionalised paragraph, there are a lot of instances in which Labatut takes great liberty at recounting the details of his subject.Last but not least, I do not like the ambivalent form: Labatut writes as if presenting established historicals facts but on the other hand takes literary freedom especially in later stories without clearly marking such occasions - what's true and what's his artistic license? Unless you take the time and actually research the subject matter yourself, you won't know. And you'll never know at which points Labatut overly simplifies the facts or goes on to embellish them.»The quantity of fiction grows throughout the book; whereas “Prussian Blue” contains only one fictional paragraph, I have taken greater liberties in the subsequent texts, while still trying to remain faithful to the scientific concepts discussed in each of them.«This book isn't really about scientific concepts, though, but about the societal and historical implications of those concepts and how they influenced their inventors and the world. That - without embellishments and fictionalised parts - could be a truly interesting read.The way this book is written, though, is just a wild, high-speed ride through selective and partly fictionalised history. That's not for me.One star out of five.Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam

Pixels and Passions: A Journey On The Road to Nowhere-In-Particular Through Three DecadesMaybe I've grown complacent: I love a good, strong plot; a linear story, told in chronological order. Along comes a book, its plot basically consisting of “30 years in the life of Sadie, Sam and Marx”; told calmly, only partly linearly by an omniscient narrator who retroactively fills gaps.And: I am not a gamer and this is a novel about the creation of video games. On the other hand, just like the protagonists (and the author), I'm from generation X. I've played the games Sadie, Sam and Marx would have played. I may never have been a gamer but I've been a lifelong admirer of Richard “Lord British” Garriott (a legend of game design) whose immortal claim to fame is his involvement in the creation of the “Ultima” series of games and who founded “Origin Systems, Inc.”. Their slogan was “We Create Worlds” - and that's what they did.[a:Gabrielle Zevin 40593 Gabrielle Zevin https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1503541462p2/40593.jpg] did, too: In “[b:Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow 58784475 Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow Gabrielle Zevin https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1636978687l/58784475.SY75.jpg 89167797]” she creates a world that feels vibrant and alive. Zevin knows her characters intimately - their joy, pain, love. She possesses the enviable ability to bring to life the entire emotional “landscape” and the lived reality of her characters. Many passages have deeply moved me, others were light and clever, enjoyable and relatable.»She had, he thought, one of the world's great laughs. The kind of laugh where a person didn't feel that he was being laughed at. The kind of laugh that was an invitation: I cordially invite you to join in this matter that I find amusing.«I couldn't help but fall in love with Sam, Sadie and Marx because in their beautiful imperfection they always felt authentic and true to life. There were points during the story at which I loathed each of them and yet couldn't help but hope for them getting better or redemption or whatever else they needed. The extensive and intensive “world building” that Zevin achieves effortlessly does, however, come at a cost: The narrative style is leisurely and unhurried. At times, passages seemed to drag, but ultimately everything came together to form a magnificent and unique total work of art, which has given me a lot.In her “Notes and Acknowledgments” at the end, Zevin writes that “»Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a novel about work [...] [and] [...] equally about love.« - and, to me, she triumphantly succeeds at that. What she leaves out is, that it's also about storytelling itself: Storytelling should not be rushed, it cannot be forced; it takes time, dedication, work and love. The result is a novel that feels long and epic and accomplishes to narrate the feelings of at least part of a generation - the Zeitgeist - like few novels before. At times I rolled my eyes and was annoyed while at other times I felt almost overwhelmed by emotions.»She had once read in a book about consciousness that over the years, the human brain makes an AI version of your loved ones. The brain collects data, and within your brain, you host a virtual version of that person. Upon the person's death, your brain still believes the virtual person exists, because, in a sense, the person still does. After a while, though, the memory fades, and each year, you are left with an increasingly diminished version of the AI you had made when the person was alive.«After having read many reviews I can imagine that this will remain a divisive novel: Many, like myself, can't help but love it. Others will loathe it or be left irritated. It is the long road to nowhere in particular. I can understand all reactions to it.When I started writing this, I wasn't sure what my conclusion would be but despite some lengths, etc. I cannot ignore how strongly this novel appealed to me personally: Five stars out of five. And now I'm going to play “Donkey Kong” on original era hardware. Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

Vampires? Nobility? Historical stuff? Sorry, doesn't work for me. DNF.

Let's get this review started with the best aspect of this novella: It's short! And that's a mercy because it tries to put a romance story into a post-apocalyptic world - and neither of these ideas actually works.The entire story felt forced, probably due to the length of this novella: the story never had a chance to develop and I feel very strongly that romance and apocalypse don't really fit well together. Especially not when the author, who “has been writing romance novels since she was twelve years old”, never progressed beyond that age writing-wise: Our heroine, Faith, shows her maturity by gratuitous use of the word “fuck”. All over the place.I don't mind vulgarity, but if it's just introduced for its real or perceived “shock value”, it quickly becomes annoying. Especially if, as is the case here, the writing is on an extremely “plain” level. Simple sentences, driving the mediocre story forward without any linguistic or semantic appeal - there are no redeeming qualities to the writing.Jackson, Faith's love interest, is a stereotypical grumpy, brooding young man without any other discernible character traits. He's basically just around to have sex with Faith. The resulting sex scenes are supposed to be steamy, but feel rather mechanical and sterile. There's lust but no passion. Nevertheless, after some sex and one kiss, they're in a relationship. Just like that. Oops.The apocalyptic parts are also rather bland. We're just being told about the death of billions and how devastated Earth now is but there's nothing to show for it. I know teenagers who have absorbed lots of “Walking Dead”, who, as a result, can evoke images of a devastated world more convincingly.When I started writing this review, I was going to award three stars. Two paragraphs earlier, I was down to two stars, and now this turd actually gets the one star out of five it deserves. Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam