kae

FINALLY a psychological thriller author actually worth celebrating. As a disclaimer: I've read a lot of these. Like A LOT. Which made me think that I was going to be able to guess every little element of this storyline. I was wrong. The plot, typical woman gets letter in the mail indicating she could be heir to a good amount of money... you know how it goes. But Ruth Ware actually has a gift for intriguing writing. Her style is so brilliant and the details so precisely placed that it made even the most typical of stories really engaging and thrilling. I must also note that I listened to this via audiobook, narrated my Imogen Church—fantastic. Her skill in reading really brought life into the story through the view of the main character (Hal). Really recommend Ruth Ware. I also liked ‘In a Dark Dark Wood', l'll have to go back to that one for an exciting reread soon.

I feel like this book was good, I don't have anything rulingly negative to say about this book. The only little tweaks I have is that the way the story is distributed is confusing at times. I really liked the storyline and how it centered on art. The historical fiction flipping to modern day told by two separate women, was cool. I liked how it was about a lawyer trying to piece together the history of the past to push forward a civil rights case. However, in flipping back and forth, the stories did not line up. I found there were a lot of characters not accounted for in certain parts when their character development had reached a peak where that disregard seemed unjust. To be honest, I picked up this book blind and started reading it so to have no prior knowledge of the plot, I didn't have any expectations. I really wish I could have given this 3.5 stars, that's what it deserved, not 3. Also, Bahni Turpin is a fantastic narrator and I continue to enjoy her storytelling skill in this book.

I loved this book and read it for my Law of Attraction bookclub. It was incredibly informative and took a spiritual approach to how we hold trauma and stress in our body and how it manifests itself as pain and diseases. It was incredibly eye opening and really informative while reiterating the importance of letting go. This book was definitely written awhile ago (1984), and you can tell while reading. Some things I dont think aged well and her opinions on certain circumstances are not somewhat overdriven by concrete science. However, her overall train of through and large themes rang true. This is definitely the “first of the genre” and now there are several other works that communicate her theories more effectively. I would highly recommend reading as a starting point with the loose spiritual understanding of the power of your thoughts. While I do look forward to reading Hay's other work, I understand that for concrete data, etc. these are not the end-all-be-all's of the genre.

This was probably one of the worst books I have ever read.

Not because it was inherently bad, but rather because it had so much potential that was wasted by the lack of character development and tangents that made no sense.

I could not relate to this main character even though we have had many similar experiences. She just has no fight in her. She just lets herself get walked over all the time. Watching life pass her by.

The last part of the book (10%) was the best not because it was ending (which was also great), but also because the main girl finally grew a backbone.

I had high expectations of this. I do not recommend.

Not a super long review seeing as y'all know how I feel about this series (A+). But this book was a B- like just squeaked by bc the last 100 pages made up for the ONSLUAGHT of crap the beginning of this book was. This was the “Two Towers” of the Witcher series. Seriously, shit just hit the fan and it just kept getting worse. Like when you stumble down a steep hill and lose your balance so then you literally are barreling down and you can't stop the pain train? Yeah that was the Time if Contempt. Made me feel like it was the time of concept for me... yeah subpar but I see why it was necessary. Hard to swallow after the Blood of Elves but they can't all be homeruns. 3 (generous) ⭐️/5

This book changed my life. It changed the way in which I perceived things. It changed the way that I address trauma with my family members. It changed the way that I was able to communicate with other perfectionist by understanding their perfectionist values. I listen to the audiobook read by the author, and I highly recommend. A soft voice that truly feels as though she was talking to my inner child telling me that it was OK and everything was going to be fine. That I wasn't broken and that there's so much joy I have in my perfectionism. I listen to it loved it so much I immediately went out and bought the book so that I could start highlighting and reflecting even more. So happy, I stumbled upon this in a moment of self discovery- would highly recommend anyone who feels as though they fall under the label of perfectionist to read

As someone who comes from an architecture background and works in construction now, the terms and particulars of the industry as part of the mystery were spot on. And let me tell you... this is DRAMA. Like this isn't just morally bad because people died like this is nooooo joke even if no one was hurt. My pulse was QUICKENING as Malik discovered the truth. And as always Lakshmi has so much patience. I truly don't know how she dealt with Radha in the first book and now Nimmi in the second book. I know that they were difficult because lack of worldly knowledge but damn did they come off as ungrateful and bratty. But anyways—

I am obsessed with Alka Joshi and her talent across her novels. She paints the most vivid and deep dilemmas and story plots with intricate details. Heading into the third (and final

This book was good. Definitely a refreshing perspective from the usual storylines of the past couple game of thrones books. While this did focus on King's Landing still, there were storylines growing in the Iron Islands and in Dorn. A lot of strong women (whether they be good, evil, etc) were told in this book which I appreciate. However, I docked it 2 stars for the amount of rape in it. I'm not talking about the way George mentioned it in the other books, I'm talking about some extra Ted Bundy bullshit. This dude was so graphic with it, it really impacted the quality of the book to the point where I was a bit shook (and this is coming from someone who watches serial killer shit). Ya know I know that was part of the medieval era and everything but to read it and have it graphically detailed to you is just a little too much for me. Once a feminist always a feminist?

Fucking ouchies.

This boom was so incredibly raw. The definition of nonfiction. These crimes were horrible, gruesome, chilling and 100% real. This made them absolutely terrifying for a woman to read about. The basis of the show ‘Mindhunter', which I am obsessed with, this book was NOT for the weary-hearted. Cases and themes explored in the show are only the beginning. John Douglas is one person and the narrator of this autobiography about his career building up the crime psychology lab in Quantico for the FBI. Although the show has 2 main detectives, they actually split real John in 2 to make Ford and Tench for the show. (Great watch, highly recommend). Anyways, this book is right up there with ones I normally read from a fiction standpoint: psych thriller, murder, mystery, etc. But this book was real. This is the difference between this book and the others. It was so incredibly graphic. The graphic nature of other books is still impactful, but because it is coming from a place of fiction, minimal truth for exact nature on a particular individual, it is easier to let it go once it is done. Douglas describes real families impacted by real, brutal murders of their family members. When he tells the stories, it is because he has seen them with his own two eyes. They have a weight to them that is more impactful and really makes it hard for the reader to progress in the kind of “detachment” that typical fiction novels possess. This book took me much much longer to get through than normal. It was not for lack of completely fascinating material (what makes a criminal psychologically do the things he/she does, nature vs nurture,etc.). It was because it was so damn heavy. I needed to take breaks to let the thing sink in. I learned a lot from this book though. I come from the standpoint that people who believe in fairytales and kindness and happy endings solely are doing themselves a disservice. The world is full of good, but it is also filled with extreme evil, seen in these pages. Being a woman in the world arguably could be one of the worst things. This book gets you thinking and picking up on things that creeps would do in real life. It makes you aware (as do reading all those fiction books too). It makes you cynical, but not to a fault. Rather to a caution. I believe that these things NEED to be talked about and remembered and made aware, so that we can all be safer together. Thank you John for an amazing encounter of your career, filled with stories that you probably already put far from your mind because of the impact. Your retelling of the gruesome crimes and reopening of emotional wounds is making the world better beyond just your cop work at Quantico. It is making the general public more aware of the kind of shit that's out there. I look forward to reading more of your books on the psychology of serial killers.

3.5/5. I think i could have related to the scare more of if I was a child of the early 80s, however, most of this book is just Doc doing his own thing and the parents looking at each other like ‘where is my child??' Do I appreciate this as a horror classic? Of course. So many scenes are clearly the original versions of scares I still read/see to this day portraying a similar eerie air, the way King writes. Very good portrayal of addiction and mental illness brought on my trauma and stress. The relationships in this book though... very weird. Again, maybe the 80s was a different time... but This was good and I will definitely read the second.

I liked this book because of the author moreso than the story line. Madeline Miller has such a knack for making words flow off the page in a swirl of imagery. Her words invoke feelings through imagery versus being plainly stated. Let's talk about the plot. Achilles is an a**hole, not new news. His lover is quiet, contemplative and full of interesting qualities. I am glad that he was the narrator. His character reminds me of Circe in Miller's second novel (also involving Greek mythology). They share similar personalities and struggle against similar themes (mental/emotional/physical isolationism, underdog mentality, quiet composure, saddness). By reading this book it has made me understand the author's style and where she finds her identity. This niche, the “outcasts” and side characters living on the outskirts of famous mythological legends, is very interesting. It's like the “deleted scenes” of well known stories. You also see the flaws of these characters. Gods and goddesses are meant to be shown as powerful and are notoriously selfish, but have you every seen them vulnerable? sad? Miller leans into this angle and truly creates this spot for herself in modern literature that ties together the old and the new. I am rating this book 3.5/5 just because in some areas I thought it was slow. I also listened to this which I think may have been an injustice to the writing and literary style, however, I was pressed on time. I look forward to revisiting this story–book in hand– and REALLY look forward to Miller's future works that lean into this angle further. Would recommend if anyone is looking for escapism and new development into a familiar story.

Listen, all I am saying is that there are some serious consent issues in this book. From both parties - male against female and female against male. That being said, and not taking it lightly–

I actually liked this book a lot more than I wanted to. I love the Bridgerton series on Netflix and I feared that reading the book may be not as good as the series. I actually liked the liberties that the show took different from the book and also enjoyed the original path that the book went aside from the series. For a cheesy romance novel, I will be definitely pursuing the rest of the vast series.

I also love that Daphne is such a woman who has her own mind and really states her own thoughts. And I think that the Bridgerton family is refreshing in personality for a historical romance novel. More reviews of Julia Quinn to come........