Natasha
Just so much fun. I read it over Halloween and it is absolutely perfect for this time of year. I loved the homage to the queen of crime - Agatha Christie - and did not see the reveals coming.
4.5 stars. An adventurous gothic fairytale. Brontë meets Beauty and the Beast meets Alice in Wonderland meets Stranger Things. Super fun.
Murder, mayhem and adventure on the high seas. Throw in a Sherlock / Watson type detective duo, some dubious characters and an ancient demon stalking the ship and you have, my friends, a recipe for a cracking fun, page turning who-dunnit.
I adored Evelyn Hardcastle and Turton's follow up novel does not disappoint. I just want more!
3.5 stars. Last year, The Whisper Man was everywhere. Everywhere! I went into it with sky high expectations and well, it fell kind of flat to be honest. So, my relationship with Alex North was over... until I read the synopsis of The Shadows and decided we could try again.
The Shadows pays homage to IT era Stephen King (well that was the vibe I got anyway). It tells the dark tale of four friends and the events that lead up to the brutal murder of one of their classmates. At the same time there is this sinister supernatural character, Red Hands, hovering around the periphery. There are two time lines - and mysteries that extend through both.
It's a spooky, dark, mind bending novel and while it doesn't quite match the coming-of-age feeling of IT, it gives it a red hands go.
Another great historical fiction (mystery?) from Jessie Burton. I loved Odelle, but the characters in the 1930's timeline felt a bit flat. However, still really enjoyable and I will definitely be reading Burton's next novel (whenever that may be - no pressure Ms Burton).
4.5 stars. I was so pleasantly surprised with this book. I noticed it only had a 3.5 rating and did not expect much. But I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the characters, the mystery and even the way some big issues were dealt with. Yes, Burton probably tried to do too much, but I appreciated that Nella wasn't always this fierce heroine, I liked her growth and her flaws.
A brilliantly stunning novel! It takes time to get into the story, but the reward for this perseverance is breath-taking.
I was very disappointed with this book. I absolutely loved “100 Years of Solitude” and so maybe expected a little too much from it. I didn't feel a connection to any of the characters. Perhaps it requires a second reading in a year or two.
I found this novel very satisfying and worthy of all the hype surrounding it. I love magical realism and delighted in the fact that one character can be born with green hair and another can commune with the dead. While I found Esteban to be mostly vulgar and offensive, I felt that he slightly redeemed himself at the end with Alba. It is a beautifully written and touching story.
There was way too much petty arguing and fighting in this instalment. The characters just got annoying. It could have been at least 200 pages shorter too.
Very eerie and atmospheric. I may increase my rating upon reflection. I was reading it alone at home one windy afternoon when a door blew shut. I nearly 💩 myself!!
Reread in 2023 - almost 20 years since I first read this, and I can see some problems with it now. Although keeping my original rating for posterity sake (haha)
Easy to see how this book became a classic. It deserves all the praise. Loved it!
3.5 stars. I loved this book when I started it. It was quirky and engaging and endearing. The first half = 5 stars! But part two was disjointed, and it seemed to lose the charm of the coming-of-age tale.
While this book will never win any literary awards, it is a light, entertaining romp through an almost believable Dickensian England. It is straight forward black and white spy story - the baddies are ugly and Russian, the goodies are handsome and English. Very clear cut with nothing too unpredictable or mind blowing. I did enjoy the witty narration and the character of India Black. Enjoyable yet probably forgettable. Two and a half stars.
This was not a book for me. Historical romance / train wrecks are not my thing. What detestable characters. As much as I admire some of the writers of that generation (Fitzgerald etc) I am so glad I didn't actually meet them. Hemingway especially, not so much the ‘tortured artist' as a raging alcoholic, adulterer and obvious male chauvinist. Hadley was a simpering doormat. Ugh!