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1.16k reviews by:
anabel_unker
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*
Magical realism mixed with family drama mixed with romance mixed with a lot of heart. WHEN THE WORLD TIPS OVER is messy and fun and yes, a little all over the place, but it's heartwarming and beautiful and doesn't shy from the best and worst parts about humanity. Our capacity for love, our capacity for hate, how betrayal and loyalty can tip too far over the edge, how it feels to hate everything and love everything all at once.
WHEN THE WORLD TIPS OVER follows the Fall siblings who live in Paradise on a winery passed down from their great-grandfather, and, eventually, vagabond Cassidy who grew up in a RV with her flower-child mother. Each character is so unique and wonderful-- from Dizzy, the youngest, with her ability to see ghosts and endless fountain of hope, to the middle brother, Perfect Miles, who isn't so perfect after all, and their hot-mess-express oldest brother Wynton who cries when he plays the violin but can't seem to stop himself on the path to self destruction.
This book was magical in every sense of the word; I loved everything about it.
Magical realism mixed with family drama mixed with romance mixed with a lot of heart. WHEN THE WORLD TIPS OVER is messy and fun and yes, a little all over the place, but it's heartwarming and beautiful and doesn't shy from the best and worst parts about humanity. Our capacity for love, our capacity for hate, how betrayal and loyalty can tip too far over the edge, how it feels to hate everything and love everything all at once.
WHEN THE WORLD TIPS OVER follows the Fall siblings who live in Paradise on a winery passed down from their great-grandfather, and, eventually, vagabond Cassidy who grew up in a RV with her flower-child mother. Each character is so unique and wonderful-- from Dizzy, the youngest, with her ability to see ghosts and endless fountain of hope, to the middle brother, Perfect Miles, who isn't so perfect after all, and their hot-mess-express oldest brother Wynton who cries when he plays the violin but can't seem to stop himself on the path to self destruction.
This book was magical in every sense of the word; I loved everything about it.
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*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*
Best described as a love letter to his children, and to all of us, LIFE AS WE KNOW IT (CAN BE) is a heartwarming exploration of everything going wrong with the world and, most importantly, how humanity is fixing it. Centered around climate change and it's far reaching impacts, Weir takes the readers (and his children) on a journey to the furthest corners of the world-- intermixing his own personal anecdotes featuring his extensive travels for work and pleasure (I'm not going to lie, I was laughing the entire time imagining a teenaged River being horrified by the lighthouse intro) and research being conducted by some of the brightest minds of our generation.
While this book is densely packed with information about our changing world and how we got to the situation, as well as descriptions of legislation and pioneers in the field of conservation, Weir did an incredible job of making this book approachable for all readers with a genuine and conversational tone.
Best described as a love letter to his children, and to all of us, LIFE AS WE KNOW IT (CAN BE) is a heartwarming exploration of everything going wrong with the world and, most importantly, how humanity is fixing it. Centered around climate change and it's far reaching impacts, Weir takes the readers (and his children) on a journey to the furthest corners of the world-- intermixing his own personal anecdotes featuring his extensive travels for work and pleasure (I'm not going to lie, I was laughing the entire time imagining a teenaged River being horrified by the lighthouse intro) and research being conducted by some of the brightest minds of our generation.
While this book is densely packed with information about our changing world and how we got to the situation, as well as descriptions of legislation and pioneers in the field of conservation, Weir did an incredible job of making this book approachable for all readers with a genuine and conversational tone.
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*
From the author of Beartown and A Man Called Ove, THE ANSWER IS NO is a novella that tackles some of the bigger questions of life with Backman's signature humor. It's absurd, it's thought-provoking, and it's good for a little laugh.
From the author of Beartown and A Man Called Ove, THE ANSWER IS NO is a novella that tackles some of the bigger questions of life with Backman's signature humor. It's absurd, it's thought-provoking, and it's good for a little laugh.
I really feel like I’m missing something– why do so many people love this book so much?
I listened to the audiobook, and nothing happened until the five and a half hour mark? This book follows the lives of the people involved with Violette Toussaint (her husband, her new paramour, his mother, his mother’s lover, her daughter, her husband’s lovers, etc.) and it’s confusing as heck.
The narrative switches from past to present and between narrators without any warning, and (excluding was I believe is the main plot thread,) this book was mostly just people cheating on their loving spouses and smoking.
While Perrin does make some beautiful observations on human nature, grieving, love, and the afterlife– it wasn’t nearly enough to fill the full fifteen hours.
I listened to the audiobook, and nothing happened until the five and a half hour mark? This book follows the lives of the people involved with Violette Toussaint (her husband, her new paramour, his mother, his mother’s lover, her daughter, her husband’s lovers, etc.) and it’s confusing as heck.
The narrative switches from past to present and between narrators without any warning, and (excluding was I believe is the main plot thread,
Spoiler
uncovering the true cause of her daughter’s untimely deathWhile Perrin does make some beautiful observations on human nature, grieving, love, and the afterlife– it wasn’t nearly enough to fill the full fifteen hours.
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*
In this retelling of the classic myth of Hades and Persephone, PAXTON explores the complicated and fraught relations between mother and daughter and the tender bonds that can form between two abused individuals.
To start, the romance between Persephone and Hades was dutifully complex. How can a hurt and broken individual learn to love another? How does the idolized, imagined version of someone compare to the real person? Can real love form between a kidnapper and his victim (in this story, yes, in real life-- not so much)? Tackling the complex web of Hades' and Persephone's perceptions and feelings revolving the kidnapping, as well as the convoluted motivations behind Hades' actions, adding depth to their love story and some amount of credibility.
Paxton stuck closely to the 'traditional' mythical Underworld, rather than some of the more modern interpretations, which added another, somewhat unexpected, layer to the story. In a similar thread, Paxton captured what life might had been like in Ancient Greek mythology-- not necessarily through historical accuracy, but the turbulence of the god's whims and humanity's fragility in the face of the unstoppable forces.
Demeter's story was also richly layered. She abused Persephone throughout her life (because of her inability to empathize with her daughter and her daughter's humanity? Because she herself had been hurt and scorned and 'hurt people, hurt people'? Because her daughter represented everything Demeter now hated about her life and was the only thing truly in her control?), and only realized she needed her daughter to know she loved her once the kidnapping had occurred.
My personal interpretation of Demeter's character was that her actions were not that of a loving mother as she continued to proclaim throughout the entire book. But the desperation of someone losing power, and an abuser unwilling to let their victim go. While some of her actions could have been truly for the sake of her daughter (), the eventual path of causing the first winter and forcing humans to worship her for more power did not feel... maternal.
But it made for an interesting interpretation.
SEEDS would be an excellent choice for fans of greek mythology retellings, who are looking for a more character-driven and emotional version. I'll warn you though, this version does not have a Hollywood Happy ending-- choices are made and it's Persephone who ends up suffering.
In this retelling of the classic myth of Hades and Persephone, PAXTON explores the complicated and fraught relations between mother and daughter and the tender bonds that can form between two abused individuals.
To start, the romance between Persephone and Hades was dutifully complex. How can a hurt and broken individual learn to love another? How does the idolized, imagined version of someone compare to the real person? Can real love form between a kidnapper and his victim (in this story, yes, in real life-- not so much)? Tackling the complex web of Hades' and Persephone's perceptions and feelings revolving the kidnapping, as well as the convoluted motivations behind Hades' actions, adding depth to their love story and some amount of credibility.
Paxton stuck closely to the 'traditional' mythical Underworld, rather than some of the more modern interpretations, which added another, somewhat unexpected, layer to the story. In a similar thread, Paxton captured what life might had been like in Ancient Greek mythology-- not necessarily through historical accuracy, but the turbulence of the god's whims and humanity's fragility in the face of the unstoppable forces.
Demeter's story was also richly layered. She abused Persephone throughout her life (because of her inability to empathize with her daughter and her daughter's humanity? Because she herself had been hurt and scorned and 'hurt people, hurt people'? Because her daughter represented everything Demeter now hated about her life and was the only thing truly in her control?), and only realized she needed her daughter to know she loved her once the kidnapping had occurred.
My personal interpretation of Demeter's character was that her actions were not that of a loving mother as she continued to proclaim throughout the entire book. But the desperation of someone losing power, and an abuser unwilling to let their victim go. While some of her actions could have been truly for the sake of her daughter (
Spoiler
such as petitioning Zeus for her return and physically looking for her for nine daysBut it made for an interesting interpretation.
SEEDS would be an excellent choice for fans of greek mythology retellings, who are looking for a more character-driven and emotional version. I'll warn you though, this version does not have a Hollywood Happy ending-- choices are made and it's Persephone who ends up suffering.
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*
Nobody knows who the infamous Cate Kay is. Shrouded in mystery (and surrounded by rock-solid NDAs), her only mark is the bestselling trilogy that rocketed her name into the stratosphere.
Until now.
Told through the eyes of Cate (also known as Cass and Annie), and the people closest to her during key points of her life, a story unfolds of a young woman desperate to make a name for herself while running from an unspeakable tragedy.
THE THREE LIVES OF CATE KAY was such a unique and intriguing story-- Fagan masterfully wove together almost a dozen different perspectives, each with a resounding amount of depth and personality (one of my favorite narrators had a single chapter near the end of the story). This story had everything: love and heartbreak, friendship and manipulation, desperation and hope, greed and forgiveness. It's being marketed as a comp to Evelyn Hugo, and while they two have very different storytelling styles and characters, they do have the same feel. I'm excited to see what Fagan publishes in the future!
Nobody knows who the infamous Cate Kay is. Shrouded in mystery (and surrounded by rock-solid NDAs), her only mark is the bestselling trilogy that rocketed her name into the stratosphere.
Until now.
Told through the eyes of Cate (also known as Cass and Annie), and the people closest to her during key points of her life, a story unfolds of a young woman desperate to make a name for herself while running from an unspeakable tragedy.
THE THREE LIVES OF CATE KAY was such a unique and intriguing story-- Fagan masterfully wove together almost a dozen different perspectives, each with a resounding amount of depth and personality (one of my favorite narrators had a single chapter near the end of the story). This story had everything: love and heartbreak, friendship and manipulation, desperation and hope, greed and forgiveness. It's being marketed as a comp to Evelyn Hugo, and while they two have very different storytelling styles and characters, they do have the same feel. I'm excited to see what Fagan publishes in the future!
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*
Based on the life of the author's grandmother, WHITE MULBERRY follows Miyoung from a young age into adult- and motherhood. Born to the second wife of a some-what successful Korean business man, Miyoung and her sister never enjoyed much luxury in life. As both her sisters are married off to strange men (and sent to foreign countries for better opportunity), Miyoung clings desperately to the hope of furthering her education and escaping a similar fate.
When given the chance of immigrating to Japan to live with her middle sister to attend middle school, Miyoung leaps at the opportunity to escape her own arranged marriage. However, leaving a Japan-occupied Korea for the island nation itself exposes Miyoung to deep-rooted racism and hatred. Forced to choose between her identity as a Korean or success in her new country, Miyoung sets aside her past to focus on building a future.
Compelling and deeply personal, WHITE MULBERRY offers a glimpse into the lives of Koreans during the WWII era-- and the abuse they endured at the hands of their Japanese invaders. My biggest disappointment is this story feels only half finished and there wasn't a satisfying ending to Miyoung's arduous journey.
Based on the life of the author's grandmother, WHITE MULBERRY follows Miyoung from a young age into adult- and motherhood. Born to the second wife of a some-what successful Korean business man, Miyoung and her sister never enjoyed much luxury in life. As both her sisters are married off to strange men (and sent to foreign countries for better opportunity), Miyoung clings desperately to the hope of furthering her education and escaping a similar fate.
When given the chance of immigrating to Japan to live with her middle sister to attend middle school, Miyoung leaps at the opportunity to escape her own arranged marriage. However, leaving a Japan-occupied Korea for the island nation itself exposes Miyoung to deep-rooted racism and hatred. Forced to choose between her identity as a Korean or success in her new country, Miyoung sets aside her past to focus on building a future.
Compelling and deeply personal, WHITE MULBERRY offers a glimpse into the lives of Koreans during the WWII era-- and the abuse they endured at the hands of their Japanese invaders. My biggest disappointment is this story feels only half finished and there wasn't a satisfying ending to Miyoung's arduous journey.