astridandlouise's Reviews (665)

I had these sitting on my bookshelf for quite a while and didn't give them much thought until I discovered that they'd currently been adapted for TV with Benedict Cumberbatch. As someone who always prefers to read the book before seeing the film/TV adaptation, I decided to give them a go. There are 5 books, which to me read like one book, set over five different time frames of Melrose's life.

I didn't dislike the books at all, and it is a particular heavy story line, but the prose and structure in which it is written didn't have me absorbed. Similar writing style to a lot of late 19th century English literature (think the Romantic Period and the beginnings of Gothic literature) it just didn't attach itself to me like a good book would.

Having since started watching the TV adaptation, I do have a firmer grasp on the intensity of the wide array of emotions portrayed blazingly by Cumberbatch. However I'd recommend to watch the adaptation rather than read the books; it's very true to the story line and done well. Unless it's a writing style that you overly love and connect with.

Great YA book that would help kids of any gender, sexual orientation etc. familiarise themselves with gender identity and what it means to be a helpful, accepting kid to those that surround them.

Wasn't as compelling as I had hoped. An in depth account of the family and the history they had with entering the Brethren Church, being raised Brethren and leaving the Church after the Aberdeen scandal in 1970. I learnt more about the Brethren and that branch of the Christian Evangelical movement, but found that the book lost its momentum and urgency about a third of the way through.

In true Hess style, beautiful illustrations with lovely bright colours. An elegant addition to the coffee table or mantelpiece. Contains an overview of 10 of the most Iconic Italian fashion houses which is succinct and carries a good summary of key points throughout their history.

I enjoyed this as much as one can enjoy a novel with a few psychological damaged characters at the centre of the plot. As deranged and morbid as it was, it was written well. I didn't have trouble believing the delicate subject matter that Flynn discussed and the detail of which she entered into seemed plausible and well researched. Definitely macabre in nature and am now slightly interested in how it translated to screen - although still not quite sure I'd love to watch it.

Definitely found this ending much more plausible and satisfying than Gone Girl. (I will not reenter the dissatisfaction and anger I felt with the ending of that book.) But it didn't carry the same urgency that Gone Girl did throughout.

The premise of this book was good, however I felt that it fell flat. The writing wasn't descriptive and overall I found it a little bland. Enjoyable, but not as good as it had the potential to be.

This book centered around 2 narratives. The life story of Sandra Pankhurst the person, and Sandra Pankhurst the trauma cleaner. I love that both aspects of Pankhurst's life were detailed - you receive the story of a life that seems too much for only one person to have lived, whilst also gaining a slight insight into the business of trauma cleaning.

I would have liked to have had read a more thorough overview of the trauma cleaning business than what was detailed in the book, as what was briefly discussed was informative and interesting. I also would have liked to have had read more of the firsthand accounts that Krasnostein experiences whilst on the job with Pankhurst. This aspect of the book was really fascinating and thought-provoking which is perhaps why Krasnostein limited this facet, as it may have taken away from the incredible story of Pankhurst.

Definitely not as good as the first, but still really engaging and exhilarating.