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A good follow up novel that nearly could have stood on its own. Much more solid ending than the first novel in the series. A good and fun read that didn’t fizzle out the series. On to the third!
Let me preface this by saying that this book is not in my normal genre wheelhouse. Second, this was my very first audiobook. I was thoroughly impressed with this book. The writing is fantastic and highly detailed. Pen has a way with description that creates a complete reality covering all the senses without becoming overly minute. The narration in the audio version was also very well done. The story itself is a bit creepy crawly, but intriguing. It made me mildly uncomfortable in several places, but the narrative never deviated from a cohesive plot. The ending was so,I’d, though some readers have had issues with it from an ethical perspective. I can’t say more without creating spoilers, but I will say that I felt that it was the right choice give. The characters and relationship dynamics that Pen had created throughout the novel.
Another classic under my belt thanks to British Lit class. Good representation of the period; not particularly dense. An okay read for something from 700 years ago...
Such a good series overall. But I find myself in a dilemma. Han insists that she will be writing no more Lara Jean, but I am terribly hooked. Though there is a very solid ending in this book, I want the story to continue. This feeling often indicates that a successful series has been written. It's a strong and engaging narrative that brings the characters out into reality...they have been given dimension and everything just seems natural. All-in-all, this is a feelgood series that could easily warrant a reread if I need a pick-me-up.
4 1/2 stars.
FTC disclosure: I received and advance reader copy from Penguin Random House through the First to Read program.
I was very pleasantly surprised by The Paragon Hotel. I expected a good read, but this far exceeded my expectations. I’m a fan of historical fiction, but this was something quite new. The plot was incredibly imaginative, bringing a whole new approach to telling a story about the 1920s.
Lyndsay Faye’s characters are well-written, complex individuals. Alice is witty and strong, an unexpected feminine character given the time setting of the novel. The interactions between Alice and the other characters increased in interest for me given Alice’s tendency to employ “Nobody” and become someone entirely new in the blink of an eye. Truly, Faye created multiple protagonists in the development of Alice. Her supporting characters are (for the most part) just as thoroughly developed.
The writing is quite smart, Faye is obviously well educated in addition to being a talented writer. The descriptions are thick with clever metaphor and simile. Her sentences flow well and there is minimal awkwardness in her style. She creates realistic conversations between characters of different backgrounds, ages, and education levels. My only complaint is that she overused the word “quelque”, a fairly minor flaw in the grand scheme of things.
The book as a whole read easy and I quite enjoyed the back and forth chapter transition between “then” and “now”. Faye employed this technique very well and it helps to add to the suspense of the plot. The infusion of historical detail made the subject matter even more interesting. However, while she utilized factual events in the creation of her novel, this is not merely a retelling. This book carries a heavily creative story full of intrigue. There are twists and turns I didn’t expect and the story held my interest from start to finish.
The Paragon Hotel was highly worth the read and rates highly among the books I’ve read this year.
FTC disclosure: I received and advance reader copy from Penguin Random House through the First to Read program.
I was very pleasantly surprised by The Paragon Hotel. I expected a good read, but this far exceeded my expectations. I’m a fan of historical fiction, but this was something quite new. The plot was incredibly imaginative, bringing a whole new approach to telling a story about the 1920s.
Lyndsay Faye’s characters are well-written, complex individuals. Alice is witty and strong, an unexpected feminine character given the time setting of the novel. The interactions between Alice and the other characters increased in interest for me given Alice’s tendency to employ “Nobody” and become someone entirely new in the blink of an eye. Truly, Faye created multiple protagonists in the development of Alice. Her supporting characters are (for the most part) just as thoroughly developed.
The writing is quite smart, Faye is obviously well educated in addition to being a talented writer. The descriptions are thick with clever metaphor and simile. Her sentences flow well and there is minimal awkwardness in her style. She creates realistic conversations between characters of different backgrounds, ages, and education levels. My only complaint is that she overused the word “quelque”, a fairly minor flaw in the grand scheme of things.
The book as a whole read easy and I quite enjoyed the back and forth chapter transition between “then” and “now”. Faye employed this technique very well and it helps to add to the suspense of the plot. The infusion of historical detail made the subject matter even more interesting. However, while she utilized factual events in the creation of her novel, this is not merely a retelling. This book carries a heavily creative story full of intrigue. There are twists and turns I didn’t expect and the story held my interest from start to finish.
The Paragon Hotel was highly worth the read and rates highly among the books I’ve read this year.
I'm not typically one for zombie novels, but I really did like this one. I'll be tracking down the sequel for sure.
I have a lot of thoughts on this one, but I'll keep them close to the vest in order to avoid spoilers. Eleanor is a fantastic character with very deep development. Honeyman has done a stellar job putting her together. Eleanor's quirky attitude clearly leans the reader to assume that she may be on the autism spectrum. She is socially awkward and does not do well with interpreting metaphor or idioms. To be honest, she made me fairly uncomfortable in the beginning...I just kept finding myself feeling embarrassed on her behalf. But...as the book wore on, she became simply endearing. The story is a very good one and got me involved pretty deeply. There were also a couple of surprises along the way. It's a solid 4-star rating. Just like me, the ending just left me feeling a little underwhelmed, so I had to drop down a notch. But...Eleanor Oliphant still stands pretty steadily on its own.
3.5 stars. Though not my favorite of Backman’s novels, Britt-Marie is an endearing story with a host of eclectic characters. The book moves very well and stays in a bit of a distanced narration to the characters. Britt-Marie is easy to love, though she is clearly quirky. It’s worth the read, though I am quick to recommend a different novel for those reading Backman for the first time. For those who have enjoyed his precious works, this one will feel a bit closer to the heart.