Take a photo of a barcode or cover
542 reviews by:
ellornaslibrary
Once again Stephen King manages to blow my mind. His ability to write such realistic characters never fails to amaze me. Even, at times, overwhelms me a bit. The way the story rolls out around these characters, and the way they move it along, is even more impressive. Each time I progressed further in the story I was brought to awe at how real these characters felt and how they reacted to this unreal situations. I was touched by some characters in good ways, ones that made me want to see them persevere, and I was horrified by some characters in bad ways that made me want to see them meet their end; to watch them get what was coming to them so to speak. This is book is worth a read and it is one that I will recommend to others. Definitely a favorite.
This book draws you in and keeps your attention. It's a great read from a different perspective. Your view on who is/is not the enemy becomes kind of... fuzzy. Reza's journey is unbelievably fascinating in a way that is somewhat inspiring, and you come to love many of the Kreelan just as he does. The love between him and Esah-Zurah is beautiful in every way. The details on the Kreelan culture is intriguing to the mind. One can easily tell that alot of work went into it. I have to say that if you're into sci-fi, and like the learning of races/cultures when reading, this is a book to pick up. I know I'm glad I did.
As part of this years Reading Women Challenge, one of the bonus tasks was to read a book by Jesmyn Ward - who it shames me to admit that I had not heard of until I read her name on that list - which is how I came across her books. It took me reading the blurb for this book just once to be caught; officially on the hook, and definitely settled on reading it even though I could already tell its words would have the potential to hurt. And oh, do they hurt.
I'll be honest: I cried a lot while reading this book. My emotions went for a ride. Reading about the history, even knowing what I do from extensive research and reading in regards to the horrors placed upon those deemed 'other' by the hands of white hate, was gut-wrenching. People always talk about racism like its in America's past, but that past was not as long ago as people like to think. This book highlights that all too well. It also highlights that it most definitely doesn't just remain in the not-too-distant past either. It has continued to exist, and as our current political situation will tell anyone with half-a-brain who opens their eyes - it exists today. That it went away was just a myth especially in regards to certain areas of the south, and don't be fooled, as someone who was born and raised in the north I've seen proof all my life it exists here too, especially when racists go around flying the confederate flag calling it a 'rebel flag'. It is a reality faced by many still in the good ol' US of A, especially by the African-American/Black community, every day of their lives and Jesmyn Ward does a wonderful job of showing how its used via politics, economics, education, and more to continue to oppress. She talks about it as if it is an entity haunting every step and as you read about the experiences of herself, and her community, it seems the most accurate representation especially as women such as her mother find their lives seeming to repeat those of the women that came generations before. Or men like her father, her friends, her cousins, her brother find their footsteps occasionally walking a similar path. It almost seems inevitable, no matter how hard it's being fought against in the first place. Systemic racism is pervasive, and a reality, that many who don't live it choose to ignore and as long as it is ignored things will continue to stay the same; nothing will change in the grand scheme even with as much progress as we like to pat ourselves on the back for making.
There was mention elsewhere that suggested not seeing more of these men's lives, of Jesmyn Ward's life made it impossible to understand or connect; that in order to the full stories needed to be told - I disagree. I strongly disagree, actually. I think the nuggets of their lives interwoven with Jesmyn Ward's own experience from child to adulthood are perfectly told. They're genuine and deep, and each time she, or one of these men, experienced some form of a loss(a moment of childhood innocence lost, a move to a new place, a loved one dying, etc.) I felt it with her. To me, this memoir written in such a fashion makes the point that we do not need to know every single detail of a human being's life to understand or empathize. That we do not need to know every step they took to see that they were a human being who deserved more, who deserved not to feel like nothing. That they tried to fight against the circumstances handed down to them generation after generation by circumstances beyond their control even when it seemed futile.
Anyway, I could say a lot more, but I'm trying not to write spoilers or make this a novel in itself. Instead this is the last thing I'll say:
I'm truly glad that I came across her name on that reading challenge list, and that it lead me to this book. Even though it was not an easy read, it was worth every shed tear as I experienced grief(which, as someone who has lost loved ones, Jesmyn Ward describes in one of those most accurate ways I've ever read), every gut punch moment that took my breath, every moment of rage that made me curl my fist for the disgusting pride racists take in being ignorant. This is definitely a book that has had an impact and will stick with me.
I'll be honest: I cried a lot while reading this book. My emotions went for a ride. Reading about the history, even knowing what I do from extensive research and reading in regards to the horrors placed upon those deemed 'other' by the hands of white hate, was gut-wrenching. People always talk about racism like its in America's past, but that past was not as long ago as people like to think. This book highlights that all too well. It also highlights that it most definitely doesn't just remain in the not-too-distant past either. It has continued to exist, and as our current political situation will tell anyone with half-a-brain who opens their eyes - it exists today. That it went away was just a myth especially in regards to certain areas of the south, and don't be fooled, as someone who was born and raised in the north I've seen proof all my life it exists here too, especially when racists go around flying the confederate flag calling it a 'rebel flag'. It is a reality faced by many still in the good ol' US of A, especially by the African-American/Black community, every day of their lives and Jesmyn Ward does a wonderful job of showing how its used via politics, economics, education, and more to continue to oppress. She talks about it as if it is an entity haunting every step and as you read about the experiences of herself, and her community, it seems the most accurate representation especially as women such as her mother find their lives seeming to repeat those of the women that came generations before. Or men like her father, her friends, her cousins, her brother find their footsteps occasionally walking a similar path. It almost seems inevitable, no matter how hard it's being fought against in the first place. Systemic racism is pervasive, and a reality, that many who don't live it choose to ignore and as long as it is ignored things will continue to stay the same; nothing will change in the grand scheme even with as much progress as we like to pat ourselves on the back for making.
There was mention elsewhere that suggested not seeing more of these men's lives, of Jesmyn Ward's life made it impossible to understand or connect; that in order to the full stories needed to be told - I disagree. I strongly disagree, actually. I think the nuggets of their lives interwoven with Jesmyn Ward's own experience from child to adulthood are perfectly told. They're genuine and deep, and each time she, or one of these men, experienced some form of a loss(a moment of childhood innocence lost, a move to a new place, a loved one dying, etc.) I felt it with her. To me, this memoir written in such a fashion makes the point that we do not need to know every single detail of a human being's life to understand or empathize. That we do not need to know every step they took to see that they were a human being who deserved more, who deserved not to feel like nothing. That they tried to fight against the circumstances handed down to them generation after generation by circumstances beyond their control even when it seemed futile.
Anyway, I could say a lot more, but I'm trying not to write spoilers or make this a novel in itself. Instead this is the last thing I'll say:
I'm truly glad that I came across her name on that reading challenge list, and that it lead me to this book. Even though it was not an easy read, it was worth every shed tear as I experienced grief(which, as someone who has lost loved ones, Jesmyn Ward describes in one of those most accurate ways I've ever read), every gut punch moment that took my breath, every moment of rage that made me curl my fist for the disgusting pride racists take in being ignorant. This is definitely a book that has had an impact and will stick with me.
Personally, there's a great deal I want to say about this book. What I'll say now is just a cursory review, but I'll probably write something more, and better, for my blog later. . . and then update this review here too. Let me say that this book has been sitting on my TBR pile for far too long, it was gifted to me by a friend and as much as I wanted to read it I just never felt the time was proper to pick it up, but now that I have I wish I'd done so sooner. It's an amazing, creative take on a setting and the characters are fascinating as is the plot of the story itself. I found myself floored many times while reading it, often having to pick my jaw up off the floor — so to speak — many times. The closer I got to the end, the more I found myself wanting more and now that it's done I almost want to re-read it again just to have more of this setting and these characters while also not wanting more cause the way it ended also feels so *perfect*.
Anyways, I strongly recommend this book. It's beautiful and hits you in the feels, and I love it a lot.
Anyways, I strongly recommend this book. It's beautiful and hits you in the feels, and I love it a lot.
When a book turns out to be a disappointment it's hard to continue onward, but in an effort to merit being worthy (to myself) of writing a review I continued through the pages. I'm not going to paint a pretty picture here. Instead I'll say straight up that it was really hard to make myself keeping going beyond the 10% marker (as I read the e-book version) yet I did, and it did not get any better. This story had such potential. Generally I enjoy re-tellings of fairy tales, but this one I found highly unsatisfying.
Perhaps it was the fact that it didn't stick to the rules of a re-telling. Usually when you are doing a re-telling of a fairy tale the goal is to make some changes to make it your own while keeping the general structure and not utterly destroying the tale in itself. This does the latter in every way imaginable. From altering the details of the fairy tale in the first place (we don't get to see this part just the aftermath) to destroying it altogether with the book itself. At which point you begin to wonder why it's even a Cinderella story when the story has enough elements to be something of its own in its entirety.
On top of that something that is a fairy tale is shot into a mix with the real world. Now, at times this isn't so bad to do. . . so long as you do it well. In this instance though it turned out extremely poor, and cheesy, as not only is it added with certain historical elements (at one point, as a small example, they actually mention being in a newly discovered America with a "John" who has visited the shores many times) yet at random intervals tossed into the far future. Out of nowhere you suddenly find yourself just jumping around in a way that is highly unpleasant as there's not much in the way of truly logic explanation beyond the naivete and desperation of this "Cinderella" or the manipulation of the antagonist due to naivete of the main character. Something that still does not change even as the book continues to progress toward the end of the bar. I didn't even get a sense of this as a true change in the end, honestly.
Though a lot of this could be attributed to how the story was told. When doing diaries or journals it is important to have consistency; along with a creative way to write them that is more interesting than straight story-telling. The method used here was not entertaining in the least. Some were short, some were long, some came at consistent intervals, some came at random intervals, some were not Cinderella due to magic, and some were just plain not diary entries at all. The last ones were more normal ways to write a story that doesn't consist with a diary entry in the least. When you suddenly have multiple people all writing in her book and her being able to write out stuff that she shouldn't be able to perceive or even know due to a writing view switch while passing it off as diary entries. . . it becomes rather confusing.
As a whole this book would've been far better for the elements of the story had it been written with brief diary entries then the rest in normal third person story-telling and without trying to fit in everything and the kitchen sink (so to speak). It was as though the author wanted to do everything with her by having her in this historical setting with political situations of intrigue and interest; yet at the same time instead does nothing with her. In the moments where she could've grown as a character (the naive, desperate shtick needed dropped earlier in the story) she tucks tail and runs, and again trusts people it's obviously not wise to all due to these same feelings that have been messing up her life for years already. If someone sneezed she ran, if someone made her angry she got all uppity then she ran, if someone betrayed her she got hurt (and let us not forget the pretending like she doesn't betray when she does - repeatedly) then she ran, et cetera. Some of this even came after promising starts to the character growth. It made the story lacking and the character just not important to me. I honestly did not care if she won or lost (lived or died), and I didn't feel bad for her. I honestly would've cared more to hear the story of her lady-in-wait or the Queen or anyone else other than her after a certain point.
In essence, had the character been more interesting and given more growth, the setting given some reins on broadness while also being used(instead of vastly ignored the majority of the time), and the writing style done better it would have turned out to be a better book. Usually I'm far more courteous with reviews, but in an effort to write an honest one I have done so and here it is. You can agree or disagree. I just know that I won't touch this book again, or any others in the series(as from the preview taste I got of the next book it doesn't seem after all the time that passed, and what happened in this book, she has grown as a character), nor recommend the series to anyone.
Perhaps it was the fact that it didn't stick to the rules of a re-telling. Usually when you are doing a re-telling of a fairy tale the goal is to make some changes to make it your own while keeping the general structure and not utterly destroying the tale in itself. This does the latter in every way imaginable. From altering the details of the fairy tale in the first place (we don't get to see this part just the aftermath) to destroying it altogether with the book itself. At which point you begin to wonder why it's even a Cinderella story when the story has enough elements to be something of its own in its entirety.
On top of that something that is a fairy tale is shot into a mix with the real world. Now, at times this isn't so bad to do. . . so long as you do it well. In this instance though it turned out extremely poor, and cheesy, as not only is it added with certain historical elements (at one point, as a small example, they actually mention being in a newly discovered America with a "John" who has visited the shores many times) yet at random intervals tossed into the far future. Out of nowhere you suddenly find yourself just jumping around in a way that is highly unpleasant as there's not much in the way of truly logic explanation beyond the naivete and desperation of this "Cinderella" or the manipulation of the antagonist due to naivete of the main character. Something that still does not change even as the book continues to progress toward the end of the bar. I didn't even get a sense of this as a true change in the end, honestly.
Though a lot of this could be attributed to how the story was told. When doing diaries or journals it is important to have consistency; along with a creative way to write them that is more interesting than straight story-telling. The method used here was not entertaining in the least. Some were short, some were long, some came at consistent intervals, some came at random intervals, some were not Cinderella due to magic, and some were just plain not diary entries at all. The last ones were more normal ways to write a story that doesn't consist with a diary entry in the least. When you suddenly have multiple people all writing in her book and her being able to write out stuff that she shouldn't be able to perceive or even know due to a writing view switch while passing it off as diary entries. . . it becomes rather confusing.
As a whole this book would've been far better for the elements of the story had it been written with brief diary entries then the rest in normal third person story-telling and without trying to fit in everything and the kitchen sink (so to speak). It was as though the author wanted to do everything with her by having her in this historical setting with political situations of intrigue and interest; yet at the same time instead does nothing with her. In the moments where she could've grown as a character (the naive, desperate shtick needed dropped earlier in the story) she tucks tail and runs, and again trusts people it's obviously not wise to all due to these same feelings that have been messing up her life for years already. If someone sneezed she ran, if someone made her angry she got all uppity then she ran, if someone betrayed her she got hurt (and let us not forget the pretending like she doesn't betray when she does - repeatedly) then she ran, et cetera. Some of this even came after promising starts to the character growth. It made the story lacking and the character just not important to me. I honestly did not care if she won or lost (lived or died), and I didn't feel bad for her. I honestly would've cared more to hear the story of her lady-in-wait or the Queen or anyone else other than her after a certain point.
In essence, had the character been more interesting and given more growth, the setting given some reins on broadness while also being used(instead of vastly ignored the majority of the time), and the writing style done better it would have turned out to be a better book. Usually I'm far more courteous with reviews, but in an effort to write an honest one I have done so and here it is. You can agree or disagree. I just know that I won't touch this book again, or any others in the series(as from the preview taste I got of the next book it doesn't seem after all the time that passed, and what happened in this book, she has grown as a character), nor recommend the series to anyone.
This book was absolutely terrible. It's a rare case when I have nothing good I can find to say about a book, but here we are. . . I was so disappointed. Understand that I absolutely loved the first part of this series - the first trilogy/3 books. I was then so excited to learn there was another trilogy/second part to this series. Then the author took everything I enjoyed, including the potential bits of promise in terms of interesting characters and plots in the second part, and just ruined it bit by bit. Not just in terms of plots, but in relation to characters as well. By this book, it was the worst though. A culmination of everything terrible. When I saw where it was going as far as story and plot I just gave up; stopped with like 20-30 pages to spare or something. I just couldn't take it anymore how much this second part turned the series to trash. If I honestly didn't love the art of these books so much I'd get rid of the copies I own of the second half of this series. Anyways, after this happened I vowed never to read another book by this author again, and reviews of other books by them reassure me that it was the smart choice.
