jenbsbooks's Reviews (2.41k)

This was just okay for me - I really appreciated the author's notes at the end, detailing what was truth and what was fiction. I like learning historical facts, and it can be hard to tell in a story set-up like this. I feel I learned a little truth about Dickens and some of the surrounding aspects of how A Christmas Carol came to be written. 

At the end of the book, there is a list of discussion questions - and just glancing over them, I think I might gain more of an appreciation for the book if I were to dive deeper, and do more of a study (for school/bookclub) than my quick listen (I went with the audio edition) strictly for entertainment. 

I had some familiarity with A Christmas Carol, performing in it for a number of years at a local theater (Fezziwig's daughter/choir). As names and lines were dropped, I did pick them up.  I think having a familiarity with the original is almost necessary to enjoying this book. 

I don't know that I really understood the character of Dickens here ... at first he seems like a pretty good guy. Husband and father ... and then he basically turns into Scrooge, and seems a philanderer (isn't he happily married?) I didn't foresee the twist, and appreciated it here. 

I liked this ... I was wondering if it might be less "if a Hallmark movie was a book" because of the dogs, but no, this was classic "Hallmark Christmas Movie" material. A little too cutesy ... her name is Brenda Dickens, her dog is Tiny Tim, but she HATES Christmas because of a tragedy earlier in her life.  Everything was pretty predictable ... at the first mention of the love interest, I knew that's how things would end up going. HEA. Everything works out, like a Christmas miracle.

Still, it was cute enough. One F-bomb early on, but then completely clean, some sex/pretty closed door, nothing explicit. 

I like having the numerical chapters AND chapter headings ... some plays on words and Christmas context to the headers. Beyond Dickens and Tiny Tim, O struggled with ... 'Ima Hogg' and even "Dolly" didn't quite fit.  Listed as a series (different series number in Goodreads vs Storygraph) but I just read it as a stand alone. 

Words ... ebullient, was NOT pronounced correctly in the narration. Enough/context that I recognized it still. Peripatetic ... not a word I was familiar with (traveling from place to place ... "her peripatetic childhood") and had to stop and look up. Dais (just a word I note). Scowl (my son doesn't like the work, so I note it now). 

My boys are big into basketball (both enjoying watching the NBA, and a couple playing in high school hoping for collage continuation). I wondered if this might be something that would interest them if they had to read a non-fiction book for school. It is so dated though, before their time, before the NBA was even really followed by many fans/TV, etc.  While the blurb states 1979-1980 as the book timeline, this seemed to cover more years, earlier years. It was interesting, but I didn't recognize most of the names (I was 10 years old in 1980 - not into basketball) ... there were a few (Larry Bird, Magic Johnson) but most of the people featured here, I was completely unfamiliar with.

Times change - and so much has changed, was changing, even in the spotlight of this book. There was so much focus on race. Coming from the white perspective, I have to wonder what blacks think of the representation, the presentation. 

It was also interesting to observe the recruiting and prospect process ... that has changed a lot too I assume. My boys aren't D1, aren't even dreaming of playing pro, just hoping to catch the interest of a college coach, which pretty much requires hiring a recruiter and proactive action by the player. I'm sure there are still stories of high-quality players being woo-ed. 

We'll see if my boys get around to looking at the book. 

I liked this ... it didn't hit me as hard as I would have thought. I still felt like I learned about this horrible event I really didn't have any knowledge of. As the blurb states, it is not well known like the Titanic and Lusitania, even though the loss of life here was staggering.  I think because of the cover images/title and comparison to Titanic/Lusitania, I was expecting more of the story to happen on the ship. But the ship isn't really the setting until about halfway in. 

The POV shifts between four people - Joana, Florian, Emilia and Alfred. The former three end up together early on, while Alfred is located elsewhere (on the ship) and doesn't meet the others until later.  All were told in 1st person/past tense. In audio, different narrators, all with distinct voices, no trouble at all telling the characters apart. 

There are no real chapters ... just the shifts in POV. I had been able to get the Kindle copy too (this is a little older, so the availability at the library wasn't difficult to get) and it was pretty much impossible to try to transition from one format to the next. I really hoped I didn't lose my place because it would have been very hard to find it again. No set reference points.   In the text, the headers/POV  names ... were not capitalized. Not sure why. 

I never felt I really connected to the characters, to care about them and get emotionally involved. Maybe that was partially because the characters themselves did not get super attached ... Florian referred to Emilia in his thoughts as "the Polish girl" more than using her name, also instead of Klaus (a young six year old boy attached to the group) he is thought of as "the wandering boy" ... then there is the giantess and the shoemaker. Florian DOES think of Joanna by her name ...

Things were revealed slowly ... each person has their secrets, keeping things hidden. I think that perhaps kept me a little disconnected from them too. While we do not get the POV of "the wandering boy" and "the shoemaker" ... those two characters were endearing. 

Here we get some different perspectives ... the Polish people were in a very tough spot. Those from Lithuania were slightly better off, but everyone was suffering and struggling as refugees. There is the Prussian ... only able to get where he's going with his counterfeiting skills. Alfred ... I'm sure there could be a sympathetic German soldier ... but Alfred is NOT it. The writing, and the narration, make him instantly unlikeable. 

The ending had me slightly confused, that's when I had to refer to the kindle copy and re-read a few portions to solidify in my mind what had happened. 

This is listed as YA, although it didn't really feel like YA to me. I generally tend to think of the intended audience as the age of the main characters. I don't know that I know Joanna, Florian and Alfred's exact ages, but they seemed late teens, early 20s. Emilia (I keep wanting to write Amelia, as before I saw the name in print, that's what I thought it was based on the pronunciation) is just 15. The writing didn't feel "young". It was clean. No profanity. There was a rape (nothing explicit) and plenty of death/sadness. I would recommend it and believe I'll remember it. 

This popped up as available in Kindle Unlimited (text and audio) ... it seems to be Amazon exclusive for now, not available at my library. Translated from Swedish - it felt a little "old England" except for  some of the names. 

This was a quick read ... I'm just not sure I ever really connected with the characters, or that I'll really remember the story or want to continue on with the sequel. Sometimes the 3rd person/present tense can lead to a disconnect for me (although fellow Swedish author Fredrick Backman manages to pull me in, I've adored all his books).  

This is labeled YA - the writing didn't feel young, but the MC is young, and somehow manages to "save the day" when adults can't figure out the mystery. That's something that would appeal to young readers I'm sure ;) 

Completely clean as far as language and sex ... there is a little scary stuff//murder/death/rats 

I haven't read anything by this author, although the name is familiar in the "smutty" circles. Smut just isn't really my cup of tea. This was a bitty book, included in KindleUnlimited (text and audio) and it's December, so I figured I could give it a try. It was completely clean and cute and quick. Totally stereotypical "Hallmark" Christmas movie though.

SPOILER

boy and girl once dated, broke up, she's now back in town and they are awkwardly avoiding each other, both NOT feeling Christmas. He writes a throwaway letter - signed "Resting Scrooge Face" detailing some of his dismay. Somehow the letter finds its way to her ... she writes back (the mailman is in on it all) signed Ho-Ho-No ... they click via letter, then it's revealed who they are, they get back together, it was all a setup from Grandma. All the Christmas accoutrements happening along the way, although most is just little conversations between the two MCs. 

 

FUNNY ... a recipe passed down, given in a box, in a box, in an envelope ... 

Dual POV from Caleb and Nola, switching chapters. Both first person, present tense. Two narrators in the audio. 

Ehhh ... this one didn't do if for me. It was fine, just ... I won't remember it at all. I think I was expecting the two-timelines, some taking place in the past. I've some others by this author (The Dressmaker's Gift, The Beekeeper's Promise, Sea of Memories). I didn't realize this was supposedly the 3rd in a series (Escape to France: The French For Love, The French For Always, The French for Christmas ... which was the original title of this book). I don't think it's a series per se (I haven't read the others) but the only connection seems to be someone "escaping to France" ... not overlapping stories. In fact here in the author's note at the end, it's stated that Eliane and Mereille (characters in this book, who I guess appear in the other two "Escape to France" books) are featured in the books I've read, mentioned above. I did not recognize them or their stories. 

This was basically a Hallmark Christmas movie. I'm finding I don't care for them ... in movies, but even more in books. They are just blah ... I knew Christmas played a part, but I was thinking this wouldn't be the same stereotypes and tropes. But it was. "I know now that our lives are made of of changing seasons. Through the darkest days of bleak midwinter we have to do what we can to keep the faith, nourishing our bodies and our souls, keeping a flame burning no matter how tiny or how tenuous - deep down inside our hearts. And that, in the bleakest moments of all, we should make a Christmas for ourselves, piling on the tinsel, lighting the candles and the fairy lights and rolling back the darkness ... with the promise of a rebirth."  Just a little too "after school special" happily ever after, Christmas movie ending for me. 

Note the changed title ... there was a lot of food talk in this one. Also addresses the emotion after a stillbirth/breakup of a marriage. Some humor in the Bradley-Cooper French Doctor look-alike living next door. If I remember anything from this book, it will likely be that. 

I must admit, I'm feeling a bit ... obligated? To leave a higher rating than my personal experience with the book warranted. I'm feeling more of a 3*, which really is NOT anything negative toward the writing or the author or the book. I grabbed the Audible version included in AudiblePlus, not realizing it was an abridged version.  

I'm not sure if it was because the book was abridged that I didn't really get into it ... or that nonfiction in audio can be harder to concentrate on, if I was distracted. MY EXPERIENCE: I came away with a general knowledge of what happened, some scenes seared into my memory (the amputation), but feeling like I'm missing a lot, and not remembering more. 

I looked at my library(s) ... looks like Hoopla also has the abridged (6hrs) edition, while Libby has the unabridged (10+ hours).  Tim Pigott-Smith is the narrator of the abridged, Simon Prebble of the unabridged. Both heavy British accents, which matches the material. Both are good ... but I think this is one maybe I would have done better with reading on my own. I was able to snag the Kindle copy, and there's a very interesting introduction by Nathaniel Philbrick that adds a lot of essential information, as well as a preface by the author ... neither are included in the audiobook, and that missing material adds insight and important information. The Kindle/Text also includes some maps and list of names - good info to have. 

So I think this IS a great book, but my experience wasn't as good as it could have been. I think I'll put this on my list to re-read ... and to read it, and see if I can make a stronger connection and better book experience.

Hmmmm ... nothing really negative to say about the book, but I found myself getting distracted and a little lost (listening to the audiobook, borrowed from the library). I was able to buy the Kindle copy for $2.99, so I did that, to have for reference. I was needed.  I just don't know that this book will stick in my memory. I can see me seeing it in the future and thinking "oh that looks good" and checking reviews on GoodReads to find I've already read/reviewed it. 

There were three POVs, three narrators. It would have been helpful for me if the chapter headings (included in the text/audio) were ALSO there in the Table of Contents. It's just so much more helpful than just "Chapter 1" ... if it's "Chapter 1 - Opaline/London 1921" then have that right there in the table of contents for reference. Don't make me have to turn to the first page of the chapter to double check it. Please! 

As indicated above, one POV is in the past, Opaline/1921. Then there were two in the "present day" (date never indicated - I think I would have preferred to have an actual date listed just to cement things in my mind). These two additional POVs are Martha and Henry.  Each is told in 1st person, past tense, and the POVs were regular in their rotation (Opaline/Martha/Henry) ... still, I sometimes struggled telling Opaline and Martha's stories apart, they just didn't seem that distinct, even happening to different women, years apart. Both are on the run from abusive relationships. 

Honestly - after just my quick listen for entertainment ... I can't really say I understand the "magical realism" and the "lost bookshop" ... but I'm not sure I want to re-read the book to try and understand better. 

ProFanity (x10) and some minor sex (nothing very explicit), some violence (not gory in detail but could be triggering for some). 

4.5 stars. Liked this a lot, definitely one I'd recommend ... and I'd recommend the audio over reading. I was able to get both formats, and there were some things in print that (what Mitch was saying ... just thoughts? Actual speaking? The words were not in quotation marks) that was just a little easier to understand when read by the author. That ... and there are actual audio clips of some little conversations with Chika, that are priceless. Her little voice ... There are some pictures in the print/kindle copy too though, so pros and cons to both. 

It's not a spoiler to say that Chika dies ... this is stated pretty much on the first page. I don't know if I was already in an emotional mood, but I was close to tears for much of the book. 

The presentation was interesting ... 1st person, present tense for the most part. Shifts to past tense for memories. This is a true story/non-fiction, yet, the second sentence is "Chika is lying on the carpet in my office" ... this is almost a year after she has passed away. There's nothing paranormal, she's not a "ghost" or a "vision" ... it isn't represented as abnormal in anyway,  They have little conversations. She encourages him to write. As this IS non-fiction ... did the author actually SEE Chika? A dream, a vision ... or just in his head? It's never explained, my assumption is it's just in his head, as many might with those who have passed on.

The story is one he is telling TO Chika (so there is the second person "you" a lot).  There are seven sections, with several chapters in each. Not numbered chronologically (this makes it a little harder to switch between formats, to find one's place).  The "inner" chapters are "you" (stories from Chika's earlier history), "me" (background on Mitch and his wife) and "us" ... these are taking place in the "present" between Mitch and Chika.  Then there are the "Lessons" ... (1) I am your protection (2) Time Changes (3) A Sense of Wonder (4) Kid Tough (5) When Children Are Yours and Not Yours (6) When a Marriage Becomes a Family (7) What We Carry. 

While I grew up in a religious home, I've stepped back in recent years and often struggle with God and religion in books. Here, while there was definitely talk of religion and God (not LDS, but Christian), it wasn't overbearing. I don't think this author could have written it without sharing some views as it's so intrinsic to him, but it wasn't a problem for me as it can be at times.