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leighsnerdlife
After reading the brilliance that is The Gown, I had to jump right into the other Robson title on my shelf: Goodnight From London. And I’m happy to say, it was just as wonderful.
This beautiful period piece is set in London during WWII. Ruby is an American journalist sent overseas to cover the war. First, I’ve got to say it - her being a journalist is awesome. Lois Lane was my idol during my adolescent years, so I was a bit giddy to read about another gutsy woman looking for a good story. But of course, this book is about so much more than that.
Ruby has an air of mystery about her, with a secret hinted at early in the book. But her secret is eventually revealed, in a quick and dramatic turn of events. It’s not the backbone of the plot, but added a nice layer to it. There’s also a bit of romance, but again it isn’t the main storyline. Goodnight From London is about Ruby travelling across the world, and finding a home and family in the last place she expected.
Something I’ve learned pretty quickly, is that you can’t rush through Robson’s books. If you do, you’re going to miss something important. In no way am I implying that the plot is slow, but rather the story’s subtlety, steady pace and rich detail make it a very engrossing read. Robson’s research was meticulous; at the end of the book she goes into detail about her sources, mainly interviews with people who lived through the era. The story is also somewhat inspired by her grandmother. It’s fascinating stuff.
Robson has quickly become a favourite, and I’m kicking myself for not reading her books sooner. I don’t have any of her other books, but I fully intend to add them to my TBR.
This beautiful period piece is set in London during WWII. Ruby is an American journalist sent overseas to cover the war. First, I’ve got to say it - her being a journalist is awesome. Lois Lane was my idol during my adolescent years, so I was a bit giddy to read about another gutsy woman looking for a good story. But of course, this book is about so much more than that.
Ruby has an air of mystery about her, with a secret hinted at early in the book. But her secret is eventually revealed, in a quick and dramatic turn of events. It’s not the backbone of the plot, but added a nice layer to it. There’s also a bit of romance, but again it isn’t the main storyline. Goodnight From London is about Ruby travelling across the world, and finding a home and family in the last place she expected.
Something I’ve learned pretty quickly, is that you can’t rush through Robson’s books. If you do, you’re going to miss something important. In no way am I implying that the plot is slow, but rather the story’s subtlety, steady pace and rich detail make it a very engrossing read. Robson’s research was meticulous; at the end of the book she goes into detail about her sources, mainly interviews with people who lived through the era. The story is also somewhat inspired by her grandmother. It’s fascinating stuff.
Robson has quickly become a favourite, and I’m kicking myself for not reading her books sooner. I don’t have any of her other books, but I fully intend to add them to my TBR.
I’ve seen a couple of reviews describe American Pop as southern gothic, and I think that description is pretty accurate. It’s not the happiest of stories. In this book we follow the Forster family, the founders of a fictional soda-pop empire.
Wright hit it out of the park in the character development category. Each Forster is multi-layered and deeply flawed; it was very easy to quickly become invested in their stories. The family is no stranger to misfortune, and they experience some pretty dark moments - the story is definitely grittier than I had expected.
The world building is fantastic, and it pulled me right into the American south and Paris. I really loved that aspect. And the story itself was engrossing, and the ending was a surprise kick in the pants!
Basically, the individual parts of the book are great. But the actual structure of the book as a whole gave me problems. The timeline and point-of-view changed frequently and without warning. It pulled me out of the story as I tried to figure out who the chapter was focused on, and more importantly, when. I found myself frequently checking the family tree at the front of the book in an attempt to keep all of the people and time periods straight in my head.
I’m actually interested in reading a final finished copy of the book, to see if the structure was updated at all. Because other than that, the book is fantastic.
Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for an advance copy of this book!
Wright hit it out of the park in the character development category. Each Forster is multi-layered and deeply flawed; it was very easy to quickly become invested in their stories. The family is no stranger to misfortune, and they experience some pretty dark moments - the story is definitely grittier than I had expected.
The world building is fantastic, and it pulled me right into the American south and Paris. I really loved that aspect. And the story itself was engrossing, and the ending was a surprise kick in the pants!
Basically, the individual parts of the book are great. But the actual structure of the book as a whole gave me problems. The timeline and point-of-view changed frequently and without warning. It pulled me out of the story as I tried to figure out who the chapter was focused on, and more importantly, when. I found myself frequently checking the family tree at the front of the book in an attempt to keep all of the people and time periods straight in my head.
I’m actually interested in reading a final finished copy of the book, to see if the structure was updated at all. Because other than that, the book is fantastic.
Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for an advance copy of this book!
Thank you HarperCollins Canada for a copy of this book!
Up until now, I’d only read Matt Haig’s fiction - and loved them all. So when I had the opportunity to check out his latest foray into non-fiction I was thrilled. I had no doubt that it would be just as great a read. What I wasn’t expecting was for this deeply personal book to hit so close to home.
Haig speaks very openly and honestly about his anxiety and depression. Through his highs and lows he has figured out what triggers it or makes it worse, and in this book he shares what he’s learned. Basically, modern society seems to be built on unrealistic expectations - and the internet is the biggest culprit. Internet trolls, the need for ‘likes’, the constant barrage of bad news, social media addiction and the constant feeling of wanting something you don’t have - it’s all so toxic. He also explains how our modern obsession with time is hurting us. Haig includes some tips for dealing with it all, like limiting social media use, accepting that people are going to be jerks online (and you can’t change that), and to try to appreciate the world outside of the internet. Simple lessons, but powerful nonetheless.
Notes on a Nervous Planet is written in a casual and unique format - almost like a journal of Haig’s thoughts. I don’t normally enjoy self-help books, but happily this small volume manages to avoid all of the dry preachiness I abhor. It makes you think, and reevaluate how you interact in the digital space. I can definitely relate to all of it, and have been feeling a bit overwhelmed by the pervasive negativity online. Well, Haig has inspired me to take action: I unfollowed politicians, removed my news apps and have reduced my time online overall. It’s amazing how light you feel after doing something so simple. I recommend that everyone read this book - you’ll be healthier and happier for it!
Up until now, I’d only read Matt Haig’s fiction - and loved them all. So when I had the opportunity to check out his latest foray into non-fiction I was thrilled. I had no doubt that it would be just as great a read. What I wasn’t expecting was for this deeply personal book to hit so close to home.
Haig speaks very openly and honestly about his anxiety and depression. Through his highs and lows he has figured out what triggers it or makes it worse, and in this book he shares what he’s learned. Basically, modern society seems to be built on unrealistic expectations - and the internet is the biggest culprit. Internet trolls, the need for ‘likes’, the constant barrage of bad news, social media addiction and the constant feeling of wanting something you don’t have - it’s all so toxic. He also explains how our modern obsession with time is hurting us. Haig includes some tips for dealing with it all, like limiting social media use, accepting that people are going to be jerks online (and you can’t change that), and to try to appreciate the world outside of the internet. Simple lessons, but powerful nonetheless.
Notes on a Nervous Planet is written in a casual and unique format - almost like a journal of Haig’s thoughts. I don’t normally enjoy self-help books, but happily this small volume manages to avoid all of the dry preachiness I abhor. It makes you think, and reevaluate how you interact in the digital space. I can definitely relate to all of it, and have been feeling a bit overwhelmed by the pervasive negativity online. Well, Haig has inspired me to take action: I unfollowed politicians, removed my news apps and have reduced my time online overall. It’s amazing how light you feel after doing something so simple. I recommend that everyone read this book - you’ll be healthier and happier for it!
Sapiens is a real eye-opener: throughout history our innate nature has been to eliminate resources and other species. And I don’t mean recently - we’ve been causing mass extinctions since cavemen days. It’s kind of scary stuff, and the entire book really makes you think. The book itself is engaging and easy to follow, so don’t worry - it’s not a dry textbook by any means. But it will take a while to get through.
3.5 stars.
While they don’t always blow me away, I‘ve enjoyed all of the books Leigh Bardugo has written thus far. But the Six of Crows duology will always be my favourite, hands down. Early rumblings about King of Scars and its connection to characters featured in SOC had me super excited for this book. While it didn’t live totally up to my expectations, in general KOS was an enjoyable read.
Bardugo has once again created an engaging story, with complex characters and lush world building. This particular tale is actually two plot lines told in parallel: Nikolai’s in Ravka and Nina’s in Fjerda. I know the main focus was supposed to be on Nikolai, but to be honest I found Nina’s adventures to be much more interesting. While the Ravka storyline was enjoyable, it was also very predictable. I can’t be the only one who saw the twist ending coming from a mile away. And that ending really could have used a rethink - it felt like a tired rehash with the return of previous villains. A book totally focused on Nina in Fjerda would have knocked this out of the park.
However, while King of Scars may have its issues, but I’m still looking forward to eventually reading the second book. I need to know what happens to Nina!
While they don’t always blow me away, I‘ve enjoyed all of the books Leigh Bardugo has written thus far. But the Six of Crows duology will always be my favourite, hands down. Early rumblings about King of Scars and its connection to characters featured in SOC had me super excited for this book. While it didn’t live totally up to my expectations, in general KOS was an enjoyable read.
Bardugo has once again created an engaging story, with complex characters and lush world building. This particular tale is actually two plot lines told in parallel: Nikolai’s in Ravka and Nina’s in Fjerda. I know the main focus was supposed to be on Nikolai, but to be honest I found Nina’s adventures to be much more interesting. While the Ravka storyline was enjoyable, it was also very predictable. I can’t be the only one who saw the twist ending coming from a mile away. And that ending really could have used a rethink - it felt like a tired rehash with the return of previous villains. A book totally focused on Nina in Fjerda would have knocked this out of the park.
However, while King of Scars may have its issues, but I’m still looking forward to eventually reading the second book. I need to know what happens to Nina!
