mariebrunelm's Reviews (478)

This second volume in the Wayward Children series is quite different from the first one, which had been the definition of a whimsical, unexpected book. This one is much more consistent, and has the feel of a fairy tale. You can almost hear a voice-over as in the series Pushing Daisies or the movie Penelope, and although it can feel tedious, here I thought it was done really well and effectively. Down Among the Sticks and Bones works as a prequel for Every Heart a Doorway. We follow two important but secondary characters from the first volume and learn more about them. I loved how the book encouraged defying expectations and making one's own path in life. Despite the voice-over feel, it still felt quite personal and engaging.
Rep: lesbian couple with a fat character.

Murderbot continues to explore the universe and their identity in the third installment of their diaries. This series is officially my jew comfort read. Until recently I didn't know cosy Sci-fi was a thing, and when I first wrote a flash-fiction piece in this genre (see "soupe intergalactique" in French on my blog) I thought it was a weird, one-off thing, partly inspired by Becky Chambers (who has quite a lot of tension & drama, and I'm also here for it). Then came The Mandalorian, and after that I discovered Murderbot and their adventures make my heart happy. 

My history with this book started some ten years ago, when my favourite bookseller pushed it into my hands. He was already my favourite bookseller, but I didn't yet know how grateful I would be to him. Assassin's Apprentice became my favourite book of all time after I first read it (and the following two books in the trilogy, and Hobb's other books in the same universe). There's something in this book I've never found again elsewhere, which makes each re-read like coming home. It's a home where not everything is perfect, some family members I'd rather stay away from, and sometimes I still get lost in some shadowy corridors, but at its heart are endearing, defiant characters I feel I've known for a long time, and places I know will always keep a warm spot for me. I first read the Farseer trilogy in French, proceeded to re-read them in English when I could get my hands on the covers illustrated by John Howe, and now I'm re-reading them with Magali Villeneuve's beautiful, smooth pictures. But it's not exactly my third time reading. Over the years, I've come back to Robin Hobb when I needed comfort, to read a page or a couple of my favourite chapters. A few lines were enough to wisk me back to that home, and although I couldn't place who was whom and what some people were doing there, I always found my warm spot to settle back in.
Something that astounds me is the amount of foreshadowing you can't possibly grasp the first time. But re-reading it when you seize those clues is doubly heart-breaking because you're already aware of the hardships waiting for the characters, you remember them before they even happen, and you can't do anything to prevent them. It may sound like a painful experience, but there's also much beauty and comfort to be found within those pages.

I first read this book last year, having been drawn to the diverse take on dark academia, and the first time round the book had come very close to being a favourite of the year. The good news is, it's just as engaging the second time round!

You have elements of mystery, a pinch of magical realism, nuanced characters, diverse representation, gorgeous prose and thought-provoking conversations.

This book very much feels like basking in the light of a very charismatic and very knowledgeable speaker, you  know the kind? These fascinating people you could spend hours listening to. That's close to what I felt reading this book, in a fiction format. I just wish the ending was a little less rushed, but that's probably because I would have happily read a couple more  hundred pages like that. 

Sous cette couverture sublime se cache un condensé des découvertes, des conclusions et des sagesses accumulées par l'auteur pendant sa carrière d'écrivain. Le ton est résolument équilibré entre sérieux du propos, accessibilité et humour (parmi les meilleures parenthèses et notes de bas de page qu'il m'ait été donné de lire). Le contenu n'a pas révolutionné mon approche de l'écriture, car au fil de mes lectures et expériences, j'en suis souvent venue aux mêmes conclusions. Mais ce livre a l'avantage de les formuler avec une grande clarté et beaucoup de bienveillance. Un ouvrage que je recommande chaudement aux écrivain.e.s qui souhaitent faire de leur passion leur métier. 

Well, that is one unsettling story. I was looking for a short story to read with one of my English student after Roald Dalh's Lamb to the Slaughter (a great one) and remembered that Du Maurier's piece had inspired Hitchcock's movie (which I watched a long time ago). Her writing is to-the-point, which is nice for people who aren't perfectly fluent in English, but it has that eery atmosphere that makes the skin crawl. From what I remember, the movie is quite different in terms of characters and pacing. The short story starts really fast with horrifying images, but it manages to keep the tension until the end and I highly recommend it. 

This book is well written, with interesting themes and characters, but it's simply not for me - too complicated, too much about religion, and the descriptions of mutations are far too graphic for my comfort. 

Fireside Fairy Tales is a collection of magical short stories drawing from Scottish folklore and folk tales with a feminist spin.

You may have noticed I don't read a lot of classic fairy tales, and you'd be right, because I often find them lacking in feeling and sensations, too much in the "tell" and not enough in the "show" for my taste. Well, I'm happy to report Kate's book brings together the best of both worlds - enchanting stories of mundane magic or legends brought to life, embodied by a cast of fierce women of all ages.

It has taken half a page for the first volume of the Murderbot Diaries to become a favourite and a comfort read, so I dived into this one blissfully and trustfully. Artificial Condition starts where All Systems Red ended and follows Murderbot as they navigate both space and the sentient entities inhabiting it. Once again, it's fast-paced while taking time to explore our protagonist's emotions and constant questioning (or eye-raising), which is a delightful combination. 

The Umbrella Academy meets The Starless Sea meets The OA in this improbable, dark fantasy that reads like YA with elements of horror.

Nancy is a teenage girl just back from a visit to the Underworld. Her parents don't understand what happened, and her only certainty is that home is no longer here, it's there. Then she gets sent to Eleanor West’s Home For Wayward Children, where she meets other students like her - who are only waiting for the day they can go back.

I had been warned that this book was strange, and it did not disappoint. It felt both familiar in the setting of a school for gifted students, but also highly weird and whimsical, thanks to the glimpses we get of the worlds waiting outside the doors. Then it got cute because the characters are mostly adorable, before dipping into murder mystery and that's where I stopped trying to define this book. The only thing I know is that I highly recommend it, and I'm ready for volume 2! Many thanks to @book.landish for the gift.

Rep: asexual MC, trans secondary character, Japanese secondary character.