nadia's Reviews (587)

Really loved this book, though it was dark and heavy-going. I felt like I was in Beartown, looking down on everyone as events unfolded. I enjoyed Backman's writing style — short sentences, succinct, blunt, yet engrossing. 

Looking forward to getting onto the next one, but going to take a little break I think.

This book was filled with odious characters and was also rather disturbing and horrifying at times...but I was still captivated and some bits drew out a chuckle. Will endeavour to pick up the second book in the cycle as I'm curious to see how Patrick develops into a young man.

A solid read. I loved how this book dealt with time. We jumped back and forth between decades, even within chapters, but it all flowed very well. Sometimes, the book seemed a tad too slow, and in some cases I wanted more detail about things that had happened, but for the most part, my questions were answered. If you're all about books with a heavy plot, this isn't one for you.

I also read this book as part of a buddy read, which meant I'd put it down for days on end. I think this also had an impact on my reading experience.

The first half was phenomenal. The fact that Gyasi has written such a sweeping work of historical fiction, in 300 pages, with a multitude of characters, and it all hangs together so well is mind-blowing. She finished this book, her debut, when she was 26, and didn't write an outline. The family tree, which runs from 18th century Ghana to the present day, is what guided her.

It was the second half of this book that prevented it from being a 5 star read for me. I felt a little less connected to and invested in the characters and the pace slowed down a little. Still some great chapters though and they were each important in their own right. And although I think I get what Gyasi intended with the end, it felt a little contrived for me. 

Overall, an amazing read and I'll definitely be recommending this to many people.

P.S. I also read this as part of a 'buddy read' via Instagram, where you read up to a certain point each week. I was reading one-two other fiction books at the same time (which is very out of the norm for me) and so the pauses in reading may have had an effect on my experience, especially where the second half was concerned.

Just good fun!

I guessed 'whodunnit' early on, but I did start to lose a little confidence in my suspicions at one point and it was interesting to see how everything fit together in the end.

If you're looking for a light, fun, yet gripping YA read, this is a good 'un.

I really enjoyed revisiting To Kill A Mockingbird and meeting these characters once again, fifteen years after I first studied the book at school.

Of course, being a lot older, and no longer a teenager, meant I had a deeper appreciation for Harper Lee's message and the story certainly tugged at my heartstrings.

Lee writes the children characters so well that, although I wouldn't call this a funny book, I did find myself chuckling from time to time at certain turns of phrase, and reading about Scout and Jem's reasoning about the world around them as they grew up was so heartwarming. And what a pleasure it was to meet Atticus again. That man! 😩

Occasionally, I found the book a little too slow or dense, and there were times when I'd lose concentration and have to reread small passages.

Despite that, this is certainly a classic that I'll be recommending to everyone.

I really enjoyed this book. I felt tense, sad, scared at different times. There's extracts from newspapers, (fictional) books, and interviews, which added extra texture. I didn't know the story at all before going into it and I was unexpectedly hooked.

I enjoyed this book overall, but the detailed description of drug use did make me squirm in my chair (lots of blood, veins, and syringes...), and though the language was often beautiful and poetic, I did find myself having to reread passages now and again.

Still — onto the next one. Where will we find Patrick next?

I related to so many things that Michelle spoke about and that touched and inspired me.

I’m also a sucker for behind-the-scenes details at places like the White House and I love Barack so reading about their love story was wonderful too.