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nitroglycerin's Reviews (952)
So I enjoyed this more than Conversations with Friends. The writing style is the same, but the characters are much more likeable in this one. It is yet another book that I’ve read recently that touches on the dynamics of relationships, good and bad. Love, misuse, friendship, superficial alliances. The relationship between Marianne and Connell was was great. They were naive and stupid and muddling along. Mariannes other relationships however, were almost disgusting to me. They left me feeling very weird. You wanted to scream at her to stop and get out.
Worth reading if you enjoy books examining very human feelings, issues and relationships.
Worth reading if you enjoy books examining very human feelings, issues and relationships.
This book surprised me. I was expecting a romcom story telling of how Tiffy and Leon get together through the usual tropes. The common obstacles in the quest for love. You know, fun, fluffy, laugh out loud. And it is.
But it is also so much more. O’Leary manages to tell a story of sexual tension weaved in with the tales of Tiffy and Leon’s individual individual baggage, toxic relationships and injustice.
I’ll be honest, the descriptions of Tiffys past ex and his behaviour towards her were hard to read. Kids these days would say they were triggering. But this didn’t detract from my enjoyment, as they’re wrote in a sensitive way.
To sum up: mostly fun and fluffy. Enjoyed it. Would recommend.
But it is also so much more. O’Leary manages to tell a story of sexual tension weaved in with the tales of Tiffy and Leon’s individual individual baggage, toxic relationships and injustice.
I’ll be honest, the descriptions of Tiffys past ex and his behaviour towards her were hard to read. Kids these days would say they were triggering. But this didn’t detract from my enjoyment, as they’re wrote in a sensitive way.
To sum up: mostly fun and fluffy. Enjoyed it. Would recommend.
This book made me thirsty.
So I’m a little bit mixed on this. I enjoyed the book while I read it, but I’m aware it is super flawed. The flaws didn’t make me want to stop reading it, but it does mean that thinking on it after a week later I can’t help but think it falls into a category I shall call “fast media” (like fast fashion but with media- short lived, forgettable, cheap?).
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What I liked: it sucked me in, the believable premise surrounding the drought, and its impact, the cut away action scenes from around the area, the lack of romance for a YA, it made me thirsty.
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What bugged me: the multiple and increasing POVs, the convenient removal of parents, the characters were cookie-cutter tropes, the lack of focus on the climate change that caused the drought, the ending that just seemed to make everything back to normal with the wave of a wand, some of the “plot twists” felt thrown in for good measure.
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In summary it’s just another end-of-the world YA novel, with much less death than I’m used to for them.
So I’m a little bit mixed on this. I enjoyed the book while I read it, but I’m aware it is super flawed. The flaws didn’t make me want to stop reading it, but it does mean that thinking on it after a week later I can’t help but think it falls into a category I shall call “fast media” (like fast fashion but with media- short lived, forgettable, cheap?).
.
What I liked: it sucked me in, the believable premise surrounding the drought, and its impact, the cut away action scenes from around the area, the lack of romance for a YA, it made me thirsty.
.
What bugged me: the multiple and increasing POVs, the convenient removal of parents, the characters were cookie-cutter tropes, the lack of focus on the climate change that caused the drought, the ending that just seemed to make everything back to normal with the wave of a wand, some of the “plot twists” felt thrown in for good measure.
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In summary it’s just another end-of-the world YA novel, with much less death than I’m used to for them.
Oh where do I begin with this. I loved the idea behind it. The adventure of some brave bunnies leaving their home and overcoming adversity on their way to setting up their own burrow. However, for me, the execution didn’t meet my expectations and I was left massively underwhelmed.
I found the prose over long and over descriptive. Adams seems to have a great love and understanding of the countryside, but there was just *too much* description of it. By the last chunk I read I was skimming over whole paragraphs of it. Because the narrative was so descriptive, I felt disconnected to the characters. The rabbits. I didn’t root for them, or fear for them, despite knowing things would be getting worse before they would get better. Finishing the book was a relief.
My final gripe is the stories of the El-ahrairah seemed to be just plonked in there and didn’t add a whole lot to the story other than the knowledge that the rabbits pass down stories in the same way humans do.
My edition had 656 pages (617 of actual story) while some editions when I compared on goodreads only have 476. So I’m wondering if I read some extended version that had been padded out, and if, had I read a shorter version I would have preferred it.
I found the prose over long and over descriptive. Adams seems to have a great love and understanding of the countryside, but there was just *too much* description of it. By the last chunk I read I was skimming over whole paragraphs of it. Because the narrative was so descriptive, I felt disconnected to the characters. The rabbits. I didn’t root for them, or fear for them, despite knowing things would be getting worse before they would get better. Finishing the book was a relief.
My final gripe is the stories of the El-ahrairah seemed to be just plonked in there and didn’t add a whole lot to the story other than the knowledge that the rabbits pass down stories in the same way humans do.
My edition had 656 pages (617 of actual story) while some editions when I compared on goodreads only have 476. So I’m wondering if I read some extended version that had been padded out, and if, had I read a shorter version I would have preferred it.
This book can only be described as short and sweet. It follows the existential crisis of four year old Kun after his baby sister Mirai joins the family. It uses childlike imagination and day dreams to explore both his relationship with his sister, but also with his family and their pasts.
This only took me a couple of hours to read as it’s short, but that doesn’t dampen the enjoyment.
This only took me a couple of hours to read as it’s short, but that doesn’t dampen the enjoyment.
Dammmnnnnn. It took me almost 4 months to read 200 pages and then 4 days to read the final 700. This isn’t a book I could have picked up and read a chapter at a time. I’m glad I read the bulk of it while I had the time to binge it.
The finale of the trilogy has some shocking revelations and some tense parts
The finale of the trilogy has some shocking revelations and some tense parts
Where do I start with this? What a wonderful concept. What a great subject. What brilliantly flawed characters.
The book follows the rise and fall of Daisy Jones & The Six in a VH1 Behind the Music documentary style. It’s like reading the interviews. It was great. The differences in the characters memories of the same events made it feel more real. They discuss the frustrations. The rock and roll. The sex. The drugs. It’s brilliant.
The book follows the rise and fall of Daisy Jones & The Six in a VH1 Behind the Music documentary style. It’s like reading the interviews. It was great. The differences in the characters memories of the same events made it feel more real. They discuss the frustrations. The rock and roll. The sex. The drugs. It’s brilliant.
I really enjoyed Joyland. From the first page, you know your in familiar territory with Kings writing. The book isn’t really horror in an obvious way. It’s an exploration of what it’s like to be on the cusp of adulthood and having your heart broken and dealing with the fallout. Devin the MC throws himself into Joyland and all its wonders as a way to cope with his first heartbreak. And that includes becoming increasingly involved in an old murder mystery and the lives of some of the locals. I like the fact that the book is short, and incredibly binge worthy. A great King for non horror fans too.
This collection of short stories can only be described as weird. I rarely find horror scary or creepy (cause I’m obviously well hard and all that), so weird is the best praise horror can get from me. One story (Greased) actually made my stomach turn at one point. It was gross.
Some stories were more interesting than others but overall a strong collection.
Some stories were more interesting than others but overall a strong collection.
Conversations with Friends was Rooneys debut and it is damn good for her first published book. Her characters are well fleshed out, 3D and real.
“So why only 3.5?!” You shout at me. Well. It was very he said she said. It’s the style of writing that Rooney chooses, and it works. But it made it a little tedious. I would find my self easily distracted by a text or comment, I’d put the book down and waste 30 mins on my phone before picking it back up and carrying on. It was a leisurely read. Not difficult. Not thought provoking. Didn’t leave me wondering or pondering like other recent reads have done to me. And that is why I didn’t give it a higher rating.
I do still want to read Normal People. So as soon as that paperback is out I’ll be all over it. And I would still recommend most of my followers to read this. Just don’t expect to be blown away.
“So why only 3.5?!” You shout at me. Well. It was very he said she said. It’s the style of writing that Rooney chooses, and it works. But it made it a little tedious. I would find my self easily distracted by a text or comment, I’d put the book down and waste 30 mins on my phone before picking it back up and carrying on. It was a leisurely read. Not difficult. Not thought provoking. Didn’t leave me wondering or pondering like other recent reads have done to me. And that is why I didn’t give it a higher rating.
I do still want to read Normal People. So as soon as that paperback is out I’ll be all over it. And I would still recommend most of my followers to read this. Just don’t expect to be blown away.