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stuckinthebook's Reviews (248)
So before buying this book, I had no idea that it was about Hillary Clinton IF she had never married Bill (making her Hillary Rodham of course). It is a fantastic fictional twist on history and one that I wish may have happened.
From the start of the book, we follow Hillary in her law school years and in her early 20s where she meets and dates the infamous Bill Clinton. We see their relationship grow and begin to learn about Bill Clinton’s behaviour in his rise to political fame. Yet instead of marrying him and living a life of anxiety/worry, she decides to leave when she gets the opportunity and lead her own life.
We follow her throughout her campaigns to become the President of the United States and how her life changes due to her decision to leave her life with Bill behind. What I loved most about the book was Sittenfield’s commentary on women’s inequality, not just in politics but in all aspects of life; parenthood, teaching, media.
Hillary not only has to prove why she’s good enough to run the country, she also has to fight against the sexist beliefs instilled into generations of American voters. Not only does she have to behave more like a man so she can be heard by those around her, she also has to prove why she is a ‘good’ woman despite not being married or having children. The two consistently contradict each other throughout the book, with Hillary being referred to as ‘more like a man than a woman’ and having her relationship with Bill Clinton always discussed instead of her beliefs/policies. Even as a reader, you can feel the frustration and tiring effect it has on Hillary and her campaign. People don’t take her seriously because she’s either too manly or too womanly. She can’t do right from wrong.
No matter your political stance, Rodham is a story about one woman’s rise to political fame/success in a world that ‘isn’t meant for women.’ Yet Hillary’s determination and dedication to continue on the path to get what she wants is probably one of the most encouraging parts to the story, even if it’s fictional. Oh, and the chapters featuring Donald Trump will give you a great giggle too.
From the start of the book, we follow Hillary in her law school years and in her early 20s where she meets and dates the infamous Bill Clinton. We see their relationship grow and begin to learn about Bill Clinton’s behaviour in his rise to political fame. Yet instead of marrying him and living a life of anxiety/worry, she decides to leave when she gets the opportunity and lead her own life.
We follow her throughout her campaigns to become the President of the United States and how her life changes due to her decision to leave her life with Bill behind. What I loved most about the book was Sittenfield’s commentary on women’s inequality, not just in politics but in all aspects of life; parenthood, teaching, media.
Hillary not only has to prove why she’s good enough to run the country, she also has to fight against the sexist beliefs instilled into generations of American voters. Not only does she have to behave more like a man so she can be heard by those around her, she also has to prove why she is a ‘good’ woman despite not being married or having children. The two consistently contradict each other throughout the book, with Hillary being referred to as ‘more like a man than a woman’ and having her relationship with Bill Clinton always discussed instead of her beliefs/policies. Even as a reader, you can feel the frustration and tiring effect it has on Hillary and her campaign. People don’t take her seriously because she’s either too manly or too womanly. She can’t do right from wrong.
No matter your political stance, Rodham is a story about one woman’s rise to political fame/success in a world that ‘isn’t meant for women.’ Yet Hillary’s determination and dedication to continue on the path to get what she wants is probably one of the most encouraging parts to the story, even if it’s fictional. Oh, and the chapters featuring Donald Trump will give you a great giggle too.
Being over 500 pages, it took me longer than usual to read but like everyone had told me, it was an easy read.
If you don’t know what The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is about, then you’re in for a treat. The book follows a young woman named Adeline LaRue who, in 1714, unintentionally makes a deal with the devil in a desperate act to not marry the man her parents have found for her. The deal? That she will live forever but never be remembered. The moment someone turns away from her, she is instantly forgotten and can’t even write her own name.
So we follow Addie throughout her 300 years of living in a kind of Forest Gump-style story that places Addie in some of the most important events in history. Yet in 2014, everything begins to change when Addie meets a mysterious man in a bookshop who remembers her…
Although it took me ages to get through it, it felt a proper journey that I was on with Addie herself. I loved watching her live through decades of history and how she watched the world change before her. I also found it fascinating to see how she learned to worm her way out of sticky situations.
However, as much as I loved the story, towards the end I felt like the story ended up being something else; more of a love story that felt like it was kind of thrown in at the last minute. However, that didn’t take away from that fact that the ending completely broke my heart and left me sobbing like a baby in bed (which is safe to say shocked my boyfriend completely).
There has been some recent backlash regarding the book and V.E Schwab because the book did not feature any characters of colour. It is ridiculous to think that throughout the 300 years that Addie lived, she didn’t encounter any black history events or any black people for that matter, which is extremely disappointing. It would have been amazing if V.E Schwab had placed Addie in significant events in black history but the fact that it was simply overlooked by her, her editors, her publishers etc…it’s disheartening.
Although I enjoyed the story, it did drag and I thought it could have easily been half the size it was. Had she focused more on the love story from the start, I think I would have probably enjoyed the book more and it would have felt more authentic and not just included last minute.
If you don’t know what The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is about, then you’re in for a treat. The book follows a young woman named Adeline LaRue who, in 1714, unintentionally makes a deal with the devil in a desperate act to not marry the man her parents have found for her. The deal? That she will live forever but never be remembered. The moment someone turns away from her, she is instantly forgotten and can’t even write her own name.
So we follow Addie throughout her 300 years of living in a kind of Forest Gump-style story that places Addie in some of the most important events in history. Yet in 2014, everything begins to change when Addie meets a mysterious man in a bookshop who remembers her…
Although it took me ages to get through it, it felt a proper journey that I was on with Addie herself. I loved watching her live through decades of history and how she watched the world change before her. I also found it fascinating to see how she learned to worm her way out of sticky situations.
However, as much as I loved the story, towards the end I felt like the story ended up being something else; more of a love story that felt like it was kind of thrown in at the last minute. However, that didn’t take away from that fact that the ending completely broke my heart and left me sobbing like a baby in bed (which is safe to say shocked my boyfriend completely).
There has been some recent backlash regarding the book and V.E Schwab because the book did not feature any characters of colour. It is ridiculous to think that throughout the 300 years that Addie lived, she didn’t encounter any black history events or any black people for that matter, which is extremely disappointing. It would have been amazing if V.E Schwab had placed Addie in significant events in black history but the fact that it was simply overlooked by her, her editors, her publishers etc…it’s disheartening.
Although I enjoyed the story, it did drag and I thought it could have easily been half the size it was. Had she focused more on the love story from the start, I think I would have probably enjoyed the book more and it would have felt more authentic and not just included last minute.
I had never heard of this classic until a few months ago when the new Netflix film sparked a huge influx in readers. I actually watched the film before reading and was shocked to see so many differences in the timeline of events in the film compared to the book.
The book starts off a bit slow and it took me a while to get used to the pace and the narrator. But once I was a few chapters in, I was hooked. I found the narrator's style to be VERY (perhaps TOO) descriptive at times but I loved the details of every event.
If you're unsure what the book is about, a young woman (our narrator) meets the affluent and popular Maxim de Winter whilst in Monte Carlo working as a kind of PA to an unbearable woman. Events transpire and Maxim and our narrator end up getting married and subsequently move back to Maxim's grand mansion, Manderley. However, the house is riddled with the presence of Maxim's late wife, Rebecca and our narrator must learn how to familiarise herself in a house and life that isn't hers. Yet when a dead body is found at the bottom of the sea close to Manderley, it washes up a whole different side to Rebecca's story...
After finishing the book, it suddenly dawned on me how superb an author Daphne de Maurier is. The way she writes constantly puts the reader on edge and guides the reader to think one way, before brutally switching everything on its head. The constant references to the pungent smell of rhododendrons beautifully illustrates how Rebbeca's influence is overwhelmingly hard to escape for our narrator.
A truly magnificent book that is as entertaining and relevant today as it would have been when it was released in August 1938.
I can't wait to discuss it with the 'Let's Get Classical' Book Club!
The book starts off a bit slow and it took me a while to get used to the pace and the narrator. But once I was a few chapters in, I was hooked. I found the narrator's style to be VERY (perhaps TOO) descriptive at times but I loved the details of every event.
If you're unsure what the book is about, a young woman (our narrator) meets the affluent and popular Maxim de Winter whilst in Monte Carlo working as a kind of PA to an unbearable woman. Events transpire and Maxim and our narrator end up getting married and subsequently move back to Maxim's grand mansion, Manderley. However, the house is riddled with the presence of Maxim's late wife, Rebecca and our narrator must learn how to familiarise herself in a house and life that isn't hers. Yet when a dead body is found at the bottom of the sea close to Manderley, it washes up a whole different side to Rebecca's story...
After finishing the book, it suddenly dawned on me how superb an author Daphne de Maurier is. The way she writes constantly puts the reader on edge and guides the reader to think one way, before brutally switching everything on its head. The constant references to the pungent smell of rhododendrons beautifully illustrates how Rebbeca's influence is overwhelmingly hard to escape for our narrator.
A truly magnificent book that is as entertaining and relevant today as it would have been when it was released in August 1938.
I can't wait to discuss it with the 'Let's Get Classical' Book Club!
This was my local book club read and to be fair, this book has been lurking around my TBR for quite some time now. I actually attempted to read it back in Jan 2020 but wasn’t in the right frame of mind. I was then incredibly lucky to be involved with the press release for the paperback edition back in summer 2020 and NOW I’ve finally read it
As you know by now, there is nothing that excites me more than a devilish thriller that I can sink my teeth into and The Burning Girls was just that. I had to forcefully tear myself away from the pages and I can easily see how some may devour this book in one sitting.
I absolutely adored C.J Tudor’s writing. She let us grow close to the protagonists but made sure we didn’t trust any of them. The character development is so effortless, I didn’t realise it was happening until the very end.
The pace of the book was also phenomenal. The short, quick chapters were just enough to entice you in, and then brutally leave you hanging. I love to work out the plot/culprit whilst I’m reading, and I loved that every chapter gives you a hint of a clue but still leaves you itching to know more…
Although the book is quite dark and gruesome in some parts, the writing is impeccable and personally, I think it is everything you want from a thriller. Quick chapters. Short sentences. Unnerving scenes. Unpredictable characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and I’m so glad that it was my first book thriller of 2021. I loved it that much that I actually texted my best friend, telling her to grab a copy so we could discuss. Definitely one to add to your TBR if you love an edge-of-your-seat thriller dipped in history.
I absolutely adored C.J Tudor’s writing. She let us grow close to the protagonists but made sure we didn’t trust any of them. The character development is so effortless, I didn’t realise it was happening until the very end.
The pace of the book was also phenomenal. The short, quick chapters were just enough to entice you in, and then brutally leave you hanging. I love to work out the plot/culprit whilst I’m reading, and I loved that every chapter gives you a hint of a clue but still leaves you itching to know more…
Although the book is quite dark and gruesome in some parts, the writing is impeccable and personally, I think it is everything you want from a thriller. Quick chapters. Short sentences. Unnerving scenes. Unpredictable characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and I’m so glad that it was my first book thriller of 2021. I loved it that much that I actually texted my best friend, telling her to grab a copy so we could discuss. Definitely one to add to your TBR if you love an edge-of-your-seat thriller dipped in history.
Open Water is @caleb_anelson highly anticipated debut novel and one that will leave you questioning the concept of love.
In the novel, Caleb BEAUTIFULLY describes what it's like to experience love for the first time, as well as exploring deeper into what it means to be a Black man in London.
The book is written in such a way that it simply feels like the narrator is writing every thought that comes into their head. Through repetition and stunning metaphors, you really begin to get inside the narrator's mind and feel how they are feeling.
Although I will never know the brutal truths of what it's like to be a Black man living in London, I have experienced first-love, and Caleb perfectly sums up the empowering feelings of need, want and even euphoria when you first fall in love with someone.
It took me a while to get used to the writing style but after a 1/4 of the way through, I realised that in order to enjoy this book, you have to slow down and take in every word. An experience that I haven't had to the opportunity to do for a while and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.
In the novel, Caleb BEAUTIFULLY describes what it's like to experience love for the first time, as well as exploring deeper into what it means to be a Black man in London.
The book is written in such a way that it simply feels like the narrator is writing every thought that comes into their head. Through repetition and stunning metaphors, you really begin to get inside the narrator's mind and feel how they are feeling.
Although I will never know the brutal truths of what it's like to be a Black man living in London, I have experienced first-love, and Caleb perfectly sums up the empowering feelings of need, want and even euphoria when you first fall in love with someone.
It took me a while to get used to the writing style but after a 1/4 of the way through, I realised that in order to enjoy this book, you have to slow down and take in every word. An experience that I haven't had to the opportunity to do for a while and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I would have never considered myself a lover of historical crime fiction but here I am, having read two of Laura Shepherd Robinson's books now and I think it's slowly becoming one of my favourite genres.
And that is well and truly a result of LSR's descriptive narratives and how she slowly builds tension, drama and suspense throughout her books.
'Daughters of Night' isn't really a sequel as such to her first book 'Blood and Sugar' but it does include similar characters, the main one being Caroline Corsham.
After witnessing the brutal murder of a local/well-known sex worker whilst in the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, she sets herself on a mission to hunt down the murderer and get justice. Yet along the way, she finds herself getting mixed up in all sorts of deception and deciet and finds herself in very treacherous water...
This books is THICC but one that I wouldn't have had it any other way. Each chapter gives just enough for you to keep you wanting more. I think my guess on 'who done it' changed about 15 times haha.
I am really enjoying this genre and I think if you already love historical fiction, I think you should try historical crime fiction. I definitely don't think you'll be disappointed with 'Daughters of Night' anyway!
And that is well and truly a result of LSR's descriptive narratives and how she slowly builds tension, drama and suspense throughout her books.
'Daughters of Night' isn't really a sequel as such to her first book 'Blood and Sugar' but it does include similar characters, the main one being Caroline Corsham.
After witnessing the brutal murder of a local/well-known sex worker whilst in the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, she sets herself on a mission to hunt down the murderer and get justice. Yet along the way, she finds herself getting mixed up in all sorts of deception and deciet and finds herself in very treacherous water...
This books is THICC but one that I wouldn't have had it any other way. Each chapter gives just enough for you to keep you wanting more. I think my guess on 'who done it' changed about 15 times haha.
I am really enjoying this genre and I think if you already love historical fiction, I think you should try historical crime fiction. I definitely don't think you'll be disappointed with 'Daughters of Night' anyway!
So...same old story, I saw A LOT of excitement for this book and without a second thought, I bought the book because I wanted a peice of the action!
The blurb makes it sounds deliciously dirty and naughty but I was left wanting so much more. Don't get me wrong some of the scenes are RAUNCHY and ridiculously sexy, but I felt like it was a bit 'tame' on that front.
However, sex aside, one thing I did enjoy about this book was the exploration of relationship dynamics. We have so many different types of relationships going on in this book and it was refreshing/interesting to see how dating/love/sex have changed in modern times. Daisy Buchanan perfectly sums up this feeling that 'there should be more to life than this' and hence why our narrator/protagonist goes searching for more and more...
Overall, I enjoyed it but I wasn't overly blown away by it. It might just me but I WANTED MORE. It did spark very interesting questions about modern dating/relationships though which was really fun!
The blurb makes it sounds deliciously dirty and naughty but I was left wanting so much more. Don't get me wrong some of the scenes are RAUNCHY and ridiculously sexy, but I felt like it was a bit 'tame' on that front.
However, sex aside, one thing I did enjoy about this book was the exploration of relationship dynamics. We have so many different types of relationships going on in this book and it was refreshing/interesting to see how dating/love/sex have changed in modern times. Daisy Buchanan perfectly sums up this feeling that 'there should be more to life than this' and hence why our narrator/protagonist goes searching for more and more...
Overall, I enjoyed it but I wasn't overly blown away by it. It might just me but I WANTED MORE. It did spark very interesting questions about modern dating/relationships though which was really fun!